History of Solano Nueva Vizcaya
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| Solano Nueva Vizcaya Municipal Hall |
Solano, now one of the most progressive towns in Nueva Vizcaya, has a rich and colorful past. It was first founded in 1767 by the Spanish missionary Father Alejandro Vidal. Back then, it was called "Lungabang", a Gaddang word meaning cave. Over time, the Spanish started calling it "Lumabang".
But due to its small population and limited resources, it was demoted to just a barrio of Bayombong in 1851, under Governor-General Antonio Urbiztondo. That didn’t last long, though. Just a few years later, in 1860, Governor-General Ramon Solano y Landeral saw its potential and declared it a full-fledged municipality. In 1863, the town was renamed Solano in his honor.
One of the town’s most remarkable legacies is its almost perfect layout, thanks to Father Juan Villaverde, who carefully planned the town in 1889. His urban vision still shapes the town’s structure today.
Today, Solano is made up of 22 barangays, each with its own character but all united by the town’s vibrant energy.
- Aggub
- Bagahabag
- Bangaan
- Bangar
- Bascaran
- Communal
- Concepcion
- Curifang
- Dadap
- Lactawan
- Osmeña
- Quezon
- Pd galima
- Poblacion North
- Poblacion South
- Quirino
- Roxas
- San juan
- San luis
- Tucal
- Uddiawan
- Wacal
Every fourth week of April, Solano bursts with flavor and fun during its Pagbiagan Festival. "Pagbiagan" translates to rice and native cakes, and this celebration is all about reviving the town’s traditional culinary heritage.
Locals prepare an amazing variety of rice delicacies and native cakes, put them on colorful display, and—best of all—share them with everyone. The festival also coincides with Solano’s founding anniversary, making it an even more meaningful event for residents.
The Pagbiagan Festival isn’t just a food fair—it’s a celebration of local identity, creativity, and warm community spirit that Solano is proudly known for.
- Nueva Vizcaya Government. (n.d.). Solano [blog post]. Retrieved from https://nuevavizcaya.gov.ph/municipalities/solano/.
- Photograph of Solano Municipal Hall by Ramon FVelasquez / CC BY-SA.
