HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF MADDELA

HISTORY OF MADDELA
(Compiled and Updated by: Glory S. Almoite, Rosalinda C. Edu, Filomena B. Molina, Nenita B. Domingo,
Edwin S. Besas, Maryflor D. Ylanan, Lynette C. Lazaro)

Before the advent of migration and long before the approach of development planning for urban settlement or resettlement, Maddela was inhabited by natives who lived among the fingers of the Sierra Madre Mountains and in the hinterlands of the Mamparang Ranges.

The natives were the Ilongots (or Bugcalots) and the Dumagats, with the strain, culture and character of the small valleys in the foot of Sierra Madre, fished along the mighty Cagayan River and hunted in the wild forests.

Of the two tribes, the Ilongots showed more sophistication. They occupied the western upland portion of the territory and also upstream of the Cagayan River up to Dupax, Nueva Vizcaya. They lived in villages with organized but simple governments headed by a director of non-Christian.

The Dumagats occupied the eastern portion of Cagayan River, and along the Ngilinan and Manglad streams, up the forestlands and unto the downslides overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Unlike the Ilongots, the Dumagats were nomadic with no describable neighborhood. They lived in the makeshift huts of forest/anahaw leaves ( there were no cogon in those early days). They feasted on half-roasted wild pigs caught in booby traps or by means of the bow and arrow and spear, and ate root crops for their carbohydrates.

In 1919, a group of 20 Ilocanos headed by Forester Vicente Velasco arrived and put up settlements along the Cagayan River. Gradually, they moved into the valley of Pinappagan, now Maddela. Being the most adventurous and enterprising, the Ilocanos penetrated fast into vast rolling untouched fields and planted crops like palay, tobacco, corn and peanut.

They paddled canoes made from trunks of trees, cruised upstream the Cagayan River and fishes a lot for their sustenance of protein.For the Ilocanos with the trait of being friendly, respectful and hospitable, winning the confidence of the non-Christian tribes was not a problem. Easily, they forged friendly relation with the natives who, as the years drooled, learned the basics of agriculture, the art of neighborhood community living. In some instances, such closeness, unit and cooperation resulted intermarriages.

The period 1922-1925 marked the start of permanent settlement and a military government headed by Lt. Quintin Alcantara who initiated the opening of a road connecting Pinappagan and Panang.Three years later, Pinappagan was made a municipal District attached to the town of Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya. Then Nueva Vizcaya Governor Juan Manzano appointed Eusebio Martin as first President of the District with a three year term of office.

Villa Hermosa, Dumabato, Sto. Niño, Dipintin, Abbag and San Pedro were the first barrios that composed the municipal district. Martin was re-elected district president. Rafael Daguio, Federico Ramos and Rodrigo Pascual who served as such up to the outbreak of World War II succeeded him.

During the Japanese occupation, Marcos Pimentel and Fernando Castillo were named alternately as municipal district mayors.
 
In 1950, Pinappagan was renamed Maddela and became a regular town with Jose Ancheta as first mayor. He was re-elected mayor but died before the end of his second term. Vice mayor Gregorio Baroma took over to serve the unfinished term of Ancheta from 1953-1955.

In the first regular election for local officials in 1956, Dionisio Sarandi was elected mayor. Also elected were vice mayor and six municipal councilors. He was re-elected, but in 1962, he filed a leave of absence and Jose Medina took over as mayor.

It was during the term of Sarandi that the barrios of Cofcaville, San Salvador, Sto. Tomas, Divisoria Norte, Divisoria Sur, Cabaruan, Anak, Ponggo, San Dionisio I, San Dionisio II, Balligui, Ysmael, Pedlisan and Villa Hermoza Norte were created.

By the time Maddela started reaching out to neighboring towns of Isabela, particularly San Agustin and Jones and early bubble in commerce and trade was experienced. With the creation of additional new barrios, agricultural expansion gained initial headway. Maddela has a total of 32 barangays