A Brief History of Nagtipunan

It was during the first half of the 18th century, after the conduct of archeological and historical investigations over the racial origin of the Ilongots, now the Bugkalots, tribes that Pinappagan (now Maddela, the mother town of Nagtipunan), a former barrio of Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya was found to be inhabited by suspicious and head hunting tribe of Bugkalots and the aboriginal nomadic Dumagats. By tribal agreements, the Dumagats occupied the eastern banks of the Cagayan River and the rest of the vast territory by the Bugkalot. This has been the ancestral hunting grounds of the Bugkalots both for wildlife and human needs. The latter is a sign of manhood and as an offering of the groom to his bride prior to wedding rites. The Bugkalots have their own way of writing and reading. They lived in the pockets of villages with organized but simple government.

Bestowed with water bodies teeming with aquatic life, vast virgin forest lands, picturesque sports and other natural resources, the place attracted a group of sturdy daring and adventurous people from the Ilocos Region, Nueva Vizcaya and Isabela who dared the swift currents of the Cagayan river upstream searching for greener pasture. Unlike the Dumagats and Bugkalots, these land seekers are civilized. They possess skills in farming, handicraft, carpentry and other industrial activities. The conflict of culture and interest between the settlers and the Bugkalots complicated the situation. Head hunting and various customs and traditions of the early inhabitants became a deterrent to the economic and social activities of the immigrants.


The ilocano migrants, driven by the force of purpose, determination and persistence amidst hardships, failures and discouragement, succeeded in winning the friendship of the natives in their new-found-land. With the ilocano traits of friendliness, a peace pact was made. Intermarriage among them followed, strengthening their relationship until the conflict of culture and purpose vanished especially when the Christian Missionaries (New Tribes Mission) arrived in the territory in the late 1950’s. Under the Madiboy Tribal Peace Pact of 1967, head hunting had totally stopped and integration among Bugkalots and lowlanders begun.


Owing to the renowned abundance of natural resources in the place; other groups of people namely: Gaddang, Pangasinenses, and Ifugaos immigrated to this land. The last group of settlers were the Tagalogs, Bicolanos, Pampanguenos and other business minded people bringing along with them their trade and industry. Unmindful of the fact that these different immigrants have various ethnic origin with diverse customs, traditions and beliefs, intermarriages among them took place that resulted to a closer and more harmonious relationships among settlers. Unity and active participation towards a common goal was realized. Soon the rich rolling plains became a productive and prosperous abode of the immigrants and the original settlers. Hence, the Ilocano word “Nagtipunan” that means assembly, aptly describes the place where a conglomeration of immigrants with different ethnic origins meet and live in peace and harmony and where social justice prevails.

Nagtipunan also connotes convergence because the place where the municipality is located served as the Convergence Point of several major tributaries of the Cagayan River in the Provinces of Quirino, Aurora and Nueva Vizcaya. With the unwavering support of the masses, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Quirino unanimously endorsed the creation of the NAGTIPUNAN, which became a separate and distinct local government unit upon the passage and approval of Batas Pambansa Bilang 345 on February 25, 1983 and after the plebiscite on September 24, 1983 ratifying its creation. The officialdom of Quirino Province favorably endorsed the former District Forester ANDRES C. BLANDO as the First Chief Executive of the municipality together with the other municipal officials on November 14, 1983; HON. ANDRES C. BLANDO served as Mayor until June 30, 1998, broken only on November 1987 during outbreak of the EDSA Revolution when all government chief executives were ousted from office and HON. LOLITA M. LAPITANwas appointed Officer-In-Charge of the Municipality. HON. EDUARD M. SALVADOR was elected Mayor during the May 1998 election, but served only for one term. HON. ROSARIO K. CAMMA and majority of his running mates won the 2001 political exercise and served for 3 consecutive terms. HON. NIEVEROSE C. MENESES, the former Municipal Administrator and daughter of Hon. Camma won the May 2010 mayoralty race, thus presently serving as the Local Chief Executive in the municipality.