Tubao
Tubao was formerly a barrio of the municipalities of Agoo and
Aringay. It was a “visita” of the Parish of Agoo. The early settlers in this
barrio called it San Isidro de Tubao in honor of its Patron Saint Isidore, a
farmer.
In 1765, the Spaniards led by one Father Luis Gonzaga y Espinosa, in their
desire to spread Christianity, headed towards the eastern parts of Agoo. At that
time, these parts of Agoo were hinterlands and heavily forested. While the
Spaniards were resting under the full grown trees, they distributed manuscripts
of the cartilla and catecismo to the natives. Suddenly, they heard a loud chorus
of sound “tuao, tuao”, emanating from the top of the trees. These sounds made by
the birds locally known as “kalaw”, attached and bewildered the Spaniards. Even
as the Spaniards went further east, the sound persisted. When Father Espinosa
returned from his journey, he reported to the Spanish Authorities that the group
explored an area called “Tuao”. However due inadvertent recordings made by the
Spanish Authorities, the word “tuao” was written “tubao”, hence the name of the
place.
On November 10, 1884, a real order was issued elevating Barrio Tubao into a
regular municipality. The order was not however carried out immediately. It was
only on March 8, 1886, that Tubao was created into a regular municipality out of
barrios from Agoo and Aringay. From Agoo were the following barrios: Maeslon,
Amboot, Caviguy, Pideg, Damosil, Masalip, Linaped and Ambangonan. On the other
hand, Aringay ceded the barrios of Santa Teresa, Compang and Calopaan. In the
succeeding years, Calopaan became Leones which was later sub-divided into Leones
East and West, Compang became Halog which was also became Halog East and West,
Bugarin became a sitio of Halog East, while Masalip was renamed Magsaysay in
honor of President Ramon Magsaysay who was the first President to visit Tubao.
San Pascual and Guinitaban also became Rizal. Amboot became Garcia while Linaped
became Linapew. Caviguy was later simplified to Caoigue while Damosil and
Ambangonan became parts of Pugo.
The newer barangays are Anduyan, Lloren, Francia Sur, Francia West, Pideg,
Gonzales and Amallapay, which was formerly called Verceles.
