Bayombong, officially the Municipality of Bayombong, is a 1st class municipality and capital of the province of Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 67,714 people. Bayombong is the most populous town and seat of the Provincial Capitol of Nueva Vizcaya. The name Bayombong emanated from the Gaddang word “Bayongyong” which means the confluence of two or more rivers. It has been reported that a certain tribe arrived and tried to invade the place, which caused the outbreak of the first tribal war in the area. The site was renamed “Bayumbung” as a sign of the Gaddangs' first victory in fighting for their private domains.

Etymology

The Gaddang phrase "Bayongyong," which denotes the confluence of two prominent rivers, is where the name Bayombong originated. According to a different interpretation, "bayongyong" refers to a bamboo pole approximately 2 meters long that is used to transport fresh water from wells constructed along riverbanks. When Spanish missionaries spotted the Gaddangs, they were forming long lines and carrying water-filled bamboo poles on their shoulders. When the friars asked about the bamboo water jugs, the carriers answered in unison with "Bayongyong." It was in 1739 when Spanish Augustinian Friars named the place "Bayumbung", which was later changed into Bayombong.

History

Early history

Bayombong is located in the southeastern portion of the current barangays of La Torre North and South, where the Magat River flows. Prior to Spanish colonization, the town was inhabited by the Ifugaos and Gaddangs.

Spanish era

Around 1718 there were tribal clashes between the Ifugaos, the Gaddangs and the Maalats from Isabela, with the Gaddangs gaining the upper hand and displacing the other tribes. Bayombong was formally founded on April 12, 1739, during the first Catholic mass celebrated in the region, officiated by Father Pedro Freire in a makeshift chapel at the foot of the Bangan Hill. Bayombong came under the administration of Dominican friars as a part of the Paniqui mission a few months after its founding. The pueblo census of 1747 records 470 residents. The names of those considered to be founding fathers of Bayombong were Ramon Cabauatan, Jacinto Gadingan, Vicente Saquing, Ignacio Abuag, Mariano Danao, Domingo Bayaua, a certain Bincatan and a certain Mamuric. All of them were Gaddangs. Their names are remembered today in major streets of the town. In 1754, the local government was formally organized. A Capitan del Pueblo was appointed as the chief executive. In 1982, the town became the seat of the new Diocese of Bayombong. From 1773 to 1792, Fray Juan Crespo constructed the brick St. Dominic's church, the convent, and the cemetery next to the church, and started the octagonal tower. By 1829, Fray Juan Molano finished the tower. In 1880 the church building was damaged in an earthquake, while in 1987, a fire destroyed the church and convent. During the 1990 Luzon earthquake, the church belfry collapsed. In 1789, the title of the chief executive was changed to Gobernadorcillo. In 1893, the title was changed to Capitan Municipal. During the revolutionary government in 1898, the Presidente Local was chief executive of the town but this was again changed to Mayor in 1937 as per provision of the Commonwealth Constitution. Bayombong became the provincial capital of Nueva Vizcaya in 1856, when the old capital of Camarag (now Echague) became part of the newly-established province of Isabela.

American era

On November 28, 1899, during the Philippine–American War, General Fernando Canon surrendered his 300-man battalion, plus 139 Spanish and 14 American prisoners, to 2nd Lt. James N. Munro's 53 men of the 4th Cavalry. Included in the release were William Rynders and Orrison Woodbury, captured with the rest of Lt. Gillmore's men during the Siege of Baler. In 1916, the American administration started a farm settlement school in Bayombong. In 1918, a high-school curriculum was added, and the school was named Bayombong Rural School. In 1928, Father de Gryse started St. Mary's, a Catholic elementary school. In 1930, Bayombong Rural School was re-purposed as Nueva Vizcaya Rural High School (NVRHS), and in 1934 St. Mary's added a high-school department. During World War II, the Japanese invaded the Philippines and turned Bayombong into a hub for sexual slavery. A "comfort station" was built by the Japanese in the town, where young girls and teenagers were forced to become sex slaves called "comfort women", and routinely gang-raped, brutalized, humiliated, and murdered by Japanese soldiers for entertainment. During the Philippines campaign of 1945, Japanese Army barracks located in Bayombong became the target of U.S. bombing runs. The town was finally liberated on June 9, 1945 by U.S. forces of the 37th Infantry Division under Major General Robert S. Beightler.

Post-independence

In 1947, the St. Mary's College (now St. Mary's University) was established by the CICM near the elementary and high-schools of the same name. In 1956, NVRHS was converted into two programs: Nueva Vizcaya General Comprehensive High School and Nueva Vizcaya National Agricultural School. In 1964 the agricultural school became Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural College, then in 1973 became the Nueva Vizcaya State Institute of Technology. Presently, the school is the Nueva Vizcaya State University.

Geography

The terrain is mountainous dominated by steep hills and mountains encompassing an area of 36.44% of its total land area. The percentage which is level to gently sloping consists of 32.03% of the total area, rolling to hilly consists of 8.09%, while the remaining 23.44% consists of very steep mountains. The town was founded at the juncture of the Calocool and Magat Rivers, and has grown to incorporate the Pan-Philippine Highway. Bayombong is 265 km from Manila.

Barangays

Bayombong is politically subdivided into 25 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Climate

Demographics

Language

Ilocano, Bontoc, Gaddang, Ifugao, Isinay, Tagalog, and English are used always in Bayombong's schools, markets, and places of worship but in public schools they also use Ilocano.

Economy

Tourism

Government

Local government

Bayombong, belonging to the lone congressional district of the province of Nueva Vizcaya, is governed by a mayor designated as its local chief executive and by a municipal council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code. The mayor, vice mayor, and most of the councilors are elected directly by the people through an election which is being held every three years. The council also includes three ex-officio, non-partisan members representing key sectors of the community. These members comprise the Indigenous Peoples' Mandatory Representative, the President of the Liga ng mga Barangay, and the President of the SK Municipal Federation. Together, they play a crucial role in the Sangguniang Bayan, contributing diverse perspectives and ensuring comprehensive representation in local governance.

Elected officials

Education

The Schools Division of Nueva Vizcaya governs the town's public education system. The division office is a field office of the DepEd in Cagayan Valley region. The office governs the public and private elementary and public and private high schools throughout the municipality.

Colleges and universities

Technical schools

High schools and senior high schools

Elementary schools

• Ammococan Elementary School • Bayombong South Elementary School • Bayombong Central School • Busilac Elementary School • La Torre Elementary School • Saint Mary's University Grade School • Santa Rosa Elementary School • Muir Woods Academy formerly known as Nueva Vizcaya Bright Child School, Inc. • Bonfal Pilot Central School • Masoc Elementary School • Magapuy Elementary School • Cabuaan elementary School • Lingay Elementary School (LES) • Bonfal Annex Elementary School • Labbu Elementary School • Pawac Elementary School • Ipil-Cuneg Elementary School • Casat Elementary School • Luyang Elementary School

Private preschools

Playhouse and tutorial services

Notable personalities

Sister cities

Media

AM

FM

Television