San Pablo, officially the Municipality of San Pablo, is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Isabela, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 26,320 people. San Pablo is 52 km from Ilagan and 450 km from Manila.

History

Spanish occupation

San Pablo is the oldest pueblo in the Province of Isabela. The town was founded on 1646 as Maquila by Fr. Pedro de Santo Tomas, making it the oldest town in Isabela and existing before the province's creation. The original name literally means sparkling. It was then renamed to Cabagan, loosely interpreted as the place where people wear "ba-ag" or "G-strings" when the Spaniards arrived at the Philippine Islands. Mengal Baladdon and his troops, disturbed by Fray Pedro Jimenez's success in establishing Christian communities in the Irraya, devastated Cabagan in 1683, killing twelve people and forcing the locals to escape to the mountains. The hamlet was on the point of collapse when the alcalde-mayor of Cagayan rescued it by killing some accomplices and capturing seventy. Their property was confiscated and given to the army. In 1709, a fire destroyed the Cabagan Church and the convent.

American occupation

In the 1900s, Cabagan was subdivided into three divisions, namely: Cabagan Viejo, Cabagan Nuevo, and Santa Maria. Cabagan Viejo was then renamed to San Pablo, after its patron saint Paul the Apostle whose feast day is celebrated every January 15. Meanwhile, Cabagan Nuevo became the modern-day Cabagan, while Santa Maria retained its name.

Japanese occupation

The seat of administration for San Pablo town was moved to Barrio Auitan in 1944, then to Barrio Minanga at the request of the Japanese.

Philippine independence

In 1959, Mayor Calixtro B. Cauan returned the government center to its former location, which is now the current location.

Geography

Barangays

San Pablo is politically subdivided into 17 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

Climate

Demographics

In the 2020 census, the population of San Pablo, Isabela, was 26,320 people, with a density of undefined PD/km2.

Economy

Culture

The Baka (Cow) Festival, inaugurated in 2004, is held annually on January 15.

Government

Local government

As a municipality in the Province of Isabela, government officials in the provincial level are voted by the electorates of the town. The provincial government have political jurisdiction over local transactions of the municipal government. The municipality of San Pablo 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 the councilors are elected directly by the people through an election which is being held every three years. Barangays are also headed by elected officials: Barangay Captain, Barangay Council, whose members are called Barangay Councilors. The barangays have SK federation which represents the barangay, headed by SK chairperson and whose members are called SK councilors. All officials are also elected every three years.

Elected officials

Past chief executives

According to accessible documents, the three Capitan Municipals of San Pablo served in the latter half of Spanish administration when Cabagan Viejo was re-established. These were the Municipal Presidents during the American period. San Pablo's municipal mayors during the Commonwealth period, Japanese occupation, and the Third Republic include These were the municipal mayors during the Fifth Republic, under the 1987 constitution:

Congress representation

San Pablo, belonging to the first legislative district of the province of Isabela, currently represented by Hon. Antonio T. Albano.

Education

The Schools Division of Isabela 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.