Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija

Gabaldon, officially the Municipality of Gabaldon (Bayan ng Gabaldon, Ilocano: Ili ti Gabaldon), is a 3rd-class municipality in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 38,958 people.

The municipality is located in the valley situated at the footstep of the Sierra Madre to its east and the Caraballo Mountains to its west. It lies 39 km from Palayan, 169 km from Manila, and 141 km from Baler. Gabaldon is bounded by Bongabon to the north, Laur to the west, General Tinio to the south, and Dingalan to the east.

Etymology
On June 16, 1955, the town's name was changed from Sabani to Gabaldon in honor of the former provincial governor and Philippine Resident Commissioner Isauro Gabaldón.

History
During the latter half of the 19th century, Gabaldon was the site of the Sabani Estate, the largest hacienda in Nueva Ecija, which was then part of Laur. The estate possessed 3,000 heads of cattle and occupied more than 6,000 hectares. Ilocano, Pangasinese, Tagalog, & Kapampangan settlers arrived from different places like the neighboring provinces of Tarlac, Pangasinan, and Pampanga. On May 10, 1920, the national government, through the National Development Company, took over the administration of the estate and developed it for rice production. A group composed of local businessmen leased the estate until 1935, after which it was returned to Sabani Estate Development Company. The government then converted the estate into a homestead.

On June 12, 1950, the barrios of Bitulok, Bantug, Bitulok Saw Mill, Cuyapa, Macasandal, Pantok, Calumpang, Malinao, Tagumpay, Bugnan, Bagong Sicat, Ligaya, Calabasa, Bateria and Pintong Bagting were separated from Laur to constitute the new municipality of Bitulok.

The municipality's name was changed from Bitulok to Sabani. On June 16, 1955, the municipality's name was changed from Sabani to Gabaldon by virtue of Republic Act 1318, to honor former provincial governor and Philippine Resident Commissioner Isauro Gabaldón.

Barangays
Gabaldon is politically subdivided into 16 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.


 * Bagong Sikat
 * Bagting
 * Bantug
 * Bitulok (North Poblacion)
 * Bugnan
 * Calabasa
 * Camachile
 * Cuyapa
 * Ligaya
 * Macasandal
 * Malinao
 * Pantoc
 * Pinamalisan
 * South Poblacion
 * Sawmill
 * Tagumpay

Economy
Agriculture is the main economic source of the municipality, with 56% of its land area being used for farming. Rice is the primary crop being cultivated in the municipality's lowland while secondary crops such as onion, corn, garlic, ampalaya, and other crops are cultivated in the uplands. The municipality is one of the top onion producers in the province. Limited livestock, poultry, and fish production are also present.

The municipality has nearly 300 commercial establishments mostly centered along the national road and around the municipal public market. Moreover, there are 6 agri-based industrial establishments within the city, including 5 rice mills and a commercial poultry, and 20 cottage industry establishments.

Tourism
Due to Gabaldon's proximity to the coastal town of Dingalan, Aurora and its scenic location in the valley, there are several ecological tourist spots found in the municipality, including the Dupinga Water Reservoir, the Sierra Madre, Cabangcalan Lake, and multiple waterfalls dotting the southeastern part of the Sierra Madre. Numerous resorts are in the municipality, including the Ecopark located inside the Gabaldon campus of the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology.