User:Pamplonacagayan/sandbox

PAMPLONA is a small but picturesque town situated along the northern part of Cagayan. In the beginning it was composed of two villages: Abulacan (now barrio San Juan) and Masi. Abulacan was founded by the ecclesiastical authorities on April 30, 1757 with San Juan Nepomuceno as the patron saint. Somewhere in 1842, Vicar Pedro Montenegro, O.P., convinced the people to unite the two towns. In order to avoid jealousies among the inhabitants in the connection with the name of the new town, the Vicar named it “Pamplona” in memory of his hometown, Pamplona in Spain.

Prominent residents from the two towns were chosen alternately as gobernadorcillos. This practice, however, was broken when Capitan Clemente was succeeded by Capitan Carlos Borromeo from Iguig who was considered a Masiano because of this marriage with someone from Masi.

After the fusion, an additional agreement was made the there would be two patron saints of Pamplona: San Juan Nepomuceno and San Pedro Martir. This is the reason why the town fiesta is celebrated for two days and the images if the two patron saints are carried during the religious procession. The town fiesta is celebrated every April 29.

In 1919, some of the prominent people of Pamplona, recommended the transfer of the same to Bidduang, a barrio of Pamplona. This because they wanted to place the town on a convenient location along national road like the towns of Sanchez-Mira and Claveria. The real reason according to some town residents, was political – to gain the votes of Bidduang, the biggest barrio. The transfer was made on November 16, 1919 during the administration of municipal president Esteban Meneses by order of Governor General Wood. In 1928, on the sixth year of the administration of municipal president Paulino Ifurung, one of his last acts was the transfer of the municipal government back to its old site, Pamplona by then call “Albano.”

The present-day Pamplona looks somewhat desolate but the picture not really discouraging. Nature has provides for the townspeople enough lumber, coconuts, rice, fishponds, poultry products and vegetables. Natives wine, too, gives substance to their daily lives

Most interesting spot is the mouth of the Pamplona River. It saw history in the making for it was the starting point of Salcedo and his conquistadores when they explored Cagayan in 1572. Because of the river's strong current and unpredictable floods, Mayor Nicolas B. Aquino built in 1955 a steel level and an irrigation system. It was the first of its kind in Cagayan.

The Town is noted for its Malagabavi cave. It is located at the foot of a mountain virtually shaped like a pig. Legend has it that this cave was used by a giant as an entrance to his abode. It is said that he was used by a giant as an entrance to his abode. It is said that he was a normal being like a human until his transformation to a giant by a goddess who in love with him.