Cabadbaran - History

History

CABADBARAN, as a community, is very old, so old that one could trace its existence back to 1200A.D. Traces of the existence of 12th century villages could be found along ancient waterways dissecting the territory now called Cabadbaran. Along the old creeks of Caasinan, Cambuayon and Capudlusan, pre-Spanish Cabadbaranons once lived, worked and died during the 9th -12th centuries, contemporaneous with the old archaeological sites in Butuan City. Artifacts from these pre-Spanish villages could be found today at the Cabadbaran City Artifacts Gallery now temporarily housed at the City Library.

We have no records of what is in Cabadbaran or what transpired therein during the early years of Spanish colonization except for the solitary site in Sanghan which exhibited Chinese ceramics made during the 15th-16th centuries.

Archival records showed that Cabadbaran was first mentioned in history as a small village chosen by Spanish authorities to become a new reduction which they called “La Reunion de Cabarbaran” in 1867. Added to the existing small population at that time were the inhabitants of Bunawan, Talacogon & Solibao who were coerced by Spanish authorities to migrate to La Reunion. Ten years later, in 1879, La Reunion was disbanded. Those from upper Agusan went back to their places of origin and the remnant population were attached to the town of Tubay.

In 1880-1881, Fr. Saturnino Urios revived the reduction but named it Tolosa in honor of his hometown in Spain. This reduction increased in population with migrants settling in coming from the Visayas. In 1880, its leadership under Teniente del Barrio Don Eduardo Curato, petitioned the Spanish authorities to approve its application for township which was granted in January 31, 1894 as archival documents showed. Separated now from Tubay, the new pueblo, still named Tolosa, increased in population and its economy was propped up by agriculture (rice production) and commerce (abaca trading). This steady growth was disrupted by the events of 1896, the revolution against Spain. But even at that time, no significant turmoil occurred in Cabadbaran until the coming of the American occupation forces in 1901.

Forced by the superiority in arms of the enemy, Filipino forces in Agusan, including those in Cabadbaran under Capt. Andres Atega were forced to surrender. Under American rule and tutelage, Tolosa which was now called again as Cabadbaran (due to Don Andres Atega’s proposal), became a center of growth in Northern Agusan.

Public education system was established in 1903 with George Bohner as the first American teacher. With the appointment of Dr. Pedro Malbas as Public Health Officer in the 1920s, public health was improved upon construction of sanitary toilets, deep wells & drainage canals. The American authorities also embarked in public construction of roads & bridges. Early local leaders who led the struggle but eventually surrendered to the Americans were appointed/elected to different government positions. Don Andres, for one, became Treasurer, Juez de Paz, Inspector of Public Schools and Member of the Provincial Board at one time or another.

New generation of leaders also emerged. Apolonio “Oyok” Curato, a son of Eduardo became a lawyer and represented Agusan in the 1935 Constitutional Convention. He became Governor and Congressman of the undivided province of Agusan.

In economy, Cabadbaran continued producing abaca but started abaca production from the extensive coconut plantations established at the start of the American occupation. Rice remained as staple crop grown in the ricefields of present day areas of Calibunan and Mabini. The Agusan-Surigao road became serviceable in the 1930s. Several Bus lines, among the MASTRANCO, started public service along this route, thus catapulting economic growth. The advent of WWII again disrupted not only the growth of Cabadbaran but the whole province as well. With the entry of Japanese forces in 1944 and the defeat of the fledgling Phil. Army and U.S. forces, it didn’t take long for anti-Japanese forces to get organized. Fil-Am Guerilla forces started resistance first in Buenavista then followed by actions in Cabadbaran. Foremost among these guerilla organizers were Judge Jose Villanueva, Capt. Benjamin Famador, Capt. Plenio Atega, etc. (see “Red Sun Over Agusan” by Florante Mori). These dark years under Japan were years when heroes, villains and traitors made their marks in the annals of history not only in Cabadbaran but the whole of Agusan and Surigao as well.

In July 4, 1946 after liberation, Philippine independence was formally granted by America but economic dependence on America was and still a knot that has yet to be untied until today. In spite of this hindering factor, economic growth continued to advance with gains in agriculture and technology. In Cabadbaran, copra, abaca, rice and corn remain as staple crops. But new sources of wealth were now derived from the forests and mountains of Agusan.

Although small-scale gold mining had already began earlier, the entry of Manila Mining Corp. in the 1960s in the rich gold lode in Pirada, Del Pilar brought in jobs and income to many people of Cabadbaran and even until today gold is still a fabulous source of wealth to many who have gambled their lives and fortune to seek this metal. Logging, a bane to the environment but a boon to those who invested in this industry became also a rich source of income to Cabadbaranons in the 1960s until the 1970s.

Together with economic growth, strides were also made in the field of education as attested by the establishment of different high schools and lately, colleges in Cabadbaran. In politics, the rise and fall of presidents of the republic flow side by side with the rise and fall of political forces in Agusan, most of which are family centered. Among others, the Curatos, the Ategas, the Rosaleses, the Aquinos, the Calos, the Plazas have indelibly left their marks in the administration of the province one of which is the division of the lone province of Agusan into two: Agusan del Sur and Agusan del Norte. In June 16, 1967, under R.A. 4979, Agusan became two provinces. But lately, the political forces that coalesced under the strong leadership of the Amantes contributed a great bearing on the current status of Cabadbaran. For under the strong leadership of the Amantes, Cabadbaran became a city by virtue of R.A. 9434, implemented last July 28, 2007 and the man at the helm of this refurbished strip is the dynamic leader, Mayor Dale B. Corvera who in a matter of months rid the city of its street trash, streamlined the bureaucracy, brought the services of the local government directly to the barangays, and renovated the city hall. Under Mayor Corvera’s leadership, the new city has high hopes of attaining higher levels of progress in the years to come.

The city has also a booming economy based on agro industry, commerce and trade, source of several export and industrial products; it has also varied ecotourism destinations ranging from Caraga's highest peak, mile long tunnels to adventure tourism sites.

Easily accessible from the cities of Surigao and Butuan, the City has modern transport, communications, banking and accommodation facilities that could provide all the convenience a modern traveler needs.