Lubuagan

Lubuagan
Municipality
Municipality of Lubuagan
Lubuagan from the Magmag-an Pass
Flag
Map of Kalinga with Lubuagan highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Lubuagan Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 17°21′N121°11′E / 17.35°N 121.18°E / 17.35; 121.18
Country	Philippines
Region	Cordillera Administrative Region
Province	Kalinga
District	Lone district
Founded	1905
Barangays	9 (see Barangays)
Government   [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
•  Mayor	Joel B. Tagaotao
•  Vice Mayor	Alonzo C. Saclag Jr.
•  Representative	Allen Jesse C. Mangaoang
•  Municipal Council	Members Jakerson L. Manaltag Angelito S. Anton Victor D. Dickly Tommy S. Pallogan Rudy D. Ocan Jan Jericho A. Odiem Wildy C. Wansi Simi L. Colayot
•  Electorate	9,890 voters (2025)
Area [2]
• Total	234.20 km2 (90.43 sq mi)
Elevation	820 m (2,690 ft)
Highest elevation	1,880 m (6,170 ft)
Lowest elevation	348 m (1,142 ft)
Population  (2024 census) [3]
• Total	8,660
• Density	37/km2 (96/sq mi)
•  Households	1,982
Economy
•  Income class	4th municipal income class
•  Poverty incidence	7.52 % (2021) [4]
•  Revenue	₱ 144 million (2022)
•  Assets	₱ 362.7 million (2022)
•  Expenditure	₱ 89.35 million (2022)
•  Liabilities	₱ 292.7 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Kalinga - Apayao Electric Cooperative (KAELCO)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	3802
PSGC	1403206000
IDD  :  area code	+63 (0)74
Native languages	Ilocano Tagalog
Website	www.lubuagan.gov.ph

Lubuagan, officially the Municipality of Lubuagan is a municipality in the province of Kalinga, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 9,323 people. ^[5]

Lubuagan served as the seat of the National Government from March 6 to May 17, 1900, during the time of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. It is located at 800 metres (2,600 ft) above sea level in the southern part of Kalinga and in the heart of the Cordillera. It has a land area of 23,420 hectares (57,900 acres).

History

Spanish Rule was never established in Lubuagan during its 300 year occupation of the Philippines. However, Emilio Aguinaldo, president of the erstwhile First Philippine Republic made Lubuagan the seat of government for 73 days, from 6 March to 18 May 1900, before his escape and eventual capture at Palanan, Isabela, on 23 March 1901. ^{[6] [7]}

Upon the assumption of the United States of America as colonial power over the Philippines, the Township of Lubuagan was established in 1905 and administered via the sub provincial government of Lepanto-Bontoc sub-province. Lt. Governor E. A. Eckman, an American ex-soldier was the Chief Executive of the sub-province.

In 1907, Kalinga was separated and organized as a distinct sub-province from Lepanto-Bontoc. Franklin Walter Hale was appointed the first Lt. Governor to establish a civil government in Kalinga. Hale initially established his office in Bulanao, but moved to Lubuagan in 1909 following an outbreak of cholera and malaria. Hale whom the people baptized and fondly called Sapao, first organized his police contingent from and among the tribal pangats and headmen from the different villages of Kalinga to help them tame recalcitrant natives.

Hale served Kalinga up to the end of July 1915. He was replaced by Samuel Kane, who served for a brief period and was replaced by Alex Gilfilan in September 1916, who was later on replaced by Deputy Governor Thomas Blanco, a Filipino. In 1924, Nicasio Balinag took over as Deputy Governor.

The colonial government notably beginning with the administration of Hale up to the Commonwealth government was considered the golden years of Lubuagan, which was designated the capital town of the sub-province before Tabuk rose to its present status as the center of learning and government activities. Lubuagan at that time was the center of education, culture, commerce and trade. The founding of the Kalinga Academy in 1927, a secondary school run by American Missionaries and the St. Teresita's School in 1929, a Catholic Primary and High School managed by the CICM Belgian Missionaries bolstered the luster of Lubuagan. It was also in Lubuagan where the first instruction of higher learning in the old Mountain Province was established.

During World War II, Japanese forces occupied Lubuagan in May 1942.

In 1945, Lubuagan was bombed by American planes resulting in the destruction of the Lubuagan Central School which was then occupied by the Japanese. St. Peter's church, its convent and two more buildings within its compound were all burned to the ground.

Geography

Lubuagan is situated 6.44 kilometres (4.00 mi) from the provincial capital Tabuk, and 471.88 kilometres (293.21 mi) from the country's capital city of Manila.

Barangays

Lubuagan is politically subdivided into 9 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

• Antonio Canao
• Dangoy
• Lower Uma
• Mabilong
• Mabongtot
• Poblacion
• Tanglag
• Uma del Norte (Western Uma)
• Upper Uma

Climate

Climate data for Lubuagan, Kalinga
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	21 (70)	22 (72)	25 (77)	27 (81)	27 (81)	27 (81)	26 (79)	26 (79)	25 (77)	24 (75)	23 (73)	21 (70)	25 (76)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	16 (61)	16 (61)	17 (63)	18 (64)	20 (68)	20 (68)	20 (68)	20 (68)	20 (68)	19 (66)	18 (64)	17 (63)	18 (65)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	78 (3.1)	60 (2.4)	49 (1.9)	51 (2.0)	194 (7.6)	197 (7.8)	209 (8.2)	226 (8.9)	185 (7.3)	180 (7.1)	143 (5.6)	183 (7.2)	1,755 (69.1)
Average rainy days	15.6	12.5	11.8	12.5	21.0	23.3	25.2	26.1	22.6	17.1	16.7	19.6	224
Source: Meteoblue [8]

Demographics

Children from Lubuagan, Kalinga perform the muscle dance.

Population census of Lubuagan

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1918	8,874	—
1939	7,366	−0.88%
1948	7,821	+0.67%
1960	10,289	+2.31%
1970	7,236	−3.45%
1975	7,780	+1.46%
1980	8,545	+1.89%
1990	9,189	+0.73%
1995	9,897	+1.40%
2000	9,875	−0.05%
2007	10,183	+0.42%
2010	9,369	−2.99%
2015	8,733	−1.33%
2020	9,323	+1.39%
2024	8,660	−1.76%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [9] [10] [11] [12] [13]

In the 2020 census, the population of Lubuagan was 9,323 people, ^[14] with a density of 40 inhabitants per square kilometre or 100 inhabitants per square mile.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Lubuagan

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 2000 62.12 2003 50.37 2006 35.60 2009 24.80 2012 26.14 2015 26.60 2018 20.23 2021 7.52 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22]

Government

Local government

Main article: Sangguniang Bayan

Lubuagan, belonging to the lone congressional district of the province of Kalinga, 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.

Elected officials

Members of the Municipal Council
(2019–2022) ^[23]

Position	Name
Congressman	Allen Jesse C. Mangaoang
Mayor	Charisma Anne O. Dickpus
Vice-Mayor	Victor D. Dickly
Councilors	Loralei T. Balangcod
	Jan Jericho A. Odiem
	Rudy D. Ocan
	Jayharley B. Duguiang
	Stephen Custer B. Canao
	Delia A. Alunday
	Balmaceda K. Salicanto
	Rustom B. Dao-in

Tourism

• St. Theresita's School, a Roman Catholic school established by the CICM missionaries in 1925, was once the educational center of the Cordillera. It was also used as a military outpost by the Japanese, Filipino and American forces during World War II.
• Mabilong Weaver's Village is the center of the ethnic weaving industry in the province. It showcases colorful ethnic backstrap weaving.
• The town has extensive and scenic rice terraces (Pon-e Rice Terraces and Gapis Rice Terraces) cut into the mountains, rising 2,000 feet (610 m) from the Chico River bed.
• Batong Buhay Mines.
• Aguinaldo Hill was Emilio Aguinaldo's command post during his 72-day stay in the town. It has a panoramic view of several barangays in Pinukpuk.
• Awichon Mesa, a plateau situated at Barangay Upper Uma, between Pasil and Lubuagan, is an archaeological site where bones of a prehistoric elephant were found. It was also the landing site of American forces during World War II.
• Cadamayan Falls, at Barangay Western Uma, serves as the natural boundary of Pasil, Lubuagan and Tinglayan.
• Tiwod Spring, the "Fertility Twin Spring", is believed to be bestow children to childless couples, who take a bath on mornings and drink from it.
• Tongango Caves consists of several chambers connecting the mountains of Lubuagan, Sumadel and Tulgao.
• Belalao Mabilong View contains a view of Lubuagan Village. Visitors who come by night are said to be surprised by a sudden appearance of a lost city in the mountain.
• Manangol Viewpoint, at the top of Manangol Hill, has a panoramic view of the Chico River, Tinglayan and the rice terraces seated at the basement of the overlapping mountain.
• The Poway View Deck, at the boundary of Pasil and Lubuagan, has a view of the Pasil River.
• The Pudpud Chico Viewpoint, at the Lubuagan Central School, has a view of the Chico River and the aborted Chico Hydroelectric Dam.
• The Lubuagan Museum, located in an old American house, showcases a selection of old Chinese pottery as well as other Kalinga products.

Culture

• Laga Festival- From "laga", a Kalinga word which means to weave. Celebrated annually, typically in March. It is a two or three-day celebration which showcases the culture, arts, and history of Lubuagan.

Education

The Lubuagan Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools. ^[24]

Primary and elementary schools

• Ag-agama Elementary School
• Colong Primary School
• Dangoy Elementary School
• Dugnac Primary School
• Latawan Elementary School
• Lubuagan Central School
• Mabilong Elementary School
• Mabongtot Elementary School
• Mallongan Elementary School
• Manangol Elementary School
• Payao Primary School
• Roadside Elementary School
• Sukiap Elementary School
• Tanglag Elementary School
• Uma Elementary School

Secondary schools

• Kalinga Academy
• Lubuagan National High School
• Senior High School in Lubuagan
• St. Theresita's School of Lubuagan

Notable personalities

• Jean Claude Saclag  –Medalist, Kickboxing and Wushu

References

1.   Municipality of Lubuagan | (DILG)
2. "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN   0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
3. "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
4. "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
5. "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
6. "History". Municipality of Lubuagan. Archived from the original on 31 August 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
7. "Municipality of Lubuagan". Department of the Interior and Local Government-Cordillera Administrative Region. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
8. "Lubuagan: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
9. "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
10. Census of Population (2015). "Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority . Retrieved 20 June 2016.
11. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office . Retrieved 29 June 2016.
12. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
13. "Province of". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
14. "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
15. "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
16. "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
17. "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
18. "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
19. "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
20. "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
21. "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
22. "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
23. "2019 National and Local Elections" (PDF). Commission on Elections. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
24. "Masterlist of Schools" (PDF). Department of Education. January 15, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2025.

External links

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Local Governance Performance Management System