“History of Kabugao, Apayao Philippines”

The town was founded by the American pacifying forces in 1913. The first mayor was
Manuel Rugrog of Barangay Bulu.

Kabugao, now the capital town of Apayao was among the original four municipalities
of the province of Apayao before the old municipality of Luna was divided into four
municipalities with the creation, in the ensuing years of the municipalities of Pudtol, Flora,
and Sta. Marcela.

Kabugao was converted into regular municipality on June 25, 1963 by executive order
No. 42. Centrally located in the heartlands of the Apayao, it has common boundaries with all
municipalities of Apayao except Sta. Marcela. Pudtol bound it on the northeast and Flora, on
the east by the province of Cagayan, directly on its south is the municipality of Conner. On
the west, the province of Abra bound it. Kabugao has a total land area of 806.4 sq. kilometres
with a population count of 11,200 as of 1990 reflecting therefore a population density of 12
person’s square kilometre. The present population of Kabugao is made up predominantly of
the native Isnegs, which make up 95 percent of the total population. The rest are Ilocanos and
immigrants from Cagayan.

A fifth class municipality, it has rich potentials in minerals timber resources. Its
highland areas are also alive with tourism potentials and minerals and timber resources like
its mountain lakes and wholesome climate. To reach Kabugao, a road now likes its mountain
lakes and wholesome climate. To reach Kabugao, a road now links the municipality of
Conner. The Apayao river is one of the vital waterways utilized by traders who market their
goods to the lowland areas.
 “Best Practices”

An indigenous practice to honor and give respect to a departed family member of the
Isnag Tribe in Apayao has played a key role to preserve the local environment and natural
resources, making this little known province in the Cordillera the newest home of the
Philippine eagle.

Through the “Lapat” (which means prohibited or off-limits) a customary belief that
Isnag people have been practicing for generations, a specific area is designated by community
members as sacred. This public declaration happens after the death of its owner or occupant,
making an area off limits to the public, including immediate family members.

Once declared as lapat, nobody can enter this property be it a portion of a house, a
river, a mountain or a forest where the deceased frequently stayed in his lifetime.

Jovie Balag-Gaspar, a resident of the village of Malibang in Pudtol town, describes

the lapat system as a show of love and respect to a departed Isnag family member.

Allan Gobrin, a teacher and a former employee of the Apayao tourism who studied
indigenous practices, says trespassers face severe penalties, including getting cursed by the
spirit of the dead.

He or she will be subjected to “awat” the Isnag’s tradition of punishing trespassers by

inviting them to a dialogue with elders and making them pay for damages. (Trespassers) are
asked to butcher any four-legged animal or give an amount that would satisfy the demands of
the bereaved family, Says Gobrin.

The town of Pudtol, Calanasan and Kabugao are inhabited mostly by Isnag people.
Most of the upland villages practice the lapato system, which reinforces the governments
environment protection and management program.
 “My Prayer”

We try to grow in our awareness that God can be found in all people, in all creation,
actively at work in the world. Our way of praying helps us to pay more attention to God, and
helps us understand and identify his action in our lives and in the world around us.
 My book of life

There’s a saying that man’s day are like those of grace, like a flower of the field be
blooms, the wind sweeps over him and he is gone and place knows him no more. During my
childhood stage, my mother is part of our development as we grow, when I was in this stages
my parents helped me to improve my knowledge by the way of discipline and learning.

When I was five years old, my parents decided to enrol me in a government

preparatory school. With all manned and discipline that my teacher is showing to us. I
learned to fix myself as a way of good grooming and obeying my parents will. High school
life every moment is remarkable. In this stage, I had a crush. When I already in the first step
of high school life. I am very happy it was my first time to study for secondary level. I was
been enrolled at Kabugao, Agro, Industrial High School in Mallag, Luttuacan, Kabugao,
Apayao.

I exert effort on studying my lessons because of my will to become what I want to be

even though my classmates have a brighter knowledge that I, but didn’t feel haughty on
dealing with them. Yet oftentimes it brings ease why my memory allows me to glance one
more through the spectrum of tears and laughter’s shared in being in togetherness. Those
pleasant moments of high school line will always remain in my heart and my memory. In this
trip that I didn’t neglect to ride in, my high school memories make me who I am. The years
that I spend and have undergone in my daily experience where I draw new lessons to a
meaningful existence that will linger and the forever when I go forwards my Journey to the
future.
 View of life

Is silence, it has to be spoke that I have come here from somewhere. I look back and
see traces. When I see goes beyond being the history as it is. The path was not always at its
best. Ti rained and it ruined to be able to move I cannot just be soaked. After that there is the
rainbow and smile that gladdens my personhood. I have come out not to boast but learn to
face the reality that is not always fair.

I go spinning so hard and yet I do not perspire for suffering is in its end and the only
joy that elates my being. The purification is the end of such suffering that can never be grasps
and comprehend by those that remain in the monitory of present.
 Dedication

In compilation of my book of life, I want to give my warmest dedication to my

parents, my brothers and sisters, my relatives, friends and my fellow student who supported
me in my endeavour through having you was not really a matter of my choice, still you had
filled me for what I am. You are my most valuable assets in life.
 Acknowledgement

I began to complete my book of life in my first nineteen years of my existence but

before I have something to be written. I needed inspiration, there must be instrument why I
have come up with this result. I thank all the people who gave me challenge to regain myself
confidence with all the realization and reflection since I was a newly created individual. My
family and friends who gave me joys and excitement, my relatives and other encountered
people who made me realized about the things I can along may way I experience loneliness
yet you remain as open arms and you always and you always understand my situation despite
the pressure of confusion, you always encourage and give me hope to rise and trust my
abilities that must be the person who ought to be.

Above all, to our almighty God for his infinite source of wisdom for designing my
life. I return all praise and give him my highest respect for the fulfilment of this simple
reference of mine. You are my lips where I always speak highly of you and you are in my
heart where I always love you.

May this book of life contribute to the vibrancy of every individual life.