Barangay Calanigan Norte

Calanigan Norte is a barangay located in the Southern part of the municipality of Santo Tomas, Isabela Province. It is approximately five (5) kilometers away from the Poblacion. It will take a 10 to 15-minute drive by an ordinary vehicle. A group of Ilocanos from Ilocos Norte traveled from the cities of Vintar and Bacarra in the late 19th century, between 1890 and 1899, in quest of better lands. They are Francisco Viernes, Eulogio Galasinao, Comelio Barut, Carlos Cafirma, and Fermin Acorda. They went day and night along the Pasuquin, Locos Norte coast to Aparri, Cagayan before realizing they had reached Cagayan and landing at Isabela, especially Banco, Cabagan, which is now a part of Santo Tomas, east of Barangay Calanigan. The area was beneficial, plentiful, and rich in natural resources when travelers halted which made them choose to stay to clear the fertile land. According to its inhabitant ancestors, during the early times, Calanigan was a place of virgin forest with different plant species. Among these plants, a type of vine was discovered as the dominant plant in the area. It was growing throughout the place and it reaches up over the top of the trees. This vine is fascinating to look at due to its purple color. Inhabitants in the place used the vine in fastening their Kubo or shelter and in making ropes for tethering their carabaos and cattle. Because of its abundance and usefulness, it was decided to name the place “Lanig”. After adding the prefix “Ca” and the suffix “an”, the word “Calanigan” was formed which means vines of lanig. The following list was the first 16 families to establish Barangay Calanigan: • Carlos Cafirma, • Fermin Acorda, • Dionisio Galasinao, • Eulogio Galasinao, • Gregorio Viernes, • Juan Saguisi, • Cafalino Balete, • Apolonio Calma, • Francisco Viernes, • Leon Butac, • Cornelio Barut, • Julian Saguitan, and • four others whose names are unknown After a lengthy period of hardship, the area became ready for human habitation. Rice paddies were built on the west, corn and tobacco plantations were made on the east, and houses were constructed in the middle. They talked about titling each piece of the land separately. After a few years, the area progressively changed from a rice field and farmland to a residential area. In 1969, Calanigan was divided into three barangays: Bagabag, Calanigan Sur, and Calanigan Norte due to the political rivalry of able leaders.