DUMANG,
ABANATAN- LITTLE CREEK

THE SOURCE
The name of the town of Dupax in Vizcaya comes from the Isinay word "Dopaj". By Dopaj the Isinays meant "to lie down in complete relaxation". According to folklores that have survived from generation to generation, even long before the founding fathers founded the municipality, the site of what eventually became the "poblacion" or town center of Dupax used to serve as a roaring camp for primitive hunters from surrounding tribal settlements. After hard days of hunting in the nearby mountains, the hunters would retire to the camp where they would feast on their catch of wild animals. When they were through with their brand of merry-making "they would lie down and relax completely" before getting up again in order to return to their respective homes. Proximately because the camping area which is a plain or a valley, was near therir hunting grounds, they finally decided to settle there permanently, together with their families.

In time, the town's name metamorphosed into, and came to be called as Dupax upon the coming of the Spaniards who for convenience, substituted the letter X in lieu of letter J. And this was how the municipality of Dupax came into being.

The orignal town of Dupax without doubts is the largest municipality of the province of Nueva Vizcaya in terms of land area. IN 1971 Congress passed into law Republic Act 6372 otherwise known as "An act creating the Municipality of Dupax del Norte in the Province of Nueva Vizcaya, sponsored by Congressman Benjamin B Perez.
 
 

It could be said however that the division of Dupax has had some historical basis. As early as 1725, the municpality of Dupax was said to be inhabited by two tribes, the Maalats and the Caraos, The Maalats, led by a chieftain named Dayag, occupied an area which is now know as Parai (in Deupax del Norte) and the Caraos, led by Chieftain Tiyun Pising lived with the Isinays (Dupax del Sur).
 
 

As early as 1928, during the term of Municipal President Inocensio Suzon, there were already attempts to transfer the townhall to Malasin because of its strategically location. On November 28m 1931, during the incubency of Municipal President Tranquilino Orden, the Municipal Council approved Resolution sponsored by Victoriano Barroga proposing the transfer of the seat of Municipal government from the old poblacion to Malasin.

Present make up of the town population drastically changed when the Ilocanos came to settle in the outlying barrios.

--to be continued---Nestor Palugod Enriquez dntg66a@prodigy.com

e-mai for one of Dupax favorite son...