FROM THE 158TH FOUNDING ANNIVERSARY YEARBOOK
ACHIEVING, GROWING AND SHINNING THROUGH THE THIRD MILLENNIUM

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND.

The province of Nueva Vizcaya, named after the people living in the coast of Mar de Vizcaine in Spain, was in the beginning of the 19th century part of the vast "Territorio de Missiones" of the Spanish controlled government of Cagayan. The territory covered the eastern half of the Northern Luzon from Nueva Vizcaya to Aparri, including the Batanes Islands.

On May 24, 1839, Governor-General Luis Lardizaval upon the advice of the Alcalde Mayor of Cagayan issued an order creating Nueva Vizcaya into a separate politico-military province. The order was approved by the King of Spain through a Degree on April 10, 1941. Gov Pedro Menchaca was the first appointed politico-military governor of the new province. The Spanish sovereignty ceased upon the arrival of the Philippine Revolutionary forces in Bayombong on August 1898.

The province had its first taste of civil government in 1902 when it was organized by the Philippine commission. The present territory of Nueva Vizcaya was the result of changes emanating from the formal creation of the province of Isabela in May 1865, wherein a great portion of its northern territory was ceded to the new-born province. The organization in 1908 of the province of Ifugao further reduced the area of Nueva Vizcaya which was forced to give up its northwest territory. The survey executed by the Bureau of Lands in 1914 further caused the diminution of its area and reduce again upon the enactment of the Administrative Code in 1917. Even with these slices of land given away to new and emerging territories, the province of Nueva Vizcaya still held a wide territory. But again in 1971, with the passage of RP act no 6392, Quirino, which was then a subprovince of Nueva Vizcaya was separated from its mother province and made into a regular province.

Since its birth as a province its history could still be reflected from the culture and customs of the early settlers which included the Ilongots, Igorots, Ifugaos, Isinais, and the Gaddangs. The influx of civilization and infusion of modern technology to the life steam of its province induced many immigrants from the adjacent provinces primarily the Ilocanos, Tagalog, Pangasinanses, Kapampangan, etc to migrate to this province. The conglomeration of many people from the province is a recognition of the province's vast and unexplored potentials.

Its remarkable progress, after 158 years since its establishment, could be attributed to the unity and resourcefulness of the Novo Vizcayanos who are culturally diverse bit with a unified purpose. Of the total population, a cultural research foundation shows that 52% can speak Filipino and 47% English language; 63% claim Iloko as their mother tongue; 10% Ifugao; 7% Tagalog; 4% Ibaloi; 2% Gaddang, 2% Isinai; 1% plus Kankana-ey; and 1% Bugkalot (Ilongot); Iloko dialect is considered the "Lingua Franka!" in the province because it is primarily spoken in all municipalities except Ambaguio, Castaneda, Kasibu and Kayapa where Kankana-ey, Ibaloi, Kalanguya (Kalahan) and Bugkalot are the dominant dialects.

Nueva Vizcaya, which is in upgraded from a third class to a second class province, has indeed metamorphosed from a once-sleepy but pristine territory to a fast-developing province-socially culturally, and economically.

In a valley where there's peace
and happiness
where people praise the country's
noble sires
Lie the rolling plains and
hills so blest
where everyone enjoys the
toilers share
behold the fields with all the
golden grains
The teeming trees crowning the<img src
Sierra Range
Winding Magat and Salinas Spring
That is our Vizcaya Home.

We sons and daughters of Vizcaya
Shall forever be noble and freee
Dedicate our lives for Vizcaya
Loyal we shall ever be

We love thy banner Oh Vizcaya
We give thee our hearst and hands
All together we sing the splendor
Of our land of our beloved
VIZCAYA