Dipaculao

Early history and etymology

The name "Dipaculao" was first documented in Spanish records in 1719, when the Misión de San Miguel de Dipaculao was established by the Franciscan priest Sebastián de la Madre de Dios.^[6][7][8] The mission was aimed at converting the indigenous Ilongot people who lived on the preexisting settlement variously recorded as either "Ipaculao" or "Dipaculao." The mission was headed by a series of Franciscan missionaries originating from Baler, though they were all largely unsuccessful at converting the Ilongot and the nearby Casiguran Dumagat Agta.^[8]

By 1870, the settlement was recorded as being depopulated and largely abandoned by the Ilongot, who had moved to rancherías (indigenous villages) closer to the Spanish settlement of Casignan (also spelled "Casecnan" or "Casiguan", now Maria Aurora) to grow rice and various crops for trade in local markets.^[8] The few remaining inhabitants of the settlement that arrived with the Spanish are believed to have primarily consisted of Ilocano migrants, since the mission was recorded as Ilocano-speaking in Spanish publications from as early as 1865 and 1869.^[8][9]

The mission and the original native settlement was bounded by Casiguran to the far north, Baler to the south, and Casignan to the northwest. It was situated on an island bordered by the saltwater Dipaculao River, which merges with the Casignan River (also known under the names Bicanili and Cabatangan) to the north, and an unnamed river to the southeast of Baler.^[10][11]

It is unknown if the settlement was named after the Dipaculao River or vice-versa. The location of the Dipaculao River is also now unclear due to changes in river topography. It is likely the same river that now flows through Lobbot, Lipit, and Ipil. The prefix "di-" ("of the" or "coming from"), is a common prefix in Ilongot place names of the Ilongot people; the meaning of the other component is unknown.^[12]

American colonial period

In 1921, more migrants from Central Luzon (mostly Ilocanos from neighboring Nueva Ecija, La Union, and Pangasinan) settled in Dipaculao.^[13][14] Igorots from the Cordilleras also came down to lived alongside Ilocanos and the aboriginal Ilongot.^[14][15] Other ethnic groups who came to and stayed in Dipaculao include Christianized Gaddang and Isinai settlers who settled the surrounding lowlands of Baler Bay, Gaddang from Nueva Vizcaya and Mountain Province, and Isinai from Nueva Vizcaya.^[16] Later that year, the large strip of land where the municipality is located was returned to Tayabas (present-day Quezon Province).^[17]

Modern era

On November 27, 1950, Dipaculao was converted from a barrio of Baler into an independent municipality of Quezon via Executive Order No. 375 by President Elpidio Quirino, with 16 other barrios of Baler were annexed to the new municipality.^[18] Anacleto Mijares was the first Municipal Mayor, and oversaw the transition.^[19] It later became part of Quezon's sub-province of Aurora beginning in 1951.^[20]

On June 21, 1957, the sitios of Dimabuno, Laboy, Dinadiawan and Puangi were converted into barrios.^{[21][22][23][24]} Several more sitios were converted into barrios on June 18, 1966.^[25]

The municipality later separated from Quezon and became part of the new province of Aurora on August 13, 1979.^[26]

Barangays

Dipaculao is politically subdivided into 25 barangays, as shown in the matrix below.^[28] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Climate

Primary and elementary schools

Secondary schools

Higher educational institution

• Dipaculao College of Science and Technology