History of Bayombong

The history of the municipality of Bayombong could be claimed to be on April 12, 1739. with a first mass celebrated by Reverent Father Pedro Freire, an Augustinian Priest, in a temporary chapel set at the foot of Bangan Hill.

Prior to the arrival of the Spaniards, the town was inhabited by the Ifugaos and in 1718 they were followed by the Gaddanes from Daruyat, Angadanan, Isabela, and Amanga, Cagayan and the Malaates from Isabela. The Gaddanes, known today as the Gaddangs, were fierce warriors and drove away the Ifugaos to their new settlement in Ifugao province.

The name Bayombong came from the Gaddang word "bayongyong" which means confluence of a mighty river. Bayongyongs are bamboos about two meters long used by Maalats to carry fresh water from wells built along the river banks, During the 1st tribal war between the Maalats and the Gaddanes, the Maalats lost and retreated leaving behind scattered bayongyongs. The place was thus named Bayumbung as a sign of Gaddanes' first victory. The term was later changed by the Spanish friars to "Bayombong" to mellow the harsh, unpleasant and hard sounding word "Bayumbung".

After 15 years from its foundation on 1740, the town Bayombong was administered by friars, local governance was focus on education and religious activities. The year 1754 marked the beginning of the formal organization of local government with the appointment of a CAPITAN DEL PUEBLO as the chief executive followed by five (5) more until the year 1765. On 1789, the title of the chief executive was changed to GOBERNADORCILLO and on 1893 was again changed to CAPITAN MUNICIPAL. During the revolutionary government on 1896, the PRESIDENTE LOCAL was the term used for the chief executive but this again was changed to MAYOR on 1937 as per provision of the Commonwealth Constitution.

Bayombong is a first-class municipality and one of the biggest towns of the province in terms of development and is centrally located amidst surrounding mountain ranges. Bayombong is the capital town of the province of Nueva Vizcaya and it is in this municipality that the seat of the Provincial Government and where various National Government Offices are located. The municipality is also known as the educational center of the Province.