History of Baggao
Long before the issuance of the Royal Decree which officially detached the towns as a barrio of Ammulung in 1896, the place has already become famous as a hunting ground. The IBANAGS who frequently hunted in the area, used to wash their catch in a big mud hole which they called ABBAGAOAN meaning a place to wash, became a noted landmark from which the name of the municipality was eventually derived.
With the formal creation of Baggao as a separate municipality, Rev. Fr. Pedro Vicandi, O.P. who was then the Parish Priest of the area, was designated officer-in-charge of the town. His chapel, and at the same time, the town hall was built atop of a hill one kilometer southeast of the old municipal building. However, the old municipal building was razed by the lawless elements in 1985.
On April 18,1899 Fr. Vicandi fled the area when Col. Daniel Tirona, under Gen. E. Aguinaldo, visited the Town and put to flame the friar's shanty.However, in the restored, Don Rafael Catolico took over as the first mayor of the New Pueblo Civil.
Today, Baggao boast 48 barangays, a testament to continues influx of people who have been drawn to this fertile and vibrant municipality. While Poblacion, the town center founded way back when, has a rich history, the future of Baggaois looking bright, with with San Jose barangay now serving as the seat of the municipal government.
