Barangays > Tuban

Brief History

According to the story which was handed down orally from one generation to another by the old residents of Tuban, prior to the coming of the Spaniards to the Philippines, the Muslim traders were already bartering goods with the ancestors of the indigenous people living in this place. Since the two groups used to meet here, they called this settlement as Tutuban which means meeting place. Many years later, the name was shortened and became Tuban.

During the American regime, the number of indigenous people living in Tuban decreased. On the other hand, the wide plain adjacent to this settlement became the agricultural estate of Arellano family. Herds of cattle and carabaos were raised in the estate. Some indigenous people were hired as helpers of the cattle raiser. Nevertheless, after a few years they transferred to the mountains.

After World War II, groups of Igorot and Ilocano farmers arrived at Arellano Estate. Due to the increase in the number of inhabitants, the estate became a barrio called Arellano and Tuban was classified as a sitio under its jurisdiction. Later on the name of Barrio Arellano was changed to Batong Buhay.

When bloody encounters between government troops and members of the Hukbalahap movement erupted in Central Luzon many families of farmers from Central Luzon transferred to Sablayan. Tuban was one of the places where they settled. Families of Igorots and those from the Visayan and Tagalog regions who were looking for vacant lands to till also arrived and settled here.

As the population of Tuban grew, some leaders of the community talked with the local officials of Sablayan and requested to elevate the sitio to the status of a barangay. Among the leaders who requested the separation of this community from Batong Buhay were Solon Dantay, Pablo Malano, Alberto Cacho and Felipe Magno.

For various reasons, the dream of the said leaders of the sitio to separate Tuban from Batong Buhay was not realized. During the latter part of 1990, two other leaders of the sitio revived the said request to the municipal officials of Sablayan. They were Pedro dela Cruz and Alberto Cacho. This time the request was given attention. On February 8, 1991, on motion of Councilor Lising seconded by Councilor Silva, members of the Municipal Council of Sablayan approved the resolution creating the barangay of Tuban. The said resolution was approved by Mayor Godofredo Mintu. When it was forwarded to the provincial government, it was immediately approved by the members of the provincial board and Governor Pedro Medalla, Jr.

In the 1991 Election, Pedro dela Cruz was elected as the first barangay captain of Tuban. The sitios placed under his jurisdiction were Buscad, Parang, Magsaysay, Tuban Proper, Cayatas, Tagbungan and Tabtaban.

During the term of office of Brgy. Captain dela Cruz, a survey was conducted on the barangay site where residential houses were constructed. The building of the barangay hall was started and the wooden bridge in Cayatas was constructed.

When Brgy. Captain dela Cruz suddenly died, Brgy. Kagawad Delia Cachola succeeded him as the leader of the barangay. In 1994, she was elected by the people. Among her visible accomplishments were: the completion of the construction of the barangay hall; the building of Phase I of the Brgy. Health Center, two waiting sheds, basketball court, double barrel box culvert, barangay road and flagpole.

Ligaya National High School opened extension classes in Tuban during the early part of Decade 90’s. Years later, the school became independent and is now known as Tuban National High School..

In 1997, Rolando Perez was elected as barangay captain of Tuban. Some of his projects were the painting of the barangay hall, construction of classrooms for the public high school and the day care center. Brgy. Capt. Perez was reelected as the barangay captain of Tuban, the position he holds up to the present time.