History of Tuao

When the early Spanish missionaries were busy laying the foundation of church late in the 16th
century at a site about six kilometers from the present town of Tuao, a big bird came circling
over them and then alighted on wooden cross erected to mark the place where the cornerstone
was laid. It flapped its wings noisily, cried “battuao, battuao, battuao” and then flew away.

The native laborers in construction stopped working and refuse to continue telling the priests that
the site had not been well chosen. They insisted that a party should find out the bird had flown
to. To humor the pagan natives, one of the priests allowed himself to be led by party or natives to
look for the mysterious bird. To his surprise, they found the bird serenely perched on top of tall
tree on edge of wide clearing ideal for town site. He sent one of the natives to call other priests,
who on their arrival, found the place much to their liking. And so the first church of Tuao was
constructed on the site where the present edifice now stands.

When the civil authorities founded the town in 1604, natives insisted that it be called Tuao.
Eight years later on May 13, 1612, Tuao was accepted ecclesiastically. Father Miguel de San
Jacinto, O.P. gave the town Santos Angeles Custudios (Holy Guardian Angels) as its patron
saints. The early missionaries were zealous evangelists and tactful pacifiers of warlike natives.
One of them was Father Francisco Capillas who later became the first martyr in China. First
parish priest, Father Juan B. Cano, O.P. worked patiently with people.
Late comer, Father Gabriel Serrano, O.P. built strong brick and mortar church, rectory
(convento) and fort (cotta) which the Spaniards and natives sought refuge every time the town
was raided by Kalingas from Caraballo ranges. Unfortunately, these priceless monuments to the
politicalization and evangelization of Tuao by Spaniards were destroyed by strong earthquake on
December 29, 1749. In protest of abuses committed by some Spanish civil petty officials and
soldiers, the inhabitants of Tuao and neighboring Malaueg, rose in revolt in 1781 under
Magtangaga and Tomas Sinaguingan. The uprising was put down by Capitan Juan Pablo de
Orduna.

Tuao became part of events during World War II as the seat of successful renaissance
government of Governor Marcelo Adduru. Japanese forces garrisoned the town when Adduru
was captured late in 1943 but he returned shortly after having been freed by his guerilla soldiers
early in 194. Donald Blackburn, assisted by his intelligence officer Lt. Mariano D. Manawis,
from prominent Daquial family of Tuao, very bright and forward thinking man who revitalized
intelligence operations for 11th infantry. Template:Rp112-113; staged from Tuao, his guerilla
headquarters, attacks against Japanese in Tuguegarao.After the war, inhabitants work in silent
diligence. Most of them used their brawn to make living, they are independent from outside help
and are friendly people.