Dupax del Sur, officially the Municipality of Dupax del Sur, is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines. At the 2020 census, it had a population of 21,224 people.
Etymology
The name Dupax came from the Isinay word "dopaj" which means "to lie down in complete relaxation and rest", the thing the natives wanted to do, upon repairing their camp and eating their catch, after hunting in the forest and before going homes.
Prior to the establishment of Dupax, the site of what would be its town proper served as a camp for hunters from surrounding tribal settlements.
The area, either a plain or a valley, was located near their hunting grounds, and became their settlement as the town of Dopaj. After the Spanish arrived, the name was spelled as Dupax due to the Spanish orthography of the time.
History
The town of Dupax was first discovered by Luis Pérez Dasmariñas in 1591. Eighteen years later, the mission was established by the Dominicans, but was later abandoned due to territorial disputes with the Franciscans.
Colonization seemed difficult for decades. In 1717, Fr. Alejandro Cacho came on mission to Dupax and established Christian communities. In June 1726, Spanish Augustinian missionaries arrived in the locality. On April 22, 1731, Dupax was formally founded by Fr. Nicolas Norbantes and Fr. Agustin San Juan, making it the oldest surviving municipality of Nueva Vizcaya.
In the early 18th century, Dupax was inhabited by three tribal groups. The Caraos from Benguet lived with the Isinays, the town's first inhabitants, in the present territory. The other two were the Mala-ats and the Bugcalots.
Mala-ats, original settlers found by the Spanish colonizers in Dupax, are said to be ancestors of the Isinais who now inhabit the locality. They were forced to migrate to the hinterlands as ethnic groups from other provinces, especially the Ilocanos, Igorots, lfugaos, arrived before and after the turn of the century.
The original town of Dupax was the largest municipality of Nueva Vizcaya in terms of land area. The first head of the town, was Mandalito, an Ilongot. Eventually three prominent mem representing the three tribal districts were appointed, namely: Dayag, who headed the Mala-ats; Tiun Pising, who headed the Igorots, and Bartolo, who headed the Ilongots.
As early as 1928, during the term of mayor Inocencio Suson, attempts were made to transfer the seat to Barrio Malasin. However, the plan was eventually materialized with a bill authored by Representative Leonardo B. Perez. By virtue of Republic Act (RA) No. 1181 approved on June 20, 1954, the seat of government was transferred from old poblacion to Barrio Malasin.
Dupax was later divided into three separate municipalities. RA No. 6372, sponsored by Representative Benjamin Perez and Senator Leonardo Perez, was approved on August 16, 1971, dividing Dupax into two new municipalities: Dupax del Norte and Dupax del Sur, which would consist the old poblacion of Dupax, designated as the seat of government, nine barrios and fifteen sitios. The creation of this municipality was ratified in a plebiscite held on November 8, 1971; the division was implemented through Presidential Decree No. 586 promulgated by President Ferdinand Marcos on November 20, 1974.
In 1979, through Batas Pambansa Blg. 27 approved by Marcos, the municipality of Alfonso Castañeda was established upon separation of two barangays, including Lublub which was designated the seat of government, and seven sitios in the municipality, along with parts of Dupax del Norte.
Geography
Barangays
Dupax del Sur is politically subdivided into 19 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
Abaca
Bagumbayan
Balzain
Banila
Biruk
Canabay
Carolotan
Domang
Dopaj
Gabut
Ganao (Lingad) Kimbutan Kinabuan Lukidnon Mangayang Palabotan Sanguit Santa Maria Talbek
Climate
Culture
The town hosts the San Vicente Ferrer Church (Dupax del Sur), which is also known as the Dupax Church or Dopaj Church. The heritage structure is an 18th-century Baroque church located at Barangay Dopaj. The parish church, under the advocation of Saint Vincent Ferrer, is under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bayombong. The church complex has been declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines in July 2001. Its construction was finished in 1776, making it older than other heritage structures in the entire country.