:.BRIEF HISTORY OF CLAVERIA.:

Most of the founding fathers of Claveria came from the general directions of Pasuquin and Vintar, both towns of the province of Ilocos Norte, more than a century ago. Driven by their daring tenacity and courage to search for better life and greener pastures, they blazed their trail northeastward crossing the Caraballo Mountain Ranges, popularly known later as Calvario because of the dangers of its winding, precipitous and muddy roads.

When they reached a vast area of forest beside a river, which was teeming with fish, and plenty of lilies called bakung, they decided to clear the area and developed it into a settlement. They called their place Kabakungan meaning where the bakungs are. The name later evolved into Kabikungan.

The settlers were engaged mostly in fishing. So there was a move to transfer the settlement near the seashore. But the Spanish missionaries protested because of the church that was constructed as the center of their faith.

The marauding pirates called tirong from the south seas raided the settlement. They plundered the place, burned some dwellings and destroyed the church, which later was ruined by strong earthquakes and inequities of time and weather. The site of the church was then called Nagsimbaanan, now called Pontoon.

The event paved the way to the transfer of the settlement.

The Spanish Governor General Narciso Claveria initiated a vigorous campaign against the marauding pirates. He was conferred the Grand Cross of San Fernando by the Queen of Spain for his success that sounded the death-knell of the outlaws in 1848.

Governor General Claveria visited Kabikungan during a fiesta of thanksgiving. He docked his ship beside the river. The residents presented their petition that the settlement become a separate town.

Kabikungan then was a part of Pamplona, a town 40 kilometers away.

:.CLAVERIA AT A GLANCE.:

The municipality is one of the 29 towns of the province of Cagayan, Region II (Cagayan Valley). Its exquisite beauty, impressive growth and progress attract migrants, tourists and visitors. Its cleanliness and the hospitality of its people make anyone's stay truly satisfying. Claveria lies on the northwestern

portion of the province of Cagayan. It is approximately 185.3 kilometers from Tuguegarao, the provincial and regional center of Cagayan Valley. It is approximately 613.0 kilometers from Manila via Ilocos Region. It is bounded on the north by the Babuyan Channel; It is bounded on the north by the Babuyan Channel; on the east by the municipality of Sanchez Mira; on the south by the province of Kalinga Apayao and on the west by the municipality of Sta. Praxedes. It is the second municipality of Cagayan coming from Ilocos Provinces.

The Claveria Town Hall.

It is very much accessible because of the concrete surfaced national road that traverses it from east to west.

The approximate area of the municipality is 194.0 square kilometers or 19,400 hectares; 46.96% is agricultural; 21.69% is occupied by residential houses and institutions 30.85% is covered by forest land and 0.5% is being utilized commercially.

Claveria has a total population of approximately 26,531 with 41 barangays, 13 coastal barangays and the rest are situated in the rural areas. Its topography is from plain to mountains.

The town, being endowed with vast plains and rich bodies of water, is primarily an agricultural area. The two (2) main source of income of the populace is farming and fishing, as it is gifted with the very rich China Sea and Kabikungan River. It is in Claveria where you can find all the various economic zones: forests, valleys, plains, rivers, springs and open sea bottom.

Commercial activity in Claveria is basically centered in the poblacion, which comprises wholesale trade, retail trade and manufacturing of furniture and crops.

Tourist spots like the famous Lakay-lakay, Baket-baket, Ubing-ubing, Clean Claveria Beach, Lagoon, and Mabnang Falls are also found in the municipality. The availability of amenities like resorts assures comfort and convenience for guests who come to visit the place especially during the summer season. The abundance of seafoods such as lobsters, "kusimay", various species of tuna, among others keep visitors in coming back to Claveria.

Tourism, fishing, diversified farming, manufacturing of furniture and metal works are just few of the many investment potentials of the municipality. To enhance the growth of these industries, the Local Government Unit of Claveria has instituted various economic reforms. Included in these programs are the improvement of the foreshore areas, coastal resources and environmental management project which involve the rehabilitation, and conservation of coastal and forest resources, the proper zoning and implementation of the land use plan and the enactment of the revenue code of Claveria, among others.

Claveria made another significant accomplishment by way of achieving the Hall of Fame Award for the Region's Outstanding Municipality of the Year from 1999-2001; Region's Outstanding Local Legislative of the Year as well as the Most Business-Friendly LGU in the Philippines. These accomplishments were made possible through the collaborated efforts of the concerned government agencies, local officials, non-government organizations and the private sector.

Claveria is likewise known as the haven of the two most successful and renowned cooperatives in the Philippines. These cooperatives are the Claveria Agri-based Multi-purpose Cooperative, Inc. and Claveria Grassroots Multi-purpose Cooperative, Inc. Undoubtedly, these cooperatives contributed to the socio-economic development of the municipality through its various services, such as lending, trading, marketing, communication network servicing and growth of business establishments.

Claveria, known as the City of Palm and the Coastal Paradise of the North is likewise blessed with vast resources and industrious, hardworking, religious and hospitable Claverianos.

(Source: 2002 Claveria Town Fiesta Souvenir Program)