The town was originally part of
Rosario and known as
Lumang Bayan or
Sambat. It officially became a separate municipality on December 1, 1949 through
Executive Order No. 279 signed by
President Elpidio Quirino on October 11, 1949, with José A. Pesigan and Rústico K. Recto as the first elected mayor and vice mayor, respectively. It originally consisted of barrios Banaba, Banay-banay, Bawi, Castillo, Maugat, Lumang Bayan (
población), Pansol, Payapa, Quilo-quilo, San Miguel, San Felipe, and Tangob. In 1952, the town council founded the cattle market or
bakahan in direct competition to the established one of neighboring Rosario. This resulted in rivalry, intimidation, and violence at times, but the market succeeded and became the biggest in
Southern Tagalog. Cattle trade happens every Friday of the week. ==Geography==