A. Ethymology

Before the coming of settlers from Ilocos Region, Aparri was already a port of call of trade galleons coming in from Acapulco, Mexico. Spanish as well as Mexican goods were unloaded in Aparri and distributed in all parts of Cagayan in exchange of native commodities such as lumber, tobacco, fresh fish, rice, corn and vegetables. When the Spaniards came to Cagayan during the latter part of the 16th century, they discovered that the natives had long been in contact with the Chinese, Indians and the Japanese. Attesting to this are the artifacts unearthed dated back in pre-Spanish times and bore foreign linguistic elements present in the dialects of the people. Records show that the first castillan who sighted Aparri on 1572 was Juan de Salcedo, Legaspi’s grandson. He was also the first Spaniard to set foot in Aparri when he was sent by the authorities in Manila to drive away hordes of Japanese soldiers molesting the people along the seacoast and riverbanks. He landed on 1581 at what is now called Barangay Tallungan.

B. Creation

The authorities in Nueva Segovia (Lal-lo), the seat of the diocesan government in Northern Luzon recognized the primacy of Aparri as a trading post. On May 11, 1680, Aparri was granted ecclesiastical and political recognition; St. Peter Gonzales de Thelmo whose feast falls on the same day was installed as the town’s patron saint. The church and convent were inaugurated with Fray Agustin Ortega, O.P. as first parish priest and Aparri was likewise, inaugurated as a pueblo (town).