History has it that in 1903, Tadian was just a barrio with a recorded population of 56. It functioned as a barrio or barangay of Kayan, which was at that time the seat of the municipal government for a long time. On March 29, 1959, Congressman Luis Hora authored a bill which became Republic Act 2101, transferring the site of the “municipio” from Kayan to Tadian. This pave the way to Tadian in becoming a regular municipality on June 25, 1963 under Executive Order (E.O.) No, 42. Kayan became a barangay of Tadian and at present, was divided into two barangays, namely; Kayan East & Kayan west.

1. Transportation

Tadian is accessible to all types of vehicle. It can be reached from Baguio City by 5-6 hours ride through buses (Rising Sun, A Trans) passing through the historic Halsema Highway. It can be reached also from Bontoc by 2-2 ½ hours ride through vans, public utility jeepneys and mini-bus. Tadian also is near at Cervantes, Ilocos Sur by 30 min. to 1 hour ride only.

There are trips daily to Baguio City emanating from the three zones of the municipality with one trip coming from Aluling, Ilocos Sur, just about 2 kms. away from Cervantes, daily trips to Bontoc are eight and one trip to Abatan, Buguias, Benguet.

18 out of the 19 barangays of this town are accessible by vehicle. Barangay Mabalite which is inaccessible for most period of the year is accessible only during summer season.

Tadian municipality was classified as a 5th class municipality but the Department of Finance, effective CY-2002 classified it as a fourth class municipality. It depends largely on its share from the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) from the National Government. Table 8 shows that 84.90% of its income for the year 2002 which also reflect the previous years, came from its share on IRA. Only 15% of the estimated revenue came from the local collections. It is interesting to note also that only 1.68% of the total revenue came from its collection on local taxes. Basically, Tadian municipal government can not survive without its share from the national wealth. 20% of the IRA goes to development project.

From: http://www.facebook.com/groups/249789087789/

As per record, the municipality has the following list of leaders and their leadership tenure. These leaders however starts from Kayan District to the transfer of the Municipality to Tadian up to present.

1. Don Camso 1904 -1906
2. Atanacio San Jose 1907 - 1910
3. Lino Cardenas 1911 - 1913
4. Regidor (Bantew) Bernardez 1914 -1915
5. Panoten Calomba 1917 - 1919
6. Jose Marrero 1920 - 1922
7. Calvo Caligtan 1923 - 1925
8. Juan Bernardez 1926 - 1928
9. Marcelino Gaqui 1929 - 1931
10. Martial Mutiac 1932 - 1935
11. Luis Lamnao 1936 - 1940
12. Dagiw-a Angaga 1941 - 1942
13. Faustino Bay-asen 1943 - 1944
14. Luis Hora 1945 - 1946
15. Celestino Opig 1946 - 1947
16. Don Keeg 1948 - 1950
17. Tomas Benafin 1951 - 1955
18. Raymundo Martin 1955 - 1956
19. Daniel Perez 1957 - 1960
20. Honorio Dominguez 1966 - 1966
21. Faustino Wali 1966 - 1968
22. Delfin Ting 1969 - 1980
23. Harry Dominguez 1980 - 1986
24. Benjamin Sabling 1986 - 1987
25. Ernesto Maguen 1987 - 1987
26, Saturnino Uyod 1987 - 1988
27. Antonio Sudaypan 1988 - 1991
28. John Malamnao 1991 - 1998
29. Evelyn Taclobao 1998
30. Sorero A Gullod 1998 - 2001
31. Constito S. Masweng 2001 – 2011

32. Anthony Wooden 2011 - present

As per existing sources, it is the time of Raymundo Martin from 1955 – 1956 that the transition of transferring the seat of municipal government from Kayan to Tadian. It is also Daniel Perez who first occupied the new constructed municipal building, which is the present Municipal Capital now. Mayor Harry Dominguez set the fire burning on the desire of the construction of road in zone III which eventually realized during the time of Mayor Antonio Sudaypan. The time of Mayor Malamnao also saw the concreting of the main roads in Kayan and Tadian and the opening of Nacawang–Mabalite road and Masla –Duagan road as well as the establishment of Mountain Province State Polythecnic College.

There are 19 barangays comprising the municipality that are divided into three zones, namely;

Zone 1 – The central part, consist of barangays Poblacion , Kayan East,
Kayan West, Bunga, Balaoa and Tue.
Zone 11 – Called the “Sulumabado” derived its name from barangays
Sumadel, Lubon, and Masla. Other barangays are Duagan, Mabalite, Bantey and Batayan.
Zone III – Called the “Sunnyside” or Demang in the local vernacular is famous
of its Gawaan lake, which is situated near the foot of Mt. Clitoris or the
so-called Mogaw hill. Barangays consisting this zones are Banaao,
Pandayan, Cadad-anan, Lenga, Dacudac and Cagubatan, where the
famous enchanted eel is found.

The municipal public market of Tadian is located at the Poblacion.

Tadian is the center of high school education of western Mountain Province from the pre-war times up to the present. History tells that the Holy Rosary High School in Kayan is among the first established high school in the province where its first graduates came from the different municipalities of Bontoc namely: Tadian, Bauko, Sabangan, Besao and Sagada. The establishment of Tadian School of Art and Trades, the first trade school established in the province saw the presence of enrollees from the different municipalities.

At present, Tadian still enjoys its role as the center of education of the west, because of the presence of College in the locality, the Engineering Department of Mountain Province State Polytechnic College that offers engineering courses, education and Masteral courses.

Socio-cultural development:

The inhabitants of Tadian municipality came from different places of origin. The early settlers that inhabited the barangays of Zone III or Demang in the local vernacular that covers the barangays of Bana-ao, Cadad-anan, Cagubatan, Dacudac, Lenga and Pandayan came from Miligan or Namiligan. A place just below the Inodey falls and Lesseb, Bauko. The people here are now called to belong to the Kankanaey Tribe. The early settlers that inhabited the rest of the barangays of Tadian that covers the central part (Zone I) and Sulumaside(Zone II) were believed to have came from Dallican and Cayos of the Ilocos Coast and are now called to belong to the Applai tribe.

The Socio-cultural characteristics of these two tribes of Tadian can be traced back to the early ages. As in the past, they still have common cultural practices such as conducting yearly begnas or festivals (before planting and before harvesting) and other form of kanao or sida. At present, they wear no more their G-string and tapis as their main clothing, they wear these clothings during special occasions and festivals as their special clothings.

It is said that the dead remains as their spiritual adviser in such a way that the family should leave their place when the crop is not bountiful, or when a member feels ill or when bad luck besets them. It is their belief that the spirit of the dead does not want to stay there anymore and not blame on any outside circumstances. Thus, explains their being migratory or nomadic.

At present, most people of the municipality are christianized which saw the declined of conduct of the so many cultural practices in the past. People already are selective, only the goods ones are continued while the considered hindrances to their growth economically and spiritually are being left and sometimes forgotten by this generation.

Mother Tongue

there are 16,165 or 98.40% of the total population in 1995 speaks kankanaey followed by Ilocano at 0.60% or 98 persons and the rest are distributed to the different dialect found in the locality. Kankana-ey is the commonly spoken dialect in the municipality, the tone however differ from different locations.

Tadian municipality is generally mountainous with general slopes of over 18 percent. Its elevation ranges from 440 m to 2113m above sea level. Poblacion, the seat of the municipal government has general elevation of 1,340 m above sea level. It has 2 major rivers that both drain to the Abra River, namely: Abit River that drains the southeastern portion and Decapeo River that drain the northwest portion.

Tadian is considered as the temperate zone of Mountain Province where the cool breeze of Benguet meets with the warm air of the lowland Ilocos. It has two pronounced season, the wet season, which starts from the month of May to November and dry season that covers the rest of the months.

Zone I & II

1. Ub-ubanan pool and falls – This place is best suited for picnic area and bathing due to the cleanliness of its free flowing water. People are coming to this place especially during summer time. It is located in Sumadel, Tadian, 13 kms away from the Poblacion.

2. Foot prints of Cabunyan and his dog, his backpack and spear. – the footprints of Cabunyan and his dog can be found in Sumadel, Tadian, while his backpack and spear can be found in Gayang, Bunga, Tadian. The word gayang is the local term for spear. It can be recounted according to old folks of this place that once Cabunyan the local term for God came to earth and off these traces of his existence to this place including the rice field in Kayan East which believed to be built by him.

3. Singing Jar – This jar can be found in Kayan West, Tadian presently owned by Mr. Resurrecsion Wanget Sr. The jar will sing while rubbing its mouth. The only one of its kind in the locality.

4. Rice Terraces of all the places of Tadian.
5.Tadian mountain ranges where one can see Tirad pass and Bessang Pas
and other panoramic view of the place.

Tadian municipality in itself is a tourist spot with all its beautiful rice terraces and mountains are at stake.

Tadian municipality celebrated its Town Fiesta every first Friday and Saturday of March every year. It is on this occasion that most people from its barangay come to the Poblacion to attend the said fiesta and at the same time purchase items from kitchen wares, carpentry to garment which are necessary to them. In the occasion, the fiesta is started with a parade which is participated by all agencies and barangays followed by an opening program, ground demonstration and ball games. The search for Miss Tadian is done before this occasion or it is a pre-fiesta activity. Market activity is at its peak on this occasion.