The social unrest beleaguering neighboring Alcadias were not as atrocious in Cagayan Valley except for the natives' initial resistance to religious conversion.
Christianity was established in Cagayan Valley in 1582.
It was under the administration of Governor General Ronquillo when Dominican Cristobal Salvatierra and the Augustinian Francisco Rodriguez accompanied by the Spanish troops under the command of Captain Juan Pablo Carreon, who incidentally- was appointed first Governor of Cagayan a year earlier; initiated the first religious mission.
Carreon was responsible for Driving away Japanese pirates in the upstream Cagayan and has established settlement in Lallo.
The religious made Lallo their base which they later renamed to Nueva Segovia and became the seat of the Diocese by that name. The Diocese of Nueva Segovia has jurisdiction over the entire Northern Luzon and its first Bishop is Miguel de Buenavides who later became Archbishop of Manila and founder of the country's oldest educational institution- the University of Sto. Tomas..
Nueva Segovia was not only known as the seat of Christianity in Cagayan Valley that time but also the very first territory to be considered a City with 27,000 Christianized population. The Pacified territory of Nueva Segovia in the late 1580s has 50 private and royal encomiendas, with at least 10 of which are paying regular tribute to the government in 1588.
It has an Alcalde Mayor, a fort manned by 40 soldiers, and an Augustinian monastery.
The Spanish pacification efforts was a difficult task for the religious mission in the territory where they observe that the natives are not too friendly, lazy, drunkards and have no regards to morals since divorce was a usual practice.
The problem did not deter the missionaries to continue with their work.
With the help of Spanish Encomendero Juan Fernandez Najara and an influential native chieftain, Yringan; together they assisted the mission in its task of conversion using the native tongue starting from the territory of Abulug which is south of Nueva Segovia. They helped the missionaries translate Christian doctrines to dialect.
By 1610, a church dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary was erected in Fotol along the Abulug river bank. In the succeeding years the churches of San Lorenzo de Capinatan, and one in honor of Sta. Cecilia were also erected in different areas in the same town.
In the territories north of Nueva Segovia; a church in honor of San Jacinto was erected in Camalaniugan in 1596. The conversion of an influential chieftain, Bacani, further bolstered the evangelical campaign to Aparri in 1604 and Gattaran in 1623.
In 1612, the Dominicans conducted missions in the territories of Pilitan, Tuguegarao and Malaguey. Fray Jacinto Pardo has learned the dialect of Ybanag and effectively carried out its mission in the area.
The mission has reached Zimbuey, which is proximate to the modern-day town of Tumauini in 1598; upon the initiative of Captain Alfonso Carvajal who invited Fray Antonio de Soria to undertake religious mission in the area.
In 1608, the mission has reached the southern territories of Abuatan (Tumauini-Cabagan) , Bolo (Ilagan) and Batanag (Lullutan, western Gamu) populated by Gaddang natives with some 1,000 households.
With the cultural shock brought by the surge of social and economic changes introduced by the Spanish authorities; resistance was noted in these territories until 1622, when the Spanish government pardoned and exempted the natives from paying tribute within three years.
In its continuing drive of pacification in the entire territory thru evangelical missions, the Dioceses saw the need to reach further south of Cagayan Valley. The aim is to likewise make the region politically controlled for sourcing out tributes and other revenues.
In 1839, Governor General Luis Lardizabal issued an order separating the southern half of the Alcadia which is known today as Nueva Vizcaya into a politico-militar province upon the advice of the alcalde mayor of Cagayan. The order was approved by a Royal Decree on April 10, 1841 integrating Nueva Vizcaya into the militarized zones of its neighboring highland territories of the Cordillera against attacks by the Igorots and other mountain natives.
In April 1846 Governor General Narciso Claveria named his aide de camp Mariano Oscariz Governor of Nueva Vizcaya.
To enable Spanish authorities further facilitate the civil administration; a Royal Decree was enacted in May 1,1856 forming three separate provinces.
Cagayan Province lies on the northernmost part covering the entire northern coast. Cagayan territories include the Babuyanes group consisting of five islands: Camiguin, Calayan, Babuyan, Fuga and Dalupiri. Tuguegarao became the capital 482 kilometers north of Manila.
Nueva Viscaya is at the southernmost part whose territories are bounded by three mountain ranges: Sierra Madre on the east, Caraballos on the south and Cordilleras at west.
Isabela in the middle of the valley derived its territorial jurisdiction half from the south of Cagayan comprising Abuatan (Tumauini-Cabagan) Bolo (Ilagan) and Batanag (western Gamu). These territories were later known as “Irraya” or “upriver” following its separation.
Lower Isabela is derived from Diffun (lower Gamu), Paniqui (Cauayan), Camarag (Echague) and Carig or the modern day Santiago city north of Nueva Vizcaya.
Isabela got its name in honor of Queen Isabella II. Ilagan became the Provincial Capital.
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