During the 80’s the place was thickly
forested inhabited by wild animals. Foreigners and
nature lovers frequented the place up to the 90’swith
Dumagats as guides. This writer’s late father used to
hunt in the mid 90’s. Later, because of its scenic
Sierra Madre and fertile lands, wealthy people came from
ventures. They tried to convert the thickly cogonal
lowland areas into fruit tree plantations such as
coconuts, avocados, caimitos, papayas, citrus and many
others. Vast areas with abundant supply of water were
cleared and converted into rice paddies. It was during
the Spanish era when a wealthy man was known to be the
owner of the place. Strangers and businessman sought
this permission to till the land. His name was SABANI,
the reason why the place was once named Sabani. He left
when the Americans came.
On May 10,1920, the National Government took
over the administration, thus, Sabani Estate Development
Company was born. It improved and developed the place
primarily for rice production. Later, a certain company
came to lease. The group was composed of J. Tomacruz, A.
Vasquez, J. Alejandrino, F. Busuega and G. Velarde. The
lease lasted until 1935. The huge estate was returned to
Sabani Estate Development Company. The government
converted it to a homestead. Many families came as
homesteaders. It was during this period when different
barrios (from Sitios) were created. Bitulok, now North
Poblacion was the number one barrio under the
municipality of Laur, Nueva Ecija.
Sabani Estate became progressive and many
settlers came to stay permanently. On June 12,1950, by
virtue of R.A. 496, Sabani Estate was separated from its
mother town Laur, adopted the name of the leading
Barrio, Bitulok, and became an independent municipality.
In the year 1952, by the virtue of R.A. 956, the name
Bitulok was changed to Sabani (minus Estate).sometime
later, Sabana was changed to Gabaldon by virtue of R.A.
1318 in honor of late Don Isauro Gabaldon, who was once
a governor of Nueva Ecija and one time resident
commissioner to Washington, D.C.
