Romance with the setting of the sun at Punta Hagdan and Taguimtim, Tobias Fornier, a place where mountains meet the sea, literally. The Spanish fortress which used to warn and protect the townpeople against raids of marauding Moro pirates protrudes from the top portion of the town’s sandy beach. Off road trails pose great challenge for mountain bikers and light trekkers. Still prevalent in the hinterlands are the ancestor worship and rituals practiced by the Igcaputol Aetas.
Year Founded: 1771 Land Area: 10,678.5 Hectares Classification: 4th Class Municipality No. of Barangays: 50 Barangays Zip Code :5716
The negotiation for the barter of Aninipay was made out of one gold salakut and a gold basin with additional token of a beautiful necklace for Maniwantiwan, wife of Marikudo, their leader. The barter was done and the Aetas settled to the hinterlands and the Maraynons started clearing the new place for them to dwell. Some Malays proceeded to the North while others landed in the South. The early natives first dwelt in a certain place in the mountains of Dao. They saw it would turn out as a good place to live in, many large trees, wild animals, etc., uncultivated and unexplored. One day in the course of hunting of some men down the plains, one of them saw an unsuall tall and robust tree, standing out clearly from the rest of the trees. It was as firm as a molave and the men went to examine it. All of them asked each other the name of the tree. One of them answered that the tree was called Dao. Thereupon another suggested and agreed that they will call the place where the tree was found. Since the land was named Dao, the men decided to leave their huts in the mountain in the new place and the settlement propered. People continued calling the place Dao and until now it is still called by that name only with the on the first syllable, Dao.
That was how the town got its name, now called Tobias Fornier.
Known for its white sands and romantic sunset. It was the site of the Mutya ng Pilipinas 2000 and was featured in Extra Challenge (former reality TV show of GMA 7).
Diclum Buri Weavers
Popular for the buri hats and other woven materials made of buri.
Rapsag’s Beach Resort
One of the popular resorts located in Villaflor, T. Fornier. It has a swimming pool perfect for family get aways plus the added attraction of the nearby beach.
Municipal Fiesta (San Nicholas de Tolentino) September 9-10 Foundation Day 2nd week of February Agro Industrial Fair February 22-24 Sambayang Festival Feb. 28-March 31 Batang Sa Balud May (Biray) Brgy. Balud Langcayan Festival May Brgy. Baras-anan
