Aritao

The Municipality of Aritao is a second class municipality in the province of Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 37,115 people.

The ethnic minority called Isinai (the same term for the local spoken dialect) were the original residents of this town. The name Aritao came from the Isinai phrase Ari Tau "which stands for "Our King" (ari=king & tau=our) which refers to the legendary Isinai Chieftain Mengal, a fierce and brave king who resisted Spanish conquest of the Isinai territories around Ajanas and Ynordenan (the areas comprising what is now most of Aritao).

Barangays

Aritao is politically subdivided into 22 barangays.

History

In 1942, Japanese troops entered Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya.

In 1945, during the liberation at the town of Aritao was fought the battles between the Philippine Commonwealth Army troops of the 2nd, 51st, 52nd, 55th, 56th and 57th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army and the USAFIP-NL 14th Infantry Regiment against the Japanese Imperial forces founded in the Battle of Kirang Pass in the Second World War.