The place was once overran by thick vegetation and was a favorite rendezvous of the “ati” bandits. The settlers to protect themselves grouped together in one designated area specifically in the southern side of the present school site and fenced it around with bamboos.

They organized “rondas” among their brave men and made “toltogan” to alert the people at the first detection of intruders. The name Atipuluan may have been derived from the word “ati” who infested the area during that time and the place was the “puloy-an” or abode of this group of people.