In the early Spanish regime, the inhabitants of the place lived in huts made of cogon grass and bamboo slats. They hunted for animals and went fishing for their food.

The land during that time was mostly uncultivated and densely covered by different kinds of grass, such as “tigbao” and “cogon”, making it a nice haven for flocks of wild birds that attracted hunters from other places. It is believed that the place was named after the birds, “tabon,” which came to the place in great number.