SOLANO, Nueva Vizcaya (5 October) -- Various entertainment programs and social service projects and activities are lined up for this town's celebration of its 146th founding anniversary from October 1 to 7 with the theme "Sipupudno a Timpuyog, Panagdur-as Magun-od" (True unity brings progress).

About 270 kilometers northeast of Metro Manila, this town is home to about 100,000 villagers of ethnic origins such as the Ilocanos, Gaddangs, Pangasinenses, Tagalogs, Kapampangans, Cordillerans and Muslims.

The various programs and activities lined up for the town's founding anniversary are: Sports competition, market vendor's night, day of the elderly, medical/dental mission, street dancing competition, parlor games, barangay/LGU night, mass wedding, search for Miss Solano tourism, Tupig exhibition, cultural night, scouting day, mobile passporting, variety show and grand parade among others.

Solano, formerly called 'Lumabang'(or Lungabang) which means cave in the Gaddang dialect was founded by Father Alejandro Vidal in 1767. It was declared a barrio of Bayombong, the capital town of Nueva Vizcaya by Spanish Governor-General Antonio Urbiztondo in 1851. It became a separate town in 1869 by order of Governor Ramon Solano which was later named after him when flocks of migrants from Ilocos and Pangasinan provinces decided to live in the place.