Location
San Ildefonso, one of the smallest municipalities of Ilocos Sur, is bounded on the north by Sto. Domingo, on the south by Bantay, on the east by Bantay and the Cordillera Mountains and on the west by the West Philippine Sea.
Topography
The western part of the municipality is where one finds the coastal plains. The Bantaoay River and its tributaries flow through the town. 260 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
Government
A fifth -class municipality, San Ildefonso is subdivided into 15 barangays. These are the following: 1. Arnap 9. Iboy 2. Bahet 10. Otol-Patac 3. Belen 11. Poblacion East 4. Bungro 12. Poblacion West 5. Busiing Sur 13. Quinamantirisan 6. Busiing Norte 14. Sagneb 7. Dongalo 15. Sagsagat 8. Gongogong
Etymology
SAN ILDEFONSO MAYORS Name Length of Service FLORENTINO PIZZA (Appointed acting) Jan. 1-Jun. 20, 1920 ALEJANDRO ANUNCIACION (Appointed) Jul. 1, 1920- 1922 EMILIO PACIS (elected) 1923-1925 LORENZO LAZO (elected) 1926-1928 NAZARIO ANUNCIACION (elected) 1929-1931 CASTOR TABANGCURA 1932-1934 BALBINO SOMERA 1935-1937 RAYMUNDO SOMERA 1938-1940 CASTOR TABANGCURA 1941-1947 MARIANO PIRA 1948-1951 ARCADIO SOMERA 1952-1955 GUILLERMO ANUNCIACION 1956-1963 SIXTO NAVARRO 1964-1967 ROBERTO PATI 1968-1980 AZUCENA PURISIMA 1980-1998 AMANTE PURISIMA 1998-2007 CHRISTIAN DANIEL PURISIMA 2007-2016 MARK ANTHONY PURISIMA 2016-2019
One day while going about his job, a fishermen saw a box floating in the waters. Upon opening the box, he found inside a statue of San Ildefonso. The women of the community kept the statue in a hut in the village until it was decided by the community to make San Ildefonso their patron saint. The town, since then, has been named after the saint.
Logo
The Rooster and the Rising sun depict the best practices of the people of San Ildefondo as early riser and self-sufficient individuals. The Scroll illustrates the town’s support and priority to basic education. The amrmor symbolizes the existence of the local government unit to safeguard the welfare of its people. San Ildefonso 261
Municipal Hall of San Ildefonso
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San Ildefonso 263
The plow symbolizes the principal livelihood of the people which is farming. The Capiz window illustrates one of the industries fabricated by the town’s skilled workers which is considered as one of the finest and original in the province. The corn and rice represent the major crops of the town. The date 1625 is the founding of the town. The colors blue and red on the armor are taken from the national flag indicating the San Ildefonso, Ilocos Sur is one of the towns under the Philippine Republic.
History
San Ildefonso was said to have been founded in 1625. During the Spanish period, the famous Basi Revolt took place in this town. In 1807, Ilocanos rose in arms against the wine monopoly established by the Spaniards. Basi, or wine fermented from sugar cane, was the common drink of the Ilocanos. With the imposition of the wine monopoly, the Ilocanos were not allowed to make their own basi and were instead required to buy it from government stores. The Ilocanos of Piddig, Ilocos Norte revolted and the uprising spread to Badoc and Sto. Domingo. The plan of the Ilocanos was to attack Vigan and then Manila . The Ilocanos, however, were defeated by the Spaniards along the banks of the Bantaoay River, now the site of Barangay Gongogoong in San Ildefonso. This revolt is also known as the Ambaristo Revolt after
Salarogo Ambaristo, one of its leaders. The other leader was Pedro Mateo. The vanquished Ilocanos were later hanged and their bodies mutilated. The Basi Revolt has been immortalized in 14 paintings of Esteban Pichay Villanueva. These paintings are now displayed at the Burgos Museum in Vigan. During the Philippine-American War, Americans troops attempted to look for Gen. Manuel Tinio, who headed the Filipino revolutionaries, in a surprise house-to-house search. The church bells of San Ildefonso were rang three times to forewarn the revolutionaries of the approaching American troops. The presidente or municipal mayor of San Ildefonso was convicted in Vigan on June 29, 1900 for having sent letters and munitions to Gen. Tinio. During a meeting with William Howard Taft, who visited Ilocos Sur in 1901, San Ildefonso was represented by the following: Presidente Municipal Romualdo Soriano Representantes Lorenzo Padayao Lorenzo Vega Luis Pasis Juan Pati Monico Castillo Sinforoso Castillo Agaton Raquepu Gregorio Vega Catalino Jaramillo In 1903, San Ildefonso was annexed to Sto. Domingo. Through the help of Assemblyman Elpidio Quirino, it gained the status of a separate municipality in 1920.
A fishermen saw a box floating in the waters. Upon opening the box, he found inside a statue of San Ildefonso. The women of the community kept the statue in a hut until residents of the town decided to make San Ildefonso their patron saint. 264 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
San Ildefonso 265
266 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
1807 (September 28) The “Basi Revolt� breaks out as a protest against the wine monopoly. Led by Pedro Mateo, a wealthy man from Piddig, the rebels win battles in Piddig, Sarrat, Batac, and Badoc. In the battle along the banks of Bantaoay River within present-day San Ildefonso, however, they are defeated by Spanish forces that included residents of Santiago, Candon and Santa Lucia.
San Ildefonso 267
PARISH PRIEST REV. ETHEL O. AGAMATA St. Ildefonsus Parish
Saint Ildephonsus
Church
San Ildefonso was then a visita of Bantay in 1709. The visita became an independent town in 1769 under the advocation of San Ildefonso. Its vicar then was Fr. Manuel Munoz. This is attested to by Isabelo de los Reyes in his book Historia de Ilocos. San Ildefonso became an independent parish in 1875 through a decree passed by the Superior Gobierno. Parochial books, however, show the year 1906 as the year when the parish became independent during the administration of the first American bishop, in the Philippines Dennis Dougherty. Throughout the 19th century, the parish was administered by secular priests. 268 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
Saint Ildephonsus Parish
Construction work on the church was started in 1829 led by its gobernadorcillo, Don Francisco Florentino. The church measured 85 varas long (70.97 meters) from the main door to the sacristy; 16 varas (13.77 meters) wide; and was 7 ½ varas (6.5 meters) high. The building of the church was a collective effort of both the Augustinians and secular priests of San Ildefonso. Only half of the church was completed since the population of the town was small. The church facade has been reconstructed, but the side walls reveal bricks from the original construction. The church is dedicated to San Ildefonso whose feastday falls on January 23. The current parish priest is Rev. Ethel O. Agamata.
Industries
The top three industries of San Ildefonso are food processing, sash-making and metal craft. San Ildefonso lists basi, or sugarcane wine, as it principal product under the One Town One Product scheme. Brigido Fernandez Espejo, of Barangay Gongogong was hailed as one of the living treasures of Ilocos Sur by the provincial government. Espejo uses the traditional way of preparing basi such as using the dadapilan (stone rollers moved by a carabao to extract sugar cane juice), adding to it the pound bark of the kariskis as well as the leaves of the samak tree to give its reddish dark color. Espejo also makes vinegar as well as muscovado sugar.
Places to Visit
The year 2007 marked the bicentennial of the Basi Revolt. The Sanggunian Bayan of San Ildefonso passed a resolution declaring September 16 of every year as a non-working holiday to mark the start of the Basi Revolt. The event was celebrated with a trade and food fair that launched four types of basi for local consumption. The words “Basi Revolt� are found on the labels of bottled basi as plans of exporting the product are on the drawing board. Mayor Christian Purisima led other officials and townspeople in commemorating the event. He encouraged his town mates to continue cultivating sugar cane to support the production of basi. San Ildefonso 269
Municipal Hall of San Juan
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San Juan 271
Location
San Juan is bounded on the north by Cabugao, on the east by the Cordillera, on the south by Magsingal; and on the west by the West Philippine Sea.
Topography
A coastal municipality, two-thirds of San Juan’s total land area is rugged and hilly. The eastern part of the town consists of forest and grasslands. Two rivers traverse San Juan: Lapog River and Bical River. The source of Lapog River is in Barangay Malamin and passes through Barangays Cacandonga, Muraya, Darao, Immayos Norte and Baliw and debouches its waters in Barangay Sabangan. The Bical River, on the other hand, traces its source to Barangay Barbar and traverses Barangays Asilang, Camangaan, Nagsabaran, Nagsupotan, Immayos Sur, Guimod Sur and San Isidro, and drains its waters in Barangay Saoang.
Government
San Juan is a fourth-class municipality subdivided into 32 barangays. These are: 1. Asilang 17. Labnig 2. Bacsil 18. Lapting 3. Baliw 19. Lira (Poblacion) 4. Bannuar 20. Malamin (Poblacion) 21. Muraya 5 Barbar 22. Nagsabaran 6. Cabanglotan 23. Nagsupotan 7. Cacandongan 24. Pandayan (Poblacion) 8. Camanggaan 25. Refaro 9. Camindoroan 26. Resurreccion 10. Caronoan (Poblacion) 11. Darao 27. Sabangan 12. Dardarat 28. San Isidro 13. Guimod Norte 29. Saoang 14. Guimod Sur 30. Solotsolot 15. Immayos Norte 31. Sunggiam 16. Immayos Sur 32. Surngit
Etymology
The old name of San Juan was Lapog. Initially, it was called Lapo-Lapo after the tall grass that grew in abundance in the place. Later, when Don Tomas Aquino, a local leader, organized the scattered settlements into one permanent settlement, he referred to it as Lapog, meaning “un-irrigated land.” On June 18, 1961, with the passage of Republic Act No. 3386 Lapog acquired a new name: San Juan, after St. John the Baptist, the town’s patron saint. The townspeople thought that naming it after a saint would bring about peace, prosperity and happiness to the town. 272 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
SAN JUAN MAYORS Name TOMAS AQUINO JUAN AQUINO MIGUEL CASTILLO GUILLERMO OANDASAN BALTAZAR ESTEBAN SANTIAGO DE LA CRUZ ANTONIO MARIANO FELIPE DE LA CRUZ SANTIAGO DE LA CRUZ JOSE DAMIAN GUILLERMO AQUINO MARCOS LUCAS FELIPE DE LA CRUZ JUAN AQUINO NICOLAS DE LA CRUZ MIGUEL CASTILLO JUAN AQUINO GUILLERMO AQUINO SANTIAGO DE LA CRUZ MATEO ISIDRO JUAN AQUINO DOMINGO ESPIRITU MARCOS PANLASIGUI FELICIANO DE LA CRUZ AGUSTIN DE LA CRUZ MARIANO GUERRERO MARIANO CORPUZ AGUSTIN DAMIAN MANUEL AQUINO PEDRO GUILLERMO GUILLERMO PABLO DAMASO DE LA CRUZ MANUEL GUERRERO PEDRO VILLEGAS AGUSTIN DAMIAN DIEGO LUCAS HERMIMIGILDO DAMIAN SANTIAGO PANLASIGUI FELICIANO DAMIAN GERONIMO SALVADOR PEDRO GUILLERMO MARIANO GUERRERO AGUSTIN DELA CRUZ REMIGIO GUERREO DAMASO DE LA CRUZ
Length of Service 1772 1773 1774 1775 1776 1777 1778 1779-1780 1781 1782 1783 1784 1785 1786-1787 1788 1789 1790-1791 1792 1793 1794 1795-1796 1797 1798 1799 1800 1801 1802-1803 1804 1805 1806 1807 1808 1809-1810 1811 1812 1813 1814 1815 1816 1817 1818 1819 1820 1821 1822
ANTONIO DE LA CRUZ IGNACIO AQUINO AGUSTIN AGBAYANI ANTONIO DE LA CRUZ CASIMIRO GUILLERMO FELICIANO DE LA CRUZ ANTONIO DE LA CRUZ MANUEL GUERRERO CARLOS LUCAS MARIANO DAMIAN JUAN PENEYRA IGNACIO AQUINO CANDIDO PENEYRA LAZARO GUERRERO ANOTNIO DE LA CRUZ VICENTE DE LA CRUZ IGNACIO AQUINO ANTONIO PASCUAL CALIXTO GUERRERO CIRIACO GUERRERO VICENTE AQUINO TEODORO AQUINO TITO PANLASIGUI TEODORO AQUINO DOMINGO PIZARRO CALIXTO GUERRERO ALEJO PANLASIGUI ANTONIO DE LA CRUZ VALENTINE CORPUZ CALIXTO GUERRERO RUFINO PANLASIGUI PEDRO PENEYRA RUFINO PANLASIGUI LUIS GUERRERO CALIXTO GUERRERO EULOGIO PENEYRA JUAN PENEYRA LUCIANO PENEYRA CALIXTO GUERRERO CAYETANO GUERRERO PAULINO GUERRERO MIGUEL GOROSPE JUANARIO CORPUZ ALEJANDRO GUERRERO ALEJO PANLASIGUI NUMERIANO AQUINO NAZARIO AQUINO
1823 1824 1825 1826 1827 1828 1829 1830 1831 1832 1833 1834 1835 1836 1837 1838 1839 1840 1841 1842 1843 1844 1845 1846 1847-1848 1849 1850 1851 1852-1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864-1865 1866-1867 1868-1869 1870-1873 1874-1875 1876-1877 1878-1879 1880-1881
JUAN GUERRERO JUAN AQUINO BONIFACIO VITALIS NARCISO SOLIVEN FELIX VERA CRUZ GAVINO PENEYRA JOAQUIN VILORIA FELICIANO VILLALON CALIXTO AQUINO PEDRO NOLASCO
1882-1883 1884-1885 1886-1887 1888-1889 1890-1891 1892-1893 1894-1895 1896-1897 1898-1899 1900 American regime
ALEJANDRO VILORIA RAFAEL VILORIA ELEUTERIO GUERRERO GREGORIO VALLE ELEUTERIO GUERRERO GAUDENCIO VERA CRUZ PERFECTO VERA CRUZ PEDRO ALCANTARA PEDRO QUILALA MARTIN GUERRERO MARTIN CORPUZ MANUEL QUILALA MELCHOR PADUA SR. CIRIACO AQUINO DON SERAFIN GUERRERO MELCHOR PADUA SR. ELEUTERIO GUERRERO RAFAEL VERA CRUZ ANACLETO ECHARIS ELEUTERIO GUERRERO EMIGIDIO CENTENO MELITON VILORIA ELEUTERIO GUERRERO BERNARDO ROSARIO FRANCISCO QUILALA RAFAEL VERA CRUZ FRANCISCO QUILALA HONORIO PADUA MELCHOR PADUA JR. FELICIANO QUILALA ROSEMARIE QUILALA TIMOTEO RETUTA BENJAMIN V. SARMIENTO BERNARD D. SARMIENTO BENJAMIN V. SARMIENTO BERNARD D. SARMIENTO BENJAMIN V. SARMIENTO
1901 1902-1903 1904 1905 1906-1907 1908-1909 1910-1912 1913-1916 1917-1919 1920-1922 1923-1925 1926-1928 1929-1931 1935-1937 15 Days 1938-1940 Jul.15,1940 Jul. 15, 1941-Oct. 31, 1942 Nov. 1, 1942-Feb. 20, 1944 Jun. 6, 1944-Aug. 13, 1944 Aug. 14, 1944 Sep. 15-24, 1944 1945 1946-1948 Enterino 1949-1952 1953-1955 1956-1959 1960-1967 1968-1986 1987-1988 Jan. 16, 1988-Feb. 2, 1988 Feb. 3, 1988-Jun. 30, 1998 Jul. 1, 1998- Jun. 30, 2004 2004-2010 2010-2013 2013-2019 San Juan 273
The old name of San Juan town was Lapog. Initially, it was called LapoLapo after the tall grass that grew in abundance in the area. Later, when Don Tomas Aquino, a local leader, organized the scattered settlements into one permanent settlement, he referred to it as Lapog, meaning “unirrigated land�.
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San Juan 275
1807 – In Ambaristo, trees were cut through a hill to make way for the construction of a road south of the poblacion called Bessang. 276 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
Logo
The shield is derived from the provincial seal of Ilocos Sur. The buri hat, bag and banig (mat) represent mat-weaving as one of the principal industries of the town. The bags are woven from the buri palm that grows abundantly in San Juan. The anvil and hammer represent the blacksmithing industry that produces razors and scissors. The tobacco leaf represents the principal cash crop of the town. Garlic and onion represent the farm produce of San Juan. The cow’s head represents cattle-raising as one of the main industries of the municipality.
History
According to Buzeta and Bravo, Lapog was founded in 1711 as an annex of Cabugao. In 1795, it became an entirely separate town from Cabugao. Both authors mentioned that Lapog had 822 houses and a stone church - with St. John the Baptist as the patron saint - a tribunal (town hall) and a public school. The parish was administered by a secular priest. The two authors also mentioned that the town included a rancheria of the Tinggians called Asilang, located southeast of the town. They also said that the forested part of Lapog yielded different kinds of wood such as palochina, casilasan, aniquet, biopameclaten, candaroma, abitong, pangalonachien, maracatud, callos, taculao, adaan, dampra, cadir etc. The plains are dedicated to the cultivation of rice, corn, wheat, and cotton. The main occupation of the townfolks is farming, while the women engaged in weaving. The town was witness to many events: the construction of a road south of the town proper called Bessang in 1874, the burning of the municipal hall by the Americans in 1900, a locust infestation during the months of May, June, July in 1903; the presence of worms called arabas that destroyed their crops in 1905, a small pox epidemic that hit the town in 1908 and in 1918-1919. and the San Juan 277
1900 (April 6) – An American convoy was attacked in Lapog, killing six Filipinos
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San Juan 279
introduction of Virginia tobacco in 1955. Lapog was said to be a visita of Cabugao in 1722. Prior to this, it was a visita of Masingal, but due to the remoteness of Lapog and Magsingal, it was deemed that Lapog be made a visita of the adjacent town of Cabugao. In 1732, Lapog had 1,075 residents. Bishop Miguel Garcia took Cabugao and Lapog away from the Agustinians and the residents’ spiritual needs were referred to a secular priest in 1755. In 1800, Lapog had 3,160 residents, including two Spanish mestizos and seven Chinese mestizos. Lapog figured prominently during the PhilippineAmerican War. Its local leaders supported the resistance, and because of these, they were arrested by the Americans. In January 1900, 23 of Lapog’s barrio lieutenants were arrested, and the new vice president and the police chief in June of that year. To weaken support given by the local populace to the Filipino revolutionaries, the Americans imposed stringent measures on the residents of Lapog. During the rice harvests of November 1900, the Americans inspected bull carts in Lapog, recorded their loads and forbade their drivers to pass the night on the road. The Americans intended to control the rice harvests and prevent Filipino guerillas from having access to the basic commodity. Another measure adopted by the Americans was to force the barrio population of Lapog to reside in the town proper. This was a form of reconcentration or hamletting. An arsenal was also established in Barbar, in the most remote waters of the Bical River. Here, the Lahoz brothers – Capt. Rafael and Lts. Jose and Gaudencio repaired rifles, refilled cartridges and manufactured gunpower and homemade hand guns. Flaviano Soriano, who worked in the arsenal, described the operations of the arsenal in this manner:1 “There were 20 men who worked regularly at the arsenal, sometimes 30. The sulphur, saltpeter, lead and sheet brass came in steamers from Manila, and we went to the beach and got it, that is, the inhabitants of Barbar went after it with ponies. The shells were made by hand, by silversmith and laborers. When there was a full force of 30 men, we made 50 cartridges per day; with 20 men we made 30 cartridges per day.” Lapog played host on Christmas Day of 1900 to Gen. Tinio, Major Estanislao Reyes and 10 officers in Lemerig, near the barrio of Asilang. On January 30, 1901, the Americans based in Lapog banned the playing of “Aguinaldo’s March” in the plaza on Sundays. 280 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
1900 – Burning of the municipal hall by the Americans
San Juan 281
Lapog was represented by the following when Gov. General William Howard Taft visited Ilocos Sur in 1901. Presidente Municipal Alejandro Varilla Vice Presidente Clemente Quilala Cabezas and Concejales Potenciano Ceracruz Benito Aquino Pedro Corpus Hilario Pereyra Nicolas Aquino Natalio Pereyra Martino Corpus Valente Guerrero Liverato Mercado Anacleto Venida Juan Gorospe Mariano Valle Tito Veracruz Eduardo Padua Nicolas Guzman Niclas Pereyra Macario Veloria Gaudencio Veracruz The townspeople of Lapog showed their patriotism and courage when a new set of invaders trampled their shores. The Japanese Occupation remains vivid in the minds of its
residents. Lapoguenos fled their homes to seek shelter in safer grounds. Friendship and support for each other was seen in evacuation sites. Rev. Fr. Loreto G. Viloria cited the following:2 “At the evacuation site, they learned more than before to share with one another everything they had, including medicines, clothing and comforting arms, especially for the weak and the sickly. Neighbors no longer quarreled; there were no more intrigues. They even found themselves praying together for their safety. Hand in hand, they scampered to safer places to avoid the advancing Japanese forces.” The South Central School of Lapog was occupied by the Japanese Army Military Police or Kempetai. It was here where the Kempetai tortured suspected Filipino guerillas. One Lapogueno, Meliton Gorospe Vilaoria, lived to tell his tale:3 “One of the rooms of the South Central was
1901 (January 7) – 23 of Lapog’s 26 barrio headmen were arrested by the Americans. 282 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
1908 – Small pox epidemic led to the loss of many lives
a “torture chamber” where Japanese Kempetai investigators would torture Lapoguenos and suspected guerillas and informers. The purpose is to extract information about guerillas, their identities, their supporters. I was brought to the chamber and they wanted to get information from me. I could have been spared by pointing to another person. I didn’t. I decided to bear all and no longer let someone else suffer. They ordered me to kneel with two hands raised holding a chair. And they began mauling me with their fists and with other hard objects until I became unconscious.” The news of Americans arriving to liberate the Philippines unleashed more violence and cruelty from the Japanese forces. On September 24, 1944, Lapogenos were herded inside the Catholic Church with a machine gun positioned in front of the main door. The Japanese threatened to annihilate everybody if no one would volunteer information about where their comrade, Tomoyuki San, was buried. Tomoyuki San was believed to have been killed by guerillas. An 18-year-old man, Constante Varilla Castro, volunteered to show the shallow grave
to the Japanese. For this act, Castro spared the lives of his townmates. It was learned later that guerillas killed Castro for telling on them. The shores of Lapog was the scene of burning Japanese ships bombed by American planes. Five ships were burned and sunk. Dr. Ernesto Villa recalled the event thus:4 “Cadavers from the sunken ship in Saoang floated on the bay and were dragged by waves to the shore. Carrooy in Sabangan, Katib and the rest of Saoang’s shoreline became burial grounds for hundreds of dead Japanese. For some time, people of Saoang didn’t eat fish. I was then a teenager. I helped my barriomates in Saoang bury the dead as per orders of guerilla authorities.” Another Lapogueno, Anastasi Reyes also remembered the event:5 “As explosions rocked the burning ships at Lapog Bay, burning oil spilled and floated all over the bay the whole afternoon and night. What a sight it was! It was an inferno that illuminated the entire shoreline from Solotsolot to Saoang.” After the war, Lapog slowly went through a period of rehabilitation. San Juan 283
284 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
Meliton Gorospe Villoria, a native of Lapog, was tortured by Japanese soldiers who wanted information about guerillas and their supporters during World War II.
San Juan 285
1943 (March) – Alfredo Sagao of Bacsil, San Juan was a “bolo man” or an unrecognized or unofficial guerilla.” He was among the brave guerillas who ambushed four military officers in a lead car and a truckload of soldiers, killing all in broad daylight. The guerillas burned the vehicles with the Japanese inside.
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San Juan 287
288 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
1944 (September 24) – Eighteen-year-old Constante Varilla Castro saved the lives of hundreds of Lapogueùos from the massacre threat poised by Japanese soldiers. Ironically, Castro was later executed by a guerilla in Corrooy, Sabangan.
San Juan 289
1944 (October 17) – US dive bombers attack four Japanese ships anchored on Lapog Bay, sinking and destroying all of them. Several bodies of Japanese soldiers that were washed ashore were buried by the natives.
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Church
PARISH PRIESTS Lapog became an REV. ALBERT A. MANALO independent parish in St. John the Baptist 1795, with San Juan REV. SEGUNDINO A. CORTEZ Bautista or St. John the Baptist as its patron St. Isidore the Farmer Parish saint. In 1848, the church was administered by a secular priest.
St. John the Baptist Parish
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The feast day of the town falls every June 24. In 1799, four years after the parish became independent from Cabugao, construction work on the church began. It proceeded slowly because of the town’s meager resources. By the time the convent was completed, the church beside it already looked worn out. The church façade reflects the Neo-Classic Style
because of its “simple arched entrance, slender Tuscan columns, and blind arched windows.” On the second level, a central arched window is flanked by single columns and arched windows. The façade is topped by a triangular pediment with a blind circular window in the center. The three-story bell tower is attached to the left part of the façade.
St. John the Baptist
Pulpit
San Juan 293
Our Lady of Piat Parish, Bacsil
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St. Isidore the Farmer
Our Lady of Piat
St. Isidore Parish San Juan 295
Industries
The top three industries of San Juan are buri craft, metal craft and tobacco. Buri has been identified as its principal product under the One Town One Product scheme. The first Buri Festival took place in 2007. Participants wove a 2.4 kilometer-long mat surpassing that woven in 2001 by natives of Basey in Samar. Buri-weaving has long existed in the town of San Juan. Using buri (silag), fibers are extracted from the petiole, rolled and woven into mats, bags, holiday decor, shoes, slippers, screen dividers and lampshades. Buri plants grow abundantly in Barangays Cacandongan, Darao, Malamin, Caranoan, Camanggaan, Immayos Norte and Barbar. Recently, the provincial government of Ilocos Sur recognized Felicidad Lucrecio Magbanua, 69 years old, and Esteria Vitalis, 54 years old, as outstanding buri bag and mat weaver respectively. Both residents of Barangay Malamin, the two women learned the craft of buri-weaving at a young age. Blacksmith and scissors-maker, Jose Gascon, 73 years old, was a recent Tawid awardee of the provincial government of Ilocos Sur. Gascon, who lives in Barangay Pandayan, renowned for its Buri Festival
Museo de San Juan Bautista
296 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
Lapog Bay
blacksmiths, is the only surviving practicioner of the craft. He is known for turning out high-quality scissors under the trade name “Jocon,” taken from the first syllable of his first name and the last syllable of his family name. Gascon is still able to make seven pairs of high-quality scissors in a week’s time.
The other awardees from San Juan are Antonio and Lucia de la Cruz, bakers of Opia (Crispy Rice Wafers). The couple from Bannuar, San Juan continue to make opia the traditional way, baking the wafers in a burnay jar. All these awardees are now considered living treasures of the province.6
Pikkang Falls
Crystal Clear Spring San Juan 297
SAN VICENTE MAYORS Name Length of Service PRIMITIVO LAZO 1911-1913 GORGONIO ROSAL 1914-1919 URBANO RAMOS 1920-1922 PASTRO ROTOR 1923-1925
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FRANCISCO ROSAL 1926-1928 JUSTINO ROSAL 1929-1934 CIRILO LAZO 1935-1937 GORGONIO ROSAL 1938-1940 TIBURCIO ROSAL 1941-1943 PERIGRINO LAZO appointed military mayor (Japanese Occupation)1944-1950
FERMIN TABANDA TIBURCIO ROSAL FERMIN TABANDA IRENE TABANDA JOSE C. TABANDA III NANCY DY TABANDA JOSE C. TABANDA III NANCY DY TABANDA JOSE C. TABANDA III
1951-1953 1954-1956 1957-1980 1980-1987 1988-1998 1998-2001 2001-2010 2010-2013 2013-2019
Location
San Vicente is one of the smallest municipalities found on the western part of Ilocos Sur. Located three kilometers from the city of Vigan, San Vicente serves as its northwestern approach. The town lies along the coast of the West Philippine Sea. It is bounded on the east by Bantay and San Ildefonso; on the south by Santa Catalina; on the north by Santo Domingo and San Ildefonso and on the west by the West Philippine Sea.
Topography
Bounded on the west by the China Sea, San Vicente has many beaches and untouched coral reefs. Its coastal plains are dedicated to the planting of rice, corn, vegetables and legumes. The Bantaoay River traverses through the municipality.
Government
San Vicente is a fourth-class municipality subdivided into seven barangays. These barangays
are the following: 1. Bantaoay 2. Bayubay Norte 3. Bayubay Sur 4. Lubong
5. Poblacion 6. Pudoc 7. San Sebastian
Etymology
The old name of San Vicente was Tuanong. A former barrio of Vigan, Tuanong was renamed San Vicente or St. Vincent, a preacher of the Dominican Order. It was said that a that fishermen found entangled in their net an image encased in a box. They brought the image to Vigan where the friars identified it as that of San Vicente. A church was eventually built to enshrine the statue of the saint.
Logo
The green shield is derived from the provincial seal of Ilocos Sur. The two blue lines represent the protective shield of the municipal government. The Spanish crown represents the fact that in
Municipal Hall of San Vicente
San Vicente 299
the past, the town was once a seat of Spanish authority in the north. The seven stars represent the seven barangays of the municipality. The chain stands for the unity of is residents, both in times of conflict and peace. The flowers found at intervals of the chain represent hope and joy. The pictures of a chair and a wok represent the town’s furniture-making and salt-making industries. The plow and the fish symbolize a thriving trade in agriculture and fishing. The religious image shows that sculpting religious images is an important industry of the town. The rose is the municipal flower. The colors blue stand for unity; red for heroism and love; yellow for prosperity and green for hope.
History
The history of this town dates back to 1591 when San Vicente was one of the three barrios annexed to Vigan. It was then known as barrio Tuanong. The two other barrios were Santa Catalina de Baba and Caoayan. In the Basi Revolt of 1807, the Bantaoay River, which traversed San Vicente, became the battle scene between the Ilocanos, who were protesting the basi monopoly, and the Spaniards and their allies. Isabelo de los Reyes writes in his Historia de Ilocos that the waters turned red because of the bloodshed in the course of the fighting. During the Philippine Revolution, the parish priest of San Vicente, Quintin Donato was arrested and convicted on June 24, 1900 by the Americans for sending letters and munitions to Gen. Manuel Tinio. Donato was sentenced to one year at hard labor and fined 500 pesos. Another Donato by the name of Ladislao collaborated with the Americans and was instrumental in the surrender of Major Estanislao Reyes in San Vicente on March 10, 1901, together 300 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
Fishermen found entangled in their net an image encased in a box. They brought the image to Vigan where it was identified by friars as that of San Vicente. A church was eventually built to enshrine the statue of the saint.
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1900 (June24) – A parish priest of San Vicente, Quintin Donato was arrested and convicted by the Americans for sending letters and munitions to Gen. Manuel Tinio. Donato was sentenced to one year at hard labor and fined 500 pesos.
San Vicente 303
with the Lahoz brothers - Capt. Rafael and Lts. Jose and Gaudencio. The surrender of key figures of the Revolution in Ilocos Sur was considered by the Americans as their first “real” victory. When William Howard Taft - head of the Commission created in his name - visited Ilocos Sur, San Vicente was represented by the following: Presidente Inocente Revilla Vice Presidente Alejandro Lazo Cabezas Quintin Lazo Domingo Rivera Paulino Ciron Elias Rosales Agustin Ribulanan Urbano Lucero Bernardino Mata Agapito Rosal Elias Robinol Esperidion Lazo Domingo Revilla Mariano Ranches Filomeno Dancel Domingo Lazo Timoteo Rocero Prudencio Lazo Norverto Navarro Cornelio Rojas Mariano Geronimo In 1911, San Vicente ceased to be an annex of Vigan and became a separate municipality.
Church
In 1591, San Vicente was a visita of Vigan named Tuanong. The first chapel was built between 1720 and 1723, but the present church was built in the 1800s. The church’s Baroque architectural style is seen in the broken pediment, scrolled cornice and curving façade. The first level, which has no windows, is highlighted by the arched main door as the main focus. Three windows adorn the second level. The central window is rectangular and arched, while the two windows flanking it are circular windows outlined and embossed with florid decorations. Two bell towers, one on each side, are attached to the main body of the church. The bell towers are octagonal in shape and stand on rectangular bases. Blind and open campanile windows are found in the towers. A small lantern is found on top of the domed roof of the bell towers. The patron saint of the town is San Vicente de Ferrer of the Dominican Order who gained renown as a healer. His feast day has been marked as April 5; to avoid any conflict with the Holy Week schedule, however, the feast day is usually celebrated on the last Tuesday of April. Every Tuesday, after the Eucharistic celebration, a novena is recited in honor of San Vicente. On this 304 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
St. Vincent Ferrer
day of the week, devotees of the saint flock to the San Vicente church to ask his intercession for many petitions, especially for the healing of sick children. Many answered prayers are attributed to this saint. The convent of San Vicente became a seminary for 40 seminarians from mainland China who sought refuge in the Philippines during the takeover of China by communists in 1956. The Chinese seminarians finished their studies here and eventually became priests assigned to Taiwan, Japan and the Philippines.
PARISH PRIEST REV. VICTORIO A. RABACA St. Vincent Ferrer Parish St.Vincent Ferrer Parish
Industries
The three leading industries of San Vicente are farming and fishing, furniture-making and saltmaking. Of the three, the industry listed under the One Town One Product scheme is furniture-making. In 2010, among those recognized as living treasures of San Vicente were Evaristo Riotoc (as a furniture carver) and Elmer and Editha Aquino and Edwin Ribuca (salt-makers). The 70-year-old Riotoc, or Tata Zenon, started as a furniture maker when he was 17 years old. He specializes in the making of gallineras or chairs with a lower compartment that doubles as a cage
for fighting cocks.Tata Zenon’s favorite motifs are ampalaya and grape leaves as well as grape fruits. These motifs adorn the doors, chairs, tables, chests and cabinets that he makes. The salt makers of San Vicente use the traditional way of salt-making which consists of collecting soil from capiz shell beds found in the mouth of the Bantaoay river; filtering the water from the gathered soil by means of a bamboo box lined with cracked bamboo, a screen net and and rice husk, and boiling the drained saline water for seven to nine hours until the salt crystallizes into grains. San Vicente 305
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Location
Santa is bounded on the north by the Abra River; on the west by the West Philippine Sea and on the east by the Ilocos Range.
Topography
Santa is a triangular plain, with the winding Abra River as its base. Its apex is where the Ilocos Range and the West Philippine Sea converge. This apex is known as the Santa triangle and is located three kilometers from the Poblacion.
Government
Santa is a fourth-class municipality subdivided into 26 barangays: 1. Ampandula 15. Marcos 2. Banaoang (Poblacion) 3. Basug 16. Nagpanaoan 4. Bucalag 17. Namalangan 5. Cabangaran 18. Oribi 6. Calungboyan 19. Pasungol 7. Casiber 20. Quezon 8. Dammay (Poblacion) 9. Labut Norte 21. Quirino 10. Labut Sur (Poblacion) 11. Mabibila Norte 22. Rancho 12. Mabibila Sur 23. Rizal 13. Magsaysay District 24. Saccuya Norte (Poblacion) 25. Saccuya Sur 14. Manueva 26. Tabucolan
Etymology
The town was named after the martyr-saint Santa Catalina de Alexandria. Following a flood - the town’s first - in 1852 which the local folk referred to as ‘Layos Bungsot”, the town’s name was shortened to Santa Catalina de Alexandria. When the town experienced another flood in 1905 called “Layos Nawnaw”, the town’s name was further abbreviated to Santa. The renaming of the town was attributed to a folk belief that changing the name would prevent forthcoming disasters from causing extensive damage.
Logo
The shield is derived from the provincial seal of Ilocos Sur. The two circular lines symbolize unity among its constituents. The fish and bolo represent the two principal industries of the town: fishing and iron works. The background represents the Philippine flag. The 26 stars represent the 26 barangays of the municipality. Municipal Hall of Santa
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SANTA MAYORS Name PEDRO ANTONIO FELICIANO BERNARDO DE RIVERA PEDRO ANTONIO JOSE ADVINCULA ANDRES ANTONIO JOSE DELA CRUZ YGNACIO BERNARDO DE RIVERA FELICIANO BERNARDO DE RIVERA REMIGIO DE PERALTA PEDRO SORIA PEDRO ANTONIO MIGUEL MARTINEZ NICOLAS MARCELO JUAN ANTONIO FAUSTINO FRANCISCO DOMINGO DE LA CRUZ SEBASTIAN DE LA PEÑA JUAN ANTONIO SEBASTIAN MATIAS LUCAS MORALES MARTIN PAULINO BUENAVENTURA DE LOS SANTOS YSIDRO GREGORIO JUAN MENDOZA DE PERALTA BERNABE CARDENAS ANTONIO BERNARDO DE RIVERA HERMENIGILDO ALVIOR BASILIO ANTONIO COSME MANZANO VICENTE LEONES ILDEFONSO DE PERALTA BASILIO MARTINEZ LORENZO MARTINEZ MARIANO MARCOS JUAN TEODORO DE PERALTA FRANCISCO DE LA CRUZ NARCISO CARDENAS JULIAN ANTONIO CELEDONIO SANCHES FRANCISCO ANTONIO
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Length of Service 1784 – 1786 1786 – 1787 1788 1789 1790 1791 1792 1793 – 1794 1795 1796 1797 1798 1799 1800 1801 1802 1803 1804 1805 1806 1807 1808 1809 1810 1811 1812 1813 1814 1815 1816 1817 1818 1819 1820 1821 1822 1823 1824 – 1825 1826 1827
JOSE DE PERALTA ESTANISLAO MARTINEZ DE PERALTA FELIPE RUBIO DE PERALTA ATANACIO PAULINO FELIPE DE PERALTA MARIANO LEONES DE LA CRUZ MARIANO FAJARDO DE MOLINA ESTANISLAO MARTINEZ DE PERALTA GREGORIO CARDENAS ANDRES PAULINO MARIANO ANTONIO DE PERALTA JACINTO MARTINEZ GUILLERMO LAZARO DE LEONES ESTANISLAO MARTINEZ DE PERALTA MARCOS RAMIREZ LEON MARCELO EUSEBIO MAGNO DE LA CRUZ RAMON RAYMUNDO DIONISIO BUENAVENTURA DE LA ROSA MARIANO LEONES DE LA CRUZ JUAN MATIAS ANICETO DE PERALTA PANTALEON BUENAYRO DE LA ROSA JULIANO BUENO DE LA CRUZ SANTIAGO RAMIREZ LORENZO BELLO ANTONINO ESTANISLAO DE KOSKA BELLO EUGENIO BENITEZ MATIAS LEON CARDENAS TOMAS LAZARO DE LEONES EMIGDIO BELLO ANTONINO ESTANISLAO DE KOSKA BELLO MANUEL DE PERALTA GREGORIO BRILLANTES AMBROSIO BUENAVISTA PABLO RAMIREZ BUENAVENTURA BRILLANTES MARIANO BUENAVISTA APOLINARIO BENEMERITO REGINO CARDENAS EVARISTO BELMONTE ANDRES DE PERALTA
1828 1829 1830 1831 1832 1833 1834 1835 1836 1837 1838 1839 1840 1841 1842 1843 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 – 1850 1851 1852 1853 – 1854 1855 – 1856 1856 1857 – 1858 1858 – 1859 1859 – 1860 1860 – 1861 1861 – 1862 1862 – 1863 1863 – 1865 1865 – 1867 1867 – 1869 1869 – 1871 1871 – 1873 1873 – 1875 1875 – 1877 1877 – 1879 1879 – 1880
History
JUAN BELLO MARTINEZ 1881 – 1883 SIXTO BRILLANTES 1883 – 1885 LUCIO BRILLANTES 1885 – 1887 IGNACIO DE PERALTA 1887 – 1889 CIPRIANO BRILLANTES 1889 – 1891 NICOLAS B. LEONES 1891 – 1893 NASARIO BELMONTE 1893 – 1895 SIXTO BRILANTES 1895 – 1898 MODESTOLEONES 1898 – 1900 SATURNINO M. BELLO 1900 – 1901 JOSE BELLO MARTINEZ 1901 – 1903 BUENAVENTURA BELMONTE 1904 – 1905 DOMINGO RAMIREZ BUENO 1906 – 1907 NAZARIO BELMONTE 1908 – 1909 JOSE BELLO 1910 – 1916 LUIS C. BELLO 1916 – 1919 PEDRO BUENO BELLO 1919 – 1925 GENEROSO BELMONTE 1925 – 1928 NAZARIO CASTAÑEDA 1928 – 1931 PEDRO BUENO 1932 – 1937 LUIS C. BELLO 1938 – 1940 NAZARIO CASTAÑEDA 1941 – 1942 Japanese occupation ISIDRO BELLO 1942 – 1943 Liberation NAZARIO CASTAÑEDA Osmeña Administration (appointed) TEOFILO BELLO Roxas Administration (appointed) JOSE B. BUENO 1948 – 1951 VICENTE BELMONTE 1952 – 1955 NICOLAS B. BELLO 1956 – 09/11/1959 JOSE S. BURGONIO 09/12/1959 – 12/31/1959 JESUS R. BUENO 1960 – 1963 LUIS B. BELLO, JR. 1964 - 1967 GENEROSO GARCIA 1968 - 1979 BENJAMIN MARTINEZ (Appointed) 1979 - 1980 BENJAMIN MARTINEZ (Elected) 1981 - 1986 JOSE V. BELLO IV (elected) 1986 – 09/11/1997 JESUS B. BUENO, JR. (succession) 09/12/1997 - 1998 JESUS B. BUENO, JR. (elected) 1998 - 2007 JEREMY JESUS P. BUENO III 2007 - 2016 JESUS B. BUENO, JR. 2016 - 2019
According to the Augustinian maps of 1831 and 1834, Santa was founded in 1576. It became a missionary center of the Augustinians after Vigan in 1575. When Bantay was founded and became a pueblo in 1591, Santa became its visita. In 1713, Santa became an independent vicariate. Santa became a provisional diocesan in 1802 and was housed in its rectory until 1834. The Malong Revolt headed by Andres Malong of Binalatongan, Pangasinan spread to Ilocos in 1660. Malong, who wanted an end to the payment of tribute and forced labor, sent Pedro Gumapos to rally the Ilocanos against the Spaniards. It was in Santa where the Spaniards and their allies made their last stand against the rebellious Ilocanos. Santa figured prominently in the revolt started by Diego Silang. Upon Diego’s assassination by Miguel Vicos, the revolt was continued by his widow, Gabriela, who was born in Santa. With the help of her uncle, Nicolas Carino, Gabriela attacked Santa and scored a victory against the Spanish forces, seeking further the assistance of the Tingguians or Itnegs. Gabriela’s mother was an Itneg. With their help, Gabriela attacked Cabugao but were defeated by the Spaniards. Gabriela retreated to Abra and was pursued by the Spaniards. She was later executed on September 20, 1763 in Vigan. In 1852, a great flood of the Abra River eroded the poblacion of Santa, forcing it to move four kilometers south of the first site. The authors Buzeta and Bravo described Santa as having a convent, church, a tribunal (town hall), a school and a cemetery. Its farmlands were dedicated to the cultivation of rice, corn, cotton, abaca, fruits and vegetables. Its men folk were farmers, while its women folk wove textiles made out of cotton and abaca. During the war against the Americans, Santa proved to be a strategic location for both American and Filipino revolutionaries. The Americans used it as a transshipment point of medical supplies and clothing. It was for this reason that Americans commandeered all rafts and put these under heavy guard. However, Filipino revolutionaries would sabotage this vital link of the Americans, with the sudden disappearance of the rafts. When the first American civil governor, William Howard Taft, visited Ilocos Sur in 1901, the town of Santa was represented by the following: Santa 309
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Santa town was named after the martyr-saint Santa Catalina de Alexandria. Following a flood – the town’s first - - in 1852 which the local folk referred to as “Layos Bungsot”. The town’s name was shortened to Santa Catalina de Alexandria. When the town experienced another flood in 1905 called “Layos Nawnaw”, the town’s name was further abbreviated to Santa. The renaming of the town was attributed to a folk belief that changing the name would prevent forthcoming disasters from causing extensive damage.
Santa 311
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1852 – A massive flood called “Layos Bungso”
Santa 313
Malong Revolt
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Santa 315
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Presidente municipal Vice presidente Maestro Teniente de policia Nemesio de Peralta Tomas Advincula Nazario Bello Florencio Ramirez Casimiro Leones Vicente Berzabal Hilario Bello Valentin Malana Sixto Brillantes Mauricio Berzabal Cura Parroco
Saturnino Bello Marcelino Martinez Mariano Bello Ignacio Peralta Jose Bello Pedro Bueno Pio Brillantez Macario de Peralta Eladio Villalba Ciriaco Bello Nicolas Bagoyo Cipriano Brillantez Bonifacio Brillantez
In 1905, Santa again experienced a great flood leading to the transfer of the poblacion to Pasungol in the southern part of the town in 1907. When the Japanese landed at Rancho beach in Santa on December 19, 1941, the town folks evacuated to the mountains. After the Japanese military administration was established in Santa on January 1942, the Japanese appointed as mayor Isidro Bello, a lawyer. With the inauguration of the Japanese-sponsored Philippine government in 1943, Nazario Castaneda was named mayor. The Japanese established a garrison at the south of the Bannaoang or Quirino Bridge. During the battle for the liberation of Santa from Japanese forces, the invaders massacred 70 civilians in Barrio Rizal on January 26, 1945. The governor of Ilocos Sur during this time (1945-1946) was Sixto Brillantes, a native of Santa.
1941 (January 26) – Japanese soldiers maintained a garrison at the mouth of Quirino Bridge (formerly Banaoang bridge) and massacred 70 civilians in Barrio Rizal in Santa. Santa 317
Church
Santa was once a visita of Bantay. In 1713, its inhabitants requested that it be made an independent parish. It became one either in 1720 or 1725, according to Fr. Frederick Scharpf, judging from the earliest baptismal book registered in 1725. Its patron saint is Santa Catalina de Alexandria, Virgin and Martyr. Her feast day falls on November 25. The faรงade of the church is done in the Baroque style. The segmented arched main door is flanked by two Gothic windows.
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PARISH PRIESTS REV. ANSELMO G. SAMSON St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish REV. AMADOR C. CABALUNA St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish
The second level has a single rose window topped by lacelike mouldings. The triangular pediment flows down in a broken
curvilinear line. The belfry located on the right side is new.
Places to Visit
The outstanding attractions of Santa are: Banaoang, or Quirino Bridge, which traverses Abra River, is located on the northern boundary of Santa. An island called Jesus, located west of the town, can be reached by boat. It is an ideal place for nature lovers who like to swim, fish or have a picnic. The beaches of Santa are found in the western part of the town. These beaches are either rocky or sandy. Situated at the foothill of Heroes Hill at the southern part of the municipality and along the National Highway
is Imelda Park, a favorite place for picnickers. Paradise Park and Barasibis Park are located at the western part of the West Philippine Sea and along the national highway. Main attractions of the parks are a cascading waterfall and mountainous terrain, making it ideal for trekking, rappelling and hunting. The rock formations one sees along the beaches fronting the West Philippine Sea are interesting to behold. At the southern part of Imelda Park is the National Heroes Park, dedicated to Ilocano heroes during the Spanish period and World War II.
Saint Catherine of Alexandria Parish and Patron
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Industries
The three leading industries of Santa are loom weaving, blacksmith, and bamboo craft. Loom weaving has been identified as its leading industry under the One Town One Product scheme. Named Living Treasures of Santa in 2010 were Alfredo Pader, a blacksmith and carver from Sacuyya Norte; Antonio Bragado Balallo, a textile weaver from Mabilbila Sur; Teresita Ugalde Belardo, an embroiderer from Mabilbila Sur; and William Cabanilla, a blacksmith from Saccuya Norte. Alfredo Paner does not only turn out excellent knives but also hand grips made of carabao horn. The designs of the hand grips range from portraits, human faces, flowers, palay leaves and horse hooves.
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Heroes Hill
William Cabanilla’s blacksmith shop turns out different kinds of knives such as the ganado, used for cutting tree branches; innigat, for clearing field grass; minanabo, used for butchering animals and cutting meat; sinan tutot, for cutting meat and as a weapon against snakes; and the bassiwang, which is used as a weapon. Antonio Balallo, the only male in the femaledominated industry of weaving, is known for his multi-heddle design technique or tinumballitian. This technique enables him to create “interloping circles with intersecting flowers and vines.� He weaves blankets that either bear the name of the recipient or express greetings. Embroidery is the expertise of Teresita Ugalde Belardo, who continues to painstakingly hand embroider pillowcases and other kinds of bed linen.
Ipon Festival
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Location
Santa Catalina is bounded on the north by San Vicente; on the west by the West Philippine Sea; on the south by Vigan; and on the east by Vigan and Bantay.
Topography
The municipality has a sandy loam type of soil that makes it suitable for planting vegetables. Santa Catalina is referred to as the “Vegetable Bowl of Ilocandia” or the “Trinidad Valley of the North.” Vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage, bell pepper and onions are its major crops. Bounded by the West Philippine Sea on the west, Santa Catalina boasts of a beach front.
Government
Santa Catalina is a fifth-class municipality subdivided into nine barangays. These are the following: 1. Cabaroan 4. Pangada 7. Sinabaan 2. Cabbittaogan 5. Paratong 8. Subec 3. Cabuloan 6. Poblacion 9. Tamorong 322 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
SANTA CATALINA MAYORS Name Length of Service BENEDICTO GOROSPE 1723-1735 DIEGO ENRIQUEZ 1736-1784 ANTONIO ENRIQUEZ 1785 FELIPE DE LA CRUZ 1786 PABLO SORIANO 1788 DIEGO ENRIQUEZ 1789 FELIPE DE LA CRUZ 1792 MARCELINO GOROSPE 1793-1795 FELIPE DE LA CRUZ 1805 ANACLETO DE LOS REYES 1806 MARIANO GOROSPE 1807 ANACLETO PIZARRO 1808 ELISEO DE LA CRUZ 1809 ESTEBAN VELASCO 1810 JULIAN ENRIQUEZ 1811 JUAN CRISTOBAL 1812 ANACLETO DE LOS REYES 1813
Municipal Hall of Santa Catalina
JULIAN DE LOS REYES 1814 HILARIO DE LA CRUZ 1815 PEDRO TOMAS 1816 ESTEBAN VELASCO 1817 SINFROSIO DE LOS REYES 1818 JUAN ANTONIO 1819 FELIPE BARTOLOME 1820 JUSTO ENRIQUEZ 1821 MARIANO VELASCO 1822 EUSEBIO ENRIQUEZ 1823 LECADIO JARAMILLO 1824 MARIANO VELASCO 1825 MARIANO DE LA CRUZ 1826 MARIANO ENRIQUEZ 1827 JUSTO ENRIQUEZ 1828 MARIANO DE LOS REYES 1829 MARIANO PIZARRO 1830 MIGUEL GOROSPE 1831 ENGRACIO DE LOS REYES 1832 GUILLERMO GOROSPE 1833 EUSTAQUIO DE LA CRUZ 1835 JUSTO ENRIQUEZ 1836 MARIANO ENRIQUEZ 1837 MARIANO DE LOS REYES 1838 GUILLERMO GOROSPE 1839 CIRIACO DE LA CRUZ 1840 MARIANO DE LOS REYES 1841 SANTIAGO ENRIQUEZ 1842-1843 LORENZO NAVARRO 1844 EPIFANIO DE LOS REYES 1845 ANACLETO VELASCO 1846
VICENTE DE LOS REYES GERVACIO POLANCO EUSTAQUIO DE LA CRUZ GEORGE FERNANDO FELIX GOROSPE ANSELMO TOMAS MARIANO RAMIREZ AMBROSIO RAMIREZ PRUDENCIO DE LA CRUZ PEDRO TUGADE TIBURCIO DE LOS REYES MARCELINO RAGASA JUAN DE LOS REYES DIONISIO RAMIREZ VICTORIO GOROSPE ARCADIO RANCHEZ FERNANDO PLANA CALIXTO GOROSPE CANDIDO ARCE PIO ARCE TELESFORO ENRIQUEZ MARIANO RAGASA FLORENCIO RAFANAN LUIS LAKANDULA TELESFORO ENRIQUEZ LUIS VELASCO CANDIDO ARCE ALIPIO RANCHEZ BONIFACIO PLANA EMETERIO PLANA DOMINGI LAKANDULA
1847 1848 1849 1850 1851-1852 1853 1854 1855-1856 1857 1858 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1870 1874 1876 1878 1880 1882 1884-1885 1886-1887 1888-1889 1890-1892 1893-1894 1895 1903
SANTOS RAGASA 1910-1914 JUSTINO VELASCO 1915-1918 GUILLERMO RABE 1919-1920 DOMINGO RAGASA 1921-1925 CEFERINO ARCE 1926-1929 CATALINO RESURRECCION 1929-1932 MIGUEL RABENA 1933-1935 BERNARDO RAGASA, SR. 1936-1942 FELICIANO ARCE 1942-1943 FELIPE RAQUEL 1943 ANDRES GOROSPE 1944-1945 FAUSTINO ABADILLA, SR. 1946-1947 CLAUDIO R. RAGASA, SR. 1947-1949 ERNESTO E. SOMERA 1949-1950 ADRIANO RABE 1951-1959 JOSE RAPISURA 1960-1961 SERAPIO CALIP 1961-1962 AMANTE VELASCO 1962-1966 PORFIRIO RAPANUT 1967-1979 EUGENIO RABARA 1979-1980 PORFIRIO RAPANUT 1980-1987 COSMEDINE FLORENDO 1987-1988 PORFIRIO RAPANUT 1988-1992 FRANKLIN PLANA JUNE 1992 EUGENIO RABARA 1992-1995 RODOLFO RAGUNTON (Acting) Jul.-Nov. 1995 PORFIRIO RAPANUT 1995-1998 EUGENIO RABARA 1998-2001 JUAN REDOBLE 2001-2007 CARLOS ASUNCION 2007- 2016 EDGAR RAPANUT 2016- 2019 Santa Catalina 323
A group of missionaries were in search of water to drink. Walking up north, they reached the present site of Santa Catalina where they discovered a spring to quench their thirst. One of the missionaries saw an image of a beautiful lady near the spring which was said to resemble Santa Catalina de Alexandria.
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Etymology
In the past, the town was called Santa Catalina de Baba to differentiate it from the town of Santa whose patron saint was also Santa Catalina of Alexandria. Legend has it that a group of missionaries were in search of water to drink. Walking up north, they reached the present site of Santa Catalina where they discovered a spring to quench their thirst. One of the missionaries saw an image of a beautiful lady near the spring said to resemble Santa Catalina de Alexandria. The missionaries returned to Vigan and reported the matter to their superiors who instructed the construction of a church dedicated to Santa Catalina.
Logo
The circular lines symbolize the oneness and unity of the inhabitants of the town. The vegetables and root crops found in the upper half of the circle, as well as the fish and crustaceans in the lower half of the circle, represent the products of the town.
History
In 1572, Santa Catalina was then part of Ciudad Fernandina established by Juan de Salcedo. When the Spanish expeditionary forces reconnoitered further west, they came across the sand dunes of Mindoro and Pantay overlooking the Govantes River which served as a natural boundary of Vigan and Santa Catalina. The Spaniards noticed an island across the river which they called Cabittaogan because of the abundance of a tree called Bitaog. It was on this site that they planted a cross made from the Bitaog tree. This cross called “Dakkel nga Cross,� now covered with cement, can be found in front of the Cabittaogan Elementary School. It is said that presence of the Holy Cross showed that it was an important mooring place of Vigan. In the 19th century, Santa Catalina was described as belonging to the diocese of Nueva Segovia. It had 200 houses made of light materials, a church and convent, a primary school and a cemetery found in the outskirts of the town.
Santa Catalina 325
The town residents at that time cultivated rice, corn, sugar cane, cotton, and vegetables. They were also engaged in cotton-weaving and gold-panning. In 1901, some 697 revolutionaries of Santa Catalina took their oath of allegiance to the United States inside the Santa Catalina church on February 22, George Washington’s birthday. At present, Santa Catalina has earned the reputation of being the “Vegetable Bowl of the North.”
Church
Formerly a part of the parish of Vigan, it was not until 1795 when the town became an independent parish through Bishop Juan Ruiz. The next bishop, Most Rev.
St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish
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Pedro Blanquier appointed in PARISH PRIEST 1800 its first parish priest in the REV. VENUSTO L. MATA person of Rev. Father Manuel de St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish los Reyes. During the incumbency of Reverend Vicente Villanueva in 1837, the Cofradia de las almas benditas del Purgatorio (Confraternity of the Blessed Souls of Purgatory) was established. The patron saint of the town is Santa Catalina de Alexandria, whose feast day is celebrated every November 25.
Industries
The top three industries of Santa Catalina are
cattle-raising and fattening, food processing and rice and vegetable seeds production. The town has identified organically-grown vegetables as its product under the One Town One Product scheme.
Places to Visit
The town church, whose patron saint is Santa Catalina of Alexandria, is one place to visit, as well as the Holy Cross or “Dakkel nga Cross” found in front of Cabittaogan Elementary School. The church is a baroque structure which has a façade topped by a belfry as well as a niche on the second level. Also worth visiting is the town hall of the
municipal building of Santa Catalina. Built around 1920, it has undergone many renovations as can be gleaned from its windows and finishings. Having the West Philippine Sea for its western boundary, the town boasts of the Santa Catalina Beach with its black sand said to contain three elements: manganese (black ore), silica and gold tailings. During the 50s, the sea water washes the silica, leaving the manganese with gold tailings which could be extracted by gold panners using a wooden instrument called “saplad.” The plaza of the town is adorned by a monument of Antonio Luna. The monument is a tribute of the town to the patriotism of the hero.
Saint Catherine of Alexandria Santa Catalina 327
Location
Santa Cruz is the second southernmost town of Ilocos Sur. It is bounded on the north by the municipalities of Santa Lucia and Salcedo, on the south by the municipalities of Suyo and Tagudin, on the east by Central Cordillera and on the west by the West Philippine Sea.
Topography
The eastern part of the municipality is mountainous, while the western part is a coastal plain. The three principal rivers which traverse the municipality are Patupec, Bayugao and Dili. The secondary rivers are Canayon and Sevilla. 328 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
Government
A second-class municipality, Santa= Cruz is subdivided into 49 barangays. These barangays are: 1. Amarao 12. Capariaan 2. Babayoan 13. Casilagan 3. Bacsayan 14. Coscosnong 4. Banay 15. Daligan 5. Bayugao Este 16. Dili 6. Bayugao Oeste 17. Gabor Norte 7. Besalan 18. Gabor Sur 8. Bugbuga 19. Lalong 9. Calaoaan 20. Lantag 10. Camanggaan 21. Las-ud 11. Candalican 22. Mambog
Municipal Hall of Santa Cruz
23. Mantanas 24. Nagtengnga 25. Padaoil 26. Paratong 27. Pattiqui 28. Pidpid 29. Pilar 30. Pinipin 31. Poblacion Este 32. Poblacion Norte 33. Poblacion Oeste 34. Poblacion Sur 35. Quinfermin 36. Quinsoriano
37. Sagat 38. San Antonio 39. San Jose 40. San Pedro 41. Saoat 42. Sevilla 43. Sidaoen 44. Suyo 45. Tampugo 46. Turod 47. Villa Garcia 48. Villa Hermosa 49. Villa Laurencia
SANTA CRUZ MAYORS Name PASTOR ARBOLEDA MANUEL JOSUE JUAN JOSUE BRAULLIO BAANIOAN JOSE FLORENDO MOISES GACUSAN RODRIGO ROMANO JONATHAN BITENG MAXIMO GOMINTONG JONATHAN BITENG VIRGILLIO VALLE TERESITA VALLE VIRGILLIO VALLE TERESITA VALLE VIRGILLIO VALLE
List of Mayors 1926-1928 1929-1937 1938-1934 1945 1946-1951 1952-1959 1960-1963 1964-1967 1968-1971 1972-1987 1988-1998 1998-2004 2004-2013 2013-2016 2016-2019 Santa Cruz 329
Etymology
Before the coming of the Spaniards, there was a settlement close to the Patupec River. This settlement of Ilocanos was called Minlaud, from the word “laud,“ meaning “west.” The settlement of the Igorots was called Mindayas, from the word “daya” or “east.” The Mindayas tried to conquer the Minlauds, but the latter were able to drive the invaders back to the mountains. The victorious Ilocanos renamed their settlement “Taripnong,” meaning “houses built close to each other” to underscore their unity. Later, the Ilocanos changed the name Taripnong to “Napinget,” to mean “fearless” or “strong-willed.” When the Spanish conquistador Juan de Salcedo was in search of drinking water as he was exploring the north, his men went ashore and planted on the highest sand dune a big wooden cross. The place formerly called “Taripnong” and “Napinget” was finally called Santa Cruz. The erected cross became a sort of beacon to mariners then.
Spanish soldiers led by Legaspi put up a big cross made of narra on top of the highest hill. Santa Cruz means ”Holy Cross”.
Logo
The shield in the logo is derived from the provincial seal of Ilocos Sur. The sheaf of palay, the tobacco leaves and the head of the carabao represent the fact that the municipality is an agricultural community. The sun rays symbolize progress for the municipality. The three stars represent the three Roman Catholic parishes of the municipality, the parish of the Immaculate Conception; St. Joseph parish and the parish of Our lady of Guadalupe. 330 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
Santa Cruz 331
History
Sources say the town was founded in 1603, but was considered a visita of Candon. In 1612, it had a convent and two priests who ministered to the needs of 2,700 inhabitants. During the Malong Revolt of1660, Santa Cruz and Santa Lucia were the areas where Spanish forces met the Zambaleno allies of Malong. Santa Catalina had its origins as a barrio of Santa Lucia until 1727 when it became a separate town. Its first gobernardorcillo was Paulo Guiyeb. In 1860, Santa Cruz was administered by the priests of Santa Lucia. Thirteen years later (1873), it became an independent parish under the care of the Augustinians. Santa Cruz figured in the Philippine-American War when the Americans reported that all officials in Santa Cruz were serving the revolutionary cause. Moreover. there was a call in the town to revive the Katipunan movement. William Howard Taft headed a commission to Ilocos Sur to consult with the inhabitants of the province, Santa Cruz was represented by the following political elites: Vice Presidente Jose Pimentel Concejales Lino Talavera Pastor Apeles Severo Pimentel Angel Talavera Delfin Sanches Mariano Josue Juan Josue Ambrosio Sanchez During the American period, the pueblos of Sevilla and San Jose were merged with Santa Cruz. Sevilla was abandoned because of the presence of Moro raider. San Jose’s meager town income led to its incorporation with Santa Cruz.
1661 (January) – Ilocano and Tingguian allies of the Spaniards killed 400 Malong supporters in Narvacan during a decisive battle in Santa Cruz. 332 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
Santa Cruz 333
Church
Santa Cruz has three churches: the Immaculate Conception parish, whose feast day falls on December 8; the parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe, who feast day is celebrated on December 12; and the parish of St. Joseph, the Worker whose feast day falls on May 1. The oldest of the three is the church of the Immaculate Conception, believed to have been constructed in 1641 as indicated by the nonremittance of its contributions to the San Agustin monastery. Churches under construction then were
exempted from giving their contributions to San Agustin. During the earthquake of 1880, the church was damaged as cracks appeared on its north and south walls. Renovations have been made on the church, including the repair of the main altar in 1938; the painting of the ceiling in 1965 and its exterior in 1968. The church exhibits a Neo-Classic Style as evidenced by the straight vertical movement as well as its clean design. Blind windows flank the semi-
PARISH PRIEST REV. JERRY R. AVISA Immaculate Concepcion Parish REV. RUFO V. ABAYA Immaculate Conception Parish REV. REX P. RILVERIA Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish
Immaculate Concepcion
334 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
circular arch of the entrance. The second level has a window which allows light to enter the choir loft, and is topped by a triangular pediment. Twin rectangular bell towers are also found on the second level. These bell towers are crowned with a pointed dome and semi-circular arched windows. The Our Lady of Guadalupe church, on the other hand, is located in Barangay Sevilla, which was a pueblo during the Spanish period. The incursions of Moro raiders forced residents to abandon the site, moving inland. The brick church was later razed to the ground. The ruins can still be seen in under the
main building of the present elementary school of Sevilla. Sevilla lost its status as a pueblo during the American period when it was merged with Santa Cruz. A chapel was constructed in 1931 under the watch of Fr. Aurelio Morales, who was then the parish priest. On September 12, 1957, Sevilla became a parish with Fr. Rafael Rulloda as parish priest. The parish dedicated to St. Joseph or San Jose was founded in 1947. Its first parish priest was Fr. Crispin Crisologo.
Immaculate Concepcion Parish
Santa Cruz 335
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish 336 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Santa Cruz 337
Saint Joseph the Worker Parish and Patron Saint
338 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
Industries
Agriculture, fishing and tobacco-growing are the top three industries of Santa Cruz. The product it would like to be identified with under the One Town One Product scheme is yellow corn. In 1998, Santa Cruz was adjudged the “Most Progressive Town in the Meat Trade” of Region I. an award given by the National Meat Inspection Commission. The rich fishing grounds of Santa Cruz are found in Villa Hermosa, Pilar, Pinipin, Mantanas, Dili, Villa Garcia, Sevilla and Pattiqui. Recently, Agustin Dao-ay, an 83-year-old basket weaver, was chosen one of the Tawid awardees. He was introduced to basket-weaving at the age of 13 during the Japanese Occupation. After the war, he continued weaving baskets as a hobby. Tata Agustin would weave baskets from a bamboo variety called bolo or anes. He produced a variety of baskets such as the winnowing basket called bilao, crop baskets (labba), nesting baskets (baki), back baskets (pasiking) and shoulder baskets (kuppit). Products of his hobby end up in his home or are sold.
Places to Visit
The Immaculate Conception Church built during the Spanish period is one of the town’s main attractions. The convent beside the church is now used as a school. The town hall made of bricks is another edifice built during the Spanish era. The building has large portals and windows reaching to the ground. The windows on the second floor open all the way to the ceiling. The entrance gateway to the poblacion was constructed in the 1930s. Triangular in shape, it has square pilasters topped by Corinthian columns. At the top is inscribed the name of the town as well as the seal of the municipality. Santa Cruz’s police headquarters is a brick structure built during the Spanish period which once served as a school. The façade is rendered in the baroque style, with pilasters topped by urn-like finials.
Santa Cruz 339
Location
Santa Lucia is bounded on the north by Candon, on the east by the Cordillera, on the south by Santa Cruz and on the west by the West Philippine Sea.
Topography
The town is a coastal plain bounded by the West Philippine Sea on the west and the Cordillera on the east.
Government
Santa Lucia is a third-class municipality subdivided into 36 barangays: 1. Alincaoeg 6. Bani 2. Angkileng 7. Bao-as 3. Arangin 8. Barangobong 4. Ayusan 9. Buliclic 5. Banbanaba 10. Burgos 11. Cabaritan
340 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
13. Conconig East 14. Conconig West 15. Damacuag 16. Lubong 17. Luba 18. Nagrebcan 19. Natagblaan 20. Namatican 21. Nangalisan 22. Palali Norte 23. Palali Sur 24. Paoc Norte
Etymology
25. Paoc Sur 26. Paratong 27. Pila East 28. Pila West 29. Quinabalay 30. Ronda 31. Sabuanan 32. San Juan 33. San Pedro 34. Sapang 35. Suagayan 36. Vical
The old names of Santa Lucia were Kaog or Dumangague, both of which are Igorot words. With the advent of Spanish rule in the Philippines, an image of the saint Sta, Lucia was brought by the Augustinians to the Philippines from Mexico. It is said that the statue was brought to local shore after Kaog or Dumangague was made a mission territory of the Augustinians in 1586. Santa Lucia was reputed to cure eye ailments, and many miracles were attributed to her.
Municipal Hall of Santa Lucia
Logo
The shield is derived from the provincial seal of Ilocos Sur. The plow represents dignity of labor. with the yellow band above it signifying prosperity. The three equidistant mounted stars represent Ilocos Sur and Santa Lucia, symbolizing the support of “mother” Ilocos Sur to the aspirations of her “children,” the people of the municipality. The various colors in the logo represent the following: blue for valor; red for courage; green for hope; gold for prosperity and bounty; and white for peace. The inner circle represents the unity of the 36 barangays, while the outer circle stands for the municipal government that keeps watch over the dreams, aspirations and daily life of the people. Santa Lucia 341
SANTA LUCIA MAYORS Name Length of Service TOMAS LORENZO 1802 TOMAS ALVARO 1803 MANUEL DE LA CRUZ 1804 GASPAR FERNANDEZ 1805 FRANCISCO RIVERA 1806 ALEJO LORENZO 1807 FAUSTINO FELIX 1808 ANTONIO RIVERA 1809 JUAN AGUILA 1810 PEDRO RIVERA 1811 SILVERIO HOMBREBUENO 1812 FRANCISCO RIVERA 1813 ALEJO LORENZO 1814 JUAN ASUNCION 1815 ESTEBAN AQUINO 1816 CLEMENTE RIVERA 1817 GASPAR FERNANDEZ 1818-1819 JUAN RIVERA 1820 ANDRES BAQUIOEL 1821 FRANCISCO RIVERA 1822 SANTIAGO AQUINO 1823 PEDRO ASUNCION 1824 RAFAEL FERNANDEZ 1825 PABLO LORENZO 1826 JUAN ESPIRITU DE LA PENA 1827 VICENTE RIVERA 1828 ANDRES ABLANG 1829 PEDRO RIVERA 1830 MANUEL PALADIO 1831 FRANCISCO RIVERA 1832-1833 HILARIO AQUINO 1834 MANUEL FERNANDEZ 1835 TOMAS RIVERA 1836 NARCISO FERNANDEZ 1837 PEDRO AQUINO 1838 MANUEL DE PERALTA 1839 BASILIO LORENZO 1840 PEDRO DE LA CRUZ 1841 MANUEL AQUINO 1842 DOMINGO AGUILAR 1843 PEDRO PIMENTEL 1844-1845 JUAN VELASCO 1846 APOLINARIO GASPAR 1847 PABLO DE LA PENA 1848 GALACIO AQUINO 1849 AGUSTINO RIVERA 1850 RUPERTO HERNAEZ 1851 IGNACIO PALADIO 1852 MAXIMO HERMOSURA 1853 342 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
1941 – People of Santa Lucia fled to the town’s interior areas to escape execution. A part
FELIX SANCHEZ 1854 RAYMUNDO RIVERA 1855 PEDRO PIMENTEL 1856 EUGENIO PIMENTEL 1857 PEDRO HERMOSURA 1858 COSME PAREDES 1859 FERMIN HEMBREBUENO 1860 BASILIO HERMOSURA 1861 MARIANO HERNAEZ 1862 FERNANDO JOVEN 1863-1866 POSIDIO PIMENTEL 1867-1868
IGNACIO DE VELASCO SANTIAGO DE VELASCO AGUSTIN FERNANDEZ MODESTO HERMOSURA EVARISTO HERMOSURA DONATO AQUINO EMIGIDIO TALAVERA SANTIAGO DE VELASCO GABRIEL PIMENTEL FRANCISCO PIMENTEL JUAN DE VELASCO
1869-1870 1871-1872 1873-1874 1875-1876 1877-1878 1879-1880 1881-1882 1883-1886 1887-1888 1889-1890 1890-1892
of the poblacion was burned down by the Japanese army.
GERVACIO SORIA PAULINO PAREL MAXIMO PIMENTEL MARIANO FERNANDEZ TOMAS JOVEN PEDRO AGUILAR PEDRO FESTEJO CABATU PIMENTEL MELEDIO FRENCILLO RAMON AQUINO RAMON AQUINO
1893-1894 1895-1898 1899 1900 1901-1903 1908-1912 1913-1922 1923-1925 1926-1928 1929-1931 1932-1934
PEDRO FESTEJO 1935-1937 CANUTO PIMENTEL 1938-1940 PEDRO FESTEJO 1941-1945 PRUDENCIO QUILOP 1946-1947 PEDRO FESTEJO 1948-1951 ANDRES PIMENTEL 1951 MARTIN ANGALA 1952-1956 PEDRO PACIS 1957-1958 ANDRES PIMENTEL 1959-1963 PABLO FESTEJO 1964 BRIGIDO VILOG (Acting mayor) 1965-1967
BRIGIDO VILOG 1967-1969 TEOFILO FAMORCA (Acting mayor) 1969-1971 PABLO FESTEJO 1972-1985 JUAN HABAB, SR. (OIC 6 mons.) 1986 BENJAMIN RUIZ (OIC) 1986-1987 PABLO FESTEJO 1988-1995 TEODORO HERNAEZ 1995-2001 ROMULO J. GARCIA JR. (2 mons.) 2001 FERDINAND HERNAEZ 2001-2010 ESTRELLA HERNAEZ 2010-2016 FERDINAND HERNAEZ 2016-2019 Santa Lucia 343
History
The present location of Santa Lucia was settled by Kankana-eys prior to the arrival of the Spanish colonizers. It bore the name of Kaog and Dumangke.. Isabelo de los Reyes, author of the work Historia de Ilocos, mentioned that Fr. San Agustin made a mistake of referring to Dumangke as the present Santa Lucia when, in fact, it was Bacarra. The old name of Santa Lucia. according to De los Reyes, was Atuley. The place was discovered by Juan de Salcedo in 1572 when he was on an expedition to northern Luzon . When Salcedo landed, the people along the coast received him warmly, but the people in the interior resisted his presence. When Antonio de Hurtado was sent by Salcedo to penetrate the interior community, he found it was deserted. On his way back, Hurtado’s men were ambushed, but they fought back. When this happened, the natives retreated. In the course of the encounter, a native ruler by the name of Silata was captured. Presented before Salcedo, Silata received gifts from Salcedo and was advised to call back his followers as the Spanish conquistador said he did not wish them harm. Silata did as what was asked by Salcedo. He returned with his followers and even brought 100 ounces of gold for the Spaniard. Salcedo refused the gift and told them he did not come to exploit them. According to Isabelo de los Reyes, Salcedo left the place on June 12, 1572. In 1586, it became a mission territory of the Augustinians. In 1671, Atuley became a regular parish under the patronage of Santa Lucia, whose feast day is celebrated every December 13. Santa Lucia then served the spiritual needs of Nagtablaan, San Tiburcio, Pias, Atabay, Calicaquio, Bilidbid, Sorioan, Napaltat, Arangin and Corroooy – all with a distance of two and a half hours from the church. Santa Lucia figured in the reports on the Malong Rebellion of 1660 as the Zambal allies of Malong passed through the municipality on their way to Vigan. During the Philippine-American War, the town elite collaborated with the Americans. With the advent of American rule, the native elite showed partiality for the new conquerors as it registered its representation in the Federal Party, the only political party recognized by the United States . Hence when William Howard Taft visited Ilocos Sur in the 1901, Santa Lucia was represented by the following: 344 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
Pulpit
Presidente Municipal Vice-presidente Lieutenant Police Juez de paz Presidente partido federal Principales Pedro Festejo Pedro Aguilar Hugo Salgado Bernardo Pimentel Rafel Sanches Zacarias Joven Modesto Joven
Mariano Fernandez Francisco Caldevar Tomas Joven Matias Talavera Juan Festejo Isidoro Antolin Claro Rivero Joaquin Pimentel Gervasio Soria Evaristo Festejo Marcelino Jines
Miraculous Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr
With a civil government established during the American period, Santa Lucia was subdivided into barrios and had a population of 17,000. When the municipality of Salcedo was created in 1941, nine barrios of Santa Lucia were incorporated in the new town. As Japanese forces arrived in Ilocos Sur, Santa Lucia residents retreated to the interior and part of the poblacion was burned down by Japanese soldiers. The cultivation of Virginia tobacco augured well for the town in 1958. Tobacco experts noted the high quality of tobacco produced in Santa Lucia’s Barangay Palali.
Church
The present church built in 1873 is covered by galvanized iron. There are three interesting features of the church: the quasi-Romanesque façade, the magnificent cupola and the four-story bell tower. The church has no vertical sections like columns or pilasters to mark such divisions. Neither does it show any horizontal movement because of the lack of an architrave. The main door of the church is crowned by a recessed arch reminiscent of the Romanesque style. It is flanked by two blind arches equally Santa Lucia 345
Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr
crowned by round arches. Above the main portal is a circular rose window which suggests the level of the choir loft. Above the triangular pediment is a Latin cross, while dropping from the pediment are miniscule engaged pillarettes. An octagonal done rises at the intersection of the nave and the transept. The four-story bell tower rises from a rectangular base, tapering into a rounded dome with blind and open arches. 346 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr Parish
Santa Lucia of Syracuse is the patron saint of the church. Her feast day falls on December 13. The saint was martyred during the time of Emperor Diocletian. The image of Santa Lucia is made of dark wood and is barely three feet in height. Santa Lucia is venerated for the many miracles she has performed for those who are sick, especially those who suffer from eye ailments. Those who were cured through the intercession of Santa Lucia pin on her dress a silver-plated metal cast of different parts of the body, such as the eyes, leg, arm or hand,
PARISH PRIEST MSGR. DAVID WILLIAM V. ANTONIO St. Lucy Parish REV. JERIC C. JARAMILLO St. Lucy Parish
as a testimony that they were cured. Thanksgiving offerings for favors received are called ex-votos.
skill. He has also ventured into making wastebaskets, hammocks and laundry hampers.
Industries
Places to Visit
Peanut processing, rice milling, metal works and auto-repair are the three top industries of Santa Lucia. Processed peanut has been identified as its main product in the One Town, One Product scheme. A recent Tawid awardee of Santa Lucia was Agapito Balila, an 83-year-old fish basket-maker. Tata Agapito started weaving fish baskets at the age of 15, and since then, has been recognized for this particular
The Catholic church of Santa Lucia is one interesting place to visit. The brick church is done in the pseudo-Romanesque style, with its four-story belfry. The convent, made of bricks and wood, is located perpendicular to the church. A school building made entirely of bricks was constructed during the Spanish period. Its round pilasters are the main features on its faรงade. Santa Lucia 347
Location
Santa Maria is bounded on the north by Narvacan, on the east by Pilar, Abra province and the Cordillera, on the south by San Esteban, on the southeast by Burgos and on the west by the West Philippine Sea.
Topography
The easternmost part of the municipality is mountainous, with the Pinsal Falls at its maximum elevation of 130 meters above sea level. From the falls, the elevation drops, nearing Barangays Guising, Silag and Penned. The Santa Maria River divides the municipality into three parts. From the mountains, the river branches into Barangay Silag, the Pinsal Falls and Barangay Lesseb. In the westernmost part of Santa Maria, one finds the beaches of Santa Maria. 348 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
Government
Santa Maria is a third-class semi-urban municipality subdivided into 33 barangays. These are: 1. Ag-agrao 18. Lingsat 2. Ampuangan 19. Lubong 3. Baballasioan 20. Maynganay Norte 4. Baliw Daya 21. Maynganay Sur 5. Baliw Laud (San Ignacio) 6. Bia-O 22. Nagsayaoan 7. Butir 23. Nagtungpacan 8. Cabaroan 24. Nalvo 9. Danuman East 25. Pacang 10. Danuman West 26. Penned 11. Dunglayan 27. Poblacion Norte 12. Gusing 28. Poblacion Sur 13. Langaoan 29. Silag 14. Laslasong Norte 30. Sumagui 15. Laslasong Sur 31. Suso 16. Laslasong West 32. Tangaoan 17. Lesseb 33. Tinaan
Municipal Hall of Santa Maria
Santa Maria 349
Etymology
The old name of Santa Maria was Purok, meaning “village,” in the local language. It used to be a village of Narvacan. According to the local lore, the municipality acquired its name after a statue of Our Lady of Assumption found in a wooden chest which was said to have been washed ashore from a shipwrecked galleon. The image was discovered to be completely dry despite the fact that the chest was waterlogged. This was the first miracle attributed to the image. Subsequently, the image was said to often disappear from the chapel where it was enshrined, and would be sighted on top of a guava tree found on a knoll. The townspeople interpreted this as the Virgin Mary’s preference for a church to be built on this particular spot. This is where the present church of Santa Maria is located. All of these events led to the renaming of their village from Purok to Santa Maria in honor of the Virgin Mary.
Logo
The shield is derived from the provincial seal of Ilocos Sur. The church and bell tower represent the Santa Maria church which is a historical landmark of the municipality. The waterfalls represent Pinsal Falls where, according to legend, one can find nearby the footprints of the giant Angolo, in search of his wife, Aran. The hat, mat and salt represent the three principal industries of the town. The beach represents Suso Beach, a major tourist spot in Santa Maria. The whipcord symbolizes the following qualities of the townspeople: discipline, determination, courage and authority.
350 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
STA MARIA MAYORS Name JUAN NICOLAS PABLO PERALTA MIGUEL MENDOZA SEBASTIAN DOMINGO MIGUEL MANUEL PEDRO PERALTA JOSE MANUEL JUAN PEDRO DE PERALTA PEDRO PERALTA MIGUEL DE MENDOZA SEBASTIAN DOMINGO JUAN HIPOLITO BERNARDO TIMOTEO LUCAS ISMAEL JUAN MANUEL LUCAS MANUEL LUCAS MANUEL PEDRO JACINTO GABRIEL DE LOS RUIZ EUSEBIO VELASCO PEDRO AGBULOS PASCUAL TIMOTEO MINA MIGUEL DE MENDOZA FERNANDO TIMOTEO MANUEL ABROCIO GABRIEL DE LOS REYES JOSE PATRICIO ANDRES DOMINGO PEDRO AGBULOS MAURICIO LOPEZ VICTORIANO MENDOZA CRISTOBAL JACINTO LORENZO ESCOBAR ANDRES DOMINGO CRISTOBAL JACINTO ANCLETO MENDOZA PEDRO AGBULOS PASCUAL JACINTO MINA MANUEL AMBROCIO PABLO DE PERALTA JUAN MENDOZA NICOLAS RAFAEL SANTIAGO MINA
Length of Service 1762 1763 1764 1765 1766 1767 1768 1769 1770 1771 1772 1773 1774 1775 1776 1777 1778 1779-1780 1781 1782 1783 1784 1785 1786 1787 1788 1789 1790 1791 1792 1793 1794 1795 1796 1797 1798 1799 1800 1801 1802 1803 1804 1805
FRANCISCO RAFAEL BUENAMINAGUL ESCOBAR MARCOS AGBULOS JOSE PAGUERGAN PEDRO GUERZON FELICIANO DE LOS SANTOS ANDRES MANUEL MATIAS RAFAEL GELACIO VELASCO SIMON MENDOZA FAUSTINO FRANCISCO PABLO DE PERALTA RAFAEL DE LA CRUZ BARTOLOME MENDOZA BASILIO ESCOBAR FROILAN RAFAEL SANTIAGO GAVINO MARCOS MINA MARCOS MINA DIONICIO DE LOS SANTOS PABLO CARINO JUAN LAZO LUCAS ISMAEL SANTIAGO MINA DIONICIO ESCOBAR SANTOS QUIPIO GEORGE FORONDA FACUNDO GUERZON PATRICIO MENDOZA ANASTACIO ESCOBAR ANASTACIO LAZO CORNELIO GUERZON GREGORIO FRANCISCO GAVINO DE LOS SANTOS PEDRO VICENTE BENEDICTO AGBULOS MIGUEL PEREDO GELACIO VELASCO FABIAN GULEB MIGUEL ESCOBAR FRANCISCO ISMAEL IGNACIO DOMINGO GREGORIO MENDOZA EUSTAQUIO GULEB DIONISIO ESPIRITU
1806 1807 1808 1809 1810 1811 1812 1813 1814 1815 1816 1817 1818 1819 1820 1821 1822 1823 1824 1825 1826 1827 1828 1829 1830 1831 1832 1833 1834 1835 1836 1837 1838 1839 1840 1841 1842 1843 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 1854
DOMINGO DAVID 1855 SILVINO LAZO 1856 ISIDRO ISMAEL 1857 JUAN LEONES 1858 PRUDENCIO ESCOBAR 1859 RAYMUNDO GUERZON 1863-1866 CARLOS DRACULAN 1867-1868 ENRIQUE DEGALA 1869-1870 TEODORO DEGALA 1871-1872 LEON TAMAYO 1873-1874 CATALINO CAMARILLO 1875-1876 BLAS GOROSPE 1877-1878 JUAN ESPIRITU 1879-1880 DALMACIO GUERZON 1881-1882 BRIGIDO DEMOCLES 1883-1884 JUAN ESCOBAR 1885-1886 PEDRO MENDOZA 1887-1888 PIO REYES 1889-1892 EUGENIO ESCOBAR 1893-1894 BENIGNO MORALES 1895-1898 BRIGIDO DEMOCLES 1899 JUAN DIRECTO 1900 GREGORIO QUIBILAN 1901 SINFROSO TAMAYO 1901-1903 SABINA SEBASTIAN 1904-1905 MODESTO DACQUEL 1906-1907 MARTIN DOMINGO 1908-1909 SATURNINO FORMOSO 1910-1915 LUCIO DOMINGO 1916-1919 SANTIAGO DEGALA 1920-1922 PEDRO FLORENDO 1923-1931 JUAQUIN FLORENDO 1932-1940 LAUREANO AYSON 1941-1942 GODOFREDO REYES 1956-1957 PANTALEON MACABEO 1957-1959 PONCIANO REYES 1960-1961 PONCIANO REYES 1968-1971 ROMULO BRILLANTES 1972-Sep. 22, 1986 GODOFREDO S. REYES Sep. 1986-22-Nov. 30, 1987 SALVADOR CRISOSTOMO Dec. 1, 1987-Feb. 2, 1988 ROMULO P. BRILLANTES Feb. 2, 1988-Mar. 27, 1998 CONSOLACION D. SUPNET Mar. 28-Jun. 30, 1998 EDGAR C. FLORENDO, M.D. 1998-2004 EMMA THELMA S. FLORENDO 2007-2013 EDGAR C. FLORENDO 2013-2019 Santa Maria 351
According to the local lore, the municipality acquired its name after a statue of Our Ladyof Assumption was found in a wooden chest that could have been washed ashore from a shipwrecked galleon. The image was discovered to be completely dry despite the fact that the chest was waterlogged.
352 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
Santa Maria 353
History
Santa Maria started as a visita of Narvacan. It later became an independent parish in 1769, with Our Lady of Assumption as its patron saint. The year of its founding has been marked as 1767 on the strength of the first entry of names entered in the Libro de Bautismos (Baptisamal Registry) preserved in the church. Santa Maria celebrated its bicentennial in 1997. By the middle of the 19th century, the town had a tribunal (town hall) made of stone and a tiled roof. On the ground floor was found the prison cell. In the town plaza was the market which offered for sale vegetables, eggs, meat, fish and other merchandise of the Chinese mestizos. Santa Maria had an elementary school funded by the caja de comunidad, or community chest, and private schools for boys and girls. It had a stone church established by the Augustinians dedicated to the Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion, or Our Lady of the Assumption. Beside the church was the convent made of stone. About 20 feet from the church-convent complex was a cemetery that had been badly damaged by an earthquake. Santa Maria had two ports: one located west of the town allowed sea vessels to dock; the other, located north of the town, was for smaller vessels. The mountainous part of the town yields lumber of different kinds such as narra, molave, banaba, caudaroma, casiray, panurapin etc. The plains are dedicated to the cultivation of rice, wheat, cotton, indigo, corn and sugarcane. The rice and corn harvests of Santa Maria supplies the towns of Santa, Bantay, Santa Catalina and San Vicente. In the mountains of Pingsal are found gold mines, which the natives do not exploit. The women weave textiles made of silk and cotton and panuelos (kerchiefs) of all sorts. Santa Maria had the privilege of being visited by two Spanish governor-generals: Gov. General Narciso Claveria in 1846 and Gen. Primo de Rivera in 1879. During the Philippine-American War, Gen. Manuel Tinio encamped on the mountain side of Silag in Sta Maria as it offered a good hiding place as well as trails that led to the interior of the Cordillera. It was also in Santa Maria where one could obtain cheap straight bolos, one third the normal size, intended for revolutionaries who had no bayonets. Attempting to cut the local community’s support for the revolutionaries, the Americans forced the barrio population of Santa Maria to move to the poblacion or town center in March 1901. Prior to this, 354 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
1900 May 1 – Americans attack Camp Cabaritan in Santa Maria,
killing 2 Filipinos Santa Maria 355
1945 (February 13) – A team led by Col. Salvador Reyes executed Emilio Escobar alias “Sagad,” said to be an abusive guerilla 356 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
on March 1900, the barrio of San Jose, which was named Tinio after the revolutionary general, was changed to Young after Samuel Young, the general who headed the American forces in Ilocos. American Scouts with Filipino mercenaries were stationed in Santa Maria, creating pressure on the revolutionaries to surrender. About 2,180 Filipino soldiers from Santa Maria surrendered to the Americans. Of this number, 1,700 were bolomen. It reportedly took nine hours for the surrender to be completed since the act also involved kissing the crucifix and swearing allegiance to the military government – all under the watchful eye of the parish priest, Fr. Apolinario Concepcion. When William Howard Taft visited Ilocos Sur in 1901, Santa Maria had the following political leaders: Presidente Gregorio Guibilan Representantes Gelacio Joronda Juan Directo Juan Lazo Claro Quebral Ignacio Remirego Anastacio Dirigo Ignacio Ramirez Tiburcio Macabac Ruperto Guibilan Emeterio Escobar Julio Castillo Felix Arreola Pastor Mendoza Romualdo Floresca Raimundo Antonio Olegario Reyes Nicolas Eleccion Seberino Sebastian Apolinario Esobar Quiterio Florendo Andres Dacquel Gregorio Gaerlan Prudencio Tablang Brigido Damocles Simplisio Dacquel Bernardo Dacquel Modesto Dacquel Faustino Domingo Agapito Dias
from Santa Maria.
In the barrio of Bia-O, the first school in Santa Maria was established. The American governor-general William Cameron Forbes visited Santa Maria in 1910. as did President Manuel Quezon during the Commonwealth period. With the arrival of the Japanese during World War II, the townspeople sought refuge in the mountains of Silag. Guerilla groups were formed and the bolomen of the revolutionary period acted as guards and messengers of the guerillas. A Women’s Auxilliary Service (WAS) was also established to provide support to the guerillas. Towards the end of the Japanese Occupation, the invaders burned houses in the poblacion and accused the incumbent mayor, Joaquin Escobar of supporting the guerillas. Escobar was imprisoned and brought to Manila and was never heard of, most likely executed by the Japanese. Santa Maria 357
Looking back to the role played by the guerillas, some local residents looked with disfavor on them, as reflected by the following assessment:1 “These guerillas and bolomen called themselves patriots, in fact they were the worst criminals and the worst enemies of mankind, including our Lord. In my own opinion, the guerilla organization here was organized to give a chance for many of them to become rich and to destroy girls. These guerillas brought misery, hardships and sorrows to the people which can not be erased from their memories. The acts of the guerillas in Santa Maria required investigations conducted by Col. Salvador Reyes, who became Inspector General of Northern Luzon and by Rep. Floro Crisologo of the first district of Ilocos Sur. Santa Maria made history when its church was declared a world heritage site by the UNESCO on December 11, 1993.
Church
The present church may have been constructed around 1810 by Fr. Jose Cardano. The bells for the belfry arrived in 1811. A report of the gobernadorcillo in 1829 mentioned that fire had gutted the church and the convent, prompting the governor to donate 1,900 pesos to buy clavazon (big nails and screws). The church was reconstructed in 1824 with the help of the townspeople. The Santa Maria church is made of bricks and is built on top of a hill, providing a view of the blue sea and green rice fields. One climbs 85 steps to reach the top of the hill. The steps are divided into four flights. The stairway’s first and second flights have 20 steps each; the third, 22; the fourth, 21. Two additional steps complete the 85 steps. The façade features the main entranc,e with its semicircular arched form flanked by two massive circular buttresses. The niche at the semicircular pediment echoes the main entrance. The pediment undulates downwards to meet the finials found on top of circular buttresses. The four-story octagonal bell tower is found midway of the nave and has alternating blind and open windows. The convent built in front of the church is connected to the latter by a bridge. A carved image of Our Lady of the Assumption standing on the branch of a tree is found by the side of the lateral wall, evoking the legend of her apparition. Inside the church, one finds 24 designs of imported azulejos (glazed tiles), eight side altars, a baptistery, a choir loft and a two-story sacristy. 358 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
Our Lady of the Assumption (APO BAKET)
Our Lady of the Assumption Parish (right) 1993 (Dec 11) Declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage site on December 11, 1993. The hilltop can be reached by climbing 85 steps..
PARISH PRIEST REV. VIRGILIO E. CABACCANG Our Lady of the Assumption Parish REV. PROCESO G. BARROGA Our Lady of the Assumption Parish
Santa Maria 359
The image of Our Lady of the Assumption is made of wood, with an ivory face and hands. It measures 112 centimeters high. Her hands are extended and her head looks upwards, anticipating her assumption into heaven. She wears a blue cape decorated with silver floral design and a white dress embroidered with a gold floral motif. She stands on a pedestal of clouds surrounded by angels’ heads. The Lady of the Assumption is alternately referred to by believers as Apo Asunta or Apo Asuncion, Apo Caridad, Apo Esperanza, Apo Carmen, Apo Rosario and La Imaculada Concepcion. Her feast day falls on August 15.
Industries
Vinegar or basi-making, meat processing and loom-weaving are three principal industries of Santa Maria . Sugar cane vinegar is what the town is
promoting as its product under the One Town One Product scheme. Dedicacion Arriola Doliente of Santa Maria, a recent Tawid awardee, is a textile weaver who is an expert in the multi-heddle design technique. She learned the craft from her mother and grandmothers. Doliente is not only a weaver but also a farmer and a barangay councilor.
Places to Visit
The first Panangungar Festival (Resurrection Festival) was celebrated by Santa Maria residents last April 13, 2009. This festival coincided with Easter Sunday festivities. Town Mayor Thelma S. Florendo hopes to use the festival as a symbol of hope, unity and progress for the townspeople and wants to sustain this festival to showcase the products of Sta Maria, its historical
Denengdeng Festival
Maritangtang Festival
Pinakbet Festival 360 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
landmarks as well as its beaches. A must-see in Sta Maria is, of course, its church and the adjacent convent. The ruins of the old cemetery located at the opposite of the hill where the church stands is also worth visiting. A chapel in ruins is also found inside the cemetery. Apart from these heritage landmarks, there are also old houses built during the Spanish period, some preserved, the others in varying stages of decay. For nature lovers, there is the Pinsal Falls located in Barangay Baballasioan, said to be the biggest waterfall in the Ilocos region. Its waters drop to a height of 85 feet into a narrow gorge. There are two natural pools, one of which, according to legend, is close to the footprints of the giant Angalo who was in search of his wife, Aran. Not to be missed are the town’s beaches found in Barangays Nalvo, Suso, Lingsat and Bia-O.
Prominent Personalities
Santa Maria prides itself in having a son like Godofredo Reyes, the first governor and congressman of Ilocos Sur. During the American Period, Santa Maria had its share of pensionados (government scholars) such as Arsenio Sebastian, Isabel Florendo, who later became Sebastian’s wife, and Manuel Foronda. Salvador F. Reyes became one of the earliest Filipino graduates of the US military school, West Point. Helen Domingo-Santos became president of the University of Manila upon the death of her husband. They are among the many sons and daughters of Santa Maria who have brought - and continue to bring - honor to their hometown. Endnote 1
Historical Data Papers. Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur
Pinsal Falls Santa Maria 361
Location
Santiago is bounded on the north by the municipalities of San Esteban and Burgos; on the east by the municipalities of Banayoyo and Lidlidda; on the south by the city of Candon; and on the west by the West Philippine Sea.
Topography
Santiago is hemmed on the east by mountains and on the west by the West Philippine Sea. 362 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
Its narrow coastal plain yields palay, tobacco, vegetables and root crops. Tobacco, however, is the town’s most valuable product. From its forest comes wood, bamboo, sawali and wild game. Santiago’s access to the sea makes fi shing one of the principal industries of the town. It s rich fi shing grounds are found in Ambucao, Sabangan, Guinabang, San Roque, Gabao and Butol.
Government
Santiago is a fifth-class municipality politically subdivided into 24 barangays. These barangays are the following: 1. Al-aludig 13. Imus 2. Ambucao 14. Lang-ayan 3. San Jose (Baraoas) 15. Mambug 4. Baybayabas 16. Nalasin 5. Bigbiga 17. Olo-olo Norte 6. Bulbulala 18. Olo-olo Sur 7. Busel-busel 19. Poblacion Norte 8. Butol 20. Poblacion Sur 9. Caburao 21. Sabangan 10. Dan-ar 22. Salincub 11. Gabao 23. San Roque 12. Guinabang 24. Ubbog
SANTIAGO MAYORS Name GREGORIO TAGUIAM ESTEBAN SIPIN ULPIANO REYES MOISES ELEFANTE EUSTAQUIO ELEFANTE SOCORRO SIPIN
Length of Service 1937-1943 1944-1945 1946 1947 1948-1951 1952-1959
Etymology
The name of town is derived from the name of its patron saint, Santiago or St. James the Greater. In 1772, Moro pirates appeared on the shores of Santiago. The church bells were rang and trumpets were sounded to forewarn the townspeople of the Moro raid. The Augustinians of the town brought out the image of St. James the Greater to face the invading Moros while the people recited the rosary. Before the eyes of the townspeople, the invaders turned back and never visited the place again. Considered a miracle through the intercession of St James the Greater, the town was named after the saint by the grateful residents. St. James the Greater was one of the 12 apostles who witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus
CRISPULO MIRANDA JOSE ECHALAR RODRIGO MIRANDA EPEMINO CARDENAS JOSELITA MIRANDA SR. JOSEFINO MIRANDA MICHAEL MIRANDA JOSEFINO MIRANDA
1960 1960-1963 1964-1988 1988-1992 1992-2001 2001-2010 2010-2013 2013-2019
Municipal Hall of Santiago Santiago 363
Christ. His remains are enshrined in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain which is considered one of the holiest towns for Catholics after Jerusalem and Rome. Santiago de Compostela is the patron saint of Spain.
Logo
The shield is derived from the provincial seal of Ilocos Sur. The circle represents unity and oneness of its inhabitants. The plow and the seahorses symbolize that farming and fishing are the principal livelihood of its people. The wooden loom attest to the fact the loomweaving exists as an industry of the town. The tobacco and rice stalk represent the two principal crops of the town. The color gold stands for prosperity and progress; green for abundance; red, white and blue and the three stars are derived from the Philippine flag.
History
Santiago was founded by the Augustinians in 1625 and became an independent parish in 1750. It was a former visita of the town of San Esteban. Buzeta and Bravo described it as a place found at the foot of the mountains in the east and had a port also named Santiago in the west. They added that it had 600 houses, a primary school, a church and a cemetery. During the Philippine-American War, Fernando Guiralde, president of the Candon Republic, operated east of Candon and Santiago. Support for the revolutionary cause saw the arrest of the town’s presidente, Alvina of Naguimba, for supplying the guerillas with food. One hundred Katipunan oaths taken by the natives of Santiago were also discovered by the Americans. Santiago was represented by the following during the visit of William Howard Taft, the first American 364 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
Moro pirates entered the town of Santiago where battle went on.
Santiago 365
366 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
1944 (October 22 ) – USSGAR landed in Santiago Cove carrying ammunition, firearms and supplies, led by Capts. Wlliam Vaughan and Willian Farell
Santiago 367
civil governor, in 1901: Presidente Marcelino Liping Cabezas Pregidio Ellasar Antonio Mendoza Juan Evalle Bernardino Siping The role played by Santiago during the Japanese Occupation is found in a marker erected in Barangay Ambucao which reads: Twice surfacing at Santiago Cove on November 21, 1944, the USS Gar landed on this beach commandos of the army of the United States with equipment, arms, ammunitions and supplies. Led by Captains William Vaugh and William Farell were Lts. Fred Behan and Donald Jamison with two other Americans and Larry Guzman with other Filipinos of the first Filipino regiment. The landing was effected by United States Armed Forces in the Philippines-Northern Luzon under Col. Russell W. Volkman with other paramilitary and guerilla units by order of Volkman, Jamison, Maj. Ferdinand Marcos sneaked through the cordon of Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita to an airstrip in Isabela and flew to Camp Spencer. The Santiago Cove was witness to the liberation efforts of the Americans.
1944 (November 21) – Col. Russel Volkmann, Jamison and Major Ferdinand E. Marcos escaped from the cordon of Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita to an airstrip in Isabela and flew to Camp Spencer. 368 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
Santiago 369
Church
PARISH PRIEST Santiago was once a visita REV. MARCELO C. CANTORNA of San Esteban as well as of St. James the Greater Parish Candon. It is surmised that it became an independent parish in 1750, even if there was no priest available. From 1805 to 1842, Santiago was administered by Filipino diocesan priests. In 1848, Fr. Damaso Vieytez was appointed parish priest. Erected on top of a hill, the church became a defense structure of the town against Muslim marauders. The construction of the church may have been done in the late 18th century or early part of the 19th century as the alcalde of Vigan reported in May 21, 1829 that the church of Santiago was burned down after it was hit by lightning in 1823.
St. James the Greater
St. James the Greater Parish
370 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
The faรงade of the church is simple. The recessed arched entrance is flanked by two lateral arched niches. What is striking about the faรงade are the two piers on both sides which take the form of cigars, tobacco being a principal crop of Santiago. The niche at the upper center has an elliptical arch. The patron saint of the town is St. James or Santiago in Spanish, whose feast day is celebrated on December 29.
Santiago 371
Biak-na-bato
Industries
The top three industries of Santiago are loom weaving, agriculture and metal works. Loom-weaving is identified as its principal product under the One Town One Product scheme. Corazon Agosto, 69 years old, was a recent Tawid awardee. Agosto is known for the various designs she weaves such as the: kinakarayan or mountains and rivers; sinan bituen or star forms; agkabkabayo or the horse rider referring to Indadaya or god of agriculture; kinakarayan-sinan tao ken agila or compositions of mountains and rivers with human figures and double-headed birds on the periphery; and agkibkibin nga tao or boy and girl friends design. Agosto has two weaving houses in Sabangan.
Places to Visit
The church of St. James or Santiago is one landmark to visit in Santiago. The Gabaldon type of school house built during 372 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
the American Period is now the Santiago South Central School. The library of the school which is made of bricks and lime was said to have been built during the Spanish period. It is now a classroom and library. In Barangay Sabangan is found Santiago cove which is shaped like a disc and is covered with white sand. The cove is an ideal place for swimming and holding picnics. It is also in this barangay where one finds the ruins of a watchtower constructed during the Spanish period. Mapisi Rock Park is situated in a giant rock formation along the shore. According to legend, this was what remained from a falling star.
Prominent Personality
Cynthia Ugalde-Tan, the country’s Miss Philippines in 1965, is a native of the town. She presently resides in the United States where she works as a nurse.
Santiago Cove
Santiago 373
Municipal Hall of Santo Domingo
374 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
Location
Sto. Domingo is bounded on the north by Magsingal; on the south by San Ildefonso and Bantay; on the east by the Ballugao Mountain; and on the west by the West Philippine Sea.
Topography
The plains found between the mountainous part of Sto. Domingo and the coast of the West Philippine Sea is devoted to the cultivation of palay, corn, mongo, vegetables, tobacco, onion, garlic, cassava, peanut, sweet potato and sugarcane. Palay and tobacco however, remain as the principal crops. Fishing is the major source of income for the western part of the municipality which lies along the coast of the West Philippine Sea.
Government
Sto. Domingo is a fourth-class municipality politically subdivided into 36 barangays. These barangays are the following: 1. Binalayangan 19. Napo 2. Binongan 20. Padu Chico 3. Borobor 21. Padu Grande 4. Cabaritan 22. Paguraper 5. Cabigbigaan 23. Panay
6. Calautit 7. Calay-ab 8. Camestizoan 9. Casili 10. Flora 11. Lagatit 12. Laoingen 13. Lussoc 14. Nalasin 15. Nagbettedan 16. Naglaoa-an 17. Nambaran 18. Nanerman
24. Pangpangdan 25. Parada 26. Paras 27. Poblacion 28. Puerta Real 29. Passuac 30. Quimmarayan 31. San Pablo 32. Santa Cruz 33. Santo Tomas 34. Sived 35. Vacunero (Poblacion) 36. Suksukit
Etymology
The name of the town was traced to the santol fruit. According to stories, a Spanish soldier by the name of Pablo Arquero wanted to know the origin of the sweet santol sold every Sunday (domingo in Spanish) in Vigan. Arquero found himself walking towards a forest seven kilometers from Vigan to a spring called “passuac” in the local language. It was on this site where the santol was cultivated. On May 12, 1742, the Dominican priest, Fr. Jose Milan laid the foundation of what was to be the town of Sto. Domingo. “Passuac” was renamed “Santol ti Domingo” (Santol of Sunday) which was later shortened to Santo (Sto.) Domingo.
STO. DOMINGO MAYORS Name Length of Service JOSE TESORO 1933-1937 CIRICO RAFANAL 1938-1941 AMANTE SOLIVEN 1941-1942 RUFINO SOLIVEN 1943-1944 FAUSTINO TOBIA 1944-1945 FAUSTINO TAMARCO 1945-1946 JUAN QUINES 1946-1947 FILOMENO TADENA 1948-1962 JOSE TINAZA 1962-1963 BENJAMIN SANIDAD 1964-1975 ORLINO TESORO 1975-1986 SUSANTE TOBIAS (Appointed) Oct. 13, 1986-Dec. 1, 1987 NELSON T. TORRES (OIC) Dec. 3, 1987-Feb. 2, 1988 MIGUEL FIGUERAS JR. (Acting) 1988-1998 HENRY TESORO (Acting) Apr. 4, 1998-Jun. 30, 1998 ALFRED FIGUERAS 1998-2001 FLORO T. TADENA 2001-2010 AMADO T. TADENA 2010-2019 Santo Domingo 375
Logo
The santol symbolizes the story of how the town acquired its name (Santol ti Domingo). The spring symbolizes the center of life for the community of fruit vendors. The church represents the founding of the town. The maguey plant, which is manufactured into ropes, is the primary livelihood of the townspeople. The mountain represents the Ballugao Mountain found in the eastern part of the town.
History
A former visita of Bantay, Santo Domingo became an independent parish in 1742. Its first parish priest was Fr. Tomas Millan, a Spanish secular priest of Vigan. Buzeta and Bravo described Santo Domingo as located along the coast, having fertile soil and was well-ventilated. It had 1,388 homes made of nipa, and counted among its stone edifices a church, a town hall (casa tribunal) and a primary school. Santo Domingo was connected to its outlying areas through a road which was accessible during the dry season but turned muddy during the rainy season. The town does not have a river, and the homes depend on either rain water or deep wells for their water needs. The forest found at the eastern part of the town thick with trees, excellent sources of lumber, but because o its high elevation, these forests resources are not tapped. Among the plants cultivated in the town are palay, sugar cane, corn, cotton, cacao, fruits and vegetables. The principal occupation of the men is farming, while the women engage in weaving. The town manufactures coconut oil for local consumption, but this is also sold to neighboring towns. During the Philippine-American War, telegraph lines installed by the Americans near Sto. Domingo were cut by Filipino revolutionaries. On February 1, 1900, Gen. Tinio, head of the revolutionary forces in Ilocos Sur, visited Santo. 376 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
The name of the town was traced to the santol fruit. According to a legend, a Spanish soldier wanted to know the origin of the sweet santol sold every Sunday in Vigan. Arquero found himself walking towards a forest seven kilometers from Vigan to a spring called “passuac� in the local language. It was on this site where santol was cultivated. On May 12, 1742, the Dominican priests laid the foundation of the town that was later called Santo Domingo.
Santo Domingo 377
Domingo by masquerading as a farmer. When the Americans conducted a surprise search for Tinio on March 8, 1900, the church bells of Sto. Domingo were rang to forewarn the Filipino general. On November 9, 1900, the parish priest of Sto. Domingo, Nicomedes Bandayrel, was arrested by the Americans together with the town presidente, Aniceto Avila and Justice of the Peace Wenceslao Soliven for misrepresenting himself by assuming the identity of a dead insurgent. For this act, Bandayrel was fined P200, but was later released on January 9, 1901. On March 24, 2001, Col. Alejandrino urged the town folks of Sto. Domingo not to surrender to the Americans. During the harvest season, the Americans sought to cut the food supply line between the towns people and the Filipino guerrillas by forcing the barrio population to move to the town center. When William Howard Taft visited Ilocos Sur in 1901, Santo Domingo was represented by the following: Presidente municipal Juan Tesoro Vice presidente Job Tesoro Presidente, partido federal Wenceslao Soliven Directorio partido federal Aniceto Abila Francisco Esposo Cabezas de barrio Arcadio Guerrero Vito Guerrero Julian Benites Rufino Tagorda
378 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
After the Japanese Occupation, Santo Domingo was one of the towns where the Agricultural Credit Asociation for Farmers (ACFA) credit line was extended to farmers who would engage in tobacco planting. This move made the tobacco industry one of the principal sources of income of the town.
Church
Construction of the brick church was started by Fr. Tomas Millan in 1742. Fr. Miguel Padilla made improvements on the church when he was the parish priest of Santo Domingo from 1825 to 1869. During the Diego Silang revolt, Fr. Tomas Millan was the person suggested by the Ilocano leader Diego Silang to replace the unpopular Antonio Zabala as alcalde mayor. Silang was the Fr. Millan’s bell ringer for the Santo Domingo Church. When Rev. Msgr. Crisanto Padernal became parish priest in 1939, he plastered and painted the church, making it a gem of church architecture of the Ilocos region. The church was damaged during the earthquakes of June 12 and 27, 1957. The patron saint of the church is St. Dominic of Guzman, founder of the Dominican order. His feast day is celebrated on August 8.
St. Dominic of Guzman Parish
Industries
Food processing, agriculture and trading are the three top industries of Santo Domingo. The manufacture of squash noodles is the product it enrolled for the One Town One Product program. In the recent Tawid awards, 69-year old Corazon Taberna, Sr. was recognized for his skill in basimaking. Tata Corazon has been making basi or sugar cane wine for the last 50 years, meaning he has been in the trade since he was 19 years old. Tata Corazon crushes the dried bark of a large kariskis to make gamu, the ermenting agent which he adds to the sugar cane juice stored in earthen jars or burnay. After a nine-month aging process, the basi is ready to be consumed. Tata Corazon is also into making vinegar from sugar cane.
PARISH PRIEST ABBOT SANTOS R. RABANG REV. ALFREDO J. ANCHETA Christ of the Desert Monastery St. Dominic of Guzman Parish
Santo Domingo 379
Pulpit of the St. Dominic of Guzman Parish
380 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
Places to Visit
The Catholic church built in 1742 is worth a visit. The fine sand of Puerto Beach attracts swimmers and picnic-goers. In the vicinity of the municipal hall are found the following landmarks: the Benito Soliven monument, the Jose Rizal monument and the Filomeno Tadena monument.
Prominent Personalities
Benito Soliven was a former assemblyman of Ilocos Sur who served in this capacity from 1920 to 1940. He was said to have sponsored the most number of bills in the National Assembly. Soliven.authored the law which allowed the University of the Philippines to own a land grant in Basilan province, providing additional income for the state-run university. He likewise sponsored bills providing for higher wages and medical benefits to the labor sector. Soliven was a World War II veteran and participant of the infamous Death March during the Japanese Occupation. He died on January 10, 1943 from a disease he contracted while interned at the Japanese concentration camp in Capas, Tarlac. Filomeno Tadena, father of Sto. Domingo Mayor Floro Tadena was municipal mayor from 19481962. It was during the term of Filomeno Tadena when Sto. Domingo was classified as a first-class municipality because of the presence of a wellmaintained market and the electrification of the town proper and barangays. Known for his tough stance against crime, he was assassinated on May 2, 1962. Faustino Tobias was elected member of the Philippine Legislature in 1957. To him goes the credit of instituting the Lubnac Reforestation Project in Lao-ingen. This project provided job opportunities to town residents. Salacnib Baterina was elected member of the Interim Batasan Pambansa and authored Batas Pambansa Bilang 337, a forerunner of RA 7160, popularly known as the Local Government Code. Baterina served another term as congressman of the first district of the province. He has proposed the construction of a three-story building that will house a puericulture center on the first floor, with the two other floors envisioned as a hotel for tourists and guests of the town. St. Dominic of Guzman Santo Domingo 381
Municipal Hall of Sigay
Location
One of the upland towns of Ilocos Sur, Sigay is bounded on the north by the municipality of Del Pilar; on the south by the municipalities of Suyo and Alilem; on the east by the municipalities of Quirino and Cervantes; on the west by the municipality of Salcedo.
Topography
Elongated in shape, Sigay is composed of very high mountains, hills and valleys. The eastern and southern portions of the municipality consist of mountains, hills and valleys. The highest mountain located in Barangay Sto. Rosario rises to a height of 1,509 meters above sea level. Some of Sigay’s mountains have never been scaled, but some who have explored them have 382 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
mentioned the rich flora and fauna found there. If this is true, then Sigay holds the distinction of being the last frontier of Ilocos Sur in terms of virgin forests and wildlife. There are two principal rivers that traverse Sigay. These are the Buaya River, known as Quinibor River by local inhabitants, and found in the north. This river links Sigay to the city of Candon. The other river is the Suyo River, a tributary of the Amburayan-Chico River which links Sigay to the town of Tagudin. Because of its elevated location, Sigay is known as the “Little Baguio” of Ilocos Sur. Its cool climate makes it suitable for the growing of upland vegetables and fruit trees like citrus. From the Sigay View Deck found in Barangay Sto. Rosario, one has a bird’s eye view of the coastal towns of southern Ilocos Sur.
Government
Sigay is a fifth- class municipality composed of the following seven barangays: 1. Abaccan 5. San Elias 2. Mabilleg 6. San Ramon 3. Metallucod 7. Santo Rosario 4. Poblacion
Etymology
The word “sigay� is an Ilocano word for fish trap. It is said that in the olden times, mudfish was bountiful in Lake Ban-ao in Barangay Mabileg. What was used to catch the mudfish was a fish trap called sigay. So when a Spaniard met a woman who was bringing her catch to the market, he asked her where she caught the fish. Thinking that the man wanted to know the name of the fish trap, she answered, sigay. The Spaniard then reported to his superiors that the place was named Sigay. The other legend has it that sigay or fish trap was used to mean to hunt for wild game in the forests. Tribes then transformed the fish trap to a hunting trap which made hunting easier. The widespread use of the sigay both in the water and the forests by the people in the uplands made the people of the lowlands refer to the place as Sigay.
Logo
The shield is derived from the provincial seal of Ilocos Sur. The seven rattan poles stand for unity of its seven barangays. They also symbolize the unity of the municipality towards progress. They reflect as well the rich forest products of the municipality. The coffee and tobacco plants represent the two cash crops of the town. The year 1978 represents the year the town was founded. Sigay 383
SIGAY MAYORS Names Years of Service PATONGAN OLDMAN 1901-1908 CELESTINO SIBAYAN 1909-1912 SANTIAGO TARIFA 1913-1916 FELICIANO DEL ROSARIO 1917-1924 SANTIAGO TARIFA 1925-1928 ALIPIO AY-AYEN 1929-1933 Japanese Occupation LEON ALMAREZ 1934-1945 RAMON TAYOCNOG 1946-1948 BENITO PAAS 1949-1950 PIO BALABAG 1951-1952 SAMUEL ALMAREZ 1953-1955 SANTIAGO DILLA 1956-1959 SIMEON WANDAS, SR. 1960-Feb. 9, 1977 MARIANO TAYOCNOG 1977-1980 MODESTO DEPALOG 1981-Jun. 30, 1986 SALVADOR ALEJO July-1986-Jun. 30,1987 ISIDORO L. BISUELAN Jul. 1987- June 30, 1992 GUILLERMO D. VISAYA 1992-1998 TYRONE B. GAERLAN 1998-2004 ERLINDA D. GAERLAN 2004-2013 ARIES D. GAERLAN 2013- 2019
History
During the Spanish period, Sigay was once a part of the commandancia of Amburayan. With the advent of American rule, the new colonizers created a special province in 1908 which they called “Mountain Province,” composed of the sub-provinces of Apayao, Kalinga, Bontoc, Ifugao, Benguet, Lepanto and Amburayan. The Bureau of Non-Christian Tribes of the American colonial government recommended in 1917 that the western border of Mountain Province be moved eastward so that the entire sub-province and large parts of Lepanto and Benguet would be part of Ilocos Sur and La Union provinces. The adjustment was made in 1920. The dissolution of the sub-province of Amburayan made Tagudin, together with its townships like Sigay, Suyo, Alilem and Sugpon, part of Ilocos Sur. On November 12, 1959, the first election of its local officials was held and Sigay became officially a municipality. The seat of the local government was in Abaccan. During the watch of Mayor Simeon Wandas (1960-1977), the municipal hall was moved to Maday-aw, the present Poblacion. 384 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
The word “sigay’ is an Ilocano word for fish trap. In the olden times, fishermen used the sigay to catch mudfish that was bountiful in Lake Ban-ao in Barangay Mabileg,. When a Spaniard met a woman who was bringing her catch to the market, he asked her where she caught the fish. Thinking that the man wanted to know the name of the fish trap, she answered , sigay. The Spaniard then reported to his superiors that the place was named Sigay.
Sigay 385
PARISH PRIEST REV. DIVINUS G. RABANG St. Joseph the Worker Parish
Church
From 1978-1983, the town of Sigay was part of the parish of St. Andrew, the Apostle of Suyo, Ilocos Sur. In 1983, Sigay together with Salcedo and Gregorio del Pilar was administered by the CICM priest Fr. August Wyns who was based in Salcedo. In the year 2000, Sigay was separated from the Parish of Our Lady of Lourdes of the town of Del Pilar, a move approved by Archbishop Fr, Edmundo Abaya. The first priest of the parish was Fr. Robert Somera followed by Fr. Danilo Martinez in 2006. Sigay chose as its patron saint St. Joseph the Worker whose feast day falls every first day of May.
Industries
The top three industries of Sigay are coffee production, agriculture and rattan weaving and broom-making. Coffee beans are Sigay’s share in the One Town One Product Program. Recent Tawid awardees of the province are Bernabe Equias, 86, and Isabelo Wayasen Pacling, 78. Bernabe Equias of Matallucod was recognized for his being a saguitaw (hat) maker and basket weaver. Using raw materials found in Sigay like anaaw leaves, anes, uway or nito, Equias fashions hats and other baskets called labba, yakayak, bigao, kalupe, pasiking, rangaya and bakubak (a shallow basket or tray for holding boiled sweet potatoes). Isabelo Wayasen Pacling of San Elias, on the other hand, is an expert basket weaver. He started weaving baskets at the age of 17. He learned his craft from his father who made baskets after working in the fields. Pacling’s baskets are used in the gathering, planting, harvesting and storing of coffee seeds. Pacling excels in making the taddo, a large round basket used to dry rice, coffee or beans under the sun. He also weaves takure (a seed harvest and storage basket), saguitaw, annanga, rangaya, kulbeng, akiyak and inggit. Pacling uses local vines in the area such as uplig, annubrang. and the stem of the alumamani tree. St. Joseph the Worker 386 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
Inhabitants
The Igorots were the first settlers of Sigay. Coming from their ancestral lands in the Mountain Province, they settled in the Ilocos Sur uplands and intermarried with the Ilocanos. The offsprings of this union became known as Bago, meaning new Christians when they became the object of proselytizing efforts of the Spanish missionaries. The Bago are described as “religious, thrifty, hospitable, and cooperative.� They continue to practice some of their indigenous cultural practices such as dancing the Tadek during wedding ceremonies, and practicing bayanihan during the planting and harvest season. Another indigenous institution of the Bago tribe is the sapit,
the system by which disputes are resolved. The complainant and plaintiff are brought to the barangay hall or a suitable place where the village elders arbitrate the case. This institution antedates the Katarungan Pambarangay Law where cases on the local level may be settled on the barangay level.
Places to Visit
The entire landscape of Sigay is a feast for the eyes The town has its own version of the rice terraces. One of the must-see places is the 142-feet Aw-asen Falls. The rivers Quinibor and Suyo, with its accompanying tributaries, are picturesque and worth seeing. These sights, together with the cool and crisp air, are enough to make Sigay a favored destination for nature lovers.
St. Joseph the Worker Parish
Sigay 387
Location
Sinait, the northernmost town of Ilocos Sur, is bounded on the north by the municipality of Badoc, Ilocos Norte; on the south by Cabugao, Ilocos Sur; on the east by the Ilocos Coastal Range and on the west by the West Philippine Sea.
Topography
Santa Cruz serves as the natural boundary between Sinait and Badoc, Ilocos Norte. The Sinanbeclat Creek has its headwaters in the Ilocos Coastal Range and winds its way out into the West Philippine Sea. Sinait is a coastal plain whose soil is best suited to the cultivation of tobacco and garlic. It is considered the Garlic center of the North. 388 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
Government
Sinait is a third-class municipality politically subdivided into 44 barangays. These barangays are the following: 1. Aguing 12. Calanutian 2. Ballaigui (Poblacion) 13. Calingayan 3. Baliw 14. Curtin 4. Baracbac 15. Dadalaquiten 5. Barikir Norte 6. Battog 16. Dadalaquiten Sur 7. Binacud 17. Duyayyat 8. Cabangtalan 18. Jordan 9. Cabarambanan 19. Katipunan 10. Cabulalaan 20. Macabiag 11. Cadanglaan (Poblacion)
21. Magsaysay 22. Marnay 23. Masadag 24. Nagculloban 25. Nagbaliortian 26. Nangongboran 27. Namnamma (Poblacion) 28. Pacis 29. Paratong 30. Dean Leopoldo Yabes (Pug-os) 31. Purag 32. Quibit-quibit
Etymology
33. Quimmallogong 34. Rang-ay (Poblacion) 35. Ricudo 36. Sabangan (Marcos) 37. Sallacapo 38. Santa Cruz 39. Sapriana 40. Tapao 41. Teppeng 42. Tubbigay 43. Ubbog 44. Zapat
Sinait is said to have been derived from the word “Sin-nait” which means “contest” in Ilocano. Sinait was once known for its brave men who were called “Tirongs,” famed for outdoing each other whether in their daily chores or fighting with neighboring villages. Knowing their nature, Juan de Salcedo in 1575 called the place Sinait, dropping one letter “n.” Early Spanish accounts refer to Sinait as Sinay, Sinai and Cinay. It was the municipal mayor, Calixto Cabacungan, who in 1913 made Sinait the official name of the municipality.
Logo
The shield is derived from the provincial seal of Ilocos Sur. Garlic and tobacco are the two major crops of the municipality. The fishing boat represents fishing as a principal livelihood of the people in Sinait. Two shaking hands represent the provinces of Pangasinan and Mt. Province, each giving parts of its territories to Ilocos Sur. The yellor color symbolizes peace which reigns amongst the townspeople of Sinait.
Municipal Hall of Sinait Sinait 389
390 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
Its name is said to have been derived from the word “Sin-nait” which means”contest “ in Ilocano. Sinait was known for its brave men called “Tirong”, who were famous for outdoing each other whether in their daily chores or fighting with menfolk from neighboring villages. Knowing their disposition, Juan de Salcedo in 1575 called the place Sinait, dropping one letter “n”
Sinait 391
392 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
1574 (November 24) – Limahong lands in Sinay (now Sinait) where he wins a minor naval engagement against a Spanish vessel. He arrives with about 3,000 men, women and children and 62 Chinese junk boats. The group, including Japanese warriors, soon leaves on a plunder mission to Villa Fernandina, and later proceeds to launch an attack in Manila. Sinait 393
SINAIT MAYORS Name DON PEDRO YASAĂ‘A DON ANTONIO INES DON CALIXTO CABACUNGAN
Length of Service 1910-1911 1911-1913 1914-1916
DON MARCELINO YANORIA EULOGIO CAMPOS DON LIBERATO AGDEPPA DON SANTIAGO IBAĂ‘EZ DON NORBERTO DAYOAN
1917-1919 1919-1923 1923-1925 1925-1928 1928-1937
History
Sinait started as an encomienda under Bantay. Later in 1590, Sinait together with Cabugao, were considered a royal encomienda, meaning its tributes went to the royal coffers. Sinait later had a church. which was later damaged by an earthquake. During the Philippine-American War, American troops destroyed the trenches built in Sinait and left behind a detachment composed of 200 American soldiers. Manuel Tinio, head of the revolutionary forces in the Ilocos, established a camp east of Sinait guarded by 300 men. This camp was located in Barrio Cadanglaan. It was also in Sinait where Tinio married Laureana Quijano, a 16-year old lass. Sinait supported the revolutionary cause. In July 1900, its municipal mayor, Adriano Agdeppa, was arrested for lying and harboring insurgents because he allowed Tinio to sleep in the town. The Americans even went to the extent of moving the barrio population of Sinait to the town proper to cut local support in terms of rice rations given to the revolutionaries. By the time William Howard Taft visited Ilocos Sur on August 16, 1901, Sinait was represented by the following local officials: Presidente Ciriaco Huesca Representantes Severo Agayan Doroteo Inia Teodorico Ipac Nicolas Morales Timoteo Inocelda Julina Agdeppa Diego Calevoso Hilarion Yadao During the American Occupation, Sinait witnessed the establishment of a Gabaldon-type elementary school in 1911, followed five years later by an intermediate school. Sinait was damaged by typhoons and floods in 1908 and 1919. The Japanese Occupation saw the execution of Mayor Vicente Vera Cruz by the invaders in 1942. He was replaced by Pedro Idica from 1942-1945. On March 18, 1945, Sinait was burned by the Japanese. 394 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
1900 (April 30) - Americans attack Cadanglaan in Sinait, killing
DON SANTIAGO IBAÑEZ DON FRUCTOUSO RAMOS DON PEDRO IDICA DON NORBERTO DAYOAN DON JUAN INES
1938-1940 1941-1944 1944-1945 1946-1951 1951-1959
DON VALERIO YABES DON GEORGE I. CABACUNGAN EDGAR I. YABES DON MARLON B. INES GLENN GUZMAN
1960-1967 1988- Feb. 1998 Mar. 1998- Jun. 2007 2007-2016 2016-2019
a Filipino Sinait 395
Pulpit of the St. Nicholas Tolentino Parish
Church
The first church was believed to have been made of light materials, which made it prone to fire. 396 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
The present church may have been constructed between 1760 and 1822, as noted by a gobernadorcillo in 1829. Restoration work on the church took place from 1899 to 1895 under Fr. Celestino Paniague. It underwent repairs after a typhoon hit the town in 1953. The faรงade was plastered with stucco cement and its ceiling replaced in 1960. The faรงade is massive and exhibits a combination of the neoclassic and baroque styles. The main entrance is a simple arch fl anked by two columns on each side. Above the entrance is a wooden tablet containing the Spanish coat of arms. On top of the wooden tablet is a rectangular window flanked by two small circular windows. Two bell towers on each side of the main entrance are part of the faรงade. They have a square base and are of two levels. Both bell towers are topped with balustrades. The patron saint of this church is San Nicolas of Tolentino, whose feast day is celebrated every September 10. Enshrined in the church is an image of the Santo Cristo, fondly referred to as Apo Santo Kristo or Apo Lakay. The image was said to have been discovered by fishermen of sitio Lugo, Barangay Dadalaguiten Norte in 1620 when a crate drifted along the shore. Upon opening the crate, the fishermen discovered a life-size image of the crucified Christ as well as a smaller image of the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus. It is said that there was at first a dispute as to who would own the two images. The problem was solved when the people of Badoc easily carried the image of the Virgin Mary to Badoc while the people of Sinait brought the Apo Santo Kristo. The two images reportedly drifted towards the shore between Sinait and Badoc. Japanese Christians who wanted to spare these two images from desecration during the height of Christian persecutions in Japan, were said to be responsible for this act. Vigan was spared from cholera epidemics and other disasters through the intercession of Apo Lakay. Devotees to Apo Lakay vouch for the many answered petitions they received from him. As a testimony to this fact, every Friday, especially every first Friday of the month, devotees to Apo Lakay visit his shrine in Sinait. The third day of May is the feast day of Apo Santo Kristo.
St. Nicholas of Tolentino
Sinait 397
PARISH PRIEST MSGR. ALBERT R. RABE St. Nicolas of Tolentino Parish REV. JUAN JOYFUL B. TAQUEBAN St. Nicolas of Tolentino Parish
398 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
St. Nicholas of Tolentino Parish
Sinait 399
1620 – A black crucifix together with a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary were found inside a box floating along the boundary of the shores in Sinait, The town later became the sanctuary of the miraculous crucifix known as “Apo Lakay”.
400 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
Industries
The top three industries of Sinait are agriculture, fishing and tourism. Its top product under the One Town One Product (OTOP) scheme is garlic. This product has inspired the town to launch a Garlic Festival held from May 1-3, the last day coinciding with the feast day of Apo Santo Kristo. The festival, a brainchild of then Gov. Deogracias “DV” Savellano and Sinait Mayor Edgar Yabes, were said to have been inspired by the Garlic Festival in Gilroy, California, known as the Garlic capital of the world. The first Garlic Festival was held in Sinait in 2000. There are two objectives of the festival: to recognize the garlic farmers of Sinait and to inform local residents and tourists about the importance of garlic. Events of the festival include Garlic Festival a cooking contest involving the use of garlic as the main ingredient, search for the biggest garlic bulb, garlic bundling, whose categories include the longest twined garlic, creative bundling and bundling competition and search for the most beautiful cow and carabao. The festival is held at the grounds of the Sinait National High School and opens with a pilgrimage to Logo in Barangay Dalaguitan North where the image of Apo Santo Kristo was found. This is followed by a parade of garlic floats, street presentations and street dancing. The last day of the festival starts with a Holy Mass in honor of Apo Santo Kristo, whose feast day is being celebrated. It is on this day, too, that the Search for the Most Beautiful Cow and Carabao is announced. In the afternoon, a marching band exhibition and competition is held. The coronation of the Sinait Garlic Festival Queen is held in the evening. The three-day festival is capped by a fireworks display. With tobacco as the third priority product of Sinait, Danilo Ibaan was recognized as a Pugon (Kiln)-maker in the recently concluded Tawid Awards. Tata Danilo’s pugon or kiln is different from the usual tobacco kiln. His invention consisting of galvanized iron pipes placed inside the large main tube. allows the heat to remain longer inside the tobacco kiln. The kiln also uses
less fuel wood. Tata Danilo, who started as a kiln maker at the age of 15, shares his innovation with other tobacco farmers.
Places to Visit
The church of St. Nicolas of Tolentino that enshrines the 17th century image of the Black Nazarene is a pilgrimage site. This miraculous image is said to have prevented a plague from hitting Vigan in the 18th century. It draws many devotees. whose petitions for good health, success, prosperity and happiness have been granted by the Black Crucified Christ. A replica of the image is enshrined in a church built in sitio Logo found in Barangay Dadalaquiten Norte. Among the eco-tourism sites of the town are the Ines Kannoyan Falls in Barangay Quibit-quibit, the Aran Cave in Barangay Marnay, the Pikkang Falls in Nagculloban, the Imelda Cove in Barangay Cabangtalan and the Teppeng Cove in Barangay Teppeng. The historical sites include the surrender site of Gen. Manuel Tinio in Barangay Cabulalaan, the headquarters of Gen. Tinio in Barangay Cadanglaan and the Sinait National High School built in 1947. Sinait 401
SUGPON MAYORS Name Length of Service MACARIO ANGEDAN 1938-1942 JACINTO IGA 1942-1946 FRANCISCO APOLOG 1946-1950 ESTEBAN BAGUICLANG 1950-1968 GREGORIO DANGLE 1968-1972 JUANITO LANGIDEN 1972-1980 GUILLERMO AMOYEN 1980-1998 FERNANDO QUITON SR. 1998-2004 ALFONSO LLERMO S. AMOYEN 2004-2013 FERNANDO QUITON SR. 2013-2019 402 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
Municipal Hall of Sugpon
Location
Sugpon is bounded on the north by Alilem, Ilocos Sur; on the south by Kibugan, Benguet; on the southwest by Santol, La Union; on the east by Bakun and Kibugan, Benguet; and on the west by the Amburayan River.
The Amburayan River is both bane and boon to Sugpon. It is a source of fish and other river products. Residents also practice placer mining in the river. During the rainy season, the Amburayan River swells, thus isolating the town’s six barangays.
Topography
Government
One of the 14 upland municipalities of Ilocos Sur, Sugpon is a mountainous area. The elevation ranges from 100 to 1,000 meters above sea level and its slopes range from zero to 50 percent. The barangays with the highest elevation and degrees of slopes are Caoayan and Licungan.
Sugpon is a fifth-class municipality. It is politically subdivided into six barangays. These are the following: 1. Balbalayan (Poblacion) 4. Danac 2. Banga 5. Licungan 3. Caoayan 6. Pangotan Sugpon 403
The word Sugpon is derived from the Kankanaey word “Mansugpontako”. Two leaders reportedly mentioned the word when their men had a misunderstanding as to who was the rightful owner of the wild animals killed by their hunting dogs during a hunt. To make the word easier to pronounce, “Mansugponkayo”, was shortened to ‘sugpon.’
404 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
Sugpon 405
Etymology
The word Sugpon is derived from the Kankanaey word “Mansugpontako.” Two leaders reportedly mentioned the word when their men had a misunderstanding as to who was the rightful owner of the wild animals killed by their hunting dogs during a hunt. To make the word easier to pronoun ce,”Mansugpontako”, was shortened to “sugpon”, the name of the present municipality.
Logo
The shield is derived from the provincial seal of Ilocos Sur. The three stars represent the three periods of its history: 1) Sugpon under the tribal leadership of Datus; 2) Sugpon during the Commonwealth Period and the the Third Republic; Sugpon as a fullfledged municipality in 1978. The mountains represent the mountainous terrain of the municipality. The sun signifies hope and progress. The rice fields represent agriculture as the primary livelihood of its inhabitants. The coconut tree symbolizes the abundance of this tree in the municipality. The nipa hut stands for the abundance of local housing materials in the town. The basket of fruits and vegetables represent the secondary products of the municipality.
History
In 1908, Sugpon once belonged to the subprovince of Amburayan, which in turn was a part of what the Americans called “ Mountain Province.” The Bureau of Non-Christian Tribes of the American colonial government, in 1917, recommended moving the western border of Mountain Province further eastward so that the entire sub-province of Amburayan and large parts of the sub-provinces of Lepanto and Benguet could be part of Ilocos Sur and La Union. In 1920, the sub-province of Amburayan was dissolved 406 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
St. Anthony de Padua
and its townships - one of these being Sugpon - became part of Ilocos Sur. Today, Sugpon is considered one of the 14 upland towns of Ilocos Sur. Sugpon is home to the Kankanaey and Bago tribes. Kankanaeys from Mankayan and Buguias (now Benguet) settled in Sugpon and intermarried with Ilocanos, resulting in the emergence of the Bago tribe. The Bago is of mixed Igorot and Ilocano ancestry. Many Kankanaey cultural practices are seen in Sugpon, such as the native dances of Saway and Sadong as well as festivities like the Canaw and Bagat. The ancestral domain of the Bago Tribe in Sugpon covers the six barangays of Banga, Caoayan, Licungan, Danac, Pangotan and Balbalayang.
St. Anthony de Padua Parish
Church
Sugpon was once a PARISH PRIEST visita of the parish of REV. REYNALDO R. REAlilem administered by BEBES the CICM missionaries since 1947. It became an independent parish in 1995 and was put under the care of the diocesan clergy. The town’s first parish priest was Fr. Rey Domingo Pascua. The patron saint of Sugpon is St. Anthony de Padua, whose feast day is celebrated on June 13.
Industries
Agriculture, bamboo craft-making and soft broommaking are the three leading industries of Sugpon. Ube jam is the product registered under the One
Town One Product program of the Department of Trade and Industry. In the recent Tawid Awards of Ilocos Sur, Jun Tabugno of Balbalayang (Poblacion) was recognized as a Barekbek-maker or fish trap-maker. Forty-year-old Tata Jun weaves funnel-shaped fish traps which uses sour rice wine or citrus fruit as bait. Fisher folk of Sugpon swear to the effectiveness of this fish trap which is not only used for trapping fish but fresh water shrimps as well.
Places to Visit
The mountains, the mighty Amburayan River and other rivers whose waters come from the mountains – all of these make Sugpon a haven for nature lovers. Sugpon 407
Location
Suyo is bounded in the northeast by Sigay, in the east and southeast by Tagudin and in the northwest by Santa Lucia. It is one of the 14 upland towns of Ilocos Sur. Located a kilometer away from Tagudin and found within the Tagudin-Suyo-Cervantes Road, Suyo is the point of contact between the upland farmers of Cervantes and Sigay and the lowland farmers of Tagudin. 408 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
Topography
With a mountainous terrain, Suyo, however, has arable land and an irrigation system that allows rice to be grown three times a year. This is especially true in the barangays of Baringcucurong, Poblacion and Suyo Proper. Other crops grown in Suyo are tobacco, coffee, cacao, bananas, ginger, camote, tiger grass (used for making soft brooms), fruit trees and vegetables.
Government
Suyo is a fourth-class municipality which is politically subdivided into eight barangays. These are the following: 1. Barincucurong 5. Poblacion (Kimpusa) 2. Cabugao 6. Suyo Proper 3. Man-atong 7. Urzadan 4. Patoc-ao 8. Uso
Etymology
The name of the town is derived from the Ilocano word “Naisuyo” which means “thrown,” suggesting that the town stood on an alluvial deposit of a river or accumulated soil deposited, or “thrown” by the river.
Logo
The shield is derived from the provincial seal of Ilocos Sur. The inner shield and spear represent the readines of its inhabitants to protect and defend their land, field, people and their rights against invaders.
SUYO MAYORS Name WAYET INFIEL ILDEFONSO PARAS JACINTO LABADOR MUNGAO AGDAYA ALEJANDRO DAOA ILDEFONSO PARAS CELESTINO DUCALA GREGORIO BAOILAN NARCISO GALDUEN DOMINADOR E. DUMALIS BRAULIO DANIOAN DIONISIO BANGISAN BRAULIO DANIOAN GREGORIO BAOILAN MAXIMO GAO-AY
Length of Service Aug.1902 – Sep. 1904 Oct. 1904 – Dec. 1905 Jan. 1906 – Dec. 1907 Jan. 1908 - Dec. 1909 Jan. 1910 – Dec. 1910 Jan. 1911 – May 1911 Jul. 1911 – Aug. 1911 Sep. 1911 – Dec. 1911 Jan. 1912 – Dec. 1913 Jan. 1914 – Dec. 1915 Jan. 1916 – Dec. 1922 Jan. 1923 – Dec. 1923 Jan. 1924 – Dec. 1925 Nov. 1925 – Nov. 1927 Dec. 1927 – Dec. 1928 Dec. 1928 – June 1929
The broom and the rice stalk represent the principal sources of income of the people. The lofty mountains, cascading rivers and peeping sun represent the natural landscape of Suyo.
History
Suyo was once a part of the sub-province of Amburayan, which in turn was part of the Mountain Province created by the Americans in 1907. In 1920, when the sub-province of Amburayan was dissolved, Suyo became part of Ilocos Sur, together with Sigay, Alilem and Sugpon. During World War II, the town welcomed evacuees enroute to Baguio. Suyo also became a hideout of guerillas and was the last stronghold of the regimental headquarters of the 121st Infantry Division. It served as the sub-command post of the United States Armed Forces in the Philippines-Northern Luzon in the Battle of Bessang Pass. In the 80’s, encounters between the New People’s Army and government troops became a common occurrence in Suyo. With the end of the insurgency problem in the town, peace and prosperity has prevailed in Suyo.
TORIBIO LORESTO Jul. 1929 – Nov. 1930 TELESFORO GAO-AY Nov. 1930 – Oct. 1931 GREGORIO BAOILAN Oct. 1931 – Mar. 1932 BRAULIO DANIOAN Mar. 1932 – Dec. 1940 LAUREANO BISTOYONG Jan. 1941 – Feb. 1942 LAUREANO BISTOYONG (Alcalde military, US, FFEE, USFIP and USAFIP NL) Mar. 1942 – July 1945 GREGORIO BAOILAN (Alcalde Japon) Oct. 1942 – 1943 TEODORO DALIGUIS (Alcalde Japon) April 1943 JUAN CUAYYA (Alcalde Japon) May 1943 – Mar. 1944 ISABELO DAOA (Alcalde Japon) Apr. 1944 – Sep. 1944 LAUREANO BISTOYONG Aug. 1945 – Aug. 1946 BRAULIO DANIOAN Sep. 1946 – Jul. 1948 DOMINADOR E. DUMAL-IS Sep. 1948 – Dec. 1951 LAUREANO P. BISTOYONG Jan. 1951 – 1972 ALEXANDER BISTOYONG 1972 – 1999 ROY Q. LUNA 1999 – 2001 ELPIDIO BISTOYONG 2001 – 2010 SAMUEL SUBAGAN, JR. 2010 – 2019
Suyo 409
Municipal Hall of Suyo
410 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
Suyo 411
The name of the town was taken from the Ilocano word “Naisuyo” which means “thrown”, suggesting that the town stood on an alluvial deposit of a river or accumulated soil deposited, or “thrown” by the river. 412 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
Suyo 413
1945 (February 5) – Liberators of Suyo, with a garrison holding 600 Japanese soldiers, plan their takeover of Suyo town at dawn.
414 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
Suyo 415
St. Andrew the Apostle
Church
Suyo used to be a visita or mission of the parish of Quirino (formerly Angaki) which was established in 1937. The parish was then administered by the CICM Missionaries. Suyo had its own parish in 1978 and continued to be under the care of the CICM Missionaries until its transfer to a diocesan clergy in 1996. The patron saint of Suyo is St. Andrew, the apostle whose feast day is celebrated every November 30. 416 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
PARISH PRIEST REV. DANILO S. MARTINEZ St. Andrew the Apostle Parish Suyo, Ilocos Sur
St. Andrew the Apostle Parish
Industries
The top three industries of Suyo are handicrafts, tropical fruits production and freshwater fish production. Labtang (baskets made from the vine called labtang) is the product Suyo has enrolled under the One Town One Product program. In the recent Tawid Awards, two awardees came Suyo - Rudy Lag-asan and Juanito Sad-ang, both basket weavers from Man-atong. Lag-asan, who is 49 years old, learned his craft from his father who earned a living by making baskets. He utilizes raw materials found in his surroundings, such as anes, bolo (a kind of bamboo), uway or rattan and vines like nito and labtang. The Tawid awardee weaves baskets used for different purposes and makes them sturdier by hanging them above the cooking stove. Juanito Sad-ang, 60, learned the craft from an uncle at the age of 20. He uses the same materials used by Lag-asan and weaves all kinds of baskets as containers for agricultural produce. Sad-ang however is known for his “marketing basket� which is round and similar to the shape of the native squash.
Inhabitants
Suyo is home to Ilocanos and Kankanaeys and a mixture of both called Bagbag-o or commonly referred to as Bago.
Places to Visit
The attractions of Suyo are found in nature. It boasts of a cave at sitio Nabantey, a waterfall at Dawara where a mini hydro power plant has been constructed, the left foot print of the legendary giant Angalo at sitio Tapao (Poblacion) and the stone tower at sitio Timmore. Suyo 417
Location
Tagudin, the gateway of the province from the south, is bounded on the east by the Cordillera Mountain Ranges; on the west by the West Philippine Sea; on the south by the Amburayan River and the towns of Sudipen and Bangar in La Union; and on the north by the municipality of Santa Cruz.
Topography
Tagudin lies on a flat terrain in the west, but gradually rises towards the east with its hills and mountainous areas. 418 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
The Amburayan River bisects the southwestern area of the town’s river deltas located in Barangays Pudoc, Sawat, Tarangotong, Pacac, Baritao, Libtong, Bimmanga and Borono. The northern side of the town is traversed by tributaries of the Chico River originating from the upland of Suyo, and flows down to the barangays of Bitalag and Baracbac. These two barangays harness the waters of the Chico River for irrigation. With the two rivers and its tributaries traversing Tagudin, the town is famous for a seasonal local fish called “ipon,” a local delicacy. During the rainy season, the two rivers – Amburayan River and Chico River – cause flooding of barangays along its banks like Ambalayat, Pallogan, Pudoc East and West, Pacac, Sawat, Lantag, Baritao and Tarangotong.
Government
Tagudin is a second-class municipality with 43 barangays. These barangays are:
1. Ag-Aguman 2. Ambalayat 3. Baracbac 4. Bario-an 5. Baritao 6. Becques 7. Bimmanga 8. Bio 9. Bitalag 10. Borono 11. Bucao East 12. Bucao West 13. Cabaroan 14. Cabugbugan 15. Cabulanglangan 16. Dacutan 17. Dardarat 18. Del Pilar 19. Farola 20. Gabur 21. Garitan 22. Jardin
23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43.
Lacong Lantag Las-ud Libtong Lubnac Magsaysay Malacanang Pacac Pallogan Pudoc East Pudoc West Pula Quirino Ranget Rizal Salvacion San Miguel Sawat Tallaoen Tampugo Tarangotong
Municipal Hall of Tagudin
Tagudin 419
The word Tagudin comes from the term used to describe a mechanical contraption used by weavers to wind their yarn. Legend has it that Spaniards met a woman busy with her yarn, and asked her the name of the place. Thinking that the Spaniards were asking what the name of the mechanical contraption was, she replied “tagudan daytoy apo” (tagudan, sir). The Spaniards wrote down the name Tagudan, but later, “Tagudin” became the common usage.
420 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
TAGUDIN MAYORS Name APOLONIO VILLANUEVA ALIPIO ENCARNACION ANTONIO VILLANUEVA MANUEL MANZANO ROMAN MARQUEZ JOSE P. LORENZANA RAFAEL LARDIZABAL JOSE L. ENCARNACION GONZALO LAZO RICARDO DE LA CRUZ JOSE V. BONUAN JR. ROQUE S. VERSOZA, JR JOSE V. BONUAN JR. ROQUE S. VERSOZA, JR
Length of Service 1908-1912 1917-1919 1920-1922 1922-1925 1926-1928 1941-1944 1935-1937 1938-1940-1947 1968-1971 1972-1980; 1980-1988; 1988-1992; 1992-1995 1995-2004 2004-2013 2013-2016 2016-2019
Etymology
The word Tagudin is said to have been derived from the term used to describe a mechanical contraption used by weavers on which they wound their yarn. Legend has it that the Spaniards met a woman who was busy with her yarn and asked her the name of the place. Thinking that the Spaniards were asking what the name was for the mechanical contraption she was using, she replied “tagudan daytoy apo” (tagudan, sir). The Spaniards wrote down the name of the place as Tagudan, but later, “Tagudin” became the common usage.
Logo
The shield is derived from the provincial seal of Ilocos Sur. The sundial depicts the centuryold sundials constructed by Fr. Juan Sorolla. One of the sundials is located inside St. Augustine’s School, while the other is found in front of the town hall. Tobacco and palay represent the two staple crops of the town. Tagudin 421
1900 (February 18) – Americans burn houses, granaries, and sugar warehouses in Barrio Libtong, Becgues and Tampugo in Tagudin 422 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
History
and carry off 100 men.
During the 19th century, Tagudin was described by Frs. Buzeta and Bravo as a pueblo with a cura and a gobernadorcillo. Its church is made of stone. The town has a cemetery ( camp santo ), a primary school and a town hall which also housed the prison. According to the two priests, Tagudin produced rice, corn, sugar cane, cotton, vegetables and plants from which oil could be used for lighting. Among the town’s industries are weaving, saltmaking, lime-making and oil extraction. Both priests also mention the presence of “lavaderos de oro” in Tagudin, referring to people who extract gold by panning. Gold is said to be brought down from the mountains through the river. It was also during the Spanish period when Fr. Juan Sorolla constructed two sundials in Tagudin. Tagudin was known to be a stronghold of the revolutionaries during the war against the United States. One guerilla unit established a base in Tagudin. Manuel Tinio also set up his headquarters in the town. The parish priest of Tagudin then, Fr. Roberto Tamayo, delivered funds to Gregorio Aglipay in Amarao, a remote barrio of Santa Lucia. American field commanders would report that “the whole Tagudin-Bacnotan area was infested with ladrones sympathetic to the insurgents.” The Americans retaliated by burning homes, granaries and sugar warehouses in the Tagudin barrios of Libtong, Becques and Tampugo. The revolution in Tagudin witnessed the separation of many families. An example is the Mina family. Ambrosio Mina testified against Antonio Mina in connection with an assassination attempt against the Spanish friar Mariano Ortiz. When William Howard Taft visited Ilocos Sur in 1901, Tagudin was represented by the following: Presidente Apolonio Villanueva Acosta Juez de paz Maurisio Manglapus Directorio, Partido Federal Ambrosio Mina Miembro, Partido Federal Candido Mausang Higinio Villanueva Marcelo Lonsameda Pantaleon Bonoan Bernardino Buenaventura Laminosa Villanueva Faustino Somera Eulogio Jimeno Pedro Lagemilla Juan Quines Esteban Acosta Liberato Lasmarias Pascual Lorenzana Doroteo Parpana Basilio Lamadrid Juan Dacio Pedro Ringor Tagudin 423
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1900 (May 5) – Americans raid a camp in Tagudin, killing 10 Filipinos.
Tagudin 425
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Capt. Apolinario Querubin (1880-1936) who fought in the war against Spain and the United States, headed a unit that engaged enemy forces in the Battle of Tangadan Pass. The battle served as a cover for Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo’s escape to Northern Luzon.
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In 1907, Tagudin was made the capital of the subprovince of Amburayan, which was then part of the newly-created Mountain Province. together with Apayao, Kalinga, Bontoc, Ifugao, Benguet and Lepanto. The Bureau of Non-Christian Tribes of the American colonial government recommended in 1917 that the western border of the Mountain Province should be moved further east so that the entire province of Amburayan and large parts of Lepanto and Benguet would be part of Ilocos Sur and La Union. The adjustment was made in 1920. The sub-province of Amburayan was dissolved and its capital, Tagudin, together with the townships of Sigay, Suyo, Alilem and Sugpon became part of Ilocos Sur. In 1910, the ICM (Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary) Belgian missionary sisters arrived in Tagudin and established St. Augustine School. From the sisters, natives of Tagudin learned the fine craft of lace-making. The barangay of Farola was where Sister Louise de Meester, founder of the ICM set foot. During the Japanese Occupation, the natives of Tagudin met the invaders in barangays Dardarat, Tallaoen and Dacutan. Barangay Bitalag of Tagudin became the launching pad of the United States Armed Forces in the Philippines – Northern Luzon (USAFIP-NL) for the decisive Battle of Bessang Pass. Capt. Emilio Narcise, a native of Tagudin who planted the Philippine flag at the peak of the mountain, was awarded the Gold Cross Medal by President Fidel V. Ramos during the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Bessang Pass in 1996. A boloman and native of Tagudin, Faustino Someran Sr. was responsible for beheading Gen. Hara of the Japanese Imperial Army in an ambush staged by 3rd Lt. Jesus Martinez (a fellow Tagudinian) along Almazan Road. Tagudin was the site of the biggest hospital facility during the liberation of the town from Japanese forces. It was located in the present site of the town plaza.
Faustino Somera Sr., a bolo man of the USAFIP-NL , was responsible for the death of Gen. Hara of the Japanese Imperial Army. He successfully staged an ambush along Almazan Road where he chased the escaping general. A single stroke of the bolo ended Hara’s life. 428 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
Tagudin 429
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1941 (December 14) – Lt. George Williams, of the 13th Infantry of the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE), alongside Ilocano guerillas, stage an ambush against Japanese forces in Tagudin.
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1941 (December 16) – Lt. Eusebio Callao of L Company, 3rd Bn 13th Inf. engaged Japanese soldiers in a three-hour battle in Talleon, Tagudin, killing member.
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1942 (February 27) – Cushing and guerillas ambushed and killed a Japanese flag officer and his companions in two staff cars in Barangay. Bio, Tagudin.
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January-June 14, 1945 – Capt. Emilio Narcise, the man who planted the Philippine Flag at the peak of the mountain after the victory of Bessang Pass. The “L” company under the command of Capt. Narcise, continously operated around Bessang Pass area.
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Tagudin 437
PARISH PRIEST REV. CRISTETO A. CORTEZ Conversion of St. Augustine Parish REV. ANTONIO A. RECLUSADO Conversion of St. Augustine Parish
St. Augustine Parish
St. Augustine
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Church
The construction of the present church took place in 1796 under the direction of Fr. Bartolome Gutierrez. Fr. Francisco Hernandez continued the work on the project in 1816 until the church was completed in 1832. Fr. Juan Sorolla, then the prior of the church, was responsible for the installation of the two sundials of Tagudin.
The church made of stone and bricks measures 66.8 meters long and is 14.19 meters wide. The faรงade of the church is in the Baroque style. The main door is an elliptically recessed door decorated with Augustinian symbols and topped by a triangular pediment. Flanking the main door are paired columns with double capitals. Two small openings flank the Augustinian emblem found above
Tagudin 439
the main entrance. There are two segmented blind windows after the columns. The curvilinear form of the façade is adorned with paired finials. The church’s patron saint is St. Augustine, whose feast dayi is celebrated on May 5 to mark his conversion.
Industries
The top three industries of Tagudin are food processing, agriculture and fishing. Processed calamansi has been entered as its main product under the One Town One Product Program. During the recent Tawid Awards, Juanita Quitoriano, 77 year-old textile weaver; Vicente Cudiamat, 67 years old and a fish basket and fish trap maker; Antonio Barnachea, 72 yearold fish trap maker; and basi-makers Rosemarie and Lorenzo Lobendino, both 60 years old, were recognized for their expertise in their respective fields. Quitoriano credits her mother and grandmother as her mentors in the trade. She weaves the sinubur which is used by the Kakanaeys and the Ibalois as death blankets. Sinubur is now used as bed covers, draperies and even dress material. Quitoriano has passed on the craft to her daughters who have become weavers themselves. When not occupied by rice planting and harvesting, Cudiamat makes fish baskets and fish traps. He uses smooth bamboo to make not only baskets and traps for fishing but also grass and crop baskets, poultry cages, nests, hammocks and market baskets. Barnachea, on the other hand, was recognized for his expertise in making fish traps. He lives in a barangay where fishing both in rivers and the sea is the principal livelihood. With his proximity to both sources of aquatic and marine life, Barnachea learned the art of making various kinds of fish traps like the pammurak, sanlagguan and alat.
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Globular in shape and measuring nine inches in height and diameter, with an opening of six inches, Barnachea’s alat is an effective fish trap. So is his pammurak which is two meters in length and 1.3 meters in width and shaped like half of a cocoon. The pammurak is usually covered with leaves and its shade attracts fishes who seek shelter but eventually get trapped in the device. Barnachea learned his craft at the age of 20 from his paternal grandfather. Rosamarie and Lorenzo Lobendino from Ambalayat are known for their basi or sugarcane wine. The couple uses boiled guava and cogon leaves as fermenting agents and mix these with the pulverized bark of lomboy. The bubod - powdered rice mixed with secret ingredients- rounds off the concoction. The manner of ageing the sugar cane wine is the secret to the famous basi of the Lobendinos. The cane juice-filled jars are buried underground with the mouth of the tightly-sealed jars on the same level as the ground. The basi of the Lobendinos not only graces the tables of ordinary folk but also the altar tables of the clergy as offertory wine.
Places to Visit
The beaches in Libteng, Dardarat, Farola, Pudoc, Pacac, Sawat and Becques are worth visiting. The sun dials constructed by Fr. Juan Sorolla are historical monuments. The sun dial at the back of the church was installed in 1841, while that in front of the town hall was set up in 1845. The St Agustine Church is also a must-see and one of Tagudin’s enduring attractions.
Spanish Sundials
Tagudin 441
City Hall of Vigan
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VIGAN CITY MAYORS Name Length of Service ALEJANDRO ITCHON 1916-1919 ESTANISLAO ANGCO 1920-1923 ANTONIO REYES 1924-1927 PERFECTO PAYFON 1928-1939 MONICO GUTIEREZ 1939-1944
GREGORIO FAVIS MARIANO FORMOSO LORENZO FORMOSO JR. ATILANO NOLASCO LORENZO FORMOSO JR. FRANCISCO CRISOLOGO JOSE SINGSON
1944-1947 1948-1951 1948-1951 1958-1959 1959-1963 1964-1967 1967-1972
EVARISTO SINGSON PRICILO AGDAMAG EVA MARIE MEDINA FERDINAND MEDINA EVA MARIE MEDINA JUAN CARLO MEDINA
1972-1988 1988-1995 1995-2004 2004-2007 2007-2016 2016-2019
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Location
The capital of the province of Ilocos Sur, Vigan City is found in the western coast of Ilocos Sur facing the China Sea. It is bounded on the north by the municipality of Bantay; on the east by the municipality of Santa Catalina and on the southwest by the China Sea.
Topography
Vigan City is an island bounded by three rivers: Abra River, Mestizo River and Govantes River.
Government
Vigan City is a fifth-class city composed of 39 barangays. These are: 1. Ayusan Norte 21. Pantay Daya 2. Ayusan Sur 22. Pantay Fatima 3. Barrio I (Poblacion) 23. Pantay Laud 4. Barrio II (Poblacion) 24. Paoa 5. Barrio III (Poblacion) 25. Paratong 6. Barrio IV (Poblacion) 26. Pong-ol 7. Barrio V (Poblacion) 27. Purok-a-bassit 8. Barrio VI (Poblacion) 28. Purok-a-dakkel 9. Barraca 29. Raois 10. Beddeng Laud 30. Rugusanan 11. Beddent Daya 31. Salindeg 12. Bongtolan 32. San Jose 13. Bulala 33. San Julian Norte 14. Cabalangegan 34. San Julian Sur 15. Cabaroan Daya 35. San Pedro 16. Cabaroan Laud 36. Tamag 17. Camangaan 37. Barrio VII 18. Capangpangan 38. Barrio VIII 19. Mindoro 39. Barrio IX (Cuta) 20. Nagsangalan
Etymology
The Chinese who came to Vigan to engage in trade referred to it in Hokkien as Bee Gan, which meant “Beautiful Shore.� Since the Spaniards interchange the the letter V for B in pronouncing words, Bee Gan became Vigan. The word Vigan is also traced to the biga plant found along the banks of the Mestizo River.
Logo
The shield is derived from the provincial seal of Ilocos Sur. The green plant symbolizes the biga plant found along the banks of the Mestizo River and from which the place derives its name. The monument is dedicated to the founder of the town, Juan de Salcedo. 444 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
The Chinese who came to Vigan to engage in trade referred to it in Hokkien as Bee Gan, which means “Beautiful Shore.� Since the Spaniards interchange the letter V for B in pronouncing words, Bee Gan became Vigan. The word Vigan is also traced to the biga plant found along the banks of Mestizo River.
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The buildings found in the logo are the Vigan Cathedral and the Archbishop’s Palace, both historical landmarks in the city.
History
Vigan was referred to in old historical maps as Isla de Bigan since it was an island strategically located at the mouth of the Abra River. Long before the Spaniards arrived, Vigan was known to other Asian traders as evidenced by Chinese and Japanese trade items discovered in old burial sites. The Asian merchants traded their goods with mountain products such as gold, beeswax and animal skin. With the arrival of the Spaniards in the country, the Spanish governor, Guido de Lavezares ordered Captain Juan de Salcedo, grandson of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi to explore Northern Luzon. Leaving Manila on May 20, 1572 Salcedo arrived in Vigan on June 12, 1572. Vigan then was an old kingdom where trade flourished between the natives and the foreign merchants. Salcedo returned to Manila and explored the areas of Camarines, Sorsogon and Albay. For his accomplishments, Salcedo was awarded an encomienda in Vigan in 1574. Upon the suggestion of Governor-General Guido de Lavezares, the place was named Villa Fernandina in honor of Prince Fernando, son of Philip II. Having settled in Vigan, Salcedo was constrained to go to Manila to forewarn the Spaniards of an impending attack of the Chinese pirate Limahong. Unsuccessful in occupying Manila, Limahong retreated to the mouth of the Agno River in Cagayan where Salcedo successfully crushed his fleet. Salcedo returned to Vigan, but on March 11, 1576, 446 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
he contracted a fever which caused his death. In his last will and testament, Salcedo bequeathed his property to the natives living in his encomienda after debts had been settled. Vigan gained importance when it was chosen as the new seat of the diocese of Nueva Segovia in 1758. The former seat of Nueva Segovia which supervised the parishes in the provinces of Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Cagayan, as well as the mission of Ituy, Pangui, Abra and Batanes was Lal-lo in Cagayan. The location of the diocese in Lal-lo was threatened by the changing course of the Cagayan River. Vigan, then referred to as Villa Fernandina, was converted into a city in 1778 and was referred to as Ciudad Fernandina. The transfer required the construction of a cathedral which commenced in 1790 and was finished in 1800, as well as an Episcopal Palace called Arzobispado. By the 19th century, Vigan’s propsperity was reflected by the stone edifices it had erected. Vigan boasted then of having an Episcopal Palace, a residence of the alcalde mayor, an ayuntamiento, a jail, a military headquarters, two primary schools – one for the natives and the other for the Chinese mestizos — and about 100 stone houses. The principal products of Vigan then were rice and indigo. The male inhabitants of Vigan were engaged in fishing, the making of tiles and bricks, the construction of boats and ships. They also engaged in shoe-making, carpentry, tailoring and masonry. The women, on the other hand, were excellent weavers. A secular priest administered to the spiritual needs of the residents. An 1842 report on Ilocos Sur mentioned that Vigan was populated with 5,423 men, 5,575 women and 4,310 children. It was noted that Vigan’s population had pure Chinese and Chinese mestizos engaged in trade and who were owners of stone houses. The area where the Chinese mestizos built their homes was called “Kamestishuhan.” By the 19th century, the old aristocracy was replaced by a new merchant class to whom belonged the likes of Primitivo Formoso, a carriage maker and Gregorio Romero Sy-Quia. By 1896, Gregorio Sy-Quia was alcalde of the Ayuntamiento and Mena Crisologo was its sandico
1680 (February) – More than 100 women principales of Vigan complained to the eccleciastical head of Ilocos against their parish priest. They were forced to work for 6 months weaving fabrics for the priest and his friends. Many of the men were forced to do repair jobs for the town church.
(legal representative). Crisologo won a silver medal for his entry of 113 hundred weight top-quality indigo produced in his plant. In 1896, the two were both arrested and tortured. In the war against Spain, Vigan was unusually quiet. This may be due to the fact that resistance could have been nipped in the bud with the arrest of Sy-Quia and Crisologo attributed to the machination of friars. The seeming loyalty of Vigan to the colonial power was rewarded by the Queen of Spain when it was given the title of Muy Noble y Leal (Very Noble and Loyal) in November 1897. This was made upon the recommendation of Governor General Primo
de Rivera, who made a personal inspection of the place. Vigan rose to the call of the country to defend it from the new foreign colonizers with the coming of the Americans to Vigan in 1899. Estanislao Reyes of Vigan became General Manuel Tinio’s aide-de-camp. Reyes, a carriage maker, brought to the movement his family network and resources. Reyes’ mother, Eleuteria, mobilized the women members of the clan in the resistance against Spain. Eleuteria’s home became the nerve center of the resistance movement where food, medicines, uniforms, blankets were distributed to the guerillas. It also served as the clearing house of information Vigan 447
1762 (December 26) – After he is set free, Silang launches an attack on Vigan, capturing it from Spanish forces.
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Vigan 449
450 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
Gabriela Silang takes over the reins of the “Free Ilocos Revolt,” from her husband Diego, following his assassination.
1763 (September 20) – Gabriela Silang and her followers were executed in a plaza in Vigan. She is the first woman general and first known female martyr in Philippine history. Vigan 451
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1814 – Ventura delos Reyes, a 20-yearold merchant from Vigan, became the first Filipino representative to the Cortes, a lawmaking body in Spain.
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1898 (July) – Vigan became a rebel-controlled territory under the leadership of Ilocano Katipuneros
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Vigan 455
1899 (December 4) – 200 riflemen and bolomen led by Col. Joaquin Alejandrino of the Gen. Tinio brigade attacked the American headquarters in Vigan
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Vigan 457
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1941 (December 10) – The Japanese military stage a naval landing in Barangay Mindoro, Vigan against a token resistance of American planes that managed to sink one cargo ship. The landing signaled the Japanese invasion of the Philippines.
Japanese soldiers leave their Filipono wives under the care of Fr. Joseph Klecamf who was promised that Vigan would be spared from destruction. Vigan 459
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April 18, 1948 – December 30, 1953 (6th President) - President Elpidio R. Quirino, a native of Vigan, was born on November 16, 1890 to Mariano Quirino, a former sergeant of the Spanish army and warden of the Vigan provincial jail, and Gregoria Mendoza Rivera of Agoo, La Union. In 1919, Quirino became a representative of the first district of locos Sur. In 1925, he was elected to the Senate and was the chairperson of the Special Joint Committee on Taxation. Elected senator in November 11, 1941, Quirino was unable to assume the position because of the outbreak of World War II. With the death of President Manuel Roxas on April 15, 1948, Quirino became president, serving the late president’s unexpired term. He was elected President of the Philippines on November 8, 1949. He died on February 29, 1956. Quirino was married to Alicia Syquia of Vigan with whom he had five children. His wife and three of his children died during the liberation of Manila by the Americans from Japanese forces in 1945. Two children survived – Tomas and Victoria.
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on the movement of American troops. For these deeds, Eleuteria and her companions were arrested by the Americans on February 18, 1901 and sent to Fort Santiago. Complementing a military campaign against the Ilocanos, the Americans established a civil government to give a semblance of normalcy. When Governor General William Howard Taft visited Ilocos Sur on August 16, 1901, Vigan was represented by the following: Alcalde Jose Rivero Teniente Alcalde Valentin Ramirez Tesorero Luis Encarnacion Secretario Fernando Ferrer Concejales Pedro Formoso Pastor Verzoza Joaquin Singson Paulino Florendo Ligorio Foz Filomeno de Leon Alejandro Morales Francisco de Leon Isidro Meris Paulino Alvares Jose Querol Benedicto Centeno In the same meeting, Crisologo was appointed governor of the province; C.W. Ney as provincial treasurer and Vicente Singson as provincial fiscal. Before WW II, the provincial capitol “done in the classical style with Tuscan columns” and the town hall (now city hall) were built. Vigan was later occupied by the Japanese army. During the liberation of the city from the Japanese, Vigan was spared from destruction by the invaders. Drums of gasoline were already lined up on Plaza Burgos ready to be used to burn the capital. However, a relationship that developed between two Japanese – Col. Fujiro Takahashi and Sakae Narioka and two ladies of Vigan spared the city from destruction. Col. Takahashi of the Air Force Batallion lived with Adela Tolentino and had two daughters by her. Sakae lived with Belen Castillo; their union produced a daughter. Before retreating, the two Japanese soldiers entrusted their wives and children to Rev. Fr. Joseph Klecamf, S.V.D. In exchange, Fr. Klecamf requested that Vigan be spared from burning. True to their promise, Vigan was spared and a white blanket was spread on the plaza to forewarn Japanese pilots not to bomb the town. December 2, 1999 was another turning point in the city’s history. Vigan was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List for being a “one of the best preserved examples of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia” and for combining indigenous elements with Chinese, as well as European architectural styles. 462 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
October 18, 1970 – Assassination of Congressman Floro Crisologo inside St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral during a turbulent period in Ilocos politics.
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Members of media were called to a press conference in Vigan in January 18, 1988, shortly after the release of DV Savellano by the New People’s Army. Savellano was seized by the group while campaigning for the 1987 local elections and held captive for30 days.
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Tobacco industry
Ilocos Sur did not enjoy a tobacco monopoly during the Spanish period. Under the monopoly, the cultivation of tobacco was confined to the town of Gapan, in Nueva Ecija province and in some towns in the provinces of Bulacan and Cagayan. During the American period, the Tobacco Inspection Law was enacted on February 4, 1916, aimed at improving the method of production and the quality of tobacco in the country with the ultimate goal of making it an export crop. In 1927, Virginia or flue-cured tobacco, was planted as an experiment at the Ilagan Agricultural School in Isabela province to determine its adaptability to the soil and climate conditions. In 1942, a team from Kuksai Shoiji Kaishai, one of the biggest cigarette factories in Japan, arrived in the Philippines to analyze the soil, climate, rainfall, and weather conditions in La Union for the purpose of looking into the province’s potential for growing tobacco. The team found the conditions in La Union similar to the areas where they planted flue-cured tobacco in Japan. The impetus to cultivate tobacco in Ilocos Sur came after World War II with the passage of Republic Act 698 in 1952. The Act limited the entry or importation of Virginia Tobacco. Under the law, all locally-grown and produced Virginia Tobacco was purchased by the government. It also fixed the price for both flue-cured and sundried Virginia Leaf Tobacco. The Philippine Tobacco Administration was mandated to assist the Agricultural Credit Cooperative and Financing Administration in purchasing the leaves. A retired American lieutenant by the name of Harry Stonehill brought into the country tobacco seeds from the United States and printed manuals on how to flue-cure tobacco leaves. The seeds and manuals were distributed for free by Stonehill to the farmers of Abra, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte. Stonehill built flue-curing barns in Agoo and San Juan in La Union and in Santa Barbara and San Jacinto towns in Pangasinan province. Later, the enterprising former soldier established the Philippine Tobacco Flue-Curing and Redrying Corporation. Since then, tobacco had become a major crop in the provinces of Abra, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and La Union. Presidential Decree No. 628 designated specific areas for growing the crop. Ilocos Sur was designated to grow Virginia Leaf. 466 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
Today, Virginia Tobacco is considered a major cash crop of farmers in Ilocos Sur. Local government units also stand to gain from this industry. Republic Act 7171, known as the Tobacco Excise Tax Law authored by former Rep. Luis “Chavit” Singson, mandates the allocation of millions of pesos from tobacco excise taxes as shares for the
four tobacco producing provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra and La Union. The shares of each province are used for infrastructure and livelihood development projects that benefit farmers and their families. Proof of the importance of this industry is the holding of an annual tripartite conference among
the National Tobacco Administration, traders and cigarette manufacturers and tobacco farmers. The conference aims to thresh out problems and concerns affecting the tobacco industry, and in particular, setting the price of flue-cured tobacco leaves in the face of increases in the prices of inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides. Vigan 467
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Women stripping leaves for cigar manufacture in the early 20th century.
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Church
The parish of Vigan was founded on April 30, 1575 by the Augustinians led by Fray Alonso de Alvarado. Three years later, the Franciscans took over the parish and then relinquished to the seculars in 1591. During this time, the parish was alternately administered by the seculars and the Augustinians. On February 14, 1622, Vigan was officially transferred to the seculars. With the transfer of the diocese of Nueva Segovia from Lal-lo, Cagayan to Vigan in 1641, the church became a cathedral. The Baroque-styled church is divided into three levels. On the ground level are three portals flanked by coupled columns topped by Chinese Fu dogs. The main portal has a seal of the Bishopric of Nueva Segovia above it. The second level has a niche enclosing a statue of Saint Paul on horseback and two square windows. The third level has a small circular opening. Pointed finials are found adorning
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the faรงade. The bell tower found 10 meters away is made up of a square base with two levels which are octagonal in shape. It has a dome topped by a weather vane cock. The cathedral is dedicated to St. Paul whose conversion to Christianity on January 25 is marked as feast day of the parish. The Vigan Cathedral enshrines two venerated images: the Apo Nazareno and the Apo Birhen del Rosario. Two side altars of the Cathedral hold their images. The feast day of Apo Nazareno is commemorated onJanuary 9 while that of the Apo Birhen del Rosario, on October 7. Within the confines of Vigan is the Simbaan nga Bassit, a chapel of the campo santo or cemetery. Enshrined in the chapel is the image of the Senor Santo Kristo or Apo Lakay whose feast day is celebrated every third day of May.
PARISH PRIEST St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral MSGR. ROQUE C. REYES REV. AVELINO K. SIPIN REV. LOVELL U. SOLLER REV. MELCHOR Q. REONAL Archbishop’s Residence MSGR. GARY NOEL S. FORMOSO REV. SIMEON S PERALTA REV. PETER JOE A. DAGSI REV. FERDINAND R. RAGASA REV. ALEN A. VILLAREAL REV. MICHAEL C. TANACIO Immaculate Conception School of Theology MSGR. MARLON T. BELMONTE REV. NICK A. VAQUILAR REV. LESTER JOSEPH R. PLANA Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary REV. AMADOR I. FOZ REV. FELIX A COSTALES REV. JACK R. CABATU REV. MAR G. BARROGA
St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral
St. Paul the Apostle
Pulpit Vigan 471
APO LAKAY (The Miraculous) 472 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
APO LAKAY
Vigan 473
Simbaan a Bassit 474
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Vigan 475
Kannawidan Festival: Celebrating One’s Identity
K
annawidan Festival: Celebrating One’s Identity Kannawidan is the Ilocano word for traditional practices. What better way of celebrating one’s identity by re-living and rekindling the traditional practices that the Ilocanos of Ilocos Sur are known for.
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The Kannawidan Festival is a yearly event which is celebrated towards the last week of January until the first week of February. The Festival marks the creation of Ilocos Sur as a separate province from the Provincia de Ilocos on February 2, 1818. This important event was hardly noticed until then Gov. Deogracias Victor ‘DV’ B. Savellano in 2008 thought of marking the event by holding the Kannawidan Festival. That year marked the 190th year of the founding of Ilocos Sur. From then on, the Kannawidan Festival has become an annual celebration in Ilocos Sur. The aim of holding the festival, in the words of Savellano is “to make Ilocos Sur aware of their customs and traditions and to pave the way towards their preservation.” The week-long celebration opens with a Thanksgiving Mass for all the blessings the province has received from the Almighty. It also consists of a religious procession of the different miraculous saints of the province’s different municipalities, a trade fair showcasing local products and crafts, a horseracing event, cultural dances and ethnic rituals, a zarzuela performance, traditional games and food fest. Added to this array of activities is the recognition of illustrious sons and daughters of the province as well as a beauty contest.
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Industries
The top three industries of Vigan City are meat processing, loom weaving and burnay making. Vigan has identified longganisa as its product under the One Town One Product Program. Recently, the province of Ilocos Sur recognized the weavers of Vigan. One of them was Tawid awardee Dominic Panela of Camangaan, Vigan City. Panela is not only a weaver but a textile designer as well. He owns Rowilda Handloom Weavings and employs 25 weavers. He continues to improve his trade by attending seminars conducted annually by the Philippine Textile Research Institute in Taguig, Rizal as well as participates in trade fairs sponsored by the Department of Trade and Industry.
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Dominic’s mother, Elena Panela, 87 years old, is also a Tawid awardee, who taught him the trade. Elena was a full time weaver at the age of eight. She is known for her designs of the bulong-bulong or leaves, tao-tao or human figures and sinan bituen or stars. The weavers of San Pedro barangay were also Tawid awardees. They are Felisa Alodino (77 years old); Flora Tabaday (71 years old); Nora Alondino (46 years old); Marcelina Abuel (74 years old); Juanita Raposas (70 years old); Dominga Altarejos (53 years old); Rosalina Altarejos (72 years old); Minda Altarejos (46 years old); and Josephine Pinto. All of the weavers learned the trade at young age and were enthusiastic apprentices of their mothers. They are acknowledged as masters in producing
kantarinis (stripes and plaids) and binakul (graduated squares and rectangles of positive and negative hues). Two women weavers from Mindoro, Vigan who are also Tawid awardees are Bernarda Abigania, 68 years old and Catalina Ablog, 76 years old. Abigania learned the trade from her mother and began weaving at the age of 15. She is known for her kantarinis blankets which show the bullalayaw (rainbow) and nagkidday (eye brow) motifs. Ablog, on the other hand, is known for her binakul designs and has particularly mastered the kusikus (whirlwind/ whirpool) design. Vigan’s earthenware potters or damili potters recognized recently by the provincial government were Teodora Tugade (85 years old), Luciana Alvis
(79 years old) and Fidel Go (70 years old). Tugade, who learned the craft since childhood, used to make 100 masteras (plant pots) a day. Because of her age, Tugade has reduced the number of maseteras she makes to 30-50 a day. Cooking pots is the forte of Alvis who learned her craft from her parents at a young age. Alvis uses her feet to knead the clay and fine sand used to making the cooking pots. Go is a burnay (unglazed stoneward) potter. He continues the craft passed on thorough generations by his Chinese forbears who migrated to Vigan from China and set up burnay kilns in their new home. Apart from burnay used as storage vessels for water, sugar cane wine, fermented fish sauce, and salt, Go also makes new designs for decorative stoneware.
Binatbatan Festival
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Vigan Heritage Village, an excellent example of a wellpreserved Spanish colonial town in Asia. In November 1999, it was placed on the World Heritage List highlighting its cultural significance. This historic town of Vigan was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. The structure of the houses is a mix of the Spanish Mexican and Chinese influences which makes this place rich in history and culture.
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New Immaculate Concepcion seminary
Old Seminary Building
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Museo San Pablo
Places to Visit
The Vigan Cathedral (also called St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral) is one place to visit. The Cathedral was constructed when the seat of the diocese of Nueva Segovia was transferred to Vigan. The remains of Ilocano poetess and mother of Isabelo de los Reyes, Leona Florentino, are interred in the Cathedral. Adjacent to the Vigan Cathedral is the Archbishop’s Palace which was constructed during the Spanish period and continues to be used as a residence of the present Archbishop. The Palace also houses a religious museum and archives. Fronting the Vigan Cathedral is Plaza Salcedo, dedicated to the memory of the Spanish conquistador, Juan de Salcedo. Beside the Vigan Cathedral is Plaza Burgos, dedicated to a distinguished son of Vigan and martyr, Fr. Jose Burgos.
The Vigan Heritage Village consists of colonial houses found along Mena Crisologo Street and now part of the area declared by the Unesco as a World Heritage site. Museums worth visiting are the following: the Burgos Museum, the birthplace of Fr. Jose Burgos one of the three martyred priests (with Fr. Gomez and Fr. Zamora); the Syquia Museum, which was the Vigan residence of President Elpidio Quirino whose wife was a Syquia; and the Crisologo Museum, the former residence of Govenors Floro and Carmeling Crisologo, which has been converted into a museum. Barangay Pagburnayan is where the famous Vigan burnay is made. Visitors are shown how clay is kneaded and fired in kilns to produce the burnay. Baluarte is the site of a mini-zoo located in Salindeg where tourists can view tigers, dwarf horses and other animals for free. Vigan 483
A Short History of the University of Northern Philippines The University of Northern Philippines in Vigan, Ilocos Sur has had a long and colorful history. Initially operating as Vigan High School in 1906, the Shop Department of the school became Vigan Trade School, offering courses in practical arts to students. In 1927, Vigan Trade School introduced the secondary level with 12 students. A year later, it was renamed Ilocos Sur Trade School. By virtue of Commonwealth Act No. 313 dated April 19, 1941 providing the establishment of regional trade schools, Ilocos Sur Trade School became Ilocos Sur Regional Trade School. During the three years of the Japanese Occupation of the Philippines in the 1940s,, the regional school was closed down. The Shop Department was turned into a repair shop of the Japanese forces and its Academic Building, a warehouse. The school re-opened its doors to students in 1949, relocating to the former Christian Hospital owned by Dr. Vicente Verzosas... In 1951, Congressman Floro Crisologo authored R.A. 647 which converted the Ilocos Sur Regional Trade School into the Northern Luzon School of Arts and Trade (NLSAT). This piece of legislation was supported by then President Elpidio Quirino. The conversion of the trade school from a provincial to a regional institution covering Northern Luzon was aimed at offering trade –technical courses to students who could help in the economic and industrial development of the country, part of the government’s rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts following the devastating effects of World War II. The year 1955 saw the transfer of the NLSAT to a new location, an eight-hectare campus in Barangay Tamag, Vigan, which is now the present site of the University of Northern Philippines (UNP). Five years later, the NLSAT was again renamed Ilocos Sur School of Arts and Trade (ISSAT). In 1965, then President Diosdado Macagapal signed House Bill No. 9251 sponsored by Congressman Floro Crisologo into RA 4449 converting ISSAT to a university to be called the University of Northern Philippines . The mandate of UNP according to its Charter was “to give technical and professional training, advanced instruction in literature, philosophy, the sciences and arts, besides providing for the promotion of scientific and technological researches.” 484 Ilocos Sur: An Almanac
The year 1966 saw UNP opening two colleges, the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Engineering. A program in B.S. Industrial Education was also created.. New curricular programs were opened. During the summer session of 1967, a Bachelor of Arts degree for English, Political Science, Psychology, History and Guidance majors was introduced. In succeeding years, a Bachelor of Science in Education; a Bachelor in Business Administration, Bachelor in Architecture and Fine Arts and a Certificate Course in Midwifery were included in the courses offered as well as Grades V and VI classes to serve as a laboratory school for Education students. A College of Nursing was also established during this period.
The University of Northern Philippines (UNP) in Vigan City is the first and oldest state university in Northern Luzon. Older than the government-run University of the Philippines by two years, it was founded 1906.
The UNP opened its Graduate School in 1973 when a Master of Arts in Teaching was introduced for English, Filipino, Home Economics, Practical Arts, Health Education, Physical Education and Elementary Agriculture majors. This was followed by a Master’s in Public Administration in 1977 and a Ph.D. in Education program, major in Educational Administration. The degree program for Social Work and Community Development students was no longer under the Bachelor of Arts program but became an independent course with the establishment of the Institute of Social Work and Community Development. The curriculam at UNP continues to expand as it became attuned to the needs of the times. A Bachelor in Science major in Computer Science was put in place, together with a Bachelor of Library and
Information Science and a Bachelor in Hotel and Restaurant Administration. A College of Law was open to students in 2002. Shepherding the growth and development of the UNP from its establishment in 1965 were five university presidents: Dr. Dedicacion M. AgatepReyes was installed as first UNP President in 1973. She was followed by Dr. Romualdo B. Tadena in 1978, Dr. Dorotea Campos-Filart, who served for 13 years; and Dr. LauroB. Tacbas, who held the position for 12 years. The current and fifth president who was installed in 2011 is Dr. Gilbert R. Arce, a dyed-inthe-wool UNP alumnus who obtained his Bachelor of Arts in English, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Master of Arts in English and Ph.D. in Education from the UNP. Vigan 485
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Museo San Juan Bautista
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Old interior design
Crisologo Museum
Plaza Salcedo
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PADRE BURGOS MUSEUM – The Burgos residence in Vigan houses the memorabilia of the martyr–priest Jose P. Burgos, as well as Ilocano
February 9, 1837, Father Jose Apolonio Burgos was born in the town of Vigan, Ilocos Sur. His father was Jose Burgos, a Spanish lieutenant in the Spanish military. A native of Vigan, Fr, Burgos was baptized on the 12th of the same month. He received his first education from his mother. Fr. Burgos was one of the three priests (with Fr. Gomez and Fr. Zamora) executed by the Spanish authorities in the Philippines after being accused of treason. He was put to death on February 17, 1872, at Fort Santiago in the middle of Bagumbayan (now Luneta Park).
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April 19, 1849 – Leona Florentino was born in Vigan to a rich family. Her parents were Marcelino and Isabel Florentino. She married Elias de los Reyes and had five children by him, the eldest of whom was Isabelo de los Reyes. Florentino gained international prominence when her poems in Iloko were exhibited at the Exposicion General de Filipinas in 1887 and at the International Exposition in Paris in 1899 that marked the centennial of the French Revolution. Isabelo de los Reyes paid homage to his mother when he included her poems in his El Folklore Filipino. Included in this work were Florentino’s congratulatory and erotic poems in Ilocano. Most of the congratulatory poems for birthdays and weddings were usually in acrostic form. The foremost Ilocano poetess died on October 4, 1884 at the age of 35. Vigan 491
July 7, 1864 – Isabelo de los Reyes was born in Vigan, Ilocos Sur to Elias de los Reyes and Leona Florentino, a poetess.. At the age of 6, he was committed by his father to the care of a rich relative, Don Mena Crisologo. In June 1880 at the age of 16, he went to Manila and enrolled as a self-supporting student at the San Juan de Letran College where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. He later studied law at the University of Santo Tomas and became a notary public at the age of 22. As the legal age to practice law was 25, he turned his attention to journalism. His first article on the Invasion of Limahong appeared in the Diario de Manila in November 1882. He founded the first vernacular paper, El Ilocano and published prize winning books, the Historia de Ilocos, Folklore Filipino and Las Islas Visayas en la Epoca de la ConquiSanta On June 14, 1884, he married Josefa Sevilla, of Malabon. They had six children. He was arrested and jailed on February 13, 1892 in Bilibid Prison where he later learned about the death of his wife. A widower at age 48 from his second wife Senorita Maria Angeles Lopez Montero, he re-married, this time to Maria Lim, a Chinese mestiza of Tondo. He was twice elected councilor of Manila from 1912-1914, then became senator of the first senatorial district which comprised the Ilocos provinces from 1922-1928. Stricken with paralysis, De los Reyes became bedridden until his death on October 10, 1938. The Isabelo de los Reyes Elementary School in Tondo, Manila was named after him.
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Syquia Mansion – The ancestral home of Doña Alicia Syquia-Quirino, the Syquia mansion was a venue for official and publicfunctions during the administration of the late President Elpidio Quirino, Doña Alicia’s husband. The structure was built in 1830 by Justo Angco and was given as a gift to his daughter Estifania when she wed Gregorio Syquia, Alicia’s father, in 1875. It is considered the first Malacañang in the north. Vigan 493
Vigan dancing fountain
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Acknowledgements EDITORIAL TEAM MARIA LOURDES CAMAGAY, faculty member, history department, University of the Philippines (history consultant) ESTER G. DIPASUPIL, Metro Desk Editor/Night Editor, Philippine Daily Inquirer (editorial consultant) NATIVIDAD DADOR GUERRERO, book project director/coordinator BENJO G. LAYGO, layout and design consultant NANIE S. GONZALES, layout artist BIM BACALTOS, faculty member, College of Fine Arts, University of the Philippines (illustrator) RENE A. ARANDA, editorial cartoonist, Philippine Star (illustrator) ERIC FLORES, graphic designer, Sleek 6 (illustrator) JEKO PAOLO DADOR PASCUA, Operations Supervisor, E-Trade Information Services (computer operations consultant)
RESOURCE PERSONS CHRISTOPHER BUENO, faculty member, University of Northern Philippines Graduate School JIMMY SORIA, faculty member, University of Northern Philippines, historical research consultant JULIA A. SAYSO, writer/researcher, oral and local history AMADO NOVAL, history and arts and culture advocate
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Bibliography A.D. 1595-1995. The 400the Year of Nueva Segovia. A Celebration of Renewal Towards a New Way of Being Church: Simbahan Sangakarrubaan. Aguinaldo’s Odyssey As Told in the Diaries of Col. Simeon Villa and Dr. Santiago Barcelona. With a Preface by Alejandro Roces and Introduction by Carlos Quirino. Manila, 1963. Blair, Emma and James Robertson. The Philippine Islands. Manila: Cacho Hermanos, 1987. Buzeta, Manuel and Felipe Bravo. Diccionario geografico, estadistico, historico de las islas Filipinas. Madrid, 1850. Tomos 1-2. Cruz, Isaac Jr. Gregorio del Pilar; Idol of the Revolution. Samahan Pangkalinangan ng Bulakan, 1985. Dela Torre, Visitacion. The Ilocos Heritage. Makati City: Tower Book House, 2006. De los Reyes, Isabelo. El Folklore Filipino. With an English translation by Salud C. Dizon and Maria Elinora P. Imson. Diliman, Quezon City: University of the Philippines Press, 1994. _________________. Historia de Ilocos. Establecimiento tipografico la Opinion, 1890. Foronda, Marcelino Jr and Juan Foronda. “The Ilocos and the Ilocanos: Some Thoughts on the Samtoy.” Fourth Centennial Christianization of the Ilocos Secretariat. “Father John Thompkins Writes.” The Ilocos Review Vol. 23 (1991). “From Tagudin to Cervantes; A Memoir of Sabas Gaerlan.” Translated by John Flameygh, CICM and William Henry Scott. The Ilocos Review Vol 23 (1991). Galende, Pedro. Angels in Stone; Augustinian Churches in the Philippines. San Agustin Museum, Manila: 1996. ____________. Philippine Church Facades. Filipiniana Net. Of Vibal Publishing House and San Agustin, 2007. Gatbonton, Esperanza. Vigan Album. Manila: National Commissiion for Culture and the Arts, 2006. “Ilocos Sur in 1842.” Ilocos Review Vol. 22 (1990). Philippine National Library. Historical Data Papers. Ilocos Sur. Santa Maria Bicentennial Souvenir, 1767-1967. Godofredo Reyes, 1968. Scott, William Henry. Ilocano Responses to American Aggression 1900-1901. Quezon City, Philippines: New Day Publishers, 1986. Sherpf, Grederick, SVD. “Memorable Days of Vigan.” Ilocos Review Vol. 17 (1985). Synbols of the State: Municipalities of Northern Luzon. Tawid; The Living Treasures of Ilocos Sur. An initiative of Deogracia Victor “DV” B. Savellano Sanicua Publication, 2010. United Architects of the Philippines Heritage. Philippine Architecture Region 1. Published by the United Architects of the Philippines, 1997. United States Annual Report of the Philippine Island Commission to the President of the United States. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1900-1946. Zaide, Gregorio. Documentary Sources of Philippine History. Manila: National Book Store, 1990.
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About the Author
A prominent name in Ilocandia politics, with a political career spanning more than three decades, Deogracias Victor “DV” B. Savellano rose from being vice mayor to vice governor and the top post as chief executive of the province (governor), leaving behind a trail of innovative programs designed to benefit and uplift the quality of life of his Ilocos Sur constituents... Now a congressman representing the First District of Ilocos Sur, among his more ambitious projects is the publication of a number of books that hark back to the province’s rich and colorful past, a veritable lode or inexhaustible source of background materials and references. “Ilocos Sur: An Almanac,” the latest in a series of books of documentation of which he was at the forefront, illustrates the extent of Savellano’s dedication and passion for history, and a belief that lessons learned from the past can serve as a blueprint for planning the present to move into the future. More lessons are still to be learned, in succeeding books that are still to be written.