Bangar, La Union

Bangar
Municipality
Balay Dagiti Umili Bangar, La Union
Seal
Map of La Union showing the location of Bangar
Country	Philippines
Region	Ilocos (Region I)
Province	La Union
District	1st District
Founded	1700
Barangays	33
Area
• Total	37.36 km2 (14.42 sq mi)
Population  (2010)
• Total	34,522
• Density	920/km2 (2,400/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	2519
Dialing code	72
Income class	3rd class
Website	Bangar, La Union

Bangar is a third class municipality in the province of La Union, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 34,522 people.

Etymology

The name Bangar (pronounced: Bang-gar) is derived from the bangar tree (pronounced ba- ngar; Sterculia foetida), which were once abundant in the general area of the present town. The bangar is notable for the foul odour that emanates from its flowers.

Barangay names

• Agdeppa - Notorious criminals were once often executed with their arms outstretched, and the place was thus called agdeppa, meaning outstretched arms.
• Alzate - named after a Spanish colonial officer called General Alzate, who manned the garrison in that place against the local revolucionarios. It is said that the Amburayan River which partly flowed through Bangar was a favourite swimming hole for Spaniards and the early illustrados.
• Bangaoilan - Once called "Anonang", the town was renamed because of the abundance of a poisonous plant called bangaoil.
• Barraca - This barrio was formed from the two sitio of Binyadura and Nagpalcan. Barraca was adopted as the common name after residents of both hamlets signed a pact to end a violent feud between them.
• Cadapli - This was taken from the Ilokano words cadcadapa ("crawling") and apli ("mat"). This name was adopted after several robbers hiding in the forests near this barrio were caught whilst sleeping on straw mats (apli). They were then severely flogged and punished until they were left crawling (cadapa).
• Caggao - Named after a parasite called cagaw, which once infested the place.
• Luzong - This place was formerly three sitio: Pideng, Butak and Dalimuno. Quicksand caused the disappearance of working animals has been found in the area, hence the name "Luzong", which was derived from the Ilocano word lusong ("stuck").
• María Cristina - It is said that a visiting American once asked the village's name from a beautiful girl. Thinking that the stranger was asking for her name, the maiden answered "María Cristina".
• Mindoro - The name was derived from the Spanish Minas de oro ("gold mine"). At that time there were gold dust and nuggets in the river beside the village, and people used to pan these and sell them to the rich. General Alzate gave the village its present name.
• Nagsabaran - This name was given to the place because the national road branched out to that barrio. "Nagsabaran" means "place where [the road] branches out."
• Paratong - The old name was Libtong, which means "lagoon". During the Spanish Era, the prefix "lib" was changed into "para" which literally means "for".
• Quintarong - Once named "Daya ti Sabangan" ("east of the mouth of the river"), the place was a reputed hideout of native pirates called tirong whom villagers often saw running after one another ("kinnamat" in Ilocano). The present name now is "Quintarong".
• Reyna Regente - The village was named after a certain pre-Colonial queen who once ruled the area. Called Reyna Regente by later generations, it is said that she was ruthless. Her unnamed youngest daughter succeeded her, and unlike her mother was a wise and benevolent monarch.
• Rissing - The old name Pa-o was taken from a big tree in the area; when and how it become Rissing is unknown.
• San Blas - The place was named after a man who was reputedly known for his wisdom and was named after Saint Blaise.
• San Cristobal - Named after the town's patron saint, Saint Christopher.
• Sinapangan - Named after the sapang tree which grew abundantly in the place.
• Ubbog - The term "ubbog" means "spring". Long ago, water would well up through the earth even with little effort.

Geography

The northernmost town of La Union, alongside Sudipen, Bangar is also the smallest municipality in the province with an area of 3,736 hectares (9,230 acres). It is bounded by the South China Sea to the west, Sudipen to the east and Balaoan and Luna to the southwest. The Amburayan River flows to the north of Bangar, separating it from Tagudin, Ilocos Sur.

History

1700 marked the official foundation of Bangar under the patronage of Saint Christopher when it became a mission field. However, Christianity was brought as early as in the later part of 1500 when Bangar was still a visita (chapelry) of Tagudin, with a community of 2,800 inhabitants already in existence. The highly skilled, industrious and peace-loving people were primarily engaged in rice and cotton planting. The beautiful and sturdy handwoven products made by the women of that time even found their way to Europe and it was said that some of this materials were used as boat sails by the European sailors. Among the more famous handwoven products made by them were blankets bearing different designs, clothing materials and mosquito nets. Since chemicals for coloring were very scarce those days, bark of trees and fruits were used to dye all those handwoven products.

The old town was made of three "pueblitos" (small towns) namely: Villa-Cruz, San Rafael and San Anastacio. Near these "pueblitos" were small communities of "Igorotes Infieles" who paid tribute to the Governor.

Through the "Superior Decreto" (Executive Decree) signed by Governor General Antonio Maria Blanco on March 2, 1850, the town of Bangar was made a part of the newly created province of La Union . Before that Bangar, Purao (Balaoan) and Namacpacan (Luna) were part of Ilocos Sur. As years passed by, barrios were formed.

Education during Spanish times consisted of the learning of the "Cartilla" and the "abecedario". Roman Catholic Religion was taught hand in hand with good manners. However, formal education was being taught to students belonging to the higher class of the society. Spanish social life had greatly affected the "Indios" and in no time, Castilian manners were very evident among them.

The social class of an individual was easily distinguished by the kind of attire one wore. Male peasants were distinguished by their simple "camisa de chino" and loose pants tied to the waist by braided strings. Female peasants wore simple loose blouses and ankle length skirts, with a "camison," made from cotton fabric, worn underneath. The peasantry were usually barefooted, and if there was anything worn on the feet, it was the "kammadang" (wooden shoes) or a pair of slippers.

Men of the upper class of society were distinguished by the barong and "camisa de chino" made of fine fabric, and trousers cut in the western style. He wore socks and leather shoes and on the head was a hat which was usually plumed. A walking cane in various styles and colors and encased in gold, silver or bronze was indispensable. He never smoked without using a pipe.

The upper class lady was very fastidious. She had her hair done in a brushed up coiffure. They curled their hair by using the stem of the papaya leaf and iron rod which was heated over burning charcoal. However, so much care was given in using this method. Other women preferred to tie their hair in curls in the evening and untie it in the morning. Ladies wore the "Maria Clara" or the camisa with embroidered and stitched butterfly sleeves and matching "panuelo". They used "alfiler" (pins) made of gold or silver. A comb called "peineta," usually fan shaped and encrusted on silver or gold, adorned their hair. The skirt, which is usually billowy, was made from very fine fabric from China. Underneath she wore a long "camison" and over it the "nuagas." The outer skirt was still topped by beautiful imported lace. A perfumed fan and a big handkerchief trimmed with lace and hanging on the right side of the skirt tucked to her waist line was part of the attire. On Sundays and holidays of obligation, a "mantilla" made of lace which covered the head down to the waist and tucked to the hair by a gold pin was a must for the Holy Mass. On the feet, the lady wore a "zapatilla," usually half heeled, adorned with artificial rhinestones. A gold pendant hanging from a gold necklace around the neck was also part of the attire. The "tamborine," a gold necklace with intricate designs was also worn on special days.

American type of education was implemented with the coming of the Americans in 1898. Education had a very high standard back then that one who finishes the fourth grade could teach those who are in the lower years.

The beginning of World War II was felt in Bangar on December 8, 1941, the feast of the Immaculate Conception. A lantern competition which was sponsored by Rev. Jose Brillantes, the parish priest, was hastily cancelled and the church goers had to hurry home after the Holy Mass as they immediately prepare for evacuation.

On December 20, 1941, the Japanese Army enters Bangar. They put up sentries along the national road and they had one at the Municipal building and another at the plaza. The Japanese occupation required all the citizens to display and pin small Japanese flags outside the pocket of the shirt or blouse with the name of the holder written in Japanese. According to them, this was to distinguished peaceful citizens from guerrillas.

During the part of 1944, on the day Bangar was celebrating the birthday of Emperor Hirohito with a program at the town plaza, a truck load of Japanese soldiers arrived with a lone Filipino who was said to have been captured somewhere in Bacnotan. It was told that the Japanese took the Filipino behind the southern school building and ordered him to dig what was to be his own grave. Upon sensing that his hours on earth were counted, the Filipino suddenly grabbed and unsheathed the sword of an officer who was standing nearby and in one hit motion with the sword, the officer almost got beheaded. This stunned the Japanese soldiers and the Filipino was able to escape unhurt. The whole town was gripped in terror, since this would mean Japanese reprisals.

On December 28, 1944, the Japanese burned many houses in the town proper and raided the camp of the guerrillas in barrio San Cristobal.

Underground movement was very strong during the Japanese occupation of Bangar. Many residents joined the guerrillas which had put up camps in San Cristobal. Further in the mountains at Lonoy, they also joined Camp "121". Colonel Volkman and Major Agtarap led the guerrilla movement. Arms which are supplied to guerrillas landed at Paraoir and men had to carry bolos during night time.

The first Americans to reach Bangar during the liberation were a certain Captain Roberts with his men.

During the Northern Luzon Campaign, Filipino soldiers of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and units of the 2nd, USAFFE 11th, 12th, 13th, 15th and 16th Infantry Divisions and the USAFIP-NL 121st Infantry Regiment started the liberation campaign in Bangar in 1945 and helped guerrilla resistance fighters and the U.S. liberation forces against Japanese Imperial Army forces towards the end of the war.

Today, Bangar is known for its handwoven cloth called abel and blacksmithing (panday). Agricultural products include rice, corn, sugar cane, peanuts, sweet potatoes, vegetables, and Virginia tobacco.

Spanish-era curates of Bangar

• Rev Francisco de Alvear, OSA - 1696-1698
• Rev Manuel Miranda, OP - 1805-1809
• Rev Benito Tesauro, OSA - 1853-1864
• Rev Evaresto Guadalupe, OSA - 1866-1887

Demographics

Population census of Bangar

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1990	25,966	—
1995	28,374	+1.68%
2000	31,491	+2.26%
2007	33,335	+0.79%
2010	34,522	+1.28%
Source: National Statistics Office

Barangays/Districts

Bangar has 33 barangays; 4 are coastal barangays, namely Paratong Norte, 3 and 4 and Mindoro, an island barangay; 11 barangays are along the Amburayan River, namely Bangaoilan East and West, Gen. Prim East and West, Maria Cristina East and West, Consuegra, Gen. Terrero, Alzate, Quintarong and Caggao. Barangay Rissing is the largest barangay in Bangar in terms of land area and population. The different barangays of Bangar are grouped into 9 districts, as follows:

Barangay	District	Population (May 1, 2000)	Population (August 1, 2007)	Population (May 1, 2010)
Agdeppa	Ag-Na	976	1,110	1,148
Alzate	ABCQM	890	1,034	1,198
Bangaoilan East	GenPriBa	953	997	1,049
Bangaoilan West	GenPriBa	825	890	865
Barraca	ABCQM	1,168	1,158	1,154
Cadapli	CadaLuSan	1,296	1,423	1,361
Caggao	ABCQM	103	141	170
Consuegra	TerConMaCris	1,192	1,243	1,334
General Prim East	GenPriBa	835	849	834
General Prim West	GenPriBa	1,300	1,466	1,491
General Terrero	TerConMaCris	729	867	939
Luzong Norte	CadaLuSan	1,136	1,208	1,276
Luzong Sur	CadaLuSan	906	856	901
Maria Cristina East	TerConMaCris	897	847	869
Maria Cristina West	TerConMaCris	1,064	1,081	1,013
Mindoro	ABCQM	1,486	1,451	1,570
Nagsabaran	Ag-Na	1,096	1,232	1,335
Paratong Norte	Paratong	1,256	1,388	1,508
Paratong No. 3	Paratong	913	949	1 019
Paratong No. 4	Paratong	722	750	777
Central East No. 1 (Poblacion)	Centro	435	503	478
Central East No. 2 (Poblacion)	Centro	1,088	994	1,087
Central West No. 1 (Poblacion)	Centro	480	527	514
Central West No. 2 (Poblacion)	Centro	639	657	586
Central West No. 3 (Poblacion)	Centro	612	633	612
Quintarong	ABCQM	1,074	1,014	1,086
Reyna Regente	RUS	875	904	1,028
Rissing	SinapRis	1,959	2,308	2,279
San Blas	RUS	1,080	1,242	1,230
San Cristobal	CadaLuSan	725	735	743
Sinapangan Norte	SinapRis	930	976	1,000
Sinapangan Sur	SinapRis	776	778	758
Ubbog	RUS	1,075	1,124	1,310

Education

The town has 16 public elementary schools, 2 national high schools, 1 private school offering complete pre-elementary, elementary, and high school, 1 specialized high school, 1 technical-vocational school, and 1 tertiary school.

Public Elementary schools:

1. Ag-Na Elementary School
2. Bangaoilan Elementary School
3. Bangar Central School
4. Cadapli Elementary School
5. Caggao SRlementary School
6. Gen. Prim Elementary School
7. Luzong Norte Elementary School
8. Luzong Sur Elementary School
9. Ma. Cristina Elementary School
10. Mindoro Integrated School
11. Paratong Elementary School
12. Pudoc Elementary School
13. Rissing Elementary School
14. RUS Elementary School
15. Sinapangan Elementary School
16. Ter-Con Elementary School

Public High Schools:

1. Dona Francisca Lacsamana de Ortega Memorial National High School
2. Casacristo National High School

Private Schools:

1. St. Christopher Academy - founded in 1945, it is the oldest school in Bangar, La Union.
2. St. Bernard College of Health Service - is the only school in Bangar, La Union offering tertiary level.

Specialized School:

• Regional Science High School for Region I - a magnet school established during the school year 1994-1995 by virtue of DECS Order No. 69,s.1993. The school, with a curriculum that specialize in science and research (different from Special Science Program/ Engineering and Science Education Program schools) is operated and supervised by the Department of Education.

Vocational schools:

• TSI Technical Institute - the only technical/vocational school in Bangar. It is located in Rissing, Bangar, La Union.

Festivals

• The patron saint of Bangar is St. Christopher. Bangarenos celebrates the feast of their patron saint every July 25.

• Town fiesta of Bangar is celebrated every December 26 and 27.

• Abel-Panday festival was first celebrated during 2005 town fiesta of Bangar. However, the festival was discontinued. It is continued again last December 2008, during the town fiesta.

Places of interest

• Saint Christopher Church - construction was started in 1696 by Fr. Francisco Alvear, a learned Spanish Augustinian priest born in Liaño, Santander, Spain who died in Bangar in 1698. It is the only church with three bell towers.
• Saint Christopher Convent - It was built by Fr. Francisco Guadalupe sometimes between 1866-1887. It is still stands up to the present.
• Amburayan River - the setting of the Ilocano epic "Biag ni Lam-ang" penned by the Prince of Ilokano Poet, Pedro Bucaneg.
• Imelda Cultural Stage - A gift to the art-loving people of Bangar by the former president of the Philippines, His Excellency Ferdinand E. Marcos through the sponsorship of the former Minister of Tourism Hon. Jose D. Aspiras and constructed by Engr. Bernardo Vergara then General Manager of the Philippine Tourism Authority.

External links

• Pasyalan La Union
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Local Governance Performance Management System