Caoayan, Ilocos Sur
| Caoayan | |
|---|---|
| — Municipality — | |
 |
|
 Caoayan
|
|
| Coordinates: 17°32′N 120°24′E / 17.533°N 120.4°ECoordinates: 17°32′N 120°24′E / 17.533°N 120.4°E | |
| Country |  Philippines |
| Region | Ilocos Region (Region I) |
| Province | Ilocos Sur |
| District | 1st District |
| Founded | 1825 and 1911 |
| Barangays | 17 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Germelina S.Goulart (First Lady Mayor) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 17.42 km2 (6.73 sq mi) |
| Population (2007) | |
| • Total | 18,914 |
| • Density | 1,100/km2 (2,800/sq mi) |
| Time zone | PST (UTC+8) |
| ZIP code | 2702 |
| Income class | 4th class |
| Population Census of Caoayan | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | Rate | |
| 1995 | 15,799 |
|
|
| 2000 | 17,199 | 1.84% | |
| 2007 | 18,914 | 1.32% | |
Caoayan is a 4th class municipality in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 18,914 people in 3,533 households.
Contents |
[edit] Barangays
Caoayan is politically subdivided into 17 barangays.
|
|
[edit] The Origin of the Municipality's Name
During pre-Spanish times the port of Pandan was an important trading post for Chinese and interisland vessels, and one of the commodities once traded there was bamboo. With the arrival of the Spaniards came the project to identify the names of places in the Philippines. Spaniards, busy patrolling the area for pirates known as tirong, came to a place near the island called Puro, and asked the name of the place. Thinking that the Spaniards wanted to know the name of the bamboo floating in rafts on the Baggoc River waiting to be traded, they answered "kawayan." The Spaniard then listed the place's name as Caoayan.
From that time on, the place's registered name was Caoayan, and has been registered as a barrio of the capital town Bigaan. It became a parish in 1825.
[edit] Town's Foundation
Nestled close to Vigan, the provincial capital, is a thriving community by the China sea – the coastal of Caoayan , Ilocos Sur, with a total land area of 2,752 hectares. East of its flows Abra River; southeast of it are the friendly blue waters of China Sea. Its c. 18,000 inhabitants are simple, frugal and hardworking Ilocano.
It is traditionally narrated that once upon a time, some men from Abra came down to this place selling some pieces of bamboo. A Spanish soldier accosted the men and asked “ What place is this?”. The question was asked in the Spanish language. The Ilocanos thinking that the Spaniards was asking them what they are selling, answered “ Caoayan” meaning “bamboo”. Since then the story lives on this place and has been called “CAOAYAN”
Caoayan, which was once a barrio of Ciudad Fernandina, now Vigan, became a municipality in 1911. Don Dimas Querubin was the town’s Founder and got elected as the first municipal mayor. Today, the town has a total of seventeen (17) barangays. By its geographical location, fishing has been the main source of livelihood of the inhabitants. Next is agriculture where farmers planted onions, tomatoes, rice and corn bound. The town is also known for its loomweaving industry which dates back before Spanish regime.
Boat-sailing was one of the major industries of Caoayan but was eased out as means of transportation with the onset of modern highways especially those connecting the Ilocos provinces to Manila and the Cagayan Valley.
[edit] Trivia
- Elpidio Quirino, the 6th President of the Philippines, is a native of this town and was dubbed as the Town's Most Illustrious Son.
- The first missionaries that founded Saint Paul College of Ilocos Sur landed in Pandan. A commemorative marker stands at Pandan Port to commemorate the event.
[edit] External links
- Pasyalang Ilocos Sur
- Philippine Standard Geographic Code
- 1995 Philippine Census Information
- 2000 Philippine Census Information
- 2007 Philippine Census Information
- Local Governance Performance Management System
