Bangar, La Union

Bangar, La Union
Bangar, officially the Municipality of Bangar, is a 3rd class municipality in the province of La Union, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 38,041 people.
Etymology
The name Bangar derives from the bangar tree (Sterculia foetida), which was once abundant in the general area of the present town. The bangar tree is notable for the foul odor that emanates from its flowers.
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 the later part of 1500, when Bangar was still a visita (chapelry) of Tagudin, with a community of 2,800 inhabitants. 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 these materials were used as boat sails by European seamen. 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, the bark of trees and fruit were used to dye 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 part of the newly created province of La Union. Prior to this, Bangar, Purao (Balaoan) and Namacpacan (Luna) were part of Ilocos Sur. As the years passed by, barrios were formed.
Education during Spanish times consisted of learning the Cartilla and the abecedario. Roman Catholic religion was taught hand-in-hand with good manners. However, formal education was given to students belonging to the upper class. 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 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 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 with silver or gold, adorned their hair. The skirt, which was 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, hanging on the right side of the skirt tucked to her waistline, 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 obligatory for the Holy Mass. On the feet, the lady wore a zapatilla, usually half-heeled and 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.
US-styled education was implemented with the coming of the Americans in 1898. Education had a very high standard then, such that one who finished the fourth grade could teach those who were in the lower years.
The impact of World War II was first 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 canceled and churchgoers had to hurry home after the Holy Mass as they immediately prepared for evacuation. On December 20, 1941, the Japanese Army entered Bangar. They put up sentries along the national road and also had one at the Municipal building and another at the plaza. The Japanese occupation required all 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 distinguish peaceful citizens from guerrillas.
Sometime in 1944, on the day Bangar was celebrating the birthday of Emperor Hirohito with a program at the town plaza, a truckload 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.
The Underground Movement was very strong during the Japanese occupation of Bangar. Many residents joined the guerrillas, who 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. The arms that were supplied to the guerrillas landed at Paraoir and men had to carry bolos at nighttime.
The first Americans to reach Bangar during its liberation were a certain Captain Roberts with his men.
During the Northern Luzon Campaign, Filipino soldiers and guerrillas of the 121st Infantry Regiment, Philippine Commonwealth Army, USAFIP-NL are started the liberation campaign in Bangar in 1945 and helped by 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). Its agricultural products include rice, corn, sugar cane, peanuts, sweet potatoes, vegetables, and Virginia tobacco.
Geography
The northernmost town of La Union, alongside Sudipen, Bangar is also the smallest municipality in the province with an area of . It is bounded by the South China Sea to the west, Sudipen to the east, and Balaoan and Luna to the south-west. The Amburayan River flows to the north of Bangar, separating it from Tagudin, Ilocos Sur.
Bangar is from Metro Manila and from San Fernando, the provincial capital.
Barangays
Bangar is politically subdivided into 33 baranngays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
Agdeppa
Alzate
Bangaoilan East
Bangaoilan West
Barraca
Cadapli
Caggao
Central East No. 1 (Poblacion)
Central East No. 2 (Poblacion)
Central West No. 1 (Poblacion)
Central West No. 2 (Poblacion)
Central West No. 3 (Poblacion)
Consuegra
General Prim East
General Prim West
General Terrero
Luzong Norte
Luzong Sur
Maria Cristina East
Maria Cristina West
Mindoro
Nagsabaran
Paratong No. 3
Paratong No. 4
Paratong Norte
Quintarong
Reyna Regente
Rissing
San Blas
San Cristobal
Sinapangan Norte
Sinapangan Sur
Ubbog
Etymology of Barangay names
AgdeppaNotorious criminals were once often executed with their arms outstretched, and the place was thus called agdeppa, meaning outstretched arms.
AlzateNamed 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.
BangaoilanOnce called "Anonang", the town was renamed because of the abundance of a poisonous plant called bangaoil.
BarracaThis 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.
CadapliThis 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).
CaggaoNamed after a parasite called cagaw, which once infested the place.
LuzongThis place was formerly three sitio: Pideng, Butak, and Dalimuno. Quicksand in the area caused the disappearance of working animals, hence the name "Luzong", derived from the Ilocano word lusong ("stuck").
María CristinaIt 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".
MindoroThe 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.
NagsabaranThis name (meaning "place where [the road] branches out") was given to the place because the national road branched out to this barrio. The root word is sabar, meaning "to branch out".
ParatongThe old name was Libtong, which means "lagoon". During the Spanish Era, the prefix "lib" was changed into "para" which literally means "for".
QuintarongOnce 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).
Reyna RegenteThe 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.
RissingThe old name Pa-o was taken from a big tree in the area; when and how it became Rissing is unknown.
San BlasThe place was named after a man who was reputedly known for his wisdom and was named after Saint Blaise.
San CristobalNamed after the town's patron saint, Saint Christopher.
SinapanganNamed after the sapang tree which grew abundantly in the place.
UbbogThe term ubbog means "spring". Long ago, water would well up through the earth even with little effort.
Climate
Demographics
Population
According to the 2020 census, the population of Bangar, La Union, was 38,041 people, with a density of .
Catholicism
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
Economy
Government
Local government
Bangar, belonging to the first congressional district of the province of La Union, is governed by a mayor designated as its local chief executive and by a municipal council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code. The mayor, vice mayor, and the councilors are elected directly by the people through an election which is being held every three years.
Elected officials
Festivals
The feast of the patron saint of Bangar, St. Christopher, is celebrated every July 25.
The town fiesta of Bangar is celebrated every December 26 and 27.
The Abel-Panday festival was first celebrated during the 2005 town fiesta. However, it was discontinued, only for it to be revived during the 2008 fiesta.
Places of interest
Saint Christopher Church – construction was started in 1696 by Fr. Francisco Alvear, a 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 – was built by Fr. Evaresto Guadalupe sometime between 1866 and 1887.
Amburayan River – the setting of the Ilocano epic Biag ni Lam-ang, penned by the poet Pedro Bucaneg
Imelda Cultural Stage – a project done by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos, through the sponsorship of his Minister of Tourism Jose D. Aspiras and constructed by Engr. Bernardo Vergara, then General Manager of the Philippine Tourism Authority
Paratong Beach - located at the western part of the town. Locals experience the sunset view over the West Philippine Sea while enjoying the food served by emerging local restaurants in the vicinity.
Education
The town has 16 public elementary schools, two national high schools, a private school (offering complete pre-elementary, elementary, and high school education), one specialized high school, one technical-vocational school, and one tertiary school.
Public Elementary schools
Ag-Na Elementary School
Bangaoilan Elementary School
Bangar Central School
Cadapli Elementary School
Caggao Elementary School
Gen. Prim Elementary School
Luzong Norte Elementary School
Luzong Sur Elementary School
Ma. Cristina Elementary School
Paratong Elementary School
Pudoc Elementary School
Rissing Elementary School
RUS Elementary School
Sinapangan Elementary School
Ter-Con Elementary School
Public High Schools
Dona Francisca Lacsamana de Ortega Memorial National High School
Casacristo National High School
Regional Science High School for Region 1
Mindoro Integrated School
Luzong Sur Integrated School
Private Schools
Saint Christopher Academy – the oldest school in Bangar, founded in 1945
Saint Bernard College La Union – the only integrated school and Accredited TESDA training center in Bangar offering Basic Education, Secondary Education (Senior High School Free tuition) & tertiary education.
Philippine Bethel Blessed Christian Academy
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 specializes 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, located at Barangay Rissing.
Notable personalities
John Leo Dato – is a Filipino-American professional boxer born in Rissing, Bangar, La Union.
Gallery
References
External links
[ Philippine Standard Geographic Code]
Philippine Census Information
Local Governance Performance Management System
Municipalities of La Union