"BRIEF
HISTORY OF BANGUI
ILOCOS NORTE"
The first
inhabitants of
Bangui
were the Tinguians and Malays who settled in Bacruyen (meaning to carry) now
called Baruyen. Others moved to Bamban (split of bamboo) now called Banban.
The Spanish first started exploring the Ilocos Norte as early
as 1572, when a Spanish by the name of Salcedo made a famous trip up the coast
of
Luzon
. The Spanish introduced western culture to the people and converted them to
Christianity. Many churches were constructed some of which still stand.
In 1786, a Spanish merchant by the name of Francisco
Fernandez came to what is now known as
Bangui
and became its Gobernadorcillo. He organized the people into vigilantes toward
off Moro pirates (Muslim marauders from Mindanao) who periodically attacked the
coastal settlements of Luzon as evidenced by the destruction of a
Spanish
Church
in Taguiporo. These bands of fighters called themselves Bangi, borrowing the
name from a well known edible seaweed that grows abundantly in the area.
Consequently, the name Bangi was adopted by the Spanish as the official
name of the Municipality.
The Spanish were supplanted by the Americans at the start of
the 20th century in 1901. Upon their arrival in Bangi, they changed the spelling
of the Municipality to
Bangui
because it had a more euphonic sound.
The Americans built the first road from Laoag to Cagayan.
This road opened up trading opportunities by connecting the
Cagayan
Valleys
and the Ilocos Region. The Americans created barrios to further socio-economic
development, introduced the first teachers , and helped start a lumber industry
in Barrio Baruyen where they also mined gold, asbestos and manganese.
In 1940, the Japanese invaded the
Philippines
and for a period of approximately four years occupied the
Philippines
. Most of the people of
Bangui
evacuated to the mountains where some became guerilla fighters, while others
opened up a new farming industry.
July 4, 1945 after the
Philippines
regained freedom, a law passed in the American Congress granting Philippines
Independence. A few years after that in 1954, Pagudpud, a former barrio of Bangui,
was created as the town of Pagudpud under Executive Order No. 13 of 1953 by the
then President Ramon Magsaysay.