"BRIEF HISTORY OF PASUQUIN ILOCOS NORTE"
There are conflicting
versions on the founding of the town. However, old records show that the town
was established as early as 1874.
It is said that the thick forest in Pasuquin was once
inhabited by a tribe of uncivilized people known as Itneg. Even today, there are
still a few of them living in the forests, which have remained untouched by
modern civilization.
As early as the 17th century, the Itnegs came down and
settled east of the present site of Pasuquin. when these Itnegs increased
in number, they formed a community of their own. They were the first inhabitants
of the town.
On the other hand, some claim that the first settlers of
Pasuquin were groups of wandering and uncivilized people known as the Ibaliws.
They say that these Ibaliws pitched camp in the old site of Pasuquin. The
present site was formerly a place thickly covered by vegetation, but when the
mountain people came down to the lowlands, they drove the Ibaliws away. The
place vacated by the Ibaliws was then called Nagrebcan (the place of the
vanquished).
The word Ibaliws was in time changed to Ibaho, a family name
that is now well known in the town.
Somehow, other people began to group themselves and those
forming one group used names which distinguished their group from the rest,
Thus, Cariaga Josue, Aguirre, and other names came into being. Later the
Spaniards baptized some of the inhabitants and gave them names like Luna and
Aguinaldo -Their descendants are now prominent people in the town.
Origin of Its Name
There are two conflicting theories regarding the origin of
the name of the town. One indicates miscommunication between the Spaniards and
the natives, It is said that when the Spaniards were in the province, they asked
the Jtnegs in the place to help them find a better place where they could
settle; A peg was driven somewhere by one of the natives. Then the Spaniards
asked, "Donde esta el sitio?" (where is the place? ). The natives
answered "Pasuk Oni," which meant the place of the peg." The
Spaniards misunderstood their answer. They thought they were telling the name of
the place, Pasukin. From then on the town was called Pasuquin.
On the other hand, there are those who claim that before the
coming of the Augustinian friars, 'there were already people living in the
place. At that time also there was a war between the lowland natives and the
Kalanasari Yapayao tribe, After the war, they traded with each other, During
this time the Chinese pirates invaded many places and stole the properties' of
the rich natives. The natives devised a sort of warning signal by kindling the
fire called paasok (asok means smoke ;paasok means something that gives out
smoke).
One summer, the Chinese pirates attacked the place. Because
of this, the people resolved to form a community. To protect the people, an Apo
Lakay (an old man who was recognized as head of the place) appointed a wanawan
(watchman) to stay on watch. Upon seeing the invaders, he would kindle a paasok
to warn the people and to call all the males to fight the invaders. The place
where smoke was produced was just below the hrn where the wanawan stayed.
When the Spaniards arrived at the place, one of the friars
asked: "Donde esta el sitio?" (where is the place?). The people
answered, "Aqui Seflor, esta el Paasoken." (Here, sir. This is tire
place where we make smoke). when the community was established, the place was
called Pacisoken or Ibsoken and later Pasuquin.