"BRIEF HISTORY OF DINGRAS ILOCOS NORTE"
As
in other communities, the town of
In the early times, there were two prosperous barangays in
the present site of the town each one ruled by a powerful chief or datu. They
were bitter and mortal enemies. Naslag was the powerful chief of the barangay
north of the river while Allawigan was the chief of the south of the river. One
day, Allawigan and his warriors went to hunt. Ras, his son, was the bravest
among them. During the hunt, Ras followed the deer, which went north across the
river. While he was watching the fleeing deer, he saw a beautiful damsel
gathering wild flowers on the opposite side of the riverbank. She was Ding, the
daughter of Naslag. To help the lady, Ras gathered the most beautiful flowers
near him; put them at the head of his arrow and shoot near the lady’s feet.
Ding looked at the other side of the river and waved her hands. Ras went home
happily.
Ras begged his father for permission to win Ding for his
wife. But because the fathers of Ding and Ras were bitter enemies, the only way
he could win her was in the open battle fiercely fought between the two tribes.
Ras led his father’s warriors. They fought valiant and came out victorious in
the end. Ras asked for Ding as a prize but Naslag refused. This angered him and
hurled a challenge to the bravest warrior of Naslag in single combat with Ding
as prize. The challenge was accepted. The combat was fought, and again, Ras was
victorious. He brought Ding triumphantly to Allawigan, his father. Thereafter,
the people named the two barangays Dingras, after Ras, their valiant
warrior ruler, and Ding, his beautiful wife.