MAP OF PIDDIG

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https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzfsqSl-dilRTm1BVzhNOHFjaGc/edit

PIDDIG AS DESCRIBED FROM THE ILOCOS NORTE OFFICIAL PORTAL

http://ilocosnorte.gov.ph/piddig/

PIDDIG

About the Seal

Shield, derived from the Provincial seal of Ilocos Norte

Harp, manifest the love of music of the Piddiguenos

Quill Pen, denotes the Piddiguenos exemplary contribution to Ilocano Literature

Sugar Cane, the source of wine locally produced by the municipality; it also denotes the bountiful glory and success of the famous men of Piddig

Eastern Jar, stands for local wine production prohibited by the Spaniards which led to the famous Piddig Basi Revolt of 1807

Brief History

Piddig is bounded on the west partly by Laoag City and partly by the town of Sarrat; on the north by the Municipality of Vintar; on the south by the town of Solsona and on the east by the Municipality of Carasi. The town occupies an area of 121.33 square kilometres. Despite its proximity to Laoag City, Piddig is sparsely populated. It had a population of 17,797 in 1995.

Piddig is picturesquely spread on the crests and slopes of rolling hills between the Guisit and Baramban rivers. Because of it hilly position, the people called Pidipid which was later changed to Piddig.

The area of what is now Piddig was probably a part of Batak, which was established by the Augustinians on January 15, 1585. It was subsequently elevated into a visita when Dingras was made into a ministry. Finally, it was established as a parish in 1775.

In 1762, the Spanish authorities conscripted the skilled native archers of Piddig known as theTingguian, in the pursuit of Gabriela Silang and her troops who led and continued the armed rebellion after the treacherous death of her husband, Diego Silang. Gabriela was overpowered by the Piddig pursuers and was brought to Vigan where was hanged in October 1763.

During the Philippine Revolution, Piddig was occupied by the revolutionary forces of General Manuel Tinio in August 1898. In Filipino-American War that was to follow, the town became a part of the operational area of Bishop Aglipay’s guerrillas. In 1902, Aglipay established the Philppine Independent Church.

At the height of the World War  II, Piddig an dthe surrounding towns became the strong hold of guerrilla resistance against the occuping Japanese forces in Ilocos Norte. It was also in this town that the 15^th Infantry USAFFE-NL was formed. This command was responsible for the liberation of the Ilocos Region from the Japanese. Piddig was also made the military capital of Ilocos Norte when the 21^st Infantry was stationed there during the early part of war.

Piddig is home to Sgt. Teofilo Ildefonso, a great swimmer and a war hero. A monument has been erected to honor him. The town is also the birthplace of Claro Caluya, the prince of Ilocos poets.

Piddig is basically an agricultural town. Its primary crops are rice, garlic, tobacco, sugarcane, and a variety of vegetables. Its chief cottage industry, which dates back to the Spanish Era, is weaving cloth. The place is known for its blankets, bathrobes, towels, bedsheets, pillows and clothings. The town’s suaco (cigar pipe) is greatly admired for its tide industry.

LEGEND OF THE BARANGAYS OF PIDDIG

1.                  CABAROAN

Long, long time ago when the Spaniards were still in Piddig, they made a census in the place to find to find its population. They found out that there are more males than females. So they named it Cabaroan meaning many boys.

2.                  ANAO

When December comes, the entire place is covered with fog which makes the people afraid to walk especially in the morning. Because of this rounded moist, people called it linnaaw, meaning foggy.

3.                  LOING

The people of this barrio were fond of playing violin. Many of them begun to play starting from the lower do. The word Loing derived from the word high and low pitch.

4.                  BIMMANGA
 According to legend, this barangay has been called Bimmanga because it resembles to a clay pot floating on the water.   But when the Spaniards came, the place was called Bayog.  Today, Bayog  is just a sitio of Barangay Bimmanga.

During the Spanish rule, the town officials were very cruel. The laws were very stiff and anyone that violates them are beheaded. The head is then placed on top of bamboo poles erected and the people are called on to witness how they are prosecuted once they don’t comply with the laws.

And since it is in this place where beheading of the town’s law breakers is done, people  know it better as “Bayog” instead of “Bimmanga”. .Bayog is a word meaning raise  since the heads of the criminals are raised in bamboo poles. 

5.                  MANGITAYAG

There was a mass held in this place. When the priest raised the blessed body of Christ, the people were surprised. Whenever the priest raised the blessed body of Christ, the people say “mangitayag” which later became the name of the place.

6.                  TONOTON

This barrio is good and safe to live in. Neighboring barrios want to own a lot from here. Many of them claiming the lot of their grandfather. Later on the people named this place tonoton which was derived from the word agtonton meaning claiming.

7.                  SUCSUQUEN

This barrio is woody and hilly. Most of it is covered with big trees. In this place, the people have enemies from neighboring barrios. Whenever the enemies attack the people hide themselves in the forest. Sucsuquen is derived from the word agsuksuk meaning hide

8.                  TANGAOAN

The Spaniards at that time were going from one place to another looking for a place to live in. On their way they saw a group of boys who were gambling. One of the Spaniards asked the name of the barrio.  Unfortunately the boys cannot understand Spanish language, so they just continued playing.  One of the boys shouted tanga, the other shouted awan.  The Spaniards put the two words together and named the place Tangaoan.

9.                  AB-ABUT

The main occupation of Piddig is basi making. They used to dig holes under their house to keep the jars full of basi. The more jars, the more holes were made. This barrio was named ab-abut because of the holes.

10.              ARUA-AY

It is an expression of the people in this barrio  “aruy” followed by a sigh which is “ay” The words were put together and became the name of this barrio.

11.              LAGANDIT

Years ago, there was a woman carrying a basket made of bamboo. On her way, she met a Spanish soldier who asked her the name of the barrio. Since the woman cannot understand his language she just thought that he was asking her name  and of the basket. The woman said “laga” as she pointed the basket and “Andit” as she pointed herself.  The soldier named the place lagandit.

12.              MAAB-ABACA

Most of the grass that grows in this barrio is bakbaka, a grass that is used for catching mollusks or shells. The word later on changed to maab-abaca which was finally used as the name of this barrio.

13.              LIBNAOAN

A young woman was married to an American. Most of the foods that they eat were vegetables. The American cannot survive with the vegetables only and so they quarreled occasionally. The woman could only say “leave me now” the only words she learned from him every time they quarrel. The people who always hear the word could not understand but kept on babbling “libnaoan” which later on became the name of the place.

14.              CALAMBEG

This place is very calm. The people are very industrious. Most of the trees that grew in this place is labig.  The leaves of the plant is used by farmers for raincoat. Because there’s no name for the place, the people put together the word calm and labig into calambeg and became the name of the place.

15.              MARUAYA

There are many birds in the place and most of which is maya. When the birds are in the fields, the boy shouted maya!  Maya, naruayda!. The people later on coined the word “maruaya” and became the name of the place

16.              GAYAMAT

There were many centipedes in this place which the Itnegs called them gayaman. The people then were looking for a name which is suited for the place. The people were called in a meeting to decide the name of the place. When they begun mentioning names, one man saw the insect and shouted “gayaman!, gayaman!” The people did not find hard to select a name for the place because they adapted the word gayamat from the word gayaman.

17.              DUPITAC

Earlier, the people named their place “napitac” which means muddy.  But later on, they changed the name into “dupitac”

18.              ESTANCIA

Long, long time ago there were two lovers in that place, named Tanto and Tancia. Their relationship did not last long.  For both parents were not in favor. Because Tancia was deeply in love with Tanto. The people mourned for them and to honor the two lovers, the people named the place estancia.

19.              ABUCAY

This barrio has many bucay, a medicinal vine which is used by the mothers to wean their child because of its bitterness. Everybody knows the use of this vine. The taste is pungent. When the mother wants to wean her child, she just put the juice extracted from the vine into the nipple of her breast. After the baby tasted it that will be the time the baby will refuse to such the nipple of her mother. Because there was no name for the place, the people named the place abucay, derived from the vine makabukay.

20.              CALLUZA

There was a Spaniard who lost his way going to the east. On his way, he met an old woman who was very afraid of him. The Spaniard asked the name of the place. Since she cannot understand Spanish she called out her sister Luisa. She shouted: Ca Luisa! Ca Luisa. Then the Spaniard named the place Calluza.

21.              STA. MARIA

The place was named in honor of the Virgin Mary.

22.              BOYBOY

            There was a wedding feast that was held in the barrio. One of the guests is an American. When they finished eating, the American wants to drink, an old woman gave him a boyoboy, a coconut shell used for drinking instead of a glassware. |The American was very surprised. When he arrived in his boarding house, he told his daughter about the boyoboy. Then the girl named the place into boyboy.

23.              SAN ANTONIO

                 It was named in honor of San Antonio. However, the place was created during the term of    Congressman Antonio Raquiza. Raquiza is a native of Piddig and own sizeable tract of rice lands in that place. It was believed that the name of the place is derived from his name since it was him who filed the bill in congress creating the barangay.

PIDDIG:THE MONUMENT OF UNSUNG HEROES - Rudy Evans Calixto

Piddig, mounted on “twin peaks” is a town of two hills, one is Bantay Calvario (Mount Calvary) where the municipal hall named “Capitol Hill” is located. And the other named “cathedral hill” on which perched the Catholic Church.

            It is flanked by two rivers – one of them is the “Dingris River” west of the town which, during the early thirties, had deep waters that served as the training ground for a great Piddigueño athlete and one time, Filipino athlete of the year. He was Teofilo Ildefonso, who placed the Philippines in the world map when he won bronze medal in swimming event, 100 meters free style in the Berlin Olympics.

            In the early days, Piddig was, as it has always been, famous for its natural beauty seen in the trees, flowers, rolling grounds and other gifts of nature that produced famed poets, dancers, singers, musicians and artists. Among the men of letters and music were Guillermo Flores, Pascual Agcaoili, Florencio Castro, Prof. Saturnino Foronda and children, Juan Pandaraoan, Prof. Manuel Castueras and Meliton Guzman, but the most celebrated of them all was the late Claro Caluya, who is nationally known for two famous works, namely; a song entitled “Bannatiran” and his vernacular version of Rizal’s “Mi Ultimo Adios”, which according to local historian and scholar, Emilio Alvarez, is recognized as the best Ilokano translation.

            Piddig in the past was also recognized for the beauty of its women, among whom was Julia Agcaoili (Mrs. Julia Martinez), chosen as Miss Philippines in the second Philippine carnival of 1916. Her father, Don Julio Agcaoili, was the second Gobernador Civil of Ilocos Norte during the   closing years of the Spanish regime. Another relative of world-renowned   is Engr. Justino Villaseñor, donor of the Community Hospital and Health Center (CHHC) with complete facilities in Piddig, Ilocos Norte. This hospital now is being looked upon as a reservoir for life in cases of emergency, especially to the masses who cannot afford to go to Laoag for treatment

            In the country’s war history, Piddig played a satellite role for it was the military capital of the province in two wars- The Filipino-American War of 1898 and World War 2. It was here where the 15^th Infantry, United States Armed Forces of the Philippines, North Luzon (USAFIP NL  for short) was organized and the seat of the high command of the resistance movement. The 15^th Infantry was composed of freedom loving Ilokanos who liberated the Province of Ilocos Norte, the northern part of Ilocos Sur and theProvince of Abra. It participated in the Battle of Bessang Pass which marked the fiercest battle against the Japanese Army in the whole Southeast Pacific.

            The victory of the USAFIP NL  at the Pass spelled the total defeat of the Japanese war machine in the Philippines leading to the downfall and capture of Supreme Commander General Yamashita known as the Tiger of Malaysia”

            Piddig is known in history for the famous “Basi” Rebellion in 1807. In his book, former President Marcos said: “The Basi Revolt, a full-scale war mounted by folks in Piddig, Ilocos Norte, against the Spaniards in 1807. The unique revolt was in defense of basi, a potent wine fermented from sugarcane juice, which along with tobacco was a major product of the Ilocos Region. Its brunt fell on the individual’s livelihood. The basi warriors were crushed, but their courage served as a fine example to the people from other regions, where pocket revolts against Spanish authority soon broke out”

            Indeed the Basi revolt of Piddig as depicted in graphic sketch of the war as displayed in the lobby of the Batasang Pambansa occupies the same degree of importance as the duel between Lapu-lapu and Magellan in Mactan, that of  Sultan Kudarat, execution of Rizal and the Katipuneros headed by Andres Bonifacio.

            If there is any town that suffered most in the war of liberation during World War 2, it was Piddig. Because of it’s strategic location for purposes of security and proximity to the coastal towns of Ilocos Norte, Piddig was center of evacuation  particularly the people of Sarrat, Laoag and other towns. The Piddigenos did not only welcome the refugees with open arms but shared with them the scanty food they have. But when the guerilla, soldiers and civilians numbering by the thousands settled in Piddig for about six months waiting preparationfor war that liberated Ilocos Norte, the people gave not only the food they had like rice, livestock, beans, salt until they had nothing for themselves.

            Exhausted with hunger, weakened by disease and demoralized by frequent executions both by the Japanese and by the guerillas themselves of the so called “spies” worried by the frequent raid by the Japanese, people without number died everyday. But the saddest moment of Piddig was when the full force of the Japanese Army in Ilocos Norte raided Piddig at night in December 1944 killing hundreds of people, and burned the whole town. The fire was so thorough and complete that after the conflagration, the whole town was turned into ashes and rubbles. No building or construction of any kin including pigpens, chicken cages or fences remained. And if it were not for the Catholic Church standing in ruins, strangers would not know whether the fire site was previously an inhabited town or not.