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 15th 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 15th 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.
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