Bangui Ilocos Norte Philippines

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.