Banna (Espiritu) Ilocos Norte Philippines

History of Banna now Espiritu

Before the arrival of the Spaniards in the country, a village somewhere in the east was peopled by Tinggian hunters. The village was ruled by a brave and wise "chief named Bana and his wife, Ipana. The words of the ruler were the laws of the people. One time, Bana held a feast to celebrate his birthday, and all the settlers of the neighboring tribes were invited.

While the merrymaking was going on, a group of intruders attacked the tribe. Because the natives of the place were unprepared and had inferior arms, they were defeated. The chief, Bana, 'with some of his warriors fled to Bantay Paor, but were captured by the intruders. It was only the brave Bana who escaped. Since then, the people called the place Banna to honor their brave and wise ruler.

In 1960, a bill sponsored by Hon, Simeon Valdez, then congressman of the second district of Ilocos Norte, was approved by the Congress. They changed the, name of the town Banna to Espiritu in honor of Ex-Governor Santiago Espiritu, who was once a municipal president and governor of the province.

The town Banna is made up of 20 barangays, four of which are within the poblacion. These are barangays Valenciano, Hilario, Lorenzo, and Marcos.

The rural barangays. are the following: Nagpatayan, Bangsar, Bomitog, Quiaoit, Imelda, Macayepyep, Catagtaguen, Lading, Caestebanan, Sinamar, Valdez, Bugasi, Tabtabagan, Caribquib, Crispina, and Barbarangay.