Burgos La Union
Long before and during its inception into a municipal district, crystal clear
water big springs and creeeks continuously flow in thc place making most of its
area swampy, so much so that early natives of the place have to roll-up their
pants when they travel by foot. The natives then called the "Desdes" or "disdis"
(a Nabaloi term, meaning to roll-up pants or sleeves). The name of the place
might have been backed- up by the low landers who later came and lived within
the area, as "desdes' in Iloko means "big spring". Disdis then extended from
Ribsuan (now a part of Naguilian, La Union) up to Sabdang (Now Sablan, Benguet).
When the Spaniards extended their occupation in Northern Luzon, they named the
Southwestern part as Rancheria Disdis and the Southwestern part as Rancheria
Gallano because wild animals were plentiful in the area.
During thc American Regime in 1903, Rancheria Disdis was created into a
municipal district of La Union. Tabano, a well-known native of the place was
appointed "presidente". However, in the year 1900, the boundary line between La
Union and Benguet was changed as provided for under Section 44 of Executive
Order No.11 , a reproduction of thc revised Administrntive Code of 1917, of then
Governor General James Smith. So, that the Municipal District of Disdis, La
Union was annexed to Benguet.
Again, the boundary line delineated in Section 44 of Executive Order No.11,
series of 1909 was abolished and modified by Section 2 of Act Number 2877,
series of 1920 of which in the absence of any law that supersedes, amends and
modifies it, thc boundary line that it so provides is regarded and respected up
to the present.
The Municipal District of Disdis was then composed of two major barrios; Tabano
of the southwestern part and Disdis of the northeastern part. The late Don Cando
was then the district president and the late Don Polon Benitrez as the vice
president. When the two could not agree on the manner of administrating the
district, Don Polon then decided to separate Tabano from Disdis in order to
avoid conflicts. With Some of the elders from Tabano, Dompolon (as they used to
call Don Polon) consulted the late Assemblyman Enrique Rimando immediately and
presented a resolution to then Governor General Leonard Wood. Convinced with the
resolution's contents, Governor General Wood issued Executive Order No.54 on
November 27, 1925 organizing the barrios of Pappa. Bilis Northwest, Ribsuan.
Libtong North, and Bayabas West, with their correspondig sitios, of the
Municipal District of Disdis, into a municipal district of La Union under the
name Burgos. The name "Burgos" was given to honor the memory or the martyred
priest. Fr. Jose 0. Burgos, who according to the old folks, made a stop over and
officiated Mass at Sitio Domingo in Agpay while seeking refuge from the wrath of
the Spaniards. When Exccutive Order No.54 was effected in January I. 1926. Don
Polon Bentrez was then appointed by then Governor Juan Ortiz of the Province of
La Union as the first "Presidente" of the Municipal District of Burgos, thus
known and acclaimed "The Founder of the Municipality of Burgos". The seat of
government was in Barrio Ribsuan (now part of Naguilian, La Union) with a town
hall or "presidente" built at the present site of Burgos Central School out of
bamboo and cogon. With the help of some elders, Dompolon tried his best to
effectively lead the District. One of his significant accomplishments that is
still remembered was when he distributed lands to the early settlers. Don Polon
Benitrez died after three and a half years of service due to a serious wound he
sustained while inspecting the boundary line and hunting at Bantay Siam in
Barrio Libtong. His vice president, Don Cornelio Abenes, assumed the presidency
until the election in 1930 under the Commonwealth Government where Don Juan
Abellada became the first elected Municipal District Mayor of Burgos.
More Barrios like: Caoayan, Tumapoc, Linuan, Delles and Central were created
during the time Don Juan Abellada. Additional schools were also opened from the
time of Mayor Marcelino P. Gallardo.
When rivers and creeks were established and recognized as municipal boundaries,
Ribsuan was annexed to Naguilian, La Union. The seat of government was then
transferred to Central with bamboo and local materials (just a few meters away
Southwest of the present Old Poblacion barangay plaza).
It is believed that early native settlers of the place were the Ibalois (Mangatibekbek)
who came from Atok and Kapangan, Benguet all the way through Sablan and were met
by the Kankanaeys (Mangalkali) from Kapangan, Benguet and Pongpong of Tiw-angan,
Bagulin, La Union. They were later joined by their brother Ilocanos from Vigan
and Candon, Ilocos Sur; San Fernando, Sto. Tomas, Aringay and Naguilian of the
Province of La Union and from some towns of Pungasinan like Dagupan. As they
peacefully lived together for many decades, their cultures were intertwined
leading to a more harmonious relationship between them and which have been
maintained up to the present.
As past local executive and officials come and go, various developments were
introduced as evidenced by the establishment of the municipal public market,
rural health center, more schools, expansion and development of road network,
barangay clinics and other infrastructure, agricultural and socio-economic
facilities. Records of history proved that the significance and number of
developmental improvements for the Municipality introduced by past local
officials carry with them the degree of being cherished and remembered for the
generations to come.
Source: http://www.burgoslaunion.gov.ph/index.php?cat1=2
