Bangui, Ilocos Norte

Bangui
Municipality
View of Bangui from Sentinella Hill
Flag Seal
Map of Ilocos Norte with Bangui highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Bangui Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 18°32′16″N120°45′55″E / 18.5378°N 120.7653°E / 18.5378; 120.7653
Country	Philippines
Region	Ilocos Region
Province	Ilocos Norte
District	1st district
Barangays	14 (see Barangays)
Government   [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
•  Mayor	Fidel A. Cimatu Jr.
•  Vice Mayor	Denton Lawrence G. Garvida
•  Representative	Ferdinand Alexander Araneta Marcos III
•  Municipal Council	Members Joy R. Soriano Florencio G. Sales Jr. Diosdado I. Garvida Doddie M. Gaces Susan B. Faylogna Rogerick C. Balbag Anthony N. Campañano Florante L. Garvida
•  Electorate	11,414 voters (2022)
Area [2]
• Total	112.98 km2 (43.62 sq mi)
Elevation	88 m (289 ft)
Highest elevation	902 m (2,959 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2020 census) [3]
• Total	15,019
• Density	130/km2 (340/sq mi)
•  Households	4,025
Economy
•  Income class	4th municipal income class
•  Poverty incidence	6.08 % (2021) [4]
•  Revenue	₱ 139.2 million (2020)
•  Assets	₱ 472.9 million (2020)
•  Expenditure	₱ 128.9 million (2020)
Service provider
• Electricity	Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	2920
PSGC	012804000
IDD  :  area code	+63 (0)77
Native languages	Ilocano Tagalog
Website	www.bangui.gov.ph

Bangui, officially the Municipality of Bangui (Ilocano : Ili ti Bangui; Filipino : Bayan ng Bangui), is a municipality in the province of Ilocos Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 15,019 people. ^[3]

The first power generating windmill farm in Southeast Asia, commonly known as Bangui Wind Farm, is found in the municipality of Bangui.

Etymology

The name Bangui is derived from the word bangi, referring to an edible seaweed of red algal genus Laurencia (Laurencia sp.) that thrives abundantly along the town's coastal areas. ^[5]

Historically, in 1786, the settlement frequently endured raids by Moro pirates. To address this threat, Gobernadorcillo Francisco Fernandez organized local bands of fighters to protect the community. These defenders called themselves Bangi which is abundant in the coastal settlements, a name that was later adopted by Spanish authorities as the official designation of the municipality. ^[5]

In 1901, following the transfer of colonial power to the Americans, the name of the municipality was changed to Bangui. The modification in spelling was intended to provide a more euphonic or harmonious sound, aligning with American linguistic preferences. ^[5]

History

The earliest known inhabitants of Bangui were the Itneg (Tinguians), Samtoy (Ilocano) settlers, and Malay traders. These groups initially established settlements in areas now known as Baruyen, originally called Bacruyen (meaning "to carry"), and Banban, formerly known as Bamban (meaning "split bamboo"). ^[5]

In 1572, Spanish conquistador Juan de Salcedo led an expedition to Northern Luzon to pacify the local population. Upon his arrival in the area, Salcedo and his men introduced Western culture and Christianity, resulting in the construction of churches, some of which remain standing to this day. ^[5]

In 1786, a Spanish merchant named Francisco Fernandez was appointed as Gobernadorcillo of the area. Fernandez organized local residents into vigilant groups to defend against Moro pirates, who frequently raided coastal settlements. A Spanish church in Taguiporo was destroyed during one such raid. ^[5] These local fighters adopted the name "Bangi," derived from a type of edible seaweed abundant in the area. The term "Bangi" was later adapted by the Spanish as "Bangui," which became the official name of the municipality. ^[6]

With the arrival of the Americans in 1901, the spelling of the town's name was changed from "Bangi" to "Bangui" to give it a more euphonic sound. By 1913, Bangui was officially recognized as a municipality under American governance. ^[7] The Americans constructed a road connecting Laoag and Cagayan, facilitating trade between the Cagayan Valley and the Ilocos Region. They also introduced public education, established barrios, and developed a lumber industry in Baruyen, where gold, asbestos, and manganese were mined. ^[5]

In 1940, during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines, many residents of Bangui evacuated to the mountains. Some became guerrilla fighters, while others engaged in subsistence farming. ^[5]

Following the end of World War II, the Philippines gained independence on July 4, 1946, under American legislation. In 1954, Pagudpud, originally a barrio of Bangui, was established as a separate municipality through Executive Order No. 13, issued by President Ramon Magsaysay. ^[5]

Bangui was one of the Ilocos region municipalities where various human rights violations were documented during the martial law era, despite public perception that the region was supportive of the Marcos administration. ^[8] Eight farmers in Bangui are documented to have been "salvaged" in 1984, ^[8] the same year as three indigenous community members in Vintar, while farmers from the towns of Vintar, Dumalneg, Solsona, Marcos and Piddig were also documented to have been tortured. ^[8]

The Bangui Wind Farm project of NorthWind Power Development Corp. (NorthWind) began commercial operation in 2005, eventually becoming a major tourist site for Bangui. ^[9] Ayala-owned AC Energy eventually took control of Northwind and of the Bangui Wind Farm in 2017, acquiring a total of 67.79% of Northwind stocks. ^[10]

Today, Bangui continues to thrive as a municipality with its unique history and cultural heritage preserved through the generations.

Geography

Bangui is 554 kilometres (344 mi) from Metro Manila and 67 kilometres (42 mi) from Laoag City, the provincial capital. Bordered by Burgos to the west, Pagudpud to the northeast, Dumalneg to the east, Vintar to the south, and the South China Sea to the north.

Barangays

Bangui is politically subdivided into 14 barangays.  ^[11] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

• Abaca
• Bacsil
• Banban
• Baruyen
• Dadaor
• Lanao
• Malasin
• Manayon
• Masikil
• Nagbalagan
• Payac
• San Lorenzo (Poblacion)
• Taguiporo
• Utol

Dispute

On August 10, 2012, Barangay San Isidro was transferred to Dumalneg town based on the decision of Supreme Court over the disputed barangay.

Climate

Climate data for Bangui, Ilocos Norte
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	31 (88)	32 (90)	33 (91)	34 (93)	34 (93)	34 (93)	33 (91)	32 (90)	32 (90)	33 (91)	32 (90)	31 (88)	33 (91)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	19 (66)	20 (68)	21 (70)	23 (73)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	23 (73)	22 (72)	21 (70)	22 (72)
Average rainfall mm (inches)	6.2 (0.24)	11.7 (0.46)	10.1 (0.40)	14 (0.6)	192.7 (7.59)	258.9 (10.19)	470.9 (18.54)	475.9 (18.74)	405.7 (15.97)	92.5 (3.64)	44.8 (1.76)	2 (0.1)	1,985.4 (78.23)
Average rainy days	3	2	2	2	12	15	20	20	17	10	6	3	112
Source: World Weather Online (modeled/calculated data, not measured locally) [12]

Demographics

Population census of Bangui

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1903 8,215 —     1918 11,152 +2.06% 1939 13,325 +0.85% 1948 14,126 +0.65% 1960 9,026 −3.66% 1970 11,053 +2.04% 1975 11,480 +0.76% 1980 11,122 −0.63%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1990 12,921 +1.51% 1995 13,774 +1.21% 2000 14,327 +0.85% 2007 14,634 +0.29% 2010 15,025 +0.96% 2015 14,672 −0.45% 2020 15,019 +0.46%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [13] [14] [15] [16]

In the 2020 census, the population of Bangui was 15,019 people, ^[3] with a density of 130 inhabitants per square kilometre or 340 inhabitants per square mile.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Bangui

5 10 15 20 25 30 2006 24.50 2009 12.63 2012 10.61 2015 8.52 2018 4.74 2021 6.08 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24]

Government

Local government

Main article: Sangguniang Bayan

Former seal of Bangui, used until 2014.

Bangui, belonging to the first congressional district of the province of Ilocos Norte, is governed by a mayor designated as its local chief executive and by a municipal council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code. The mayor, vice mayor, and the councilors are elected directly by the people through an election which is being held every three years.

Elected officials

Members of the Municipal Council
(2019–2022) ^[25]

Position	Name
Congressman	Ria Christina G. Fariñas
Mayor	Fidel A. Cimatu Jr.
Vice-Mayor	Denton Lawrence G. Garvida
Councilors	Joy R. Soriano
	Florencio G. Sales Jr.
	Diosdado I. Garvida
	Doddie M. Gaces
	Susan B. Faylogna
	Rogerick C. Balbag
	Anthony N. Campañano
	Florante L. Garvida

Attractions

Vestas V82 wind turbines of the Bangui Wind Farm

Sentinella Hill

Bangui is well known because of its wind farm, which is the town's main attraction. Although the Burgos and Caparispisan (Pagudpud) Windmills were built in 2013, many visitors still visit Bangui Windmills.

Bangui Bay is also a tourist spot, yet not practical for swimming because of its deepness and water currents, but it is beautiful to view. There is also Abang Falls that can be found in Barangay Lanao, also a tourist spot. Bangui is also good for its beautiful view of mountains and rivers.

Another important tourist attraction is the 400-year old St. Lawrence the Deacon Parish Church, located just adjacent to the Municipal Plaza. The Parish Church is currently under the parochial administration and management of the Congregation of the Rogationists of the Heart of Jesus (Rogationist Fathers), within the canonical jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Laoag. It still features the remains of the old church and the convent, whose institution was initiated by the Augustinians (Order of Saint Augustine - OSA).

Other attractions include:

• Municipal Plaza
• Bolo River (locally known Caramuangen River)
• Bangui Bay View Building
• Baruyen Dam
• Bangui's woodcraft windmills souvenir stores
• Suacan Spring
• Sentinella Hill
• Abang Falls

Notable personalities

• Gen. Roy Cimatu - Secretary of DENR, 2017-2022 and Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, 2002

References

1.   Municipality of Bangui | (DILG)
2. "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN   0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
3. Census of Population (2020). "Region I (Ilocos Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority . Retrieved 8 July 2021.
4. "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
5. "BRIEF HISTORY OF BANGUI ILOCOS NORTE". angelo25j.tripod.com. Retrieved 2025-01-03.
6. "Ilocos Norte's windmills: Tourism and energy giants". Manila Standard. Archived from the original on 2021-10-08. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
7. Ferlin (2008-12-09). "Bangui". Museo Ilocos Norte. Archived from the original on 2020-09-29. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
8. "Ilocanos remember dark days of martial law, vow to continue fight". 2 October 2012.
9. "AC Energy Corporation - NorthWind". AC Energy Corporation. Archived from the original on 2021-10-09. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
10. "AC Energy Takes Control of Northwind". AC Energy Corporation. 2017-02-05. Archived from the original on 2021-10-19. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
11. "Province: Ilocos Norte". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority . Retrieved 12 November 2016.
12. "Bangui, Philippines: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". World Weather Online. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
13. Census of Population (2015). "Region I (Ilocos Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority . Retrieved 20 June 2016.
14. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region I (Ilocos Region)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office . Retrieved 29 June 2016.
15. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region I (Ilocos Region)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
16. "Province of Ilocos Norte". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
17. "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
18. "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
19. "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
20. "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
21. "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
22. "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
23. "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
24. "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
25. "2019 National and Local Elections" (PDF). Commission on Elections. Retrieved March 10, 2022.

External links

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Local Governance Performance Management System