BRIEF HISTORY OF BAUANG

Bauang was established as a settlement in 1590 with fray Agustin Mino as its first minister.it was officially recognized as a town in 1765 as part of the province of Pangasinan with Don Francisco delos Reyes as its first gobernadorcilo. When La union was created in 1850, Bauang was once of the twelve towns that formed the province.

There are three versions on how this settlement was named. First, the name came from the word “bua” (bettlenut) which grew in abundance at the town site, now Nagrebcan. Second, its name arose from the word “baoang” (garlic) which also grew plentifully in the area. Subsequently, the Spanish colonizers changed the letter “o” to ‘u”, thus its present name “BAUANG”. The third version came from the word “buang” which means “river split into two”, before flowing into the sea. As it is, the Bauang River is split into two by a delta.

Like other towns in the province, Bauang also had its share in the devastating invasions of Moro pirates (“tirong” in the local dialect). In the stillness of the night, the Moro pirates would swoop upon the town without any warning, killing people and kidnapping women and children only to be sold into slavery. They stole cattle looted the town and broke into the church and robbed it of its silver and gold.

These invasions gave rise to the constructions of watchtowers, locally known as baluarte, by the Gobernadorcillo Don Juan Mallare along the coast and at the mouth of the Bauang River. These watchtowers served as a fortress against the invading pirates. It was also utilized as a refuge for the inhabitants who had no time to flee to the hills whenever the pirates were sighted. However, nothing now remains of the watchtower except the traces of its foundation.

Daring exploits of the people’s forefathers, their heroism, dedication, love and commitment to the ideals of freedom in the 1990’s were handed down from generation to generation. During the later part 1890, Bauang residents succeeded in wresting the town from the tyrannical administration of the Spaniards after fierce and bloody encounters between the “cazadores” (Spanish soldiers) and the “revolucionarios” (Filipinos). The revolucionarios were led separately by Remigio Patacsil and Mauro Ortiz.

In 1913, some barrios of Bauang were assigned to San Fernando, namely: Pagudpud, Pagdalagan, Sevilla, Bungro, Tanquigan and Siboan-Otong.

During the Japanese occupation, many unknown and unsung sons of Bauang fought gallantly and spilled their precious blood on the beaches of the town, in Lingayen Gulf, Bataan and Corregidor in defense of freedom. Majority of the youth joined the underground movement. They enlisted in the various regiments of the United States Armed Forces in the Philippines, Northern Luzon (USAFIP-NL) without any promise of reward or remuneration. Among the many who were executed by Japanese were Manuel Arguilla, a poet and journalist and Major Alberto O. Fenit of the United State Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE). They met their death at the dungeons of Fort Santiago.

The martyrdom and patriotism of Mayor Ambrosio Rimando, elected mayor of Bauang before the outbreak of the war, could be told and retold. He chose not to reveal the whereabouts of his townspeople who were executed in his presence before he himself was beheaded.

Many continued the fight with gallantry and valor in the mountains, Bessang Pass and other battlefields until the country was liberated from the Japanese oppressors. Today, there stand at the town plaza a monument dedicated in honor of the fighting soldiers.

In early 70’s Bauang earned the appellation as the “Beach Capital of the Philippines” because of the calm waters, fine sand and languidly swaying coconut trees along the shorelines of Baccuit Sur to Pagdalagan Sur. A newly discovered “Research Reef” is a favorite dive spot among local and foreign scuba divers.

Bauang also hosts the South China Sa Regatta, in every other year race participated by the Royal Hongkong Yacht Club.

Bauang is also famous for its delicious grapes and guapples grown in barangays Payocpoc, Santiago, Bagbag and Urayong. The grape industry is an additional income for farmers among the residents in these barangays until imported varieties came in.