Narvacan, Ilocos Sur

Narvacan
—  Municipality  —
Map of Ilocos Sur showing the location of Narvacan.
Narvacan Location in the Philippines
Coordinates: 17°25′N 120°29′E / 17.417°N 120.483°E / 17.417; 120.483Coordinates: 17°25′N 120°29′E / 17.417°N 120.483°E / 17.417; 120.483
Country	Philippines
Region	Ilocos Region (Region I)
Province	Ilocos Sur
District	2nd District
Founded
Barangays	34
Government
- Mayor	Edgardo D. Zaragoza
Area
- Total	122.21 km2 (47.2 sq mi)
Population (2007)
- Total	41,578
- Density	340.2/km2 (881.2/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	2704
Income class	2nd class
Website	narvacan.gov.ph

Population Census of Narvacan
Census	Pop.		Rate
1995	35,489		—
2000	38,435		1.73%
2007	41,578		1.09%

Narvacan is a 1st class municipality in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 41,578 people in 7,803 households.

Barangays

Narvacan is politically subdivided into 34 barangays.

Abuor Ambulogan Aquib Banglayan Bantay Abot Bulanos Cadacad Cagayungan Camarao Casilagan Codoog Dasay

Dinalaoan Estancia Lanipao Lungog Margaay Marozo Nanguneg Orence Pantoc Paratong Parparia

Quinarayan Rivadavia San Antonio San Jose San Pablo San Pedro Santa Lucia Sarmingan Sucoc Sulvec Turod

History

Narvacan was discovered by a Spanish expeditionary force sent from Vigan by the military officer and navigator, Captain Juan de Salcedo. The Spanish expeditionary force was shipwrecked along the town's coast. When they were being rescued by the natives, the Spaniards asked the natives what was the name of their place. The resident's leader replied in an Ilocano dialect by asking the Spaniards "Nalbakan?" (Are you shipwrecked?). The Spaniards thought this to be the answer to their question, and from then on the place was referred to as Narvacan.

Salcedo befriended the small tribe of indigenous valley peoples that resided in the area while Spanish families established a township in 1576. As part of the modern township, a Roman Catholic parish was established by the Augustinian religious order on April 25, 1587. The Narvacan parish would become one of the first Roman Catholic parishes in present-day Ilocos Sur.

Narvacan was organized under the traditions of the royal government of Spain. The Habsburg royal family served as the heads of state which in turn appointed Santiago de Vera as President of the Royal Audiencia — governor over the region in which Narvacan was situated. In 1589, Governor Vera appointed Nicolas de Figueroa as the first Encomendero de Narvacan — principal administrator of the town and its neighbors in the encomienda system. His role eventually evolved into the office of alcalde —

Economy

Situated near the western coastline of the island of Luzon, Narvacan is nestled in a valley surrounded by mountains. A fertile region with a cool tropical climate, the principal crops of Narvacan are corn, cotton, indigo, rice, sugarcane and tobacco.

Culture and language

Its residents are largely Roman Catholic. A sizeable minority of Methodist Christians are present. The local language is Ilocano.

Tourism

The Sulvec beach is a popular lounging spot for vacationers and is near the Narvacan Tourism Lounge.^[1] Tourists also visit the Sulvec Watchtower, a brick tower that was built by Spaniards to warn the town of pirates coming from offshore.^[2]

Education

The Narvacan School of Fisheries, a branch of the Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College (ISPSC), has been located in Sulvec since 1964.^[3] It is also the base of operations of the Philippine Army’s 503rd Infantry Brigade which oversees the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Units.^[4]

Famous Filipinos from Narvacan

• Pablito Sanidad - Former Vice Governor of Ilocos Sur, Deputy Minister of Labor, National Chairman of the FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE GROUP (FLAG), Panel Member, GRP Peace Negotiating Panel with the CPP/NPA/NDF, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP)
• Ruben C. Sevilleja - President, Central Luzon State University

References

1. ^ "Explore Philippines >> Ilocos Sur >> Things to Do". WOW Philippines. http://www.wowphilippines.com.ph/explore_phil/place_details.asp?content=thingstodo&province=2. Retrieved 2008-12-09. ^{[dead link]}
2. ^ "The Official Website of the Province of Ilocos Sur - Ecohistourism". Provincial Government of Ilocos Sur. 2003. http://www.santa.gov.ph/ilocossur/tourism/trsmattractionsecohistourism.html. Retrieved 2008-12-09. 
3. ^ "Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College, Brief History". http://www.tagudin.gov.ph/giispsc.html. Retrieved 9 December 2008. 
4. ^ "Rebel ‘abuses’ driving people to join Cafgu". Manila Bulletin. 2007-12-27. http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/nov/27/yehey/prov/20071127pro1.html. Retrieved 2008-12-09. ^{[dead link]}

Cong. Fidel Villanueva Sen. Prospero Sanidad, Cabinet Member of President Elpidio Quirino Cong. Pablo Sanidad Cong. Lucas V. Cauton, retired AFP General and Assemblyman, Interim Batasan Pambansa Gov. Osias Cadiente, Governor of Nueva Vizcaya Brian Viloria, world boxing champion

External links

• Municipality of Narvacan Homepage
• Pasyalang Ilocos Sur
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• 1995 Philippine Census Information
• 2000 Philippine Census Information
• 2007 Philippine Census Information