Sinait, Ilocos Sur

Sinait is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 24,070 people in 5,131 households.

Barangays

Sinait is politically subdivided into 44 barangays.

* Aguing * Ballaigui (Pob.) * Baliw * Baracbac * Barikir * Battog * Binacud * Cabangtalan * Cabarambanan * Cabulalaan * Cadanglaan * Calingayan * Curtin * Dadalaquiten Norte * Dadalaquiten Sur

* Duyayyat * Jordan * Calanutian * Katipunan * Macabiag (Pob.) * Magsaysay * Marnay * Masadag * Nagcullooban * Nagbalioartian * Nagongburan * Namnama (Pob.) * Pacis * Paratong * Dean Leopoldo Yabes (Pug-os)

* Purag * Quibit-quibit * Quimmallogong * Rang-ay (Pob.) * Ricudo * Sabangan (Marcos) * Sallacapo * Santa Cruz * Sapriana * Tapao * Teppeng * Tubigay * Ubbog * Zapat

Origin of the name

The place now called Sinait was once the base of pirates known locally as "tirong." These seafaring people had wrestling games known as "sin-nait." Dropping one of the 'n's, it became the name of the municipality.

Points of interest

1. Sinait's church is the Sanctuary of the Miraculous Statue of the Black Nazarene, fondly called by its residents as "Apo Lakay."

History traces the statue to Nagasaki, Japan. It was sent floating in the sea by missionaries operating in secret in Japan (for fear of persecution). It was found by local fishermen in the shores of Barangay Dadalaquiten. Fishermen from the nearby town of Badoc (in present-day Ilocos Norte) tried moving the box, but were unable to do so. Only fishermen from Sinait were able to move the box, which contains the Statue of the Black Nazarene. The fishermen from Badoc, however, were able to move a box containing a Statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary--which was, in turn, unable to be moved by the fishermen of Sinait. They took the statues to their respective towns, hence becoming their patron saints. Today the landing site of Apo Lakay still exists in Barangay Dadalaquiten, and is a place of pilgrimage for devotees.

2. Sinait Public Market - On certain days garlic from the municipality and even the neighboring municipalities of Badoc and Pinili in neighboring Ilocos Norte are traded here.

Notes

Because of its main commodity, garlic, Sinait is also known as the Garlic Center of the North.

The barangay of Pug-os was renamed Don Leopoldo Yabes, in honor of the Ilocano writer and dean from the University of the Philippines who once lived in Sinait.

External links

* [http://www.pasyalan.net/ilocos_sur/ Pasyalang Ilocos Sur]
* [http://www.nscb.gov.ph/activestats/psgc/default.asp Philippine Standard Geographic Code]
* [http://www.t-macs.com/kiso/local/ 2000 Philippine Census Information]