Sigay, Ilocos Sur
Encyclopedia
Sigay is a 5th class municipality in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines
. According to the latest census, it has a population of 2,453 people in 408 households.
Nestled near the Cordillera ranges, Sigay will charm its visitors with the genuine warmth and hospitality amidst the crisp cool air and the rustic scenery. Sigay is situated as one among the topmost and farthest municipality of Ilocos Sur. Famous to nature-lovers, adventurers, campers and mountaineers, the town has marvelled its visitors with its version of the rice terraces, the 142-feet Aw-asen Falls, the kilometric hanging bridge, and its picturesque rivers.
Another version of the etymology situates the legend in a setting when the "sigay" itself had to be re-invented for hunting. In those times, the village was still made up of "tribu" or tribes. As was the custom, each tribu chose a leader who ought to be the strongest, most fearless, and bravest in the clans. one of the leaders, and his hunters, loved to climb the mountains to hunt for food. Because it would then be easier to trap the animals in the forests, than run after them for the kill, the hunters devised a big net in the fashion of the "sigay" (fish trap/net). Hunting thus became much more uncomplicated. Because of the widespread use of the "sigay" both in the water and in the jungles, the lowland people who visited the place would eventually refer to it as Sigay.
The original settlers of Sigay were Igorots, or Pagans, who wandered from their ancestral lands in the Mountain Provinces northwestward to the Ilocos uplands. Many of them found a home in the mountains of Sigay. Years later, the natives' descendants made vows in marriage with pretty Ilocanas. Their offspring were born mestizos - fair skinned, red lipped, pink cheeked and brown haired - and became known as the "New Ilocanos". In the year 1700, when Christianity was introduced in the interior towns, baptized children were proclaimed as the "New Christians" or in Tagalog, the "BAGO". To this day, descendants of the Igorot natives, the Bago tribes continue to live in Sigay.
The Bago people are religious, thrifty, hospitable and cooperative. Although most of the area has been modernized, there are definite traces of the native customs and beliefs. For instance, to this day, the dance "Tadek" is performed during the wedding celebrations. In many sitios, the bayanihan spirit generally prevails, especially when building houses, or during the planting and harvest seasons. However, some of the older rituals like the Kanlaw are no longer performed, unless necessary.
To the Bagos of past years, the family was the basic unit of society, and the members were expected to work hand in hand to earn a living. The men, as head of the family, were usually the breadwinners. These days, however, owing perhaps to poverty, the wives are often seen helping their husbands earn money - whether in the farm, the forest, in the family business, or as government employees/workers, in order to make ends meet.
The people prefer a peaceful life to complexities; nonetheless they aspire for economic and infrastructure development in the municipality, especially the development of the main road that would connect them to the lowland urban centers, where they would sell their goods, and eventually be able to augment to the family income.
Although already fully recognized by the Spanish Regime as a municipal district town in the 1800s, it was only in 1960 that Sigay emerged as a fully-fledged municipality, that which the residents called the New Era of Sigay. This came after the first elections of its local officials on November 12, 1959.
Today, Sigay is composed of seven barangays: Mabileg, Poblacion, San Ramon, San Elias, Abaccan, Matallucod, and Sto. Rosario. For a long time, the seat of local government resided in Abaccan. Later on, the local executive, Mayor Simeon Wandas (1960–1977) decided to build a Municipal Hall in Maday-aw (now, Poblacion) where, eventually, he transferred all the local government's occupations, including the Municipal Police Statition.
The Municipality is nestled in a wide mountainous area where most of its forest is still untouched. Both ends of the Municipality is bounded with rivers namely Quinibor Rivers at the north where travelers pass and cross fourteen times, and Ida, Suyo Rivers in the South and which could be passed once before reaching the town. This type of soil is best suited to diversified crops.
The town has a total land area of 80.28 km2. comprising seven barangays. The place has a vast mountain ranges and forest wherein bountiful forest products abound.
Based on the 2007 population statistical data, the municipality has a total population of 2,453.
The place has no public market up to the present so the residents need to transport their farm products to the lowlands for proper disposal and convert it into cash to buy their some basic needs especially during rainy season.
Since most of the families, agriculture is their main source of income not only in this municipality. Indeed, the Department of Agriculture want to alleviate poverty, enhance income, profit and put into secured food sufficiency. To achieve these visions and aspirations, the department in consultation with our constituents at the grass roots level and other appropriate government agencies and offices, shall formulate and implement a medium and long term comprehensive Agriculture and Fishery Modernization Plan.
Sigay lies in the upland regions of Southwestern Ilocos Sur, approximately within the longtitudinal points 16*59'40"N and 17*07'20"N, and within the latitudinal points 120*33'30"E and 120*37'00".
Five upland Local Governments surround Sigay: on the North lies the Municipality of Del Pilar (formerly known as Concepcion); on the East, the Municipalitie of Quirino (upper east boundary) and the Municipality of Cervantes (upper central to lower East boundary); on the South lies the Municipality of Suyo and on the West, the Municipality of Salcedo.
Sigay has an elongated shape and consists of seven highly elevated barangays: traversing the municipality from the north, one passes through Mabileg, then Poblacion, San Ramon, San Elias, Abaccan, Matallucod and finally, Sto. Rosario in the Southernmost portion.
The landforms are, basically, composed of very high mountains, hills and valleys.
The highest spot elevation found in the municipality is 1,508 meters above sea level in Barangay Sto. Rosario, although several mountains peak at 515 m, 657 m, 733 m, 762 m, 811 m 1,057 m, and 1,325 m, respectively, and constitute almost all of the eastern and southern portions of the municipality. not so many have scaled these heights. The tribal elders who have reached these highest places, claim however, that these mountains are thickly populated with age-old timber, trunks as large as 2–3 meters in diameter. Likewise, strangers who have explored these mountains also speak of very large pythons, wild boar and deer, rare orchids and other mountain flora. If this is true, then Sigay could very well claim to have conserved, through the years, a substantial portion of the virgin forests and wildlife of Ilocos Sur.
Sigay is approximately 30 kilometers from the Municipality of Candon, where the inhabitants usually buy their needs. There is no access road - whether national or provincial - from the north, except for a rough road that has been carved through the Buaya River, by the inhabitants. Although it is accurate to say that the road crosses the Buaya River, the road itself is semi-permanent, turning and twisting along with the river's path and crossing the shallower portions of the water. In the summer, when the Buaya River (known by the locals as the Quinibor River) runs low, rough-road vehicle, trucks and motorbikes maybe used to enter the municipality, crossing the Buaya fourteen (14) times. This trip takes approximately three hours from Candon.
Meanwhile, down south, another large river, the Suyo River (which is a tributary of the larger Amburayan-Chico River) may be found. From the Tagudin-Suyo Road, which commences in Bitalag, Tagudin, Ilocos Sur, vehicles may take the turn to the Suyo-Sigay Road, cross the Suyo River twice and then come to the entry point in Barangay Sto.Rosario. The trip, by public utility jeep takes two hours or so.
The rainy season poses a problem in that as the rivers swell, vehicles Sigay-bound and out, may no longer negotiate the area. If the people chose to go to the City of Candon, they would cross the Buaya River on foot, traversing the river 14 times for a total of fifteen kilometer hike, until they reach Salcedo where they can get a passenger jeepney. Similarly, on the other end of the municipality, residents going southward to Suyo cross the river on foot, and hike about three hours. The people who do not have businesses in the urban areas simply stay at home and wait for the rains to stop, the rivers to abate. a great deal of frustration comes from walking the roads in the community, which have not been thoroughly concreted, which the rains muddy up.
For the Sigay resident, this is sheer isolation.... when during the rainy days, the residents carry their sick down the mountains and across the rivers to the nearest decent hospital... when during these wet days, food is scarce, money is even scarcerand the people are cut off the source of their basic needs.
Climate
One of Sigay's unique attractions is definitely its climate, cold and calming in the summer season. Local tourists call Sigay "The Little Baguio" of Ilocos Sur. Biking or hiking to the Sigay View Deck in Sto. Rosario, where one could see a breath-taking panoramic view of the coastal towns of Southern Ilocos Sur, in the cool mountain weather, is certainly worth taking. Trekkers and cyclists may also camp at the Tirad Pass National Park for an adventure with wildlife and a mystical union with undefiled nature. the climate is also the reason for the abundant fruit harvests and the upland vegetable gardens. Succulent citrus varieties and other fruit trees thrive very well in cold weather.
Like any other municipality in the Ilocos Region, Sigay enjoy two pronounced seasons: the wet season (from May to November) and the dry season (from December to APril). The Coronas Climate Classifications of the Philippines indicates that the climate in Sigay is of Type 1 ( Figure 2.4 Climate Map of the Philippines ). An average of nineteen tropical cyclones visit the country annually, and Sigay suffers the brunt of an average of 32% or approximately 7 typhoons, this including an approximate 1-2 super typhoons in the year. This information is based on the PAG-ASA typhoon frequency data for the Philippines, also discernible on the same map.
Locals report an average temperature of 15-16 degree Celsius, especially at night, but the villages, temperature may go to down as low as 12-14 degree Celsius in the coldest months. The temperature should be much lower in the highest elevations of eastern SIgay.
There is no agro-meteorological station near the area; nevertheless, the Sigay Municipal Profile indicates that Sigay receives an average rainfall of 268 mm for an average of 12 days per month. This is quite close to the local climate, since most of the year, rain falls quite voluminously in the mountains. According to the Municipal Profile, the Average typhoon intensity is eleven (11) knots going westward.
s.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. According to the latest census, it has a population of 2,453 people in 408 households.
Nestled near the Cordillera ranges, Sigay will charm its visitors with the genuine warmth and hospitality amidst the crisp cool air and the rustic scenery. Sigay is situated as one among the topmost and farthest municipality of Ilocos Sur. Famous to nature-lovers, adventurers, campers and mountaineers, the town has marvelled its visitors with its version of the rice terraces, the 142-feet Aw-asen Falls, the kilometric hanging bridge, and its picturesque rivers.
History
Natives of the town claim that Sigay is as old as any other place in the province founded during the Spanish regime. But written records are yet to be found regarding its history. Oral tradition, however, has it that the name of the town originated from the ilocano term for fish trap, "sigay". The legend goes that, in the older times, Lake Ban-ao in Barangay Mabileg was once the village's most valuable source of fish. Around the area, one of the better-known fish species, the mudfish, apparently - in a fish trap, and brought the fish to the market. A Spaniard came along and asked where she got the fish. thinking that the stranger was asking about the gear she caught the fish with, she answered, "Sigay". It was by this incidence that the town started to be known by that name.Another version of the etymology situates the legend in a setting when the "sigay" itself had to be re-invented for hunting. In those times, the village was still made up of "tribu" or tribes. As was the custom, each tribu chose a leader who ought to be the strongest, most fearless, and bravest in the clans. one of the leaders, and his hunters, loved to climb the mountains to hunt for food. Because it would then be easier to trap the animals in the forests, than run after them for the kill, the hunters devised a big net in the fashion of the "sigay" (fish trap/net). Hunting thus became much more uncomplicated. Because of the widespread use of the "sigay" both in the water and in the jungles, the lowland people who visited the place would eventually refer to it as Sigay.
The original settlers of Sigay were Igorots, or Pagans, who wandered from their ancestral lands in the Mountain Provinces northwestward to the Ilocos uplands. Many of them found a home in the mountains of Sigay. Years later, the natives' descendants made vows in marriage with pretty Ilocanas. Their offspring were born mestizos - fair skinned, red lipped, pink cheeked and brown haired - and became known as the "New Ilocanos". In the year 1700, when Christianity was introduced in the interior towns, baptized children were proclaimed as the "New Christians" or in Tagalog, the "BAGO". To this day, descendants of the Igorot natives, the Bago tribes continue to live in Sigay.
The Bago people are religious, thrifty, hospitable and cooperative. Although most of the area has been modernized, there are definite traces of the native customs and beliefs. For instance, to this day, the dance "Tadek" is performed during the wedding celebrations. In many sitios, the bayanihan spirit generally prevails, especially when building houses, or during the planting and harvest seasons. However, some of the older rituals like the Kanlaw are no longer performed, unless necessary.
To the Bagos of past years, the family was the basic unit of society, and the members were expected to work hand in hand to earn a living. The men, as head of the family, were usually the breadwinners. These days, however, owing perhaps to poverty, the wives are often seen helping their husbands earn money - whether in the farm, the forest, in the family business, or as government employees/workers, in order to make ends meet.
The people prefer a peaceful life to complexities; nonetheless they aspire for economic and infrastructure development in the municipality, especially the development of the main road that would connect them to the lowland urban centers, where they would sell their goods, and eventually be able to augment to the family income.
| Many members of the Bago tribe from Sigay ventured into the municipality of Tabuk - the capital town of what was then the province of Kalinga-Apayao - in the 1940s well into the 1950s. There, they found settlements which were then exclusively made up of settlers with Sigay origin - the most notable of which is the barangay of Casigayan (with the Sigay still kept in the name), which literally means "a place of Sigay people." (added by [Marciano Paroy Jr], a Bago tribe member) |
Establishment of the Municipality
By the time the Spaniards arrived in the northern part of the country, all the interior towns of Ilocos Sur were part of Montanosa or the Mountain Provinces. A sub-province of Montanosa was that of Amburyan, a prominent area of trade and commerce, which among others, included the towns of Sigay, Gregorio del Pilar, Quirino, Cervantes, Lidlidda and San Emilio. Called after the vast Amburayan River that cascaded through it, and nurtured its fields, Amburayan was a vast stronghold of the natives; the river itself, fed by the springs from the mountains in the East, was wide, and foreign vessels used to dock there to trade with the natives. When the Spanish founded Ciudad Fernandina (Vigan), all the interior towns, Sigay included, were cut off Montanosa, and these became part of the Province of Ilocos Sur. The original inhabitants were natives and had the same facial features as the Igorots.Although already fully recognized by the Spanish Regime as a municipal district town in the 1800s, it was only in 1960 that Sigay emerged as a fully-fledged municipality, that which the residents called the New Era of Sigay. This came after the first elections of its local officials on November 12, 1959.
Today, Sigay is composed of seven barangays: Mabileg, Poblacion, San Ramon, San Elias, Abaccan, Matallucod, and Sto. Rosario. For a long time, the seat of local government resided in Abaccan. Later on, the local executive, Mayor Simeon Wandas (1960–1977) decided to build a Municipal Hall in Maday-aw (now, Poblacion) where, eventually, he transferred all the local government's occupations, including the Municipal Police Statition.
Geography
Sigay is situated as one among the topmost and farthest municipality of Ilocos Sur. The boundaries are as follows, north by the Municipality of Gregorio del Pilar, South by the Municipality of Salcedo; East by the Municipality of Quirino, and West by the Municipality of Suyo, Ilocos Sur. Sigay can be reached one and a half hour ride from the City of Candon through strong-geared vehicles traversing 30 km, 22 km concrete and 8 km rugged roads, passing stony rivers crossing several times and going up through mountain terrains. During rainy season, the place is isolated by swollen rivers and muddy slippery roads. Residents adopt themselves by negotiating distances by hike.The Municipality is nestled in a wide mountainous area where most of its forest is still untouched. Both ends of the Municipality is bounded with rivers namely Quinibor Rivers at the north where travelers pass and cross fourteen times, and Ida, Suyo Rivers in the South and which could be passed once before reaching the town. This type of soil is best suited to diversified crops.
The town has a total land area of 80.28 km2. comprising seven barangays. The place has a vast mountain ranges and forest wherein bountiful forest products abound.
Demographics
The municipality's population started a total number of eleven inhabitants during the 1930 National Census of Population, and gradually increased tp 1,036 in the following years of census (1908 census) with a highest geometric growth rate in its history at 33.26% per year. This end dates back to the time when the Bago tribes still growing, as describe in the municipal legend. During those times only mountain trails to trek on, and the residents have abundant virgin resources abound. Perhaps, the first sixteen (16) years of relatively rapid population increase is a classic exampleof what geographic information about the land, and demography, for that matter would certainly bring to an upland municipality.Based on the 2007 population statistical data, the municipality has a total population of 2,453.
Climate
The climate pattern of Sigay has two pronounced season, wet and dry season. The type of season is vry common not only in the nearby towns but in the entire region as well. The wet or rainy season is from the months of June to October and dry season is from the months November to May. The place is cold throughout the year due to the altitude of the town. The coldest months are from November to February.Language
The language dialect used by the residents in the place is purely Ilocano, although many residents specially young can understand and speak English and Tagalog. The use of Filipino or Tagalog as a medium of instruction in the Elementary school helps the children understand and speak the language.Religion
There were many religious sects being practiced in this place. The Roman Catholic consists most in terms of the percentage of the population while the so called Protestants were the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, The Way of Salvation, Seventh Day Adventist and the Assemblies of God and Jehovah's Witnesses.Education
The municipality have seven schools including the Secondary School. There are two primaries which were situated at Barangay Mabileg and Barangay Matallucod while there were four elementary schools. One is Sigay Central School situated at Barangay San Ramon. Another is Abaccan Elementary School and the other two were San Elias Elementary School and Sto. Rosario Elementary School. The secondary school is located at Poblacion which is now on its 8th year of operation. Because education is very important, the local officials strive more to provide school facilities and other needs to improve the newly established secondary school other than providing facilities, there are also employed teachers shouldered by the local funds to hep the school to its successful and continues operation.Economy
The town of Sigay is predominantly an agricultural municipality. Though the area is rugged and mountainous, it has a wide level areas suited for agriculture. Most of the resident engaged and raised crops like tobacco, coffee which is their main products and primary source of livelihood.The place has no public market up to the present so the residents need to transport their farm products to the lowlands for proper disposal and convert it into cash to buy their some basic needs especially during rainy season.
Since most of the families, agriculture is their main source of income not only in this municipality. Indeed, the Department of Agriculture want to alleviate poverty, enhance income, profit and put into secured food sufficiency. To achieve these visions and aspirations, the department in consultation with our constituents at the grass roots level and other appropriate government agencies and offices, shall formulate and implement a medium and long term comprehensive Agriculture and Fishery Modernization Plan.
Natural Resources
Geographic Location and TopographySigay lies in the upland regions of Southwestern Ilocos Sur, approximately within the longtitudinal points 16*59'40"N and 17*07'20"N, and within the latitudinal points 120*33'30"E and 120*37'00".
Five upland Local Governments surround Sigay: on the North lies the Municipality of Del Pilar (formerly known as Concepcion); on the East, the Municipalitie of Quirino (upper east boundary) and the Municipality of Cervantes (upper central to lower East boundary); on the South lies the Municipality of Suyo and on the West, the Municipality of Salcedo.
Sigay has an elongated shape and consists of seven highly elevated barangays: traversing the municipality from the north, one passes through Mabileg, then Poblacion, San Ramon, San Elias, Abaccan, Matallucod and finally, Sto. Rosario in the Southernmost portion.
The landforms are, basically, composed of very high mountains, hills and valleys.
The highest spot elevation found in the municipality is 1,508 meters above sea level in Barangay Sto. Rosario, although several mountains peak at 515 m, 657 m, 733 m, 762 m, 811 m 1,057 m, and 1,325 m, respectively, and constitute almost all of the eastern and southern portions of the municipality. not so many have scaled these heights. The tribal elders who have reached these highest places, claim however, that these mountains are thickly populated with age-old timber, trunks as large as 2–3 meters in diameter. Likewise, strangers who have explored these mountains also speak of very large pythons, wild boar and deer, rare orchids and other mountain flora. If this is true, then Sigay could very well claim to have conserved, through the years, a substantial portion of the virgin forests and wildlife of Ilocos Sur.
Sigay is approximately 30 kilometers from the Municipality of Candon, where the inhabitants usually buy their needs. There is no access road - whether national or provincial - from the north, except for a rough road that has been carved through the Buaya River, by the inhabitants. Although it is accurate to say that the road crosses the Buaya River, the road itself is semi-permanent, turning and twisting along with the river's path and crossing the shallower portions of the water. In the summer, when the Buaya River (known by the locals as the Quinibor River) runs low, rough-road vehicle, trucks and motorbikes maybe used to enter the municipality, crossing the Buaya fourteen (14) times. This trip takes approximately three hours from Candon.
Meanwhile, down south, another large river, the Suyo River (which is a tributary of the larger Amburayan-Chico River) may be found. From the Tagudin-Suyo Road, which commences in Bitalag, Tagudin, Ilocos Sur, vehicles may take the turn to the Suyo-Sigay Road, cross the Suyo River twice and then come to the entry point in Barangay Sto.Rosario. The trip, by public utility jeep takes two hours or so.
The rainy season poses a problem in that as the rivers swell, vehicles Sigay-bound and out, may no longer negotiate the area. If the people chose to go to the City of Candon, they would cross the Buaya River on foot, traversing the river 14 times for a total of fifteen kilometer hike, until they reach Salcedo where they can get a passenger jeepney. Similarly, on the other end of the municipality, residents going southward to Suyo cross the river on foot, and hike about three hours. The people who do not have businesses in the urban areas simply stay at home and wait for the rains to stop, the rivers to abate. a great deal of frustration comes from walking the roads in the community, which have not been thoroughly concreted, which the rains muddy up.
For the Sigay resident, this is sheer isolation.... when during the rainy days, the residents carry their sick down the mountains and across the rivers to the nearest decent hospital... when during these wet days, food is scarce, money is even scarcerand the people are cut off the source of their basic needs.
Climate
One of Sigay's unique attractions is definitely its climate, cold and calming in the summer season. Local tourists call Sigay "The Little Baguio" of Ilocos Sur. Biking or hiking to the Sigay View Deck in Sto. Rosario, where one could see a breath-taking panoramic view of the coastal towns of Southern Ilocos Sur, in the cool mountain weather, is certainly worth taking. Trekkers and cyclists may also camp at the Tirad Pass National Park for an adventure with wildlife and a mystical union with undefiled nature. the climate is also the reason for the abundant fruit harvests and the upland vegetable gardens. Succulent citrus varieties and other fruit trees thrive very well in cold weather.
Like any other municipality in the Ilocos Region, Sigay enjoy two pronounced seasons: the wet season (from May to November) and the dry season (from December to APril). The Coronas Climate Classifications of the Philippines indicates that the climate in Sigay is of Type 1 ( Figure 2.4 Climate Map of the Philippines ). An average of nineteen tropical cyclones visit the country annually, and Sigay suffers the brunt of an average of 32% or approximately 7 typhoons, this including an approximate 1-2 super typhoons in the year. This information is based on the PAG-ASA typhoon frequency data for the Philippines, also discernible on the same map.
Locals report an average temperature of 15-16 degree Celsius, especially at night, but the villages, temperature may go to down as low as 12-14 degree Celsius in the coldest months. The temperature should be much lower in the highest elevations of eastern SIgay.
There is no agro-meteorological station near the area; nevertheless, the Sigay Municipal Profile indicates that Sigay receives an average rainfall of 268 mm for an average of 12 days per month. This is quite close to the local climate, since most of the year, rain falls quite voluminously in the mountains. According to the Municipal Profile, the Average typhoon intensity is eleven (11) knots going westward.
Barangays
Sigay is politically subdivided into 7 barangayBarangay
A barangay is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines and is the native Filipino term for a village, district or ward...
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- Abaccan
- Mabileg
- Matallucod
- Poblacion (Madayaw)
- San Elias
- San Ramon
- Santo Rosario