Narvacan, Ilocos Sur

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Map of Ilocos Sur showing the location of Narvacan

Narvacan is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines.

Situated near the western coastline of the island of Luzon, Narvacan is nestled in a valley surrounded my mountains. A fertile region with a cool tropical climate, the principal crops of Narvacan are corn, cotton, indigo, rice, sugarcane and tobacco. Its residents are largely Roman Catholic and Methodist Christians who speak Ilocano.

According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 38,435 people in 7,803 households.

[edit] 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
Naguneg
Orence
Pantoc
Paratong
Parparia

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

[edit] 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 — royal mayor of Narvacan.