Narvacan, Ilocos Sur

Narvacan
Municipality
Map of Ilocos Sur showing the location of Narvacan
Narvacan Location within 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 I)
Province	Ilocos Sur
District	2nd District
Barangays	34
Government[1]
• Mayor	Zuriel S. Zaragoza
Area[2]
• Total	122.21 km2 (47.19 sq mi)
Population (2010)[3]
• Total	42,803
• Density	350/km2 (910/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	2704
Dialing code	77
Income class	2nd class
Website	www.narvacan.gov.ph

Narvacan is a second class municipality in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it had a population of 42,803 people.^[3]

Barangays

Narvacan is politically subdivided into 34 barangays.^[2]

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 25 April 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 —

Demographics

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

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.

Tourism

The Sulvec beach is a popular lounging spot for vacationers and is near the Narvacan Tourism Lounge.^[5] Tourists also visit the Sulvec Watchtower, a brick tower that was built by Spaniards to warn the town of pirates coming from offshore.^[6]

Education

The Narvacan School of Fisheries, a branch of the Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College (ISPSC), has been located in Sulvec since 1964.^[7] It is also the base of operations of the Philippine Army’s 503rd Infantry Brigade which oversees the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Units.^[8]

List of former mayors

During the Spanish regime, the municipal government was headed by Gobernadorcillos. The title of the town chief executive, however, metamorphosed to Capitan, Military President Alcalde Mayor, Military Mayor, then Municipal Mayor.

• 1876 – 1880 Capitan Guillermo Bautista
• 1880 – 1882 Capitan Manuel Damasco
• 1882 – 1884 Capitan Alejo Conde
• 1884 – 1886 Capitan Laya
• 1886 – 1888 Capitan Mariano Zarsuza
• 1888 – 1890 Capitan Pedro Roldan
• 1890 – 1892 Capitan Rufino Bañez
• 1892 – 1894 Capitan Medio Jacob
• 1894 – 1896 Capitan Proceso Sanidad
• 1896 – 1898 Capitan Dionisio Clarin
• 1898 – 1900 Capitan Ponciano Viloria

When a military government was established by the Americans, Don Severino Cordero was installed as the Military President in the Municipality. When the civil government was established, Don Severino Cordero became the first Alcalde Mayor. Others who followed him are as follows:

• 1904 – 1908 Don Leon Cordero
• 1908 – 1912 Don Jacinto Cordero
• 1912 – 1917 Don Pedro Bañez Viloria
• 1917 – 1919 Don Jacinto Cordero
• 1919 – 1925 Don Lucio Clarin
• 1925 – 1934 Don Fernando Abella
• 1934 – 1941 Don Andres Cordero
• 1942 – 1944 Dominador Villanueva (Japanese Occupation)
• 1944 – 1945 Nemesio Borge (Military Government)

Municipal mayors since WWII:

• 1946 – 1947 Luis Cabanilla (Appointed)
• 1947 – 1959 Timoteo Cachola
• 1959 – 1963 Jaime Cordero
• 1963 – 1965 Justo Mendoza
• 1965 – 1967 Salvador Cabanilla (Acting)
• 1967 – 1986 Dr. Gregoria V. Cauton
• 1986 – 1988 Rosalia Villanueva (OIC)
• 1988 – 1998 Edgardo D. Zaragoza
• 1998 – 2004 Charito S. Zaragoza
• 2004 – 2010 Edgardo D. Zaragoza
• 2010 - to present Zuriel S. Zaragoza

Famous Narvacaneos

• Romeo Callejo, Sr. - retired Supreme Court Associate Justice
• Prospero C. Sanidad - former Senator and Cabinet member during the administration of President Elpidio Quirino
• Fidel Villanueva - former Assemblyman, Congressman
• Pablo Sanidad - former Congressman
• Lucas V. Cauton - retired AFP General, former Congressman, Assemblyman

References

External links

• Municipality of Narvacan Homepage
• Pasyalang Ilocos Sur
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Local Governance Performance Management System

		Santa / San Quintin, Abra
	South China Sea		Nagbukel Pilar, Abra
	Narvacan
		Santa Maria

v t e Province of Ilocos Sur Municipalities Alilem Banayoyo Bantay Burgos Cabugao Caoayan Cervantes Galimuyod Gregorio del Pilar Lidlidda Magsingal Nagbukel Narvacan Quirino Salcedo San Emilio San Esteban San Ildefonso San Juan San Vicente Santa Santa Catalina Santa Cruz Santa Lucia Santa Maria Santiago Santo Domingo Sigay Sinait Sugpon Suyo Tagudin Component cities Candon Vigan