Municipal Government of Naguilian, La Union

Etymology of the Name

The name came from the Ilocano word “Nag-ili-an”. “Nag” is a prefix which denotes past action, “ili” is the Ilocano term for town, and “an” is a word which modifies the word “ili”. Putting the three words together, it becomes “Nag-ili-an”, which means the place where the people from other places have stayed permanently. This was later, however, modified as “NAGUILIAN”.

The Founding of Naguilian

Due to increasing population density, a barangay of immigrants drifted to the shore of La Union and begun building the town of Bauang at the south of the river, now called the Bauang River, and settled thereat. Later, however, again due to population explosion, they followed the meander of the river in search of a new territory. They found a valley at the bank of the river and then they reached the fertile valley of Naguilian then still a part of Bauang. They then built a colony at the fork of the two (2) rivers and began developing the territory. They were the first inhabitants of Naguilian.

The separation of Naguilian from Bauang coincided with the centennial of the Catholic Church of Naguilian in 1839. When La Union was created by a Royal Decree in 1850, Naguilian was one of the twelve (12) towns that comprised the province.

The Subdivision of Naguilian

The lower portion of the Municipality of Burgos was formerly a part of Naguilian during the Spanish era. Its native name was Disdis, meaning it was a small barrio and was called Stancia by the Spaniards because it was the place where they pastured their horses. Until the opening of the road to Baguio, it was still popularly known as Disdis.

The barangays along the southwestern bank of the Naguilian River (Bagulin portion) were likewise a part of Naguilian this portion, which was dominantly inhabited by the Igorots, was separated from Naguilian during the American Regime.

It was by virtue of a Resolution of the Provincial Government that Naguilian was divided into three municipalities, namely, Naguilian, a portion forming part of Burgos and still a portion forming part of Bagulin.

Political Subdivisions

Naguilian is composed of thirty seven (37) barangays, as follows:

1. Aguioas
2. Al-alinao Norte
3. Al-alinao Sur
4. Ambaracao Norte
5. Ambaracao Sur
6. Angin
7. Balecbec
8. Bancagan
9. Baraoas Norte
10. Baraoas Sur
11. Bariquir
12. Bato
13. Bimmotobot
14. Cabaritan Norte
15. Cabaritan Sur
16. Casilagan
17. Dal-lipaoen
18. Daramuangan
19. Guesset
20. Gusing Norte
21. Gusing Sur
22. Imelda
23. Lioac Norte
24. Lioac Sur
25. Magungunay
26. Mamat-ing Norte
27. Mamat-ing Sur
28. Nagsidorisan
29. Natividad
30. Ortiz
31. Ribsuan
32. San Antonio
33. San Isidro
34. Sili
35. Suguidan Norte
36. Suguidan Sur
37. Tuddingan