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The exact founding of Tagudin, today still remains a “Gordian Knot”. The theory
however, is that during the early days, people established settlements close to
the rivers and seas for mobility and food. The Amburayan River that lies on the
southern border of this town is one of the biggest rivers in the region and this
made Tagudin as one of the largest and earliest settlements in the province. The
river, strongly believed to have taken its name from this community during the
pre-colonization era is mentioned in the famed Ilocano epic entitled “Biag ni
Lam-ang”.
Legend has it that the first conquistador who arrived in this
 place
and inquired about the name of this community from an old woman. The said woman
who was then busy cleaning her yarn , thought that the Spaniard was asking the
name of the mechanical contraption where her yarn was placed. She then replied
“tagudan daytoy apo” (this is tagudan, sir) and the conquistador wrote in his
diary the word “tagudan”. Later, when he referred to his diary for
the name of the place, he figured out the word “tagudan” as “Tagudin”. Since
then, the town has always been called Tagudin.
Tagudin used to be the capital of Amburayan, declared a sub-province of the
Mountain Province during the Spanish era then composed of the towns of Lepanto,
Angaki (now Quirino, Ilocos Sur), Suyo Sugpon, Santol, San Gabriel and Tagudin.
The Government hill where the reservoir of Tagudin Water District is now located
was then to be the site of this capitol of this sub-province. In 1818, Tagudin
became a part of Ilocos Sur and thus became a threshold of the province from the
south.
I t would seem axiomatic that Tagudin deserved a niche in Philippine history, a
number of historical firsts occurred and established in this town. Father Juan Sorolla in 1848 constructed the first two sundials put up by the Spaniards in
the country in this town --. One is located inside the Saint Augustine’s School
compound and the other stands in front of the town hall. Though more than a
century old, these sundials still stand with pride for their accuracy as
timepieces.
The ICM Missionary Sisters started their noble mission in the country here in
Tagudin. The assiduous congregation by its foundress Sister Marie Louise de
Meester whose efforts in the educational, socio-economic and religious
development gave birth to ranking institutions of learning in the country. These
include our very own Saint Augustine’s School, St. Theresa’s College in Manila
and Cebu, Christ the King College in San Fernando City and many others. Their
efforts also put this town in the tourism map as the country’s First Living
Community Museum”. 
In 1916, the country opened its first Municipal High School, which was later
named as the Ilocos Sur Provincial High School, which later became Tagudin
General Comprehensive High School, and at present has been developed into two
schools - the Ilocos Sur
Polytechnic College and the Tagudin National High School.
When the Japanese Imperial Forces landed in Vigan at the onset of the Pacific
War and later advanced to the south, it was again in this town , particularly along the roads of
Barangay Dardarat, Tallaoen and Dacutan where they met the
first Filipino resistance of their Philippine conquest. It was an ambush staged
by a group of Filipino soldiers under General William Brougher on December 18,
1941. The decisive Battle of Bessang Pass actually started in Barangay Bitalag
of this town wherein a Japanese garrison was located. When the unified
Filipino-American Forces named as USAFIP-NL captured Bitalag and later the
heavily manned Bessang Pass, the man who planted the Philippine Flag at the peak
of the mountain is from this town in the person of the then Captain Emilio
Narcise. Now a retired general, he was the company commander of H Company, the
force’s front line company and, thus, the first to reach the famous pass.
The capture of Bessang Pass was remarkable for it was the start of the downfall
of the Japanese Imperial Forces. During the celebration of the 50th Anniversary
of the Battle of Bessang Pass on June 14, 1996, Retired Brig. Gen. Emilio
Narcise was the only straight-bodied veteran to receive a Gold Cross Medal from
the then President Fidel Ramos.
Another remarkable accomplishment during the liberation was done by a Tagudinian
in the person of Faustino Somera Sr., a boloman of the USAFIP-NL. He is
responsible for the death of General Hara of the Japanese Imperial Army. Their
troop headed by 3rd Lt. Jesus Martinez, a fellow Tagudinian, successfully staged
an ambush along Almazan Road. The vigorous boloman chased the escaping general
and ended the latter’s life with a single stroke of his bolo.
The commander Mr. Jesus Martinez is presently the President of the Tagudin
Veterans Association. This town was also the site of the biggest hospital during
the liberation where the Tagudin Town Plaza now lies.
To date, the Municipality of Tagudin remains as an agricultural community. It
also plays the role of a satellite town being the center of market, trade and
education for its five neighboring towns. Its strategic location and the
proposed seaport at the Libtong beach (formerly PHILMAG) have made this town a
potential hub for trade and commerce for Southern Ilocos Sur and Northern La
Union. The numerous historical events and structures, the Baracbac Falls and the
shallow beaches of Tagudin are now attracting a number of foreign and local
tourists. The present administration is on its full force to execute every plan
to realize this noble goal, the soonest time for everybody to appreciate and
enjoy. |
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