Bantay Ilocos Sur, Origin of name, History and Barangays

Bantay is a 4th class municipality in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 33,174 people in 6,107 households.

Bantay is politically subdivided into 34 barangays.

Aggay
An-annam
Balaleng
Banaoang
Bulag
Buquig
Cabalanggan
Cabaroan
Cabusligan
Capangdanan
Guimod
Lingsat
Malingeb
Mira
Naguiddayan
Ora
Paing
Puspus
Quimmarayan
Sagneb
Sagpat
San Mariano (Sallacong)
San Isidro
San Julian
Sinabaan
Taguiporo
Taleb
Tay-ac
Barangay 1 (Pob.)
Barangay 2 (Pob.)
Barangay 3 (Pob.)
Barangay 4 (Pob.)
Barangay 5 (Pob.)
Barangay 6 (Pob.)

The municipality's name came from the fact that its patron, Our Lady of Charity, protects the town. The miraculous image was found onboard a ship standed somewhere along the Ilocos Coast during the Spanish Era. They enshrined and venerated the image in a chapel made from cogon grass and bamboo. Many other people from other towns came to claim the miraculous statue, but failed to even move it. Only people from the town can move the statue. As a result those who attempted to claim the miraculous statue went home, believing that the Miraculous Image of Our Lady of Charity would remain forever to guard the place.

Another origin is that the municipality is bordered by the Carballo mountains, which forms a natural boundary between the town and neighboring Abra. "Bantay" is an Ilocano term meaning "mountain," and "guard."

The parish of Bantay was founded by the Spaniards in accordance with the Augustinian definitory of April 30, 1591. Other sources say that it was established by Father Juan Bautista de Montoya, its first parish priest, with Geronimo Cavero as his assistant. Another source tells that the Ministry of Bantay was founded in 1590.

At the time of the foundation of the municipality, Bantay had the following rancherias: Turod, Buked (Buquig), Karamayan, and Bantaoay (now the Municipality of San Ildefonso). It had the following visitas: Magsingal, Lapog, Santa, and at one time Santa Catalina San Vicente and Santo Domingo. The permanent territorial jurisdiction of Bantay was made permanent in 1721, through an agreement between the Augustinian Provincial and the Vicar General of the Diocese of Nueva Segovia. This agreement also put Santa Catalina, San Vicente, Caoayan and Santo Domingo under the jurisdiction of Vigan.

The barrios of Ora East and Ora Centro were burned to the ground in the '70s, in one of the most notorious acts done by dreaded armed groups known as the saka-saka (Ilocano term which literally means "barefooted").

Source: Wikipedia-Bantay,Ilocos_Sur