Ilocos Sur: Tagudin (Bien's nostalgias and how this town got its name)

After 9 long hours, we then arrived at Bien’s hometown in Rizal, one of the 43 Baranggays in Tagudin.

While I was writing this post today, I asked Bien via SMS to confirm if he really grew up in Tagudin and asked when was the time he left his native land for a job in Manila. He then replied that yes he was born there and practically grew up in Tagudin but left his homeland in 1993 to find his luck in Manila.

I guess my friend also went down the memory lane as he also shared with me that sometime in 1988, he left Tagudin to visit Manila together with his mom and sister to watch his first movie “Kambal Tuko” (starring the cute little twins – Richard and Raymond Gutierrez) in Avenida.   What’s more “nostalgic” according to him was on their way back to Ilocos, he told me that it was his first time to eat Balot (A balut / balot is a fertilized duck embryo that is boiled and eaten in the shell - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balut_(egg)). He threw the cooked duckling in the highway hoping and praying that it would live again.  I really laughed out loud when I read his text message about it.  It just showed how “probinsyano” (someone from the province / outside of Manila,    

                                                      who is not used to city life) he was back then.

Being a Tagudinian, Bien studied at St Augustine School (built in 1910) where one of the first two sundials built in the country are located.  The other sundial stands across its Townhall.  These two timepieces were constructed in 1841 and 1848 by Father Juan Sorolla.  Amidst the modern times, these sundials are still accurate and reliable.

Tagudin,the first municipality right after the Amburayan Bridge traversing from Supiden, La Union, I may say has also been a great part of Philippine History.

But before dwelling on its significance in our country’s history, let me share with you how Tagudin got his name.

According to the locals, one day a Spaniard asked the name of the place from an old woman who was busy cleaning her yarn which she uses for weaving, (weaving or Tagud is one of the source of income in this municipality).  The old lady thought that he was asking the name of the tool where her yarn was placed and so she answered that it was Tagudan referring to the weaving apparatus.  He then wrote this in his notes.  Later on, he referred to his diary to refresh his memory but had read it as Tagudin.  So the place was then called Tagudin.

Ilocos Sur: Prologue

Tiring it may seem that coming from a 4pm-1am shift from the office I will be travelling northbound of Luzon but I was really looking forward in meeting my two friends and hit the road with them. 

Filipinos can sleep anywhere

Mau fetched me from the office earlier than the time we agreed.  Unfortunately, she waited for me for almost two hours.  At about three in the morning we already arrived at Partas Terminal where Bien was waiting for us.  It surprised us when we saw that there were so many passengers.  

Waiting for their numbers to be called

Some have already slept on the floor while some were patiently standing, falling in line and anticipating for their numbers to be called. 

Hoping to get a ride as soon as possible

My friends and I tried to be patient until I heard my stomach complaining being hungry.  I grab a cup of noodles and ate it along the roadside where we were seated. I did not really care anymore about what others will say or how much dust and pollution will i be eating too.

While I was eating, it dawned on me that the sun is almost up because it was past the hour of five.  Bien and I started to google locations and  contact numbers of other bus stations and luckily we were able to find one.

Dinakdakan and Pakbet Ilocano

Our bus left at about 6am and we took the chance to get some sleep during the travel.  

After three hours we had our first stop over and ate our breakfast: rice, Pakbet Ilocano and Dinakdakan.  Yes! You read it right! Rice and Viand for breakfast.  This is how we Filipinos usually have our breakfast and it is really a heavy one!

Pakbet or Pinakbet is a dish from the northern part of the Philippines.  It is actually one of the most popular Ilocano dish which is also being served in Manila. It uses bagoong (fermented fish or shrimp and salt)  as one of the main ingredient and various vegetables such as Talong (eggplant), Okra, Ampalaya (bitter melon). (Ilocano - this is how the people are referred to in Ilocos and most of the northern regions of the Philippines).

Dinakdakan is also one authentic Ilocano recipe; grilled pig's part (tounge, ear, liver) blended with the brain which is good to be dipped in vinegar.  This may also be blended with Mayonnaise.

So having this hearty meal, we went back to our bus, waited for it to resume our travel and slept along the way.

Ilocos At last! Our first stop was the hometown of Bien, Tagudin.

Location wise, Tagudin is the first of the 34 municipalities of Ilocos Sur. It is situated right after Amburayan Bridge.  It is connecting Baranggay Bio Tagudin and Baranggay Ipet, Sudipen, La union.

This bridge was inaugurated by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo during the commemoration of the 113^th martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal last December 30^, 2009 where she lead the national celebration in Ilocos Sur.

Now, where else could this bridge lead us to?  Find out in my next post.