Lidlidda, officially the Municipality of Lidlidda (Ilocano: Ili ti Lidlidda; Filipino: Bayan ng Lidlidda), is a 5th class municipality in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 4,705 people.[3]
Lidlidda is 64 kilometres (40 mi) from Vigan City and 361 kilometres (224 mi) from Manila.
History
In the 1800s, there lived tribes called Agsalog (Igorot) in the East Hinterlands of Golot (Mountain Province). Some groups of these people were hospitable, while some were fierce fighters, head hunters, animal rustlers, robbers and the like which worsened the already impoverished state of their place. Tired of such constant inconveniences, the pacifist tribes decided to leave after holding a secret meeting. They grouped themselves into three: one group to head for the North, another to the South and the third to the West. The group that traveled to the west were the ones who reached the site of Lidlidda. Members of this group had such names as Conay, Caoas, Digay, Caoeng, San-E, Gumanab, Anggon, Calugay and others. After twenty days of hiking, they settled in a place that looked suitable for building homes, at a valley with grassy plains, a river along its sides, creeks, brooks, and wells. There were plenty of fish, wild animals and game for food. The surrounding hills and mountains were covered with tall trees and bamboo.
They made a begnas (fiesta) to express their gratitude to the god Kabunian. Three days after, they started digging and pulling the ledda (Thick tall grasses) to convert the land into rice paddies. As the population increased, residents started to search further places for resources. One time, a group of hunters saw smoke near the coast from atop of the mountains west of the place. Eager to see what was there, they hiked to the place. Suddenly they came to reach a street and houses. The people who inhabited the place were Ilokanos, who were also kind and friendly. An elderly rich man met them and told them of his great desire to visit their place to make friends and trade with them, as well as to educate and Christianize the tribe, which the latter accepted. The rich man along with his neighbors bundled some clothes, utensils, reading and writing materials and went with the hunters. After a few hours, they reached the top of ‘Baggiing Hill’ where they rested. The rich man anxiously asked how far more to go. A hunter stood and said, “Sir, our home is located there at the edge of that plain covered with those ‘Adu nga Ledda’ (many thick tall grasses)”. Then, they hurried down and in a few minutes reached the place. The natives came and welcomed them with a feast.
Geography
Barangays
Lidlidda is politically subdivided into 11 barangays.[5] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
Lidlidda, belonging to the second congressional district of the province of Ilocos Sur, is governed by a mayor designated as its local chief executive and by a municipal council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code. The mayor, vice mayor, and the councilors are elected directly by the people through an election which is being held every three years.
Lidlidda Day Celebration- being held every 6 January featuring the various cultural songs and dances, native delicacies, indigenous games, and many more, and is actively participated by all townspeople of Lidlidda that even our folks in far places try to find time to come home to personally witness and experience the gracefulness of the celebration. This wonderful event is usually a three-day affair and now popularly known as Buyag Celebration Indeed, the folks as Bago (or Bagbag-o)is now being recognized in the Ilocos and Philippine communities through this celebration, among other Bago cultural festivities entire North Luzon (Philippines).
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