Aringay, officially the Municipality of Aringay (; ; ), is a coastal municipality in the province of La Union, Philippines. According to the , it has a population of people.

Known in Philippine History as the birthplace of revolutionary leader Diego Silang, its economy is based primarily on agriculture - producing rice, tobacco and fruit crops as economic staples. A nascent tourism industry is centered on its beach resorts. Its ethnic population is predominantly Ilocano and Christian (Roman Catholic).

Etymology

The name "Aringay" is attributed to two main theories.

The first theory suggests that the name originated from an early settlement known as Alingay, Alinguey, or Aringuey, which thrived through gold trading along the coastal areas and the Aringay River during the 15th-16th century.

The second theory is rooted in local legend. In the early 16th century, two rival settlements existed on opposite sides of a river, each led by a chieftain. Aring, the daughter of the southern chieftain, and Ayong, the son of the northern chieftain, fell in love despite the disputes between their families.

The lovers met secretly at the river, and during one fateful meeting, Aring’s boat capsized during a storm. Ayong heroically saved her, shouting “Aring-ay!” as he did. This event led to the reconciliation of their families, the union of their settlements, and the naming of the town Aringay in honor of their story. It was a settlement of Pangasinan people strategically located along its coastal areas, lowlands, and the banks of the Aringay River. Historically, this settlement formed part of the northern section of the ancient Pangasinan region.

Aringay played a pivotal role as a coastal maritime trading center, serving as the terminus of the Aringay-Tonglo-Balatok gold trail. This route linked the gold mines of upland Tonglo (in present-day Benguet) to lowland Aringay, facilitating the transport of gold through the nearby port-settlement of Aroo (modern-day Agoo).

The settlement flourished through trade with neighboring groups such as the Samtoy (Ilocano) communities to the north and Cordilleran (Igorot) peoples like the Ibaloi, Ifugao, and Kankanaey in the highlands of the Cordillera Central. Aringay also hosted foreign traders from China, mainly from Fujian, Japan, and Maritime Southeast Asia, fostering a vibrant trade network. Goods exchanged in these transactions included porcelain, silk, cotton, beeswax, gemstones, beads, and precious minerals, particularly gold, which was highly valued both regionally and internationally.

Subsequently, Augustinian friars and Spanish authorities, led by Captain Alfonso Quirante, formally organized the settlement into a pueblo. The Spaniards imposed their authority by subjugating the locals and foreign merchants and converting them to Christianity. A visita (satellite mission station) was established in Aringay and placed under the jurisdiction of the larger church district in Agoo. New agricultural techniques and the Encomienda System were introduced, entrusting native labor and resources to Spanish encomenderos, friars, and local elites in exchange for tribute and governance. The migration resulted in Aringay becoming predominantly inhabited by Ilocanos and Ilocanized Pangasinenses.

On December 16, 1741, the settlement was officially organized as a municipality and named Aringay. which would have created new positions for which the former municipal officials could run despite having the terms limits of their offices. This sparked protests from the people of both municipalities, who did not want the merger because it would subject Aringay citizens to the same high local taxes as Agoo, and because of concerns that Agoo and Aringay would lose their cultural identities. The proposed merger thus did not push through within term of the 16th Congress.

Aringay is traversed by several creeks and rivers, the largest being the Aringay River, which flows into the Lingayen Gulf. The Aringay River watershed is a significant river basin in southern La Union, spanning 45 kilometers in length with a drainage area of 469 square kilometers. It is classified as a Class B River Basin, suitable for primary contact activities such as swimming, bathing, and skin diving. It also has a drainage area of 469sqm. Apart from La Union, it also caters to the Province of Benguet. The river runs along the Aringay fault line, which can produce rumbling sounds during seismic activity caused by movements in the fault.

| date = 26 April 2020

Demographics

Based on the 2020 Philippine Statistics Authority Census of Population and Housing (2020 CPH), the municipality of Aringay, La Union recorded a total population of 50,380 persons as of May 1, 2020. This figure showed an increase of 2,922 persons compared to the total population of 47,458 persons in the 2015 Census of Population. The population growth in the municipality of Aringay, La Union from 2015 to 2020 translated to an average annual population growth rate (PGR) of 1.26%, which means that about 13 persons were added annually for every 1,000 individuals in the population.

Among the 24 barangays of Aringay, San Eugenio was the most populous, constituting 8.28% of the total municipal population. San Benito Sur was the second most populous barangay with a 7.40% share, followed by Dulao (7.23%), Santa Rita West (7.23%), and Poblacion (6.96%). The least populated barangay in the municipality was San Juan East, which accounted for 1.99% of the population.

The literacy rate of Aringay, La Union in 2020 was 98.98%, with 50.34% of literate individuals being males and 49.66% being females. Among the total household population aged 5 years old and over, 28.96% attended or completed elementary education, 41.68% reached or finished high school, 8.16% were college undergraduates, and 13.04% attained academic degrees.

Fishing Industry

Aquaculture is a major industry in Aringay, with significant production of bangus (milkfish) which is Arinagy's One Town, One Product, prawns, and oysters in the Aringay River and surrounding areas. Barangays like Alaska, Dulao, Samara, and Sto. Tomas are key players in the fishing sector, supporting local businesses and trade. This industry offers employment to many residents and contributes to the town’s economic vitality through both local consumption and export. However, it struggles in Cost of Doing Business (385th) and Financial Deepening (280th). It shows moderate performance in Productivity (229th) and Presence of Business and Professional Organizations (81st). Aringay ranks low in Local Economy Size (238th).

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! Position

! Name

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| Congressman

| style="text-align:center;" | Dante S. Garcia

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| Mayor

| style="text-align:center;" | Benjamin O. Sibuma

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|Vice-Mayor

| style="text-align:center;" | Charito O. Sibuma-Yu

|-

|rowspan=8| Councilors

| style="text-align:center;" | Maria Isabel D. Diaz

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| style="text-align:center;" | Ramsey Pascual D. Mangaoang

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Woodrow P. Araojo Jr.

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Rachell Juloya-Martinez

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Josephine M. Dacanay

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| style="text-align:center;" | Karl Adrielle Dave G. Ong

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| style="text-align:center;" | Nelda B. Mapile

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| style="text-align:center;" | Rolando M. Herrera

|-

|}

<gallery widths="200" heights="150">

File:FvfLaUnion9897 33.JPG|Municipal hall

File:FvfAringayLaUnion9524 27.JPG|Town plaza

File:FvfLaUnion0401 02.JPG|Public market

File:2731Santa Rita San Simon, Aringay, La Union 17.jpg|Aringay River along Santa Rita

File:4531Aringay Town Proper 24.jpg|Saint Lucy Parish Church

File:4146Samara, Aringay, La Union 19.jpg|Aringay Beach in Samara

File:5564MacArthur Highway Aringay, La Union 04.jpg|MacArthur Highway along San Eugenio, Aringay

File:FvfLaUnion9450 01.JPG|Street view

File:FvfAringayLaUnion9852 44.JPG|Town Proper

</gallery>

Notable personalities

  • Diego Silang - Spanish-colonial era revolutionary leader
  • Gloria Diaz - Filipino actress and title holder of Miss Universe 1969
  • Elpidio Quirino - Sixth President of the Philippines

References

  • [ Philippine Standard Geographic Code]
  • Philippine Census Information
  • Local Governance Performance Management System