Bangui, Ilocos Norte

Bangui, officially the Municipality of Bangui (; ), is a municipality in the province of Ilocos Norte, Philippines. According to the , it has a population of people.

The first power generating windmill farm in Southeast Asia, commonly known as Bangui Wind Farm, is found in the municipality of Bangui.

Etymology

The name Bangui is derived from the word bangee, referring to an edible seaweed of red algal genus Laurencia (Laurencia sp.) that thrives abundantly along the town's coastal areas.

Historically, in 1786, the settlement frequently endured raids by Moro pirates. To address this threat, Gobernadorcillo Francisco Fernandez organized local bands of fighters to protect the community. These defenders called themselves Bangi which is abundant in the coastal settlements, a name that was later adopted by Spanish authorities as the official designation of the municipality. The 1818 census noted there were 1,449 native families and 5 Spanish-Filipino families in Bangui.

With the arrival of the Americans in 1901, the spelling of the town's name was changed from "Bangi" to "Bangui" to give it a more euphonic sound. By 1913, Bangui was officially recognized as a municipality under American governance. The Americans constructed a road connecting Laoag and Cagayan, facilitating trade between the Cagayan Valley and the Ilocos Region. They also introduced public education, established barrios, and developed a lumber industry in Baruyen, where gold, asbestos, and manganese were mined. Eight farmers in Bangui are documented to have been "salvaged" in 1984. Ayala-owned AC Energy eventually took over Northwind and of the Bangui Wind Farm in 2017, acquiring a total of 67.79% of Northwind stocks.

Today, Bangui continues to thrive as a municipality with its unique history and cultural heritage preserved through the generations.

Geography

The Municipality of Bangui is borderedd by Burgos to the west, Pagudpud to the northeast, Dumalneg to the east, Vintar to the south, and the South China Sea to the north.

Bangui is situated from the provincial capital Laoag and from the country's capital city of Manila.

Barangays

Bangui is politically subdivided into 14 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Abaca
Bacsil
Banban
Baruyen
Dadaor
Lanao
Malasin
Manayon
Masikil
Nagbalagan
Payac
San Lorenzo (Poblacion)
Taguiporo
Utol

Dispute

On August 10, 2012, Barangay San Isidro was transferred to Dumalneg town based on the decision of Supreme Court over the disputed barangay.

Climate

Demographics

In the 2024 census, the population of Bangui was 15,227 people, with a density of .

Economy

Government

Local government

thumb|right|120px|Former seal of Bangui, used until 2014.

Bangui, belonging to the first congressional district of the province of Ilocos Norte, 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.

Elected officials

{| class="wikitable" style="line-height:1.20em; font-size:100%;"

|+ Members of the Municipal Council<br>(2019–2022)

! Position

! Name

| Congressman

| style="text-align:center;" | Ria Christina G. Fariñas

| Mayor

| style="text-align:center;" | Fidel A. Cimatu Jr.

|Vice-Mayor

| style="text-align:center;" | Denton Lawrence G. Garvida

|rowspan=8| Councilors

| style="text-align:center;" | Joy R. Soriano

| style="text-align:center;" | Florencio G. Sales Jr.

| style="text-align:center;" | Diosdado I. Garvida

| style="text-align:center;" | Doddie M. Gaces

| style="text-align:center;" | Susan B. Faylogna

| style="text-align:center;" | Rogerick C. Balbag

| style="text-align:center;" | Anthony N. Campañano

| style="text-align:center;" | Florante L. Garvida

Tourism

thumb|right|[[Vestas V82 wind turbines of the Bangui Wind Farm]]

thumb|Sentinella Hill

Bangui is well known because of its wind farm, which is the town's main attraction. Although the Burgos and Caparispisan (Pagudpud) Windmills were built in 2013, many visitors still visit Bangui Windmills.

Bangui Bay is also a tourist spot, yet not practical for swimming because of its deepness and water currents, but it is beautiful to view. There is also Abang Falls that can be found in Barangay Lanao, also a tourist spot. Bangui is also good for its beautiful view of mountains and rivers.

Another important tourist attraction is the 400-year old St. Lawrence the Deacon Parish Church, located just adjacent to the Municipal Plaza. The Parish Church is currently under the parochial administration and management of the Congregation of the Rogationists of the Heart of Jesus (Rogationist Fathers), within the canonical jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Laoag. It still features the remains of the old church and the convent, whose institution was initiated by the Augustinians (Order of Saint Augustine - OSA).

Other attractions include:

Municipal Plaza
Bolo River (locally known Caramuangen River)
Bangui Bay View Building
Baruyen Dam
Bangui's woodcraft windmills souvenir stores
Suacan Spring
Sentinella Hill
Abang Falls

Education

The Bangui Schools District Office governs all public and private elementary and high schools within the municipality. Some of the schools are located in the Municipality of Dumalneg are under the jurisdiction of the schools district office.

Primary and elementary schools

Abaca Elementary School
Alao-ao Elementary School
Bacsil Elementary School
Banban Elementary School
Bangui Central Elementary School
Baruyen Elementary School
Dadaor Elementary School
Dumalneg Elementary School (located in Dumalneg)
Lanao Elementary School
Masikil Elementary School
Nagbalagan Elementary School
Paddagan Elementary School
San Isidro Elementary School (located in Dumalneg)
Suyo Elementary School
Taguipuro Elementary School
UCCP-Nursery & Kindergarten School

Secondary schools

Bangui National High School
Banban National High School
Dumalneg National High School (located in Dumalneg)
Lanao National High School
St. Lawrence the Deacon Academy