San Juan, La Union

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

It is known as the Surfing Capital of the North.

Etymology

The name San Juan is derived from the Spanish name Saint John the Baptist (San Juan Bautista), a revered figure in Christianity recognized as the forerunner of Jesus Christ. The town was named in his honor in 1586 by Augustinian friars during the Spanish colonization, following the tradition of dedicating settlements to Christian saints. Saint John the Baptist's significant role in biblical history particularly his call for repentance and his baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River made him an ideal patron for the municipality. The adoption of his name reflects the profound influence of Spanish Catholicism on the cultural and historical identity of the area.

History

Early history

left|thumb|213x213px|[[Dalandan tree fruits and leaves]]

San Juan was originally a settlement of the Ilocano group called Samtoy and was known as Dalandan, named after the native fruit (Citrus × aurantium ) that grew abundantly in the area. The people in this settlement practiced animistic religion and were actively engaged in trading goods with neighboring areas, including the Igorots from the highlands, Pangasinans, Tagalogs, and even traders from Maritime Southeast Asian countries, China, and Japan. According to historian William Henry Scott, goods such as gold, beeswax, ceramics, porcelain, beads, and metals were exchanged in this trade network.

Spanish colonial era

left|thumb|Spanish conquistador [[Juan de Salcedo]]

In 1572, Spanish conquistador Juan de Salcedo arrived in the area as part of his mission to pacify the northern regions following the Spanish conquest of Manila. His expedition landed in a nearby settlement, now San Fernando, and eventually reached the settlement of Dalandan, which was abundant in native citrus trees. Salcedo attempted to persuade the natives to pay tribute to Spain but did not remain in the area. He continued his journey northward until he reached Vigan, which he founded as "Villa Fernandina de Vigan" in honor of Prince Ferdinand, the son of King Philip II, who had died at the age of four.

In 1582, the area of San Juan was proclaimed a mission station under the authority of the Augustinian Order and was initially named Baratao, as recorded in the Nueva Segovia Bi-centennial souvenir booklet dated April 25, 1587. By 1586, the town had become the center of the parish and was renamed San Juan by the Augustinian friars in honor of the Catholic Patron Saint John the Baptist (San Juan Bautista). During this time, the settlement had an Augustinian convent, a population of 6,000, and Friar Agustin Niño served as its first priest.

As the war progressed, crops and local services were destroyed. Food was in short supply.

San Juan was liberated in 1945 by the soldiers of the 121st Infantry Regiment, Philippine Commonwealth Army, USAFIP-NL and guerrillas of the La Union Infantry Regiment during the Battle of San Fernando under Major Russell W. Volckmann on their way to meet the liberating forces of General Douglas MacArthur on the beaches of Lingayen Gulf.

Philippine independence

After the war, inflation led to the financial crisis of 1950 which was followed by the introduction of import controls. Subsequent government-sponsored irrigation systems and farm technicians led to a slow but assured recovery with increased productivity and profitability.

Geography

The Municipality of San Juan is located in the west of the province of La Union, along the Manila North Road, between latitudes 16°39'N and 16°43'N and longitudes 120°9'E and 120°15'E. San Juan is bounded on the north by the municipality of Bacnotan along the Baroro River, and on the east by the municipalities of San Gabriel and Bagulin along the Dasay-Duplas-Nagyubuyuban Creek. On the south it is bounded by San Fernando and on the west by the South China Sea.

The topography of the town is characterized by hilly and mountainous terrain that gradually rises eastward from its coastal plains along the foothills of the Cordillera Central. The town is also traversed by several creeks and rivers, with the Baroro River being the most prominent. The total land area of San Juan is , which is 4% of the province of La Union. Some 505.08 hectares or 8.46% is claimed by the municipality of Bacnotan and San Fernando City.

San Juan is situated from the provincial capital San Fernando, and from the country's capital city of Manila.

Barangays

San Juan is politically subdivided into 41 barangays with upland and lowland barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Allangigan
Aludaid
Bacsayan
Balballosa
Bambanay
Bugbugcao
Caarusipan
Cabaroan
Cabugnayan
Cacapian
Caculangan
Calincamasan
Casilagan
Catdongan
Dangdangla
Dasay
Dinanum
Duplas
Guinguinabang
Ili Norte (Poblacion)
Ili Sur (Poblacion)
Legleg
Lubing
Nadsaag
Nagsabaran
Naguirangan
Naguituban
Nagyubuyuban
Oaquing
Pacpacac
Pagdildilan
Panicsican
Quidem
San Felipe
Santa Rosa
Santo Rosario
Saracat
Sinapangan
Taboc
Talogtog
Urbiztondo

Climate

The climate in San Juan is "dry" from November to April and "wet" from May to October. The south-west monsoon brings abundant rainfall during the wet season, whereas the north-east monsoon passing over the Cordillera Mountains to the east brings the drier conditions. The average annual temperature is .

Demographics

In the 2020 census, the population of San Juan, La Union, was 98,345 people, with a density of .

According to a local 1896 census, the population of San Juan was 10,510. At that time, there were twenty-eight barrios inhabited by 9,989 residents, and four rancherias inhabited by 521 "infieles" or non-Christians (Igorots). These barrios were Ili, Barraca, Panicsican, Talogtog, Sabangan, Taboc, Lubing, Sinapangan, Cacapian, Caculangan, Santa Rosa, Caaniyan, Oaquing, Catdongan, Caarusipan, Guinguinabang, Bugbugcao, Pacpacac, Legleg, Nadsaag, Capacuan, Bacnotan, Dasay, Al-langigan, Bombuneg, Balballosa, Duplas and San Felipe. The rancherias were Rancho de Locutan, Indang, Amontoc and Losoya. Yli, also known as Poblacion, had a population of 1,134 residents described as 2 "Españoles peninsulares", 2 "Mestizos de español", 1,122 "naturales" and 8 "Chinos".

In the early 1900s cholera was a scourge that took the lives of many people.

As of the census of 2000, San Juan was home to 30,393 indigenous Ilocano people, concentrated in six barangays along the national highway. This is equivalent to 33.86% of the total population and is growing at the rate of 1.8% per annum. The average population density was 2,964 persons per square kilometer. In the two urban barangays where some 15% of the population reside, the population density rose to 3,073 persons per square kilometer, while in the remaining rural barangays the population density was 2,886 persons per square kilometer.

Language

Ilocano is the predominant language of the municipality.

Economy

Agriculture

Agriculture is the primary source of livelihood for the residents of San Juan, La Union. The municipality has approximately 1,765 hectares of land dedicated to rice cultivation, 722 hectares to tobacco and corn, and the remainder to vegetables and root crops. Yellow corn, a key agricultural product, is widely grown in the area and serves as a raw material for various food and industrial products, including starch, corn oil, beverages, gluten, and snacks. It also accounts for around 50% of the feed used in local livestock and poultry industries. Yellow corn was nominated as the town's product under the One Town One Product (OTOP) PhilippinesPhilippines program, an initiative of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and generating employment.

Cottage Industries

San Juan is home to several thriving cottage industries, including damili (pottery), which produces items such as pots, animal feed containers, well pipes, decorative pottery, roof tiles, and traditional Ilocano earthenware such as burnay (earthen jars) and dalikan (firewood stoves). Other notable folk industries in the town include blanket-weaving, basketry, bamboo craft, and soft broom-making. Additionally, hollow concrete blocks are produced in rural areas for use in local construction projects.

Tourism

San Juan is considered to be the Surfing Capital of the Northern Philippines and is known for its consistent intermediate quality surf and two surfing seasons from July to October and November to March. There is also a famous waterfall located at barangay Duplas called pipti papawes falls .

There is also a local museum, Museo de San Juan.

Government

Local government

San Juan, belonging to the first congressional district of the province of La Union, 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>(2025–present)

! Position

! Name

| Congressman

| style="text-align:center;" | Francisco Paolo P. Ortega V

| Mayor

| style="text-align:center;" | Mariquita P. Ortega

|Vice-Mayor

| style="text-align:center;" | Arturo P. Valdriz

|rowspan=8| Councilors

| style="text-align:center;" | Mitos Magsaysay

| style="text-align:center;" | Kyle F. Carpio

| style="text-align:center;" | Arnel Peralta

| style="text-align:center;" | Louie Fontanilla

| style="text-align:center;" | Norma B. Lim

| style="text-align:center;" | Athena Lopez Nang

| style="text-align:center;" | Eusebio Lim

| style="text-align:center;" | Aldreick G. Carillo

Education

The San Juan Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public elementary and high schools.

Primary and elementary schools

Bacsayan Elementary School
Balballosa Elementary School
Bugbugcao Elementary School
Caagraoan Elementary School
Cabaroan Elementary School
Concordia Learning Center
Dasay Elementary School
Escuela San Juan Bautista
Holy Angels Montessori and Learning Center
Legleg Elementary School
Lorma Grade School
Lubing Elementary School
Nadsaag Elementary School
Naguituban Elementary School
San Felipe Elementary School
San Juan Central Elementary School
Sta. Rosa Elementary School
Sto. Rosario Elementary School
Taboc Elementary School
UCCP - Nursery-Kindergarten School
Urbiztondo Elementary School

Secondary schools

Lorma Colleges Science High School
Lorma Colleges Senior High School
Sto. Rosario National High School
San Juan National High School
San Juan Senior High School

Gallery

File:Museo de San Juan, La Union, Jan 2024.jpg|Museo de San Juan

File:Inside San Juan Church, La Union, Jan 2024.jpg|St. John the Baptist Parish

File:San Juan Public Market, La Union, Jan 2024.jpg|Public Market

File:San Juan Beach, La Union, Jan 2024 (2).jpg|Beach in San Juan

File:San Juan People's Park, La Union, Jan 2024.jpg|People's Park

File:4384Dalumpinas Oeste, San Fernando Urbiztondo, San Juan, La Union 20.jpg|Urbiztondo

File:SanJuanLaUnionChurchjf7125 17.JPG|Town Plaza

</gallery>

References

External links

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