Map of Sugpon
Sugpon was originally part of the Commandancia Politico Militar de Amburayan during the Spanish Colonial period. Subsequently, all the sub-provinces of Amburayan, Lepanto and Benguet were transferred to Ilocos Sur and La Union during the American occupation. During this time, Sugpon became part of the Second Congressional District of Ilocos Sur.
In 1978, long after the Philippines gained independence, it was reclassified as a sixth-class municipality. One of the 14 upland municipalities of Ilocos Sur, Sugpon is situated at the southernmost part of the province. It is bounded on the north by the town of Alilem, Ilocos Sur; on the south by Kibungan, Benguet; on the southwest by Santol, La Union; on the east by the towns of Bakun and Kibungan, Benguet; and on the west by the Amburayan River. Elevation ranges from 100 metres to 1000 metres above sea level, with slopes ranging from 0% to more than 50%. The barangay with the highest elevation and degrees of slopes are Caoayan and Licungan. Sugpon is settled by the Kankanaey and Bago tribes.
It is said that in the 18th and 19th centuries, Kankanaeys from the Mankayan and Buguias areas (now Benguet) migrated to other parts of the Cordilleras, including Sugpon. They eventually called themselves “Bago.” Many aspects of Kankanaey and lowland Ilocano cultures are practiced by the Bago People. Today, Bago are acknowledged to be a mixture of Igorot and Ilocano ancestry.
Life in Sugpon is influenced by the Amburayan River. During the rainy season (May to November), the town becomes inaccessible by land, because of flooding. Within the town itself during this time, five of its six barangay are isolated due to floodwaters. However, the town benefits from the river as a source of fish and other river products. Residents also pan for gold. Largely agricultural in character, Sugpon’s croplands account for 666 hectares of A and D lands.
The total population of Sugpon as of the last census is 3,936. Of this population, 1,249 persons reside in the poblacion/Balbalayang area, classified as urban. Pangotan, which is about 3.5 km from the centre of town (or approximately an hour’s hike), is the least inhabited barangay, with 246 persons. Sugpon’s population time-line shows peaks of population growth and troughs of decline since 1903. It grew slightly from 3,381 persons to 3,466 from 1995 to 2000.
Sugpon is an agricultural community and the people are mostly farm owner/cultivators who grow rice, camote, gabi, legumes, coffee, and tobacco. Household members are engaged in raising hogs, goats, poultry and cattle in the small plots.
In 1978, long after the Philippines gained independence, it was reclassified as a sixth-class municipality. One of the 14 upland municipalities of Ilocos Sur, Sugpon is situated at the southernmost part of the province. It is bounded on the north by the town of Alilem, Ilocos Sur; on the south by Kibungan, Benguet; on the southwest by Santol, La Union; on the east by the towns of Bakun and Kibungan, Benguet; and on the west by the Amburayan River. Elevation ranges from 100 metres to 1000 metres above sea level, with slopes ranging from 0% to more than 50%. The barangay with the highest elevation and degrees of slopes are Caoayan and Licungan. Sugpon is settled by the Kankanaey and Bago tribes.
It is said that in the 18th and 19th centuries, Kankanaeys from the Mankayan and Buguias areas (now Benguet) migrated to other parts of the Cordilleras, including Sugpon. They eventually called themselves “Bago.” Many aspects of Kankanaey and lowland Ilocano cultures are practiced by the Bago People. Today, Bago are acknowledged to be a mixture of Igorot and Ilocano ancestry.
Life in Sugpon is influenced by the Amburayan River. During the rainy season (May to November), the town becomes inaccessible by land, because of flooding. Within the town itself during this time, five of its six barangay are isolated due to floodwaters. However, the town benefits from the river as a source of fish and other river products. Residents also pan for gold. Largely agricultural in character, Sugpon’s croplands account for 666 hectares of A and D lands.
The total population of Sugpon as of the last census is 3,936. Of this population, 1,249 persons reside in the poblacion/Balbalayang area, classified as urban. Pangotan, which is about 3.5 km from the centre of town (or approximately an hour’s hike), is the least inhabited barangay, with 246 persons. Sugpon’s population time-line shows peaks of population growth and troughs of decline since 1903. It grew slightly from 3,381 persons to 3,466 from 1995 to 2000.
Sugpon is an agricultural community and the people are mostly farm owner/cultivators who grow rice, camote, gabi, legumes, coffee, and tobacco. Household members are engaged in raising hogs, goats, poultry and cattle in the small plots.
The Bago Tribe
The Bago tribal group is a product of intermarriage between the Ilocanos of the lowlands and different indigenous cultural communities of the Cordillera. They settled between the mountain ranges of Ilocos and the boarders of the Ilocos Provinces, La Union, and Pangasinan. They are of medium build, although some resemble the Kankanaeys with fair complexion and a sturdy build. Of Iloco-Cordillera descent, the Bago practice simple, ordinary methods of agriculture.
Tobacco-drying barns are frequently found, together with harvests of garlic and onion. Their farming methods and practices include a system of initiating farm workers at harvest time through a working relationship known as gamal, ammuy, and bunggoy.
Prominent members of the Bago indigenous group are former Governor Lupo Biteg of Ilocos Sur and his son Jonathan Biteg, who also became the Municipal Mayor of the same town. Today, Bago Maors have a league of their own, known as Ilocos Sur Upland Towns Association, which serves as a forum in which higher political authorities can hear their aspirations for development.
Bago Ancestral Domain in SUGPON, ILOCOS SUR
The ancestral domain of the BAGO TRIBE in Sugpon covers a total land area of 17,408 hectares, of which 6,339,417 hectares have been issued a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT). In addition, 6,415.18 hectares are classified as alienable and disposable, including agricultural, residential, institutional and commercial lands; a sizable portion is still forest or timberland. The ancestral domain includes the six barangays of Banga, Caoayan, Licungan, Danac, Pangotan and Balbalayang.
