Etymology

The Municipality of Banayoyo was originally called “Bacsayan”.  How it got its present name “Banayoyo” could be recounted by the following story;

Long time ago, indigenous people of Abra and Mountain Province were looking for a place to settle and found out the place at the Western Part of Cordillera Mountain.  Lately, they called this place “Bacsayan” which means settlement area.

As time passed, these people (Tingguian and Igorot tribes) intermarried and it did not take long enough they formed another tribe.  However, both tribes had different dialects.  Thus, the result of the intermarriage resulted to one dialect derived from the “Tingguian of Abra” and “Igorot of Cordillera” - born the “Itneg” of the newly formed tribe.  The Datu and the council of elders then made their own rules based primarily on the cultures of Abra and Cordillera.

In the southeastern part of the place, there was a big and sturdy tree, which the townfolks called “Bayoyo”.  The Datus and the council of elders agreed to build a “Dap-ay” (a structure where the leaders meet or gather for the settlement of problems and disputes among its tribal members) and “Pandek” - a storeroom for arms (Aliwa, Kalasag and Pika) and communal kitchen and dining utensils.  In this place, they also practice the ritual called “Begnas” a ritual of 3-day activity and Thanksgiving to “Kabunian” after a very productive and fruitful harvest season.  The tree called “Bayoyo” always strong and sturdy following their belief that the tree brought luck to the whole populace.

Due to old age, the tree died and at that time, drought struck the place.  Their harvest decreased, famine and hunger were experienced by the people. With their belief that the calamity caused by the death of the tree, the leaders held a meeting and came up with an agreement to hold another ritual called “sapu” to find out the cause of their painful and tragic experience.  Thus, they have discovered that their entire ordeal was due to negligence of some tribal members in giving thanks to “Kabunian” (God).  In a long series of exchange of ideas to amend the sad events that they had undergone, the Datus and council of elders decided to change the name of the place “Bacsayan” to “Bayoyo” in remembrance to the strong and sturdy tree and had believed that bad lucks will be wiped out by the name “Bayoyo”.  The tree somehow is a symbol of unity among all the tribal members under its wide shady branches. It was only during the Spanish Regime that the name “Bayoyo” was changed to BANAYOYO.

Creation  of the Municipality

In its earliest stage, Banayoyo was a “Rancheria” (or pastureland under the Spanish Regime).  But as more people from the highlands of Abra called “Tingguians” and “Igorots” from Mountain Province came to settle, it developed into a small community. Before Banayoyo gain its township, during the eighteenth century, it waspart of the now municipalities of  Candon and Santiago.  Reliable sources indicate that lands existing on the southern part of the town, particularly in Barangay Cadanglaan in the southwest to Barangay Lopez to the southeast were registered in the civil registrar of Candon while lands in the northern part were registered also in the local civil registrar of Santiago.  It was only in the year 1907 when Banayoyo gained its township, separating itself from Santiago and Candon.  In 1912, it became a municipality under the Province of Ilocos Sur.

Historical Roles  and Events

During the World War II, Banayoyo was once the seat of Guerilla Outfit, under the command of Major Walter M,. Cushing, a fearless American Fighter.  The closeness of the residents to the Guerilla outfit by way of provisions and financial assistance irked the Japanese Army who were then garrisoned at an old Sugar Central in nearby Bucong, a barrio in Candon.  Angry patrols of the Japanese Imperial Army burned down some barrios of Banayoyo. Barangay Elefante, which was the bivouac area of the elements of “M” Co., 121st Infantry USAFIP NL, suffered the worst atrocities.  On October 16, 1944, one half of the barrio was burned down on November 14, 1944, the other half met the same fate.  During the same date, not only Elefante was set on fire but the whole town.  Banayoyo Catholic Church was not spared nor the Municipal Hall.

Socio-Economic-Cultural Development

Tingguians were the foremost inhabitants of the place, who came from the highlands of Abra.  With the coming of the Spaniards, Americans, Japanese, Chinese and other foreigners and people from nearby provinces of Ilocos Norte, La Union and Mountain Provinces, the original settlers intermingled with and intermarried with them.  At present however, remnants of the Tingguian Tribe still reside in the town mostly at the northeastern part.

Like before, farming is the major source of livelihood of the people.  During the early period, they used crude methods of farming like plowing by the use of cows and carabaos, and tilling the soil by the hands or sticks.  But with the coming of the Westerners who brought with them modern technologies, the farmers of Banayoyo have already adopted semi-mechanized methods of farming like the use of tractors, rice reaper, threshers, commercial fertilizers, etc.

The original settlers of Banayoyo brought with their own culture and customs.  These were further enriched by the coming of the foreign rulers who introduced the following: democratic form of government, Christian religion, centralized form of government, education, religious toleration, progress, friendly and close relationship and cooperation.  As a result of these new developments, many religions have been established in the municipality like, Protestantism, Catholicism, “Iglesia ni Cristo” and “Jehovah’s Witnesses.  Many residents have been given elementary and secondary education with the establishment of several elementary schools while roads and other infrastructure projects were constructed which increased mobility and others.

Settlements in the municipality are mostly established along the roads in the areas near the people’s sources of livelihood.  With limited economic opportunities in the municipality, some residents have also left to seek higher education, betteremployment opportunities, better opportunities for trade and commerce not only to other more developed areas in the country but even abroad.

As the government introduced the concept of cooperativism, it flocked and grown a mushroom.  It is very advantageous to the townfolks for it brought freedom from the bondage of capitalists; it paved for the fair and just prices of produced; it promoted camaraderie enabling them to seek more and better government assistance and it granted livelihood projects which promoted better standard among the members.

Political/Administrative Development

Table I shows the past and present administrators/local executives who had served the municipality since it became a municipal district to the present.

                Most changes in the political system took place during the period 1972 to 1983.  Upon the declaration of Martial Law on September 21, 1972, several Presidential Decrees were passed and made effective.  Among these are: PD 86 which called for the organization of barangay assemblies, which was later amended by PD 86-A organizing “barangay assemblies” and expanding its membership to be composed of barangay residents at the barangay level; PD 684 as amended by PD 1102 organizing the Kabataang Barangay to afford the youth with opportunity of expression and participation in the government; PD 877 which changed the municipal (and other local councils) council into Sangguniang Bayan; PD 231 giving local governments the power to create their own sources of revenue to levy taxes subject to law and others.

The 1973 Constitution was also approved in January of the same year in a plebiscite which changed the government system from presidential to Philippine Style Parliamentary Form.  Later, early in 1983, on February 10, the Local Government Code was approved defining the structure, power, functions, resources, system of recall, etc. of the Local Government Unit.  On February 1986, Snap Election was held, President Marcos was ousted from power through the so-called EDSA Revolution and Mrs. Corazon C. Aquino proclaimed as the new President of the Philippines.  All local officials were unseated from their positions and OIC’s were restored as Caretakers of the Local Government Units. In 1987, the Philippine Constitution was amended and in 1988 Local Elections was held.  In the year 1991, the Local Government Code was revised and amended thereby giving autonomy and more power to the Local Government Unit.

At present, the youth and the barangay councils are now represented in the Sangguniang Bayan, the legislative assembly of Banayoyo.  All sectors (NGO’s) are also represented in the Municipal Development Council, which meets regularly to discuss development problems and plans for the municipality.

Functional Roles of the Municipality

As in the past, the municipality presently functions as supplier of agricultural products supplier, specifically rice and tobacco to its neighboring towns and other parts of the province and region.

In terms of settlement type Banayoyo was formerly identified as a village by the province.  It shall be developed as self-reliant, self-sufficient community to be provided with basic services and facilities.  Banayoyo shall be developed as small giant among all the upland municipalities.