seal, for it to be relevant, needs to keep up with the spirit of the times. The permanence of transitoriness of a municipal logo largely depends upon the foresightedness of leaders and the dynamism of social, political, and economic forces.

Ten symbols predominate the seal. The shield, a symbol of Ilocos Sur province, reminds us of the role of our town mates as freedom fighters against colonial powers. Today, the shield protects us from current enemies – poverty, diseases and ignorance, and what better shield is there than good governance brought about by consultation, participation, and transparency.

Found at the bottom of the logo is Virginia tobacco, a plant that has built our modest houses and sent our students to colleges. Out town, the second top Virginia tobacco producer, annually receives millions of pesos from excise taxes on Virginia tobacco. Much of those funds have been poured into the Northern Ilocos Sur Trade Center, the new public market groomed to become a trading center of the North.

Sprouting from the tobacco plant is palay, a crop that is symbolic of our oneness with all Filipinos. Its 33 golden grains are our 33 – barangays – each proud treasure for the attainment of a common vision.

Our municipal waters teem with marine resources. The pictogram of a fish in our seal attests to this fact.

Ilocanos are goat-eaters. Woe unto the Ilocano who does not partake from the caldereta or kilawen dish of the goat meat lavishly offered during social occasions. In recognition of this culinary bias, we have immortalized the gentle omnivorous ruminant in our seal. Another vision is to make our 10,000 hectare town a goat center of Ilocandia.

The 8th symbol in the seal is the Salomague Port, the seal of what was once lucrative pre-Spanish trade with Chinese, Japanese, etc. It is an apt rallying point, nay, port for recapturing the glorious days of our traders and merchants. Catapulting Cabugao into the commercial center of Ilocandia has solid historical roots. It is not a wishful whim.

The 9th symbol, the Dardarat Lighthouse, is a beacon to our people. When Typhoon Feria unleashed its fury, this coastal facility was spared – a suggestion that a vision guided by an unscathed structure continues to be firm and clear.

The 10th feature, the year “1781”, is the founding year of Cabugao as a full-fledged town. Two (2) centuries have passed but with a vision propelling us into self-reliance, productivity, law-abidingness and God-lovingness, the once rustic settlement will metamorphose into a vibrant model city in the near future.