he exact founding of Tagudin, today still remains a “Gordian Knot”.  The theory however, is that during the early days, people established settlements close to the rivers and seas for mobility and food.  The Amburayan River that lies on the southern border of this town is one of the biggest rivers in the region and this made Tagudin as one of the largest and earliest settlements in the province.  The river, strongly believed to have taken its name of this community during the pre-colonization era is mentioned in the famed Ilocano epic entitled “Biag ni Lam-ang”.

Legend has it that the first conquistador who arrived in this place inquired about the name of this community from an old woman.  The said woman who was then busy cleaning her yarn thought that the Spaniard was asking the name of the mechanical contraption where her yarn was placed.  She then replied “tagudan daytoy apo” (this is tagudan, sir) and the conquistador wrote in his diary the word “tagudan”.  Later, when the foreigner referred to his diary for the name of the place, he figured out the word “tagudan” as “Tagudin”.  Since then the town has always been called Tagudin.

Tagudin used to be the capital of Amburayan, declared a sub-province of the Mountain Province during the Spanish era then composed of the towns of Lepanto, Angaki (now Quirino, Ilocos Sur), Suyo Sugpon, Santol, San Gabriel and Tagudin.  The Government hill where the reservoir of Tagudin Water District is now located was then to be the sire of this capitol of this sub-province.  In 1818, Tagudin became a part of Ilocos Sur and thus became a threshold of the province from the south.

It would seem axiomatic that Tagudin deserved a niche in Philippine history, a number of historical firsts occurred and established in this town.  The first two sundials put up by the Spaniards in the country were constructed in this town -- by Father Juan Sorolla in 1848.  One is located inside the Saint Augustine’s School compound and the other stands in front of the town hall.  Though more than a century old, these sundials still stand with pride for their accuracy as timepieces.  The ICM Missionary Sisters started their noble mission in the country here in Tagudin.  The assiduous congregation by its foundress Sister Marie Louise de Meester whose efforts in the educational, socio-economic and religious development gave birth to ranking institutions of learning I the country.  These include our very own Saint Augustine’s School, St. Theresa’s College in Manila and Cebu, Christ the King College in San Fernando City and many others.  Their efforts also put this town in tourism map as the country’s First Living Community Museum”.  In 1916, the country opened its first municipal High School and later changed to Ilocos Sur Provincial High School, and then later became Ilocos Sur Polytechnic College, and now Tagudin National High School.

When the Japanese Imperial Forces landed in Vigan at the onset of the Pacific War and later advanced to the south, it was again in this town particularly along the roads of Barangays Dardarat, Tallaoen and Dacutan where they met the first Filipino resistance of their Philippine conquest.  It wan an ambush staged by a group of Filipino soldier s under General William Brougher on December 18, 1941.  The decisive Battle of Bessang Pass actually started in Barangay Bitalag of this town wherein a Japanese garrison was located. When the unified Filipino-American Forces named as USAFIP-NL captured Bitalag and later the heavily manned Bessang Pass, the man who planted the Philippine Flag at the peak of the mountain is from this town in the person of then Captain Emilio Narcise. Now a retired general, he was the company commander of H Company, the force’s front line company and, thus, the first to reach the famous pass. The capture of Bessang Pass was remarkable for it was the start of the downfall of Japanese Imperial Forces. During the celebration of the 50^th Anniversary of the Battle of Bessang Pass on June 14, 1996, Retired Brig. Gen. Emilio Narcise was the only straight-bodied veteran to receive a Gold Cross Medal from then President Fidel Ramos.

Another remarkable accomplishment during the liberation was done by a Tagudinian in the person of Faustino Somera Sr., a boloman of the USAFIP-NL. Still alive and kicking, he is responsible for the death of General Hara of the Japanese Imperial Army. Their troop headed by 3^rd Lt. Jesus Martinez, a fellow Tagudinian, successfully staged an ambush along Almazan Road. The vigorous boloman chased the escaping general and ended the latter’s life with a single stroke of his bolo. The commander Mr. Jesus Martinez is presently the President of the Tagudin Veterans Association. This town was also the site of the biggest hospital installation during the liberation from where the Tagudin Town Plaza now lies.

To date, the Municipality of Tagudin remains as an agricultural community. It also plays the role of a satellite town being the center of market, trade and education for its five neighboring towns. Its strategic location and the proposed seaport at the Libtong beach (formerly PHILMAG) have made this town a potential hub for trade and commerce for Southern Ilocos Sur and Northern La Union. The numerous historical events and structures, the Baracbac Falls and the Shallow beaches of Tagudin are now attracting a number of foreign and local tourists. The present administration is on its full force to execute every plan to realize this noble goal, the soonest time for everybody to appreciate and enjoy.