AMALLAPAY
During the early days, Amallapay was called VERCELES, in honor of a prominent man who owned very large tract of land in the place. However, the legendary name of the place was “Ama-Lipay”, since the place was home of the abundant vines which bore fruits which when ripened, the matured seeds were called Lipay. In those days, there was a man and his son who lived in the place. One day while they were walking on their way to gather firewoods, the boy saw the vine and he was attracted to its fruits. He picked one and opened the pod, and then he played with the seed which was very shiny. The son asked for the name of the seed from his father saying, “Ama”, what is this”? “Lipay”, said the father. The child repeated it, “Ama–Lipay”. So the place was named “Amallapay”. However, Amallapay was later favored by the residents and by the people of Tubao.
ANDUYAN
It was during the Spanish Regime that the barangay came into existence, it was formerly named as Dacanay after an Alcalde Mayor Leocio Dacanay. Later on, the American settlers named the barangay Anduyan because the inhabitants used primitive ways of transporting their patients to the town proper for medical treatment by using hammocks of “duyan” in Pilipino because there were no vehicles during that time. The name Anduyan was coined from the phrase “Ang Duyan”. Up to these days Anduyan was maintained and officially used by the local and national government.
FRANCIA SUR
During the Spanish Regime, there lived a man in the place who is popularly known for prominence and goodwill. His name was Francisco Selga. Despite of being meztiso in blood, he has a big heart helping the poor and underprivileged. The people admired his love for all mankind. When Francisco Selga died in 1860 the people mourned for his loss.
Many years later the people called the place Francia, short for Francisco Selga, in honor to him. However, Francia was too big in land area and population so it was again divided into two, Francia Sur and Francia West. Residents of these barangays were all related.
FRANCIA WEST
Settlers during the early times when the whole municipality of Tubao was still a barangay of Agoo, called now barangay Francia West as Macuton. The early settler did not mean the literal meaning of the name but its semblance to the common practice of the residents to act in unison. An enemy of one becomes the enemy of all.
The reason for change from the name Macuton to Francia West was never remembered among the early settlers or put on record. Only some theories of probability are left to appraise. A more credible explanation is that, before, there was once a Spaniard who settled in the place by the name of Francisco Selga. He was different from the Spaniards who invaded the country who were cruel and ruthless to the Filipinos. He was a kind man and once became also a leader in the barangay.
When he was gone, the people still fondly remembered him that they changed the name of their barangay to FRANCIA, short for Francisco Selga
The barangay was divided into Francia Sur and Francia West when barangay Poblacion which is situated at the center of Francia was created. Nobody can tell as to the exact dates when these events happened. Now Francia West is one of the 18th barangays of the Municipality of Tubao.
GARCIA
Barangay Garcia in Tubao, La Union has no written history available. Efforts exerted to locate one were fruitless.
Historical facts and figures presented here were product of interviews with old residents, barangay leaders and educated persons. Among them were: former Barangay Captains Bernardo Laron and Juan Madriaga, a former Teniente del Barrio Conrado Gagni, Mr. Macario Marzan and Mrs. Carolina Madriaga.
Barangay Garcia, which is adjacent to Barangay Poblacion in the Northwest, bounded in the west by Francia West, in the north by Leones East, and Masalip River and Gonzales in the east, was formerly known as Barrio Ambuot.
Mr. Macario Marzan claimed that before 1920 the place was already called Barangay Garcia.
It was theorized that the place derived its early name. Ambuot from the word meaning “decay” in Ilocano because before there were many old maids or unmarried women in the place…”Agbubuot”, that’s the term in the dialect.
Then the Spaniards utilized sitio Ambuot and the surrounding areas as pastured and fishing grounds. The transient natives as trading posts for farm, household and commercial needs likewise used it.
Early inhabitants were predominantly Ilocano settlers. American religious missionaries in Tubao deeply fostered religious awareness in the community. Peaceful co-existence among the residences was strengthened. Concern for labor and education was fortified. All these made more influences rendered more color and luster to the native culture.
The place was later called Barangay Garcia when a rich landowner by the name Gregorio Garcia settled in the area.
HALOG WEST
HALOG West was formerly the half western portion of Barangay Halog. In 1968, Esteban Mapalo, Sr. was then the Barangay Captain of Halog. With the excellent leadership of the late Dr. Remegio B. Ronquillo, a philanthropist and leader it was thought that to solve one of the serious problems in the western portion of Halog was on the immediate division of the barangay. By virtue of a Municipal Ordinance creating the split of brangay, Halog was divided on August 10, 1970. From then both barangays became separate administrative units independent from each other.
HALOG EAST
The name Barangay Halog originated and was drawn from the family name of Don Miguel Halog, one time a town executive (kapitan) during the early years of Tubao. It should be remembered that Kapitan Miguel Halog had a prominent son, Don Basilio Halog who became a president-mayor for some years in Tubao. Settlers then of the place were mostly supporters of the Halog family, thus the village was named Halog.
Halog East was formerly the seat of the original barangay Halog, then a whole unit. It was divided on August 20, 1970, by virtue of a Municipal Ordinance creating into Halog East and Halog West. Both barangays then became independent of each other.
LEONES EAST & LEONES WEST
Everything that exists has its own story on how or when it originates, even as there’s really a cause in every effect.
Sometime ago, the name Barangay Leones East is not known to any. But perhaps it’s a blessing in disguise that this place may become a barangay and be a part of the town of Tubao.
Long before, this particular place including its sister barangay, Leones West, was once a part of the territories of two nearby towns. Aringay and Agoo. And this barangay was called by old folks during those days in a way so unique and different compared to its name today. The people in those times called it “Calupaan”. It was also then during that period that a familiar and influential man, named Don Isabelo Leones reigned as the head of the Town of Tubao.
Then one day, the place whom the old folks called as “Calupaan” had its name changed into “Leones” after the one time legendary head of the town of Tubao, the Don Isabelo Leones. The whole barangay called Leones during the early days was one barangay. And in 1972, during the first year term of Mayor Antonio Verceles, barangay Leones was divided into two. Leones West and Leones East, thus two new barangays were born.
LINAPEW
Linapew is one of the farthest barangay of Tubao, when Tubao was created into a regular Municipality on March 8, 1886. According to legends, there was once a man and a woman in the place who had a daughter named Lina.
Lina was a beautiful girl and she was very faithful and kind. When Lina spoke to her elder sisters and brothers and other people in the barangay, she was always courteous with them and at the end of her answers she always used the word “po”. Eventually, the place was called Linapew, after that unnamed courteous girl named Lina.
LLOREN
According to the oldest men of the place, Lloren was formerly known as VERCELES. At that time the Mayor of Tubao was “Estong” Lloren. When the Mayor died the place was renamed Lloren and it was so large that parts of it were subdivided to form the newer barangays of Anduyan, Francia Sur, Francia West, Pideg, Gonzales and Amallapay.
MAGSAYSAY
The brangay used to be a part of Lloren Norte until its creation in 1969.
The selection of its name is traced to the visit of the late President Ramon Magsaysay, man of the masses, who came to the place to inaugurate the Masalip River Irrigation System during his incumbency.
During the term of Captain Alfredo Fang, a certain councilman Florentino Calera proposed to the Local Council that Lloren be renamed as Magsaysay in honor of the President ever to visit Tubao at that time. It was formally inaugurated as such in January 26, 1969.
The barangay is composed of seven sitios namely Suguitan A & B. Aro-o, Aspiras, Estopare, Masalip & Calera.
GONZALES
BARANGAY Gonzales, an agricultural community was formerly known as “MAROICO”, a legendary term of unknown settlers. Its present name GONZALES traces back to a conjured memory of the rich and landed GONZALES dynasty, who once upon a time owned practically all the lands where the barangay is presently located. They were gone but not forgotten, because their name lives in the barangay.
RIZAL
The place was formerly known as San Pascual. Its former inhabitants were both low and highlanders. Because of its location, it was once the granary of Tubao. Even until today it is still rich in springs that water its lowland farms.
The name Rizal was adopted late in honor of the national hero Dr. Jose Rizal. It holds its fiesta every December 30 of the year.
STA. TERESA
The place was once part of Aringay. It was more popularly called then by the name BETIA and ORTEGA, both of which are just sitios now.
The name given later is in honor of its Patron Saint Sta. Teresa. No one can tell when and why such a choice was arrived at.
Sta. Teresa is the birthplace of VERGARA family out of which the present Congressman Bernard M. Vergara came from.
