BARANGAY THREE

      During the Spanish era, the town proper was simply called- Poblaciones, the urban center of Bantay, in which this Barangay is a part of. After liberation (1946), the old folks formed an organization called ‘timpuyog ti laud’ meaning ‘union or association of the west’.  Its general aim was to extend financial assistance and cooperation to its Officers/Members under the concept of ‘bayanihan’ or ‘saranayan’ (‘tagnawa’ in the vernacular), as well as other social endeavors like fiestas, weddings, baptismal and formation of Zarzuela Ilocana troupe. Later, the aggrupation was divided into two, the other group is what now comprised Barangay IV (refer to next page).

        Presently, it is the second most densely populated area in the Poblacion with a total land area of about 6 hectares of pure residential lands, an estimated total population of 1,200, a voting population of 518 and where goldsmith (or dealing in jewellery) used to be the primary source of livelihood, while others are into business enterprises. Due to its proximity to the national highway and being in the town core, it is very accessible and convenient; thus, some are engaged in slaughtering and merchandise of meat products, either in its raw state or cooked form. Residents of this barangay are known to be connoisseurs in cooking and said to be the original makers of bagnet, ladek and pinipian (supra, at page 32). As evidenced by the ruins of   medieval houses herein, it was once occupied by, and the residence of, the most prominent people of the town. The only barangay where a Moslem compound or community exists who started settling in the early 80’s.

         Barangay Three was then designated as a ‘Purok’ following the arrangement or subdivision prepared by the parish church for the procession at the town proper. It became a ‘Barrio’ in accordance with the apportionment into districts for purposes of the elections by precinct pursuant to RA 3590 (1963, The Revised Barrio Charter, supra, at page 9).  With the issuance of PD 86 (1972, where citizen assemblies were created in barrios, supra, at page 10), it was transformed into a ‘Zone’. By virtue of PD 557 (1974, where the ‘barrio’ and citizen assemblies created under PD 86 became barangays, supra, at page 11) it was renamed and now called as Barangay III. It is generally a peaceful and law-abiding community.