ORA

        The barangay has three sitios: Ora West, Ora East and Ora Centro. It is about 6 kilometers from the town proper with registered voters of 895. It is considered as the most famous (or unpopular) barangay of Bantay when it rose to prominence in the late 1960’s because, as narrated -

                  “Ilocos Sur was disreputably renowned for its notoriety due to the relentless clashes of feuding political clans and herein coined the lingo ‘saka-saka’ (barefooted), which refers to the dreaded private armies, cunningly representing themselves as militia men, who would ruthlessly kill and malevolently carry out orders for their benefactors.  Barangay Ora-West was then an identified lair of the Crisologos; while Barangay Ora-East was a known coddler of the Singsons that the people in these Barangays were at grave odds, depending on the purok (either sitio West or East) a resident belongs.  Then came nightfall of May 22, 1969, almost all the households of sitio Ora-East and Ora Centro lost their houses and belongings when, right before the folks eyes, these were burned to the ground by attacking mercenaries, several of whom believed were their adversaries from Ora-West.  The atrocity that took place was very historical as it triggered one of the causes for the declaration of martial law in 1972 and was decided in a celebrated landmark arson case (People vs Camilo Pilotin, et. al., L-35377-78, 7/31/75), which is the leading jurisprudence and classic illustration cited in law books where the Supreme Court directly exercised its constitutional mandate ‘to order change of venue or place of trial to avoid miscarriage justice’. Presently, however, all is put to oblivion as adherents of the disputing families rested their political reprisals and rivalry and the only remnants were the terrified inhabitants of Brgy. Ora, some still lives today recounting their horrifying experience.”

            It is said that there was once three great young men who wanted to outdo each other as to who among them is the best and superior.  They challenged one another to arnis, wrestling and other competitions involving strength to determine who is the strongest.  But surprisingly nobody won because their skills, talents and prowess were proven equal. These three great fellows were named Osong, Ramon and Angkuan who, when joined together makes ORA.  The old folks claimed that ORA was the namesake given to their barangay as early as the 1900s.

          The main source of income is agriculture while some are into fishing because of the ‘alog’ (an arm or stream of fresh water referred to as ‘manalmen’) that extends to the barangay from Brgy. Capangdanan.  Many ‘kutseros’ (calesa drivers) reside from this barangay and understandably, because it is basically an agricultural-based community and only a handful were learned so most of the residents are into farming, where rice is their principal crop. A cigarette manufacturer company (started 2002) could be found in here.