TALEB

        Taleb is located along the national highway about 8 kilometers from the Poblacion. Like Brgys. Banaoang and Naguiddayan (at page 42 and 59, supra), it is originally a part of Brgy. Paing (at page 61, supra) but due to the wide territorial coverage of the latter, the residents petitioned for its separation because of inadequate supervision and governance.  With the passage RA 3590 (1963, The Revised Barrio Charter, supra, at page 9), ‘Sitio Taleb’ was made a regular barangay, mainly because of expanding population and for better administration, but up to now, it is still collectively referred as ‘Barangay Paing’ by some of  its constituents.

        Due to its geographic location surrounded by hills, it serves as the air breaker of passing strong winds from the north going to the Abra coast. ‘Taleb’ is an ilocano vernacular that means window cover or, otherwise, a protective wall shield.  Thus, the Barangay acts as the wall barrier or ‘taleb’ that absorb gusty winds due to typhoons and storm.

         It is predominantly an agricultural barangay where rice and corn are its common crops.  Endowed with large tract of forestland, gathering of firewood, carpentry and charcoal production are also a source of livelihood.  It is in here where the Victoria Park, established in 1962 situated at Mount Caniao (at page 30, supra), which is one of the tourist attractions of the town that features a crystal clear natural spring source that supplies potable water to the Municipality  and other parts of Vigan, is located. Also in this Barangay, is the road leading to Mt. Tupira (or commonly referred to as ‘radar’ at page 30, supra), a perfect destination for mountain climbers, wildlife lovers and hunters, and the premier chichacorn industry (crunchy corn crackers) can be found. It is the site of the Municipal “Bagsakan center” (livestock trading post completed in 2000) and the Bantay socialized housing project (ground breaking held in May, 2003 but was inaugurated only in 2006).

        The Christ the King Parish (at page 27, supra), while its present vicariate address is Barangay Paing (at page 61, supra), is actually within the territorial jurisdiction of Taleb.  This could be explained in that, the said parish was established in 1953, while Barangay Taleb was only created in 1963, the year it was separated from its mother Barangay- Paing.