San Ildefonso, Ilocos Sur

Etymology

The town was named after Saint Ildephonsus, a 7th century scholar and theologian.

History

San Ildefonso, like many other places in the provinces at the beginning of the Spanish Regime, did not have a name. Stories have it that sometime in 1625, the town's inhabitants decided to give it a name, but nothing came out after more than five hours of discussions. So while thinking of a name, they decided to go fishing for a week. And while preparing to go fishing, they saw a box floating not far from shore. Wading to reach the box and carrying it ashore, they opened the box to find a statue of Saint Ildephonsus.

The young women of the place carried the statue to the center of the village, where it was enshrined in a small hut for many years. He became the patron saint of the municipality, and his name was decided to become the name of the fledgling municipality.

San Ildefonso was a former rancheria of Bantay before it became a municipality, but because of its size it was annexed to Santo Domingo as a barrio. In 1921, Assemblyman (and future Philippine president) Elpidio Quirino worked to convert San Ildefonso into a municipality again.

200th Anniversary of Basi Revolt

On September 28, 2007, San Ildefonso officials (Governor Deogracias Victor Savellano and Rep. Ronald Singson) commemorated the Basi Revolt. Recently, the Sangguniang Bayan of San Ildefonso approved a resolution declaring September 16 as a non-working holiday and named the old road in Barangay Gongogong as Ambaristo street in honor of Pedro Ambaristo, leader of the Basi Revolt. Mayor Christian Purisima enrolled basi as their entry into the “One Town; One Product” (OTOP) program of Governor Savellano.

Geography

San Ildefonso is situated 6.58 km from the provincial capital Vigan, and 408.65 km from the country's capital city of Manila.

Barangays

San Ildefonso is politically subdivided into 15 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

• Arnap
• Bahet
• Belen
• Bungro
• Busiing Norte
• Busiing Sur
• Dongalo
• Gongogong
• Iboy
• Kinamantirisan
• Otol-Patac
• Poblacion East
• Poblacion West
• Sagneb
• Sagsagat

Climate

Demographics

In the 2024 census, San Ildefonso had a population of 8,213 people. The population density was {{sigfig|8,213/11.35|2}} PD/km2.

Economy

The town is rich in rice, corn, sugarcane, malunggay, katuday & fruit-bearing trees such as star apple, chico, mango, camachile & atis. Its main product is basi, a wine made from fermented sugarcane juice; as well as cane vinegar. They also make nutritious ice cream made up of vegetables in Barangay Bungro, and is being popularized by the town's local government.

Government

Local government

Main article: Sangguniang Bayan

San Ildefonso, belonging to the first congressional district of the province of Ilocos Sur, is governed by a mayor designated as its local chief executive and by a municipal council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code. The mayor, vice mayor, and the councilors are elected directly by the people through an election which is being held every three years.

Elected officials

Education

The Sto. Domingo-San Ildefonso Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. They also oversee the operations of all private and public elementary and high schools located in Santo Domingo, Ilocos Sur.

Primary and elementary schools

• Bungro Elementary School
• Busiing Elementary School
• Sagsagat Elementary School
• San Ildefonso Central School

Secondary schools

• Belen National High School
• Philippine Science High School - Ilocos Region Campus

References

References

1. {{DILG detail
2. (May 2018)
3. "2019 National and Local Elections".
4. (January 15, 2021). "Mastelist of Schools".