San Juan, officially the Municipality of San Juan (; ), formerly called as Lapog, is a municipality in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the , it has a population of people.
The town produces the most number of goods made of buri leaf in the province. it is recognized sometimes as the "Buri Capital of Ilocos Sur".
Etymology The town was named in honor of its patron, St. John the Baptist.
History The town was established in 1772 as Lapog. Over the years, the name of the municipality went through a series of changes. The early settlers and occupants called it Lapo, short for Lapo-Lapo, a tall grass which grew everywhere in the area. In 1772, Don Tomas Aquino, the first local leader, initiated the organization of the scattered communities into one, calling the place "Lapog", a derivative of local vernacular Lap-Lapog which means unirrigated land.
It was stricken by all sorts of plagues and epidemics (like the smallpox epidemics of 1808 and 1918–19, locust infestation in 1903, and destruction of ricefields by worms called "arabas" in 1905). Americans destroyed the town hall in 1903. Despite these, San Juan progressed into a prosperous community.
For 189 years, Lapog remained in the records as the official name of the town until June 18, 1961, when Republic Act No. 3386 was enacted to rename the town, "San Juan". Since most of the inhabitants were of the belief that religious names bring peace, happiness, and prosperity, the town was renamed San Juan, after the name of its patron saint, Saint John the Baptist.
Geography The Municipality of San Juan is bordered by Cabugao to the north, Magsingal to the south, the provinces of Ilocos Norte to the north and Abra to the east.
San Juan is situated from the provincial capital Vigan, and from the country's capital city of Manila.
Barangays San Juan is politically subdivided into 32 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
Asilang Bacsil Baliw Bannuar (Poblacion) Barbar Cabanglotan Cacandongan Camanggaan Camindoroan Caronoan Darao city Dardarat Guimod Norte Guimod Sur Immayos Norte Immayos Sur Labnig Lapting Lira (Poblacion) Malamin Muraya Nagsabaran Nagsupotan Pandayan (Poblacion) Refaro Resurreccion (Poblacion) Sabangan San Isidro Saoang Solotsolot Sunggiam Surngit
Climate
Demographics
In the 2024 census, San Juan had a population of 26,709 people. The population density was .
Economy
Government Local government
San Juan, 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
+ Members of the Municipal Council(2019–2022) Position Name Congressman Deogracias Victor B. Savellano Mayor Ma. Elaine A. SarmientoVice-Mayor Benjamin V. Sarmiento Councilors Rizalina A. Valle Cresencio G. Valle Gem Paula V. Lucero Michael B. Sumagit Edwin B. Singzon Rafael Vincent P. Ochosa Florante A. Ramos Domingo M. Oli
Education The San Juan Schools District Office governs all educational institution within the municipality.
Primary and elementary schools
Asilang Primary School Bacsil Community School Barbar Elementary School Camanggaan Elementary School Camindoroan Community School Caronoan Elementary School Darao Elementary School Dardarat Elementary School Don F. Quilala Memorial Elementary School Labnig Elementary School Malamin Integrated School Muraya Primary School Nagsabaran Elementary School Nagsuputan Elementary School Refaro Elementary School Sabangan Elementary School San Isidro Elementary School San Juan North Central School San Juan South Central School Saoang Elementary School Singson Verzosa Elementary School Solotsolot Elementary School Sunggiam Elementary School
Secondary schools Nagsuputan National High School San Juan Institute, Ilocos Sur San Juan National High School Solotsolot National High School Malamin Integrated School
See also List of renamed cities and municipalities in the Philippines
References
External links
Act renaming the Municipality of Lapog to San Juan Pasyalang Ilocos Sur Lapog ... our town, our home Lapoguenio Perspectives Philippine Standard Geographic Code Philippine Census Information Local Governance Performance Management System