Kiangan, officially the Municipality of Kiangan is a municipality in the province of Ifugao, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 17,849 people.
It is the oldest town in the province. Kiangan was the former capital of Ifugao until the topology was deemed unfit and moved to neighboring Lagawe.
The Nagacadan Rice Terraces are part of the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras World Heritage Site.
Etymology
The town derives its name from Kiyyangan, an ancient village near the bank of the Ibulao River across the Lagawe valley. The name Kiyyangan is enshrined in Ifugao mythology and is believed to be the dwelling of Wigan and Bugan, the mythological ancestors of the Ifugao.
History The Old Kiyyangan Village (OKV) has been dated back to as early as 810 Before Present (B.P) to 750 B.P. This site is associated with the Ifugao culture and where the Ifugao Indigenous group presided for a few hundred years. The Ifugao Filipino Indigenous society are the main and only known community to occupy the Old Kiyyangan Village site.
Kiangan was the historic capital of Ifugao throughout the Spanish, American and Japanese occupations. It lost the position to Lagawe in 1949. In 1959, Lamut was carved out from Kiangan, followed by Asipulo in 1992.
Geography Kiangan is situated from the provincial capital Lagawe, and from the country's capital city of Manila.
Barangays Kiangan is politically subdivided into 14 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
Ambabag Baguinge Bolog Bokiawan Dalligan Duit Hucab Julongan Lingay Mungayang Nagacadan Pindongan Poblacion Tuplac
Climate
Demographics
In the 2024 census, the population of Kiangan was 17,849 people, with a density of .
Languages Dialects spoken in Kiangan include Ifugao, Tuwali, Ayangan, Ilocano, Tagalog, and English.
Economy
Agriculture and tourism are the main sources of local economic activities which supports commerce and trade among townsfolk. Its terraced rice fields do not only provide produce for the farmers but attract tourists as well.
Government Local government
Kiangan, belonging to the lone congressional district of the province of Ifugao, 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(2025–2028) Position Name Congressman Solomon R. Chungalao Mayor Raldis Andrei A. Bulayungan Vice-Mayor Michelle Alice B. Baguilat Councilors Clarence B. Buyuccan Lawrence A. Dulnuan Jr. Angelito D. Dulinayan Kimmayong D. Uyan Manuel T. Buhong Sr. Roel Francis A. Dulnuan Raiza D. Gawi Carol I. Talib
Culture
Nagacadan Rice Terraces The Nagacadan Rice Terraces is a UNESCO Heritage Site and one of the many rice terraces in the province of Ifugao. The rice terraces cluster manifest a distinct feature - the fields are in ascending rows of terraces bisected by a river.
Kiangan Shrine Located in Kiangan is the Kiangan Central School old home economics building, which marks the spot where the highest Commander of the Japanese Imperial Army, General Tomoyuki Yamashita (also known as the Tiger of Malaya), surrendered to the Filipino & American Forces on 2 September 1945.
Education The Kiangan Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.
Primary and elementary schools
Alimit Elementary School Baguinge Elementary School Bokiawan Elementary School Bolog Elementary School Dalligan Elementary School Duit Elementary School Hucab Elementary School Julongan Elementary School Kiangan Central School Mappit Elementary School Mungayang Elementary School Nagacadan Elementary School Nungkigadan Elementary School Pindongan Elementary School Tuplac Elementary School
Secondary schools Kiangan National High School Mungayang National High School St. Joseph's School The Ifugao Academy Riverview Polytechnic and Academic School, Inc
References
External links
Municipality of Kiangan [ Philippine Standard Geographic Code] Philippine Census Information Local Governance Performance Management System