Capangdanan

One of the ‘inner’ Barangays of the town. About 90% of its land area is devoted to agriculture and whose voting population is 370 (as of 2008).

Stories from the elders say that this area of the town served as a mere hiding place of the people during World War II. It is believed that the first settlers were limited to four families, namely: Pugal, Paz, Pe Benito and del Castillo clans.  However, due to intermarriages, the population grew quickly until it turned into a large community, qualified enough in number to become a barrio.

Cultivation of the land is the prime source of livelihood, however fishing in a small stream of water called ‘alog’ (a spring source) that traverse the place is also an avocation.  To have sufficiency of water for their rice fields, the said families made a way to re-channel the flow of the fresh water, referred to as ‘manalmen’ that extends up to Brgy. Ora, using the trunk of the ‘pandan’ plant to block the sides of the water course in order not to be eroded.  The importance of the ‘pandan’ plant that grew abundantly in the area was again experienced when one time, hunger stroke and the residents during WW II. They made use of the stems of the ‘pandan’ plant as their staple food by mixing it with ‘tagapulot’ (brown sugar). Its leaves could be cut, dried and made to hats and mats, while its roots were utilized as a breeding place for fishes, crabs, snails and other aquatic resources.

Evidently, because of the significance and many uses of the ‘pandan’ plant, the residents decided to call their place ‘ca-pandan-an’, referring to the place where the pandan plant grows bountifully.

As the country became more stabilized after the WW II, some of the wives started their own little businesses acquiring “puestos” in the Vigan Public market to sell their products from the farm and fish ponds.

The “Capangdanners” as they fondly call themselves are very friendly people. They like being visited and they are evidences of the extraordinary warmth of Filipino hospitality. In fact, until now, they still continue the extravagant way of celebrating ‘fiestas’. They have two feasts mainly the “la Naval” and the “Feast of Our Lady of Rosary”.

The May 2010 elections marked an important point in the history of Capangdanan when for the first time, one of her sons, Arnold Paz was elected a seat in the Sanguniang Bayan.

Currently, Capangdanan is a home not only to farmers and fishermen but has also produced a number of professionals across various specializations, like Engineers, Nurses and Educators.

(subject for editing)