Geography

The town is located at the northern tip of the province of Ilocos Norte and it has a land area of 21 hectares. It has a coastline of 39.60 km. In the north is the forest of Cagayan Valley and in the east, is the tall trees of the Cordillera Mountain. In the south is Bulu River and in the west is the China Sea.

Pagudpud was formerly a barrio of Bangui but because of the change of time, it is now independent from its mother town through an Executive Order No. 13 of the late President Ramon Magsaysay. Its name was taken from a tale handed down by the leaders to the younger generations which relates thus; a group of Tagalog speaking peddlers selling the wares rested under a shady tree. They said that they were already tired. One of them said, “Pagud na pagud na ako. Pudpud na rin ang sapatos ko.” It happened that a farmer nearby overheard the conversation between the two of them. Deducing from what they heard they though that the name of the place was Pagudpud. Since then the place carried on its name as Pagudpud.
~~~~ by ZJaramillo~~~~

The Socio-Economic Life

Fishing and farming are the main source of income for most local residents of Pagudpud. Rice fields are scattered all over the town. The town is also abundant with coconut trees which they crop to sell the fruits to merchants from other town or to trade it for tobacco or rice or other commodities.

THE LEGEND OF PAGUDPUD'S SAUD WHITE BEACH

In the olden days mermaids were considered dangerous creatures. Human beings drown and the belief was they were taken by mermaids "serena" in the dialect. People were then scared of mermaids because of their alleged supernatural powers. (Encantadas) But in Pagudpud, at the white beach, the mermaids used their supernatural powers for good in return for the goodness of the people.

The legend goes that the queen of the mermaids disguised herself as a poor woman who went about begging for food along the shores of the whole of Luzon. she went from village to village from the eastern tip to the west then from the south to the north of the island.

She was almost at the end of her quest for a kind soul and thus sitting herself upon a rock, forlorn and lonely, she transformed herself again into the queen mermaid that she was. It was during one of these changes that someone saw her. The word got around that the poor old woman begging for food in the village along the seashore was really a mermaid. So, the next time she transformed herself into an old woman, people young and old threw stones and spit at her.

When finally she reached the northwesternmost tip of Luzon, she was just about to give up hope in finding a charitable person when all of a sudden came along the beautiful maiden - Ines Cannuyan. She was on her way to the rocky shore to gather seaweeds in the shallow waters. Ines saw the haggard old woman dn she took pity on woman begged Ines to bring her to the water edge. Surprised about the request, Ines nevertheless gave in to her bidding. The moment the foot of the old woman touched the water, before Ines startled gaze she transformed herself into the beautiful queen mermaid that she was.

The queen mermaid asked Ines what reward she wanted for her kindness, but Ines told her that she did not care for little help she had shared. Ines told her that what she wanted was a seashore of sand not the rocky one that bordered their domain and perhaps by her enchanted powers, the queeen mermaid can make the change.

The queen mermaid answered Ines with a smile and by a wave of her hands, before Ines eyes, like fish wriggling along the shallow waters, came beautiful mermaids whose bodies when they came in contact witht he rock, and gray sands, transformed Ines' rocky shore into a gloaming white beach which is now the SAUD WHITE BEACH of PAGUDPUD, ILOCOS NORTE.

The Prediction

In those perilous times, the town folks became very religious. They held novenas in processions almost every evening seeking the Lords’ blessing. Then as if by miracle, one of the women a very pious one and an ordinary housewife had a vision in dreams. She was the late Nana Saturnina Magarro to whom the Sacred Family appeared with a message. It was a predication that the forested area around Saud and Burayoc would become capital center of all nations. With their own flags flying on high, ranking officials, dignitaries, and guests all over the world would come over and that a church would be built on this stop, where people would pray for our salvation. Such premonition happed around fifty to sixty years ago. After several years, this area was developed by their owners. Then beach resorts started sprouting one after the other and spruced at that which turned out to be a tourism attraction in Northern Luzon. So the prediction came true for the late President Ferdinand Marcos, ex President Fidel Ramos, and other officials of other countries had been strolling along our shores and wading in the shallow waters. Guests from neighboring provinces spent their week ends, picnicking and swimming in the blue open sea. Opportunities for livelihood were offered to the workers in the maintenance of these resorts.
~~~~ ZJaramillo ~~~

The Fiesta

It is a tradition of the town Pagudpud to celebrate it every year. It is a big celebration in which all the town people are eagerly waiting each year. This is a 3-4 days celebration in which everynight they crown a queen and a king. In the evening of the first day, they have a big parade in where they decorate the floats very creatively utilizing mostly things they gather from the town, like different leaves, plants and fruits of trees they grow. They also use locally handcrafted materials to decorate the float. During the parade, the queens and her royalties who ride in the floats, throw candies or fruits to all the spectators of the parade and whoever gives the loudest applause gets the best.

All town people are proud to be a part of the Fiesta, that being a part in the parade is a great honor. School children, even if they walked miles and miles with the parade, they seldom complain because for them it is fun and it is an honor to be a part of such celebration. Farmers from all over town also joins into this celebrations, displaying thier crops, animals and machineries they use in their rice fields.

During the coronation nights, people attends this occassion just to witness the coronation or to participate in the program that they prepare for the night. There is also dancing, singing before and after the coronation of the royalties of the night. This fiesta is held on the month of April every year.

Pagudpud is indeed a nice place to visit. The sights are so relaxing. The people are so welcoming and they are always ready to greet a visitor with their warm smile and a happy face. Come and discover the hidden treasure of the northern part of the Philippines, Pagudpud and its natural beauties.