Country Philippines District 2nd District Time zone PST (UTC+8) Area 119.3 km² Province Ilocos Sur | Region Ilocos (Region I) Barangays ZIP code 2716 Local time Saturday 9:50 PM Dialling code 77 | |
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Weather 26°C, Wind SE at 5 km/h, 94% Humidity | ||
Alilem is a 4th class municipality in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 6,695 people.
Contents
Map of Alilem, Ilocos Sur, Philippines
History
Long before the Spanish colonizers landed on the Philippine shores, there were already natives living in this place. These people live in huts built on the hillsides located at the northern and eastern parts of the valley. This was so because the present valley was then the course of the Bakun River. For many years, the natives lived simply but peacefully. Such peaceful life did not last forever for it was soon disturbed by an unusual and fearful occurrence in the people’s environment. It all started with the continuous heavy downpour or “LEMLEM” in the native dialect. This “lemlem” caused the Bakun River to swell to an extraordinary size and overflow its banks. In the middle part of the river, there was a big “ALICONO” or whirlpool which the people feared so much. Even after the rains ceased, the ‘alicono’ remained; so the people believed it to Kabunian’s (GOD) punishment for their sins. As it was their custom, the people held native feast called “kaniaw”, the “alicono” vanished and the Bakun River changed its course to the foot of the mountains in the southern part leaving a dry level land suited for residential lots and farms. The people moved their homes to the valley and named the place ALILEM after the “ALICONO” and “LEMLEM”.
Accurate and reliable information on the exact date of the founding of the town cannot be secured because there are no complete historical records available. However, basing from its information gathered from the old folks, it could be deduced that the town of Alilem was founded sometime after 1820. What is certainly known only is that the lay-out of the town was done by the Spaniards. During the Spanish occupation, Alilem was noted for being the center of the district government of “commandancia politico-militar” of Amburayan. This commandancia was composed of Alilem, Sigay, Suyo, Tagudin, Sudipen, San Gabriel and Bakun. In 1908, the commandancia of amburayan became a sub-province of the newly created special capital of the sub-province until the Americans transferred the seat to Tagudin.
Barangays
Alilem is politically subdivided into 9 barangays.
Demographics
In the 2015 census, the population of Alilem was 6,695 people, with a density of 56 inhabitants per square kilometre or 150 inhabitants per square mile.