Vintar

History

Vintar derived its name from the Ilocano word, intar, which used to describe the formation or order taken by the subject from their ruler whenever the chief called them to attention. It is said that a visiting Spanish missionary named Leano heard the word and add the letter V.

The town earliest settlers are believed to be Indonesian. They first settled on a hill overlooking the Vintar River where its huge dam is located. In the early 16th century, the town was founded by a Catholic missionary who got lost in the woods while hunting between Sarrat and Piddig. Vintar was made the visita of Bacarra in 1600. Ten years later, it was established as a parish os San Nicolas de Tolentino. Earlier in 1763, Vintar was reverted to a visita until it became independent in 1774.

In 1903, Vintar was annexed as a barrio Bacarra. It gained its separation and independence in 1909.

In 1931, an earthquake partially destroyed its church. Five years later, it was restored and so was its convent in 1982.

Vintar celebrates its town fiesta every 10 September. A religious tradition inherited from the Augustinians lives on-the distribution of San Nicolas biscuits.

The people of Vintar are engage in farming, fishing and herding. The town is generally rural.

Geography

Vintar is located on a plain land surrounded by mountains. Vintar is surrounded and bordered by:

The town is considered as the sixth major river system in the region. Its head waters are on the western Cordillera slopes at the Kalinga and Apayao borders. It flows eastward and irrigates most of the flat lands of Ilocos Norte before making its exit into the China Sea. Vintar has the largest land area in Ilocos Norte.

Note: The town of Sigay was created in 2008, carving out from the territory of Vintar, but was amended September 2009 because of poor economy.

Climate

Vintar is divided into two types of climate:

Average rainfall per month:

Barangays

Vintar is politically subdivided into 34 barangays. 

Sub-divisions

Poblacion

Poblacion is the center-most subdivision of Vintar. Poblacion is composed of 5 barangays namely:

Burdo

Burdo is a mountainous place south of Vintar. This sub-division of Vintar is only composed of 2 barangays namely:

Pallas Valley

Pallas Valley is considered the longest valley in the Philippines. It is located at the north-east of Vintar. Pallas Valley is composed of 7 barangays namely:

Salsalamagui

Salsalamagui is at the north of Vintar. Salsalamagui is composed of 2 barangays namely:

Amian Valley

Amian Valley is located north of Vintar. It is called so after the Ilocano word "Amian" which means north. Amian Valley is composed of 7 barangays namely:

Patpatani

Patpatani is at the east of Vintar. It is composed of 6 barangays namely:

Surong Valley

Surong Valley is located at the north-west direction of Vintar. It is composed of the Upper Surong and Lower Surong valleys. Surong Valley is composed of 5 barangays namely:

Mount Baguinsuso

Mount Baguinsuso, also known as Mount Masadsada (Ilocano which means "passable valley"), is an active volcano located in Barangay 14- Ester. Mount Baguinsuso is a historical place for Vintar because it is where the town's name came from. Mount Baguinsuso is a big landform which stretches across the barangays of Lubnac, Parparoroc, Bulbulala, and Namoroc.

Demographics

In the 2015 census, the population of Vintar was 32,220 people, with a density of 52 inhabitants per square kilometre or 130 inhabitants per square mile.

Festival

Siwawer Festival is the annual festival of Vintar. This festival of the town is being celebrated in honor of the siwawer and canaoay birds that only live in the area of Vintar. It is celebrated for 12 days every December 19 to December 30.

Products

Nicknames of Vintar

Transportation

Vintar can be reached through air via Laoag International Airport at Laoag City, then hiring a tricycle or any other public transportation. From Manila by bus, it will take about 10 to 12 hours in reaching the center of Vintar. Farinas and Maria De Leon are the major companies that have a daily trip to Vintar.

Government seal

The shield is derived from the provincial seal of Ilocos Norte.

The letter V stands for the word Vintar, the name of the municipality.

The eagle represents the native hawk, commonly called Siwawer by the old folks and after which the people of Vintar are referred to.

Landscape, plow, rice stalk, onion, garlic, mango, eggplant and tobacco leaf, at the left side of the shield representing the municipality’s principal farming industries.

Dam, gate valve, water and fish at the right side of the shield represent Vintar-Laoag-Bacarra irrigation system. The dam also stands for the Siwawers, a resort the town is famous for; the fish symbolizes one of the main income-generating products of the locality.