Barrio Pingad.... The center of southern Sabangan in the early days before the Presidential Decree No 557 of President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos creating the barangay as the smallest form of Government. Barrio Pingad is the old name for all of the 9 sitios of upper Sabangan. The sitios under Pingad during this days were: Bao-angan, Bun-ayan, Busa, Camatagan, Capinitan, Gayang, Namatec, and Napua. Now these communities are all independent barangays, governed by their own barangay officials. The name "Pingad" as story say was derived from a "kankana-ey" word "pingod" which means to remove ear or ears. It says that during those days when tribal conflicts were practiced, warriors from this community bring home ear or ears from fallen enemy as their trophy and as a sign of bravery. The tribal from nearby villages believed that warriors from Pingad are brave and furious and are known for their cruelty and viciousness.
Pingad today is a community of peace and harmony. There are four main sitios of this barangay namely; 1. “Dontog”: a kankana-ey term for small hill. In this sitio, farm paddies of the barangay are located. 2. “Gedangan”: a kankana-ey term for passages. The sitio is where clean water of the barangay is fetched. The water from the natural spring is said to have a healing capability. 3. “Demang”: a kankana-ey term for other side. The center of the barangay and where the first barangay health unit is situated, this barangay health unit caters the health needs for all of the Southern Sanbangan area or localy known as Pingad area. The Rural Health Midwife (RHM) of this health center was Mrs. Carmen de Leon Lardizabal. She was the first RHM in this Rural Health Unit to serve the longest in this community for 33 years. She arrive and serve the community in October 15, 1956 up to 1989. She was not a native of any of the local tribe, rather she is from San Quentin Pangasinan. The locals call her "koletchagang", meaning a person from the low lands. In this sitio also is where the first Roman Catholic Church for upper Sabangan was constructed. The first Private Erimary School was located in the church. The school was supervised and managed by Roman Catholic Church and that school was situated on the first floor of the Church. 4. "Pitang": the smallest sitio of the Pingad. Located below the national road near Bun-ayan barangay.
Politically, Pingad is known in Mountain Provinces as the residence of great family of politician. He is the late Governor Teofilo Pilando, and subsequently fallowed by his son Atty Roy Pilando who became Vice Governor, Governor and Congressman of the province. The barangay was once said to be the politician's nursery of Mountain Province because of the politicians and leaders who came from here.
Every February of each year, Pingad is the venue of gathering for all of the villagers to celebrate the Barangay fiasta. In the early days, the 9 barangays participates in the festivities but as time passes by, the numbers of barangay participating in the fiesta was down to 5 barangays only, namely Bao-angan, Bun-ayan, Camatagn, Gayang and Pingad. Today that each of the barangays have their own barangay fiesta's, the 5 adjacent barangays of Pingad still joins the merry making. It is the thanks giving for good harvest of the community. During this celebration cultural dances and traditional songs are played.
Other readings for your information. Thank you!
Camatagan Sabangan Mountain ProvincePingad Sabangan Mountain Province
Living in Baguio City in Poor man’s Perspective
Gayanga Sabangan Mountain Province
Sabangan Mountain Province
Kankana-ey di ePingad (Pertains to Upper Southern Sabangan)
