The History of Brgy.

San Luis

Barangay San Luis, the fourth most populated barangay of Pagsanghan (2015 Census), traces back its
known historical beginnings to the American Rule. The barrio started with the name Balogo, an area
beside the river swamp where small huts were built and is located at the eastern part of the present-day
San Luis. Years passed by, the barrio folks decided to build their houses in one specific area, as some of
them were living in their own farmlands.

The mode of transportation by that time was very difficult. Every time the parish priest of Gandara visits
the parokya of Dapdap (under the care of Padre Venancio), he would be carried on by a hammock. The
hammock is carried on by two people, and there are two substitute. One time during his visit, they were
taken over by dusk and so they looked for a place to spend the night. The priest asked the couple, Santa
and Luis to let them spend the night. Santa and Luis showed them hospitality and from then on, it had
become their habit to stay at the couple’s house every time darkness takes over. When the
government issued command on giving official names to every barrio, Padre Venancio recommended
the place to be called as San Luis to honor the hospitality of the couple Santa and Luis.

The selection of the Teniente de Barrio is known among locals as the turudlukay system wherein the
people gets to choose their leader by pointing at their choice of candidate and raising their hands to
vote. The very first known Teniente del Barrio was Inocentes Bordallo who served sometime around
1950s. He was succeded by Crispin Mardoquio, Paquito Arriega, Vicente Peñaranda, Jesus Sim and
Rosario Mañoza. That time, the concept of term had not yet existed and so there are those who served
only for six months. The number of year in service did not matter. If the people sees that the Teniente
del Barrio is not doing a good job, the people would set an assembly and conduct an election to replace
the current leader.

After the fall of the Japanese on 1945, the skies of San Luis were seen with war planes forming a huge
letter V indicating the victory against the Japanese, this is what they call as the peace time. On 1960s,
San Luis was plagued by the Asiatic cholera, more commonly known to the people as El Tor. People
experienced diarrhea and vomiting. And since there was no health facility in the barangay, a great
number of people died. The dead bodies were piled up on the streets. On the very same decade, the
barrio was hit by a storm that caused the great flood and almost drowned the whole land. The roofs
were the only parts which can be seen. The people stayed on the rooftop of the church to protect
themselves.

During the time of the Martial Law, the barrio was under the protection of Juanito Uy, known to the
people as Mano Akyan. He was the barangay captain for 17 years until the election of 1993 where
Felisisima Tan won. It was during her time that the barangay had its first glimpse of electricity. The
captain that succeeded her, Josefina Uy, continued the project and officiated the official opening of
electricity in every houses.

Today, San Luis stands as one of the progressive barangay of Pagsanghan. Their everyday living is
centered on the production of Palay and other agricultural products. People from other communities
can now easily have an access to the barrio through the farm-to-market road built on 2017.