Tayum


Tayum, officially the Municipality of Tayum, is a municipality in the province of Abra, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 14,808 people.
Every 25 November, Tayum celebrates its town fiesta. Roman Catholicism is the dominant religion.

Etymology

According to historical records, Tayum was named after the indigo plant, which the Ilocanos referred to as tayum-tayum. Indigo once flourished in Tayum, and it was a source of wealth for the Ilocanos. A big vat was used in decaying the plant into a blue-black dye called "ngila" in Barangay Deet, about a half-kilometer away from the town proper. Cotton yams were dyed using the dye.
However, at the turn of the century, a powder dye from the Anilino Factories of Germany became popular among Ilocano weavers, effectively killing the indigo industry.

History

Spanish colonial era

Tayum, also known as Bukaw, was founded in 1626 by an enterprising priest named Father Juan Pareja. Father Gabriel Alvarez, another equally daring and adventurous Augustinian Priest, built a temporary chapel in Tayum during his expedition to Lepanto in 1569. Tayum was formally organized as a political unit under the Spanish Regime in 1725. Don Vidal Banganan served as the first Gobernadorcillo.
With the construction of the solid bricks walled church under the successive Augustinian missions, Tayum transformed from a mere visita of Bangued into an independent mission in the year 1807. The church was built in honor of St. Catherine of Alexandria, whose feast day falls on November 25.

American invasion era

In 1904, Tayum reverted to a barrio of Bangued, due to the deterioration of peace and order at the time. Tayum's existence as a barrio came to an end on December 31, 1907, when Don Pio Balmaceda y Belmonte was appointed Teniente del barrio. Balmaceda organized his men to effectively curb lawlessness, restoring peace to the town. It regained its town status, with Don Manuel Brillantes as its first president.

World War II

At about 3:00 am, in the early dawn of Sunday, 8 October 1944, 500 bolo men from the resistance entered Tayum and set several homes including the Tayum Municipal Building on fire. Torches were applied to all the houses on Santa Clara Street's southern side. They left the town at 5:45 am, leaving behind 24 houses and 1 granary in flames, as well as killing Mayor Severo Brillantes, two mayors, two ex-soldiers, two leaders of the neighborhood association Ho-Ko and four other law abiding citizens.

Contemporary era

On July 27, 2022, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck 3 km from the town. The quake killed at least eleven people and injured 567 others.

Geography

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of constituting of the total area of Abra. The town is located at.
Tayum is situated from the provincial capital Bangued, and from the country's capital city of Manila.

Barangays

Tayum is politically subdivided into 11 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Climate

Demographics

In the 2024 census, Tayum had a population of 14,808 people. The population density was.

Economy

Government

Local government

Tayum, belonging to the lone congressional district of the province of Abra, is governed by a mayor designated as its local chief executive and by a municipal council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code. The mayor, vice mayor, and the councilors are elected directly by the people through an election which is being held every three years.

Elected officials

PositionName
CongressmanJoseph Santo Niño B. Bernos
MayorPlacido P. Eduarte Jr.
Vice-MayorEmmanuel Eleazar B. Eduarte
CouncilorsAgustin B. Barbieto Jr.
CouncilorsRomel Flor B. Tamo
CouncilorsBienvenido A. Dion Jr.
CouncilorsAvelino T. Tejero
CouncilorsJoel P. Flores
CouncilorsTeresa B. Millare
CouncilorsEduardo A. Tejero
CouncilorsConstantino T. Fernandez

List of Cultural Properties of Tayum

Transportation

The main mode of public transportation are tricycles and jeepneys.

Education

The Tayum Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.

Primary and elementary schools