Alilem

Location
A land area of 156.20 square kilometers- Alilem. It is bounded
on the north by the municipality of Suyo, on the south of the
municiplaities of sugpon in Ilocos Sur and Bakun, in Benguet, on
the west by the municiplaities of Tagudin and Sudipen, in La Union
and on the east by the municiplaities of Cervantes (Ilocos Sur)
and Bakun.
Topography
Alilem is hilly and mountainous, with a moderately sloping
terrain.
Logo
The two encircling blue lines represent the protective shield
of the government as the vanguard of the municipality.
The shield is derived from the seal of the Province of Ilocos
Sur.
The nine barangays of the municipality are represented by the
9 golden rays of the sun.
The mountain, valleys, the upland and lowland fields
symbolizes Alilem, a farming community.
The silhouette of a farmer plowing the fields with the help
of the carabao represents the industry and the perseverance of the
people.
The ropes symbolize the unity of the townspeople, both in
times of peace and conflict.
The broom and baskets stands for the municipality’s cottage
industry.
Tobacco leaf, banana and palaay or rice stalks represents the
agricultural products of Alilem.
The roman numerals read 1890, marking the year when the
municipality was founded.
The blue color stands for unity, the red for heroism and love,
green for hope and yellow for prosperity.
Etymology
Alilem got its name from the words “alicono” or whirpool and
“lemlem” which means continuous rain. It is said that native or
early settlers in the area have experienced continuous heavy rains
which made the waters of Bakun river rise. After the rain, there
was a whirpool which they interpreted that it is a punishment given
by Kabunian (their god). After some offerings, the place was dry,
with leveled land as resettlement and farm sites for the people.
The people then moved their homes to the valley and named the place
Alilem after the Alicono and Lemlem
History
Alilem was the capital of comandancia politico- military of
Amburayan that was established in 1890. Amburayan was set up by
the Spaniards so that they could have access to the mountains that
yielded golds as well as serving as a launching pad for campaigns
to subdue the natives to the highlands.
During the Philippine- American War, the Filipino resistance
movement in the area involved, among other things, staging attacks
against American scouting parties that were on reconnaissance
missions. In retaliation, the Americans would keep the Alilem
residents in garrison. At times, the residents would evacuate the
area upon hearing news that they would be attacked by the American
cavalry and infantry.
In 1908, American authorities established a new territory
called Mountain Province. Its sub-provinces were Apayao,
Kalinga. Bontoc, Ifugao, Benguet, Lepanto and Amburayan.
In 1917, the Bureaau of Non- Christian Tribes recommended
that the western border of Mountain Province be mobved eastward.
The sub- province of Amburayan and a large part of Benguet and
Lepanto then became part of Ilocos Sur and La Union provinces.
With the dissolution of Amburayan , its townships of Sigay, Suyo,
Aliliem, and Sugpon, became part of Ilocos Sur. Alilem, as well as
the rest, represent the upland towns of the province.
Government
Alilem is considered as a fourth-class municipality composing
of nine barangays.
1. Alilem Daya (Poblacion)
 Daya which means east. This part of Alilem is considered
as the town’s poblacion.
2. Amilongan
This barangay was named after a person who is Amilong.
It is when American came to visit the place asked a
person about the name of the place. Mistakenly, the man
thought that the Americans were asking for his name and
then he said “ Amilong”. Later on, people added the ‘an’
to mean “the place where Amilong lived.”
3. Anaao
Anaao came from the Filipino word anahaw. This was named
to the place because the plant that they aare using in
making raincoats is anahaw.
4. Apang
Similar to Amilongan, the name of this place was derived
from the names of its folks. Three men were asked about
the name of the place and they said “ Agsanao, Apila and
Sbbang.” “ A” came from Agsano, “P” from Apila and the
last three letters “Ang” from Sabbang.
5. Apaya
The place is abundant in papaya, thus, getting the name
from it.
6. Batbato
The name of the place came from the throwing of stones
of the folks when Spaniards came in their place and tried
to pursue them. Someone asked what do they call their
weapon and they said “Batbato” which means “many
stones”.
7. Daddaay
Daddaay is a fruit in the place. Story say that the name
of the place came from the fruit when Spaniards visited
the area and they were children eating it. The Spaniards
were asking what the name of the place and the children
thought they were asking about the name of the fruit
which then they answered “Daddaay”.
8. Barangay Dalawa
Dalawa is a Filipino term for “two”. This was named in
the place when Spanish hikers encountered two women in
the area. They asked what is the name of that place but
neither answered because they didn’t understand it. The
hikers named the place “dalawa” referring to the two
women.
 9. Kiat
It is said that the name of the place is from kiak, which
Spaniards heard when a man was catching a rooster while
saying kiak kiak kiak. From that, the place place is
anmed Kiak but then after changed to Kiat.
Mayors
Names Lenth of Service
Eulogio Lorenzana 1945- 1947
Marcelo Sarmiento 1948-1955
Vicente Sapla 1956-1959
Paulino Apusen 1960-1979
Onofre Bistoyong 1979-1988
Samson Bangaoil 1988-2007
Onofre Bistoyong 2007- 2012
Mar Ruel Sumabat 2013-2019

Church
The church of Alilem is dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes whose
feast day falls on February 11.
Part of the fiesta celebration is the performance of a dance
called Sadong pr Tadek wherein women dancers don their tapis and
men their G-string.
During the Spanish period, Alilem was first a Spanish mission
of the Augustinians in 1870 or 1880. The first church was made of
stone but was destroyed during the revolution. The first converted
Christians among the of Kankaneys were called “bago.” Later, a
visita in Alilem was established under the jurisdiction of Tagudin
which was, by then, under the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart
of Mary.
A church made of wood and cement was finally built in 1939.
A cooperative and a credit establishment were established in 1970
under the guidance of Fr. Egbert Kraaykamp.
The parish was handed over to the diocesan clergy in 1993.
*Population
According the 2015 census, Alilem has 6,695 people.
*Industries
 Alilem counts among its industries soft broom-making, rice,
corn and basi (native wine made from sugar cane).
Under the One Town, One Product scheme, Alilem listed sugar
cane vinegar as its top product.
*Places to Visit
The following are Alilem’s tourist attractions: Baey Anito
Waterfalls, Apang Hot Spring, Daddaay- Batbato Rice Terraces,
Picnic Grounds along the Bakun and Amburayan Rivers, Bakun Hydro
Power Plant and Alilem Irrigation Tunnel.