Dávila: The Town That Never Was

Abstract

The barrio of Dávila, also known in olden times as Dirique, is one of the largest barangays in the Province of Ilocos Norte. During the Spanish Regime there was a port in this area which was considered one of the most important in the islands for it was here where tobacco coming from northern Ilocos Norte were shipped to Manila. The Port of Dirique served as an economic link between the province and the capital, including neighboring provinces. During the American Regime, the port was used as gateway in exporting manganese coming from its Ilocos deposits to other markets in the world including the United States. After several decades, this place was forgotten and became “insignificant.” However, old extant manuscripts in Spain and the Philippines revealed its importance during the two foreign regimes. This humble research from archival documents intends to catch attention to rediscover its old importance and the assets hidden by nature in its vicinity. After-all, this was the northwestern-most gateway of the Philippines to the world.