Luna, La Union

Luna, officially the Municipality of Luna, is a 3rd class municipality in the province of La Union, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 35,802 people.[3]

Luna

Namacpacan
Municipality
Municipality of Luna
Luna town center overlooking the Santa Catalina de Alejandria Church
Seal
Map of La Union with Luna highlighted
Luna
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 16°51′N 120°23′E
Country Philippines
RegionIlocos Region (Region I)
ProvinceLa Union
District1st District
Barangays40 (see Barangays)
Government
 [1]
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorRachel N. Pinzon
 • Vice MayorOscar B. Reyes
 • CongressmanPablo C. Ortega
 • Electorate23,910 voters (2019)
Area
 [2]
 • Total42.90 km2 (16.56 sq mi)
Elevation
12.0 m (39.4 ft)
Population
 (2015 census)[3]
 • Total35,802
 • Density830/km2 (2,200/sq mi)
 • Households
8,189
Economy
 • Income class3rd municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence5.95% (2015)[4]
 • Revenue (₱) PHP 146,299,620.31 million (48.4%) (2018)
 • Assets (₱) PHP 241,478,151.25 million (41.9%) (2018)
 • Expenditure (₱) PHP 85,913,977.13 million (28%) (2018)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
2518
PSGC
013310000
IDD : area code +63 (0)72
Climate typetropical monsoon climate
Native languagesIlocano
Tagalog
Websitewww.luna.gov.ph

Barangays

Luna is politically subdivided into 40 barangays. [2]

  • Alcala
  • Ayaoan
  • Barangobong
  • Barrientos
  • Bungro
  • Busel-Busel
  • Cabalitocan
  • Cantoria No. 1
  • Cantoria No. 2
  • Cantoria No. 3
  • Cantoria No. 4
  • Carisquis
  • Darigayos
  • Magallanes
  • Magsiping
  • Mamay
  • Nagrebcan
  • Nalvo Norte
  • Nalvo Sur
  • Napaset
  • Oaqui No. 1
  • Oaqui No. 2
  • Oaqui No. 3
  • Oaqui No. 4
  • Pila
  • Pitpitac
  • Rimos No. 1
  • Rimos No. 2
  • Rimos No. 3
  • Rimos No. 4
  • Rimos No. 5
  • Rissing
  • Salcedo
  • Santo Domingo Norte
  • Santo Domingo Sur
  • Sucoc Norte
  • Sucoc Sur
  • Suyo
  • Tallaoen
  • Victoria

Luna's poblacion (town center) consists of the four barangays: Victoria, Salcedo, Alcala, and Magallanes.

History

Luna was once called Namacpacan, which is an Ilocano word meaning "one who feeds".

As early as 1587, Namacpacan was recorded as a visita (satellite mission, whose church is manned by non-resident clergy based in the cabecera) of Purao (now Balaoan). It was a settlement along the camino real (national road) from Vigan to Manila, and travellers stopped there to refresh themselves. Since restaurants was not yet in vogue, local families offered the travellers food and lodging, hence the name.

On 18 October 1906, during the terms of Governor Joaquin Luna and Mayor Primitivo Resurrección Novicio, the town was renamed "Luna" through Philippine Commission Act No. 1543. It was the first town that altered its name since the creation of the province in 1850. The change was to honour the famous Luna brothers: Revolutionary General Antonio and Spoliarium painter Juan; their mother, Doña Laureana Novicio Luna, was a native of Namacpacan.

Climate
Climate data for Luna, La Union
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 30
(86)		 31
(88)		 33
(91)		 34
(93)		 32
(90)		 31
(88)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 31
(88)		 31
(88)		 31
(88)		 31
(88)
Average low °C (°F) 20
(68)		 21
(70)		 23
(73)		 25
(77)		 26
(79)		 26
(79)		 25
(77)		 25
(77)		 25
(77)		 23
(73)		 22
(72)		 21
(70)		 24
(74)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 27
(1.1)		 31
(1.2)		 40
(1.6)		 71
(2.8)		 207
(8.1)		 237
(9.3)		 286
(11.3)		 261
(10.3)		 261
(10.3)		 254
(10.0)		 88
(3.5)		 46
(1.8)		 1,809
(71.3)
Average rainy days 9.4 9.3 12.7 17.0 25.4 26.8 27.4 26.1 25.0 21.0 15.5 10.6 226.2
Source: Meteoblue [5]

Demographics
Population census of Luna
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 11,116—    
1918 13,542+1.32%
1939 14,624+0.37%
1948 17,258+1.86%
1960 18,595+0.62%
1970 22,767+2.04%
1975 24,065+1.12%
1980 25,081+0.83%
1990 28,308+1.22%
1995 29,974+1.08%
2000 32,259+1.59%
2007 35,372+1.28%
2010 35,380+0.01%
2015 35,802+0.23%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[3][6][7][8]

In the 2015 census, the population of Luna, La Union, was 35,802 people,[3] with a density of 830 inhabitants per square kilometre or 2,100 inhabitants per square mile.

Tourist attractions
Baluarte, an old Spanish watch tower

Luna is also known for its beaches, particularly in Nalvo Sur and Darigayos. Beach shades, cottages and resorts are found in these barangays. The municipality is also known for its native delicacies and pottery products which are comparable to San Juan's.

The town is a pilgrimage site as it enshrines the Apo Baket Namacpacan, a wooden Marian image.

On the beach of barangay Victoria rests the ruins of an old Spanish watch tower, locally named as Balauarte. The tower was intended to guard the shores of the town primarily from Muslim and pirate attacks during the Spanish period. During World War II, the tower served as the communication tower post for a temporary airfield for the USAFIP-NL forces. Due to years of quarrying within the site of the tower (1980 to 2000), the coastline receded and sea waves severely damaged the foundation of the tower, which eventually caused major damage to its structure. At present, efforts were initiated to preserve the tower from further damage.

Education

Luna has Public Elementary schools in each barangay. There are 6 public high schools (Luna National Science High School - Central in Barangay Barrientos, LNHS - Rimos and Cantoria Annex; and Oanari National High School) Bungro-Sucoc Integrated School in Bungro, Luna Technical Vocational High School and 1 Private High School (Santa Catalina Academy).

Notable people
  • Municipal hall
  • Police station
  • Town center
  • Luna Sports Center
  • Street view

References
  1. "Municipality". Quezon City, Philippines: Department of the Interior and Local Government. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  2. "Province: La Union". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  3. Census of Population (2015). "Region I (Ilocos Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  4. "PSA releases the 2015 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Quezon City, Philippines. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  5. "Luna: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  6. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region I (Ilocos Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  7. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region I (Ilocos Region)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. NSO.
  8. "Province of La Union". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
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