Bauang, officially the Municipality of Bauang (; ; ), is a 1st class municipality in the province of La Union, Philippines. It was founded in 1586 as a ciudad in the Spanish Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 78,449 people. In Philippine Literature and History, it is known for being the homeplace of literary icon and World War II martyr Manuel Arguilla. The MacArthur Highway runs through the town which junctions with Naguilian Road, one of the mountain roads leading to Baguio. Etymology Bauang originated from either two Ilocano language words: baoang (meaning "garlic") or buang also means "river split into two" flowing into the sea (in reference to the delta that divides an eponymous river into two). History Bauang was a pre-colonial settlement in the country that became one of the first missions organized by the Augustinians in Northern Luzon. It used to belong to the federation of towns and settlements jointly known as “Baratao, Buratao and Balitao”. In 1587, Bauang became the center of the “ministerio” of Baratao and was first placed under the patronage of Sts. Peter and Paul. Fr. Miguel Sano, an Augustinian missionary, was the first priest of the Parish of the Chair of St. Peter which was later on reverted to its historical titular Saints Peter and Paul. Like other towns in the province, Bauang also had its share in the devastating invasions of Moro pirates ("tirong") made series of invasions in Bauang. These invasions gave rise to the construction of watchtowers or baluarte, by then Gobernadorcillo Don Juan Mallare. In 1890, Bauang revolucionarios led by Remigio Patacsil and Mauro Ortiz ousted the Spanish colonizers (cazadores or Spanish soldiers). In 1913, however, Bauang barrios were given to San Fernando: Pagudpud, Pagdalagan, Sevilla, Bungro, Tanquigan, and Sibuan-Otong. During the Pacific War, heroes of Bauang fought in its beaches, in Lingayen Gulf, Bataan and Corregidor (as USAFIP-NL). The Japanese executed Manuel Arguilla, poet and journalist, Major Alberto O. Fenit (USAFFE), and Bauang Mayor Ambrosio Rimando. A town plaza monument today honors these Bauang heroes. On March 14, 1945, the Allied Forces, along with guerillas and local inhabitants successfully captured the Bauang Bridges from the Japanese forces. The bridge was heavily guarded by the Japanese Army as it is the feasible route to Baguio, where the Japanese themselves virtually inaccessible from any ground attack. The capture of the two bridges is one