Stories which were told from generations reveal that the people who first settled in the present day municipality of Bauko are the couple named Padoka and Adian. They lived through planting root crops, domesticating and hunting wild animals in the woods.
One day, their pregnant sow got out of its pen and never came back. The couple searched the immediate vicinity but the pig is nowhere to be found. Adian searched farther where she discovered the sow’s footprints headed eastward going down the lower dike-like mountain called Kamanbaneng. They followed the footprints until they reached a cave-in near a spring in Mt. Kipay-an where they finally saw the pig. The area is packed with trees called “Baukok.” Padoka surveyed the land and found out that it has a good and friendly terrain which made him decide to transfer his whole family there.
As the number of people who live in this place expanded as a result of migration and intermarriage between the children of Padoka and Adian and nearby communities, there began rampant cutting down of trees which they used to build houses. As the number of trees dwindled, the descendants of Opeg, son of Padoka and Adian started calling the place “Baukok” which served as memory of the trees that once abounded in the place. This later on evolved to Bauko which is how this municipality is now known.
Government
While record show that Bauko was created as a regular municipality in 1911 under the American administration, the people started choosing their leaders in 1907. (click here for the list of chief executives)
The municipal building was not permanently built as it was transferred from one place to another. It was believed that the first municipal building was located at Bauiko Poblacion which was later on transferred to G;uinzadan. It was transferred a number of times more until finally a concrete building was constructed at Abatan.
Political Division
Barangays (22)
Abatan
Bagnen Oriente
Bagnen Proper
Balintaugan
Banao
Bila
Guinzadan Central
Guinzadan Norte
Guinzadan Sur
Lagawa
Leseb
Mabaay
Mayag
Monamon Norte
Monamon Sur
MountData
Otucan Norte
Otucan Sur
Poblacion
Sadsadan
Sinto
Tapapan
Geographic Features
Land Area: 1,782,070 hectares
Location: Southwestern part of MountainProvince
Boundaries: North – Sagada, Mt.Province
South – Hungduan, Ifugao and Buguias, Benguet
West – Tadian, Mt. Province
East – Sabangan, Mt.Province and Hungduan, Ifugao
Topography: Mountainous with rolling to very rugged terrain
Elevation: From 800 meters to 3, 512 meters above sea level
Inhabitants Majority of the inhabitants are Kankana-eys.
Dialects
Kankana-ey, Ilokano
Places of Interest
Mount Data Hotel
LayaanBurialCaves
MIliganBurialCaves – located at Barangay Sadsadan
Mount Data View Hill
Mount Bandilaan – historical and good for mountain climbing/trekking
