Another Filipino Priest-historian made headlines just recently. A Filipino historian priest has rediscovered three “lost towns” in the northern Philippines. Father Ericson Josue, an Ilocos Norte native, told ucanews.com that he found the documents about his home province while researching historical theology at the Universidad de Navarra and poring over old Spanish documents. He was intrigued by his discovery of an 1871 document petitioning for the re-establishment of the town of Bangbang, now part of Bangui town. The document revealed that Bangbang existed from the time of the Spanish conquest in 1591. Even now the ruins of an old church can be seen in the area, Father Josue told ucanews.com.

The priest also found traces of other “visitas” or peripheral missionary areas, including Adang, Vera and Vintar. Like Bangbang, Adang and Vera are now considered “lost towns,” which were “suppressed due to pirate attacks.” “This tells us that the friars were able to reach even the farthest places. They literally went to the ends of the earth to bring the Good News,” Father Josue explained, adding that the missionary outposts are seldom mentioned in history books.

Father Josue believes that the original town of Adang is now the remote municipality of Adams town. He said that when the missionary friars arrived they saw naked men and called them Adan, hence the name Adang.

Father Josue is home on vacation prior to completing his research study entitled “Pueblo de Pasuquin, A Northern Luzon Town During the Spanish Colonial Philippines” analysing the Spanish legacy in the Philippines, taking his hometown as an example. He said that knowing one’s past is essential. “It helps people to know deeper their identity as individuals or community, so it leads to a sense of direction,” he concluded.