PAOAY LAKE
The landlocked lake located 3 kilometers away from the sea in Suba,
Paoay has an area of 470 hectares. Declared as a National Park under
Republic Act 5631 on June 21, 1969.
Address: Paoay, Ilocos Norte 2902
The Legend
The Legend of Paoay Lake
Long ago, in this once-dry land where Paoay lake now stands, there
was a village whose people were kind, generous and God-fearing.
Prosperity was evident in their beautiful houses, their expensive
clothes and glittering jewelries.
As years passed, rivalry among the people set in, that they worked
hard to acquire material things more than the others. God-worship was
forgotten. Among them, Juan and his wife Maria, remained simple folks
and never forgot to worship God.One night, in a dream, they were told
that the village will be destroyed by a flood, if the people will not
reform. They related their dream to their neigbors, but they only
laughed at them.
One morning, the people heard a voice saying, "Leave this place
tonight. When you hear the roar of thunder, do not look back, lest you
suffer the same fate as the sinners." When dusk came, they left their
little belongings towards the hill. Then they heard the clap of thunder
and felt the earth beneath then sway and tremble. The villagers were
roused, but their cries died down as they were submerged under the
rampaging water. The woman instinctively turned back to look back at the
village. She swooned and her husband tried to hold her. This tugging
gave the name "Nangguyudan". They turned into rocks which can still be
seen today at Bantay Pugaro. Atop one rock grew a "bangar" tree which
rises to the sky like an open umbrella.
As years went by at the place where the village sank, a beautiful
lake emerged, and is now the famous PAOAY LAKE. Today, they said if one
looks into the depths of the lake, one could see the shadows of the
buildings and houses of the once prosperous village. Fisherman reported
catching fishes adorned with jewels. It is believed that these were the
early inhabitants of the ill-fated village.
SOURCE: The people of Paoay.
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