BARANGAY BANAO, NATONIN MOUNTAIN PROVINCE
Banao, formerly called Sakgi/Ha’gi, is the first barangay to reach from Kadaclan, Barlig. It is the western boundary entrance and exit and from Natonin to Barlig and Bontoc, the capital town of Mountain Province. Standing on this threshold entrance (fuknagan) from Barlig, one can view thousand years old rice terraces carved on the lower mountain slopes all lying north of the Siffu River.
Its geographical closeness to Kadaclan made the people of Banao to clamor at one time to be included under the Municipality of Barlig, but geographically it is enclosed within Natonin Municipality.
Administrative Divisions
It was in 1968 that Municipal councilor Anselmo Chatoy worked for the separation of Sakkhi from Tonglayan as a separate Barangay. Leon Manarop was its first appointed barangay captain while waiting for the forthcoming scheduled elections. Marcos Widwichan emerged as the first formally elected Barangay captain of Banao. He was followed in succession by Jaime Focao, Melanio Chinamling, Nabie Manayos, Finio Arunchay, Smith Lenmamag, Dionie Chungalan, and Andres Panitew (Banao Barangay Profile, 2017).
Banao has nine sitios: Upper Porag, Lower Porag, Nangamfialiyan, Machai, Sakkhi, Fiab-arrantak Puchag, Sayokokna, and Banao center. The Banao rice fields are said to have been initiated by Pangat Fianao, which are abundantly supplied by irrigated water from Charyangan and Manangor brooks (Banao Barangay Profile, 2017). The name “Banao” is said to have been in memory of Fianao, who was known as Banao’s ancient pangat warrior and visionary leader who defeated his village enemy tribe-the Sannang of Ifugao (Source: Junie F. Panitew, Indigenous People’s Manadated Representative of Barangay Banao as narrated by Sagofian Arone, a tribal elder of Banao).
(Source: A History and Culture of the Balangao Igorot of Eastern Mountain Province “Ad Maliyam” by: FLAVIANA B. BATNAG )