This legend forms a part of the living culture and the richness of the traditional oral literature not just in this little village but also in the rest of the Ilocandias.
» Once upon a time, there were two giants who inhabited the planet named Angalo and Aran. These two giants were believed to be the first two inhabitants of the planet.
» When we arrived in Brgy Palang, no one could help me go near the footprint.
๐ต๐ญ SAN QUINTIN » ABRA
![TUGOT NI ANGALO
Date: 2012-07-12
Taken by: Edmar Guquib
Vantage Point: [Ground-level] Barangay Palang » San Quintin » Abra » Philippines
Subject Location: Sitio Cabaruyan » Brgy Labaan » San Quintin » Abra » Philippines
Camera: SAMSUNG PL200/VLUU PL200 TUGOT NI ANGALO](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVgYyVIZbUYGhSxE1jgKCphRoa3AGVvwT2xXGE9Mj2sFVTjglojz3Kh7tXI8NiN5K9e1ViY3xK9CQW5g-_OSFgjF6fK6KgCnyUqWCi8huSF5vfQr59Lt725mE_EFTJeVLa3gtU4KL2KOW3NKQ8Vv984xF9WeE8gVIv837lrMUjqtk9MFkQ981kW2fLHXI/s1600/TUGOT%20NI%20ANGALO.jpg)
In the presence of modern technology, under a digital ecosystem where children engage the world through digital citizenship, I reached a quiet village engulfed by mountains and isolated by a great river. The village is called Brgy Palang which could be accessed by crossing the Abra River in the town of San Quintin in the province of Abra. From this village, you could visualize a geolological feature that is associated with a local legend—especially for Ilocanos.
This legend forms a part of the living culture and the richness of the traditional oral literature not just in this little village but also in the rest of the Ilocandias, and it intertwines with the trajectory of the world to modernity. In this part of the country, there exists the most legendary of all the footprints of Angalo: a mythical giant. This giant footprint is related to the local folklore of Angalo and Aran (characters of an Ilocano mythology).
In 2012, I had this perception that only a few are knowledgeable of the existence of this footprint. Even a quick Google search back then wouldn't give you plenty of blogs about the Tugot ni Angalo. So where is this legendary footprint?
► Backstory

I remember the person who talked to me at the San Quintin Town Hall. He said that the Angalo footprint is the most famous landmark in this town. The only predicament I had to face at that time is the fact that reaching the place would be difficult. However, he said to me that as I cross the river (which I just did), I would be able to visualize the footprint.
I discussed the story of the legend of Angalo in a ▼ PREVIOUS POST
๐ต๐ญ SUDIPEN » (2012) Angalo Footprint at Amburayan River by a Mythical Giant

► Did I See the Giant Footprint?

So now, I would tell a story like an elder, as I narrate the story of Angalo and Aran: an Ilocano folklore that has been passed from generation to generation. These two giants are the Ilocano version of Adam and Eve. The notable difference, though, is that they are super-sized.
Once upon a time, there were two giants who inhabited the planet named Angalo and Aran. These two giants were believed to be the first two inhabitants of the planet.
Unfortunately, the woman (Aran) was missing; and so the giant male Angalo's longing to see the woman was infinite. He continually searched for Aran; and to be able to look for Aran, he roamed the whole Ilocos Region.
Along the process of his search, he left massive marks; and these are the gigantic footprints carved into the young earth. Angalo also drank from the springs of what is known now as Pinsal Falls in Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur; and he had to kneel, thereby creating other depressions. Those depressions are now the natural pools on top of the waterfalls, and the largest of those natural pools with the shape of a footprint is claimed to be the footprint of Angalo.
In San Quintin, the footprint was carved in a village called Labaan. The place was still far from the place where I was standing at that time. Even so, the man I talked with at the town hall assured me that I could see the footprint by going to Brgy Palang. I pursued the adventure.
That seemed like a very gigantic footprint. Angalo must have been very super-sized man!
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๐ต๐ญ SAN QUINTIN » We crossed the Abra River to reach Brgy Palang. ![]() |
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๐ต๐ญ SAN QUINTIN » Where is the giant footprint? ![]() |
Using my camera, I zoomed in; and I noticed a depression in the area.
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๐ต๐ญ SAN QUINTIN » I zoomed in my digicam from the distant barangay of Palang. |
I borrowed some photos from a username "jojof" who captured that landmark in a closer scale. It was originally uploaded on the defunct Panoramio website.
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๐ต๐ญ SAN QUINTIN » Closer photo of the Tugot ni Angalo ![]() |
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๐ต๐ญ SAN QUINTIN » Closer photo of the Tugot ni Angalo ![]() |
As I crossed the river back to where I came from, I observed one thing that was as interesting as the Angalo Footprint. I noticed this one after I saw the footprint from afar. To be continued...
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7





► More 'Geological Formation' Blogs

MORE STORIES COVERING "GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS" | SEE OLDER STORIES

UPDATE HISTORY FOR THIS BLOG POST
2025-August-21:
• The article was rewritten, proofread, and revised (injecting both 2012 and 2025 perspectives). 2025 lay-out update applied.
2012-October-12:
• This post was published.
Now I wonder why Aran seems missing when they are giants...and they could easily see each other. LOL!
ReplyDeleteBut this is a great find, Edmar!
Ding Fuellos | Hahaha! And he never found her. Whatta tragic love story. Baka nasa ibang planeta noon si Aran. LOL!
ReplyDeletefootprint's shape nga bro! Asan na kaya si Aran?:)
ReplyDeleteTraveling Morion | Hehe, nabaon na yun sa limot. Lol! The legend was just hopeless romantic. :p
ReplyDeleteMahilig din ako sa mga ganitong story hehehe wah ang laking footprint nga!
ReplyDeleteMicamyx|Senyorita | Ako super hilig! Hehe.
ReplyDeleteHi, I am writing a CAR article on kristn, TV5's lifestyle site. Would it be okay for me to use your photo of the Tugot ni Angalo?
ReplyDeleteIf so, I will credit you/your site when the article is published. Thanks very much!
Best,
Jenette Vizcocho
Some samples of previous work:
Yoga Mountain Climb
http://www.kristn.com/index.php/travel/article/1144/summer-must-do-go-on-a-yoga-mountain-climbing-expedition
Surfing
http://www.kristn.com/index.php/travel/article/87/best-surfing-destinations-in-the-philippines
Mati, Davao Oriental
http://www.kristn.com/index.php/travel/article/971/top-10-things-to-see-in-mati-davao-oriental
Jenette Vizcocho | Hello, which photo? edmaration@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteDude I can probably guide you to go in Brgy Labaan if you wish to, but we will use the trail from Kakaldingan, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur to go there. It will take a day Hike to reach that place, I will also guide you to the famous Bantay Tirad which is at the tip of that mountain you can stand to a mohon that divides Ilocos Sur and Abra boundary and see the view of Narvacan, Sta Maria, and Vigan. You can email me at narvdc_04@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteAnonymous | This sounds fun dude! I'll email you.
ReplyDelete