Bangued is a first class municipality in the province of Abra in the Cordillera Administrative Region of the Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 38,965 in 7,971 households.

The name of Bangued means "roadblock". It was established as a regular town in 1598 and was made the seat of the provincial government of Abra on July 25, 1861. The inauguration coincided with the feast day of Saint James the Great.

The early settlers were the Tingguians belonging to the Bago, Itneg, Masadjit, lbanao, Indayas tribes, who latter intermarried with the immigrants from Ilocos Sur. The Tingguians opposed the Christianization introduced by the Spanish friars who penetrated the eastern settlements. The Tingguian residents prevented the Spaniards from penetrating their area of which they placed roadblocks on all roads leading to the place. They also cut large logs and threw them to the Abra River to prevent the incoming colonizers from entering the area with the use of their boats and bamboo rafts. These logs were made as obstacles and big rocks were placed along the roads which the natives called "bangen", meaning obstacles.

When the conquistadores, led by Juan de Salcedo, decided to penetrate the area, they proceeded eastward and saw for themselves the big logs along the Abra River and the big stones which were placed, blocking all roads leading to the community. The Salcedo's subaltern happened to meet one of the natives and asked what was the name of the place and thinking that they were inquiring about the big stones that were placed on the roads, he answered "bangen" and the subaltern jotted down on his notebook about the word.

The Spaniards were successful in their attempt to penetrate the inner communities in the east by removing the obstacles saying in Spanish "Abra ese obstucus" and it was in that happening when they developed the area and established the towns and barangays. The place where they found many obstacles, they named it "Bangen" and the province they called it "Abra."

When the Americans colonized the country and established the civil government, the town's name was modified to "Bangued."

Source: Wikipedia.org

Bangued was considered as one of the most beautiful Philippine towns in the 19th century. The Old Plaza with the Octagonal Kiosk at the center was built by Engr. Señor Jose Diaz y Lata in 1863.

"Tiene una grande y magnifica plaza reformada con bonito monumento en su centro."

Many famous Philippine presidents addressed the people of Abra at the historic Kiosk before it was destroyed in World War II. After the Liberation in 1945, Mayor Longino Bersamin rebuilt the Kiosk and the Plaza.

In November 1969, Mayor Simplicio Bringas built a new and bigger stage on the north side of the Plaza. The square structure stood right across the street from the Provincial Capitol.

This new stage was called the Modesto Bringas Memorial in honor of the Mayor's father.

Like the first stage, this too became the venue of many grand affairs of many generations of ABREÑOS.

In 1999, Congressman Vicenter P. Valera and Governor Ma. Zita Claustro-Valera, the first woman Governor of Abra, envisioned a stage that would complement the quiet dignity of the renovated Provincial Capitol facade.

Classical Greek columns now stand on both sides of a much bigger stage area. These give the whole setting the quality of Timeless Elegance. The wide stairways at the front and back are clever versatile features.

On 8 of March, 2000 this stage was dedicated to the "People of Abra" on the occasion of the 83rd Foundation Anniversary of the province.

Source: Bangued Town Plaza plaque