Work for the Lapogueños means going to their farms, going out to sea to fish, or going to their offices and businesses. Play means relaxing with their families on weekends, picnics at the beach during special occasions, or a trip to sing-a-long bars and clubs once in a while. Patronal fiestas are still celebrated, although not as lavishly as before. 

Population

Based on the 2000 Census of Population, there are 23,146 Lapogueños inhabiting the 32 barangays of Lapog.  The total number of households is 4,866. 

Religion

Eighty-three percent of the population is Roman Catholic.  Other religions in the municipality are Iglesia ni Cristo (10%), Jehova's Witnesses (4.7%) and others (unidentified - 3.5%). Religion and   church-based activities dominate the social life of the Lapogueños. Church holidays like Christmas and Lenten Season are big events.   Lapogueños who have moved and settled in other places come home to celebrate the Christmas season with their families and to observe the church traditions during Holy Week. The often well-attended novena, Misa Aguinaldo, from Dec. 16-24 prepares the people for Christmas. During Holy Week, the Station of the Cross (Estacion Heneral) is done around the processsional road on Holy Tuesday, the reading and interpretation of the Seven Last Words (Siete Palabras) inside the church on Good Friday and Easter Vigil on Black Saturday.  The patronal feast days - June 24 (birth of Saint John the Baptist) and Aug. 29 (beheading of St. John the Baptist) - are observed with a simple celebration of the Holy Mass. 

The Lapogueño Diaspora

The province of Ilocos Sur is a narrow strip of land bounded on the west by the South China Sea and on the east by the Caraballo   mountains.  It has little natural resources so Ilocanos are forced to make do with what is available.  In search of greener pastures, many Lapogueños have left their hometown and moved not only to other parts of the country but to different parts of the world as well.  The SAKADAS who left via Salomague Port in Cabugao in the early part of the 20th century have either brought with them or petitioned their families they left behind.  Thus, Lapogueños can be found all throughout the United States of America. In the latter part of the 20th century, overseas contract working became the norm.  Many Lapogueños, men and women alike, took the chance to work abroad and earn more money for their families. Today one can find Lapogueño seamen (merchant marines) in all oceans of the world sailing under different flags. Women and men workers are in Hongkong, Brunei,  Saipan, Guam, Papua New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand,  Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Middle East countries, Spain, France, Italy, Belgium, Germany, England, Netherlands, Austria, Canada, etc.  Collectively, they remit millions of pesos to San Juan economy every year which translate into beautiful houses, appliances, capital goods, education, and sometimes vices for families left behind.

Related link:
Lapoguenios Online