Since Wigan is the capital of Ilocos Sur, it is the center of the province's politics, commerce, education and religion. lt is where most office branches of the national government are and where people go to receive secondary and tertiary hospital care. Being a commercial center since the lts Spanish period, traders from municipal all over Ilocos still go to Vigan to buy and sell goods. religious also started an excellent educational heritage in Vigan that has flourished throughout the years, making it now the site of many high-quality institutions oflearning in llocos Sur. This city has a 5th class classification and has received many regional awards for its city government-implemented projects. Its government aims to continue to keep Vigan the leading municipality of Ilocos Sur. It is the municipal government's mission to improve each Bigueno's life in keeping with the rich heritage of their past. They aim to accomplish this by instilling in their locals pride in Vigan's culture, conserving and protecting Vigan's heritage and environment, delivering high-standard social services as well as programs for poverty alleviation. They plan to do all these ith the participation of the community, empowering the Biguenos in the process. not The people of Vigan are known to be extremely industrious, thrifty and hospitable. Visitors will encounter any problems communicating with the locals as they know how to converse in English and Filipino. Their local language is called Ilocano, which is also how the people of the Ilocos region a called. As per the census conducted in 2000, population in Vigan reached 45.143 people. The household total at that time numbered 9,193. People who come from Vigan usually have surnames starting with the letters A and F. This was because in 1847, Governor General Narciso Claveria all the citizens of the country to take on surnames or make changes to the one they already have. This ruling's goal was to ensure that tax collection was maximized by documenting every would help the Spanish government track more emciently the inhabitant and putting a system t taxes being paid by the population. surnames beginning in A, whil As part of the system, the natives of vigan were instructed to have families like the De Leon, Dela the mestizos had to choose sumames that began with F. Established Cruz. Donato. Rosario and Prudencio attached another surname that start with Fto th Ferre already carried. They began using Faz de Leon, Filar dela Cruz (later shortened to Filart), Donato. Fino del Rosario and Foz Prudencio. There were also prominent families that completely changed their name, like the Mariano family who opted to take the new surname Formoso.