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Ilocos Norte Travel Tips

PROVINCE OF ILOCOS NORTE



I.       OVERVIEW

         A.   Brief  History

Juan de Salcedo, after occupying the town settlement of Vigan, pressed further north to Laoag which at that time was also a center of population. Located at “Ermita Hill” at the northern  bank of the Padsan River, Laoag was already a flourishing center of trade with the Japanese and Chinese. The Augustinian missionaries established the Laoag parich in 1580 with St. William, the Hermit as its Patron Saint. Laoag eventually became the capital of Ilocos Norte.

Ilocos Norte was created by virtue of the Spanish Royal Decree on Februray 2, 1818. At that time, the province occupied the coastal plain bordering the China Sea and guarded by the Cordilleras in the northwestern corner of Luzon.

         B.   Geography

Ilocos Norte has a land area of 3,399.34 square kilometers consisting of alluvial plains, hills, mountains, coastal and miscellaneous land types. Its terrain is generally mountainous and rocky. Its coastline is dotted with coves and rivers most prominent are Bonga, Labugaon, Bacarra and Laoag. It further cuts into the coastal configurations of Bangui and Pasaleng Bay.

Ilocos Norte is bounded on the south by Ilocos Sur, on the east by Cagayan and Kalinga, on the southeast by Abra, and on the west by the China Sea.

C.            Political Subdivision

Ilocos Norte has 22 municipalities namely: Adams, Badoc, Bacarra, Bangui, Batac, Burgos, Carasi, Currimao, Dingras, Dumalneg, Espiritu, Marcos, Nueva Era, Pagudpud, Paoay, Pasuquin, Piddig, Pinili, San Nicolas, Sarrat, Solsona and Vintar. Laoag converted into a city on June 19, 1965 under R.A. 4584, remains as capital. The municipalities and Laoag City are further subdivided into 550 barangays and 2 districts.

         D.   Climate

The province experiences dry season from November to April and wet season from May to October. Annual rainfall is 2,067.2 mm. while average temperature is 27.8oC. The province is occasionally visited by tropical cyclones and storms during the southwest monsoon season.

         E.   Population

Population of the province in 2000 was 514,241. The record shows a 1.37% growth rate from the records in 1995. Laoag City had a population of 94,466.

         F.    Language / Dialect

Ilocano (Iloko) is the major dialect. English and Filipino are the tools of instruction in schools.

         G.   Major Industries

Agriculture is the main livelihood of the people. Garlic is the principal cash crop. Fishing and manufacturing are other industries. Cottage industries include weaving, pottery, blacksmithing and furniture-making.




II.      TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

         A.   Historical

CAPE BOJEADOR LIGHTHOUSE. Built in 1892, the lighthouse stands on a promontory in Burgos, 45 kilometers north of Laoag City. It still sends out signals to ships passing by the Cape facing the northern portion of the South China Sea. The highest lighthouse in the Phils.

TOBACCO MONOPOLY MONUMENT. The monument was constructed at the foot of the Marcos Bridge to serve as a memorial to the lifting of the Tobacco Monopoly which from 1872 to 1881 gave the Ilocos untold miseries as they were obliged to plant tobacco to be delivered solely to the government.

GENERAL RICARTE NATIONAL SHRINE. Built in honor of General Artemio Ricarte, a native of Batac and a revolutionary hero. He is being remembered every July of every year.

AGLIPAY SHRINE. Found in Pinili, Ilocos Norte. In memory of the most colorful revolutionary figure, Fr. Gregorio Aglipay, that stood squarely behind the oppressed people of God when he founded his protestant sect known as the Filipino Independent Church.


B.            Cultural

JUAN LUNA SHRINE. Located in Badoc, the restored house is a repository of the memorabilia of the famous Luna family foremost are the paintings of Juan Luna which include a reproduction of his masterpiece, the Spolarium.

MARCOS MUSEUM & MAUSOLEUM or BALAY TI ILI. The ancestral house of the Marcoses in Batac showcases the memorabilia of the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos. Batac is 471 kilometers north of Manila.

MALACAÑANG OF THE NORTH. Built as the official residence of then President Marcos in Ilocos Norte, overlooking the legendary Paoay Lake, this imposing structure is now a museum. A minimal entrance fee is collected.

LOOM WEAVING. This age-old industry in Paoay produces quality towels, blankets, table runners and clothing materials with ethnic Ilocano designs.

PAOAY CHURCH. Built of coral blocks and stucco-plastered bricks, the architecture is a unique combination of Gothic, Baroque and Oriental. Construction of the church was started in 1704 and completed in 1894. A few meters away is the coralstone belltower which served as observation post of the “Katipuneros” during the Philippine Revolution, Paoay Church is included in the UNESCO’s World Heritage List.


         C.   Natural

ANUPLIG WATERFALL. Several waterfalls exist in this remote town of Adams. LocalGuides were trained to accompany adventurers. The nearest is 5 kilometers away from the town proper.

PAOAY LAKE NATIONAL PARK. The landlocked lake located 3 kilometers away from the sea in Suba, Paoay has an area of 470 hectares. Declared as a National Park under Republic Act 5631 on June 21, 1969, its environs has been turned into a sports complex.

ABANG FALLS. The falls cascade like the Hinulugang Taktak in Rizal and is accessible by jeepney from the Bangui townproper.

BANGUI-PAGUDPUD BEACH. This stretch of beaches in the two municipalities are earmarked for development as tourism estates.



         D.   Religious

ST. WILLIAM’S CATHEDRAL. The Augustinians built the church of Italian Renaissance design in 1612. Its unique 2-storey facade is held by four pairs of coupled columns. The deeply recessed niche shows the image of the Patron Saint of Laoag City.

STA. MONICA CHURCH. Built facing the river in Sarrat, approximately 7 kilometers east of Laoag, this century-old church is of Neo-classical and Baroque architecture.Beside it is a ruin of an old building & a museum.


         E.   Man-Made

PAOAY SPORTS COMPLEX. The complex has an 18-hole golf course, football field and other sports facilities and amenities.

SINKING BELLTOWER. Located almost a hundred meters away from the St. William’s Cathedral, the tower has sunk to the ground and leans slightly to the north.

WIND MILLS – 15 wind mills located in the coastal town of Bangui. Supplies electrical energy to the community & nearby towns.


         F.    Festivals

Laoag City celebrates the Feasts of St. William and St. Joseph on February 10 and March 19, respectively.

PAMULINAWEN FESTIVAL. Featured are the floral and dance parade. Every February 10 (feast of St. William) in Laoag City.

GULING-GULING FESTIVAL. celebrated a day before ash Wednesday in Paoay, Ilocos Norte. The residents dressed in their Ilocano costume adorned with antique jewelries, dance and sing around the town while being given the sign of the cross instead of gray ash, pounded rice is used.

DECEMBER FESTIVAL. Features lantern parade & competition, chritmas dressing up and palarong pamasko in Laoag City.

DAMILI FESTIVAL. Highlights street dance competition pantomiming pottery making which is an industry ofSan Nicolas.

FARMER’S FESTIVAL. Bacarra. A festival that highlights a street dance parade participated in by dressed up farmers with their products, agro-industrial, trade fair, contest of the biggest farm harvest and livestock, “pinaka” contests agro products.

MAGDADARAN: TALIP FESTIVAL.. held in Adams & Carassi. Aims to commemorate the ancient peace pact that has brought lasting peace between and among ethnic tribes in the province of Ilocos Norte & its environs to cultivate and bring to the fore their rich culture, customs and indigenous traditions. Is also celebrated to enhance fellowship and stronger ties among the tribes and Ilocanos intermingling with them.

         G.   Special Interest

TREKKING. ADAMS. Laoag Eco-Adventure is an outfit offering adventure sports/ ecotourism adventures  that include mountains, rivers, waterfalls & others in Ilocos Norte. A ride on their off-road 4 wheeldrives is equally exciting.

SPELUNKING. PASUQUIN CAVE. Travel time to the caves is 45 minutes from the town proper through a dirt road. A special permit has to be secured from the Mayor’s Office.

KAYAKING. BULU RIVER, White water rafting in Adams, Ilocos Norte. Bring your own kayaks as there are no businesses in the area renting out equipments yet. Organizer for this kind of activity may be contacted in Kalinga and Cagayan.