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.