La Union
| La Union | |||
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| Province | |||
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| Coordinates: 16°30′N 120°25′E / 16.500°N 120.417°ECoordinates: 16°30′N 120°25′E / 16.500°N 120.417°E | |||
| Country |
 Philippines | ||
| Region | Region I | ||
| Founded | March 2, 1850 | ||
| Capital | San Fernando City | ||
| Government | |||
| • Governor | Manuel "Manoling" C. Ortega (NPC) | ||
| • Vice Governor | Aureo Nisce (NPC) | ||
| Area[1] | |||
| • Total | 1,497.70 km2 (578.27 sq mi) | ||
| Area rank | 68th out of 80 | ||
| Population (2010)[2] | |||
| • Total | 741,906 | ||
| • Rank | 37th out of 80 | ||
| • Density | 500/km2 (1,300/sq mi) | ||
| • Density rank | 10th out of 80 | ||
| Divisions | |||
| • Independent cities | 0 | ||
| • Component cities | 1 | ||
| • Municipalities | 19 | ||
| • Barangays | 576 | ||
| • Districts | 1st and 2nd districts of La Union | ||
| Time zone | PHT (UTC+8) | ||
| ZIP code | 2500 – 2520 | ||
| Dialing code | 72 | ||
| Languages | Pangasinan, Ilokano , Tagalog, Kankana-ey, English | ||
| Website | launion.gov.ph | ||
La Union (Ilokano: Probinsya ti La Union; Pangasinan: Luyag na La Union), is a province of the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region (Region I) on Luzon Island. The province is bordered by Ilocos Sur to the north, Benguet to the east, and Pangasinan to the south, and to the west is the South China Sea. The provincial capital is San Fernando City.
History
La Unión, "The Union" in Spanish, was formed in 1850 when the Spanish colonial government of Governor-General Antonio Maria Blanco merged the 3 southern towns of Ilocos Sur province, the 9 northern towns of Pangasinan, and the western towns of Benguet to the east (Eastern Pais del Igorotes in the Cordilleras). Pangasinenses were the majority people because most towns were from the Province of Pangasinan. On October 29, 1849, Governor General Claveria issued a "promovido" to fuse into one the Pangasinan-Ilokos-Cordillera areas "La Union". On March 2, 1850, Governor General Antonio Maria Blanco signed the Superior Decreto of La Union (34th province from Cebu-1565), with Captain Toribio Ruiz de la Escalera as the first Gobernador Military y Politico. Isabella II of Spain decred its creation on April 18, 1854. In 1661, Andres Malong (Pangasinan) failed to recover La Union from the Spaniards after the Agoo battle.[3] In 1896, the people of La Union initiated the Spanish revolution, “Una Provincia Modelo", ed by Manuel Tinio Y Bondoc under Emilio Aguinaldo. The Americans collaborated with the Filipinos ending the Spanish rule.
Dr. Lucino Almeida became the Presidente Provincial of the American regime, followed by the election of La Union’s first Civil Governor in 1901, Don Joaquin Joaquino Ortega, Grandfather of Governor Manuel C. Ortega. 9 Governors succeeded Don Joaquin before World War II: Joaquin Luna, 1904-1907, Sixto Zandueta, 1908-1919, Pio Ancheta 1919-1922, 1931, Thomas De Guzman, 1922-1923, 1928-1931, Juan Lucero, 1923-1929, Mauro Ortiz, 1931-1934, Juan Rivera, 1934-1937, Francisco Nisce, 1937-1940 and Bernardo Gapuz, 1940. Gov. Bernardo Gapuz (1940), Gov. Jorge Camacho (1941-1942) and Gov. Bonifacio Tadiar (1942-1944) thereafter succeeded these 9.[4]
On January 4, 1945, La Union was liberated, then, the Battle of San Fernando and Bacsil Ridge. Agaton Yaranon, 1946-1947 was succeeded by the Governors: Doroteo Aguila, 1948-1951, Juan Carbonell, 1952-1955, Bernardo Gapuz, 1956-1959, Eulogio De Guzman, 1960-1967, Juvenal Guerrero, 1968-1977, Tomas Asprer, 1977-1986, Robert V. Dulay, 1986-1987, Joaquin Ortega, 1988-1992, Justo O. Orros, 1992-2001, Victor F. Ortega, 2001-2007 and Manuel C. Ortega, 2007–present.[3]
Geography
La Union is 273 kilometres (170 mi) north of Metro Manila and 57 kilometres (35 mi) northwest of Baguio City. The land area of the province is 149,770 hectares (370,100 acres).[1]
Like most of the region, the province is squeezed in by the Cordillera mountain range to the east and the South China Sea to the west. Yet, unlike other portions of Luzon and the Philippines' two other island groupings, the Visayas and Mindanao, La Union experiences a rather arid and prolonged dry season with little precipitation to be expected between the months of November and May.
Demographics
| Population census of La Union | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 1990 | 548,742 | — |
| 1995 | 597,442 | +1.72% |
| 2000 | 657,945 | +1.95% |
| 2007 | 720,972 | +1.32% |
| 2010 | 741,906 | +0.96% |
| Source: National Statistics Office[2] | ||
A large number of Pangasinense were Ilocanized during Marcos Administration so Sixty percent of the population is Ilocano and is overwhelmingly Roman Catholic. There are also large population of communities of Pangasinense in the province, Igorots in the Cordillera foothills, and Tagalog people in the city. La Union
La Union is highly literate,[citation needed] with San Fernando City as the administrative, educational, and financial center of the region.
Economy
La Union is known for its softbroom industry. The economy is diversified with service, manufacturing, and agricultural industries spread throughout the province. The Port of San Fernando operates as an increasingly active shipping point, and the former American airbase Wallace Air Station, having been converted into a business and industrial area, helps to facilitate such commercial activity.
The main livelihood of the people are: hand-woven blankets (Inabel), softbrooms, baskets, pottery, rice wine (tapuey), sugarcane wine (basi), sugarcane vinegar, wood craft, bamboo craft, native rice cakes, antique-finish furniture, dried fish, honey, and mushroom.
Education
La Union has 333 public elementary schools, 56 private elementary schools, 79 public high schools, 51 private secondary schools, 20 Colleges and 5 State Universities.[5][6]
Tourism
La Union is the surfing capital of Northern Luzon. Tourism to the province is driven by airlines and passenger coach bus lines like regionally owned Farinas Transit Company, Viron Transit, Dominion Bus Lines and Partas.
Tourists often flock to the beaches of Bauang, or to the more secluded ones further north for snorkeling, surfing or other water sports; the more northerly beaches near San Juan specifically cater to both local surfers as well as portions of the world surfing circuit.
Tourist destinations include: La Union Provincial Capitol, Baluarte Watch Tower, Pindangan Ruins, Centennial Tunnel, World War II Vintage Canon, Ma Cho Temple, Basilica of Our Lady of Charity, Our Lady of Namacpacan, Cathedral of St. William the Hermit, St. Christopher Parish, St. John the Baptist Parish, Sts. Peter & Paul Parish and St. Michael, the Archangel Parish, inter alia. Museo de Iloko, Museo de San Juan, La Union Botanical Garden, La Union Centennial Tree, Beaches, Falls & Spring, Bolikewkew Rice Terraces, Amburayan River, Bambana Natural Cove Formation, Tapuacan River, Thunderbird Resort and Arosip Ecotrail, Freedom Park / Heroes Hill, Poro Point Boardwalk, La Union Medical Center, Eagle of the North Park, Imelda Garden, Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers, Hanging Bridge and Bacsil Ridge.[7]
Provincial Government and politics
Just as the national government, La Union provincial government is divided into three branches: executive, legislative and judiciary. The judicial branch is administered solely by the Supreme Court of the Philippines. The LGUs have control of the executive and legislative branch.
The executive branch is composed of the governor for the provinces, mayor for the cities and municipalities, and the barangay captain for the barangays.Local Government Code of the Philippines, Book III, Department of Interior and Local Government official website.
The legislative branch is composed of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial assembly) for the provinces, Sangguniang Panlungsod (city assembly) for the cities, Sangguniang Bayan (town assembly) for the municipalities, Sangguniang Barangay (barangay council), and the Sangguniang Kabataan for the youth sector.
The seat of Government is vested upon the Mayor and other elected officers who hold office at the City Hall of San Fernando. The Sanguniang Bayan is the center of legislation, stationed in the Speaker Pro-Tempore Francisco I. Ortega Building, the Legislative Building at the back of the Capitol.
Subdivisions
La Union is subdivided into 19 municipalities and 1 city.
City:
- San Fernando City, La Union
Municipalities:
Elected Officials
La Union is governed by Manuel C. Ortega, the Chief Executive, his Vice-Governor, Aureo Augusto Nisce and 13 Board Members.[8]
Court system
The Supreme Court of the Philippines recognizes La Union (inter alia) regional trial courts and metropolitan or municipal trial courts within the province and towns, that have an over-all jurisdiction in the populace of the province and towns, respectively.[9]
Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, "The Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980", as amended, created Regional, Metropolitan, Municipal Trial and Circuit Courts. The Third Judicial Region includes RTCs in La Union xxx Sec. 14. Regional Trial Courts. (a) Fifty-seven Regional Trial Judges shall be commissioned for the First Judicial Region. Nine branches (Branches XXVI to XXXIV) for the province of La Union, Branches XXVI to XXX with seats at San Fernando, Branches XXXI and XXXII at Agoo, Branch XXXIII at Bauang, and Branch XXXIV at Balaoan;
The law also created Metropolitan Trial Courts in each metropolitan area established by law, a Municipal Trial Court in each of the other cities or municipalities, and a Municipal Circuit Trial Court in each circuit comprising such cities and/or municipalities as are grouped together pursuant to law: three branches for Cabanatuan City; in every city which does not form part of a metropolitan area, there is also a Municipal Trial Court with one branch, except as provided: Two branches for San Fernando, La Union;[10]
The courts of law are stationed in Halls of Justices of the Province and towns. In La Union, the Regional Trial Court is stationed at the Bulwagan ng Katarungan or Halls of Justice in San Fernando, La Union and other Regional Trial Courts in Bauang and Agoo, La Union.
Notable people
- Diego Silang. (December 16, 1730 - May 28, 1763).
- William Penn Duvall (1847-1920).
- Bryan Termulo (born March 8, 1988)[11]
- Gloria Diaz - Miss Philippines 1969, Miss Universe 1969
Image gallery
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Facade of the Provincial Capitol of La Union
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Facade of the Provincial Legislative Building
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Bulwagan ng Katarungan (Regional Trial Courts, San Fernando, La Union)
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View of San Fernando City, largest place in La Union
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "List of Provinces". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Population and Annual Growth Rates for The Philippines and Its Regions, Provinces, and Highly Urbanized Cities". 2010 Census and Housing Population. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 La Union Profile: La Union History - Province of La Union :: Official Website
- ↑ La Union Profile: Gallery of Governors - Province of La Union :: Official Website
- ↑ La Union Profile: Quick Facts - Province of La Union :: Official Website
- ↑ La Union Profile: Educational Services - Province of La Union :: Official Website
- ↑ Tourism - Province of La Union :: Official Website
- ↑ Government: Elected Officials - Province of La Union :: Official Website
- ↑ Philippine Laws, Statutes And Codes - Chan Robles Virtual Law Library
- ↑ THE JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980 (B. P. BLG. 129) - CHAN ROBLES VIRTUAL LAW LIBRARY
- ↑ La Union Profile: La Union History - Province of La Union :: Official Website
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to La Union. |
- Official Website of the Provincial Government of La Union
- Philippine Standard Geographic Code
- Philippine Census Information
- History of La Union
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Ilocos Sur | | ||
| South China Sea |  |
Benguet | ||
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| Lingayen Gulf | Pangasinan |
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