Ilocos Norte

Ilocos Norte
Province

Flag
Seal

Location in the Philippines
Coordinates: 18°10′N 120°45′E / 18.167°N 120.750°ECoordinates: 18°10′N 120°45′E / 18.167°N 120.750°E
Country Philippines
Region Ilocos (Region I)
Founded 1818
Capital Laoag City
Government
 • Type Province of the Philippines
 • Governor Imee Marcos (NP)
 • Vice Governor Angelo Barba (NP)
Area[1]
 • Total 3,467.89 km2 (1,338.96 sq mi)
Area rank 42nd out of 80
Population (2010)[2]
 • Total 568,017
 • Rank 50th out of 80
 • Density 160/km2 (420/sq mi)
 • Density rank 53rd out of 80
Divisions
 • Independent cities 0
 • Component cities 2
 • Municipalities 21
 • Barangays 557
 • Districts 1st and 2nd districts of Ilocos Norte
Time zone PHT (UTC+8)
ZIP code 2900 to 2922
Dialing code 77
Spoken languages Ilocano, Tagalog, English
Website www.ilocosnorte.gov.ph

Ilocos Norte (Ilokano: Amianan nga Ilocos; Tagalog: Hilagang Ilokos) is a province of the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region. Its capital is Laoag City and is located at the northwest corner of Luzon Island, bordering Cagayan and Apayao to the east, and Abra and Ilocos Sur to the south. Ilocos Norte faces the South China Sea to the west and the Luzon Strait to the north.

Ilocos Norte is noted for being the birthplace of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, who led an authoritarian rule over the country during the latter half of his incumbency. The Marcoses enjoy a modicum of popularity in the province. Ilocos Norte is also known as a northern tourist destination, being the location of Fort Ilocandia, an upper class hotel and beach resort famous among expatriates, and Pagudpud.

History

Long before the arrival of the Spaniards, there already existed an extensive region (consisting of the present provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra and La Union) renowned for its gold mines. Merchants from Japan and China would often visit the area to trade gold with beads, ceramics and silk. The inhabitants of the region, believed to be of Malay origin, called their place "samtoy", from "sao mi toy", which literally meant "our language here"

In 1591, when the Spanish conquistadors had Manila more or less under their control, they began looking for new sites to conquer. Miguel Lopez de Legazpi's grandson, Juan de Salcedo, volunteered to lead one of these expeditions. Together with 8 armed boats and 45 men, the 22 year old voyager headed north. On June 13, 1592, Salcedo and his men landed in present-day Vigan and then proceeded towards Laoag, Currimao and Badoc. As they sailed along the coast, they were surprised to see numerous sheltered coves ("looc") where the locals lived in harmony. As a result, they named the region "Ylocos" and its people "Ylocanos".

As the Christianization of the region grew, so did the landscape of the area. Vast tracts of land were utilized for churches and bell towers in line with the Spanish mission of "bajo las campanas". In the town plaza, it was not uncommon to see garrisons under the church bells. The colonization process was slowly being carried out.

The Spanish colonization of the region, however, was never completely successful. Owing to the abusive practices of many Augustinian friars, a number of Ilocanos revolted. Noteworthy of these were the Dingras uprising (1589) and Pedro Almasan revolt (San Nicolas, 1660). In 1762, Diego Silang led a series of battles aimed at freeing the Ilocano. When he died from an assassin's bullet, his widow Gabriela continued his cause. However, she too was captured and hanged. In 1807, the sugar cane ("basi") brewers of Piddig rose up in arms to protest the government's monopoly of the wine industry. In 1898, the church excommunicated Gregorio Aglipay for refusing to cut off ties with the revolutionary forces of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. Unperturbed, he established the "Iglesia Filipina Independiente". Aglipay’s movement.

In an effort to gain more political control and because of the increasing population of the region, a Royal Decree was signed on February 2, 1818 splitting Ilocos into two provinces: Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur. Soon thereafter, the provinces of La Union and Abra likewise became independent.

Geography

Administrative divisions

Political Map of
Ilocos Norte

Cities and municipalities

Ilocos Norte is divided 21 municipalities, and 2 component cities, further subdivided into 557 barangays. There are two legislative districts in the province.

     Provincial capital and
component city
     Component city
     Municipality

Municipality
or city 		Legislative
district[3] 		Area
(km²)[3] 		Population
(2010)[4] 		Population
density
(per km²) 		No. of
barangays 		ZIP
code 		Income
class[3] 		Location
Adams 1st 159.31 1,785 11.2 1 2922 5th
Bacarra 1st 65.32 31,648 484.5 43 2916 3rd
Badoc 2nd 76.68 30,708 400.5 31 2904 3rd
Bangui 1st 112.98 15,025 133 14 2920 4th
Banna
(Espiritu)		 2nd 92.73 19,051 205.4 20 2908 4th
Batac City 2nd 161.06 53,542 332.4 43 2906 5th
Burgos 1st 128.90 9,687 75.2 11 2918 5th
Carasi 1st 82.97 1,473 17.8 3 2911 5th
Currimao 2nd 34.08 11,970 351.2 23 2903 4th
Dingras 2nd 96.00 37,021 385.6 31 2913 2nd
Dumalneg 1st 88.48 1,814 20.5 2 2921 5th
Laoag City 1st 116.08 104,904 903.7 80 2900 3rd
Marcos 2nd 72.77 16,984 233.4 13 2907 4th
Nueva Era 2nd 515.02 7,837 15.2 11 2909 3rd
Pagudpud 1st 194.90 21,877 112.2 16 2919 4th
Paoay 2nd 76.24 23,956 314.2 31 2902 4th
Pasuquin 1st 210.54 27,952 132.8 33 2917 3rd
Piddig 1st 216.20 20,606 95.3 23 2912 3rd
Pinili 2nd 89.48 16,732 187 25 2905 3rd
San Nicolas 2nd 40.18 34,237 852.1 24 2901 2nd
Sarrat 1st 57.39 24,770 431.6 24 2914 4th
Solsona 2nd 166.23 22,990 138.3 22 2910 3rd
Vintar 1st 614.35 31,448 51.2 34 2915 1st
Ilocos Norte
Total 		1st - 2nd 3,467.89[5] 568,017[6] 163.8 557 2900 - 2922 1st[5]

Barangays

Ilocos Norte has 557 barangays comprising its 21 municipalities and 2 cities.[6]

The most populous barangay in the province is Barangay No. 1, San Lorenzo (Poblacion) in the City of Laoag with a population of 4,391 in the 2010 census. If cities are excluded, Davila in the municipality of Pasuquin has the highest population, at 3,875. The least populous is Sapat in the municipality of Pasuquin, with only 32.[6]

Demographics

Population census of Ilocos Norte
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 461,661—    
1995 482,651+0.84%
2000 514,241+1.37%
2007 547,284+0.86%
2010 568,017+1.36%
Source: National Statistics Office[2]

Economy

Bagoong fermenting in burnay jars in the province of Ilocos Norte, Philippines

The province specializes in the following products and industries:


Religion

Although majority of the people in the Philippines are adherents to the Roman Catholic, the majority in the province are adherents to the Aglipayan Church, founded by Batac native Gregorio Aglipay.

Ilocos Norte is home to several famous Roman Catholic churches:

Ilocos Norte is the home of the Aglipay Shrine (Aglipayan Church) where the church's first supreme leader was buried.There are also increasing members of Jehovah's Witnesses. There are also minor but steadily increasing members of Iglesia ni Cristo. Islam is also practiced by Mindanaoan traders and immigrants.

Provincial government

The Provincial Capitol Building of Ilocos Norte.

Term of Office: 2013 - 2016

Governor: Maria Imelda R. Marcos
Vice - Governor: Eugenio Angelo M. Barba
Representative:

Sangguniang Panlalawigan Members:

ABC President: Charles L. Tadena
PCL President: Domingo C. Ambrocio
SK President: -Cherry Mae C. Burogsay.

Tourism

Bangui Wind Farm, the first power generating windmill farm in Southeast Asia.
The Sinking Bell Tower of Saint William's Cathedral in Laoag City.
Paoay Church.

The province offers a number of popular destinations for tourists, locals and foreigners alike. Because of its proximity to the South China Sea, tourist arrivals peak during the summer seasons, the beach resorts topping the most visited list.

References

  1. ↑ "List of Provinces". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Population and Annual Growth Rates for The Philippines and Its Regions, Provinces, and Highly Urbanized Cities" (PDF). 2010 Census and Housing Population. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Province: ILOCOS NORTE". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  4. ↑ "Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay: as of May 1, 2010" (PDF). 2010 Census of Population and Housing. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Region: REGION I (Ilocos Region)". Philippine Statistics Authority - National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "2010 Census of Population and Housing: Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay:as of May 1, 2010" (PDF). National Statistics Office (Philippines). Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  7. ↑ "Laoag Earthquake - 17 August 1983". Phivolcs. 1983. Retrieved 2011-01-02.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ilocos Norte.
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South China Sea Apayao
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Ilocos Sur, Abra