Ilocos Region
| Region I Ilocos Region | |
|---|---|
| Region | |
 Location in the Philippines | |
| Coordinates: 16°37′00″N 120°19′00″E / 16.616666666667°N 120.31666666667°ECoordinates: 16°37′00″N 120°19′00″E / 16.616666666667°N 120.31666666667°E | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Island group | Luzon |
| Regional center | San Fernando, La Union |
| Area | |
| • Total | 13,055 km2 (5,041 sq mi) |
| Population (2010)[1] | |
| • Total | 4,748,372 |
| • Density | 360/km2 (940/sq mi) |
| Time zone | PST (UTC+8) |
| ISO 3166 code | PH-01 |
| Provinces | 4 |
| Cities | 8 |
| Municipalities | 116 |
| Barangays | 3,265 |
| Cong. districts | 12 |
| Languages | Ilocano, Pangasinan, Bolinao, Tagalog, English |
The Ilocos Region (Filipino: Rehiyon ng Ilocos; Ilocano: Rehion ti Ilocos or Deppaar ti Ilocos; Pangasinan: Rihiyon na Sagor na Baybay na Luzon (Region at the Northwest Coast of Luzon)) is a region of the Philippines, designated as Region I. It is located in the northwest of Luzon, bordering to the east the regions of the Cordillera Administrative Region and Cagayan Valley and to the south the region of Central Luzon. To the northwest is the South China Sea.
The region is composed of four provinces, namely: Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan. Its regional center is San Fernando, La Union. Ilocano speakers compose 66% of the region, Pangasinan speakers are 27%, and Tagalog compose 3%.[2]
History
Region 1 was first inhabited by the aboriginal Negritoes before they were pushed by successive waves of Malay/Austronesian immigrants that penetrated the narrow coast. Tingguians in the interior, Ilocanos in the north, and Pangasinense in the south settled the region. Before the administration of Ferdinand Marcos, Pangasinan was not a part of the region.[3]
The Spanish arrived in the 16th century and established Christian missions and governmental institutions to control the native population and convert them to Catholicism. Present-day Vigan in Ilocos Sur province became the diocesan seat of Nueva Segovia. Ilocanos in the northern parts were less easily swayed, however, and remained an area filled with deep resentments against Spain. These resentments bubbled to the surface at various points in the Ilocos provinces' history as insurrections, most notably that of Andres Malong and Palaris of Pangasinan, Diego Silang and his wife Gabriela Silang in 1764, and the Basi Revolt in the 19th century. However, it was the Pangasinenses in the south who were the last to be stand against the Spaniards.[4]
In 1901, the region came under American colonial rule, and in 1941, under Japanese occupation.
During 1945, the combined American and the Philippine Commonwealth troops including with the Ilocano and Pangasinese guerillas liberated the Ilocos Region from Japanese forces during the Second World War.
Several modern presidents of the Republic of the Philippines hailed from the Region: Elpidio Quirino, Ferdinand Marcos, and Fidel V. Ramos.
Before the formation of the Cordillera Administrative Region, Region 1 also included the provinces of Abra, Mountain Province, and Benguet.
Geography
The Ilocos Region occupies the narrow plain between the Cordillera Central mountain range and the South China Sea. It also occupies the northern portion of the Central Luzon plain, to the north-east of the Zambales Mountains.
Lingayen Gulf is the most notable body of water in the region and it contains a hundred of islands, including the Hundred Islands National Park. To the north of the region is Luzon Strait.
The Agno river runs through Pangasinan and empties into the Lingayen Gulf. The river flow into a broad delta in the vicinity of Lingayen and Dagupan.
Administrative divisions
The Ilocos Region comprises 4 provinces, 9 cities, 116 municipalities, and 3,265 barangays.[5]
Component cities
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Economy
Although the economy in the southern portion of the region, esp. Pangasinan, is anchored on agro-industrial and service industry, the economy in the northern portion of the region is anchored in the agricultural sector. The economy in Pangasinan is driven by agro-industrial businesses , such as milkfish (bangus) cultivation and processing, livestock raising, fish paste processing (bagoong), and others. Income in the Ilocos provinces or northern portion mostly come from cultivating rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, and fruits; raising livestock such as pigs, chicken, goats, and carabaos (water buffalos).
The distribution of the economic activity in the region may be seen from the collection of tax revenue of the national government. The bulk of the collections come from Pangasinan, which posted 61% of the total.[6]
The service and light manufacturing industries are concentrated in the cities. Dagupan is mostly driven by its local entrepreneurs, which have started to expand its network up to the national level. San Fernando in La Union also has an international shipping port and the upgraded and soon to be developed San Fernando International Airport. While Laoag in Ilocos Norte has an international airport.
The tourism industry, driven by local airlines and land transportation firms in the area like Farinas Transit Company and Partas, focuses on the coastal beaches and on eco-tourism. There are fine sands stretching along Bauang, La Union and the rest of the region.
The region is also rich in crafts, with renowned blanket-weaving and pottery. The Ilocanos' burnay pottery is well known for its dark colored clay.
Demographics
| Population census of Ilocos Region | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 1990 | 3,550,642 | — |
| 2000 | 4,200,478 | +1.69% |
| 2010 | 4,748,372 | +1.23% |
| Source: National Statistics Office[1] | ||
The Ilocos provinces of the Ilocos Region is the historical homeland of the Ilocanos. The Ilocanos compose 66% of the region, the Pangasinan people compose 27%, and the Tagalogs compose 3%.[2]
Pangasinan is the historical homeland of the Pangasinenses. The population of Pangasinan comprises approximately 60% of the total population of the region. The Pangasinenses presently constitute around 50% of the population of the province.[2] The Ilocanos were not originally inhabitants of Pangasinan. They started migrating to Pangasinan in the 19th century.[7] Pangasinan was formerly a province of Region III (Central Luzon) before President Marcos signed Presidential Decree No. 1, 1972, incorporating it into Region I. Minority groups include the Tingguian and Isneg communities that inhabit the foothills of the Cordillera mountains.
The population is predominantly Roman Catholic with strong adherents of Protestantism such as the Aglipayan denomination further north of the country. There are also adherents to other Christian denominations, such as Iglesia ni Cristo, Mormons, and the like. There is also an undercurrent of traditional animistic beliefs especially in rural areas. The small mercantile Chinese and Indian communities are primarily Buddhists, Taoists, and Hindus.
Tourist attractions
- Marcos Museum and Mausoleum
- Sinking Belltower, Laoag
- Paoay Lake
- Fort Ilocandia Hotel
- Paoay Golf Course
- Paoay Church
- Laoag Cathedral
- Aglipay Shrine
- Malacanang of the North
- Patapat Viaduct
- Ilocos Norte Capitol
- Cape Bojeador Lighthouse
- Bangui Wind Farm
- Ilocos Norte Museum
- Kapurpurawan Rock Formation
- Juan Luna Shrine
- Ricarte Park and Shrine
- Bacarra Church
- Badoc Church
- Sarrat Church
- La Paz Sandunes, Laoag, Ilocos Norte Fine Sandunes
- Robinsons Place Ilocos Norte
- Vigan (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Vigan Colonial Houses
- Vigan Cathedral
- Sinait Church (Sanctuary of Santo Cristo Milagroso)
- Ilocos Sur Capitol
- Santa Maria Church (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Pinsal Falls (Largest Waterfall in Region I - Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur)
- Bantay Church and Belltower (Sanctuary of Nuestra Senora de La Caridad)
- Quirino Bridge in Bantay
- Plaza Maestro Complex, Vigan
- Tirad Pass
- Sundial in Tagudin
- Santiago Cove
- Paraiso ni Juan in Narvacan
- La Union Capitol
- Pindangan Ruins
- La Union Botanical Garden
- Wallace Air Station
- Thunderbird Resort
- La Union Surfing Capital (San Juan)
- Bauang Beach
- Poro Point
- Ma-Cho Temple
- Battle of San Fernando Marker
- Hundred Islands National Park
- Pangasinan Capitol
- The Shrine of Our Lady of Manaoag
- San Carlos City Plaza
- San Juan River in San Carlos
- Bonuan Blue Beach in Dagupan
- Antong Falls
- Cacupangan Cave
- Mount Balungao
- Manleluag Spring Protected Landscape
- Sanctuario de Senor Divino Tesoro
- Salasa Church
- Lingayen Gulf War Museum
- Bolinao Museum
- Oceanographic Marine Laboratory
- Red Arrow Marker of the WWII 32nd US Infantry Division
- Umbrella Rocks
- Urduja House
- St. John Cathedral Garden
- Caves in Bolinao
- Boat ride in Pantal River
- Cape Bolinao Lighthouse in Bolinao
- Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center
- Tondol Beach
- Tambobong White Beach
- Sangbay Falls
Notable people
- Liza Soberano- a young actress and model, is a contract talent of ABS-CBN. She is the descendant of Isidoro Soberano and Cornelia Alnas of Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur.
- Marc Pingris- a professional PBA player of San Mig Coffee Mixers born of Jean Marc Pingris, Sr., and Erlinda Pradoin in Pozorrubio, Pangasinan, Philippines
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 "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 9 August 2013.
- 1 2 3 National Statistics Office
- ↑ Presidential Decree No. 1, 1972
- ↑ Culture and History by Nick Joaquin
- ↑ "List of Regions". National Statistical Coordination Board. Archived from the original on 2008-10-27. Retrieved 9 January 2011.
- ↑ National Statistical Coordination Board
- ↑ Rosario Mendoza Cortes, Pangasinan, 1801-1900: The Beginnings of Modernization
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ilocos Region. |
Geographic data related to Ilocos Region at OpenStreetMap- Ilocano: Ti Pagsasao ti Amianan
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