Ilocos Norte

Ilocos Norte
Province
Province of Ilocos Norte
From top, left to right: Bangui Wind Farm, Sinking bell tower of Laoag, St. Augustine Church in Paoay, Patapat Viaduct in Pagudpud, Cape Bojeador Lighthouse in Burgos and La Paz Sand Dunes

Flag
Seal

Location in the Philippines
Coordinates: 18°10′N 120°45′E / 18.17°N 120.75°E / 18.17; 120.75Coordinates: 18°10′N 120°45′E / 18.17°N 120.75°E / 18.17; 120.75
Country Philippines
Region Ilocos Region (Region I)
Founded 1818
Capital Laoag
Government
 • Type Sangguniang Panlalawigan
 • Governor Imee Marcos (NP)
 • Vice Governor Angelo Barba (NP)
Area[1]
 • Total 3,467.89 km2 (1,338.96 sq mi)
Area rank 38th out of 81
Highest elevation (Mount Sicapoo) 2,354 m (7,723 ft)
Population (2015 census)[2]
 • Total 593,081
 • Rank 48th out of 81
 • Density 170/km2 (440/sq mi)
 • Density rank 52th out of 81
Divisions
 • Independent cities 0
 • Component cities
 • Municipalities
 • Barangays 557
 • Districts 1st and 2nd districts of Ilocos Norte
Time zone UTC+8 (PHT)
ZIP code 2900–2922
IDD : area code  +63 (0)77
ISO 3166 code PH
Spoken languages
Website www.ilocosnorte.gov.ph

Ilocos Norte (Ilokano: Amianan nga Ilocos) is a province of the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region. Its capital is Laoag City and is located at the northwest corner of Luzón Island, bordering Cagayan and Apayao to the east, and Abra to the southeast, and Ilocos Sur to the southwest. Ilocos Norte faces the West Philippine Sea to the west and the Luzon Strait to the north.

Ilocos Norte is noted for being the birthplace of the former President Ferdinand E. Marcos. 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 1571, 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, 1572, 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 his compatriot'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, La Union and Abra likewise became independent provinces.

Geography

Administrative divisions of Ilocos Norte

Ilocos Norte covers a total area of 3,467.89 square kilometres (1,338.96 sq mi)[3] occupying the northern tip of the Ilocos Region in Luzon. The province is bordered by Cagayan to the extreme northeast, Apayao to the east, and Abra to the southeast, Ilocos Sur to the southwest, the South China Sea to the west, and the Luzon Strait to the north.

Administrative divisions

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

Barangays

Ilocos Norte has 557 barangays comprising its 21 municipalities and 2 cities.[4]

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 3,900. The least populous is Sapat in the municipality of Pasuquin, with only 32.[4]

Demographics

Population census of Ilocos Norte
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 178,995—    
1918 219,129+1.36%
1939 237,586+0.39%
1948 251,455+0.63%
1960 287,333+1.12%
1970 343,427+1.80%
1975 371,724+1.60%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1980 390,666+1.00%
1990 461,661+1.68%
1995 482,651+0.84%
2000 514,241+1.37%
2007 547,284+0.86%
2010 568,017+1.36%
2015 593,081+0.83%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[2][4][5]

The population of Ilocos Norte in the 2015 census was 593,081 people,[2] with a density of 170 inhabitants per square kilometre or 440 inhabitants per square mile.

Religion

Paoay Church

Roman Catholicism and the Aglipayan Church are the two major religions in the province.

Among the major Roman Catholic churches in Ilocos Norte include:

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.

Languages

Aside from the national language and English, there are three indigenous languages in Ilocos Norte. There are the dominant Ilokano language, the Isnag language of the east, and the Faire Atta language in Currimao.

The Faire Atta language is listed as one of the 15 endangered languages of the Philippines according to the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Endangered Languages. The Faire Atta language is listed as Severely Endangered, with less than 300 speakers remaining. All remaining speakers of the language are part of the community's elders. Without a municipality-wide teaching mechanism of the Faire Atta language for the youth, the language may be extinct within 3-5 decades, making it a language in grave peril unless a teaching-mechanism is established by either the government or an educational institution in Currimao and nearby municipalities.[7]

Economy

Ilocos Norte is one of the richest provinces in the Philippines. Aside from high Human Development Index of 0.813, it has also one of the highest per capita income in the country.

Bagoong fermenting in burnay jars
Kapurpurawan Rock Formation in Burgos

The province specializes in the following products and industries:

  • Agriculture — rice, corn, garlic, legumes, root crops, tobacco, and other fruits and vegetables
  • Fishery — tilapia and assorted fishes
  • Livestock — swine and cattle
  • Cottage industries — loom weaving, furniture, ceramics, iron works
  • Manufacturing and food processing — salt, empanada, bagoong, patis, basi (native Ilocano wine), vinegar, longganisa, chicharon, bagnet, chichacorn (cornick), jewelry, garments, cereal processing, packaging, mechanized processing equipment
  • Wind Power — Ilocos Norte's position on the northwest corner of Luzon makes it ideal for wind power generation. There is currently a 25 Megawatt wind farm in Ilocos Norte, and several more wind energy projects are being planned
  • Tourism
  • Pottery

Provincial Government

Term of Office: June 30, 2016 - June 30, 2019

Governor Maria Imelda Josefa R. Marcos
Vice Governor Eugenio Angelo M. Barba
Representatives
Provincial Board Members

1st District:

  • Ria Christina G. Fariñas
  • Juan Conrado A. Respicio
  • Vicentito T. Lazo
  • Donald G. Nicolas
  • Rogelio R. Balbag

2nd District:

  • Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc
  • Mariano V. Marcos II
  • Ramon M. Gaoat
  • Da Vinci M. Crisostomo
  • James Paul C. Nalupta
PCL President Domingo C. Ambrocio
ABC President Elmer C. Faylogna
SK Federated President Rafael Salvador C. Medina

References

  1. ↑ "List of Provinces". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Census of Population (2015). "Region I (Ilocos Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 "Province: Ilocos Norte". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region I (Ilocos Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  5. ↑ "Philippines Census Of Population of all LGUs 1903-2007". archive.org. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
  6. ↑ "Laoag Earthquake - 17 August 1983". Phivolcs. 1983. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
  7. ↑ http://www.unesco.org/languages-atlas/index.php
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.