The entire region was then called by the ancient

name “Samtoy” from “sao ditoy” which in Ilokano mean

“our dialect”. The region was later called by the Spaniards
as “Ylocos” or “Ilocos” and its people “Ilocanos”. The
Ilocos Region was already a thriving, fairly advanced cluster
of towns and settlements familiar to Chinese, Japanese and
GEOGRAPHY:
Malay traders when the Spaniard explorer Don Juan de
The province of Ilocos Sur is
Salcedo and members of his expedition arrived in Vigan on located along the western coast of
July 1574. Forthwith, they made Cabigbigaan (Bigan), the Northern Luzon. It is bounded by Ilocos
heart of the Ylokos settlement their headquarters which Norte in the north, Abra in the northeast,
Salcedo called “Villa Fernandina” and which eventually Mt. Province in the east, Benguet in the
gained fame as the “Intramuros of Ilocandia”. Salcedo southeast, La Union in the south and the
declared the whole Northern Luzon as an encomienda. Luzon Sea and Lingayen Gulf in the west.
Subsequently, he became the encomendero of Vigan and The province falls within latitudes 16° 40’
Lieutenant Governor of the Ylokos until his death in March to 17° 54’ north and longitudes 120° 20’ to
11, 1576. Augustinian missionaries joined the military forces 120° 56’ east. Vigan City, the provincial
in conquering the region through evangelization. They capital is approximately 408 kilometers by
established parishes and built churches that still stand road from Manila, 139 kilometers north of
today. Three centuries later, Vigan became the seat of the San Fernando City, and 80 kilometers south
Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia. A royal decree of February of Laoag City.
2, 1818 separated Ilocos Norte from Ilocos Sur, the latter to
include the northern part of La Union (as far as
Namacpacan, now Luna) and all of what is now the province
of Abra. The sub-provinces of Lepanto and Amburayan in
Mt. Province were annexed to Ilocos Sur. The passage of
Act 2683 by the Philippine Legislature in March 1917
defined the present geographical boundary of the province.
The names of famous men and women of Ilocos Sur stand
in bold relief in Philippine history. Pedro Bukaneg is the
Father of Iluko Literature. Isabelo de los Reyes will always
be remembered as the Father of the Filipino Labor
Movement. His mother, Leona Florentino was the most
outstanding Filipino woman writer of the Spanish era.
Vicente Singson Encarnacion, an exemplary statesman,
was also a noted authority on business and industry.
ILOCOS
SUR