ILOCOS NORTE

HISTORY
In 1571, when the Spanish conquistadors had Manila more or less under their
control, they began looking for new sites to conquer. Miguel de Legaspi’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.

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
Ilocos Norte comprises 21 municipalities and 2 component cities, further
subdivided into 559 barangays. There are two legislative districts in the
province.

CITIES
• City of Laoag (Capital)
111,125 population
• City of Batac
55,201 population
• Dingras
MUNICIPALITIES • Pinili
• Adams • Dumalneg • San Nicolas
• Baccara • Marcos • Sarrat
• Badoc • Nueva Era • Solsona
• Bangui • Pagudpud • Vintar
• Banna • Paoay
• Burgos • Pasuquin
• Carasi • Piddig
• Currimao
DEMOGRAPHICS

RELIGION
Roman Catholicism and the Aglipayan Church are the two major religions in the
province.
Among the major Roman Catholic churches in Ilocos Norte include:

• Paoay Church — named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.

• St. William's Cathedral in Laoag — known for its Sinking Bell Tower
• Santa Monica Church in Sarrat — documented to be the biggest church in
the Ilocos Region.
• Bacarra Church — destroyed during an intensity VII (on the Rossi-Forel
scale) earthquake on August 17, 1983, reconstructed and re-inaugurated in
1984.

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.
 SAN AGUSTIN CHURCH OF
PAOAY

St. William's
Cathedral in Laoag 
 Santa Monica Church in Sarrat 

BACARRA CHURCH
PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENT CHURCH

Also known as Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI), or

more popularly as the Aglipayans, after its founding
leader and first supreme bishop, Gregorio Aglipay.
The IFI emerged out of the intense nationalism that
accompanied the 1898 Philippine revolt against the
Spanish and the resulting strong anti-Spanish and
anti-friar sentiments directed against the patronato
real system that resulted in a church dominated by
bishops and clerics appointed by the Spanish Crown.
It is in communion with the U.S. Episcopal
Church since 1961 and the Old Catholic Union of
Utrecht since 1965. Its national office is located in
Manila.
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.
ECONOMY
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
GOVERNMENT
Governor Matthew Joseph Marcos-Manotoc
Vice Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos
•Ria Christina G. Fariñas (1st District)
Representatives
•Eugenio Angelo M. Barba (2nd District)
1st District:
•Rodolfo Christian G. Fariñas
•Franklin Dante A. Respicio
•Saul A. Lazo
•Portia Pamela R. Salenda
•Donald G. Nicolas
Provincial Board Members
2nd District:
•Medeldorf M. Gaoat (Sr. PBM)
•Domingo C. Ambrocio
•Da Vinci M. Crisostomo
•James Paul C. Nalupta
•Aladine T. Santos
PCL President Handy T. Lao
ABC President Elmer C. Faylogna
SK Federated President Rafael Salvador C. Medina
MAJOR ATTRACTIONS
1) Malacañang of the North -
The Malacañang of the
North (Ilokano: Malacañang ti Amianan)
and is a presidential museum in Paoay,
Ilocos Norte, Philippines. It was the
residence of the family of Ferdinand
Marcos when he was the President of the
Philippines.
2) KAPURPURAWAN ROCK FORMATION – is located on the rocky coast of
Burgos, Ilocos Norte. It is known for its creamy white and streamlined
limestones formations, which have been sculpted by different oceanic and
weather forces
3) La Paz Sand Dunes - Most famous for its sand dunes, the La Paz Sand Dunes is
one of the most visited tourist spots in Laoag. This is estimated to be 85 square
kilometers long coastal beach and desert area. Locally, the La Paz Sand Dunes goes by
the name of Bantay Bimmaboy because of its shape which resembles that of pigs.
Aside from that, it is also called the Desert of the North because of its popularity when
it comes to shooting locations for famous films both inside and outside the country. So
far, scenes from the movies Panday, Himala, Born on the Fourth of July and Mad Max
were shot here.
4) Anat Falls - You can reach the falls in 45 mins or 15 mins if you have a car. You
need a guide to reach this paradise. Use sunscreen cause the trail is not shaded.
Basin is not that wide and the falls is not that high but the basin depth is approx 8-
10ft so you can still definitely enjoy swimming and diving. There are also vines that
you can swing into the water
5) Patapat Viaduct - 4th
longest bridge in the
Philippines. The Patapat
Viaduct is an elevated
road — over 30 meters
above sea level. This 1.3
km long coastal bridge can
be found in the
municipality of Pagudpud
in Ilocos Norte. Connecting
the Maharlika Highway in
Laoag to the Cagayan
Valley, this is a busy street
above the coastal areas of
Pagudpud. The fourth
longest bridge in the
country, this winding
concrete beauty is said to
be the northernmost
roadway part of Ilocos
Norte.
GASTRONOMY

1) Bagnet - pork squares that are first boiled in a salt solution, then air
dried, and then deep fried twice until they are crisp and golden.
2) Empanada - garlic longganisa along with grated green papaya or
mashed mongo or togue.
3) Miki - home made noodles that are in a thick, chicken-flavored broth,
and also colored with annatto, and sometimes topped with bagnet
cracklings
4) Poqui-Poqui - simple tortang talong, which is an eggplant that is first
grilled, and then flattened, before being dipped in whisked egg and then
fried.
5)Abrao - made from various seasonal vegetables such
as malunggay and saluyot which is then boiled in a bagoong and fish
broth, and is great along with pakbet, grilled and steamed fish and various
other other seafood, a great and simple meal.
CULTURES AND TRADITION

Bain is the Ilocanos is

Ilocano trait for essential to show
hiya or amor Panagdayaw
propio (sense of (respect for the
shame). Ilocanos sensitivities of the
fear of gossip others). Ilocanos
and would tend to speak
strongly avoid about themselves
being envied by in the humblest of
others terms
 WEDDING TRADITION DEATH TRADITION

• The groom makes a panagpudno

• Filipinos in Ilocos have funeral
(formal announcement) to the
and burial traditions known as
soon-to-be bride’s parents about
the pompon or "burial
his intention of marrying their
rites". The wife of the
daughter. His parents will then
deceased person prepares
visit the bride’s parents to set the
the body with specially
wedding date. Usually, parents
chosen clothes by herself,
consult a planetario, which is like
and is placed in a coffin in the
an almanac that identifies “lucky”
center of the house when
days
done.
• Another highlight of the feast is
•  A wood log is then lit in the
the bitor, where in guests
front of the house and is
contribute cash to the newlyweds
burned during the entire
either by dropping money onto
wake, and is completed by all
the plates or by pinning bills to the
the family members washing
couples clothes.
their hair with a special
shampoo.
FESTIVALS

• Pamulinawan Festival, Laoag City, February 10

- A floral parade and street dancing festival
• Guling-Guling Festival, Paoay, Eve of Ash Wednesday
- Residents, dressed in their Ilocano costume adorned with antique
jewelries, dance and sing around town while being blessed with the Sign of the
Cross using pounded rice instead of gray ash.
• December Festival, Laoag City
- Highlighted by the lantern parade and décor competition ending in the
Palarong Pamasko
• Farmer’s Festival, Bacarra
- A street dance parade participated by dressed up farmers with their
products, agro-industrial, trade fair, contest of the biggest farm harvest and
livestock and “pinaka’’ contests of agro products
• Magdadaran: Talip Festival, Adams and Carassi
- In tribute of the ancient peace pact that has brought lasting peace
among ethnic tribes in the province of Ilocos Norte. This also aims to cultivate and
highlight their rich culture, customs and indigenous traditions. Is also celebrated
to enhance fellowship and stronger ties among the people.
FAMOUS PEOPLE
Ferdinand Marcos,
10th President of the
Philippines (1965 –
1986)

Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., also known as

BongBong Marcos, is the only son of
former president Ferdinand Marcos. He
served as governor of Ilocos Norte from
1998 - 2007. He also served as a
representative of Ilocos Norte's 2nd
District. He is currently a Senator of the
Philippines.
Juan Luna de San Pedro y Novicio Ancheta, better
known as Juan Luna was a Filipino painter, sculptor and a
political activist of the Philippine Revolution during the late
19th century. He became one of the first recognized
Philippine artists.

Pedro Almazan, leader from

Laoag; proclaimed and crowned
King of Ilocos; led the First Ilocos
Revolt in January 1661.