Ilocos Region

Coordinates: 16°37′N 120°19′E / 16.62°N 120.32°E / 16.62; 120.32
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
"Ilocos" redirects here. For the historical province, see Ilocos (province). For the current provinces, see Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur.
Ilocos
Region
Clockwise from the top:
UTC+8 (PST)
ISO 3166 codePH-01
Provinces
4
Independent cities
1
Component cities
8
$14.64 billion[3]
Growth rateIncrease (7.1%)[3]
HDIIncrease 0.743 (High)
HDI rank6th in the Philippines (2019)

The Ilocos Region (

administrative region of the Philippines. Located in the northwestern section of Luzon, it is bordered by the Cordillera Administrative Region to the east, the Cagayan Valley to the northeast and southeast, Central Luzon to the south, and the South China Sea to the west.[5]

The region comprises four provinces (Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan) and one independent city (Dagupan). Its regional center is San Fernando, La Union, whereas the largest settlement is San Carlos, Pangasinan. The 2000 census reported that the major languages spoken in the region were Ilocano (64% of the total population at that time), Pangasinan (32.5%), and Tagalog and other languages (3.21%).[6]

History

Prehistory

The region was first inhabited by the aboriginal Negritos, before they were pushed by successive waves of Austronesian immigrants that penetrated the narrow coast. Tingguians (Igorot) in the interior, Ilocanos in the north, Pangasinenses in the south, and Zambals in the southwesternmost areas settled the region.

Early history

As commercial trading routes became established in Southeast Asia, the pre-Hispanic

Luyag na Caboloan (present-day Pangasinan) area in the vicinity of Lingayen gulf became maritime trading centers, as gold mined from the Cordillera Mountain Range came down along the Aringay-Tonglo-Balatok gold trail,[7][8] and was also traded in the neighboring settlement of Agoo, whose coast at the time was shaped in such a way that it was a good harbor for foreign vessels.[9][10]

Evidence of trade between the then-Pangasinense port of Agoo and China has been excavated in the form of porcelain and pottery pieces unearthed at the site of the Catholic church during its renovation, - which are now kept in the Museo de Iloko.[9] Japanese fishermen eventually established their first settlement in the Philippines there, passing on their fishing skills and technologies to the local populace.[9]

Spanish colonial era

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

Basi Revolt
in the 19th century.

However, it was the Pangasinans in the south who were the last to stand against the Spaniards.

better source needed
]

American invasion era

In 1901, the region came under

American colonial rule, and in 1941, under Japanese occupation
.

In 1901, towns of Nueva Ecija, namely Balungao, Rosales, San Quintin and Umingan were annexed to the province of Pangasinan. On November 30, 1903, several municipalities from northern Zambales including Agno, Alaminos, Anda, Bani, Bolinao, Burgos, Dasol, Infanta and Mabini were ceded to Pangasinan by the American colonial government. These municipalities were a part of the homeland of the Sambal people who wanted to remain within the Zambales province. This 1903 colonial decision has yet to be reverted.[14] The reason for transferring those towns from Nueva Ecija & Zambales to Pangasinan is because they were geographically further away from the capitals.

Japanese occupation era

During 1945, the combined American and the Philippine Commonwealth troops including with the Ilocano and Pangasinan guerillas liberated the Ilocos Region from Japanese forces during the Second World War.

The postwar era

See also: Tobacco production in the Philippines and Stonehill scandal

The Ilocos region produced two presidents of the Republic of the Philippines within the first two decades after the recognition of Philippine independence: Elpidio Quirino and Ferdinand Marcos.

This period also marked a return of the

Harry Stonehill was convinced to invest extensively in rebuilding the industry, establishing the Philippine Tobacco Flue-Curing and Redrying Corporation (PTFCRC) in 1951 and recruiting farmers from throughout Region 1 to produce tobacco.[16][17] The following year, La Union Congressman Manuel T. Cases filed a bill to "limit the importation of foreign leaf tobacco," which was eventually signed by President Elpidio Quirino as Republic Act 698.[18] This allowed Stonehill's investments to make a handsome profit,[19] and the newly-rebuilt local industry to bloom.[16] Stonehill was later deported a decade later, in the 1960s, for tax evasion and bribery of government officials, in what would later be called the Stonehill scandal,[19] but the tobacco industry continued to grow.[17][19]

The Martial Law era

Various

human rights violations were documented in the Ilocos region during the Marcos martial law era, despite public perception that the region was supportive of Marcos' administration.[20] In Ilocos Norte, various farmers from the towns of Vintar, Dumalneg, Solsona, Marcos, and Piddig were documented to have been tortured,[20] and eight farmers in Bangui and three indigenous community members in Vintar were "salvaged" in 1984.[20]

Ilocanos who were critical of Marcos' authoritarian rule included Roman Catholic Archbishop and

Antonio L. Mabutas, who spoke actively against the torture and killings of church workers.[21][22] Other La Union natives who fought the dictatorship were student activists Romulo and Armando Palabay of San Fernando, La Union, whose torture and death in a military camp in Pampanga would lead them to being honored as martyrs in the fight against the dictatorship in the Philippines' Bantayog ng mga Bayani memorial.[23]

In Ilocos Norte, one of the prominent victims of the Martial Law era who came from Laoag was Catholic layperson and social worker

1986 People Power Revolution.[27] Both Bueno and Pedro were later honored among the first 65 people to have their names inscribed on the wall of remembrance of the Philippines' Bantayog ng mga Bayani, which honors the martyrs and heroes who fought the dictatorship,[28] and Pedro was listed among Filipino Catholics nominated to be named Servant of God.[29]

Integration of new provinces

The province of

Pangasinenses. Before the administration of Ferdinand Marcos, Pangasinan was not a part of the region.[30] He also included Abra, Mountain Province, and Benguet in the Ilocos region in a bid to expand Ilokano influence among the ethnic peoples of the Cordilleras.[31]

Transfer of provinces to the Cordillera Administrative Region

When the Cordillera Administrative Region was established in 1987 under Corazon Aquino, the indigenous provinces of Abra, Mountain Province, and Benguet were transferred into the newly formed region.

Contemporary history

The Ilocos region has produced two more Philippine Presidents in the years since the 1986

People Power revolution: Pangasinense Fidel V. Ramos and Ferdinand Marcos' son Bongbong Marcos
.

The southern parts of the region were severely hit by the

Tubao with a combined population of 132,208. Many buildings, including the Agoo Municipal hall,[32] the Museo de Iloko, the parish church of Aringay,[33] and the Basilica Minore of our Lady of Charity,[9] collapsed or were severely damaged. 100,000 families were displaced when two coastal villages sank due to liquefaction. The province suffered many casualties leaving 32 people dead. In Pangasinan, about 90 buildings in Dagupan
were damaged, and about 20 collapsed. Some structures sustained damage because liquefaction caused buildings to sink as much as 1 metre (39 inches). The earthquake caused a decrease in the elevation of the city and several areas were flooded. The city suffered 64 casualties of which 47 survived and 17 died. Most injuries were sustained during stampedes at a university building and a theater.

Geography

Political Map of Ilocos Region

The Ilocos Region is divided into two contrasting geographical features. The Ilocos provinces occupy the narrow plain between the

Cordillera Central mountain range and the South China Sea, whereas Pangasinan occupies the northwestern portion of the vast Central Luzon plain, having Zambales Mountains
as its natural western limit.

Lingayen Gulf is the most notable body of water in Pangasinan and it contains several islands, including the Hundred Islands National Park. To the north of Ilocos is Luzon Strait.

The

Lingayen and Dagupan
before emptying into Lingayen Gulf.

Administrative divisions

The Ilocos Region comprises 4 provinces, 1 independent component city, 8 component cities, 116 municipalities, and 3,265 barangays.[34]

Provinces

Province Capital Population (2020)[35] Area[36] Density Cities Muni. Barangay
km2 sq mi /km2 /sq mi
 Ilocos Norte Laoag City 11.5% 609,588 3,418.75 1,319.99 180 470 2 21 559
 Ilocos Sur Vigan City 13.3% 706,009 2,596.00 1,002.32 270 700 2 32 768
 La Union San Fernando 15.5% 822,352 1,499.28 578.88 550 1,400 1 19 576
 Pangasinan
Lingayen
 59.7% 3,163,190 5,450.59 2,104.48 580 1,500 4 44 1,364
Total 5,301,139 12,964.62 5,005.67 410 1,100 9 116 3,267

• Figures for Pangasinan include the independent component city of Dagupan.

Governors and vice governors
Province Image Governor Political Party Vice Governor
Ilocos Norte
 Matthew Marcos Manotoc Nacionalista Cecilia Araneta Marcos
Ilocos Sur
 Jeremias C. Singson NPC Ryan Luis Singson
La Union
 Raphaelle Veronica Ortega-David PDDS Mario Eduardo Ortega
Pangasinan
 Ramon Guico III Nacionalista Mark Ronald DG. Lambino

Cities and municipalities

  •  †  Regional center
  •  ^  Independent City

Economy

Poverty incidence of Ilocos Region

5
10
15
20
25
30
2006
25.95
2009
21.97
2012
18.46
2015
18.81
2018
9.85
2021
11.00

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46]

Although the economy in the southern portion of the region, especially Pangasinan, is anchored on aquaculture, agro-industrial and service industry akin to its Central Luzon neighbor, the economy in the northern portion of the region is anchored in the agricultural sector. The economy in Pangasinan is driven by agro-industrial (particularly in inland towns) and aquaculture (in coastal areas) 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.[47]

The service and light manufacturing industries are concentrated in the cities. Dagupan, a major financial, commercial and educational hub in the north, is mostly driven by its local entrepreneurs, which have expanded its network up to the national level such as the CSI Group, Magic Group, BHF Group, Guanzon Group, St Joseph Drugs, and Siapno-Tada Optical, among others. San Fernando in La Union also has an international shipping port and the upgraded San Fernando Airport. While Laoag in Ilocos Norte has an international airport.[citation needed]

The tourism industry, driven by local airlines and land transportation firms in the area like Pangasinan Solid North Bus,

Farinas Transit Company and Partas, focuses on the coastal beaches and on eco-tourism. There are fine sands stretching along Lingayen Gulf area notably the historic Tondaligan Beach in Dagupan and the rest of the region's coastal areas.[citation needed
]

The region is also rich in crafts, with renowned blanket-weaving and pottery.[citation needed] The Ilocanos' burnay pottery is well known for its dark colored clay.[citation needed][48]

Demographics

Population census of Ilocos Region
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 948,935—    
1918 1,210,909+1.64%
1939 1,459,294+0.89%
1948 1,685,564+1.61%
1960 2,042,865+1.61%
1970 2,488,391+1.99%
1975 2,726,220+1.85%
1980 2,922,892+1.40%
1990 3,550,642+1.96%
1995 3,803,890+1.30%
2000 4,200,478+2.15%
2007 4,546,789+1.10%
2010 4,748,372+1.59%
2015 5,026,128+1.09%
2020 5,301,139+1.05%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[49]

Ethnicity

Main article: Ilocano people

The Ilocos provinces are the historical homeland of the Ilocanos. In the 2000 Census, the Ilocanos comprised 64% of the region, Pangasinan people 32.5%, and the Tagalogs 3%.[6]

Pangasinan is the historical homeland of the

Chinese[51]and Indians.[52]

Language

Main article: Ilocano language

Ilocano is the main language of the majority in the region, with La Union recognizing it as an official language since 2012.[53] It is also spoken in neighboring regions of Cagayan Valley (Region II), Cordillera Administrative Region and parts of Central Luzon (Region III) as the lingua franca among Ilocano and non-Ilocano residents. Ilocano is also recognized as a minority language in Mindoro, Palawan, and Mindanao (particularly in some areas in Soccsksargen), where Ilocanos had have been significant residents since the early 20th century. It is the third most widely spoken language in the Philippines, estimating 11 million speakers as of 2022. The language has many speakers overseas, including the American states of California and Hawaii.[54]

Another major regional Philippine language spoken in the region is

Cordilleran languages (near the borders of the Cordillera Administrative Region) are spoken in the region. Tagalog is spoken by residents in towns along the border with Nueva Ecija, and its standard dialect Filipino
and English are also spoken and understood in the region, utilized in business, education and media.

Languages not native in the region are also spoken there such as Maranao, Maguindanaon, Tausug, Kapampangan (which Bolinao & Sambal languages are related to), Cebuano and Hiligaynon to varying degrees by their respective ethnic communities within the region.

Religion

The population is predominantly

Jains and Sikhs.[citation needed
]

Culture and the arts

Tampuhan by Juan Luna

The Ilocos region is noted for its distinctive culture, shaped by the austere demands of its geography.[55]: 55 

The region has given birth to numerous artists who have won national acclaim - among the most notable being writer and activist

America is in the Heart has become regarded as "[t]he premier text of the Filipino-American experience."[56]

The region is also home to several

Lucrecia Kasilag
, who was conferred the honor in 1989.

In contemporary arts, The Galila Arts Festival, which features Pangasinense artists and tourist spots in the fourth district of Pangasinan, was inaugurated in 2023. Aside from encouraging arts in the province, the festival also aims to attract tourists.[58]

Notable people

A view of San Fernando, La Union

See also

References

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  55. OCLC 1114270889.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link
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  59. ^ Armando Palabay (YouTube Video). Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines. Archived from the original on 2021-12-12.

External links

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