Everything about The Ilocos Region totally explained
The
Ilocos Region or
Region I (
Ilokano:
Rehion ti Ilokos,
Pangasinan:
Rihiyon na Sagor na Baybay na Luzon) of the
Philippines is located in the northwestern region portion of
Luzon. It is bounded by the
Cordillera Administrative Region and
Cagayan Valley to the east,
Central Luzon to the south and by the
South China Sea to the west.
The province of Pangasinan composes 58% of the region's population, 42% of its area and 61% of its economy.
The region is composed of four
provinces, namely:
Ilocos Norte,
Ilocos Sur,
La Union and
Pangasinan. Its regional center is
San Fernando City, La Union. The Ilocanos compose 66% of the region, the Pangasinan people compose 27%, and the Tagalogs compose 3%.
Demographics
The Ilocos provinces of the Ilocos Region is the historical homeland of the
Ilocanos including Former Philippine President
Ferdinand Marcos, the Filipino Martial Law dictator. The Ilocanos compose 66% of the region, the Pangasinan people compose 27%, and the Tagalogs compose 3%.
The Ilocanos have the following percentage of the population inside the bracket in each province: Pangasinan (43%), La Union (92%), Ilocos Norte (97%), and Ilocos Sur (93%).
Pangasinan is the historical homeland of the
Pangasinenses including Former Philippine President
Fidel Ramos. 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. The Ilocanos were not originally inhabitants of Pangasinan. They started migrating to Pangasinan in the 19th century. Pangasinan wasn't originally grouped with the Ilocos provinces. It was only during the time of President Marcos, when Pangasinan was included in the Region 1. 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 is also an undercurrent of traditional animistic beliefs especially in rural areas. The small mercantile
Chinese and
Indian communities are primarily
Buddhists and
Hindus respectively.
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. At the same time the importance of trading, financial services, and educational services in the economy can't be denied. 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 . According to the data from the
Statistical Coordination Board
, the bulk of the collections come from Pangasinan, which posted 61% of the total.
The service and light manufacturing industries are concentrated in the cities.
Dagupan City is mostly driven by its local entrepreneurs, which have started to expand its network up to the national level. San Fernando City in La Union also has an active shipping port and Laoag City in Ilocos Norte has an international airport. The government is one of the largest employers along with multinational corporations like Coca-Cola.
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. Opportunities to engage in other water sports and activities abound. Eco-tourism takes advantage of the marine and forest resources in the region and displays the natural beauty of the Region 1.
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.
Political Division
Region 1 is composed of 4
provinces and a total of 9
cities.
Component Cities
Ilocos Norte
Physical
Region I 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 number 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 City.
Tourist Attractions
Tourism to the region is driven by airlines like
China Airlines and
Philippine Airlines and
passenger coach bus lines like regionally owned
Farinas Transit Company and
Partas.
Hundred Islands National Park. Located in the
Lingayen Gulf in
Pangasinan, the watery park is dotted by 123 small, pristine islands. Three islands have been developed for tourists.
Vigan colonial houses. Vigan City is famous for its cobblestone streets and Spanish-style houses, an architectural remnant of its colonial past. The Mestizo District displays mansions typical of the era. They were owned by prominent Ilocano-Chinese merchant families of that time, hence
mestizo or "mixed race."
Ancient churches. The region is dotted by old Catholic churches built by natives for the Spanish. Famous churches can be found in Vigan City, once the seat of the Bishop of Nueva Segovia, and in Manaoag, Pangasinan.
Limahong Channel. The Chinese Corsair Limahong proceeded north to Pangasinan when foiled of his attempt to establish a colony on the shore of Manila Bay. Pursued by the Spanish colonizers, he dug a channel in Domalandan, Lingayen that served as his escape way towards the China Sea.
Manleluag Spring National Park. Located about 7 kilometers uphill climb along the highway in Malabobo, Mangatarem, the forest park declared as a National Park in 1940 is suitable for special interest activities. Mangatarem is 178.47 kilometers away from Manila. With cottages and swimming pools.
History
Region 1 was first inhabited by the aboriginal Negritos before they were pushed by successive waves of Malay immigrants that penetrated the narrow coast. Tingguians in the interior, Ilocanos in the north, and Pangasinense in the south settled the region.
From the data on the population distribution of Region 1, it's clear that not all the inhabitants are Ilocanos. Around one-third are non-Ilocanos and yet there's a popular misconception that all the inhabitants are Ilocanos. The use of the term Ilocos Region promotes the wrong notion that all the residents of Region 1 are Ilocanos. Before the administration of
Ferdinand Marcos, Pangasinan wasn't a part of the region.
The Spanish arrived in the
16th century and established Christian missions and governmental institutions to control the native population and convert them to the Roman Catholic church). Present-day Vigan City in Ilocos Sur province became the bishopric 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. However, it was the Pangasinenses in the south who were the last to be stand against the Spaniards.
The most notable of the rebellions were 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).
In
1901, the region came under American colonial rule, and in 1941, under Japanese occupation.
During
1945, the American and Filipino soldiers with the Ilocano and Pangasinese guerillas liberated the Ilocos Region from Japanese forces.
Several modern presidents of the Republic of the Philippines hailed from the Region:
Elpidio Quirino,
Ferdinand Marcos, and
Fidel V. Ramos.
Before the
Cordillera Administrative Region was formed, Region 1 also included the provinces of
Abra,
Mountain Province, and
Benguet. Before Region 1 was modified by Ferdinand Marcos,
Pangasinan wasn't part of the region.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Ilocos Region'.
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