ILOCOS NORTE

People and culture

In the 330-page The Ilocos Heritage (the 27th book written by Visitacion de la Torre), the Ilocano legacy and the life of the Ilocano - are described as - "the browbeaten, industrious, cheerful, simple soul who has shown a remarkable strain of bravery and a bit of wanderlust." The Ilocano history reveals his struggles and victories - in battles for colonial independence from Spain and America, to Philippine leadership. The new Ilocano searched for greener pastures towards new lands local and foreign - Palawan, Mindanao, Hawaii, the United States and Greece.

The Ilocano material culture and spirituality can be seen in the past - images of Spanish santo (saints), antique but intricate wooden furniture and quality local fiber. The native Ilocano is a weaver, wood carver and pottery expert. The Ilocano cuisine - ranges from the exotic "abu-os" (ant eggs) to vegetable broth "dinengdeng," the sticky "tinubong" to the "puki-puki" (eggplant salad). Ilocandia is filled with colonial churches, the legacy of Spanish Catholicism.

Political Subdivision

Ilocos Norte has 22 municipalities namely: Adams, Badoc, Bacarra, Bangui, Batac, Burgos, Carasi, Currimao, Dingras, Dumalneg, Espiritu, Marcos, Nueva Era, Pagudpud, Paoay, Pasuquin, Piddig, Pinili, San Nicolas, Sarrat, Solsona and Vintar. Laoag converted into a city on June 19, 1965 under R.A. 4584, remains as capital. The municipalities and Laoag City are further subdivided into 550 barangays and 2 districts.

Climate

The province experiences dry season from November to April and wet season from May to October. Once a year rainfall is 2,067.2 mm. while average temperature is 27.8oC. The province is irregularly visited by tropical cyclones and storms during the southwest monsoon season. Population Population of the province in 2000 was 514,241. The record shows a 1.37% growth rate from the records in 1995. Laoag City had a population of 94,466.

Language / Dialect Ilocano

(Iloko) is the major dialect. English and Filipino are the tools of instruction in schools. Major Industries Agriculture is the main livelihood of the people. Garlic is the principal cash crop. Fishing and manufacturing are other industries. Cottage industries include weaving, pottery, blacksmithing and furniture-making.

Religion

Although Ilocos Norte has some Roman Catholic, several other religious sects have a strong following in this area. Of these, the most notable is the Aglipayan Church, founded by Batac City native Gregorio Aglipay. Ilocos Norte is home to several famous Roman Catholic churches: - Paoay Church (St. Augustine Church) - named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.- St. William's Cathedral in Laoag - famous for its Sinking Bell Tower - St. Monica Church in Sarrat - biggest church in the Ilocos Region. - Bacarra Church - destroyed during an intensity 7.8 earthquake in 1983, reconstructed and reinaugurated in 1984. - Immaculate Conception Parish in Batac-Built in 1587

History

Ilocos Norte was the birthplace of president Ferdinand Marcos (To this day, Marcos's political vehicle, the New Society Movement, retains a strong following in the province). Juan de Salcedo, after occupying the town settlement of Vigan, pressed further north to Laoag which at that time was also a center of population. Located at Ermita hill at the northern bank of the Padsan River, Laoag was already a flourishing center of trade with the Japanese and Chinese. The Augustinian missionaries established the Laoag parich in 1580 with St. William, the Hermit as its Patron Saint. Laoag eventually became the capital of Ilocos Norte.

Ilocos Norte was created by virtue of the Spanish Royal Decree on Februray 2, 1818. At that time, the province occupied the coastal plain bordering the China Sea and guarded by the Cordilleras in the northwestern corner of Luzon.