Ilocos Region
Filipino, English, other
The Ilocos region or Region I ( Ilokano: Rehion ti Ilocos, Pangasinan: na Sagor na Baybay na Rihiyon Luzon ), often referred to only as Ilocos, is an administrative unit in the Philippines. It is located in the northwest of the country on the main island of Luzon.
The region is bordered on the east by the Cordillera Administrative Region and Cagayan Valley Region and to the south by the Central Luzon region. The administrative center is San Fernando in La Union province.
In 2007 lived in the 13,013 km ² area 4,545,906 people, resulting in a population density of 349 inhabitants per km ². In the region of four different languages are spoken Ilokano, Pangasinan, Tagalog and English.
People and Culture
The region is the historical homeland of the Ilokanos. They form a large majority in the district. In the province of Ilocos Norte 97 % are Ilokanos. Even in the provinces of Ilocos Sur and La Union there are more than 90%. In Pangasinan, there are only 45%, since the Pangasinans form the majority. Minorities are the Tingguian and Isneg who live in the foothills of the Cordillera. The Epic Life of Lam - Ang, it originated in pre-colonial times, playing in the Ilocos region.
The population is predominantly Christian with strict followers of Protestantism, such as the Aglipay Church - in the north of the region. The traditional nature faith still plays a role, particularly in rural areas. The low proportion of Chinese and Indians mainly belongs to the Buddhism and Hinduism.
Economy
The main economic activities are agriculture and fishing. In particular, the cultivation of rice, tobacco, corn, sugar cane and fruits. Also, cattle breeding, especially with chickens, goats and water buffalo. Service companies and industrial enterprises are located mostly in the cities. In San Fernando is a large port and Laoag in a growing international airport.
Tourism focuses on the coastal beaches and ecotourism. Long sandy beaches and the possibility of water sports to operate are given.
Provinces and cities
The Ilocos region is divided into four provinces, which have a total of 9 cities:
Provinces: Province, area and population (as of 2007 )
- Ilocos Norte, 3467.89 km ², 547 284
- Ilocos Sur, 2596.00, 632 255
- La Union, 1497.70 km ², 720 972
- Pangasinan, 5451.01 km ², 2,645,395
Cities:
- Laoag ( Ilocos Norte in )
- Vigan ( Ilocos Sur in )
- Candon ( Ilocos Sur )
- San Fernando ( La Union )
- Alaminos ( Pangasinan in )
- Urdaneta ( Pangasinan in )
- Dagupan ( Pangasinan in )
- San Carlos ( in Pangasinan )
Geography
The region is a narrow region between the Philippine Cordilleras and the South China Sea. The Lingayen Gulf is the most notable body of water in the region, which has a large number of islands, which mainly belong to the Hundred Islands National Park. The Agno flows through the province of Pangasinan and empties in the Gulf of Lingayen in a wide delta near the towns of Lingayen and Dagupan. Other major rivers of the region are the Laoag, Abra and Amburayan. To the north, the region expands to the Luzon Strait.
Attractions
Tourism areas and places of interest are:
- Hundred Islands National Park, which is located in the Gulf of Lingayen,
- The colonial houses of Vigan,
- Acient churches, a number of old churches in the region.
- The two churches of Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion and San Agustín, which go together to the baroque churches in the Philippines and thus to the UNESCO World Heritage
- The Kalbario - Patapat National Park in the far north
- The Tirad Pass National Park with the national memorial in honor of Gregorio del Pilar
- The Northern Luzon Heroes Hill National Park with the national memorial in honor of Gabriela Silang
- The Paoay Lake National Park
- The Bessang Pass Natural Monument, a national memorial
History
The area was originally inhabited by Negritos before the Malay by successive waves of immigration penetrated to the coast. The region was populated in the north of Ilokanos, in the south Pangasinesen and inside Tingguians. Proud Ilokanos in the north were less affected, but remained a deep hatred against the Spaniards. This hatred was in the history of the region is often called riot on the surface. The most famous riot took place in the structure of the British invasion of the Philippines in 1763, he was led by Diego Silang and his wife Gabriela Silang. Other major uprisings were the Marong Rebellion (1660-1661), the Palaris Rebellion (1762-1765) and the Basi - coup in the 19th century.
1901 was the area under the American colonial rule and 1941 under the Japanese rule. Before the Cordillera Administrative Region was established, had the Ilocos region, the provinces of Abra, Benguet and the Mountain Province.
Elpidio Quirino, Ferdinand Marcos and Fidel V. Ramos: Locally many former president of the Philippines come from.