Ilocos Region Philippines - Overview PDF

**ILOCOS REGION** **REGION I** The Ilocos Region 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. **LOCATION** Th...

**ILOCOS REGION** **REGION I** The Ilocos Region 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. **LOCATION** 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. **DEMOGRAPHICS** The Ilocos provinces of the Ilocos Region is the historical homeland of the Ilocanos including Philippine President Ferdinand \"BongBong\" Marcos Jr. The Ilocanos compose **66%** of the region, the Pangasinan people compose **27%**, and the Tagalogs compose **3%**. **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 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**. Eco-tourism takes advantage of the **marine and forest resources** in the region and displays the natural beauty of the Region 1. **Ilocos Norte** City: **Laoag City** **Famous Tourism Destinations** **Marcos Museum and Mausoleum** The Ferdinand E. Marcos Presidential Center is a museum situated in **Batac, Ilocos Norte** dedicated to former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos which also hosts the cenotaph of the former President. The museum shows memorabilia of the late president, from his stint in the armed forces down to his presidency. **Sinking Bell Tower: Laoag City** It is believed that **the tower is sinking at a rate of an inch every year.** There aren\'t any conclusive scientific explanations for this, but one accepted theory is that the tower being built on sandy land and its heavy and massive structure is causing it to slowly bury itself into the ground. **Paoay Church: Marcos Ave. Paoay** **The Saint Augustine Church**, commonly known as the **Paoay Church**, is a **Roman Catholic church in the Municipality of Paoay, Ilocos Norte in the Philippines**. Completed in **1710**, the church is famous for its distinct architecture highlighted by the enormous buttresses on the sides and back of the building. **Bangui Windmills: Bangui, Ilocos Norte** Bangui Wind Farm is a wind farm **in Bangui, Ilocos Norte, Philippines**. The wind farm uses **20 units of 70-meter high Vestas V82 1.65 MW wind turbines,** arranged in a single row stretching along a **9-kilometer shoreline off Bangui Bay**, facing the West Philippine Sea **Ilocos Sur** Capital: **Vigan City** Ilocos Sur was founded by **the Spanish conquistador, Juan de Salcedo in 1572.** It was formed when the north (now Ilocos Norte) split from the south (Ilocos Sur). At that time it included parts of Abra and the upper half of present-day La Unión. The current boundary of the province was permanently defined through **Act 2683**, which was signed in **March 1917**. **Famous Tourism Destinations** **Historic City of Vigan.** Established in the **16th century,** Vigan is **the best-preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia**. Its architecture reflects the coming together of cultural elements from elsewhere in the Philippines, from China and from Europe, resulting in a culture and townscape that have no parallel anywhere in East and South-East Asia. Because Vigan has maintained its authenticity in its grid street pattern, historic urban layout, and use of open spaces, **UNESCO has inscribed it in the list of World Heritage Sites**. According to UNESCO, **Vigan is the best-preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia.** **Santa Maria Church** **The Church of Our Lady of the Assumption**, commonly known as the Santa Maria Church is the parish church of Santa Maria in Ilocos Sur province, Philippines. **Baluarte** Baluarte Resort and Mini Zoo is a must-visit spot in the province due to **the exciting activities** that people of all ages will surely enjoy. Located in Vigan, Ilocos Sur and owned by **Chavit Singson.** **La Union** Capital City: **San Fernando** La Union, officially the Province of La Union, is a province in the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region in the Island of Luzon. Its capital is the City of San Fernando, which also **serves as the regional center of the Ilocos Region.** **Famous Tourism Destinations** **Pindangan Ruins** Despite **attacks of natural phenomenon**, it has sustained its sanctity throughout the centuries. According to history, **\"Pindangan\"** is the **original name of the City of San Fernando, La Union**. It is an **ilocano dialect** which refers to a place where **meat is sun-dried**. The place was called \"Pindangan\" because **the people used to make abundant sun-dried meat (with salt) as a way of preservation.** **Pindangan Ruins** Pindangan Ruins is somehow the best destination for tourist and even educational trips since it is not just a simple or wonderful place, it is an **artistic and religious place, it is history.** **San Juan Surfing Capital** San Juan is considered to be **the Surfing Capital of the Northern Philippines** and is known for its consistent intermediate **quality surf and two surfing seasons from July to October and November to March.** **Thunderbird Resort** Dubbed as the **Santorini of Asia,** Thunderbird Resorts & Casinos - Poro Point is a dream destination of its own. Experience **Greece\'s world-renowned resort town** without needing to leave our local shores, with the ever-famous **Santorini dome** as the resort\'s primary landmark. **Pangasinan** Capital City: **Lingayen** Pangasinan, officially the Province of Pangasinan is a province in the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region of Luzon. **Famous Tourist Destination** **Hundred Islands** The Hundred Islands National Park is **the first national park and a protected area located in Alaminos, Pangasinan in the northern Philippines**. The islands, totaling **124 at low tide** and **123 at high tide**, are scattered in Lingayen Gulf covering an area of **16.76 square kilometres (6.47 sq mi**). Only four of them have been developed for tourism: **Marcos Island, Governor Island, Quezon Island, and Children\'s Island.** **Manaoag Church** **The Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag**, located on **top of a hill in the town**, has been canonically affiliated with the **Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome** since June 2011. Some of the miracles attributed to Our Lady of Manaoag are depicted in murals inside the church\'s transepts and nave. **Lingayen Gulf War Museum** An outdoor museum that houses **relics from WWII**, found here are **tanks, guns and a Japanese torpedo bomber**. Another treat for tourists is the chance to dive and snorkel to see the sunken ships along the gulf. To commemorate the war, a stone marker is erected to honor the soldiers who died during the war in Provincial Capitol Compound. **Enchanted Cave** Enchanted Cave is one of the **must-visit attractions in Bolinao, Pangasinan.** The name itself portrays its **mystical beauty**. Enchanted Cave offers a swimming experience unlike any other. **What to eat in Ilocos Region?** Ilocos Empanada, Vigan Longganisa, Bagnet, Okoy Tiyosko, Chichacorn, Poqui poqui **Festivals in Ilocos Region** **Pamulinawen Festival** The festival is celebrated in **Laoag, Ilocos Norte**, Philippines to commemorate the city\'s **patron saint Saint William** every first week of February for one whole week. **Viva Vigan Festival, Ilocos Sur Philippines** Every first week of May, Vigan plays host to visitors for this festival featuring **painting and product exhibits, a Calesa parade, and other cultural activities.** **The Dinengdeng Festival** Official festivity event of the municipality **of Agoo, La Union, Philippines**. It is held annually in summer in **celebration of a dish by which its name is derived from.** **Bangus Festival** **One of the Philippines\' tastiest celebrations**, starting from the third of April until the end of the month. The festival is held in the beautiful city of Dagupan in the province of Pangasinan. The festival is held in celebration of the city\'s thriving aquaculture, **specializing in bangus or milkfish.**