Ilocos Norte is a province of the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region in Luzon. Its capital is Laoag City and is located at the northwest corner of Luzon Island, bordering Cagayan and Apayao to the east, and Abra and Ilocos Sur to the south. Ilocos Norte faces the South China Sea to the west and the Luzon Strait to the north.
Ilocos Norte is noted for being the birthplace of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, who led an authoritarian rule over the country during the latter half of his incumbency. The Marcoses enjoy a modicum of popularity in the province. Ilocos Norte is also known as a northern tourist destination, being the location of Fort Ilocandia, an upper class beach resort famous among expatriates, and Pagudpud.
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 “poqui-poqui” (eggplant salad). Ilocandia is filled with colonial churches, the legacy of Spanish Catholicism.
Religion
Although Ilocos Norte inhabitants are majority 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 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.
Economy
The province specializes in the following products and industries:
- Agriculture – rice, corn, garlic, legumes, root crops, tobacco, and other fruits and vegetables
- Fishery – tilapia and assorted fishes
- Livestock – swine and cattle
- Cottage industries – loom weaving, furniture, ceramics, iron works
- Manufacturing and food processing – salt, empanada, bagoong, patis, basi (native Ilocano wine), vinegar, longganisa, chicharon, bagnet, chichacorn (cornick), jewelry, garments, cereal processing, packaging, mechanized processing equipment
- Wind Power Ilocos Norte’s position on the northwest corner of Luzon makes it ideal for wind power generation. There is currently a 25 Megawatt wind farm in Ilocos Norte, and several more wind energy projects are being planned.
- Tourism
- Pottery
Source: Wikipedia
