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PROVINCIAL PROFILE OF ILOCOS NORTE
FAST FACTS
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LOCATION
Ilocos Norte is in northwestern Luzon. It is bounded on the north and west by South China Sea, on the east by Cagayan and Kalinga-Apayao, on the southeast by Abra, and on the southwest by Ilocos Sur.
THE LAND
The province is basically level along its coastal areas, with mountains and hilly portions inland near and along the Cordillera Mountain Range on its eastern flank. The Laoag River and its tributaries cross the coastal plain. The climate is characterized by two extremes very dry from December to April and very wet the rest of the year. Typhoons pass periodically and earthquake faults abound; nearly half of the 25 major faults in the region are here.
A BRIEF HISTORY
In 1572, Juan de Salcedo led the first Spanish expedition to the region and founded the Ilocos province, which embraced the present Ilocos provinces of Abra, La Union, and parts of the old Mountain Province.
In 1574, the Chinese pirate Limahong plundered Sinait on his way to Manila. Ilocos Norte was the scene of early revolts against Spanish rule. The first occurred in Dingras in 1587 over the collection of tributes. The next, in Laoag in 1661, was led by Pedro Almazan who crowned himself king and entered into treaties with the mountain tribes. General discontent over the tobacco monopoly led to an uprising in Laoag in 1782.
Later, the injustices of the wine monopoly caused the Basi (rice wine) Revolt on Piddig in 1807. On February 2, 1818, a royal decree divided the province into Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur. Ilocos Norte is the home province of former President Ferdinand Marcos, the great painter Juan Luna, and the founder of the Philippine Independence Church, Gregorio Aglipay.
THE PEOPLE
The hardships of life in the province have led many Ilocanos to migrate not only to other part of the country but also to foreign lands. This probably explains why they have gained renown as a people both industrious and thrifty. Ilocano is the main dialect of the inhabitants.
COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Agriculture is the main source of livelihood. Although more than two-thirds of the total land area is devoted to agriculture, only one-sixth is used for growing corps, the rest are pasture lands. All lands available for cultivation are planted with rice, corn, garlic, onion, sugarcane, or cotton. Tobacco was a relatively recent introduction but it has become a major cash crop. The province is also noted for its cottage industries which include cloth-weaving, pottery-making, woodcarving, and furniture making.
Information gathered from:
League of
Provinces
by:Roberto C. Arellano
This page last revised:January 19, 1999.
