Geographical features of Ilocos Region: Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, and La Union. These features describes the utmost presentable ideas and postulates needed to further broaden the speculations of those who might want to generally inquire.
3. A.Ilocos Region (San Fernando La Union)
composed of 4 provinces, 9 cities, 116 municipalities and 3265 barangays
Ilocos Norte- Laoag City
Ilocos Sur- Vigan City
La Union- San Fernando
Pangasinan- Lingayen
Cities: Alaminos, Batac, Candon, Dagupan, Laoag, San Carlos, San Fernando,
Urdaneta, Vigan
B. Physical Aspects
Area and Size (13,012.60 sq. km.) 5,024.19 square miles
o Density (348.2 sq. km.) 901.9/ sq. mi
Land Resources
o (810,062 hectares of land are classified as alienable and 473,957 hectares are forestland)
o crops (tobacco, rice corn, vegetables, root crops and fruits such as mangoes).
Climate
o Dry season is from November to April while the rainy season is from May-October
o Mean temperature is 27 degrees C, January is the coldest
4. River system
o Amburayan River basin
One of the biggest covering 1,386 sq. km.
o Laoag river basin
it covers an area of 1,319 sq. km.
o Lingayen Gulf
the most notable body of water in the region and it contains several islands, including the Hundred
Islands National park.
o Luzon Strait
north of the region
o Agno River
runs through Pangasinan from Benguet, flowing into a broad delta at the vicinities of Lingayen and
Dagupan before emptying into the Lingayen Gulf.
Flora
o Solanum pseudo-capsicum or ornamental pepper
o Tongue Orchids
o Leea philippinensis or simply leea
o Ornamental Plants (marigold, calachuchi, rosal and sampaguita)
o Endangered plant species (samac, anis, ballang, tigue, maguey, lipai, arrowroot and indigo)
LEEA
5. Wild Life
o Goats and Carabaos ( water buffalo’s)
o Ducula carola
a rare vulnerable bird species founded and is also called the
spotted imperial pegion in Ilocos Norte. (attracts international and
local bird watchers.
Mineral Resources
o Copper, gold, chromite, iron, manganese, silica, limestone for cement
and feldspar for ceramics.
Famous Natural Resources and Tourist Spots
o Natural Resources
Limestone, feldspar, fruits, vegetables, fish, poultry, and forest
products such as bamboo and rattan
feldspar
rattan
6. oTourist Spots
Bangui Wind Farm Bangui, Ilocos Norte
San Agustin Church of Paoay, Ilocos Norte
Sinking Bell Tower of Laoag
Bacarra’s Bell Tower
Kapurpurawan Rock Formations in Burgos,
Ilocos Norte
Bantay Abot Cave in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte
Malacanang of the North in Paoay
Marcos Museum and Mausoleum
Lapaz Sand Dunes
Juan Luna Shrine
Baluarte Vigan- Fortress of Vigan
Heritage City of Vigan
Plaza Maestro
Quirino Bridge
La Union Surfing Capital, San Juan
La Union Botanical Garden
Pindangan Ruins San Fernando La
Union
Ma-Cho Temple
Hundred Islands National Park
Bonuan Blue Beach
Cacupangan Cave
Umbrella Rocks
Caves in Bolinao
Antong Falls
Bolinao Caves
7. A. Human Features
People
o Ilocanos are the ruling ethnicity in Region 1.
o The Ilocanos constitute the majority in the Region particularly in Ilocos Norte (97%), Ilocos Sur(97%), La
Union (92%) and Pangasinan (45%)
o Minority groups include Tingguan and Isneg communities who inhabit the foothills of the Cordillera Mountains.
Culture and Tradition
o Family
The structure of the Ilocano family conforms to the general Filipino pattern. Most families compose of an
average size(6-7 persons)
o Wedding Tradition
The groom makes a panagpudno (formal revealment) to the soon- to- be bride’s parents about his intention
of marrying their daughter. His parents will then visit the bride’s parents to set the wedding date. Usually
parents consult a planetatio, which is like an almanac that identifies “lucky” days.
o Death Tradition
To announce a death of a family member, a piece of atong wood is lit in front of the deceased’s house. It is
kept burning until the burial is soon and over. The fire is then extinguished with white wine.
o Bain – Ilocano trait for hiya or amor propio (sense of shame)
o Panagdayaw – respect for the sensitivities of others.
8. Economy, Products and Livelihood
o The major industries in the region include crop production, fishing, mining and
manufacturing.
o The Ilocos region is a well-developed region. It has access to electricity and
telecommunications. It has an international airport which caters international flights
from Hongkong Guangzhou and Taiwan as well as domestic flights.
o Pangasinan
Anchored on agro-industrial and service industry such as milkfish(bangus)
cultivation and processing, livestock raising, fish paste processing(bagoong)
and others.
o Income in the Ilocos provinces or northern portion mostly come from cultivating
rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, and fruits; raising livestock such as pigs, chicken,
goats, and carabaos (water buffalos).
9. Politics and Government
o Ilocos Norte
Founded in 1818 with Laoag City as its capital and the government as province,
presiding Governor Ma. Imelda Josefa R. Marcos and the Vice Governor
Eugenio Barba.
o Ilocos Sur
Founded in 1572 with Vigan City as its capital, province of the Philippines with
Governor Luis “Chavit” Singson and Vice Governor Deogracias Savellano.
o La Union
Founded in 1850 with San Fernando City as its capital with Manuel “Manoling”
Ortega as the Governor and its area rank 70th out of 80.
o Pangasinan
Founded in 1580 with Lingayen as the capital with Amado Espino as the
Governor and Jose Calimlim, Jr. as the Vice Governor.
10. Language Dialect
o The principal dialect of the province is Ilocano representing about 95% of the total
population of 658, 587 in 2010. Other dialects/ languages spoken in the province
include Tagalog, Pangasinense, Visaya, Chinese, Kankanai, Tinggian and
Muslim.
Religion
Roman Catholic is the dominant religion with strong adherents of
Protestantism such as the Aglipayan denomination further north of the country.
There are also adherents to other Christian denominations, such as Iglesia ni
Cristo, Mormons and the like.
While religion is instilled from within the people there is still some who believes
traditional animistic beliefs especially in rural areas
The small mercantile Chinese and Indian communities are primarily Buddhists,
Taoists, and Hindus.
11. Geography III
Places and Landscapes
Research and Inculcations of the summation of
all the ideas that concludes the General view and
Prospects of the ILOCOS REGION.
“The greatest thing in life is not to be prepared but to
be genuinely aware.” –John James A. Bakayan