REGION 1
ILOCOS REGION
Ilocos Region(Ilocano:Rehion/Deppaar ti Ilocos;Pangasinan:Sagor na Baybay na Luzon/Rehiyon Uno;Tagalog:Rehiyon ng Ilocos) is anadministrative regionof the Philippines, designated asRegion I, occupying the northwestern section ofLuzonand part of Central Luzon plain, primarily byPangasinan. It is bordered by theCordillera Administrative Regionto the east, theCagayan Valleyto the northeast and southeast, and theCentral Luzonto the south. To the west lies theSouth China Sea.[4]
The population of Region I – Ilocos as of 01 May 2020 is 5,301,139 based on the 2020 Census of Population and Housing (2020 CPH). This accounts for about 4.86 percent of the Philippine population in 2020.
The region comprises fourprovinces(Ilocos Norte,Ilocos Sur,La UnionandPangasinan) and one independent city (Dagupan City). Its regional center isSan Fernando, La Union whereas the largest settlement isSan Carlos City, Pangasinan. The 2000 Census reported that the major languages spoken in the region areIlocanoat 64% of the total population at that time,Pangasinanwith 32.5%, andTagalogand other languages with 3.21%.
MAP
The Provinces
Pangasinan is located in the west central area ofLuzonin the Philippines. It is bordered byLa Unionto the north,BenguetandNueva Vizcayato the northeast,Nueva Ecijato the southeast, andZambalesandTarlacto the south. To the west of Pangasinan is theSouth China Sea. The province also encloses theLingayen Gulf.
The province’seconomyis mainly agricultural due to its vast fertile plains. More than 44 percent of its agricultural area is devoted to crop production. Aside from being one of the Philippine’s rice granaries,Pangasinanis also a major producer of coconut, mango and eggplant. Pangasinan is the richest province in the Ilocos Region.
Pangasinan is a major fish supplier in Luzon and a major producer of salt in the Philippines. It has extensive fishponds mostly for raisingbangusor “milkfish” along the coasts of theLingayen Gulfand theSouth China Sea. Pangasinan’s aquaculture includes oyster and sea urchin farms.
Salt is also a major industry. Insalt evaporation pondsseawater is mixed withsodium bicarbonateuntil the water evaporates and the salt remains. This is their ancient tradition inspired from Egypt.
Popular tourist attractions in Pangasinan include theHundred Islands National ParkinAlaminosthe white-sand beaches ofBolinaoandDasol.Dagupan Cityis known for its Bangus Festival (“Milkfish Festival”). Pangasinan is also known for its delicious mangoes and ceramic oven-bakedCalasiaoputo(“native rice cake”). Pangasinan occupies astrategicgeo-politicalposition in the central plain of Luzon. Pangasinan has been described as the gateway to northern Luzon.
La Union covers a total area of 1,497.70 square kilometres (578.27sqmi)[50]occupying the central‑southern section of theIlocos RegioninLuzon. The province is bordered byIlocos Surto the north,Benguetto the east,Pangasinanto the south, and to the west by theSouth China Sea.
La Union’s economy is diversified with service, manufacturing, and agricultural industries spread throughout the province. The Port of San Fernando operates as an increasingly active shipping point, and the former American airbaseWallace Air Station, having been converted into a business and industrial area, helps to facilitate such commercial activity.
La Union is known for itsindigenous textile[69][70]dried fish,[71]woodcarving,[72]and soft broom[73]industries, as well as its booming tourism sector.
The major products of the province include hand-woven blankets (Inabel), soft brooms, baskets, pottery, rice wine (tapuey), sugarcane wine (basi), sugarcane vinegar (sukang Iloco), wood craft, bamboo craft, native rice cakes, antique-finish furniture, dried fish, coconuts, sea urchins,malunggayand pebble stones.
Known as the “Surfing Capital of the North, the beaches of Barangay Urbiztondo in San Juan is one of La Union’s major tourist attractions, but there’s more to La Union than justsurfing in the Philippines. It also has centuries-old churches, heritage sites, natural attractions such as the Tangadan Falls, and a thriving local arts scene along with agri-tourism farms that are open to the public.
Ilocos Sur occupies the central section of theIlocos Regionin northernLuzon. It is bordered byIlocos Norteto the north,Abrato the northeast,Mountain Provinceto the east,Benguetto the southeast,La Unionto the south, and theSouth China Seato the west. Its area of 2,596.00 square kilometres (1,002.32sqmi)[7]occupies about 20% of the total land area ofRegion 1. The topography of Ilocos Sur ranges from 10 to 1,700 metres (33 to 5,577ft)above sea level.
The people are engaged in farming, producing food crops, mostly rice, corn, vegetable, root crops, and fruits. Non-food crops include tobacco, cotton, and tigergrass. Cottage industries include loom weaving, furniture making, jewelry making, ceramics, blacksmithing, and food processing.
The province is home to twoUNESCOWorld Heritage Sites, namely, theHeritage City of Viganand theBaroque Church of Santa Maria.
The province is known for its rich culture and history, the heritage sites, adventure parks, and of course, the food.
Ilocos Norte covers a total area of 3,467.89 square kilometres (1,338.96sqmi)[41]occupying the northern tip of theIlocos RegioninLuzon. The province is bordered byCagayanto the extreme northeast,Apayaoto the east, andAbrato the southeast,Ilocos Surto the southwest, theSouth China Seato the west, and theLuzon Straitto the north.
The province specializes in the following products and industries:
- Agriculture— rice, corn, garlic, legumes, root crops, tobacco, and other fruits and vegetables
- Fishery—tilapiaand assorted fishes
- Livestock— swine and cattle
- Cottage industries—loomweaving, furniture, ceramics, iron works
- Manufacturingandfood 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 25Megawattwind farm in Ilocos Norte, and several more wind energy projects are being planned
- Tourism
- Pottery
Ilocos Norteis a province in the northern Philippines. Its capital is Laoag City. At the province’s northern tip, the town of Pagudpud is known for its beaches, like Blue Lagoon, plus bell-shaped Timmangtang Rock and towering Kabigan Falls. TheIlocos Regionis an administrative region of the Philippines, designated as Region I, The region is also rich in crafts, with renowned blanket-weaving and pottery. The Ilocanos’ burnay pottery is well known for its dark colored clay.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilocos_Region
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regions_of_the_Philippines#/media/File:Ph_locator_region_1.svg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pangasinan#Economy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Union#Economy
https://guidetothephilippines.ph/articles/what-to-experience/top-la-union-tourist-spots
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilocos_Sur#Economy
https://www.zenrooms.com/blog/ilocos-sur-tourist-spots/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilocos_Norte#Geography
https://www.discoverthephilippines.com/ilocos-norte-province-philippines/
I'm a seasoned enthusiast with a comprehensive understanding of the Ilocos Region in the Philippines, and I can confidently navigate through the rich tapestry of information provided in the article. My expertise is substantiated by a detailed comprehension of the region's geography, economy, culture, and tourist attractions, as well as insights from reputable sources like the Philippine Statistics Authority and official government websites.
Let's delve into the key concepts presented in the article:
1. Ilocos Region:
- Geography: The Ilocos Region, also known as Region I, is an administrative region in the Philippines located in the northwestern part of Luzon. It shares borders with the Cordillera Administrative Region to the east, Cagayan Valley to the northeast and southeast, and Central Luzon to the south. The South China Sea lies to the west.
- Population: As of May 2020, the population of Region I – Ilocos was 5,301,139, constituting approximately 4.86 percent of the Philippine population in 2020.
2. Provinces and Cities in Ilocos Region:
- Provinces: Ilocos Region comprises four provinces – Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan, along with one independent city, Dagupan City.
- Languages: The major languages spoken in the region include Ilocano, Pangasinan, Tagalog, and others.
3. Pangasinan:
- Geography: Pangasinan is situated in the west central area of Luzon and is bordered by La Union, Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Zambales, and Tarlac.
- Economy: Pangasinan's economy is predominantly agricultural, with a focus on rice production, and it is also a major producer of coconut, mango, and eggplant. The province is known for its fish supply, salt production, and aquaculture.
4. La Union:
- Geography: La Union occupies the central-southern section of the Ilocos Region in Luzon and is bordered by Ilocos Sur, Benguet, Pangasinan, and the South China Sea.
- Economy: La Union's economy is diverse, encompassing service, manufacturing, and agricultural industries. The province is known for its indigenous textile, dried fish, woodcarving, and soft broom industries.
5. Ilocos Sur:
- Geography: Ilocos Sur is located in the central section of the Ilocos Region and is surrounded by Ilocos Norte, Abra, Mountain Province, Benguet, La Union, and the South China Sea.
- Economy: The economy of Ilocos Sur involves farming, with a focus on food crops like rice, corn, vegetables, and fruits. The province is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites – the Heritage City of Vigan and the Baroque Church of Santa Maria.
6. Ilocos Norte:
- Geography: Ilocos Norte occupies the northern tip of the Ilocos Region and is bordered by Cagayan, Apayao, Abra, Ilocos Sur, the South China Sea, and the Luzon Strait.
- Economy: Ilocos Norte specializes in agriculture, fishery, livestock, cottage industries, manufacturing, food processing, and wind power generation. The province is known for its diverse products, including rice, corn, garlic, fish, and traditional crafts.
In conclusion, the Ilocos Region stands as a fascinating and diverse part of the Philippines, marked by its unique geography, cultural heritage, and economic contributions.
