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Ilocos Region

Coordinates: 16°37′N 120°19′E / 16.62°N 120.32°E / 16.62; 120.32
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Ilocos" redirects here. For the historical province, see Ilocos (province). For the current provinces, see Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur.
Ilocos
Sagor na Baybay na Luzon
Region
Clockwise from the top: Paoay Church, Baluarte Watch Tower, La Paz Sand Dunes, Hundred Islands National Park, Bangui Windfarm
Location in the Philippines
Location in the Philippines
OpenStreetMap
Map
Coordinates: 16°37′N 120°19′E / 16.62°N 120.32°E / 16.62; 120.32
Country Philippines
Island groupLuzon
Regional centerSan Fernando (La Union)
Largest citySan Carlos (Pangasinan)
Area
 • Total
13,013.60 km2 (5,024.58 sq mi)
Highest elevation
(Mount Sicapoo)
2,361 m (7,746 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)[2]
 • Total
5,301,139
 • Estimate 
(2020)
5,220,807[1]
 • Density410/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ISO 3166 codePH-01
Provinces
4
Independent cities
1
Component cities
8
Municipalities116
Barangays3,267
Cong. districts12
Languages
GDP (2023)₱814.29 billion
$14.64 billion[3]
Growth rateIncrease (7.1%)[3]
HDIIncrease 0.743 (High)
HDI rank6th in the Philippines (2019)

The Ilocos Region (Ilocano: Rehion/Deppaar ti Ilocos; Pangasinan: Sagor na Baybay na Luzon/Rehiyon Uno [the former literally translated to "west coast of Luzon"]; Tagalog: Rehiyon ng Ilocos), designated as Region I, is an administrative region of the Philippines. Located in the northwestern section of Luzon, it is bordered by the Cordillera Administrative Region to the east, the Cagayan Valley to the northeast and southeast, Central Luzon to the south, and the South China Sea to the west.[5]

The region comprises four provinces (Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan) and one independent city (Dagupan). Its regional center is the City of San Fernando, La Union, whereas the largest settlement is San Carlos City, Pangasinan. The 2020 census reported that the major ethnolinguistic group composition of the region is predominantly made up of Ilocanos (58.3%), followed by Pangasinans (29.7%), Tagalogs (4.1%), and various indigenous groups.[6]

History

[edit]

Prehistory

[edit]

The region was originally inhabited by Negritos as early as 30,000 BC but over time, these early settlers were displaced by successive waves of Austronesian migrants who arrived via the region's narrow coastal areas using traditional boats known as balangay boat (referred to as biray or bilog in Ilocano). The migrations are explained by the widely accepted "Out of Taiwan" hypothesis, which posits that Neolithic Austronesian peoples migrated from Taiwan, forming the ancestral populations of contemporary Austronesians.[7]

Austronesians are believed to have originated from Southern China or Taiwan and arrived in the Philippines through at least two major migration waves. The first wave, approximately 10,000 to 7,000 years ago, brought the ancestors of indigenous groups in the Cordillera Central mountain range. Subsequent migrations introduced additional Austronesian populations, along with agricultural practices, which eventually supplanted the languages of earlier inhabitants.[8]

These Austronesian settlers included the Cordilleran (Igorot) groups, such as the Itneg (Tingguian) and the Isnag in the northern highlands, as well as the Kankanaey and Ibaloi in the southern highlands, who arrived during the first wave of migration. The second wave brought the Ilocanos, who settled in the northern coastal areas, alongside the Pangasinans and Zambals, who established communities in the southern and southwestern coastal zones.

Early History

[edit]

With the establishment of commercial trading routes in Southeast Asia, settlements in the region flourished both culturally and economically through maritime trade.

The Ilocanos, known as Samtoy in pre-colonial times, actively traded goods and products with local and foreign merchants, including the Chinese and Japanese. One notable coastal trading post was Bee Gan (Chinese: 美岸; měi'àn; bí-gān), meaning "beautiful shore," which is now the city of Vigan. This site served as a significant hub for early Ilocano trade.[9]

In the southern part of the region, the pre-colonial polity (panarian) of Caboloan (modern-day Pangasinan), located in the Agno River basin and delta and near the Lingayen Gulf, with Binalatongan as the capital, also became a center for maritime trade. Gold mined from the Cordillera Mountain Range was transported along the Aringay-Tonglo-Balatok gold trail and traded in settlements like Agoo.[10][11] At the time, Agoo's coastal shape made it an ideal harbor for foreign vessels. [12][13]

This trade network connected the region to maritime routes spanning the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. Goods exchanged included porcelain, silk (inabel), cotton, beeswax, honey, gemstones, beads, precious minerals, locally crafted burnáy (stoneware jars), and particularly gold.

Evidence of this trade has been uncovered in the Pangasinense port of Agoo, where porcelain and pottery fragments were found during renovations of the Catholic church. These artifacts are now preserved in the Museo de Iloko.[12] Japanese fishermen later established one of their first settlements in the Philippines in Agoo, introducing advanced fishing techniques and technologies to the local population.[12]

Spanish Colonial Era

[edit]

A year after Miguel López de Legazpi declared Manila the capital of the Philippines on June 24, 1571, Spanish colonization efforts expanded to Northern Luzon to "pacify the people." [14]

Spanish conquistador Martín de Goiti began the conquest of Pangasinan and established several Spanish settlements between 1571 and 1573. By April 5, 1580, Pangasinan became an administrative and judicial district of the province, with Lingayen as its capital. However, its territorial boundaries were first delineated in 1611, with the area originating from the Spanish settlement in Manila through Pampanga.

On May 20, 1572, a year after Goiti's conquest, conquistadores led by Juan de Salcedo, the grandson of Legazpi, ventured northward with eight armed boats and 80 men. They sailed to Lingayen Gulf and landed at the mouth of the Agno River. In 1574, Limahong, a Chinese pirate, fled to Pangasinan after his fleet was driven away from Manila. Limahong attempted to establish a colony in Pangasinan but failed as an army led by Salcedo chased him out of the region after a seven-month siege.

Salcedo then continued his journey to Agoo, where he discovered a Japanese settlement and named it "El Puerto de Japón" after its conquest. He then reached Vigan on June 13, 1572, which had been a Chinese trading post from the Fujian province of China. In Vigan, he founded 'Villa Fernandina de Vigan' and made it the diocesan seat of Nueva Segovia in honor of King Philip II's son, Prince Ferdinand. Salcedo then proceeded to Laoag, Currimao, and Badoc, rounded the tip of Luzón, and continued to pacify the Bicol Region.

In 1574, Salcedo returned to Vigan with soldiers and Augustinian missionaries to initiate the evangelization of the Ilocos region. He established a Spanish city to control the neighboring territories and convert the native population to Catholicism.

As a reward for his services, Salcedo was granted the province of Ylocos, covering what is now Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, La Union, and parts of Mountain Province, as his estate. He was also given the title Justicia Mayor de esta Provincia de Ylocos (Province Mayor of Ilocos). By the end of the 1700s, Ilocos had a population of 44,852 native families, 631 Spanish Filipino families, and 10,041 Chinese Filipino families. [15]: 539 [16]: 31, 54, 113 [16]: 9 

Despite Spanish efforts, the Ilocanos in the northern parts of the region were less easily swayed and remained resistant to Spanish rule. These resentments led to several uprisings throughout the region's history, including the insurrections of Andrés Malong in 1660, Palaris of Pangasinan in 1762, Pedro Almazán in Ilocos Norte in 1661, Diego Silang and Gabriela Silang in 1764 and Basi Revolt in 1807. After the Basi Revolt, tensions culminated in the division of Ilocos into two provinces (Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur) on February 2, 1818. The Pangasinans in the south were the last to resist Spanish rule. [17]

During the Philippine Revolution of 1896-1898, General Manuel Tinio allied with Emilio Aguinaldo to lead the revolution in Northern Luzon (Ilocos Siege), alongside General Francisco Makabulos. Makabulos led his forces to liberate Pangasinan and led revolutionaries in the Battle of Dagupan against the Spanish army. By August 1898, the revolutionaries had driven Spanish forces out of several towns, including Laoag, Ilocos Norte, marking a turning point in the revolution.

On June 12, 1898, General Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed Philippine independence and became the first president of the Republic of the Philippines.

American Invasion Era

[edit]

The American colonization of the Ilocos Region began following the conclusion of the Spanish-American War in 1898, when the Philippines was ceded to the United States under the Treaty of Paris. This marked a period of profound transformation for the region, which came under American colonial administration after the Philippine-American War (1899-1902).[18]

On November 18, 1899, American forces landed in the Ilocos Region in pursuit of Emilio Aguinaldo, the leader of the Philippine resistance. While American troops swiftly occupied towns, they faced persistent resistance in the rural areas (barrios), where guerrilla forces led by Gen. Manuel Tinio continued the struggle. Tinio, a veteran of the 1896 Philippine Revolution against Spain, orchestrated a widespread guerrilla campaign, harassing American forces in the countryside. [19]

One of the most iconic events during this period was the Battle of Tirad Pass on December 2, 1899. Gen. Gregorio del Pilar and his 60 soldiers faced over 300 troops of the U.S. 45th Infantry Division, led by Gen. Peyton C. March. Despite a valiant defense, the Filipinos ultimately lost their position, marking a significant, albeit symbolic, moment in the resistance against American forces.

The Philippine-American War officially ended in 1902, following years of intense conflict, with the establishment of a Filipino civilian government under American oversight. Civil governance was introduced in the Ilocos Region, as well as the rest of the Philippines, on July 1, 1901, with William H. Taft serving as the first Civil Governor. The position was later renamed Governor-General by the U.S. Congress on February 3, 1903.[20][21] One of the most notable reforms was the establishment of a centralized public school system in 1901, using English as the medium of instruction. To address a shortage of educators, the colonial government deployed 600 American teachers known as the Thomasites.

By September 1902, public secondary schools had been established across the region, including institutions in Lingayen (Pangasinan)[22], Vigan and Santa Maria (Ilocos Sur), Bauang, Bacnotan, and San Fernando (La Union), and Laoag and Dingras (Ilocos Norte) with several US Thomasites serving as educators. The Taft Commission per instructions of US President McKinley introduced free primary education, designed to prepare citizens for civic duties. Additionally, church lands were purchased and redistributed following the disestablishment of the Catholic Church, further signaling the shift in socio-political structures under American rule.[23]

In 1901, several towns from Nueva Ecija including Balungao, Rosales, San Quintin, and Umingan were annexed to the province of Pangasinan.[24] On November 30, 1903, additional municipalities from northern Zambales such as Agno, Alaminos, Anda, Bani, Bolinao, Burgos, Dasol, Infanta, and Mabini were transferred to Pangasinan.[25] These towns, originally part of the homeland of the Sambal people, were reassigned due to their geographic distance from their original provincial capitals. Despite resistance from local communities, this decision has remained unchanged.

Under the Philippine Organic Act of 1902, the Ilocos Region experienced significant political, economic, and social changes. Infrastructure development flourished, with the construction of bridges, railways, airports, and ports, enhancing the region’s connectivity with other parts of the country.

However, these developments were accompanied by local unrest. Reports of war crimes, forced relocations, extrajudicial killings, and destruction of property by American forces fueled discontent among the population. While the introduction of modern governance and infrastructure brought progress, these human rights abuses left a lasting impact on the region's history.

American colonization ended on July 4, 1946 in WWII's aftermath gaining Philippines Independence from the United States.

Japanese occupation era

[edit]

During 1945, the combined American and the Philippine Commonwealth troops including with the Ilocano and Pangasinan guerillas liberated the Ilocos Region from Japanese forces during the Second World War.

The postwar era

[edit]
See also: Tobacco production in the Philippines and Stonehill scandal

The Ilocos region produced two presidents of the Republic of the Philippines within the first two decades after the recognition of Philippine independence: Elpidio Quirino and Ferdinand Marcos.

This period also marked a return of the tobacco industry to the Ilocos Region. Ever since the end of the tobacco monopoly, tobacco production had declined in the Ilocos as filipinos started shifting from locally made cigars to foreign made cigarettes.[26] But after reading a feature article series by Maximo Soliven which explained why Virginia tobacco would grow well on Ilocos soil, businessman Harry Stonehill was convinced to invest extensively in rebuilding the industry, establishing the Philippine Tobacco Flue-Curing and Redrying Corporation (PTFCRC) in 1951 and recruiting farmers from throughout Region 1 to produce tobacco.[27][28] The following year, La Union Congressman Manuel T. Cases filed a bill to "limit the importation of foreign leaf tobacco," which was eventually signed by President Elpidio Quirino as Republic Act 698.[29] This allowed Stonehill's investments to make a handsome profit,[30] and the newly-rebuilt local industry to bloom.[27] Stonehill was later deported a decade later, in the 1960s, for tax evasion and bribery of government officials, in what would later be called the Stonehill scandal,[30] but the tobacco industry continued to grow.[28][30]

The Martial Law era

[edit]

Various human rights violations were documented in the Ilocos region during the Marcos martial law era, despite public perception that the region was supportive of Marcos' administration.[31] In Ilocos Norte, various farmers from the towns of Vintar, Dumalneg, Solsona, Marcos, and Piddig were documented to have been tortured,[31] and eight farmers in Bangui and three indigenous community members in Vintar were "salvaged" in 1984.[31]

Ilocanos who were critical of Marcos' authoritarian rule included Roman Catholic Archbishop and Agoo, La Union native Antonio L. Mabutas, who spoke actively against the torture and killings of church workers.[32][33] Other La Union natives who fought the dictatorship were student activists Romulo and Armando Palabay of San Fernando, La Union, whose torture and death in a military camp in Pampanga would lead them to being honored as martyrs in the fight against the dictatorship in the Philippines' Bantayog ng mga Bayani memorial.[34]

In Ilocos Norte, one of the prominent victims of the Martial Law era who came from Laoag was Catholic layperson and social worker Purificacion Pedro, who volunteered in organizations protesting the Chico River Dam Project in the nearby Cordillera Central mountains.[35] Wounded while visiting activist friends in Bataan, she was later killed by Marcos administration soldiers while recuperating in the hospital.[36][37] Another prominent opponent of the martial law regime was human rights advocate and Bombo Radyo Laoag program host David Bueno, who worked with the Free Legal Assistance Group in Ilocos Norte during the later part of the Marcos administration and the early part of the succeeding Aquino administration. He would later be assassinated by motorcycle-riding men in fatigue uniforms on October 22, 1987 – part of a wave of assassinations which coincided with the 1986-87 coup d'état which tried to unseat the democratic government set up after the 1986 People Power Revolution.[38] Both Bueno and Pedro were later honored among the first 65 people to have their names inscribed on the wall of remembrance of the Philippines' Bantayog ng mga Bayani, which honors the martyrs and heroes who fought the dictatorship,[39] and Pedro was listed among Filipino Catholics nominated to be named Servant of God.[40]

Integration of new provinces

[edit]

The province of Pangasinan was transferred by Ferdinand Marcos from Region III into Region I in 1973 and afterwards imposed a migration policy for Ilokanos into Pangasinan, to the moderate detriment of the native Pangasinenses; Ilocano settlers already migrated to Pangasinan during Spanish territorial rule in 19th century. Before the administration of Ferdinand Marcos, Pangasinan was not a part of the region.[41][42] He also included Abra, Mountain Province, and Benguet in the Ilocos region in a bid to expand Ilokano influence among the ethnic peoples of the Cordilleras[42] (Ilocano settlers already settled Abra during Spanish territorial rule, as it was part of Ilocos province, then of Ilocos Sur).

Transfer of provinces to the Cordillera Administrative Region

[edit]

When the Cordillera Administrative Region was established in 1987 under Corazon Aquino, the indigenous provinces of Abra, Mountain Province, and Benguet were transferred into the newly formed region.

Contemporary history

[edit]

The Ilocos region has produced 3 more Philippine Presidents in the years since the 1986 People Power revolution: Pangasinense Fidel V. Ramos, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (Ilocano on mother's side), and Ferdinand Marcos' son Bongbong Marcos.

The southern parts of the region were severely hit by the 1990 Luzon earthquake. Five municipalities in La Union were affected: Agoo, Aringay, Caba, Santo Tomas, and Tubao with a combined population of 132,208. Many buildings, including the Agoo Municipal hall,[43] the Museo de Iloko, the parish church of Aringay,[44] and the Basilica Minore of our Lady of Charity,[12] collapsed or were severely damaged. 100,000 families were displaced when two coastal villages sank due to liquefaction. The province suffered many casualties leaving 32 people dead. In Pangasinan, about 90 buildings in Dagupan were damaged, and about 20 collapsed. Some structures sustained damage because liquefaction caused buildings to sink as much as 1 metre (39 inches). The earthquake caused a decrease in the elevation of the city and several areas were flooded. The city suffered 64 casualties of which 47 survived and 17 died. Most injuries were sustained during stampedes at a university building and a theater.

Geography

[edit]
Political Map of Ilocos Region

The Ilocos Region is divided into two contrasting geographical features. The Ilocos provinces occupy the narrow plain between the Cordillera Central mountain range and the South China Sea, whereas Pangasinan occupies the northwestern portion of the vast Central Luzon plain, having Zambales Mountains as its natural western limit.

Lingayen Gulf is the most notable body of water in Pangasinan and it contains several islands, including the Hundred Islands National Park. To the north of Ilocos is Luzon Strait.

The Agno River runs through Pangasinan from Benguet, flowing into a broad delta at the vicinities of Lingayen and Dagupan before emptying into Lingayen Gulf.

Administrative divisions

[edit]

The Ilocos Region comprises 4 provinces, 1 independent component city, 8 component cities, 116 municipalities, and 3,265 barangays.[45]

Provinces

[edit]
Province Capital Population (2020)[46] Area[47] Density Cities Muni. Barangay
km2 sq mi /km2 /sq mi
 Ilocos Norte Laoag City 11.5% 609,588 3,418.75 1,319.99 180 470 2 21 559
 Ilocos Sur Vigan City 13.3% 706,009 2,596.00 1,002.32 270 700 2 32 768
 La Union San Fernando 15.5% 822,352 1,499.28 578.88 550 1,400 1 19 576
 Pangasinan Lingayen 59.7% 3,163,190 5,450.59 2,104.48 580 1,500 4 44 1,364
Total 5,301,139 12,964.62 5,005.67 410 1,100 9 116 3,267

• Figures for Pangasinan include the independent component city of Dagupan.

Governors and vice governors
[edit]
Province Image Governor Political Party Vice Governor
Ilocos Norte
 Matthew Marcos Manotoc Nacionalista Cecilia Araneta Marcos
Ilocos Sur
 Jeremias C. Singson NPC Ryan Luis Singson
La Union
 Raphaelle Veronica Ortega-David NPC Mario Eduardo Ortega
Pangasinan
 Ramon Guico III Nacionalista Mark Ronald DG. Lambino

Cities and municipalities

[edit]
  •  †  Regional center
  •  ^  Independent City

Economy

[edit]

Poverty incidence of Ilocos Region

5
10
15
20
25
30
2006
25.95
2009
21.97
2012
18.46
2015
18.81
2018
9.85
2021
11.00

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57]

Although the economy in the southern portion of the region, especially Pangasinan, is anchored on aquaculture, agro-industrial and service industry akin to its Central Luzon neighbor, the economy in the northern portion of the region is anchored in the agricultural sector. The economy in Pangasinan is driven by agro-industrial (particularly in inland towns) and aquaculture (in coastal areas) businesses, such as milkfish (bangus) cultivation and processing, livestock raising, fish paste processing (bagoong), and others. 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).

The distribution of the economic activity in the region may be seen from the collection of tax revenue of the national government. The bulk of the collections come from Pangasinan, which posted 61% of the total.[58]

The service and light manufacturing industries are concentrated in the cities. Dagupan, a major financial, commercial and educational hub in the north, is mostly driven by its local entrepreneurs, which have expanded its network up to the national level such as the CSI Group, Magic Group, BHF Group, Guanzon Group, St Joseph Drugs, and Siapno-Tada Optical, among others. San Fernando in La Union also has an international shipping port and the upgraded San Fernando Airport. While Laoag in Ilocos Norte has an international airport.[citation needed]

The tourism industry, driven by local airlines and land transportation firms in the area like Pangasinan Solid North Bus, Dagupan Bus Company, Farinas Transit Company and Partas, focuses on the coastal beaches and on eco-tourism. There are fine sands stretching along Lingayen Gulf area notably the historic Tondaligan Beach in Dagupan and the rest of the region's coastal areas.[citation needed]

Additionally, the Ilocanos are known for their dark-colored clay burnay pottery and blanket weaving.[59]

Demographics

[edit]
Population census of Ilocos Region
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 948,935—    
1918 1,210,909+1.64%
1939 1,459,294+0.89%
1948 1,685,564+1.61%
1960 2,042,865+1.61%
1970 2,488,391+1.99%
1975 2,726,220+1.85%
1980 2,922,892+1.40%
1990 3,550,642+1.96%
1995 3,803,890+1.30%
2000 4,200,478+2.15%
2007 4,546,789+1.10%
2010 4,748,372+1.59%
2015 5,026,128+1.09%
2020 5,301,139+1.05%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[60]

The 2020 Census of Population and Housing for the Ilocos Region recorded a total household population of 5,292,297, with Ilocos Norte having 609,588 (11%), Ilocos Sur with 706,009 (13%), La Union with 822,352 (16%), and Pangasinan with 3,163,190 (60%). [61]

The population was composed of 2.68 million males (50.7%) and 2.61 million females (49.3%). The age group 0–14 years, categorized as young dependents, consisted of 1.49 million individuals (28.2%) with a sex ratio of 108 males per 100 females. The working-age population (15–64 years) was 3.41 million (64.5%), with a sex ratio of 105 males per 100 females. The senior citizen population (65 years and older) numbered 388,000 (7.3%), with a sex ratio of 69 males per 100 females. [62]

Children under five years old totaled 480,000 (9.1%), maintaining a sex ratio of 108 males per 100 females since 2015. The school-age population, aged 5–24 years, was 1.98 million (37.4%), showing a slight increase from 2015. The population of senior citizens (60 years and over) was 578,000 (10.9%), an increase from 493,000 in 2015. The overall sex ratio in the region was 103 males per 100 females. Women of reproductive age, 15–49 years old, totaled 1.33 million, comprising 50.7% of the female population. The population distribution highlights a male majority in younger age groups and a predominance of females among senior citizens due to longer female life expectancy. [62]

Ethnicity

[edit]
Main articles: Ilocano people, Pangasinan people, and Igorot people

The Ilocos Region is home to a diverse range of ethnic groups. According to the 2020 census, the ethnic composition of the region is predominantly made up of Ilocanos (58.3%), followed by Pangasinans (29.7%), Tagalogs ( 4.1%), and various indigenous groups. [6]

The Ilocano ethnolinguistic group is the largest in the region, comprising 58.3% of the population, with a total of 3,083,391 individuals. The distribution of the Ilocano population is as follows: Ilocos Norte has 570,849 Ilocanos, Ilocos Sur has 580,484, La Union has 673,312, and Pangasinan has 1,258,746.

The Pangasinan accounts for 29.7% of the region’s population, with a total population of 1,570,600. The Pangasinan population is distributed across the region as follows: Ilocos Norte has 1,156, Ilocos Sur has 1,769, La Union has 10,319, and Pangasinan has 1,557,356.

The Tagalog makes up 4.1% of the population, with a total of 219,011 Tagalog speakers. The distribution is as follows: Ilocos Norte has 9,415, Ilocos Sur has 8,721, La Union has 23,518, and Pangasinan has 177,357.

In addition to the major ethnic groups, the Ilocos Region is home to several Cordilleran (Igorot) indigenous peoples. These include the Itneg (Tingguian), with a population of 34,262, the highest concentration of which is in Ilocos Sur, the Kankanaey people, numbering 85,864, have the largest population in La Union, while the Bago people, with 73,371 members, are primarily found in Ilocos Sur. Other indigenous groups in the region include the Ibaloi in La Union, Isnag in Ilocos Norte, Balangao, Ifugao, and Kalinga in Ilocos Sur.[6]

Other minority groups not native in the region include Maguindanaons, Maranaos, Tausugs, Kapampangans, Cebuanos, Hiligaynons and foreigners and their Filipino-born descendants such as Chinese[63] and Indians.[64][65]

Language

[edit]
Main articles: Ilocano language and Pangasinan language

Ilocano is the main language of the majority in the region, with La Union recognizing it as an official language since 2012.[66] It is also spoken in neighboring regions of Cagayan Valley (Region II), Cordillera Administrative Region and parts of Central Luzon (Region III) as the lingua franca among Ilocano and non-Ilocano residents. Ilocano is also recognized as a minority language in Mindoro, Palawan, and Mindanao (particularly in some areas in Soccsksargen), where Ilocanos had have been significant residents since the early 20th century. It is the third most widely spoken language in the Philippines, estimating 11 million speakers as of 2022. The language has many speakers overseas, including the American states of California and Hawaii.[67]

Another major regional Philippine language spoken in the region is Pangasinan (a native language in the eponymous Pangasinan province among the ethnic group of the same name). It is the official and the indigenous language of Pangasinan and is the most spoken language in the region's highly urbanized area, Central Pangasinan. Spoken natively in urban centers such as Dagupan, Lingayen, San Carlos, among others. Native speakers can also be found in nearby Tarlac, La Union and Benguet. Significant provincial languages such as Bolinao and Sambal languages in western Pangasinan, and Cordilleran languages (near the borders of the Cordillera Administrative Region) are spoken in the region. Tagalog is spoken by residents in towns along the border with Nueva Ecija, and its standard dialect Filipino and English are also spoken and understood in the region, utilized in business, education and media.

Languages not native in the region are also spoken there such as Maranao, Maguindanaon, Tausug, Kapampangan (which Bolinao & Sambal languages are related to), Cebuano and Hiligaynon to varying degrees by their respective ethnic communities within the region.

Religion

[edit]

The Ilocos Region's household population in 2020 was predominantly Roman Catholic, comprising 82.0% (4,338,887 persons) of the total population. The second-largest religious affiliation was Iglesia ni Cristo, which accounted for 3.44% (181,885 persons), followed by Aglipay with 1.97% (104,366 persons). The Iglesia Filipina Independiente represented 1.65% (87,635 persons) of the population. [68]

Protestant and other Christian groups, such as Jehovah’s Witnesses, United Methodist Church, and Assemblies of God, collectively accounted for smaller percentages, each at 0.8% or lower. By province, Pangasinan had the highest proportion of Roman Catholics, representing 62.6% of the region's Catholic population (2,715,621 persons). La Union followed with 16.0% (695,867 persons), Ilocos Sur with 13.2% (574,136 persons), and Ilocos Norte with 8.2% (353,263 persons). For Iglesia ni Cristo, Pangasinan had the largest membership with 111,149 persons, followed by Ilocos Norte with 30,678 persons, and La Union with 23,374 persons. [68]

For Islam, the Ilocos Region recorded individuals identifying with this religion in 2020. Over half were in Pangasinan, numbering 7,037 (56%), followed by 2,021 (16.2%) in La Union, 1,932 (15.5%) in Ilocos Sur, and 1,489 (11.9%) in Ilocos Norte. On the other hand, there were 653 individuals in the Ilocos Region in 2020 who identified as Buddhists. Of this number, 360 (55.1%) lived in Pangasinan, 25% in La Union, 10.4% in Ilocos Norte, and 9.5% in Ilocos Sur. [68]

Culture and the Arts

[edit]
Tampuhan by Juan Luna

The Ilocos region is noted for its distinctive culture, shaped by the austere demands of its geography.[69]: 55 

The region has given birth to numerous artists who have won national acclaim - among the most notable being writer and activist Isabelo de los Reyes of Vigan who helped publish the earliest currently-extant text of Biag ni Lam-Ang; Badoc-born Philippine Revolution era activist and leader Juan Luna; and Binalonan-born Carlos Bulosan, whose novel America is in the Heart has become regarded as "[t]he premier text of the Filipino-American experience."[70]

The region is also home to several National Artists of the Philippines, including National Artist for Theater Severino Montano who was conferred the honor in 2001,[71] and National Artist for Dance Lucrecia Kasilag, who was conferred the honor in 1989.

In contemporary arts, The Galila Arts Festival, which features Pangasinense artists and tourist spots in the fourth district of Pangasinan, was inaugurated in 2023. Aside from encouraging arts in the province, the festival also aims to attract tourists.[72]

Notable people

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A view of San Fernando, La Union

See also

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References

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