Ilocos Norte

Infobox Philippine province
name = Ilocos Norte
sealfile = Ph_seal_ilocos_norte.png region = Ilocos Region (Region I)
capital = Laoag City
founded = —
pop2000 = 514,241
pop2000rank = 48th largest
popden2000 = 151
popden2000rank = 27th lowest
areakm2 = 3,399.3
arearank = 27th smallest
hucities = 0
componentcities = 2
municipalities = 21
barangays = 557
districts = 2
languages = Ilokano Tagalog
governor = Michael Marcos Keon (Kampi)
locatormapfile = Ph_locator_map_ilocos_norte.png

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 cultureIn the 330 pages “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 "puki-puki" (eggplant salad). Ilocandia is filled with colonial churches, the legacy of Spanish Catholicism. [ [http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20080924-162501/The-rich-treasures-of-Ilocandia newsinfo.inquirer.net, The rich treasures of Ilocandia] ]

Religion

Although Ilocos Norte has some 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 City 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.
*Immaculate Conception Parish in Batac-Built in 1587

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, 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 [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/93262/More-wind-energy-projects-planned-in-Ilocos-Norte GMA NEWS.TV, More wind energy projects planned in Ilocos Norte] ] .
* Tourism
*Pottery

Political Divisions

Ilocos Norte is subdivided into 557 barangays, 21 municipalities, and 2 cities.

History

Ilocos Norte was the birthplace of president Ferdinand Marcos (To this day, Marcos's political vehicle, the New Society Movement, retains a strong following in the province).

External links

* [http://www.ilocosnorte.gov.ph Ilocos Norte Official Website]
* [http://ilocostimes.com/ Ilocos Times Online]
* [http://www.bacarra89ers.org/ilocosnorte/ Ilocos Norte In Images]
* [http://www.karitoon.com karitoon.com - Northern Luzon Online Community ]

People from Ilocos Norte

*Gregorio Aglipay
*Rodolfo Biazon
*Josefa Llanes Escoda
*Juan Luna
*Ferdinand E. Marcos
*Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
*Imee R. Marcos
*Severino Montano
*Leo Najorda
*Julio Nalundasan
*Artemio Ricarte
*Teofilo Yldefonso

References