History

Long before the coming of the Spaniards, the people of the Ilocos coast conducted trade with Chinese and Japanese merchants. Laoag was already a significant population center when the Spaniards first visited Ilocos. Spanish explorers led by Juan de Salcedo arrived in 1572 and began the long period of Spanish colonial rule. Augustinian missionaries converted the Ilocanos to Christianity and impressive, well-preserved historic churches, some built as early as the 16th century, stand in testimony to the long Catholic tradition of the province.

Ilocos Norte and Sur used to comprise one province of Ilocos under the early Spanish regime. Ilocos suffered from many exactions from the Spanish government and the Ilocanos rose in revolt several times in history in response to these exactions. Sporadic revolts erupted between 1589 and 1765 but towards the end of the 18^th century, a series of revolts rocked the region after the government imposed several monopolies in Ilocos. In 1788, the Ilocanos rose against the imposition of the tobacco monopoly. In 1807, the region of Ilocos Norte became the focal point of the Basi (native wine made from sugar) Revolt, which concerned the monopoly on the item. In 1814, another revolt rocked the north demanding equal rights with the Spaniards. To respond adequately to these challenges, the Alcalde Mayor (governor) recommended the establishment of a separate province in the north. Ilocos Norter was separated from the south in 1818.

During the 1896 Revolution, Ilocos Norte actively participated in the movement to establish an independent Filipino Republic. General Artemio Ricarte, a native of Ilocos Norte, figured prominently in the Revolutionary and Filipino-American War. Father Gregorio Aglipay, a secular priest from Batac, became the head of the Philippine Independent (Aglipayan) Church a nationalist religious denomination that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in 1901.

People, Culture and the Arts

Ilocanos comprise the overwhelming majority of the province's inhabitants, although there are small communities of Isnegs, and Tinguians in the eastern and southeastern fringes of the province. The people do not differ from other Ilocanos in customs, but as a result of the establishment of the Aglipayan Church, a majority of the people are members of the independent church. The Aglipayan observances are similar to Roman Catholic rites but the Aglipayan Church offers no allegiance to the Pope and members of the clergy may marry.

Hundreds of years of Catholic preeminence, has made Ilocos Norte home to many old Catholic churches. Paoay Church is a unique combination of baroque and Southeast Asian motifs blended into a distinct style called earthquake baroque. It is built largely of coral blocks and bricks, and was begun in 1694 and finally completed in 1710. The Cathedral of St. William the Hermit (San Guillermo) possesses a unique two-storey façade held up by four pairs of coupled columns. Its deeply recessed niche shows the image of San Guillermo and its bell tower, located some 80 meters from the church, is said to be sinking under its own weight. A person can no longer pass through its enormous gate without stooping.

The province was the birthplace of many important personalities whose ancestral homes are now museums. The Juan Luna Shrine in Badoc, is a preserved brick-type house of the hero-painter and is a repository of his memorabilia, including replicas of his masterpieces. The ancestral home of the deposed Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos in Batac has been converted into another museum called Balay ti Ili (house of the people) and houses his memorabilia.

There is a curious monument in Ilocos Norte built in 1882 called the Tobacco Monopoly Monument. It was built by the people of Ilocos Norte in gratitude for King Alfonso XIII's decree ending the monopoly a year earlier. The monopoly, which was established in 1782, caused much misery to the Ilocanos. The King may have put and end to the monopoly, but up to the present, tobacco remains a major cash crop in the province.

The Ilocanos of the north are noted for their cottage industries, among which are weaving, pottery, blacksmithing, woodcarving and furniture making. Weaving is particularly developed and certain towns specialize in producing certain types of cotton cloth.

Trade and Investment Possibilities

Ilocos Norte’s location at the northwestern tip of the Philippines makes it a strategic point from which East Asian markets may be accessed. Historically, it had very active trade relations with Japan and China. Building on this advantageous location, the province is shifting its economy from being largely agricultural into an agro-industrial center for northern Luzon with strong links to other economies in the region.

A network of well-paved highways and arterial roads run through out the province and connect it to other provinces of the Ilocos Region and to Metro Manila. Access to the province is facilitated by the Laoag International Airport. Several airlines provide links to Manila, other points in northern Luzon as well as to key East Asian cities. The seaport in Currimao can be used to bring waterborne cargo in and out of the province. Four private telephone carriers provide most of the province with ample communications links. Ilocos Norte has a sufficient supply of water, power and other utilities to support the needs of industries. Its large pool of talented and trainable workforce can be tapped to provide industries with capable labor. Forty (40) commercial, rural and specialized financial institutions provide adequate access to capital.

Ilocos Norte was previously considered the center of tobacco growing in the Philippines. The slump in the commodity prices and reduced demand for tobacco-based products has prompted the province to shift from traditional crops to high value crops such as garlic, onions, tomatoes, mung beans and cotton. The province is steadfastly promoting investments in food processing, given the abundance of agricultural commodities that can be used as raw material. The strong traditional crafts and the creative flair of its artisans also make the province an ideal center for furniture and handicraft production. Several economic zones are currently being developed to facilitate the entry of investments. These projects include the Laoag Special Economic Zone and the Currimao Agri-Industrial Zone.

There are also investment opportunities in strengthening the province’s infrastructure base. The Laoag International Airport Expansion and Development and the Currimao Seaport Improvement are among projects designed to improve access to Ilocos Norte.

In terms of tourism potentials, Ilocos Norte can bank on its rich cultural heritage, expanses of sandy beaches and a hauntingly beautiful landscape to draw in visitors. There are hotels and recreation centers in the province but more investments are being encouraged. Sport fishing is a promising tourism activity, while the area of Bangui and Burgos, with its old colonial era structures, can be developed as hub for cultural tourism. The unique coastal ecosystem of Pagudpud and Bangui is also being developed into an eco-tourism destination.

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