Pangasinan

Pangasinan was among the earliest political and administrative units in the Philippines. It was officially conquered
and colonized by D. Martin de Goiti in 1571. On April 5, 1572, Pangasinan was made an encomienda by the Spanish
royal crown to receive instruction on the Catholic Faith, which means that Pangasinan was organized under one
leadership and has identity before the Spanish royal court. Eight years later, in 1580, Pangasinan was organized into a
political unit under an alkalde mayor who at that time has authority as head of the province or provincial government
with judicial function indicating that Pangasinan has become a province. To commemorate the day when Pangasinan
became an encomienda and the year it became a province, Pangasinan celebrates April 5, 1580 as the official founding
day of the Province of Pangasinan. At that time, its territorial jurisdiction included the Province of Zambales and
parts of La Union and Tarlac. By the middle of the 19th century however, the northern towns of Agoo to Bacnotan
were separated from the province and became parts of La Union. The provincial territory was further diminished in
1875 with the annexation of Paniqui and other towns south of it to Tarlac.

Pangasinan, derived its name from the word “panag asinan”, which means “where salt is made”, owing to the rich and
fine salt beds which were the prior source of livelihood of the province’s coastal towns.

SIGNIFICANT PERIODS

Pre-Spanish period – Ancient Malayo-Polynesians of the Austronesian stock arrive by boat and establish settlements
along the Lingayen Gulf. They are proficient in salt-making so they call their new home Pangasinan which means “the
place where salt is made.” This refers to the coastal area only while the inner areas are collectively called “Caboloan”
because the small bamboo species called “bolo” abound there. The inhabitants of Pangasinan traded with India, China
and Japan as early as the 8th century A.D.

1572 – Juan de Salcedo, upon the orders of his grandfather Governor General Miguel Lopez de Legazpi to explore and
pacify northern Luzon, reaches

Pangasinan. A Spanish priest-historian, Fray Juan Ferrando, calls Salcedo the “first discoverer” of Pangasinan. The
province is now under the jurisdiction of Spain as an encomienda since April 5.

1574-1575– The Chinese corsair Limahong, after being repulsed by the Spaniards in his bid to found a colony in
Manila, goes to Pangasinan and establishes his little kingdom within a fort in Lingayen. His party is composed of
men, women and children. He forces the natives to cooperate with him by supplying him provisions and serving him
and his people. Juan de Salcedo pursues him and after months of blockade Limahong and his forces escape in August
1575 through a channel that they dug out into the China sea. Many of his men with their families choose to stay
behind in Lingayen.

1580 – Pangasinan is organized as an alcaldia mayor , a politico-civil administrative unit or province, by Governor
General Gonzalo Ronquillo de Peñalosa and receives its first alcalde mayor in the person of Don Pedro Manrique.
1611 – The province of Pangasinan’s territorial limits are set by the superior government, thus completing the
requisites for a viable political subdivision: a defined territory, a set of administrators, and law-abiding subjects. The
province, as constituted, now include all the coastal villages called “Pangasinan” and the inner areas called
“Caboloan.” The boundaries are from San Juan (now in La Union) in the north, to the foothills of the Cordillera and
Caraballo mountains in the northeast and east, to Paniqui in the south, to the present area of Sual town in the west
plus that area that is the present-day Zambales.

1660 –Malong Revolt. Andres Malong of Binalatongan leads the revolt of the Filipinos against the Spaniards. They
were encouraged by the short takeover of Manila by the Dutch. He declares himself as “Ari” but their declaration of
independence is short-lived as they are subdued by the Spaniards in less than a month.

1762 – Palaris Revolt – Juan dela Cruz Palaris, also of Binalatongan, leads his people to complain to the Spaniards
about paying tributes. Encouraged by the defeat of the Spanish army and capture of Manila by the British, they go on
to make more demands and drive away all the Spaniards from the capital town of Lingayen. For two years the rebels
and their supporters in the province taste freedom and power over the Spanish government but the capture of Palaris
ends the rebellion. To forget this sad episode the Spanish officials give the town “Binalatongan” its new name “San
Carlos” in honor of Spain’s reigning monarch Charles III.

1840 – The Casa Real (Royal House) is constructed in Lingayen. This 1,700 sqm building of stone masonry and bricks
is the provincial seat of government where the Alcalde Mayor resides and holds office. It would be the venue of many
historic events in Pangasinan and was used as the “Juzgado” later on.

1855 – The Spanish government opens Sual as an official port of foreign trade. Rice is exported to China and Macao
from this port. It is also one of the country’s centers for shipbuilding, together with Labrador, Lingayen and Dagupan.

December 27, 1897 – General Emilio Aguinaldo, accompanied by Spanish Governor General Primo de Rivera and
others, takes the train to the Dagupan terminal and travels on to Sual to board the S.S. Uranus that is to bring him to
exile in Hongkong to comply with the Pact of Biak-na-Bato.

July 22, 1898 – Pangasinan is liberated from Spanish rule. The local board of Katipunan that was organized by
General Francisco Makabulos of Central Luzon four months earlier and led by Don Daniel Maramba of Sta. Barbara,
Vicente del Prado of San Jacinto, Juan Quesada and Eliseo Arzadon of Dagupan, defeat the Spanish forces making a
last stand in Dagupan. Thereupon, they reenact the proclamation of independence done at Kawit 40 days earlier.

February 5, 1899 – A day after the start of hostilities of the Philippine-American War, President Aguinaldo directs
Pangasinan Governor Quesada to transfer the provincial capital to San Carlos to protect the province from the threat
of a coastal invasion by the Americans, as Lingayen is located right by the Gulf. San Carlos thus served as the capital
of the province from this day until the fall of the Republican forces in Pangasinan in November of the same year.

August 1899 – In a barrio in Bayambang, Jose Palma, a staff member of the revolutionary government’s newspaper
La Independencia, writes a poem that becomes the lyrics for the melody of the “La Marcha Nacional Filipina”
composed by Julian Felipe. This poem is translated later to Pilipino and given the title “Lupang Hinirang” which is
now the Philippine National Anthem. It was written in the house of Doña Romana G. vda de Favis. This house served
as the “Malacañang” of the Aguinaldo Republic momentarily in November 1899. (The said barrio is now part of
Baustista.)

Early November 1899 – the Philippine American War reaches Pangasinan. General Emilio Aguinaldo, the president of
the first Philippine Republic, transfers the seat of his government to Bayambang and it momentarily becomes the
capital of the republic. The Council of Government also convenes for the last time in Bayambang, in which meeting it
was finally decided to disband the army and resort instead to guerilla warfare. The formal workings of the central
government of the first Philippine Republic thus ended in Bayambang.

November 20, 1899 –General MacArthur and General Lawton’s columns successfully link up with General Wheaton’s
in Dagupan, marking the end of overt warfare in Pangasinan and completing the American conquest of the province.
Shortly, military administrators are installed.

February 16, 1901 – The Taft Commission organizes Pangasinan as a civil province in a general assembly in Dagupan.
Don Perfecto Sison of Lingayen is appointed Governor and Lingayen is chosen over Dagupan to remain as the capital
because the Casa Real is located there. Judge Taft and his commissioners were given a grand reception at the Casa
Real.

September 1902 – The first public secondary school in Pangasinan is opened in Lingayen with some of the US
“Thomasites” as educators. The Pangasinan Academic High School is the sole public secondary school in Pangasinan
until 1946. Now named the Pangasinan National High School, it has produced many of the most successful
personages in the province.

February 10-19, 1919 – Governor Daniel Maramba leads the inaugural festivities for the new Capitol. The revelry
features an agricultural and industrial fair, a carnival, parades and a grand coronation ball with a a queen and her
court. American Ralph Doane, designed this neo-classical building.

December 22, 1941 – World War II comes to Pangasinan. Bitter fighting between the USAFFE (United States Armed
Forces in the Far East) and the Japanese army rages around the towns of Pozorrubio, Binalonan, and Tayug. In due
course, the USAFFE forces retreat to Bataan and the Japanese military takes control of Pangasinan and the two-year
Japanese invasion starts. This brought enormous hardship to the people.

January 20, 1942 – It being necessary to cooperate with the occupation forces through the Japanese Military
Administration, Dr. Santiago Estrada, who earlier evacuated the provincial office to Tayug, reassumes the
governorship and reorganizes the provincial government in order to help in the restoration of peace and order and to
work for the welfare of the people. Dagupan is chosen as the provincial capital of the new Japanese-sponsored
national government.

January 9-13, 1945 – The Allied Forces with the United States Sixth Army under General Walter Krueger lands
unopposed on the beaches of Lingayen, Binmaley, Dagupan, Mangaldan, and San Fabian, effecting the start of the
liberation of Pangasinan. Four days later Gen. Douglas MacArthur came ashore right behind the ruined Capitol
building. He also landed in Dagupan and set up his Luzon headquarters there.
February 1945 – The Americans through the Philippine Civil Affairs Unit (PCAU) reestablish the provincial
government and install Sofronio Quimson as Governor, while retaining the wartime capital of Dagupan as such.

June 1945 – The provincial capital is moved back to Lingayen.

1946- Through the Philippine Rehabilation Act, the US government assists the provincial government under
Governor Enrique Braganza in reconstructing damaged buildings including the Capitol building.

1953 – Governor Juan de Guzman Rodriguez undertakes the construction of the governor’s official residence and
guest house. It is named “Princess Urduja Palace” after the legendary 14th century amazon leader in pre-colonial
Pangasinan. (Note: Sometime in the 1990s a national conference of scholars and academicians concluded that the
kingdom where Urduja was supposed to rule was not in Pangasinan or anywhere in the Philippines but somewhere in
Indochina.)

June 30, 1992 – A full-blooded Pangasinense, Fidel V. Ramos, becomes President of the Republic of the Philippines.
Among his many achievements that benefits Pangasinan today was attracting foreign investors to put up the Sual
Power Plant to ease the power crisis before and during his term, and the San Roque Dam.

October 1999 – The Sual Power Plant in Sual started operating. With Pangasinan as the host province, this is the
largest and most effective coal-fired power plant in the Philippines servicing the Luzon grid with a generating capacity
of 1,218 MW. The company has an Energy Conversion Agreement with the National Power Corporation with a 25-year
build-operate-transfer scheme (BOT).

1998 – The San Roque Multipurpose Project or SRMP in San Manuel and San Nicolas was built to harness the power
of the country’s third largest river, the Agno River, bringing these benefits to several communities in the heart of
Luzon if operated and maintained properly: flood control, irrigation, electrical power and improved water quality.

2007- The second half of 2007 marks the commencement of significant changes in the physical appearance and
systematic clustering of provincial government buildings, parks, hospitals, and satellite offices. The intensive
rehabilitation and repair of the provincial capitol building gained national fame and recognition upon its completion
in 2008, earning for it the title “Best Provincial Capitol in the Philippines”. Simultaneous to the renovation o f the
physical infrastructure of the province, human resource improvement was implemented through programs which
resulted to the restoration of dignity, self-respect and professionalism of provincial government employees as working
force partners in Pangasinan’s development. It was during this Term of Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. that the
founding day of Pangasinan was estblished, celebrating its 430th founding

anniversary for the first time on April 5, 2010. Pangasinan’s Golden age took off from this year which saw numerous
investments flowing into the province, significant development projects mushrooming in every corner, local, national
and international linkages being established, all for Pangasinan’s progress and advancement, and finally breaking
ground on a period where Pangasinenses proudly claim that their Province is the best place to invest, live, work and
raise a family.
Ilocos Sur
History

Before the coming of the Spaniards, the coastal plains in northwestern Luzon, stretching from Bangui (Ilocos Norte)
in the north to Namacpacan (Luna, La Union) in the south, were a region called the Ylokos. This region lies in
between the China Sea in the west and Northern Cordilleras on the east. The inhabitants built their villages near the
small bays on coves called “looc” in the dialect. These coastal inhabitants were referred to as “Ylocos” which literally
meant “from the lowlands”. The entire region was then called by the ancient name “Samtoy” from “sao ditoy” which in
Ilokano mean “our dialect”. The region was later called by the Spaniards as “Ylocos” or “Ilocos” and its people
“Ilocanos”.

The Ilocos Region was already a thriving, fairly advanced cluster of towns and settlements familiar to Chinese,
Japanese and Malay traders when the Spaniard explorer Don Juan de Salcedo and members of his expedition arrived
in Vigan on June 13, 1572. Forthwith, they made Cabigbigaan (Bigan), the heart of the Ylokos settlement their
headquarters which Salcedo called “Villa Fernandina” and which eventually gained fame as the “Intramuros of
Ilocandia”. Salcedo declared the whole Northern Luzon as an "encomienda", or a land grant. Subsequently, he became
the encomendero of Vigan and Lieutenant Governor of the Ylokos until his death in July 1574.

Augustinian missionaries came to conquer the region through evangelization. They established parishes and built
churches that still stand today. Three centuries later, Vigan became the seat of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia.

A royal decree of February 2, 1818 separated Ilocos Norte from Ilocos Sur, the latter to include the northern part of La
Union (as far as Namacpacan, now Luna) and all of what is now the province of Abra. The sub-province of Lepanto
and Amburayan in Mt. Province were annexed to Ilocos Sur.

The passage of Act 2683 by the Philippine Legislature in March 1917 defined the present geographical boundary of the
province.

There are many writers and statesmen throughout the history of the Philippines. Pedro Bukaneg is the father of Iluko
Literature. Isabelo de los Reyes will always be remembered as the Father of the Filipino Labor Movement. His
mother, Leona Florentino was the most outstanding Filipino woman writer of the Spanish era. Vicente Singson
Encarnacion, an exemplary statesman, was also a noted authority on business and industry.

From the ranks of the barrio schoolteachers, Elpidio Quirino rose to become President of the Republic of the
Philippines which is the town's most illustrious and native son of Caoayan, Ilocos Sur. Col. Salvador F. Reyes, a
graduate of the Westpoint Military Academy, USA, led an untarnished and brilliant military career.

The Ilocos Sur Story

Ilocos Sur's history reflects that of the Philippine history in its entirety. In Vigan, the Villa Fernandina founded in
1574 by Juan de Salcedo, grandson of the Adelantado Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, markers and inscriptions can be
found throughout the city.

Following the exploration and conquest of the Ilocos by the Castillan sword, the evangelization of the inhabitants was
pursued with the characteristic zeal of the Augustinian missionaries. The stone churches built over the centuries
reflect Spanish power that held sway in union with the Church. It is thus interesting to read the marker found near
the door of the Vigan Cathedral, placed there by the Philippine Historical Committee.

Heart of Ilocandia

The Ancient Land of Samtoy

On the northwestern part of Luzon, the Ilocos range restricts a narrow stretch coastal plain throughout its entire
length as the home of one of the tribes of the Malay race, the Ilocanos.

Gleanings from ancient chronicles such as that of Fray Andres Carro say that the word “Samtoy” was applied to
ancient Ylokos or to the most important town of the region, where the most important dialect was spoken.

The ancient land of Ylokos or Samtoy extended from Bangui in the north to Aringay in the south. Hemmed in between
the reefy coast of the China Sea and the rugged mountain ranges of the Cordillera is a long narrow strip of coastal
plain. On the western China Sea side, the land is sandy. On the eastern side, near the slopes of the mountains that
separates the region from the Mountain Province, the land is rocky, leaving just a narrow strip of plain here and there
for cultivation. In places, the mountains come so close to the sea that the public highway has to wind along the steep
mountain and sea. The pressure of increasing population and consequent land hunger has made the people of this
region thrifty.

Exploration

The coast of Samtoy, already familiar to Chinese and Japanese traders before Magellan’s time, was known to the
Spanish colonizers in 1572 when Juan de Salcedo traveled along Samtoy or what is now known as the Ilocos
Provinces. Sent by the “Adelantado”, Miguel Lopez d Legaspi to explore the whole island of Luzon, Salcedo founded
Ciudad Fernandina in 1574 in the heart of Yloko settlement in Bigan, in what is now Ilocos Sur. It became the center
of Spanish rule and influence, and the evangelization and pacification movements.

The Spaniards, after Salcedo’s exploration, created Samtoy, the whole northwestern region of Luzon into an
‘encomienda” with Villa Fernadina at Tamag (Bigan), as the capital.

Salcedo was made Lieutenant Governor of Ylokos and the “encomendero” of Bigan where he died on March 11, 1576.
It was due to his efforts that the settlements in Tagurin, Santa Lucia, Nalbacan, Bantay, Candon and Sinayt were
pacified and made to pay tribute to the King of Spain.

Conversion of the Natives

To implement Spain’s policy, missionaries came over to convert the natives to Christianity. A Spanish chronicler
wrote: “The Ilocos are all Christians and are the humblest and most tractable.’

The evangelization of Ilocos Sur was allotted to the Augustinians who established parishes in Santa in 1576, Tagurin
in 1586, Sta. Lucia in 1586, Nalbacan in 1587, Candon 1591, and Bantay in 1590. In 1641 they built a church in Bigan,
which 117 years later, was to become the cathedral of the Episcopal See of Nueva Segovia.

Dismemberment of Ylokos

The Ylokos comprised the present provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Abra, and a part of Mountain
Province. When Pangasinan was made a province in 1611, a part of La Union was taken from Ylokos and annexed to
Pangasinan.

A royal decree dated February 2, 1818 separated the northern part of Ylokos which became the province of Ilocos
Norte. The southern part called Ilocos Sur, included the northern part of La Union and all of what is now the province
of Abra. In 1854, the province of La Union was created out of the towns that had heretofore belonged to Ilocos Sur
and Pangasinan. Ilocos Sur previously extended as far south as Namacpacan (Luna), and the territory south of this
belonged to Pangasinan. It was the union of portions of Ilocos Sur from the Amburayan were taken from the
Mountain Province and incorporated with Ilocos Sur.

Abra which was one a part of Ilocos Sur, was created in 1864 with Lepanto as a sub-province to Ilocos Sur, and
remained as such until March, 1971 when the passage of Act made it again a separate province.

Vigan, Capital of Ylocos

Vigan is almost four centuries old, and was once known as “Kabigbigaan” from “biga” (Alocasia Indica), a coarse erect
and araceous plant with large and ornate leaves with grows on the banks of the rivers. Its name “Bigan” was later
changed to Vigan. To the Spaniards it was Villa Fernandina in honor of King Ferdinand, the Spanish ruler then.

Founded in 1574 by Juan de Salcedo as capital of ancient Ylocos, Vigan vied in importance and gentility with the city
of Intramuros. Even before Salcedo came to Bigan, the town was already a center of Malayan civilization with a
population of 8,000, a population greater than that of Manila then. It was already enjoying some prosperity, trading
with the Chinese and Japanese who brought fine jars, silk and crockery through the nearby port of Pandan, Caoayan.

In the 19th century, Vigan also traded with Europe. Ships loaded indigo in its port for the textile mills in the
Continent. The invention of chemical dyes in Germany ruined this industry. By then, the affluent citizens of Vigan had
stocked their homes with statuettes of brass and iron, dinner wares, other artifacts of European civilization, fine ivory
and inlaid furniture and China wares.

The People - Theirs is a Granite that Makes the Ilocano Nation

Ilocos Sur is inhabited mostly by Ilocanos belonging to the third largest ethnic group of Malay origin. A Spanish
chronicler wrote that “the people are very simple, domestic and peaceful, large of body and very strong. “They are
highly civilized, superior to the most of the tribes in other parts of Luzon. They are a most clean race, especially the
women in their homes which they keep very neat and clean.”

Miguel de Loarca records around 1582 that the Ilocanos “are more intelligent than the Zambaleños for they are
traders and they traffic with the Chinese, Japanese and Borneans. The main occupation of the people is commerce,
but they are also good farmers and sell their articles of good farmers and sell their articles of food and clothing to the
Igorots.”

Father Juan de Medina noted in 1630 that the natives are ‘the humblest and most tractable known and lived in nest
and large settlements’

Social Institutions

Before Salcedo died in 1576, be bequeathed his encomienda to a selected group who perpetuated the tenancy system
from which developed the practice of caciquism and landlordism, and consequently, usury. The aristocracy of the
“babaknangs” against whom the “kaillanes” rose in revolt in 1762 is apparent. The two sections of the town – one for
the “meztizos” and the other for the “naturales” are still distinct. These practices became prominent during the indigo
boom at the middle of the 19th century. Caciquism, together with landlordism and usury, was the greatest obstacle to
the progress of the province. Ilocos underwent the throes of these practices to be what it is today.

Agrarian Economy

Ilocos Sur’s economy is agrarian, but its 2,647 square kilometers of unfertile land is not enough to support a
population of 338,579.

Such agricultural crops as rice, corn tobacco and fruit trees dominate their farm industries.

Secondary crops are camote and cassava, sugar cane and onions. Gov. Eliseo Quirino in 1952 bolstered the economy
of Ilocos Sur by encouraging the planting of coconut trees and citrus.

The rapidly growing population, the decreasing fertility of the soil, and the long period between the planting and
harvesting season, have forced the people to turn to manufacture and trade. Many Ilocanos go to the Cagayan valley,
Central Plains and Mindanao to sell Ilocano woven cloth.

Weaving is the most extensive handicraft. This is bolstered by the installation of the NDC Textile Mills in Narvacan
which supplies the weavers with yarn. Another factor that favors the industry is the deep-seated conservatism of
many Ilocanos who attach a great sentiment and fondness for the durable striped cloth in woven the native hand
loom. Furthermore, Ex-Gov. Carmeling P. Crisologo encouraged the weaving of native cloth, for which there is a
market in the U.S.

Other industries are burnay and slipper making in Vigan, furniture and statue making in San Vicente, mortar and
pestle making in San Esteban, and bolo making in Santa.
Migration

In the development of Ilocos Sur, the colonizers utilized free labor. Resentment to free labor brought about sporadic
revolts, and those who refused to be slaves and tenants left the region and went to Abra and Cagayan Valley. From
1898 to the first decade of the 20th century, covered ox carts moved to the rich plains of Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija and
Tarlac.

In these travels, the children were amused by the tales of Lamang, Angalo and Aran, Juan Sadot and other legendary
Ilocano characters. Folk songs like “Pamulinawen”, “Manang Biday”, Dungdungwen Kanto Unay, Unay”, and the
Iloko “dal-lot”, to the accompaniment of the “kutibeng” were popularized.

The second phase of Ilocano migration was from 1908 to 1946 when surplus labor hands migrated to the plantations
of Hawaii and the American West Coast. At the height of this migration, the average density of population in Ilocos
Sur was 492 inhabitants per square mile, the most dense in the Philippines then, excluding Manila. The last batch of
labor migration of Hawaii was in 1946 when 7,365 men were recruited by the Department of Labor. Vigan was the
recruiting center. At present, more than seventy percent of the 63,500 Filipinos in Hawaii are Ilocanos.

A contemporary scholar, commenting on the Ilocano migration wrote: “The Ilocano movement has shown the way to
people those vast lands. Without plan, without system, without leadership, without funds, following only the natural
law of expansion, the ilocanos have spread over a considerable portion of the Northern Luzon, Central Plain and
Mindanao. This is the most important contribution of the Ilocanos to the social and economic development of the
Philippines.’

Uneasy peace

The history of Ilocos Sur, from the beginning of the Spanish rule to the first decade of the nineteenth century was
characterized by revolts in protest against tributes and forced labor, as well as the monopolies of some industries.

The best known of these revolts was the Ilocos revolt (1762–1763), better known as Silang’s Revolt. This was
principally a revolt of the masses aimed at the “Babaknangs” and the “alcalde-mayor” of Vigan. After Silang’s
assassination on May 28, 1763, his wife, Josefa Gabriela, continued the fight until she was captured and hanged
publicly on September 20, 1763.

On September 16, 1817, another revolt resulted in protest against the government’s monopoly in the manufacture of
“basi” the native wine. The rebels under the command of Ambaristo were defeated by a contingent of regular troops
and recruits.

On March 25, 1898, Isabelo Abaya started a revolt in Candon and raised a red flag in the town plaza. The historic
"Ikkis ti Candon" was the start of the several revolutions in the Ilocos Region.

Ilocos Sur in the Philippine Revolution, Filipino-American War and World War II
Ilocos Sur, like other provinces in the Philippines, was quick to rally behind Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo in the Philippine
Revolution in 1896. Upon the capture of Vigan, the revolutionists made the Bishop’s Palace, their headquarters. On
March 21, 1898, Don Mariano Acosta of Candon established the provincial revolutionary government in that town.

When General Aguinaldo returned from his exile in Hong Kong to begin the Filipino-American War, he sent General
Manuel Tinio to carry on the guerilla warfare against the Americans. Vigan served as Tinio’s headquarters until its
occupation by the U.S. 45th Infantry under Lt. Col. Parker on Dec. 4, 1899. On the Tirad Pass in Concepcion, east of
Candon, General Gregorio del Pilar, covering the retreat of General Aguinaldo to the Cordilleras and ultimate to
Palawan, died a heroic death on December 2, 1899 in a battle against the American Forces under Major C. March.
With the smoldering embers of the Filipino-American War already dying out, and with the gradual return of peace
and order, a civil government under the Americans was established in Ilocos Sur on September 1, 1901 with Don
Mena Crisologo, a delegate to the Malolos Congress, as the first provincial governor.

About forty years later, another bloody skirmish took place in Vigan, On December 10, 1941, a contingent of Japanese
Imperial Forces landed in Mindoro, Vigan, Santa, and Pandan, Caoayan.

Four years later, the Battle of Bessang Pass in Cervantes, fought between General Yamashita’s forces and the U.S. 21st
Infantry was the climax in the fight for liberation. On April 18, 1945, Ilocos Sur was declared liberated from the
Japanese.

Economic Prosperity

The first half of the 19th century was a economic boom for Ilocos Sur and other Ilocano provinces. It was during this
period when the cotton, tobacco and indigo industries were encouraged by the government. With the operations of
the Real Comapaña de Filipinas, the textile industry was developed on a large scale, and the abolition of the tobacco
monopoly accelerated economic progress. But the invention of chemical dyes put the indigo industry out of the
business scene.

Today, the premier money crop is Virginia leaf tobacco. The windfall was brought about by the Tobacco Subsidy Law
which was authored by the late Congressman Floro Crisologo.

Cultural Heritage

The Ilocos Sur Museum, founded on August 22, 1970, has a sizable collection of cultural treasures to be proud of.
Here, Ilocos Sur art include paintings, centuries-old sculptures and pieces of carved furniture. Here, too, are found
relics of Spanish European and Chinese cultures that had influenced Ilocano life for centuries. These relics show
Ilocos arts not only for their intrinsic and artistic worth, but also as part of a culture influenced by foreigners, and in
turn influencing other regions of the Philippines.

Chapters of Philippine history and religion are found in the Crisologo collections which includes family heirlooms,
centuries –old “santos”, statuettes, ivory images, Vienna furniture, marble-topped tables, ancient-carved beds, rare
Chinese porcelains, jars and jarlettes, lamps, Muslim brass wares, and Spanish and Mexican coins.
The Syquia collections, including the late President Quirino’s memorabilla, vies in quality with the Crisologo
collections. But in the midst of the fire scare in Vigan last year, the relics in the Syquia Mansion were transferred to
Manila for safekeeping.

Recent Trends

Some illustrious Filipino and Ilocanos among whom were Pedro Bukaneg, the Father of Ilocano literature; Diego
Silang, the first Filipino emancipator; Josefa Gabriela Silang, the Filipino Joan of Arc; Dr. Jose Burgos, the Father of
Filipino nationalism; Leona Florentino, the Ilocano poetess; Ventura de los Reyes, the first Filipino delegate to the
Spanish Cortez; Mena Crisologo, the Ilocano Shakespeare; Isabelo de los Reyes, the Father of Filipino socialism and
unionism; Msgr. Pedro Brilliantes, the first Bishop of the Filipino Independent Church; Vicente Singson Encarnacion,
Ilocano millionaire and industrialist, and one of the “seven wise men” of the first constitutional convention; Benito
Soliven, great Ilocano patriot and parliamentarian and Virginia tobacco booster.
The 1960 census list 338,058 people; 64,446 dwelling units of which 2,974 are lighted with electricity; 3227 provided
with radio; 7379 served with pipe water; 25,137 served with artesian and pumped water; and 310 using electricity,
kerosene and gas for cooking Ilocos Sur has 547 public schools including five general high schools, one university, one
agricultural college and 56 private schools, 16 of which are Catholic.

The Provincial Economic Development Council (PEDCO), organized by the first elected lady governor, Hon.
Carmeling P. Crisologo, was a step forward in the economic development of the province. Among the projects
undertaken were on increasing production of corn, rice, vegetables, meat, poultry and fish; improving health and
sanitation through the construction of water-sealed toilets, blind drainage and compost pits; beautifying public plazas
and highways; assisting cottage industries; and constructing and/or repairing roads, brides buildings and irrigation
systems.

Provincial Milestones

Ilocos Sur was founded by the Spanish conquistador, Juan de Salcedo in 1572. It was formed when the north (now
Ilocos Norte) split from the south (Ilocos Sur). At that time it included parts of Abra and the upper half of present-day
La Union. The current boundary of the province was permanently defined by virtue of RA 2973, which was signed in
March 1917.

In 1763, during the British occupation of the Philippines, Ilocos Sur was ruled by the British appointed governor,
Ilocano freedom fighter Diego Silang, until he was shot in the back by Miguel Vicos in Vigan.

On December 2, 1899, the Battle of Tirad Pass happened, where the gallant General Gregorio del Pilar and 60 brave
Filipino defenders died covering the escape of General Emilio Aguinaldo from the Americans.

In 1942, the Japanese Imperial forces occupied the province.

In 1945, the province was liberated from the Japanese with the joint efforts of Filipino & American soldiers including
Ilocano guerrillas. When the Filipino soldiers of the 1st, 2nd, 11th, 12th, 13th, 15th and 16th Infantry Division of the
Philippine Commonwealth Army, 1st Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary and the 15th, 66th and 121st
Infantry Regiment of the United States Armed Forces in the Philippines - Northern Luzon or USAFIP-NL was
beginning the Battle of Bessang Pass and attacking Japanese forces. It included the bloody Battle of Bessang Pass on
June 14, 1945.

The 1970s were dark periods for the province as armed men known as the "saka-saka" (Ilocano, literally "bare-
footed") terrorized the province; and this reign of terror resulted in the famous burning of the barangays of Ora East
and Ora Centro in the municipality of Bantay. This era ended with the rise of Luis "Chavit" Singson to the governor's
seat.