The Ilocos Region (Ilokano: Rehion/Deppaar ti Ilocos; Pangasinan: Sagor na Baybay na Luzon; Filipino:

Rehiyon ng Ilocos) is an administrative region of the Philippines, designated as Region I, occupying the
northwestern section of Luzon. It is bordered by the Cordillera Administrative Region to the east, the
Cagayan Valley to the northeast and southeast, and the Central Luzon to the south. To the west lies the
South China Sea.

The region comprises four provinces: Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan. Its regional
center is San Fernando, La Union. The 2000 Census reported that the major languages spoken in the
region are Ilocano at 66.36% of the total population at that time, Pangasinan with 27.05%, and Tagalog
with 3.21%.[2]

Contents

1 History

2 Geography

2.1 Administrative divisions

3 Economy

4 Demographics

5 Notable people from the region

6 See also

7 References

8 External links

History

The region was first inhabited by the aboriginal Negritos, before they were pushed by successive waves
of Austronesian immigrants that penetrated the narrow coast. Tingguians in the interior, Ilocanos in the
north, Pangasinans in the south, and Zambals in the southwestern most areas settled the region. Before
the administration of Ferdinand Marcos, Pangasinan was not a part of the region.[3]

The Spanish arrived in the 16th century and established Christian missions and governmental institutions
to control the native population and convert them to Catholicism. Present-day Vigan in Ilocos Sur
province became the diocesan seat of Nueva Segovia. Ilocanos in the northern parts were less easily
swayed, however, and remained an area filled with deep resentments against Spain. These resentments
surfaced at various points in the Ilocos provinces' history as insurrections, most notably that of Andres
Malong and Palaris of Pangasinan, Diego Silang and his wife Gabriela Silang in 1764, and the Basi Revolt
in the 19th century. However, it was the Pangasinans in the south who were the last to stand against the
Spaniards.[4]

In 1901, the region came under American colonial rule, and in 1941, under Japanese occupation.

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.

Several modern presidents of the Republic of the Philippines hailed from the Region: Elpidio Quirino,
Ferdinand Marcos, and Fidel V. Ramos. 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. He also included Abra, Mountain
Province, and Benguet in the Ilocos region in a bid to expand Ilokano influence amongst the ethnic
peoples of the Cordilleras.[5]

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

Geography

The Ilocos Region occupies the narrow plain between the Cordillera Central mountain range and the
South China Sea, and the northern portion of the Central Luzon plain, to the north-east of the Zambales
Mountains.

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

Administrative divisions

Political Map of Ilocos Region

The Ilocos Region comprises 4 provinces, 1 independent component city, 8 component cities, 116
municipalities, and 3,265 barangays.[6]

Province Capital Population (2015)[1] Area[7] Density Cities Muni. Bgy.

km2 sq mi /km2 /sq mi

Ilocos Norte Laoag 11.8% 593,081 3,467.89 1,338.96 170 440 2

21 557

Ilocos Sur Vigan 13.7% 689,668 2,596.00 1,002.32 270 700 2

32 768

La Union San Fernando 15.7% 786,653 1,497.70 578.27 530 1,400 1

19 576

Pangasinan Lingayen 58.8% 2,956,726 5,451.01 2,104.65 540 1,400

4 44 1,364

Total 5,026,128 13,012.60 5,024.19 390 1,000 9 116 3,265

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

City/Municipality Population (2015)[1] Area[8] Density Class Income class Province

km2 sq mi /km2 /sq mi

Economy

Although the economy in the southern portion of the region, esp. Pangasinan, is anchored on agro-
industrial and service industry, the economy in the northern portion of the region is anchored in the
agricultural sector. The economy in Pangasinan is driven by agro-industrial 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.[9]

The service and light manufacturing industries are concentrated in the cities. Dagupan is mostly driven
by its local entrepreneurs, which have started to expand its network up to the national level. San
Fernando in La Union also has an international shipping port and the upgraded and soon to be
developed San Fernando International Airport. While Laoag in Ilocos Norte has an international airport.
The tourism industry, driven by local airlines and land transportation firms in the area like Farinas Transit
Company and Partas, focuses on the coastal beaches and on eco-tourism. There are fine sands stretching
along Bauang, La Union and the rest of the region.[citation needed]

The region is also rich in crafts, with renowned blanket-weaving and pottery.[citation needed] The
Ilocanos' burnay pottery is well known for its dark colored clay.[citation needed]

Demographics

Population census of

Ilocos Region

Year Pop. ±% p.a.

1990 3,550,642 —

2000 4,200,478 +1.69%

2010 4,748,372 +1.23%

2015 5,026,128 +1.09%

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[10]

The Ilocos provinces are the historical homeland of the Ilocanos. In the 2000 Census, the Ilocanos
comprised 66% of the region, Pangasinan people 27%, and the Tagalogs 3%.[2]

Pangasinan is the historical homeland of the Pangasinans. The population of Pangasinan comprises
approximately 60% of the total population of the region. The Ilocanos started migrating to Pangasinan in
the 19th century.[11] Pangasinan was formerly a province of Region III (Central Luzon) before President
Marcos signed Presidential Decree No. 1, 1972, incorporating it into Region I. Minority groups include
the Tingguian and Isneg communities that inhabit the foothills of the Cordillera mountains.

The population is predominantly Roman Catholic with strong adherents of Protestantism such as the
Aglipayan denomination further north of the country. There are also adherents to other religions, such
as Iglesia ni Cristo, Mormons, and the like. There is also an undercurrent of traditional animistic beliefs
especially in rural areas. The small mercantile Chinese and Indian communities are primarily Buddhists,
Taoists, and Hindus.[citation needed]
Notable people from the region

José Burgos, one of the Gomburza martyrs during the Spanish Occupation

Ferdinand Marcos, tenth President of the Philippines

Elpidio Quirino, sixth President of the Philippines

Fidel V. Ramos, twelfth President of the Philippines

Artemio Ricarte, Filipino general during the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine–American War

Diego Silang, male revolutionary leader during the Spanish Occupation

Gabriela Silang, female revolutionary leader during the Spanish Occupation