REGION 1 PROVINCES

Region 1 is composed of 4 provinces, 116 municipalities and 3265 barangays.

PROVINCE
ILOCOS NORTE
Capital: Laoag City
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, empanada, 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
 Tourism
 Pottery
Products: Soft Broom, Basi Wine, Rice Wine, Garlic, Coffee Rice, Empanada, Pottery, Duhat
Wine, Kakanin or Native Delicacies, Rice Cracker, Wood Furniture, Dried Mangoes, Handicraft,
Shellcraft, Chichacorn or Cornick, Sugarcane Vinegar, Honey.

Cultures and Traditions:

Bain is the Ilocano trait for hiya or amor propio (sense of shame). Ilocanos fear of gossip and
would strongly avoid being envied by others.
It is essential to show panagdayaw (respect for sensitivities of others). Ilocanos tend to speak
about themselves in the humblest of terms.
Wedding Tradition: The groom makes panagpudno (formal announcement) to the soon-to-be
bride’s parents about his intention of marrying their daughter. His parents will then visit the
bride’s parents to set the wedding date. Usually, parents consult a planetario, which is like an
almanac that identifies “lucky” days. Another highlight of the feast is the bitor wherein guests
contribute cash to the newly weds either by dropping money onto plates oy by pinning bills to
the couple’s clothes.
Death Tradition: To announce a death of a family member, a piece of atong wood is lit in front
of the deceased’s house. It is kept burning until after the burial. The fire is extinguished with
white wine. Before the funeral, relatives pay respect by kissing the deceased hands or raising it
to his/her forehead (mano). Those who attended the burial in the cemetery must return to the
deceased’s home by taking a different route from the one they’ve taken to get there. Upon
arrival, they must wash their faces and hands. It is said to remove the power of death.

Festivals:
Pamulinawen Festival, Laoag City, February 10- A floral parade and street dancing festival.
Guling-Guling Festival, Paoay, Eve of Ash Wednesday- Residents, dressed in their Ilocano
costume adorned with antique jewelries, dance and sing around town while being blessed
with the Sign of the Cross using pounded rice instead of gray ash.
December Festival, Laoag City- Highlighted by the lantern parade and décor competition
ending in Palarong Pamasko.
Farmer’s Festival, Bacarra- This festival highlights a street dance parade participated by
dressed up farmers with their products, agro-industrial, trade fair, contest of the biggest farm
harvest and livestock and “pinaka” contests of agro products.
Tourist Spots:

Figure 1 Pasuquin, Biscocho, Salt Making Figure 2 Bangui Windmills

Figure 1 Burgos, Cape Bojeador Lighthouse Figure 4 Pagudpud Beach Figure 5 Patapat Bridge

Figure 6 Bacarra Church Figure 7 Malacanang of the North

ILOCOS SUR
Capital: Vigan City
Economy: 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 “poqui-poqui” (eggplant salad)

The first half of the 19th century was an 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 Compañía 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, authored by Congressman Floro Crisólogo.

The 1970s were a dark period 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.

Products: Rice, Corn, Sugarcane, Cassava, Coconut, Garlic, Blanket Weaving, Basketry, Shell Craft, Broom
Making, Pottery Making, Wine and Vinegar Making, Jewelry Making, Wood and Stone Craft, Among others Jars and
Antiques can be bought in Vigan.

Festivals:
Sinait Garlic Festival- It happens during the 1st to 3rd of May that showcase the talent, ingenuity and hard work trait
of Ilocano.
Viva Vigan Festival- Every first week of May, Vigan featuring painting and product exhibits, a Calesa parade, and
other cultural activities.
Longaniza Festival- held every January 22 features the “longest longaniza” with the hope of entering to the Guiness
Book of Records as the Longest Longaniza of the world.
Pinakbet Festival, Ilocos Sur Philippines- A festival celebrating a favorite dish of the Ilocanos, “pinakbet” featuring
street dances, cooking competitions.
Tabako Festival- Celebrated every last week of March in Candon City, as thanksgiving for the city’s bountiful harvest
of tobacco.
TOURIST SPOTS

Figure 1 Vigan Heritage Village Figure 2 Baluarte Zoo

Figure 2 Vitalis Villas Santiago Ilocos Sur

LA UNION

Capital: San Fernando

The City of San Fernando is situated in the mountainous area at almost the mid-section of La Union
along the China Sea. It was founded in 1786 and made the ‘’cabecera” or provincial capital on the
same day that La Union became province in 1850. The City of San Fernando is now the seat of
national government agencies in Region I and center of trade, commerce, financial and educational
institutions, among others.

Products: Agoo Mushroom, Aringay Bangus, Bacnotan Honey, Bagulin Softbroom, Balaoan Sea
Urchin, Bauang Grape Farm, San Juan Pottery, Sto. Tomas Daing, Tubao Corn, Coconut, Pebble
Stone.

Festivals:
Dinengdeng Festival
This is a festival associated with the much-loved Ilocano Culinary dish that is famous like pinakbet
and bagnet. Every Ilocano family has its own version of whipping up various kinds of dinengdeng
dishes where culinary enthusiasts and food lovers are welcome to join in on the fun. Dinengdeng, one
of the most popular of Ilocano dishes, will be cooked in a big clay pot with competitors creating their
best version of it. This festival highlights the Ilocano dish that is most popular and highly economical
in the place. The town holds the annual Dinengdeng festival because of the abundance of ingredients
found in the province.
Feast of Our Lady of Caysasay
The Filipino-Chinese community in San Fernando celebrates yearly the Feast of Our Lady by bringing
the original statue coming from Taal, Batangas to the temple for the weeklong activities that will
usually happen on the second week of September. It is indeed a unique experience to witness the
strong cultural influence in the area. Each and every devotee along with the Filipino-Chinese
community in San Fernando City gather for the annual pilgrimage of Our Lady of Caysasay from the
Ma-cho Taoist Temple to the Basilica of St. Martin in Taal.
Tabacco Festival
This is a celebration where it genuinely promotes the resilience and hardship of the Ilocano farmers.
This native crop has been strongly embedded in the area’s culture and heritage. Because of this,
Tobacco festival is annually celebrated in the city, which produces the biggest volume in the whole
country. The area of Tubao, La Union takes pride to its beautiful harvest of tobacco cigars, where
local and foreign tourists would undoubtedly enjoy the fun and colorful celebration. The city officials in
the area might be one against smoking but not the production of it because tobacco is the main
livelihood of the people here.
Baggak Festival
Every month of April, the town of Bauang, La Union comes alive to stage this colorful festival.
Typically, “Baggak” means “morning star,” and stands for the dawning of a new day for Bauang.
During this event, it portrays the Ilocano spirit of unity and diversity of culture. This is also a suitable
occasion and tribute to welcome and socialize with the balikbayan. Bauangenians are going all out in
their costumes as they celebrate the Baggak (morning star) festival that is celebrated annually for the
past years. Each year, there will be a new theme for the festival’s anniversary.
Pinadangan Festival
During the Pindangan Festival, students from the elementary, secondary and tertiary levels, along
with the different barangays and organizations in the city set foot to show off their best street dance
steps and display their colorful costumes. Children show off their bright attires with a smile as they
parade during the street dancing competition. The annual street dancing competition among the
residents and students from various schools and barangays in the City of San Fernando is already a
part of the big celebration of the town every month of March.
Sillag Festival
Sillag is an Ilocano word that means “illumination from the moon.” The two or three-day event
features light-inspired activities such as a ceremonial lighting of Sillag Village, a musical show, and
lantern parade. Several events are also organized to draw the attention of tourists and potential
investors to let the locals experience the fun of summer. The event may include a variety of food fest,
live music, children’s activities and fireworks display that you’ll love. There will also be food, drinks,
music shows, and dance performance during the event. And to make it more exciting, concerts of
local and national bands will rock you in the evening.

TOURISTS SPOTS

Figure 1 Grapes Farm Figure 2 Tangadan Falls

 Figure 3 San Juan Beach Figure 4 Flotsam and Jetsam

PANGASINAN
Capital: Lingayen

The term Pangasinan means “land of salt” or “place where salt is made” from the root word asin meaning salt
in the native language, and the prefix “pang” and the suffix “an” meaning place. The term was derived from
one of the main occupations of the people in the coastal villages which was, and still is, that of making salt
from sea water through the process of solar evaporation in well-laid-out beds salt.

People and Culture: About half of the people of Pangasinan are Pangasinenses – a distinct ethnolinguistic
group found along the central coast and interior plains of the province. The rest of the province’s people are
descendants and western parts of Pangasinan. In the vicinity of Bolinao, about 30, 000 people speak of
Sambal-Bolinao. The pangasinenses are also noted for their industry and their enterprise. Buri hat making, mat
weaving, wooden shoe manufacture, brick amd pottery making and metalcraft are among the traditional
industries that continue to thrive in Pangasinan. Lingayen was once the primary center of commence in the
province and had a thriving Chinese community to direct its trade. Industries such asa bakeshops, soap trade
and candle making, and the manufacture of shoes and slippers are centered in the town.