Ilocos Norte – The Best of Culture and Nature
Ilocos offers tourist a beautiful fusion of history, culture, and natural wonder. From its famous churches, museums, and landmarks, visitors can view the life of the Ilocanos during the Spanish Regime. Its falls and beaches, on the other hand can serve as a sanctuary of tranquility for tourists living the busy life.
The province is also famed as the hometown of former President Ferdinand Marcos, who ruled the country in authoritarian fashion for 22 years. Visitors can also take a glimpse of his life through the museums established in his honor.
Demographics
1. Population - 547,
284 (as of 2007 census)
2. Land Area - 3,399.3 sq. km.
3. Capital - Laoag City
4. Language/Dialect -Ilocano/Iloko, Tagalog, English
5. Divisions
Cities (2)
Municipalities (21)
Paoay Church
Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the church
was built in 1704 and completed in 1894. The cornerstone
bell tower served as the observation post of the Katipuneros
during the Philippine Revolution.
Bagnui-Pagudpud
Beach
The municipalities of Bangui and Pagudpud have a long
stretch of beaches which has become a favorite tourist
destination.
Bangui Wind
Farm
Composed of 15 wind turbines towering at 70 meters tall,
it serves as one of the main power source of Ilocandia.
Delectable
Foods
Tourist can sink their teeth in some of the most famous
cuisines of Ilocandia.
1. Bagnet – local lechon kawali (deep fried pork
skin and meat)
2. Dinengdeng – bagoong or fermented fish sauce
base soup with mixed vegetables
3. Papaitan or Pinapaitan - tamarind and bile flavored
stew of tripes and innards.
Cultural
Juan Luna
Shrine
Location: Badoc, Ilocos Norte
This is the reconstructed residence of the Luna family
that was converted to a museum. Some of Juan Luna’s
paintings can be found here including a reproduction
of his famous work, the Spoliarium.
Marcos Museum
and Mausoleum (Balay Tili)
Location: Batac City, Ilocos Norte
The ancestral house of the Marcos clan has long served
as the keeper of the precious items and embalmed remains
of former President Ferdinand Marcos.
Malacañang
of the North
Location: Paoay, Ilocos Norte
The residence turned museum was the official residence
of former President Ferdinand Marcos in Ilocos during
his presidency. Former President Fidel Ramos also stayed
here whenever he had meetings or events in the north.
Museo Ilocos
Norte
Location: Laoag City, Ilocos Norte
Nicknamed “gameng”, an Ilocano word for
treasure, the museum showcases the varied ethnicity
and multi-faceted cultural heritage of the Ilocano people.
Paoay Church
(St. Augustine Church)
Location: Paoay, Ilocos Norte
Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993,
the church is made from coral blocks and stucco-plastered
bricks. The architectural design is influenced by Baroque,
Oriental, and Gothic.
Historical
Tobacco Monopoly
Monument
Location: Laoag City, Ilocos Norte
The monument was erected in in remembrance of the Tobacco
Monopoly implemented by the Spaniards from 1872 to 1881.
During this time, Filipinos were forced to plant tobacco
to be delivered to and solely sold by the government.
General
Ricarte National Shrine
Location: Batac City, Ilocos Norte
The shrine was built in honor of General Artemio Ricarte,
who is now known as the “Father of the Philippine
Army”. The residents of Batac, his hometown, commemorate
his contributions every July 31, his death anniversary.
Aglipay Shrine
Location: Pinili, Ilocos Norte
A revolutionary figure, Fr. Gregorio Aglipay stood squarely
behind the oppressed people of God when he founded his
protestant sect known as the Filipino Independent Church.
Man-made
Bangiui Wind
Farm
Location: Bangui, Ilocos Norte
Northwind Bangui Bay Project is a 25-megawatt wind power
generation plant, the first wind power plant in the
Philippines and in Southeast Asia. The facility, composed
of 15 wind turbines towering at 70 meters tall, provides
40% of the power requirement for Ilocos Norte.
Sinking
Belltower
Location: Laoag City, Ilocos Norte
Located 85 meters away from St. William Cathedral, the
45 meter high bell tower has sunk to the ground and
leaned slightly to the right. Back then, a man on a
horse can pass through the door freely. Now, tourists
have to stoop down to enter the door.
Cape Bojeador
Lighthouse
Location: Burgos, Ilocos Norte
The lighthouse is one of the oldest and the tallest
in the country. Built in 1892, it still sends out signals
to ships passing by the Cape facing the northern portion
of the South China Sea.
Natural
Bangui – Pagudpud Beaches
Location: Bangui – Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte
The municipalities of Bangui and Pagudpud have a long
stretch of beaches which has become a favorite tourist
destination.
Anuplig
Waterfalls
Location: Adams, Ilocos Norte
Several waterfalls can be found in the municipality
of Adams. Visitors enjoy its cool waters surrounded
by lush greenery. Local guides are trained to guide
tourist in exploring the waterfalls.
Paoay Lake
National Park
Location: Paoay, Ilocos Norte
This 470-hectare landlocked lake was declared as a National
Park under Republic Act 5631 on June 21, 1969. Its environs
have been turned into a sports complex.
Religious
St. William
Cathedral
Location: Laoag City, Ilocos Norte
A chapel of wood and thatch was originally built on
the same site when the Augustinian Friars founded the
parish in 1580. In 1612, the Augustinians built the
Italian Renaissance-inspired church. It is one of the
biggest cathedrals in the country and the seat of the
Diocese of Laoag. The deeply recessed niche shows the
patron saint of the city of Laoag, Saint William the
hermit.
Sta. Monica
Church
Location: Sarrat, Ilocos Norte
This century-old church is of Neo-classical and Baroque
architecture. The church, convent, and bell tower began
construction in 1669 and were completed in 1679. It
features a 137-meter nave that is the longest in the
country, according to the Cultural Center of the Philippines’
Encyclopedia of Philippine Art.
La Virgin
Milagrosa Shrine Of Badoc
Location: Parish of Saint John the Baptist, Badoc, Ilocos
Norte
Estimated to be 400 years old, the revered image of
La Virgen Milagros de Badoc is enshrined and venerated
in the more than 200 year old imposing brick-and-stone
baroque church.
Pamulinawen
Festival
Place: February 4 - 10
Date: Laoag City, Ilocos Norte
It coincides with the feast day of St. William the Hermit,
the patron of Laoag City. Highlights of event include
the Dulang Food Festival, a showcase of Laoagueños
cuisine; street pageantry; Calesa Festival, Komedya
Ilocano; Balikbayan Night; and beauty pageant.
Guling-Guling
Festival
Place: Paoay, Ilocos Norte
Date: Tuesday before Ash Wednesday
Locals are dressed with their Ilocano costumes and dance
and sing around the town while given the sign of the
cross made from pounded rice grains. The Ilocano word
“guling” means to mark or smear.
Damili Festival
Place: San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte
Date: December 25
Celebrated at a festivity in honor of the local industry
of pottery. Damili is a red variety of clay used by
the locals to create pots and damili tiles.
Magdadaran
:Talip Festival
Place: Adams and Carrasi, Ilocos Norte
This is to remember the peace treaty between Itneg ethnic
tribes settling at Ilocandia. Highlights of the celebration
include the “panagtagnawa” rites, an indigenous
sports competition, a native food cook fest, dance-drama
contests, and beauty pageant.