Coordinates	41°52′55″N87°37′40″N
Name	Region I
Other name	Ilocos Region
Map file	Ph_locator_region_1.png
Island group	Luzon
Center	San Fernando City, La Union
Area km2	13055
Population as of	2007
Population	4545906
Provinces	4
Cities	9
Municipalities	116
Barangays	3,265
Districts	12
Languages	Ilocano, Pangasinan, Bolinao, Tagalog, English }}

The Ilocos region or Region I (Ilokano: ''Rehion ti Ilocos'', or ''Deppaar ti Ilocos'' ; Pangasinan: ''Rihiyon na Sagor na Baybay na Luzon'') of the Philippines is located in the northwestern region portion of Luzon. It is bounded by the Cordillera Administrative Region and Cagayan Valley to the east, Central Luzon to the south and by the South China Sea to the west.

The province of Pangasinan composes 58% of the region's population, 42% of its area and 61% of its economy.

The region is composed of four provinces, namely: Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan. Its regional center is San Fernando City, La Union. The Ilocano speaking people compose 66% of the region, the Pangasinan speaking people compose 27%, and the Tagalogs compose 3%.

Physical

Region I occupies the narrow plain between the Cordillera Central mountain range and the South China Sea. It also occupies 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 a number of islands, including the Hundred Islands National Park. To the north of the region is Luzon Strait.

The Agno river runs through Pangasinan and empties into the Lingayen Gulf. The river flow into a broad delta in the vicinity of Lingayen and Dagupan City.

Demographics

The Ilocos provinces of the Ilocos Region is the historical homeland of the Ilocanos including Former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos. The Ilocanos compose 66% of the region, the Pangasinan people compose 27%, and the Tagalogs compose 3%.

Pangasinan is the historical homeland of the Pangasinenses including Former Philippine President Fidel Ramos. The population of Pangasinan comprises approximately 60% of the total population of the region. The Pangasinenses presently constitute around 50% of the population of the province. The Ilocanos were not originally inhabitants of Pangasinan. They started migrating to Pangasinan in the 19th century. Pangasinan was formerly a province of Region III (Central Luzon), but President Marcos signed Presidential Decree No. 1, 1972, incorporating it into Region I. Minority groups include the Tinggian 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 Christian denominations, 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.

History

Region 1 was first inhabited by the aboriginal Negritos before they were pushed by successive waves of Malay immigrants that penetrated the narrow coast. Tingguians in the interior, Ilocanos in the north, and Pangasinense in the south settled the region.

From the data on the population distribution of Region 1, it is clear that not all the inhabitants are Ilocanos. Around one-third are non-Ilocanos and yet there is a popular misconception that all the inhabitants are Ilocanos. The use of the term Ilocos Region promotes the wrong notion that all the residents of Region 1 are Ilocanos. Before the administration of Ferdinand Marcos, Pangasinan was not a part of the region.

The Spanish arrived in the 16th century and established Christian missions and governmental institutions to control the native population and convert them to the Roman Catholic church. Present-day Vigan City in Ilocos Sur province became the bishopric 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 bubbled to the surface 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 Pangasinenses in the south who were the last to be stand against the Spaniards.

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 Pangasinese 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.

Before the formation of the Cordillera Administrative Region, Region 1 also included the provinces of Abra, Mountain Province, and Benguet. Before Region 1 was modified by Ferdinand Marcos, Pangasinan was not part of the region.

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. At the same time the importance of trading, financial services, and educational services in the economy cannot be denied. 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.

The service and light manufacturing industries are concentrated in the cities. Dagupan City is mostly driven by its local entrepreneurs, which have started to expand its network up to the national level. San Fernando City in La Union also has an active shipping port and Laoag City 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. Opportunities to engage in other water sports and activities abound. Eco-tourism takes advantage of the marine and forest resources in the region and displays the natural beauty of the Region 1.

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

Political Divisions

Region I is composed of 4 provinces, 9 cities, 116 municipalities, and 3265 barangays.

! colspan=2
	Ilocos Norte	Laoag City	547,284	3,399.3	151.3
	Ilocos Sur	Vigan City	632,255	2,579.6	230.3
	La Union		720,972	1,493.1	440.7
	Pangasinan		2,645,395	5,368.2	453.4
	Dagupan City	—	149, 554	37.23	3,427

Component Cities

Alaminos City, Pangasinan

Batac City, Ilocos Norte

Candon City, Ilocos Sur

Laoag City, Ilocos Norte

San Carlos City, Pangasinan

San Fernando City, La Union

Urdaneta City, Pangasinan

Vigan City, Ilocos Sur

Independent Cities

Dagupan City¹, Pangasinan

¹Dagupan City is an independent component city, figures are excluded from Pangasinan province.

Tourist attractions

Ilocos Norte

Marcos Museum

Sinking Belltower, Laoag City

Paoay Lake

Fort Ilocandia Hotel

Paoay Golf Course

Paoay Church

Laoag Cathedral

Aglipay Shrine

Malacanang Of The North

Patapat Bridge

Ilocos Norte Capitol

Cape Bojeador Lighthouse

Bangui Windmills

Ilocos Norte Museum

Juan Luna Shrine

Ricarte Park and Shrine

Badoc Church

Sarrat Church

Dap-ayan, Laoag, Ilocos Norte Food Court and Ilocos Norte Products

La Paz Sandunes, Laoag, Ilocos Norte Fine Sandunes

Robinsons Place Ilocos Norte

Pamulinawen Hotel

Plaza Maestro Complex, Batac City

Ilocos Sur

Hertiage City of Vigan

Vigan Cathedral

Sinait Church (Sanctuary of Santo Cristo Milagroso)

Ilocos Sur Capitol

Santa Maria Church

Pinsal Falls

Bantay Church and Belltower (Sanctuary of Nuestra Senora de La Caridad)

Quirino Bridge in Bantay

Plaza Maestro Complex, Vigan City

Tirad Pass

Sundial in Tagudin

Santiago Cove

Paraiso ni Juan in Narvacan

La Union

La Union Capitol

Pindangan Ruins

La Union Botanical Garden

Wallace Air Station

Thunderbird Resort and Casino

La Union Surfing Capital (San Juan)

Bauang Beach

Poro Point (sea port)

Pangasinan

Hundred Islands

Pangasinan Capitol

The Shrine of Our Lady of Manaoag

San Carlos City Plaza

San Juan River in San Carlos City

Bonuan Blue Beach in Dagupan City

Antong Falls

Cacupangan Cave

Mount Balungao

Manleluag Spring National Park

Sanctuario de Senor Divino Tesoro

Salasa Church

Lingayen Gulf War Museum

Bolinao Museum

Oceanographic Marine Laboratory

Red Arrow Marker of the WWII 32nd US Infantry Division

Rock Garden Resort

Umbrella Rocks

Urduja House

St. John Cathedral Garden

Caves in Bolinao

Boat ride in Pantal River

Provincial Capitol

Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center

Hundred Islands Marine Sanctuary

Tondol Beach

Tambobong White Beach

Blue Beach

Pergola Plaza in Pozorrubio, Pangasinan

See also

Super regions of the Philippines

Metro Dagupan

References

External links

Executive Order No. 561: FORMATION OF THE "SUPER" REGIONS AND MANDATE OF THE SUPERREGIONAL DEVELOPMENT CHAMPIONS

North Luzon Super Region: Potentials

North Luzon Super Region: Projects

Ilocano: Ti Pagsasao ti Amianan

Ilocos Region at WN

NAKEM Centennial Conference

Category:Regions of the Philippines Category:Luzon

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