Ilocos Sur
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| Province of Ilocos Sur | |
 Provincial seal of Ilocos Sur |
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 Map of the Philippines with Ilocos Sur highlighted |
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| Region | Ilocos Region (Region I) |
| Capital | Vigan City |
| Divisions | |
| - Independent cities | 0 |
| - Component cities | 2 |
| - Municipalities | 32 |
| - Barangays | 768 |
| - Congressional districts |
1st and 2nd districts of Ilocos Sur |
| Population | |
| - Total (2007) | 632,255 (42nd out of 80) including independent cities: 632,255 (45th out of 80) |
| - Density | 243.5/km² (30th out of 80) including independent cities: 243.5/km² (33rd out of 80) |
| Area | |
| - Total | 2,596.0 km² (54th out of 80) including independent cities: 2,596.0 km² (54th out of 80) |
| Founded | 1572 |
| Spoken languages | Ilocano |
| Governor | Deogracias Victor B. Savellano (Lakas-CMD) |
Ilocos Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region in Luzon. Its capital is Vigan City and borders Ilocos Norte and Abra to the north, Mountain Province to the east, and La Union and Benguet to the south. To the west of Ilocos Sur is the South China Sea.
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[edit] Geography
[edit] Political
Ilocos Sur is subdivided into 32 municipalities and 2 cities.
[edit] Cities
[edit] Municipalities
[edit] Physical
Ilocos Sur is located along the western coast of Northern Luzon. It is bordered by Ilocos Norte to the north, Abra to the northeast, Mountain Province to the east, Benguet to the southeast, La Union to the south, and the China Sea to the west. Its area of 2,579.58 square kilometers occupies about 20.11% of the total land area of Region 1.
The topography of Ilocos Sur is undulating to rolling with elevations ranging from 10 to 1,700 meters above sea level.
[edit] History
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 gradually liberated from the Japanese with the joint efforts of Filipino & American soldiers including Ilocano guerrillas. It included the bloody Battle of Bessang Pass in 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. These dark days ended with the rise of Luis "Chavit" Singson to the governor's seat.
[edit] People and culture
In the 330 pages “The Ilocos Heritage” (the 27th book written by Visitacion de la Torre), the Ilocano legacy and the life of the Ilocano – are described as - "the browbeaten, industrious, cheerful, simple soul who has shown a remarkable strain of bravery and a bit of wanderlust." The Ilocano history reveals his struggles and victories – in battles for colonial independence from Spain and America, to Philippine leadership. The new Ilocano searched for greener pastures towards new lands local and foreign - Palawan, Mindanao, Hawaii, the United States and Greece. The Ilocano material culture and spirituality can be seen in the past - images of Spanish santo (saints), antique but intricate wooden furniture and quality local fiber. 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 the "puki-puki" (eggplant salad). Ilocos Sur, like other provinces in Ilocandia, is filled with colonial churches, a legacy of Spanish Catholicism.[1]
[edit] Tourist Spots
Tourism to the province is driven by airlines like Philippine Airlines and passenger coach bus lines like locally owned Farinas Transit Company and Partas. A direct flight to and from Manila is provided by Interisland Airlines.
- Heritage City of Vigan - inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List, because it houses the most intact example of a Spanish colonial town in Asia. Other spots include pottery making and other forms of cottage industries. It also has hotels built in the "bahay na bato" ("stone house") style. Also located in the city is the residence of Father Jose Burgos, which is open to the public; and the Syquia Mansion, which is the Vigan residence of former President Elpidio Quirino.
- Beaches - most notable Ilocos Sur beaches include those in Cabangtalan (in Sinait, also known as Imelda's Cove), Pug-os (in Cabugao); and the towns of Santa, Santa Maria, Santiago, San Esteban, and Candon.
- Churches - most notable of these churches include the Vigan Cathedral (which is the seat of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia, and where the remains of the Ilocano poet Leona Florentino is interred), Santa Maria Church (which is inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list), and Sinait Church (which houses the miraculous Statue of the Black Nazarene).
- Nature Spots - Scenic spots include the Banaoang River in Bantay (an extension of the Abra River), Pinsal Falls in Santa Maria, and Pikkang Falls in San Juan.
[edit] External links
- Official Website of Ilocos Sur
- Ilocos Sur Tourism
- karitoon.com - Northern Luzon Online Community
- your portal to "HOMETOWN NEWS" of Ilocos Sur
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Coordinates: 17°20′N 120°35′E / 17.333°N 120.583°E
