History
Before the coming of the Spaniards, the coastal plains in northwestern Luzon, stretching from Bangui (Ilocos Norte) in the north toNamacpacan (Luna, La Union) in the south, were as a whole known as a progressive region called theYlokos. This region lies in between the China Sea in the west and Northern Cordilleras on the east. The inhabitants built their villages near the small bays on coves called“looc” in the dialect. These coastal inhabitants were referred to as “Ylocos” which literally meant “from the lowlands”. The entire region was then called by the ancient name “Samtoy” from “sao ditoy” which in Ilokano mean “our dialect”. The region was later called by the Spaniards as “Ylocos” or “Ilocos” and its people “Ilocanos”. The Ilocos Region was already a thriving, fairly advanced cluster of towns and settlements familiar to Chinese, Japanese and Malay traders when the Spaniard explorer Don Juan de Salcedo and members of his expedition arrived in Vigan on June 13, 1572. Forthwith, they made Cabigbigaan (Bigan), the heart of the Ylokos settlement their headquarters which Salcedo called “Villa Fernandina” and which eventually gained fame as the “Intramuros of Ilocandia”. Salcedo declared the whole Northern Luzon as an encomienda. Subsequently, he became the encomendero of Vigan and Lieutenant Governor of the Ylokos until his death in July 1574. Augustinian missionaries joined the military forces in conquering the region through evangelization. They established parishes and built churches that still stand today. Three centuries later, Vigan became the seat of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia. A royal decree of February 2, 1818 separated Ilocos Norte from Ilocos Sur, the latter to include the northern part of La Union (as far as Namacpacan, now Luna) and all of what is now the province of Abra. The sub-provinces of Lepanto and Amburayan in Mt. Province wqre annexed to Iqocos Sur. The pqssage of Act 2u83 by the Philippine Legislature in March 1917 defined the present geographical boundary of the province. The names of famous men and women of Ilocos Sur stand in bold relief in Philippine history. Pedro Bukaneg is the Father of Iluko Literature. Isabelo de los Reyes will always be remembered as the Father of the Filipino Labor Movement. His wife, Leona Florentino was the most outstanding Filipino woman writer of the Spanish era. Vicente Singson Encarnacion, an exemplary statesman, was also a noted authority on business and industry.
Municipalities and Cities
Ilocos Sur Province is composed of 2 cities and 32 municipalities. The area is divided in two districts.
1st district
1. Bantay
Bantay is a 4th class municipality located in mid-central Ilocos Sur. A landlocked town, it is bounded on the north by San Ildefonso and Santo Domingo, on the east by Abra Province, on the south by the town of Santa, and on the west by Vigan City. It has a total land area of 76.6 square kilometers and is politically subdivided into 34 barangays.
The town is situated 406 kilometers north of Manila. It is traversed by the MaharlikaHighway which is the main road going to the north from Metro Manila. Topography is mainly hilly and mountainous with small patches of lowland.
2.Cabugao
Located in the northern coast of Ilocos Sur, Cabugao is a 2nd class municipality. It is bounded on the north by Sinait, on the east by Ilocos Norte Province, on the south by San Juan, and on the west by South China Sea. It has a total land area of 95.5 square kilometers and is politically subdivided into 33 barangays.
The town is situuted 432 kilometers north of Manila and 24 kilometers north of Vigan City, the provincial capital.
3. Caoayan
Located in the central coast of Ilocos Sur Province, Caoayan is a 5th class municipality. It is bounded on the north by Vigan City, on the southeast by Santa, and on the southwest by the South China Sea. It has a total land area of 17.4 square kilometers and is politically subdivided into 17 barangays.
The town is the birthplace of the former President Elpidio Quirino.
4. Magsingal
Magsingal is a 3rd class municipality located in the northern coastal area of Ilocos Sur Province. It is bounded on the north by San Juan, on the east by Abra Province, on the south by Santo Domingo, and on the west by South China Sea. It has a total land area of 85square kilometers and is politically subdivided into 30 barangays.
The town is situated 419 kilometers north of Manila and 11 kilometers north of Vigan City, the provincial capital.
5. San ildefonso
San Ildefonso is a 5th class municipality located in northern Ilocos Sur Ptovince. It is bounded on the north by Santo Domingo, on the east by Bantay, on the south by Vigan City, and on the west by San Vicente. It has a total land area of 11 sqaure kilometers and is politically subdivided into 15 barangays.
The town is situated 411 kilometers north of Manila and 3.5 kilometers north of Vigan City, the provincial capital.
6. San Juan
Located in the northern coastal area of Ilocos Sur, San Juan is bounded on the north by Cabugao, on the east by Abra Province, on the south by Magsingal, and on the west by South China Sea. It is a 4th class municipality. It has a total land area of 64 sqaure kilometers and is politically subdivided into 32 barangays.
The town is situated 426 kilometers north of Manila and 18 kilometers north of Vigan City, the provincial capital.
7. San Vicente
San Vicente is a 4th class municipality located in the northern coast of Ilocos Sur. It is bounded on the north by Santo Domingo, on the east by San Ildefonso, on the south by Santa Catalina, and on the west by South China Sea. It has a total land area of 12 squarekilometers and is politically subdivided into 7 barangays.
The town is situated 410 kilometers north of Manila.
8. Santa Catalina
Santa Catalina is a 5th class municipality located in the northern coast of Ilocos Sur. It is bounded on the north by San Vicente, on the southeast by Vigan City, and on the west by South China Sea. It has a total land area of 9 square kilometers and is politically subdivided into 9 barangays.
9. Sto. Domingo
Santo Domingo is a 4th class municipality located in the northern coast of Ilocos Sur Province. It is bounded on the north by Magsingal, on the east by Bantay, on the south by San Ildefonso and Santa Catalina, and on the west by South China Sea. It has a total land area of 55.4 square kilometers and is politically subdivided into 36 barangays.
10. Sinait
Sinait is a 3rd class municipality located in the northernmost part of Ilocos Sur Province. It is bounded on the north and east by Ilocos Norte Province, on the south by Cabugao, and on the west by South China Sea. It has a total land area of 65.5 square kilometers and is politically subdivided into 44 barangays.
The town is situated 441 kilometers north of Manila and 33 kilometers north of Vigan City, the provincial capital.
11. Vigan City
Vigan is located on the mid-section of the northwestern coast of Luzon Island within the province of Ilocos Sur. It is bounded on the north by the town of Bantay, on the east by Santa, on the south by Caoayan, and on the west by South China Sea and the town of Sta. Catalina. Vigan has a total land areaof 25.1 square kilometers which is as big as Manila. It is politically subdivided into 39 barangays most of which are considered rural areas. Situated 407 kilometers north of Manila, Vigan can be reached in 8 hours by busqpassing throughuthe Maharlika&ubsp;Highway. Thu city has a secondary airport called Mindoro Airport but only chartered planes are using it. It is a coastal city but no seaport.
Inscribed in UNESCO's World Heritage List, the city is one of the country's prime touristdestinations. Vigan Heritage Village is the most photographed part of the city and of Ilocos Sur. Back in the 18th and 19th Centuries, Vigan was the pre-eminent town in the north. It had a robust economy then due to the tobacco monopoly and with it, came political power. Testimony to this glorious past are the century-old stone houses.
In terms of population, Vigan has one of the least number of residents among the all the cities in the Philippines. Ilocano is the primary dialect of the people in Vigan. The dominant religion is Roman Catholicism. Viva Vigan Festival is celebrated every first week of May.
The city is the trading hub of the province but agriculture is still the mainstay of the local economy. Main farm products include rice, tobacco, rootcrops, vegetables, livestock and poultry. Fishing is an important source of income especially in the coastal area. Fishponds are also sources of fish supply for the city. Vigan is well-known for its jars called burnay. It has a long tradition of making bricks called Damili. These materials were used to build the colonial houses and churches not only in the city but also in the region. Another popular cottage industry is the Abel-weaving from which fine fabrics are produced. Prominent personalities in the city and province are helping in the revival of this industry. With much help from the government, tourism is now playing an increasing role in the economy of the city.
District 2
1. Alilem
Alilem is a 4th class municipality located in southern Ilocos Sur.It is bounded on the north by the town of Suyo, on the east by Benguet Province, on the south by Sugpon Municipality, and on the west by La Union Province. It has a total land area of 119 square kilometers and is politically subdivided into 9 barangays.
2. Banayoyo
Banayoyo is a 5th class municipality located in southern Ilocos Sur. A landlocked town,it is bounded on the northwest by Santiago, on the east by Lidlidda, and on the south by Candon City. It has a total land area of 24.6 square kilometers and is politically subdivided into 14 barangays.
3. Burgos
Burgos is a 4th class municipality located in the central part of Ilocos Sur. A landlocked town, it is bounded on the north by Santa Maria, on the east by Abra Province, on the south by San Emilio and Lidlidda, and on the west by Santiago and San Esteban. It has a total land area of 44.3 square kilometers and is politically subdivided into 26 barangays.
4. Cervantes
Considered as the Summer capital of Ilocos Sur, Cervantes is a 4th class municipality located in the southeastern part of the Province. It is bounded on the north by Quirino Town, on the east by Mountain Province, on the south by Benguet Province, and on the west by the towns of Suyo and Sigay. It has a total land area of 234.7 square kilometers and is politically subdivided into 13 barangays.
The town is Ilocos Sur's gateway to Mountain Province. Topography is characterized by valleys, hills, and high mountains.
5. Galimuyod
Galimuyod is a 4th class municipality located in the central part of Ilocos Sur Province. It is bounded on the north, west, and south by Candon City and on the east by the municipality of Salcedo. It has a total land area of 34 square kilometers and is politically subdivided into 24 barangays.
6. Gregorio Del. Pilar
Gregorio del Pilar is a 5th class municipality located in the heart of southern Ilocos Sur Province. It is bounded on the north by San Emilio, on the east by Quirino, on the south by Sigay, and on the west by Salcedo. It has a total land area of 41.6 square kilometers and is politically subdivided into 7 barangays.
7. Lidlidda
Lidlidda is a 5th class municipality located in the central part of southern Ilocos Sur Province. It is bounded on the north by thr town of Burgos, on the east by San Rmilio, on the south by Banayoyo, and on the west by Santiago. It has a total land area of 33.8 squarekilometers and is politically subdivided into 11 barangays.
8. Nagbukel
Nagbukel is a 5th class municipality located in the central part of Ilocos Sur Province. It is bounded on the north, west, and south by the municipality of Narvacan and on the east by Abra Province. It has a total land area of 43 square kilometers and is politically subdivided into 12 barangays.
9. Narvacan
Narvacan is a 2nd class municipality located in central coast of Ilocos Sur Province, around 375 kilometers north of Manila. It is bounded on the north by Santa and Abra Province, on the east by Nagbukel, on the south by Santa Maria, and on the west by South China Sea. It has a total land area of 122 square kilometers and is politically subdivided into 34 barangays.
10. Quirino
Quirino is a 4th class municipality located in the southeastern part of Ilocos Sur Province. It is bounded on the north by San Emilio town and Abra Province, on the east by Mountain Province, on the south by the town of Cervantes, and on the west by Gregorio del Pilar town. It has a total land area of 240 sqaure kilometers and is politically subdivided into 9 barangays.
11. Salcedo
Salcedo is a 4th class municipality located in southern Ilocos Sur Province. It is bounded on the north by Galimuyod, on the east by the town of Gregorio del Pilar, on the south by Sta. Cruz, and on the west by Sta. Lucia and Candon City. It has a total land area of 103 sqaure kilometers and is politically subdivided into 21 barangays.
12. San Emilio
San Emilio is a 4th class municipality located in mid-eastern part of Ilocos Sur Province. It is bounded on the northeast by Abra Province, on the south by Gregorio del Pilar town and Quirino, and on the west by Candon City, Lidlidda and Burgos. It has a total land area of 141 sqaure kilometers and is politically subdivided into 8 barangays.
13. San Esteban
San Esteban is a 5th class municipality located in central coast of Ilocos Sur Province. It is bounded on the north by Santa maria, on the east by Burgos, on the south by Santiago, and on the west by South China Sea. It has a total land area of 19 square kilometers and is politically subdivided into 10 barangays.
The town is situated 363 kilometers north of Manila and 45 kilometers south of Vigan City, the provincial capital.
14. Santa
Santa is a 4th class municipality located in the central coast of Ilocos Sur Province. It is bounded on the north by Caoayan and Bantay, on the east by Abra Province, on the south by Natvacan, and on the west by South China Sea. It has a total land area of 109 square kilometers and is politically subdivided into 26 barangays.
The town is situated 366 kilometers north of Manila and 41 kilometers south of Vigan City, the provincial capital
15. Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz is a 3rd class municipality located on the southern coast of Ilocos Sur Province. It is bounded on the north by Santa Lucia, on the east by the municipalities of Sigay and Suyo, on the south by Tagudin, and on the west by South China Sea. It has a total land area of 88 square kilometers and is politically subdivided into 49 barangays.
The town is situated 334 kilometers north of Manila and 73 kilometers south of Vigan City, the provincial capital.
16. Santa
Lucia
Santa Lucia is a 3rd class municipality located on the southern coastal area of Ilocos Sur Province. It is bounded on the north by Candon City, on the east by Salcedo, on the south bySanta Cruz, and on the west by South China Sea. It has a total land area of 49.7 square kilometers and is politically subdivided into 36 barangays.
The town is situated 337 kilometers north of Manila and 70 kilometers south of Vigan City, the provincial capital.
17. Santa
Maria
Santa Maria is a 3rd class municipality located in the central coast of Ilocos Sur Province. It is bounded on the north by Narvacan, on the east by Abra Province, on the south by Burgos and San Esteban, and on the west by South China Sea. It has a total land area of 63 square kilometers and is politically subdivided into 33 barangays. Topography consist of naroow coastal plains, rolling hills and mountains.
The town is situated 369 kilometers north of Manila and 38 kilometers south of Vigan City, the provincial capital.
18. Santiago
Santiago is a 5th class municipality located in the central coast of Ilocos Sur Province. It is bounded on the north by San Esteban, on the east by Burgos, Lidlidda, and Banayoyo, on the south by Candon City, and on the west by South China Sea. It has a total land area of 74.5 square kilometers and is politically subdivided into 24 barangays.
The town is situated 358 kilometers north of Manila and 49 kilometers south of Vigan City, the provincial capital.
19. Sigay
Sigay is a 5th class municipality located in southern Ilocos Sur Province. It is bounded on the north by the town of Gregorio del Pilar, on the east by Cervantes, on the south by Suyo, and on the west by Sabta Cruz. It has a total land area of 81.5 square kilometers and is politically subdivided into 7 barangays.
20. Sugpon
Sugpon is a 5th class municipality located in the southern part of Ilocos Sur Province. It is bounded on the north by Alilem, on the east by Benguet Province, on the southwest by La Union Province. It has a total land area of 57 square kilometers and is politically subdivided into 6 barangays.
21. Suyo
Suyo is a 4th class municipality located in southern Ilocos Sur Province. It is bounded on the north by Sigay, on the east by Cervantes, on the south by Alilem, and on the west by Tagudin and Santa Cruz. It has a total land area of 124 square kilometers and is politically subdivided into 8 barangays.
22. Tagudin
Tagudin is a 3rd class municipality located in the southern coast of Ilocos Sur Province. It is bounded on the north by Santa Cruz, on the east by Suyo and Alilem, on the south by La Union Province, and on the west by South China Sea. It has a total land area of 151 square kilometers and is politically subdivided into 43 barangays.
The town is situated 317 kilometers north of Manila and 90 kilometers south of Vigan City, the provincial capital.
23. Candon
City
The city of Candon is strategically located midway along the northwestern coast of Luzon Island within the province of Ilocos Sur. It is bounded on the north by the town of Banayoyo, on the east by Galimuyod, on the south by Sta. Lucia, and on the west by Luzon Sea which is part of South China Sea. It is located 348 kilometers north of Manila and 62 kilometers south of Vigan City, the provincial capital. It is accessible by land transportation using the MaharlikaHighway. From the city, there is a road going to the interior part of Ilocos Sur.
Candon has a total land area of 103.2 square kilometers subdivided into 42 barangays. Interms of population, Candon has one of the smallest number of residents among the cities in the country. Ilocano is the common language spoken but Filipino and English are widely used. Most of the residents are Christians, majority of them belong to the RomanCatholic Church.
The economy of the city is based mainly on agriculture and the retail of consumer goods. Main farm products are rice, tobacco, coconaut, rootcrops, vegetables, livestock, and poultry. Those in the coastal areas are mostly subsistence fishermen. Manufacturing industries are still being developed. There are 2 tobacco processing plant, a small feed mill, and a government-operated construction board plant. Small enterprises are engaged in food processing such as production of calamay, cornick, ice-cream, dried or salted fish, and other native delicacies. Other cottage industries produce handicrafts, salt, and metalworks.
