Ilocos Norte — latest news, discussion & facts — IJR

Spanish colonial era

In 1571, the Spanish conquistadors had Manila under their control and they began looking for new sites to conquer. Miguel Lopez de Legazpi's grandson Juan de Salcedo volunteered to lead one of these expeditions. Together with 8 armed boats and 45 men, the 22-year-old voyager headed north. On June 13, 1572, Salcedo and his men landed in present-day Vigan then proceeded to Laoag, Currimao, and Badoc. As they sailed along the coast, they were surprised to see numerous sheltered coves (looc) where the locals lived in harmony. They named the region Ylocos and its people Ylocanos.

As the Christianization of the region grew, so did the landscape of the area. Vast tracts of land were utilized for churches and bell towers in line with the Spanish mission of bajo las campanas. It was not uncommon to see garrisons around the town plaza and under the church bells. Indigenous peoples living in the Ilocos Region, such as the Yapayao and Isneg, were slowly pushed into living in the sparsely populated but resource-rich mountains, which would expose them to conflicts with developers in later eras, such as during Martial Law under Ferdinand Marcos.

Spanish colonization of the region was not completely successful. Owing to the abusive practices of many Augustinian friars, a number of Ilocanos revolted. Noteworthy of these were the Dingras Uprising (1589) and the Pedro Almasan Revolt (San Nicolas, 1660). In 1762, Diego Silang led a series of battles aimed at freeing the Ilocano. When he died from friendly fire, his widow Gabriela continued his cause. Later on, she, too, was captured and executed.

In 1807 the sugar cane (basi) brewers of Piddig rose up in arms to protest the government's monopoly of the wine industry. In 1898, the church excommunicated Gregorio Aglipay for refusing to cut ties with the revolutionary forces of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. Unperturbed, Aglipay nevertheless established the Iglesia Filipina Independiente.

In an effort to gain political control and because of the increasing population of the region, a Royal Decree splitting Ilocos into two provinces - Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur - was signed on February 2, 1818. Soon thereafter, La Union and Abra became independent provinces. The municipality of Bangui was noted to have 5 Spanish-Filipino families.

Martial law era

Ilocos Norte gained additional prominence in December 1965 when Ferdinand Marcos became president, and again when he won a second term in 1969, boosted by debt-driven infrastructure spending that created economic crises and massive social unrest at the beginning of the 1970s. Facing the end of his constitutionally allowed presidential terms, he declared martial law in 1972 and became dictator under a system of constitutional authoritarianism for fourteen more years. His family and cronies were accused of stealing an estimated US$5 billion to US$10 billion during the 1980s, when the Philippine economy sharply declined until Marcos was deposed by the civilian-led People Power Revolution of February 1986.

Various human rights violations were documented in the Ilocos Norte region during the Marcos martial law era, despite public perception that the region was supportive of Marcos' administration. Various farmers from the towns of Vintar, Dumalneg, Solsona, Marcos, and Piddig were documented to have been tortured, and eight farmers in Bangui and three indigenous community members in Vintar were "salvaged" in 1984.

There were also various protests against the Marcos administration at the time, with Aurora Park in the Laoag Plaza being one of the favored places to stage protests. One of the prominent victims of the Martial Law era who came from Laoag was Catholic layperson and social worker Purificacion Pedro, who volunteered in organizations protesting the Chico River Dam Project in the nearby Cordillera Central mountains. Wounded while visiting activist friends in Bataan, she was later killed by Marcos administration soldiers while recuperating in the hospital. Another prominent opponent of the martial law regime was human rights advocate and Bombo Radyo Laoag program host David Bueno, who worked with the Free Legal Assistance Group in Ilocos Norte during the later part of the Marcos administration and the early part of the succeeding Aquino administration. He would later be assassinated by motorcycle-riding men in fatigue uniforms on October 22, 1987 – part of a wave of assassinations that coincided with the 1986–87 coup d'état that tried to unseat the democratic government set up after the 1986 People Power Revolution. Both Bueno and Pedro were later honored among the first 65 people to have their names inscribed on the Wall of Remembrance of the Philippines' Bantayog ng mga Bayani, which honors the martyrs and heroes who fought the dictatorship, and Pedro was listed among Filipino Catholics nominated to be named Servant of God.

Notable people

Gregorio Aglipay – Co-founder and the First Supreme Bishop of the Philippine Independent Church

Roque B. Ablan, Sr. - Filipino lawyer and politician. He served as the Governor of Ilocos Norte from 1937 to 1943.

Roque Ablan, Jr. - Filipino lawyer politician who served as representative from the 1st District of Ilocos Norte.

Rodolfo Fariñas - Filipino lawyer, politician and the former Majority Floor Leader of the House of Representatives of the Philippines and represented the 1st District of Ilocos Norte.

Ria Christina Fariñas - Filipino politician who represented the 1st District of Ilocos Norte in the Philippine House of Representatives from 2019 to 2022.

Mariano R. Nalupta, Jr. - Filipino lawyer and politician. He was Congressman of the 2nd District of Ilocos Norte from 1987 to 1992. He later served as Vice Governor of Ilocos Norte from 1992 to 2001.

Jesus R. Nalupta, Sr. - Filipino lawyer and politician. He served as Mayor of Batac, Ilocos Norte for five terms.

Antonio Raquiza - Filipino lawyer and politician.

Rolando Abadilla - Filipino politician and Philippine Constabulary (PC) officer best known for heading the PC Metropolitan Command's Intelligence and Security Group (METROCOM).

Benjamin C. Acorda, Jr. - Filipino police officer who served as the Chief of the Philippine National Police from April 24, 2023 until his extended forced retirement on March 31, 2024. He was currently the Executive Director of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission.

Ricardo Visaya - Retired Philippine Army general serving as the administrator of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) since 2017. He was the 47th Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from July to December 2016.

Arsenio M. Balisacan - Filipino economist and academic who has served as the first secretary of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development, under President Bongbong Marcos since 2025.

Jacinto Caoili - Poet and author of famous literary works such as 'Pasyon' at 'Urbana at Felisa'.

Saralogo Ambaristo - Tingguian leader of Basi Revolt in 1807.

Anastacia Giron-Tupas - Founder of Philippine Nursing Association

Pedro Mateo - Leader of Basi Revolt in 1807.

Pedro Bukaneg - Poet. He is considered the "Father of Ilocano literature."

Claro Caluya - Foremost vernacular poet and dramatist

Valentín Díaz – Filipino revolutionary and who was among the founders of the Katipunan that started the Philippine Revolution against Spain.

Antonio Luna – Filipino Revolutionary General

Mateo Noriel Luga – Filipino Revolutionary General

Artemio Ricarte – Filipino general during the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine–American War. Considered the "Father of the Philippine Army"

Josefa Llanes Escoda – Feminist, civic leader, social worker, World War II heroine, and suffragette.

Fidel Segundo – Filipino brigadier general and World War II hero.

Juan Luna – Filipino painter and a political activist of the Philippine Revolution during the late 19th century.

Purificacion Pedro – Filipina social worker and Catholic layman who was killed by soldiers under the Marcos dictatorship. Her name is inscribed in the Bantayog ng mga Bayani.

Pedro Almazan - Wealthy leader from the present-day Ilocos Norte, led the first Ilocano revolt. With his effort, the Ilocanos turned out to be the first ethnic group outside Manila to rebel against the Spanish authority.

Soledad Salvador – Filipina religious worker and activist in the Philippines who fought against the Marcos dictatorship. Her name is inscribed in the Bantayog ng mga Bayani.

David Bueno – Filipino human rights lawyer and radio show host during the Marcos dictatorship. His name is inscribed in the Bantayog ng mga Bayani.

Antonio Zumel – Filipino journalist during the Marcos dictatorship. His name is inscribed in the Bantayog ng mga Bayani.

Severino Montano – National Artist of the Philippines for Literature

Ramon Barba – National Scientist of the Philippines for Horticulture

Magdalena Gamayo – inabel weaver and recipient of Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan

Ricarte Puruganan - painter

Ray Albano - Curator, art critic, writer, poet, painter, and scholar who served as museum director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines from 1970 until his death in 1985.

Pedro Flores - Businessman and yo-yo maker who has been credited with popularizing yo-yos in the United States. He patented an innovation to yo-yos that used a loop instead of a knot around the axle, allowing for new tricks such as the ability to "sleep".

Salvador P. Lopez – 10th Secretary of Foreign Affairs, former Chairman of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, and 12th President of the University of the Philippines

Fred Ruiz Castro – 12th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines

Diosdado Peralta – 26th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines

Conchita Carpio-Morales – 5th Ombudsman of the Philippines, and 151st Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines

Rodolfo Biazon - Senator of the Philippines from June 30, 1992, up to June 30, 1995, and from June 30, 1998, up to June 30, 2010

Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel, Jr. - Filipino politician and human rights lawyer during the Marcos Dictatorship, former mayor of Cagayan de Oro from 1980 to 1984

Tomas Fonacier – prominent educator and historian

Santiago Albano Pilar – writer and art historian

Jose Garvida Flores – Ilocano poet and playwright

Niña Ruiz Abad – Filipina Catholic Servant of God

Orlando Quevedo – Filipino Catholic cardinal, and Archbishop Emeritus Archdiocese of Cotabato

Cornelio Balmaceda - Former Secretary of Commerce and Industry in the Philippines.

Santiago Fonacier – 2nd Second Supreme Bishop of the Philippine Independent Church

Roy Cimatu - Secretary of DENR, 2017-2022 and Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, 2002

Teófilo Yldefonso – first Filipino and Southeast Asian to win an Olympic medal, and the first Filipino to win multiple medals.

Felino Palafox - Architect and urban planner. He is the Principal Architect-Urban Planner and Founder of Palafox Associates.

Joven Cuanang - prominent Filipino neurologist, art patron, and cultural advocate, renowned for founding the Pinto Art Museum in Antipolo, which supports local artists and promotes Filipino contemporary art.

Ysabel Ortega - actress

Linabelle Villarica - Filipino politician, Mayor of Meycauayan, Bulacan, wife of Henry Villarica

Marcos family:

Mariano Marcos - Lawyer, educator, and politician.

Ferdinand Marcos - 10th President of the Philippines

Pacifico Marcos - Filipino physician and known younger brother of former President of the Philippines Ferdinand E. Marcos.

Imelda Marcos - Former first lady, widow of Ferdinand Marcos

Bongbong Marcos - 17th President of the Philippines, son of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos

Liza Araneta Marcos - First Lady, wife of Bongbong Marcos

Imee Marcos - senator, daughter of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos

Aimee Marcos - daughter of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos

Sandro Marcos - Congressman, son of Bongbong and Liza Marcos

Michael Marcos Keon - Filipino politician. He served as Mayor of Laoag City from 2019-2025 and Governor of Ilocos Norte from 2007-2010.

Julio Nalundasan - Lawyer and politician. He was first elected as representative of the 2nd district of Ilocos Norte in 1934.

Mans Carpio - Second Gentleman Of The Philippines, lawyer, and husband of Vice-president Sara Duterte

Fabian C. Ver - a former General and Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Ilocos Norte

Ilocos Norte

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History

Early history

Spanish colonial era

Japanese occupation

Philippine independence

Martial law era

Contemporary

Geography

Administrative divisions

Barangays

Demographics

Religion

Languages

Economy

Economic indicators

Products and industries

Bangui Wind Farm

Culture and the arts

Prominent artists

Damili

Inabel

Cuisine

Government

Tourism

Notable people

About Ilocos Norte

About Ilocos Norte

Article

Related journals

Live room · 1 here

Related journals

Article

History

Early history

Spanish colonial era

Japanese occupation

Philippine independence

Martial law era

Contemporary

Geography

Administrative divisions

Barangays

Demographics

Religion

Languages

Economy

Economic indicators

Products and industries

Bangui Wind Farm

Culture and the arts

Prominent artists

Damili

Inabel

Cuisine

Government

Tourism

Notable people