Region 1 - Ilocos Region

Pangasinan (capital: Lingayen)

Has an area of 5,368.82 square kilometers. its boundaries are Lingayen Gulf, La Union, Benguet on the north; Nueva Vizcaya on the northeast; Nueva Ecija on the east; Tarlac on the south; and Zambales and the south China Sea on the west.

Geographic Profile

Pangasinan goes through two pronounced seasons -- dry from november to april and wet during the rest of the year. The western coastal minucipalities are dotted with numerous small islands, most popular of which are the Hundred Islands of Alaminos.

How to get there

The province is accessible by land via bus; from Manila the route passes through the North Expressway. The major entry point is Dagupan city.

La Union (capital: San Fernando City)

Is located in the southwestern part of the Ilocos region in Northern Luzon. it is bounded by Ilocos Sur on the north and northeast, Benguet on the east, Pangasinan on the South, and the South China Sea on the west.

Geographic Profile

La Union has a land area of about 149,309 hectares with a predominantly hilly terrain that gradually rises eastward from the shore. Its irregular coastal plain is narrowest in Damortis and widest in Balaoan.

How to get there

North-bound air-conditioned buses from Manila ply the route to San Fernando. Buses bound for the Ilocos provinces pass by San Fernando as well, while buses bound fo Baguio City pass by the southern towns of the province, such as Agoo.

Tourist attractions

Ilocos Sur (capital: Vigan City)

-the province of Ilocos Sur is located along the western coast of North Luzon, bounded by Ilocos Norte on the north, Abra on the northeast, Mountain Province on the east, Benguet on the southeast, La Union on the south, and the south china sea on the west. It has a total land area of 2,579.6 square kilometers.

Geographic Profile:

The topographical features of the province consists of a long and narrow coastal plain on the western side that becomes hilly and mountainous toward the eastern part, forming a part of the Cordillera Mountain Range. The climate is generally dry, especially during the months of October to May.

How to get there

Air-conditioned buses ply the Manila-Vigan-Laoag routes on hourly basis. Travel time from Manila to Vigan is about eight hours.

Tourist attractions

Welcome aboard! :)

Ilocos Norte (capital: Laoag City)

- Ilocos Norte has a total land area of 3,399.34 square kilometers. It is located on the northmost edge of western Luzon, and is bounded by the Babuyan Channel on the north and its sister province Ilocos Sur on the South. To the west are the waters of the South China Sea.

Geographic profile

-Ilocos Norte consists mostly of alluvial plains, hills, mountains, and coastal land. Its terraine is generally mountainous and rocky. The province is traversed by numerous rivers, including Bonga, Bolo, Lubungaon, Bacarra, and Laoag.

How to get there?

-there are two ways to get to Ilocos Norte from Manila: by land, through buses plying the route to this province; and by air, through flights offered by Air Philippines and Asian Spirit.

How to get there?

- the Ilocos Region can be reached by land. Several companies like Philippine Rabbit and Victory Liner have buses going to the different provinces of the region from Manila. Commercial airlines have regular flights to Ilocos Norte via Laoag International Airport.

People

Political Profile

- as of 2000, the Ilocos Region had a population of 4,200.478. majority of the people speak Ilocano, but Pangasinense is spoken in the central towns of Pangasinan, and English and Filipino remain the basic mediums of instruction in schools.

- the provinces of region I are Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan. The cities are Dagupan, San Carlos, Alaminos, San Fernando, Vigan, and Laoag.

Area and location

Geographic profile

-situated on the northwestern coats of Luzon, the region covers an area of 12,840.19 square kilometers. Its coast extends from La Union northwards to Ilocos Norte, while its river basins are found in Ilocos Norte and Pangasinan.

- the region is predominantly mountainous. The climate is dry from November to April, and wet from May to October. The temperature is normally cool from December to February, and hot in April and May.