Ilocos Norte,

Ilocos Norte (Ilokano:Amianan nga Ilocos; Filipino:Hilagang Ilokos) is a province of the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region in Luzon. Its capital is Laoag City and is located at the northwest corner of Luzon Island, bordering Cagayan and Apayao to the east, and Abra and Ilocos Surto the south. Ilocos Norte faces the South China Sea to the west and the Luzon Strait to the north.

Ilocos Norte is noted for being the birthplace of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, who led an authoritarian rule over the country during the latter half of his incumbency.

It has 23 Municipalities which are: 

Adams, Bacarra, Badoc, Bangui, Banna, Batac, Burgos, Carasi, Currimao, Dingras, Dumalneg, Laoag City, Marcos, Nueva Era, Pagudpud, Paoay, Pasuquin, Piddig, Pinili, San Nicolas, Sarrat, Solsona, and Vintar.

                   TOURIST SPOTS OF ILOCOS NORTE, PHILIPPINES

Bangui Windmill looks like a surreal scene from an extra-terrestrial movie.

The Bangui Wind Mills or Wind Farm is composed of 15 wind turbines, each of them soaring high the equivalent of a 23-story building – planted in a row along the shore of Bangui Bay, Bangui, Ilocos Norte.

The first of its kind in Southeast Asia, each wind turbine was built at a cost of US$1.75M. Cheap.

The Bangui Wind Mills were built by the NorthWind Power Development Corporation to take its share in reducing the emission of harmful greenhouse gases (GHGs) causing global warming and to accelerate the rural electrification of the goverment.

                                     At Bangui Bay, wind mostly comes from the South China Sea, headed towards land. To optimize the full benefit of the winds, turbines are installed along the shore facing the sea effectively avoiding wind breaks.

The turbines are arranged in a single row spaced 326 meters apart. The turbines hub height (ground level to center of nacelle – that part holding the blades) is 70 meters high (roughly equivalent to a 23 story building), each blade is 41 meters long (just 9 meters shy of an Olympic-sized pool) giving a rotor diameter of 82 meters and a wind swept area of 5,281 square meters.

                             The Church of Saint Augustine, commonly known as the Paoay Church, is the Roman Catholic parish church of the municipality of Paoay, Ilocos Norte in the Philippines. Completed in 1710, the church is famous for its distinct architecture highlighted by the enormous buttresses on the sides and back of the building. In 1993, the church was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as one best examples of the Baroque Churches of the Philippines 

Paoay church is prime example of Earthquake Baroque architecture, which is the Philippine interpretation of the European Baroque adapted to the seismic condition of the country. Destructive earthquakes are common and have destroyed earlier churches all throughout the country. Aside from Baroque, the church facade also exudes Javanese architecture reminiscent of Borobudur of Java.

                            Patapat Viaduct is an elevated concrete highway constructed along winding/rocky headlands near the northernmost roadway section in Ilocos Norte (could be considered second northernmost roadway section in Luzon) This viaduct was constructed to solve the problem of landslides in the area which have caused so many vehicular accidents in the past. Footed on the rocky seashore just several meters from the mountain side it gives motorists a spectacular view of Pasaleng Bay.

Patapat National Park is a national park in the Philippines. It is located along the sheer coastal mountains of the town of Pagudpud the northnernmost town of the province of Ilocos Norte. The centerpiece of Patapat is a raised viaduct, the national highway, that allows travels wide vistas of the northern coast. The stark white concrete rails of the viaduct contrasts beautifully with the expanse of ocean and the lush greenery of the mountain cliffs.

                            Kapurpurawan comes from the Ilocano word "puraw" which means white

The Kapurpurawan rock formation is located on the rocky coast of Burgos, Ilocos Norte. It is known for its creamy white and streamlined limestone formations, which have been sculpted by different oceanic and weather forces. Burgos is located on the northwestern tip of Ilocos Norte.

                          Saud Beach in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte is probably the most popular beach destination in the northern part of Luzon. It is often dubbed as the "Boracay of the North". It has a long stretch of fine, powdery sands dotted with coconut trees which give the beach a tropical feel. Saud is nearer to Pagudpud town center compared to Blue Lagoon beach. It has a very scenic view and is often visited not just by local tourists but foreigners as well. 

                           Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, also known as Burgos Lighthouse, is a cultural heritage structure in Burgos, Ilocos Norte, that was established during the Spanish Colonial period in the Philippines. It was first lit on March 30, 1892, and is set high on Vigia de Nagpartian Hill overlooking the scenic Cape Bojeador where early galleons used to sail by. After over 100 years, it still functions as a welcoming beacon to the international ships that enter the Philippine Archipelago from the north and guide them safely away from the rocky coast of the town.

The light marks the northwestern-most point in Luzon. The northeastern-most being Cape Engano Lighthouse on Palaui Island, Santa Ana, Cagayan.

                          Malacanang of the North, also known in the local dialect as “Malacañang ti Amianan”. Built as the official residence of then President Ferdinand Marcos in Ilocos Norte, it is an imposing structure that resembles a 19th Century "bahay na bato" with an overlooking view of the legendary Paoay Lake. This once a seat of power is now converted into a museum that houses several memorabilia of the former President and his family.

Ilocano Festivals

                                         We feature some of our very own Ilocano Festivals..

        The Tan-Ok Festival of Ilocos Norte is the mother of all festivals in Ilocos Norte. All festivals of every town in the province were showcased in one festival.

 It depicts the rich culture and love of festivities of the Ilocano people. Tan-Ok Festival is already on it's second year. Let's discover all the festivals of Ilocos Norte in one place!

PAMULINAWEN FESTIVAL of LAOAG CITY

                       The Pamulinawen Festival celebrates the city's founding as well as the feast day of its patron saint, William of Maleval, who died on February 10 way back in the year 1157 AD.  The festival's highlight is a parade and a street-dance competition. It takes 10 hours by bus from Manila to Laoag City. 

SIWAWER FESTIVAL of VINTAR

                               Siwawer has become the trademark of the town of Vintar. It is a specie of aves that can be seen soaring and scouring at Vintar’s clear blue skies. This hawk is characterized by might and power as it spreads out its wings to go into unfamiliar territories. It is said that locals have been characterized with these traits and so this has become the main reason for celebration of the Siwawer Festival. This festival had been conceptualized and initiated with the aim of promoting the arts and culture, developing tourism, preserving the natural environment and conserving the heritage of Vintar.

EMPANADA FESTIVAL of BATAC CITY

                                    The celebration of the  City Charter Day of BATAC every 23rd of June is accented with the staging of the  EMPANADA FESTIVAL, to better promote BATAC’s most famous product.   The EMPANADA FESIVAL showcases the most popular product and the One-Town-One Product of the City of BATAC – the BATAC EMPANADA.    The main features of the Festival   are the Float and Street Dance Parade and Dance Drama Showdown, both of  which chronicles the process of preparing the delectable BATAC EMPANADA.    It also features contests on the  preparation, cooking  and eating of the BATAC EMPANADA and a spectacular fireworks display.

DAMILI FESTIVAL of SAN NICOLAS

                         SAN NICOLAS, Ilocos Norte ― Residents are paying tribute to their ancient craft of terra-cotta pottery (or damili) through a month-long celebration of dances, exhibits, sports competitions and showcase of talents.The Damili festival was institutionalized when the community saw the need to revive and preserve its traditional occupation of pottery that dates back to the turn of the 19th century.The town’s most enduring traditional product is the lowly banga (cooking pot) which has become an icon of Ilocano heritage and a livelihood that sustained generations of families of pot-makers.

GULING-GULING FESTIVAL of PAOAY

                             The annual Guling-Guling Festival in Paoay, Ilocos Norte is traditionally held the day before Ash Wednesday. While Catholics officially mark the fasting and penitence as start of the Lenten Season, it is the day of merry-making and street dancing for Paoay folks. The residents dressed in their Ilocano costume adorned with antique jewelries, dance and sing around the town while being given the sign of the cross where pounded rice is used instead of gray ash. Also, it is the town mayor who imprints the sign of the cross among the Paoay villagers instead of a priest.

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