Lingayen Gulf is a large gulf on northwestern Luzon in the Philippines , stretching 56 km (35 mi). It is framed by the provinces of Pangasinan and La Union and sits between the Zambales Mountains and the Cordillera Central . The Agno River and the Balili River drain into Lingayen Gulf.
100-686: La Union ( Tagalog pronunciation: [lɐ ʔʊˈɲon] ), officially the Province of La Union ( Ilocano : Probinsia ti La Union ; Tagalog : Lalawigan ng La Union), is a coastal province in the Philippines situated in the Ilocos Region on the island of Luzon . The province's capital, the City of San Fernando , is the most populous city in La Union and serves as the regional center of
200-591: A density of 550 inhabitants per square kilometer or 1,400 per square mile. The province had 538,730 registered voters as of 2022. The province official language is Iloco (Ilocano), as declared by the provincial government of La Union. La Union is renowned for its picturesque coastal towns, popular surfing spots, and pristine beaches. The province is rich in natural and cultural attractions, offering activities such as red clay pottery, grape picking, loom weaving, and pilgrimage tours to historic churches, alongside beautiful waterfalls and eco-tours. The population includes both
300-637: A dynamic relationship between the highland and lowland communities, contributing to a rich, interconnected cultural landscape in early La Union. A year after Adelantado Miguel Lopez de Legazpi made Manila the capital of the Philippines on June 24, 1571, the Spaniards started the colonization in Northern Luzon " to pacify the people in it ". In June 1572, conquistadores led by Juan de Salcedo , grandson of Miguel López de Legazpi , sailed up
400-701: A general attack to the ridge on 16 March 1945 and fought the Japanese defenders until the capture of Bacsil on 19 March. On the same day, the 3rd battalion captured the Reservoir Hill. The Battle of Bacsil Ridge between the Filipino soldiers and recognized guerrillas and the Japanese Forces resulted in the recapture of the city of San Fernando, La Union. Which resulted in the capture of San Fernando, La Union on 23 March 1945, and Bacnotan , La Union and
500-481: A gunshot killed the much-hated Friar Mariano Garcia of Santo Tomas a shot heard across the province, igniting the revolution in what the Spaniards once called "Una Provincia Modelo." Manuel Tinio y Bondoc , a young general allied with Emilio Aguinaldo , led the charge against the Spanish forces, ultimately driving them from La Union, although some retreated to Vigan . Following their defeat, a Revolutionary Government
600-771: A million speakers), was allowed to be used as a medium of instruction until the second grade. It is recognized by the Commission on the Filipino Language as one of the major languages of the Philippines . Constitutionally, Ilocano is an auxiliary official language in the regions where it is spoken and serves as auxiliary media of instruction therein. In 2009, the Department of Education instituted Department Order No. 74, s. 2009 stipulating that "mother tongue-based multilingual education" would be implemented. In 2012, Department Order No. 16, s. 2012 stipulated that
700-773: A non-English language at home speak Ilocano, making it the most spoken non-English language in the state. In September 2012, the province of La Union became the first in the Philippines to pass an ordinance recognizing Ilocano (Iloko) as an official provincial language, alongside Filipino and English. This ordinance aims to protect and revitalize the Ilocano language, although other languages, such as Pangasinan , Kankanaey , and Ibaloi , are also spoken in La Union. The modern Ilokano alphabet consists of 29 letters: Aa, Bb, Cc, Dd, Ee, Ff, Gg, Hh, Ii, Jj, Kk, Ll, LLll, Mm, Nn, Ññ, NGng, Oo, Pp, Qq, Rr, Ss, Tt, Uu, Vv, Ww, Xx, Yy, and Zz Pre-colonial Ilocano people of all classes wrote in
800-601: A pivotal role in preserving and publishing Ilocano literary works, including the earliest known text of Biag ni Lam-ang . While there is no official dialectology for Ilocano, the usually agreed dialects of Ilocano are two, which are differentiated only by the way the letter e is pronounced. In the Amianan (Northern) dialect, there exist only five vowels while the older Abagatan (Southern) dialect employs six. Reduplicate vowels are not slurred together, but voiced separately with an intervening glottal stop: The letter in bold
900-619: A result of this relocation. When things returned to normal, the provincial government was relocated to San Fernando, followed by the La Union National High School. The North Provincial High School was established after the provincial high school in Bacnotan was transferred (now Bacnotan National High School). The postwar recovery period marked a return of the tobacco industry to the Ilocos Region. Ever since
1000-735: A significant chapter in La Union's contribution to the broader Philippine Revolution against Spanish colonial rule. The American colonization of La Union began after the Spanish-American War in 1898 when the Philippines was ceded to the United States under the Treaty of Paris . Following the Philippine-American War (1899–1902), La Union was reorganized under American colonial administration, leading to significant political, economic, and social changes. During
1100-563: A strategically important theatre of war between American and Japanese forces. On 22 December 1941, the Japanese 14th Army under Lieutenant General Masaharu Homma landed on the eastern part of the gulf at San Fernando City , Bauang , Santiago, Caba , Aringay , Agoo , and Santo Tomas , where they engaged in a number of relatively minor skirmishes with the defenders , a poorly equipped contingent of predominantly Filipino and American troops, and managed to successfully invade and occupy
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#17327723907181200-557: A syllabic system known as Baybayin prior to European arrival. They used a system that is termed as an abugida , or an alphasyllabary. It was similar to the Tagalog and Pangasinan scripts, where each character represented a consonant-vowel, or CV, sequence. The Ilocano version, however, was the first to designate coda consonants with a diacritic mark – a cross or virama – shown in the Doctrina Cristiana of 1621, one of
1300-467: A syllable onset or coda . The phoneme /h/ is a borrowed sound (except in the negative variant haan ) and rarely occurs in coda position. Although the Spanish word reloj 'clock' would have been heard as [re.loh] , the final /h/ is dropped resulting in /re.lo/ . However, this word also may have entered the Ilokano lexicon at early enough a time that the word was still pronounced /re.loʒ/ , with
1400-404: A total of 24 ships were sunk and 67 damaged by kamikaze planes, including the battleships USS Mississippi and Colorado (accidentally hit by friendly fire), the heavy cruiser USS Louisville , the light cruiser USS Columbia , and the minesweepers USS Long and Hovey . Following the amphibious landings, Lingayen Gulf was turned into a vast supply depot for
1500-429: A translation of St. Vincent Ferrer’s sermons by Fr. Antonio Mejia. The 19th century witnessed the rise of Leona Florentino , who has been recognized as the " National Poetess of the Philippines ," although her sentimental poetry received criticism from modern readers for lacking depth and structure. The early 20th century brought forth notable Ilocano writers such as Manuel Arguilla , whose prose effectively captured
1600-517: A vibrant reflection of the rich cultural heritage and history of the Ilocano people, tracing its origins to their animistic past. It encompasses a profound backdrop of mythology, folklore, and superstition, all rooted in a tradition of oral history shaped by cultural evolution. Key narratives include creation myths featuring figures such as Aran, Angalo, and Namarsua, the Creator, alongside tales of benevolent and malevolent spirits that are integral to
1700-585: A welcoming point for foreign vessels. In the highlands of La Union resided the Igorot people, primarily the Kankanaey and Ibaloi , who practiced headhunting as part of their warrior culture and followed animistic beliefs , worshipping nature spirits and ancestral gods. They were skilled agriculturalists and crafts, producing woven textiles, gold and metalwork, which they actively traded with their lowland Ilocano and Pangasinan neighbors. This exchange fostered
1800-715: Is laud /la.ʔud/ ('west'). Also, u in final stressed syllables can be pronounced [o], like [dɐ.ˈnom] for danum ('water'). The two vowels are not highly differentiated in native words due to fact that /o/ was an allophone of /u/ in the history of the language. In words of foreign origin, notably Spanish, they are phonemic . Example: uso 'use'; oso 'bear' Unlike u and o , i and e are not allophones, but i in final stressed syllables in words ending in consonants can be [ɛ] , like ubíng [ʊ.ˈbɛŋ] ('child'). The two closed vowels become glides when followed by another vowel. The close back rounded vowel /u/ becomes [w] before another vowel; and
1900-425: Is an allophone of /u/ in final syllables. Thus, apúy ('fire') may be pronounced /ɐ.ˈpoi/ and baboy ('pig') may be pronounced /ˈba.bui/ . As for the diphthong /au/ , the general rule is to use /aw/ for native words while /au/ will be used for spanish loanword such as the words autoridad, autonomia, automatiko. The same rule goes to the diphthong /ai/ . All consonantal phonemes except /h, ʔ/ may be
2000-401: Is further celebrated through life rituals, festivities, and oral traditions , expressed in songs ( kankanta ), dances ( salsala ), poems ( dandaniw ), proverbs ( pagsasao ), and literary duels ( bucanegan ). These rich literary forms not only preserve Ilocano identity but also demonstrate its adaptability within the evolving Filipino cultural landscape. During the Spanish regime, Iloco poetry
2100-924: Is primarily spoken in the Ilocos Region, the Babuyan Islands , the Cordillera Administrative Region , Cagayan Valley , and the northern and western parts of Central Luzon . It is also spoken in Batanes , parts of Mindoro and Palawan , and scattered areas in Mindanao , particularly in the Soccsksargen region. Internationally, it is spoken in the United States, with the largest concentrations in Hawaii and California , as well as in Canada . In Hawaii, 17% of those who speak
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#17327723907182200-481: Is the graphic (written) representation of the vowel. e /ɯ/ For a better rendition of vowel distribution, please refer to the IPA Vowel Chart . Unstressed /a/ is pronounced [ɐ] in all positions except final syllables, like madí [mɐˈdi] ('cannot be') but ngiwat ('mouth') is pronounced [ˈŋiwat] . Unstressed /a/ in final-syllables is mostly pronounced [ɐ] across word boundaries. Although
2300-614: Is the weekly magazine Bannawag . The following are two versions of the Lord's Prayer. The one on the left is written using Spanish-based orthography, while the one on the right uses the Tagalog-based system. aldao aldaw day Notes With the implementation by the Spanish of the Bilingual Education System of 1897, Ilocano, together with the other seven major languages (those that have at least
2400-452: The "Japanese Port," as enterprising Japanese and Chinese merchants had been trading with the local population through this port. Consequently, Agoo played a significant role in commerce with other Southeast Asian countries. In her book “Pangasinan 1572–1800” , Rosario Mendoza-Cortes notes that La Union, particularly Agoo, served as the primary port for Japanese and Chinese traders , with Sual, Pangasinan , as its only rival. This prominence
2500-517: The Amburayan River , were home to the Samtoys or Ilocanos . These early settlers had a vibrant animistic culture and religion. The southern coastline, historically known as Aroo or Agoho (present-day Agoo ), was part of the northern territory of Caboloan , or Pangasinan , a sovereign pre-colonial Philippine polity with vibrant culture and tradition, and shared ethnic ties with
2600-743: The Angalacan River to the Lingayen Gulf and landed in Aroo or Agoho , now known as Agoo . Upon their arrival, Salcedo's expedition encountered three Japanese ships , which they pursued to a Japanese settlement . The Spaniards demanded tribute to the Queen of Spain from both the natives and the Japanese, though some initially refused. Those who complied were permitted to remain and converted to Christianity after paying tribute. This encounter led to Agoo being referred to as "El Puerto de Japon" or
2700-527: The Balangao language and certain eastern dialects of Bontoc . The Ilocano people historically utilized an indigenous writing system known as kur-itan . There have been proposals to revive this script by incorporating its instruction in public and private schools within Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur , where Ilocano is predominantly spoken. Iloco (Ilocano) like all Philippine languages, belongs to
2800-455: The Doctrina , is celebrated as the " Father of Ilocano Poetry and Literature ," credited for composing the epic Biag ni Lam-ang ("Life of Lam-ang"). This poem, which narrates the extraordinary adventures of the Ilocano hero Lam-ang, encapsulates core values of the Ilocano people, such as courage, loyalty, and respect for familial and ancestral ties. A study of Iloco poetry can also be found in
2900-506: The Gramatica Ilokana , published in 1895, which is based on Lopez's earlier work, Arte de la Lengua Iloca , published in 1627 but likely written before 1606. In the 18th century, missionaries played a crucial role in promoting literacy and religious education among the Ilocano population through the publication of both religious and secular texts, including Sumario de las Indulgencias de la Santa Correa by Fr. Jacinto Rivera and
3000-506: The Ilocano people from the lowlands and the Igorot people from the highlands, contributing to its diverse cultural heritage. In the early history of La Union, the coastal plains along the northwestern part of the region, extending from Tagudin, Ilocos Sur in the north to Sudipen , Bangar , Purao (now Luna & Balaoan ), and Bacnotan in the south, as well as the areas surrounding
3100-533: The Ilocos Region , including La Union, which had strong ethnic associations with the Marcos family . The Marcos administration's use of violent methods for stifling dissent thus mostly took place in other, non-Ilocano provinces, such as nearby Abra , Kalinga , and Mountain Province . Long-time second district congressman Manuel T. Cases had formed an alliance with Marcos along with the other strongman congressmen of
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3200-653: The Pangasinan people. This area included the modern coastal towns of Agoo, Aringay (formerly Alingay or Alinguey ), Caba , Santo Tomas , and Rosario . Historian William Henry Scott noted that La Union was a notable trading hub, particularly for Igorot gold and local gold. The trade route, known as the Aringay-Tonglo-Balatok path, connected southwestern Cordillera with the lowlands, establishing Aringay and Agoo as key commercial centers. This trade network linked La Union to maritime routes across
3300-481: The Philippine-American War , La Union experienced military conflicts and battles as American forces aimed to assert control over the province. The war was marked by significant abuses against the native population, including forced relocations , extrajudicial killings , and the destruction of property . These abuses led to widespread native resentment and resistance against American forces across
3400-521: The Siete Martires . These seven young men became the first Ilocanos to be executed for their revolutionary activities or for being suspected sympathizers of the movement. On the eve of the revolution, a traitor revealed their plans to the Spanish authorities, leading to the arrest of the seven men, who were executed without investigation. Fernando Ostrea escaped death despite sustaining a thigh wound, and his miraculous survival allowed him to inform
3500-588: The Superior Decreto that founded La Union – the 34th province since the founding of Cebu in 1565. It was classified as a gobierno politico-militar (Political-Military Government). Blanco appointed, on March 4, 1850, Captain Toribio Ruiz de la Escalera (Claveria's former trusted aide de camp) as the first Gobernador Military y Politico. La Union is the union of lands, people, cultures and resources. On April 18, 1854, Queen Isabella II of Spain issued
3600-563: The U.S. House of Representatives — the Filipino Veterans’ Equity Act of 2006 and the Filipino Veterans’ Equity of 2005 sponsored by former Senator Daniel Inouye . Fishing and salt -making are the primary industries on Lingayen Gulf. In fact, the name Pangasinan literally means "place where salt is made". Salt is collected from seawater through evaporation, leaving the crystalline salt behind. Lingayen Gulf
3700-683: The close front unrounded vowel /i/ , [j] . Example: kuarta /kwaɾ.ta/ 'money'; paria /paɾ.ja/ 'bitter melon' In addition, dental / alveolar consonants become palatalized before /i/ . (See Consonants below). Unstressed /i/ and /u/ are pronounced [ɪ] and [ʊ] except in final syllables, like pintás ('beauty') [pɪn.ˈtas] and buténg ('fear') [bʊ.ˈtɛŋ, bʊ.ˈtɯŋ] but bangir ('other side') and parabur ('grace/blessing') are pronounced [ˈba.ŋiɾ] and [pɐ.ˈɾa.buɾ] . Unstressed /i/ and /u/ in final syllables are mostly pronounced [ɪ] and [ʊ] across word boundaries. The letter ⟨e⟩ represents two vowels in
3800-452: The dallot , an improvised long poem delivered in a melodic manner. A significant work within this literary tradition is the epic Biag ni Lam-ang (The Life of Lam-ang), which stands as one of the few indigenous narratives to have survived colonial influence. While it has assimilated foreign elements over time, it continues to embody essential values such as courage, loyalty, and the importance of familial and ancestral bonds. Ilocano culture
3900-597: The j pronounced as in French , resulting in /re.los/ in Ilokano. As a result, both /re.lo/ and /re.los/ occur. Lingayen Gulf The gulf has numerous islands, the most famous of which are in the Hundred Islands National Park . This tourist attraction features 123 islands, the majority of which are small in size. The largest island is Cabarruyan Island, which constitutes the municipality of Anda, Pangasinan , followed by Santiago Island at
4000-533: The orthography , vowels in sequence such as uo and ai , do not coalesce into a diphthong, rather, they are pronounced with an intervening glottal stop, for example, buok 'hair' /bʊ.ʔok/ and dait 'sew' /da.ʔit/ . The diphthong /ei/ is a variant of /ai/ in native words. Other occurrences are in words of Spanish and English origin. Examples are reyna /ˈɾei.na/ (from Spanish reina , 'queen') and treyner /ˈtɾei.nɛɾ/ ('trainer'). The diphthongs /oi/ and /ui/ may be interchanged since /o/
4100-493: The principalia or insulares who spoke the Castilian language , while the cailianes were the natives who spoke either Iloco , Kankanai , Ibaloi , or Pangasinan . Iloko, however, served as the province's lingua franca . Coastal settlements were frequently raided by tirongs or Moro pirates , who looted and burned villages while capturing women and children. In response, watchtowers called baluartes were build along
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4200-695: The Austronesian language family, which is believed to have originated in Taiwan . It constitutes its own branch within the Philippine Cordilleran subfamily and is spoken as a first language by approximately seven million people. As a lingua franca of Northern Luzon and several areas of Central Luzon, Ilocano is also spoken as a second language by over two million people, including native speakers of Ibanag , Ivatan , Pangasinan , Sambal , and other regional languages. The Ilocano language
4300-652: The Hayashi Detachment, composed of 3,000 armed troops and 2,000 unarmed support forces, took hold of San Fernando and its surrounding areas which denied entry to the port of the city and a road leading to Baguio . As part of the San Fernando-Bacsil Operations, the 1st Battalion of 121st Infantry were sent to loosen the enemy positions starting late February with the assistance of the Allied Air Force. The 1st Battalion made
4400-450: The Ilocano worldview. Shaped by centuries of interaction with diverse influences, Ilocano literature encompasses a wide array of literary forms, including epic poetry, folk tales, proverbs, riddles, religious documents, and songs. Central themes include resilience, familial loyalty, honor, and a deep connection to both the natural and spiritual realms. Ancient Ilocano poets articulated their expressions through folk and war songs, as well as
4500-486: The Ilocanos, who reluctantly accepted Spanish rule. This encounter marked the beginning of early Spanish colonization in Northern Luzon and sparked a hundred years of resistance against Spanish rule. It also led to the establishment of new religious, cultural, and administrative institutions, resulting in the formation of pueblos, rancherias to towns that later constituted the province of La Union. Before its formation,
4600-686: The Ilocos Region, and his successor Jose D. Aspiras was also a close associate of Marcos who was made Minister of Tourism after Martial Law was declared. But there were still La Union natives who were willing to object to the authoritarian practices and abuses of the Marcos administration , despite personal risk. This included San-Fernando-raised student activists Romulo and Armando Palabay , UP Students and La Union National High School alumni who were imprisoned for their protest activities, tortured at Camp Olivas in Pampanga, and later separately killed before
4700-497: The Ilocos Region. Bordered by Ilocos Sur to the north, Benguet to the east, and Pangasinan to the south, with the South China Sea to the west, La Union is located 273 kilometers (170 miles) north of Metro Manila and 57 kilometers (35 miles) northwest of Baguio City . The province spans an area of 1,497.70 square kilometers (578.27 square miles). As of the 2020 census, La Union had a population of 822,352, resulting in
4800-880: The Indian Ocean and South China Sea, as well as to trade with the Tagalog , Chinese , and Japanese . Goods exchanged included porcelain, silk ( abel ) , cotton, beeswax, honey, gemstones, beads, precious minerals, locally crafted burnáy (stoneware jars), and especially gold. Artifacts like porcelain and pottery, uncovered during the renovation of the Catholic church and now housed in the Museo de Iloko , testify to this trade activity. Japanese merchants and fishermen later arrived, forming settlements along La Union’s coast actively traded with their Ilocano, and Igorot neighbors, as well as merchants from China, and Southeast Asia . The region’s natural harbors along Lingayen Gulf made it
4900-560: The Japanese 4th Tank Regiment and the 47th Infantry Regiment under the command of Col. Isamu Yanagi, supported by a massive flotilla of navy ships tried to land in Agoo to make it one of three major beachheads for the Japanese Invasion of Lingayen Gulf , although weather dispersed their forces and made them deploy on a wide stretch of beach that ranged from Poro Point (San Fernando) to as far south as Damortis. These forces later met
5000-475: The Japanese to leave, but not before imparting valuable knowledge to the locals about fish farming, rice cultivation, deerskin tanning, duck breeding, and weapon production. Furthermore, the Spanish conquistadores continued their expedition further north, encountering natives in what is now known as San Fernando City . The Spaniards demanded tribute to the Queen of Spain , but the natives requested time to go to
5100-499: The Philippine Tobacco Flue-Curing and Redrying Corporation (PTFCRC) in 1951 and recruiting farmers from throughout Region 1 to produce tobacco. The following year, La Union Congressman Manuel T. Cases filed a bill to "limit the importation of foreign leaf tobacco," which was eventually signed by President Elpidio Quirino as Republic Act 698. This allowed Stonehill's investments to make a handsome profit, and
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#17327723907185200-699: The Philippines by the Ilocano people. It ranks as the third most widely spoken native language in the country and serves as a lingua franca in Northern Luzon, particularly among the Igorot people and the indigenous settlers of Cagayan Valley . As an Austronesian language, Ilocano shares linguistic roots with other Philippine languages and is related to Malay (both Indonesian and Malaysian), Tetum , Chamorro , Fijian , Māori , Hawaiian , Samoan , Tahitian , Paiwan , and Malagasy . It exhibits close ties with several Austronesian languages in Northern Luzon and has some degree of mutual intelligibility with
5300-559: The Philippines gained full independence in 1946. While the American period contributed to the modernization of La Union, it also left a complex legacy of colonial influence, dependency, and abuses against the native population. The memory of resistance and the struggle for identity during this time remains a significant aspect of La Union’s historical narrative, shaping the province's path toward self-determination and national pride. Nine other equally able governors followed Don Joaquin before
5400-498: The Philippines – Northern Luzon (USAFIP-NL) under the command of Major Diego Sipin, were tasked to make the northward advance to Bauang. The 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry, USAFIP-NL reinforce the other battalions in the efforts to capture San Fernando. Meanwhile, combat units from the “B” company, 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry, USAFIP-NL attacked the defensive lines in Bauang to aid the 1st Battalion, 130th Infantry (US) in its advance from
5500-545: The Spanish Maura Law was probably instituted in 1700. Most of the barrio and towns were once part of an encomienda administered by Spanish insulares and Mestizos , which included several rancherias and catechumens who inhabited the Igorot mountains. Like other towns in Ylocos, the social classes were divided into two: the babaknang or agtuturay , and the cailianes . The babaknang or agtuturay were
5600-454: The Spanish system and the Tagalog system. In the Spanish system words of Spanish origin kept their spellings. Native words, on the other hand, conformed to the Spanish rules of spelling. Most older generations of Ilocanos use the Spanish system. In the alphabet system based on that of Tagalog there is more of a phoneme-to-letter correspondence, which better reflects the actual pronunciation of
5700-516: The area. Bangar , Namacpacan ( Luna ) and Balaoan in the southern portion of llocos Sur was quite a distance from the cabezera of Vigan and in almost like manner, Sto. Tomas , Agoo , Aringay , Caba , Bauang , Naguilian , San Fernando , San Juan and Bacnotan were that far from Pangasinan's capital of Lingayen . The 40–45 rancherias in the depths of Central Cordillera of the Benguet ( Eastern Pais del Igorotes ) district bordered by
5800-475: The besieged Spanish forces refused to surrender. On July 31, after days of stalemate, Tinio launched an assault, resulting in a fierce battle that ended with the Spaniards capitulating. The surrender included 400 soldiers, 8 officers, and significant military resources. After securing San Fernando, the Tinio Brigade advanced to Balaoan, where they faced stubborn resistance from entrenched Spanish troops in
5900-400: The coast from Baratao ( Bauang ), San Vicente de Balanac / Pindangan (San Fernando), Dalandan (San Juan), Bacnotan , Purao (Balaoan) to Namacpacan (Luna). These towers served as defensive structures and lookout points, alerting local residents and authorities to impending threats from the sea. During the 18th and 19th centuries, these baluartes played a crucial role in safeguarding
6000-547: The coastal towns of La Union and other parts of the Philippines, protecting the people and securing vital trade routes. During Spanish Colonization, a secret society of insurrectos was organized in Balaoan with the aim of revolting against the tyrannical abuses of the " Guardia Civil " and " Cora Parrocos ”. Among its members were Luciano Resurreccion , P rimo Ostrea, Artemio Ostrea, Fernando Ostrea, Patricio Lopez, Rufino Zambrano, and Mariano Peralta collectively known as
6100-530: The commonwealth defence forces—consisting of the 26th Cavalry Regiment ( Philippine Scouts ), the Philippine 21st Division, the Philippine 11th Division, and the newly formed Philippine 71st Division—in what would later be called the Battle of Rosario . Battle of Bacnotan Invading Japanese soldiers arrived at Bacnotan on December 21, 1941, during the early days of World War II . On January 4, 1945,
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#17327723907186200-502: The convent. Despite the local populace's support, the siege lasted five days and claimed over 70 Filipino lives. Witness Camilo Osías noted that many local katipuneros were incorporated into the Tinio Brigade after this ordeal. The rebels then moved to Bangar , successfully besieging the Spanish forces, which resulted in a decisive victory on August 7, leading to the surrender of 87 Spaniards after just four days of fighting with minimal Filipino casualties. This string of victories marked
6300-521: The earliest surviving Ilokano publications. Before the addition of the virama, writers had no way to designate coda consonants. The reader, on the other hand, had to guess whether a consonant not succeeding a vowel is read or not, for it is not written. Vowel apostrophes interchange between e or i , and o or u . Due to this, the vowels e and i are interchangeable, and letters o and u , for instance, tendera and tindira ('shop-assistant'). In recent times, there have been two systems in use:
6400-756: The election of La Union's first Civil Governor in 1901, Don Joaquín Joaquino Ortega , marking a significant step in local governance. One of the most notable contributions of American colonization was the establishment of a highly centralized public school system in 1901, using English as the medium of instruction. This effort involved bringing 600 teachers from the U.S., known as the Thomasites , to educate Filipino students. The Thomasites were deployed at several public schools, notably in San Fernando, Bacnotan, Luna, Balaoan, Bauang, Naguilian, Agoo, and Rosario . Additionally, agricultural reforms focused on increasing
6500-493: The end of Martial Law. Romulo (age 22) and Armando (age 21) were posthumously honored when their names were etched on the Wall of Remembrance at the Philippines' Bantayog ng mga Bayani , which honors the heroes and martyrs who fought the authoritarian regime. Ilocano language Iloco (also Ilokano ; / iː l oʊ ˈ k ɑː n oʊ / ; Ilocano: Pagsasao nga Iloko ) is an Austronesian language predominantly spoken in
6600-454: The end of the tobacco monopoly, tobacco production had declined in the Ilocos as filipinos started shifting from locally made cigars to foreign made cigarettes. But after reading a feature article series by Maximo Soliven which explained why Virginia tobacco would grow well on Ilocos soil, businessman Harry Stonehill was convinced to invest extensively in rebuilding the industry, establishing
6700-456: The establishment of municipal governments, allowing Filipinos to participate in their governance. In 1935, the Philippines transitioned to the Philippine Commonwealth , which provided greater autonomy and self-governance while still under U.S. oversight. This period allowed La Union to experience more local political engagement and development initiatives, although it ultimately reinforced colonial structures that limited true self-governance until
6800-484: The first day alone, and a total of 203,608 in following landings along a 20 mi (32 km) beachhead, stretching from Sual , Lingayen , and Dagupan (XIV Corps) in the west, and San Fabian (I Corps) into the east. Despite the Americans' success in driving out the Japanese army encamped at the gulf, the Americans suffered relatively heavy losses, particularly on their convoys due to Japanese kamikaze suicide attacks. From 13 December 1944 through 13 January 1945,
6900-400: The government at a fixed price. In 1896, growing unrest in La Union arose from years of Spanish oppression, highlighted by the torture of local priests and the execution of the Balaoan Siete Martires, torture of the native priests, Padres Adriano Garces of Balaoan , Mariano Gaerlan of San Fernando and Mariano Dacanay of Bacnotan . This discontent reached its peak on May 22, 1898, when
7000-472: The gulf's coast such as Dagupan and Alaminos in Pangasinan, and San Fernando City , the capital of La Union. Lingayen , the capital of Pangasinan, also lies on the shores of the gulf. The gulf has five major river sources. Flowing from the province of Pangasinan in the south are the Agno , Dagupan and Angalacan-Bued rivers. From the east in the province of La Union flow the Aringay and Bauang rivers. During World War II , Lingayen Gulf proved
7100-412: The gulf. Following the defeat, the next day General MacArthur issued the order to retreat from Luzon and withdraw to Bataan . For the next three years, the gulf remained under Japanese occupation prior to the Lingayen Gulf landings . At 09:30 on 9 January 1945, the U.S. 6th Army conducted an amphibious landing on the gulf, following a devastating naval bombardment, with 68,000 troops landing on
7200-502: The local population about the tragedy. Following this incident, he was pardoned by the authorities in accordance with Spanish custom. At the time of his martyrdom, Fernando was a Cabeza de Barangay and later served as the town's vice president. As a key figure in the revolution, he guided his people in their struggles against both Spain and the United States. In honor of the seven martyrs, the Siete Martires Lodge No. 177
7300-561: The military offensive throughout the province ended on 24 March after two months of fighting. Liberation of Bauang The Liberation of Bauang , La Union was part of the San Fernando-Bascil operations aimed to liberate the province of La Union and open one of the roads to Baguio. Units from Rosario, La Union including elements of the 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry of the United States Army Forces in
7400-584: The modern (Tagalog) writing system is largely phonetic, there are some notable conventions. In native morphemes , the close back rounded vowel /u/ is written differently depending on the syllable. If the vowel occurs in the ultima of the morpheme, it is written o ; elsewhere, u . Example: Instances such as masapulmonto , ' You will manage to find it, to need it', are still consistent. Note that masapulmonto is, in fact, three morphemes: masapul (verb base), -mo (pronoun) and -(n)to (future particle). An exception to this rule, however,
7500-548: The mother tongue-based multilingual system was to be implemented for Kindergarten to Grade 3 Effective School Year 2012–2013. Ilocano is used in public schools mostly in the Ilocos Region and the Cordilleras. It is the primary medium of instruction from Kindergarten to Grade 3 (except for the Filipino and English subjects) and is also a separate subject from Grade 1 to Grade 3. Thereafter, English and Filipino are introduced as mediums of instruction. Ilocano literature serves as
7600-464: The mountains to gather what they could offer. However, they did not return. The conquistadores then proceeded north through Atuley or Dalandan , now known as San Juan , demanding tribute from the natives, establishing Spanish rule, and converting the natives to Christianity , without further resistance until they reached a large river known as 'Purao or Puraw ,' meaning ' white ' in Iloco , named for
7700-590: The mouth of the Gulf. The shore from Labrador to San Fabian is characterized by a long grey-sand beach. Other well-known beaches are at Bonuan-Tondaligan , Bolinao and San Fernando City . The waters of Lingayen Gulf are murky due to its sandy bottom. Coral reefs were all but destroyed by dynamite fishing , although efforts are made to restore some, especially inside the Hundred Islands National Park. A number of cities are found along
7800-494: The newly-rebuilt local industry to bloom. Stonehill was later deported a decade later, in the 1960s, for tax evasion and bribery of government officials, in what would later be called the Stonehill scandal , but the tobacco industry continued to grow. Although economically affected by the rapid peso devaluation brought about by unbridled election spending heading into the 1969 presidential elections , political life in La Union
7900-472: The non-nuclear dialects (areas outside the Ilocos provinces) [ɛ ~ e] in words of foreign origin and [ɯ] in native words, and only one in the nuclear dialects of the Ilocos provinces, [ɛ ~ e] . Diphthongs are combination of a vowel and /i/ or /u/. In the orthography, the secondary vowels (underlying /i/ or /u/) are written with their corresponding glide, y or w , respectively. Of all the possible combinations, only /aj/ or /ej/, /iw/, /aw/ and /uj/ occur. In
8000-647: The outbreak of World War II: Joaquín Luna 1904–1907, Sixto Zandueta 1908–1919, Pío Ancheta 1919–1922, Thomas de Guzmán 1922 1923, 1928–1931, Juan Lucero 1923–1929, Mauro Ortiz 1931–1934, Juan Rivera 1934–1937, Francisco Nisce 1937–1940 and Bernardo Gapuz 1940. Just as when the Filipinos were awaiting independence, as promised by the Americans under the Tydings-Mcduffie Law , World War II exploded. The Japanese invasion of La Union during World War II
8100-456: The people of La Union. Under Japanese rule, the province endured strict military controls, forced labor, food shortages, and widespread violence. Yet, resistance movements emerged, with many locals engaging in guerrilla warfare to oppose the occupation. This period underscores the resilience and unwavering spirit of La Union's people in the face of great adversity. Battle of Rosario (Japanese Invasion of Lingayen Gulf) On December 22, 1941,
8200-551: The pristine appearance of the shore and river. This area is now part of Balaoan and Luna . In Purao, the Spaniards confronted the Ilocanos, who bravely refused to pay tribute. A battle ensued, marking the first bloodshed by the Ilocanos in defiance of foreign rule. Following this conflict, the river was renamed "Darigayos," derived from the Ilocano words "dara" (blood) and "ayos" (flowed), signifying "where blood flowed." Salcedo and his men continued north toward Vigan , where they eventually established an uneasy friendship with
8300-434: The production of cash crops like tobacco, sugar, and abaca, benefiting La Union's primarily agricultural economy while reinforcing colonial dependence on the export market. The American colonial government also established an Insular Government in La Union, which aimed to provide a framework for local administration and governance while maintaining overall control from the central government. This included local elections and
8400-429: The province was divided among the provinces of Ylocos and Pangasinan , as well as the rancherias of eastern Pais del Igorotes (Benguet). It had several barrios and pueblos headed by a cabeza de barangay , gobernadorcillo , and alcalde-mayor , most of which were established by Augustinian friars in the 16th century during the early expansion phase of Spanish rule. The civil government established under
8500-478: The province, reflecting their strong desire for independence and resistance to foreign control. Local leaders emerged, organizing guerrilla warfare and skirmishes in rural areas, mobilizing their communities against the colonial authorities and highlighting the harsh realities of American imperialism . After the Americans successfully took over the province, the American administration implemented democratic processes that were given equal importance, facilitating
8600-648: The rest of the war to support the American and Filipino assaults on Manila and the rest of Luzon , and from there to Okinawa . On January 9, 2008, Gov. Amado Espino Jr. and Vice Gov. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas established an annual commemoration to honor the war veterans. The resolution named January 9 as Pangasinan Veterans' Day. On the 63rd anniversary of the Lingayen Gulf landings , President Fidel Ramos (a West Point graduate) appealed to U.S. President George W. Bush on behalf of 24,000 surviving war veterans to pass two legislative bills pending since 1968 in
8700-418: The royal decree (real orden) from Madrid confirming Blanco's Superior Decreto . By 1860, there was a dramatic progress in commerce and agriculture in the province primarily because of Tobacco. Spanish authorities banked on the prized leaf for further economic development. The industry was so lucrative that a Tobacco Monopoly was established. All Tobacco leaves were strictly monitored and bought exclusively by
8800-477: The south. Bauang was first liberated on 19 March 1945, followed by the declaration of the end of operations at La Union on 24 March 1945. On January 4, 1945, La Union was liberated by the Battle of San Fernando and Bacsil Ridge. As San Fernando was in ruins at the time, Bacnotan became the provisional seat of the province administration after the war. The La Union National High School was also relocated to Bacnotan as
8900-558: The three Ilocos Sur towns and the nine of Pangasinan have even worse problems. Thus on October 29, 1849, Governor General Claveria signed the proposal (promovido) to unite the Pangasinan - Ilocos - Cordillera areas into a new province called La Union (the official name designated by Claveria himself). For 124 days, high and important Spanish colonial officers studied and deliberated on the proposition to create La Union or not. On March 2, 1850, Governor General Antonio Maria Blanco signed
9000-566: The tides of war changed in La Union as Filipino-American soldiers captured Baroro Bridge in Bacnotan, a strategic bridge that connects the rest of Northern Luzon to San Fernando . The victory ensured the liberation of La Union. It was followed by the historic Battle of San Fernando and Bacsil Ridge. Defeated, the Japanese Imperial Army retreated to Baguio where they joined their comrades and made their last stand. The Battle of Bacsil Ridge The Battle of Bacsil Ridge
9100-593: The unique aspects of Ilocano culture during his time as a World War II guerrilla hero. Carlos Bulosan emerged as another prominent figure, with his novel America is in the Heart celebrated as a significant work in the Filipino-American literary canon. Other distinguished writers from this period include F. Sionil Jose, known for his epic sagas set in Pangasinan, and Isabelo de los Reyes , who played
9200-442: The word. The letters ng constitute a digraph and count as a single letter, following n in alphabetization. As a result, numo ('humility') appears before ngalngal ('to chew') in newer dictionaries. Words of foreign origin, most notably those from Spanish, need to be changed in spelling to better reflect Ilocano phonology. Words of English origin may or may not conform to this orthography. A prime example using this system
9300-524: Was a pivotal moment in the province's history, given its strategic importance to both Allied and Japanese forces. In December 1941, Japanese troops landed in Agoo, swiftly securing control over the area by early 1942. Despite the overwhelming challenges, Filipinos, alongside American forces, mounted resistance against the occupation. During this turbulent period, Governors Bernardo Gapuz, Jorge Camacho, and Bonifacio Tadiar played key roles in leading and supporting
9400-445: Was created by Governor General Narciso Zaldua Claveria. Governor General Claveria was a visionary administrator. He believed that combining three contiguous areas that are far from their respective provincial capitals was a viable solution to the demands of political-civil administration. He also saw the territory's agricultural and commercial growth potentials. And the kicker was the extension of Hispanic civilization and Christianity to
9500-409: Was due to the presence of a Japanese colony in Agoo. Traders at this port had access to a larger population, and its proximity to both China and Japan made it a strategic location. The principal export from the region was deer pelts , shipped to Japan. However, Agoo's importance as a port began to decline when the Spanish closed the Philippines to foreign trade. Eventually, the port was closed, prompting
9600-519: Was established as a masonic lodge. La Union was formed on March 2, 1850, and became the 34th province of the Philippines. After Cebu became the first provincia in 1565, new provinces have been created by the Spaniards. Three main functions were considered so: political-civil administration, ecclesiastical governance and geographical considerations. For more than two and one-half centuries, the original llocos province remained intact until 1818 when it split into llocos Norte and Ilocos Sur . In 1846, Abra
9700-599: Was established, with Aguinaldo as president and Tinio initially serving as de facto governor, later replaced by Dr. Lucino Almeida. On July 22, Novo-Ecijano troops, bolstered to over 600 men, arrived in San Fernando after Dagupan surrendered to General Francisco Makabulos and found the city under siege by revolutionists led by General Mauro Ortiz . The Spaniards, commanded by Colonel Jose Garcia Herrero , fortified themselves in key buildings, waiting for reinforcements. Despite Tinio's attempts at peaceful negotiation,
9800-722: Was fought in March 1945 was one of the continued main battles of the Philippines Campaign of the Second World War are between the Filipino soldiers under the 121st Infantry Regiment, Philippine Commonwealth Army , USAFIP-NL, under the command of Russell W. Volckmann , and the Japanese Imperial forces under by General Tomoyuki Yamashita . The Battle of Bacsil Ridge ended the month-long battle for control of San Fernando . The Japanese defenders called
9900-527: Was heavily influenced by Spanish literary forms, with the earliest written Iloco poems largely based on romances translated from Spanish by Francisco Lopez . In 1621, Lopez published the Doctrina Cristiana , the first book printed in Iloco , marking a significant milestone in the documentation of Ilocano literature. The 17th-century author Pedro Bucaneg , known for his collaboration with Lopez on
10000-601: Was not significantly impacted by Ferdinand Marcos ’ declaration of Martial Law in 1972 . The powerful family factions which had dominated La Union politics since before the American colonial era largely remained in place, although the family of Congressman Jose D. Aspiras became much more prominent after he became Marcos’ Tourism Minister. The main political change was the increased power of regional and provincial offices of national agencies, whose directors were answerable directly to Marcos. This technique used by Marcos to consolidate political power did not get much resistance in
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