Ilocos Region (Region 1) |
Rihiyon na Sagor na Baybay na Luzon (Region at the Northwest Coast of Luzon) |
Provides profile, geography, map, places to stay and accommodations, tourist attractions, festivals and special interest. |
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ILOCOS NORTE ISLANDS PHILIPPINES |
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Ilocos Norte - The Best Of Culture and NatureIlocos Norte is the northernmost province on the western side of Luzon. The northern part of the Cordillera mountain range separates Ilocos Norte from the provinces of Cagayan, Apayao, and Abra on the east. A narrow coastal plain connects it to the province of Ilocos Sur to the south. It is bounded by the South China Sea on the west and the Babuyan Channel on the north. Before the coming of the Spaniards in the 16th century, Ilocos was a single province. It was divided into north and south on February 2, 1818 by virtue of a royal decree, thus creating the province of Ilocos Norte. Long before the coming of the Spaniards, there already existed an extensive region (consisting of the present provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra and La Union) renowned for its gold mines. Merchants from Japan and China would often visit the area to trade gold with beads, ceramics and silk. The inhabitants of the region believed to be of Malay origin, called their place "samtoy", from "sao mi toy, which literally meant "our language".
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