Laoag in Ilocos Norte

[PeterG]

At the mention of Laoag some people today still conjure images of the Marcos Regime that ruled way back the 1970s to the mid 1980s. Those years the place was really spruced up. But really, the grandeur of Laoag, Ilocos Norte dates way back pre-Spanish times when it was already a thriving settlement of Ilocanos doing trade with the Chinese and Japanese.

This 3,399 plus square kilometer coastal territory of boulders, rocks, and mountains was quite an attraction to the early Spanish conquistadors that they decided to push further north and take control of Laoag, Ilocos Norte. They found a community and culture already progressive and self-governing. Today, Spanish influence is very evident in the remnant edifices left intact after centuries, restored and managed over the years by the local and national government.

It is found at the northwestern tip of Luzon with a full view of the South China Sea. From Manila going to Laoag, Ilocos Norte it takes some 10 to 12 hours by bus. There are air-conditioned and open-air buses available, popular of which is Partas Bus. The journey takes tourists through 6 provinces from Manila to Bulacan, then Pampanga, Tarlac, Pangasinan, La Union, Abra, Ilocos Sur, and then Ilocos Norte. Laoag, Ilocos Norte is famous for garlic—its foremost agricultural product—rice cakes, fish (fresh and those preserved in jars called “bagoong”), weaved products, and agricultural knives of various makes and lengths.

Livelihood in this city of Ilocos Norte is heavily agriculture, fishing comes in second as a local industry, and manufacturing comes in third. Pottery is still done on a medium scale, as well as furniture making and metal-works. Of course, interspersed with all these economic activities is tourism. Laoag, Ilocos Norte is a major tourist drawer in northern Luzon. Its pristine and spacious beaches, mysterious sand dunes, river systems gushing out to sea, mountainous terrain, yawning caves, and historic places make it a must-see in Luzon.

Going around Laoag, Ilocos Norte is best when tourists speak fluent Ilocano, the local vernacular. Or at least be in the company of one who does. Lots of Laoag folks understand and speak English (it is the medium used in schools there) but nothing beats having Ilocanos see tourists speaking their dialect. They give more courtesy and very special treatment to those who do, and in trade, better deals. So the next time they visit Laoag, Ilocos Norte, tourists are better off taking an Ilocano-speaking companion or guide with them.

For historical visits,drop by Café Bojeador Lighthouse in Burgos Town built in the 1890s. It still functions as a lighthouse to vessels passing in front of the Cape. Or the General Ricarte Shrine in Batac. Ricarte is a local hero who fought fiercely in the war against Spain. Laoag, Ilocos Norte also takes pride in the Tabacco Monopoly Monument at the Marcos Bridge. The monument reminds them of the freedom they had from years of being forced to plant nothing except tobacco, from 1875 to 1881. And there are dozens of old churches and bell towers around.

Laoag, Ilocos Norte, in a word, allows us to experience the glories of nature and the past.

Laoag, Ilocos Norte can take us back to the various phases of its history. Remnants of the past have been restored for tourists to enjoy. Moreover, Laoag, Ilocos Norte is rich with natural wonders.