Ilocos Region - Compiled Threads [Archive] - Page 3

Animo

September 1st, 2006, 09:47 PM

SAN Jose Matulid is a sleepy village in Mexico town, located only a short distance from the SM and Robinson's malls, but a world away in terms of progress. Yet once upon a time, this village was probably the poblacion, or town center, of Mexico.

Church heritage experts believe that the chapel in San Jose Matulid is the oldest existing church in Pampanga, older than the churches of Lubao, Arayat and Bacolor - actually much more ancient towns whose first churches, however, had been destroyed and replaced with the present structures.

The river in front of this chapel is the Sapang Matulid, probably the original name of the whole area until the friars Christianized and renamed it as San Jose Matulid. This river flows straight as far as the eye could see (hence the name); once it reaches the next town, it adopts the next town's name and becomes San Fernando River. It proceeds to join the Guagua-Pasac River, which connects to the Pampanga River, which empties into Manila Bay. Thus, before siltation dried up the rivers, there was a direct route between Manila and Mexico, Pampanga.

According to Augustinian records, the town was founded in 1581 (or 10 years after the conquistadores first entered Manila Bay) and was originally named Nuevo Mexico (New Mexico). I am sure there was already a prehistoric community thriving in this area before 1581; the Spaniards merely "discovered" it.

Now, why did the Spaniards call the place New Mexico? This is where the speculations run wild. Some say it was named after the Central American nation because the Spaniards found natives in the Pampanga town that looked like Aztecs, who, many think, were the forerunners of the Macabebe Scouts, whose photos, taken at the time the Americans came in 1898, showed them in G-string and sporting waist-long hair (uncanny resemblance to Aztec Indians!).

Another theory: Mexico town was named after the chico fruit, an export from Mexico, Central America (again!).

But I think the two more plausible theories are: (1) It was named after a river bend (makasicu, or "elbowing") and (2) It was named after abundance of water (masicu, whose root word sicu is an ancient Kapampangan word for water).

Makasicu or Masicu was probably the prehistoric name of the town. When the Spaniards came and asked the inhabitants how they called their place, the Spaniards either misheard them, or misspelled it, or used the familiar term, Mexico that sounded closest to the native term, Masicu.

The original poblacion, as mentioned earlier, was most likely the present San Jose Matulid; but due to constant flooding from the Sapang Matulid, the town was transferred to higher ground, which is the present site of the church. I see logic in renaming the town near a straight river (matulid) as the town near a bent river (makasicu) - to show contrast between the two sites.

As we all know, Bacolor became the capital of the Philippines in 1762-1765 after the British Occupation forced the transfer of the capital from Manila. Bacolor had already been the capital of Pampanga years before that - in 1755, to be exact. Before 1755, there was no single capital town of Pampanga. Instead, according to the Spanish chronicler Fray Gaspar de San Agustin, Mexico town "es la corte de Pampanga," while Bacolor "es la capital" and Guagua "es igualmente." Thus, the provincial courts were located in Mexico, the other government agencies in Bacolor, and the rest in Guagua - three separate but adjacent towns -sharing the functions of government and equal in stature. Since there was no San Fernando town yet, Mexico and Bacolor and Guagua were next to each other, with a single straight river (Sapang Matulid) facilitating communication and transportation between and among the branches of government.

Eventually, the Spaniards centralized all government functions and Bacolor officially became Pampanga's capital in 1755, one year after the new town of San Fernando was carved out of the barrios along the Mexico-Bacolor boundary. Thus, San Fernando suddenly stood between Mexico and Bacolor, and that was how Mexico began to lose its prominence.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/pam/2006/08/29/oped/robby.tantingco.peanut.gallery.html

Culiat

September 1st, 2006, 10:51 PM

And it is from San Fernando that Angeles was carved from :D

ishtefh_03

September 2nd, 2006, 04:30 AM

wow, di ko akalain na ganun dati ang san jose matulid pero ngayong barriong barrio na ang dating nya.. i saw that church and it looks old nga sana wag pabayan...

JAMAICUS

September 23rd, 2006, 05:36 AM

Bongbong plans more development for Ilocos Norte
By Cecille Suerte Felipe
The Philippine Star 09/23/2006

Ilocos Norte Gov. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos is inviting investors to his province as he vowed to introduce more development from agriculture to tourism.

Marcos, who has introduced the country’s first wind farm, has announced the staging of the Ilocos Norte Investment Summit at Fort Ilocandia Resort in Laoag City on Oct. 12-14.

In a pre-summit held recently at the University of Asian and the Pacific, Presidential Management Staff (PMS) Assistant Secretary Ferdinand Cui announced that from 2006 to 2010, the government is pouring in P25.4 billion for the development of Ilocos Norte.

During the pre-summit, Marcos vowed to develop more and better irrigation systems to help farmers bolster food production.

"In this regard, the provincial government will soon start constructing more farm-to-market roads for easier distribution of produce. Likewise, major lateral roads are set for construction in the entire province," he said.

Marcos said Ilocos Norte’s seaports, particularly in Currimao town, which accommodate only shallow-draft ships, will be redesigned and rehabilitated to allow the entry of larger cargo and ocean-going vessels. A new deep seaport in Laoag City is reportedly now on the drawing board.

Marcos is also eyeing the construction of more hotels across the province to accommodate more tourists.

"The province boasts of beautiful beaches in Pagudpud town, but not a single hotel has been constructed in the area for tourists. The same is true in other parts of the province, and traders usually endure hours of driving just to return to Laoag City, where the province’s only five-star hotel, Fort Ilocandia, is situated," he said.

Most lacking, according to Marcos, are first-class hotels.

Thus, Marcos’ plans include the construction of a grand conference center and high-rise hotels, particularly in areas frequented by tourists such as Pagudpud Beach.

The present international airport will be expanded to accommodate larger aircraft carrying passengers from China and other parts of the world.

Marcos also cited Ilocos Norte’s peace and order situation, which explains why the province is business- and investor-friendly.

Thus, he said, "Now is the right time to pick up the pace for meaningful investments to hasten the economic growth of the province in the next few years."

Even after his third term as governor ends next year, Marcos said the career people behind him in the provincial Capitol will still be there to continue the work that he has started.

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200609239903.htm

Rodel

October 22nd, 2006, 02:16 PM

Are there plans of building an SM mall in the Ilocos Region?

Rodel

October 22nd, 2006, 02:24 PM

Nueva Vizcaya - Nueva Ecija boundary.
Entry to the Cagayan Valley Region...Sta Fe, Nueva Vizcaya

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h315/req2000/misc/P1020007.jpg

habagatcentral1

October 22nd, 2006, 02:59 PM

I hope someone post any pic of Timauini Church

shadow_can2003

October 22nd, 2006, 04:19 PM

Im from Isabela. Ill try to get some photos and share it here. :D

BoNduRanT

October 22nd, 2006, 04:42 PM

Sa Ilocos Norte, wala pa as of now. Pero theres a mall na under construction owned by a local businessman. I havent seen the construction site for months, yung last na nakita ko. They were doing the pavement para sa road papasok dun sa mall and their flatting out the land kung san itatayo. I dont know about Vigan or San Fernando, La Union.

jadebench

October 22nd, 2006, 04:51 PM

^^SFLU, walang plano sa amin..hindi pa kaya ng La Union ang malaking mall with a less population, i dont think so....pag nagkataon, patay ang CSI Mall sa SFLU....dati may plan daw sa Agoo pero ewan ko kung matutuloy..

may proposed SM Mall na sa Dagupan!!!

shadow_can2003

October 22nd, 2006, 06:22 PM

The tourist deserve a bigger and spacious mall in the Ilocos Region. Isara na ang 5-sisters nakakahiya :lol:

jadebench

October 22nd, 2006, 06:53 PM

^^may u/c sa san nicolas.

BoNduRanT

October 23rd, 2006, 11:29 AM

The tourist deserve a bigger and spacious mall in the Ilocos Region. Isara na ang 5-sisters nakakahiya :lol:

I dont know if its true, pero a few years ago, there's a rumor goin around the business community that the Carag's ( owners of 5 sisters superstore ) are "sabotaging" or hindering plans to put up a big mall sa Laoag since they have the power to do so kasi yung isang Carag ang president ng business association ng Laoag. Afraid sa competition. :dunno:

Its the same mentality that put Jollibee Laoag's planned expansion-2nd branch, the former mayor Roger Farinas owns the Mcdo franchise in Laoag, naturally, when the plans for a 2nd branch for Jollibee came about, the office of the mayor didnt grant the necessary papers in order for it to be built and operate. Good thing when his term ended and his brother :laugh: took over, at least natuloy na din.

jadebench: yes, may U/C nga sa may nangalisan.

IMPRESARIO

October 24th, 2006, 03:16 PM

wow, CSI supermarket, Crime Scene Investigation? lol

shadow_can2003

October 26th, 2006, 02:27 PM

Cauayan City Hall

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o208/Bilmor/bilyboypix169.jpg
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o208/Bilmor/bilyboypix159.jpg
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o208/Bilmor/bilyboypix157.jpg

BoNduRanT

October 28th, 2006, 09:33 AM

Sunset in Pagudpud
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/pagudpud03.jpg

Beach stretch
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/pagudpud02.jpg

Beach after Patapat viaduct. Near the border of Ilocos Norte and Cagayan
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/pagudpud01.jpg

View from Gilbert Bridge over Padsan River, Laoag City. Taken at sunrise. Thats the Sierra Madre Mountain range in the background.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/Image140.jpg

Mond87

October 28th, 2006, 10:24 AM

iViva Ilocos!

Weheheh... ang ganda pala ng mga beaches diyan sa inyo!

BoNduRanT

October 28th, 2006, 10:53 AM

There are 2 good beaches. Pagudpud's White Beach and Blue Lagoon.

shyaman

October 28th, 2006, 03:21 PM

Just wanted to drop by...

I actually consider myself an adopted son of Ilocos Norte, Pasuquin to be exact since one of my close friend's from there. I have been in and out of the province at least once a year from 1997 until 2005, mostly in December, holy week or undas. It's the most convenient place to spend the holidays instead of going to my home province in the Visayas... ang mahal kasi ng pamasahe sa eroplano.

Ilocos Norte has a wealth of heritage sites that only few provinces in the Philippines can offer. I'm very lucky to see these places: Laoag, Paoay, Baccara, Sarrat, Batac, Piddig to name a few. I've been to Pagudpud for several times also, been to Patapat viaduct (one time we went there, it was closed because a section was damaged by a massive rock-slide, commuters from both sides had to walk and transfer to waiting vehicle transports), and climbed that famous lighthouse.

Vigan in Ilocos Sur also did not escape my thirst for historical fervor.

Empanada is a must eat. Pinakagusto ko ay ang lutong gulay ng nanay ng friend ko... iba't ibang klaseng luto. Sarap! Ang di ko lang gusto is the longganisa... i find it bland.

Viva Ilocos!

BoNduRanT

October 28th, 2006, 04:20 PM

Good to know that you like my province shyaman :)

markycrossley

October 29th, 2006, 10:19 PM

padsan river looks clean. havent been to laoag in soo long.

tyronne

October 30th, 2006, 09:53 PM

Modern Atlantis soon to rise in Alaminos
By Donna Brazas and Michelle Cabrera
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=business5_oct31_2006

Former President Fidel Ramos has called on local and foreign investors to put their resources and investments in the fast- growing city and emerging no. 1 tourist destination in the Northern Philippines, Alaminos City, the home of the Hundred Islands.

At the unveiling of the city’s 20-year Master Development Plan by Palafox Associates, Ramos said “it is about time that we show the beauty and wonders of the Philippines and help rebuild our economy.” He spoke before a jam-packed crowd of business leaders and investors at the Palm Grove, Rockwell Power Plant at the launching of the Alaminos City Master Plan prepared by Palafox Associates and orthophotography by F.F. Cruz.

“Alaminos City is the closest to the hottest investment site and the giant market of China. Looking at the 10-member States of Asean, we are located at the northernmost part. This is one advantage that we have. We have easy access to China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, also Western Canada and Western United States because of our strategic geographic location. It is at the center of the two greatest oceans of commerce now in the 21st century and the western pacific where 50 percent of the world trade now takes place,” Ramos said.

“Let us all join hands and help each other to show to the world what the Philippines can offer to them. Through the dynamic leadership of Mayor Hernani Braganza help us realize our dreams of having a fast and progressive Alaminos City,” Ramos said, as he made a strong sales pitch for his nephew Nani Braganza whose mother, the late Purita Agsalud Braganza, was the daughter of Pura Ramos Agsalud, younger sister of FVR’s father, Ambassador Narciso Ramos.

For his part, architect Felino Palafox expressed optimism about the bright future of Alaminos City saying “there is so much development potential in the city that we can take advantage of. While other cities of the world like Dubai are spending enormous sums to reclaim and build islands out of the sea, the city has more than 100 islands that we can immediately develop.”

Palafox Associates, the only architectural firm from the Philippines to make it to the list of the world’s top firms as compiled by the Building Design World Architecture, is determined to build a new Atlantis in Alaminos City. Among it’s future development plan is the building of the Hundred Islands Underwater Marine Park including a maze of bridges that are transparent, air-filled tubes suspended beneath the water’s surface through which tourists can walk beneath the islets while admiring the dazzling underwater scenery of the country’s largest marine sanctuary.

In his welcome speech, Mayor Braganza said he is elated that Alaminos may be the first city to be master planned by experts after the war. Baguio as summer capital and Quezon City as the national capital city, were planned by American urban planning giant Daniel Hudson Burnham way back in the early years of the American era.

In commissioning Palafox Associates and F.F. Cruz to draw up a comprehensive land use plan for Alaminos City, Braganza quoted the famous words of Daniel Burnham: “Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men’s blood. Make big plans. Aim high in hope and work.”

“Inspired by Burnham’s words, my administration has adopted an integrated approach to sustainable development aimed at creating better opportunities for our people and at the same time setting the standards for master planning so that we can contribute to national development,” stressed Braganza who served in the Arroyo Cabinet as agrarian reform and press secretary and presidential adviser on political affairs before he became mayor in 2004.

He added that only light industries, tourist-related facilities, and those that draw strength from the rich farm and fishery resources of the city and its satellite towns are welcome in Alaminos City.

“I can assure you, we will make it easy, fast and inexpensive to invest in Alaminos, even if what you want is just simply build a vacation house or adopt one island to protect and enhance it. Alaminos City is now open for business. It is now open for investments,” he said.

In building the future Alaminos City, Braganza appealed to business leaders and investors to help him and his citymates to make their collective dream a reality even as he quoted Senator Robert Kennedy: “There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why. I dream of things that never were and ask, why not.”

shyaman

October 31st, 2006, 12:45 AM

Modern Atlantis soon to rise in Alaminos
By Donna Brazas and Michelle Cabrera
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=business5_oct31_2006

WOW! This is a very ambitious project. The question is: who's gonna fund it and when?

mhe-ann

October 31st, 2006, 09:37 AM

impressed talaga ako sa beaches jan sa norte. :okay:

BoNduRanT

November 1st, 2006, 07:06 AM

I saw Agoo's newly constructed city hall on my way home for undas. Its not yet opened. Im surprised they decided to locate it outside the sentro and it doesnt follow the architecture of key buildings in La Union that we've gotten used to. It was painted white and they used doric columns.

Rodel

November 1st, 2006, 11:34 AM

Rodel

November 1st, 2006, 11:36 AM

impressed talaga ako sa beaches jan sa norte. :okay:

yes...i agree with you. i like the beach in pagudpud and pug-os (did i spell it right???) in cabugao, ilocos sur: the sand is so fine (and white).

zelrich82

November 1st, 2006, 09:38 PM

ang tagal ding natahimik 'tong thread a, 2 months. i've heard of fontana and mimosa and their both in clark, and looking at the photos of arayat's natl. park, so sad to think na napabayaan na. back in the early 80's i've seen NPA's around arayat park nang mag-tree planting kami doon from school (AUF), are they still in the area? kaya siguro wala ng masyadong napunta doon, i know i wouldn't go there kung nandoon pa sila. sabihin na nating di sila nananakit ng tao (civilian), but seeing them walking around with fully automatic weapons can make you worry. just thought i'd share my one time experience, and the npa's (a squad of 6) they were just passing by - but they did stare at us; they probably figured we're students and no threat to them.
anyways, is the arayat place still open and are there any other place like arayat in pampanga where you can relax at a natural environment type of park?

BoNduRanT

November 2nd, 2006, 06:21 AM

do you have some pictures to share?

I wish I had but it was 4am that time and the bus was moving :lol: Well, actually it slowed down sa part na yun kasi may pinasakay, by the time I got hold of my camera, the bus took off :lol: Ill try on my way back to Manila.

BoNduRanT

November 7th, 2006, 12:11 PM

CHRISTMAS 2006
Plaza Aurora
Laoag City, Ilocos Norte

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/ChristmasPlaza02.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/ChristmasPlaza04.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/ChristmasPlaza-TobaccoMonopoly01.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/ChristmasPlaza-Nativity01.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/ChristmasPlaza-Kalesa01.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/ChristmasPlaza-FountainDome01.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/ChristmasPlaza-Arko03.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/ChristmasPlaza-Arko02.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/ChristmasPlaza-Arko01.jpg

Maiden and Oblation
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/ChristmasPlaza-MaidenandMan01.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/ChristmasPlaza-MaidenandMan02.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/ChristmasPlaza-Maiden01.jpg

Ilocos Norte Capitol
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/ChristmasPlaza-Capitol01.jpg

Laoag City Hall
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/ChristmasPlaza-CityHall01.jpg

Mond87

November 7th, 2006, 12:16 PM

^^ Amazing pics. I want to try myself there up North.

BoNduRanT

November 7th, 2006, 04:50 PM

SP pushes for IN airport, seaport improvement

Recognizing transport logistics as a vital factor for economic development, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) has urged the national government to include the Laoag International Airport (LIA) and the International Seaport of Currimao in the North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle (NLAQ) project of the Arroyo administration’s super region program.

The NLAQ is part of the Arroyo government’s development plan to realize the region’s full potentials to pave the way towards agricultural productivity and sustainable food production not only for the local market but also for North Asia.

North Asia’s proximity to these super regions has prompted the national government to be optimistic about increasing agricultural exports and domestic economic growth through aggressive promotion of tourism markets.

Composed of 15 provinces in the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR), Regions I, II, and III, and the northern portions of the provinces of Aurora, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija and Zambales, the NLAQ super region is expected to stimulate economic growth and development, thereby improving the country’s economy.

Of the P56.28 billion budget for the implementation of the major NLAQ projects, which include the phase II project of the Bangui wind farm and the proposed Burgos wind power plants, the Ilocos Norte government, headed by Governor Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., is hopeful that the improvement of the LIA and the Currimao port would be included in the super region development.

In an interview, the governor explained that the lack of transport logistic support in this northern part of Luzon may be preventing local and foreign investors to initiate short and long-term investments in the province.

With this development, the SP, through SP member Mariano V. Marcos II, has passed a resolution during a regular session on October 16 urging Sec. Arthur C. Yap, Presidential Management Staff director-general and NLAQ champion, to include the Laoag airport and Currimao seaport in the key priority infrastructure projects of the national government.

The provincial board also passed a related resolution this time urging President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to issue an executive order designating the Laoag airport and the Currimao seaport as a development route and international gateway of northern Philippines.

Earlier, the provincial government conducted a three-day investment summit wherein they enjoined prospective investors to formulate plans of action geared towards economic growth.

Leilanie G. Adriano

tyronne

November 7th, 2006, 08:30 PM

amazing pictures, bondurant:okay:

BoNduRanT

November 8th, 2006, 02:58 AM

Thanks man!

Mond87: You should. You'll enjoy it :okay:

whippersnapper

November 26th, 2006, 03:27 PM

eh d buhayin natin

tigidig14

November 26th, 2006, 06:21 PM

makikisingit lang ng mga pics nung pumunta ko :D

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/IMG_4841.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/IMG_4840.jpg
Vegan

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/IMG_4701.jpg
Pagudpud

BoNduRanT

November 26th, 2006, 08:21 PM

PAgudpud's white beach looks deserted. :lol:

tigidig14

November 26th, 2006, 09:01 PM

tigidig14

November 27th, 2006, 08:40 PM

Vigan

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/ilocos/IMG_4785.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/ilocos/IMG_4858.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/ilocos/IMG_4860.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/ilocos/IMG_4854.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/ilocos/IMG_4855.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/ilocos/IMG_4778.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/ilocos/IMG_4775.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/ilocos/IMG_4774.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/ilocos/IMG_4773.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/ilocos/IMG_4838.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/ilocos/IMG_4836.jpg
sa bahay ni pres. quirino

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/ilocos/IMG_4792.jpg
oven ng banga, palayok and etc.

tigidig14

November 27th, 2006, 08:51 PM

Paoay church, ilocos norte

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/ilocos/IMG_4752.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/ilocos/IMG_4753-1.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/ilocos/IMG_4754.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/ilocos/IMG_4751.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/ilocos/IMG_4749.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/ilocos/IMG_4748.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/ilocos/IMG_4757.jpg

tigidig14

November 27th, 2006, 09:37 PM

Laoag

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/ilocos/IMG_4747.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/ilocos/IMG_4746-1.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/ilocos/IMG_4737.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/ilocos/IMG_4736.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/ilocos/IMG_4744.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/ilocos/IMG_4738.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/ilocos/IMG_4740.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/ilocos/IMG_4741.jpg

BoNduRanT

November 28th, 2006, 05:40 PM

hehehe Kala ko dinaanan mo alng Laoag. Tumigil din pala kayo. Kumain ka ba kayo empanada namin? :lol:

tigidig14

November 28th, 2006, 06:30 PM

no but we ate at jolibee, nothing really important

mhe-ann

November 29th, 2006, 02:50 AM

PAgudpud's white beach looks deserted. :lol:

oo nga. :D
speaking of jollibee. nun kumain kami sa jollibee candon, panis un salad na binigay sa amin. nagprotesta kami kaya pinalitan ng peach mango pie. :D

tigidig14

November 29th, 2006, 04:04 PM

K this is the last, yung mga natitira kong pics ng Ilocos visit, i dunno the name of those church, location or site but its somewhere up there in upper region.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/ilocos/IMG_4735.jpg
lighthouse w/in pagudpud and laoag

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/ilocos/IMG_4693.jpg
bridge that ive seen here skyscrapercity b4

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/ilocos/IMG_4689.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/ilocos/IMG_4688.jpg
some church

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/ilocos/IMG_4686.jpg
again some old church

enjoy, sorry for annoying you guys with mucho picture hehe

KulasKusgan

November 29th, 2006, 04:13 PM

enjoy, sorry for annoying you guys with mucho picture hehe

humble ka talaga tigs.

BoNduRanT

November 29th, 2006, 04:14 PM

1st Pic: Cape Bojeador Lighthouse in Burgos, Ilocos Norte
2nd Pic: Quirino Bridge, Bantay Ilocos Sur.
The last pic I think is in Naguilian, Ilocos Sur.

TheAvenger

November 30th, 2006, 12:08 AM

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n98/emesber/region1.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n98/emesber/R2.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n98/emesber/R3-1.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n98/emesber/R4.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n98/emesber/R5.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n98/emesber/R6.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n98/emesber/A1.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n98/emesber/A2.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n98/emesber/A3-2.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n98/emesber/A4.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n98/emesber/A5.jpg

weirdo

November 30th, 2006, 08:19 PM

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/shigure/Pangasinan/manaoag01rizalstatue.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/shigure/Pangasinan/manaoag03invert.jpg

weirdo

November 30th, 2006, 08:20 PM

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/shigure/Pangasinan/manaoag02cross.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/shigure/Pangasinan/manaoag04etc.jpg

weirdo

November 30th, 2006, 08:23 PM

catholic church and public market

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/shigure/Zambales/ibax01.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/shigure/Zambales/ibam01.jpg

weirdo

November 30th, 2006, 08:24 PM

public market, old campaign posters
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/shigure/Zambales/boom.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/shigure/Zambales/campaigned.jpg

weirdo

November 30th, 2006, 08:26 PM

beach

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/shigure/Zambales/wrathpacified.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/shigure/Zambales/peace.jpg

weirdo

November 30th, 2006, 08:28 PM

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/shigure/Zambales/boatboatman.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/shigure/Zambales/katandjonot.jpg

weirdo

November 30th, 2006, 08:30 PM

beach, poso

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/shigure/Zambales/paradisefound.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/shigure/Zambales/poso.jpg

markycrossley

December 4th, 2006, 02:32 AM

tigidig14

December 4th, 2006, 02:35 AM

weirdo ang gagaling :)

BoNduRanT

December 6th, 2006, 06:13 PM

About the article posted by JAMAICUS. I've seen a rendering of the proposed Ilocos Norte Convention Center. They recently had the groundbraking and the construction just started. Based on what I've seen, the architecture is patterned on the traditional bahay na bato. If I heard it right, the facility will also include a hotel. It will be located in Brgy Suba, near Paoay Lake and Malacanan of the NOrth.

mhe-ann

December 7th, 2006, 04:54 AM

awesome pics. thanks anthony for sharing.

weirdo

December 10th, 2006, 06:48 PM

@tigs, thanks. ayaw pa umalis ng mga kasama ko agad sa manaoag. di tuloy ako nakahabol sa meet nio sa manila.

@mhe-ann, thanks rin.

cheersmate

December 17th, 2006, 01:14 PM

beach, poso

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/shigure/Zambales/paradisefound.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/shigure/Zambales/poso.jpg
nice pics u got there,
well done!:cheers:

tigidig14

December 23rd, 2006, 06:06 AM

http://img445.imageshack.us/img445/2143/baguiosh4.jpg

pede ba tong isama dito
sana hindi sya malaki :lol:

BoNduRanT

February 15th, 2007, 05:17 PM

GMA sees 5 more wind turbines rising in Ilocos Norte

by Crisina Arzadon

BANGUI, Ilocos Norte (13 February) -- Pres. Macapagal-Arroyo said five more wind turbines are expected to rise at the 25 megawatt-Bangui wind farm to increase the energy produced for Ilocos Norte power consumers.

The President said a separate government-run 30megawatt wind power plant will also rise in nearby Burgos town with a government support of $75 million under the Super Regions program.

The wind farm will is a project of the Philippine National Oil Company.

“The Bangui wind farm is an example of a private investment. But we need more investments in North Luzon in the areas of agribusiness and energy,” She said.

The Bangui Bay wind farm, owned and operated by the Northwind Power Development Corporation, consists of 15 wind turbines and supplies 40 percent of Ilocos Norte’s power requirement.

According to Ferdinand Dumlao, Northwind chairman, the use of wind energy has been translated to a savings of P50 million since it started operating.

It was the first visit of Ms. Arroyo at the Bangui windmill on Saturday after it started its commercial operation last year after she failed to attend the commissioning of the plant.

The President along with Energy Secretary Rafael Llotilla, Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan and former Energy Sec. Vince Perez, now consultant of the Bangui windmill, arrived at the Laoag International Airport around 1 p.m. and immediately met provincial officials led by Ilocos Norte Gov. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., Ilocos Norte Rep. Roque Ablan, Jr. and Laoag Mayor Michael Fariñas for a one-hour private meeting at the airport lounge.

She immediately flew here for a project briefing on the Bangui windmill.

The President was in Ilocos Norte on the invitation of Fariñas to grace the Pamulinawen festival, the city’s main fiesta celebrations.

Ms. Arroyo declined to talk about political issues mindful that Marcos identifies himself with the opposition.

Ms. Arroyo, the governor and Ablan, however, were seated at the backseat of the service vehicle that brought the President to the windmill’ farm operation building site.

She said Ilocos Norte is included in the government’s priority allocation of support programs under the North Luzon Agri-business Growth Quadrangle.

She said Ilocos Norte and the capital city of Laoag should brace for the near opening of the Chinese consulate in Laoag, the second consular post next to Cebu, which are outside Manila.

“We welcome our Chinese investors who are willing to provide funds in the areas of mining and agribusiness,” she said.

Ilocos Norte Gov. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. had earlier said that Chinese businessmen have signified their intent to help upgrade the Laoag airport while negotiations are on-going to include Ilocos Norte as a tourist destination for a cruise ship that regularly traverses the South China Sea.

A proposed expansion plan for the Currimao seaport has been identified to accommodate an additional berth that will service cruise ships to dock at the port.

Ms. Arroyo said the cityhood bid of Batac is forthcoming after the bill has been approved on third reading at the Senate.

“(When it becomes a city) the most important is it will get a bigger pie in the allocation of internal revenue allotment share as Batac moves from among 1,500 towns to one of 150 cities,” she said. (PIA)

Article Link from Philippine Information Agency Website (http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p070213.htm&no=27)
--------

Yey! Another wind farm for Ilocos Norte! :okay:

KulasKusgan

February 18th, 2007, 07:24 AM

http://www.atfdavao.com/images/Paoay_Church.jpg

http://www.atfdavao.com/images/Banaue.JPG

allan_dude

February 23rd, 2007, 12:45 PM

Robinsons Land plans P5-B loan to fund projects
By Zinnia B. Dela Peña Link (http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200702230710.htm)

Robinsons Land Corp., the property arm of the Gokongwei-owned (RLC) holding firm JG Summit Holdings Inc., plans to borrow P5 billion to fund on-going and new projects.

RLC president and chief operating officer Frederick Go said the company is looking at various options to raise funds for its capital expenditures this year and next year. "It could be pure debt but everything is still under study. With this (referring to new borrowings), we will have enough funds for expansion."

However, the company, in an earlier disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, said it was considering issuing fixed-rate corporate notes.

RLC is spending P15 billion this year and next year to build new malls in Dumaguete, Bulacan, Paco in Manila, Tagaytay and Davao as well to refurbish existing malls in Ermita, Manila and Bacolod.

About 30 percent of the budget will go to the establishment of new office buildings catering to business process outsourcing firms. The balance will be spent for the construction of new housing projects and acquisition of new properties.

Robinsons Homes Inc. senior vice-president and general manager Marilu Alferez said the company is targeting 10 new projects this year in the key areas of Luzon and Mindanao. It has set aside P1 billion this year for its capital expenditures.

Robinsons Homes is the housing and land development division of RLC.

Alferez said two projects will rise in Laoag and in Davao. Other sites include Cebu, Iloilo, Tagaytay, Cagayan De Oro and Pampanga.

The Tagaytay project, dubbed Wellington Courtyard, is in joint venture with Omico Corp., a listed mining and property firm controlled by businessman Tommy Tia. It involves the development of five residential condominium buildings.

Alferez said a total of 176 units will be constructed in a sprawling one-hectare property owned by Omico. Units would cost between P2 million and P4 million.

Robinsons Homes will soon launch its first project in Ilocos Norte, through a joint venture agreement with the Ablan family. The project involves the development of a residential community and a commercial strip in a five-hectare property in Laoag City. It would be its first major project in Northern Luzon.

Its other project in Ilocos is a 15-hectare mid-rise cost residential development in partnership with the Singsons.

Alferez said the company will open the second phase of Forest Parkhomes, which is envisioned to become another masterpiece in Angeles City, Pampanga.

BoNduRanT

February 23rd, 2007, 05:18 PM

O yeah, I've heard about that development by Robinsons in Laoag, malapit sa Airport yung site.

Waldenstrom

February 23rd, 2007, 08:33 PM

I miss ILOCOS!!! :)

ravenhawk

February 25th, 2007, 05:28 AM

Guys can you please pose a picture of the Laoag International Airport?

BoNduRanT

February 26th, 2007, 07:35 PM

Heto mga google earth shots.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/IlocosGoogle/airport02.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/IlocosGoogle/airport.jpg

I cant find real pics. I'll post some pag meron.

normandb

February 28th, 2007, 01:46 AM

Mt. Pinatubo
http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/1436/mtpinatuboia8.jpg

kiretoce

February 28th, 2007, 03:21 AM

^^ That's really beautiful! :eek:

Sinjin P.

February 28th, 2007, 04:32 AM

Mt. Pinatubo
http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/1436/mtpinatuboia8.jpg

HDR Photography :drool:

-----
Roll out Thread 2 guys :)

kiretoce

March 3rd, 2007, 05:42 AM

Rest rooms along Halsema operational by summer

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (2 March) -- Motorists and commuters along the Halsema Highway may soon find comfort and convenience as coordination efforts for the fast tracking of repairs and full operation of rest rooms along the Halsema Highway are currently being undertaken through the forging of a memorandum of agreement among concerned agencies.

Committee Chair on Tourism Board Member Fernando Aritao said a MOA among concerned barangay units, the provincial tourism office and the Department of Public Works and Highways – CAR is now being drafted to resolve the issue on the rehabilitation of comfort rooms and the complaints of commuters of poor maintenance affecting the tourism industry.

Construction and repair of comfort rooms along the Halsema Highway and Kennon Road were undertaken by the DPWH-CAR except the CR found at the Highest Point in Cattubo, Atok constructed by the Philippine Tourism Authority under the Department of Tourism Cordillera.

The CRs are expected to be ready in time for summer which is the peak season of travelers. Minimal fees will be charged for the maintenance of rest rooms which will soon be managed by the barangay unit concerned. In a related development, the provincial board approved a measure requesting Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the immediate turn over of the province’s share from the toll fees prior to its remittance to the national coffers for the maintenance of all public toilets/restrooms and other public facilities along the Kennon Road and Halsema Highway.

Collection of toll fees by the DPWH – CAR from motor vehicles traveling along Kennon road and Halsema Highway are still being remitted directly to the National Treasury before any share of the province is released as stated in Resolution Number 0740 approved last week.

The board also claimed that the process of acquiring the province’s share from the toll fees is so tedious and time consuming. They added that it delays if not hampers the maintenance, repair and improvement of facilities such as toilets and restrooms, parks and view decks among others along the highway in consonance with tourism and clean and green programs of the government.

Presidential Decree 1004 authorizes the direct remittance of the toll fess collected from said national roads to the province through the Benguet Engineering District, DPWH-CAR for the exclusive maintenance, repair and improvement of the roads in accordance with the program of work prepared by the Highway District Engineer of Benguet and approved by the DPWH Regional Director concerned.

This effort geared towards improving the tourism industry may as well contribute for an improved investment climate.

rage@cebu

March 5th, 2007, 07:01 AM

Rage@Cebu in Vigan City!
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110228.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110205.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110216.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110218.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110219.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110241.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110243.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110253.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110263.jpg

rage@cebu

March 5th, 2007, 07:25 AM

Viron Transit...
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110155.jpg

Capitol...
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110202.jpg

church...
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110203.jpg

habagatcentral1

March 5th, 2007, 07:33 AM

^^ Oi! Longaniza Vigan ug Basi nako ha! Ayaw kalimti! :D
Good thing you used warm color setting. :D

rage@cebu

March 5th, 2007, 07:54 AM

^^ Oi! Longaniza Vigan ug Basi nako ha! Ayaw kalimti! :D
Good thing you used warm color setting. :D

bsta padala ka western union... hehehe... ok ra!

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110171.jpg

rage@cebu

March 5th, 2007, 07:55 AM

JTC MALL.... Vigan City!
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110279.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110282.jpg

habagatcentral1

March 5th, 2007, 08:04 AM

bsta padala ka western union... hehehe... ok ra!

Damgo ka lakay! hahahaha!!!:lol: It's affordable baya. Even just one Vigan souvenir will do, please? :D

rage@cebu

March 5th, 2007, 08:07 AM

more...
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110190.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110189.jpg

the beach...
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110182.jpg

our farm...
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110165.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110180.jpg

tyronne

March 5th, 2007, 10:08 PM

Very nice! :okay: Take ka rin ng pictures ng Pangasinan ha pag nadaan ka don. Thanks.:)

normandb

March 6th, 2007, 12:41 AM

^^ masanting ya ngarem ed si ka. di ko na napapraktis panggalatok ko TY.

kiretoce

March 6th, 2007, 11:09 PM

Big airlines can't service Baguio
Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Plans of drawing in more tourists to the Cordillera region by having a regular air service to Baguio might not bear fruit as two of the major airlines in the country said they could not cater to passengers coming to and from the mountain resort city.

The largest airline company in the country, Philippine Airlines (PAL), reportedly does not have aircrafts that could operate within the appropriate margins of the Loakan airport.

In addition, PAL vice president for sales Enrique Javier said their rehabilitation plan as approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) does not include the use of turboprop aircrafts, or those used when they operate domestic flights catering to the Baguio-Manila-Baguio route.

Another airline, Air Philippines, also said they could not operate in Baguio because of the restrictions of the Loakan airport's runway.

Only Asian Spirit operates in Baguio but because of the need for additional air service, the City Council on October 2 last year approved Resolution 245-2006, which requested other airlines to consider additional air transport services in the city.

Because of the issues raised by PAL and Air Philippines, the City Council, through Resolution 246-2006, reiterated to the Office of the President a request for the rehabilitation of the Loakan airport, which would conform to international standards and margins of safety.

The Office of the President, meanwhile, referred the resolution to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) for immediate action.

tyronne

March 7th, 2007, 08:17 AM

^^ masanting ya ngarem ed si ka. di ko na napapraktis panggalatok ko TY.

Hindi ko kaya maintindihan ang Pangasinan hehe!

Sinjin P.

March 12th, 2007, 05:45 AM

500+ posts

rage@cebu

March 15th, 2007, 09:10 AM

introduction by allan_dude

----------

Region 1

http://www.gov.ph/aboutphil/images/region1.jpg

Ilocos Norte (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=508754)

Ilocos Norte was created as a separate province by the King Ferdinand VII of Spain through a Royal Decree on February 2, 1818 and Republic Act 2711 on March 10, 1917.

It occupies the coastal plain bordering the China Sea and guarded by the Cordilleras in the northwestern corner of Luzon. Before this, the coastal region encompassing both Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur was one province.

When Juan de Salcedo started his exploration in 1572, he occupied Laoag (now a city) which served as the province's capital and center of commerce and industry as well. Laoag City is about 487 kilometers Northwest of Manila.

The province is bounded in the East by Cagayan and Kalinga-Apayao, in the Southeast by Abra, in the South by Ilocos Sur and in the West by the South China Sea.As of June

The province is composed of:
two (2) cities and

21 municipalities

557 barangaysLike the other provinces of the Ilocos, Ilocos Norte's economy is mostly agriculture- based. Aside from rice, the province is a major producer of fruits, vegetables and legumes, specifically, garlic and tomato.

Manufacturing has become a thriving industry in the province where most of the establishments are focused on general contracting, furniture-making, handicrafts and metalcraft. Ilocos Norte is popular for its old churches and ancestral houses.

The province's booming tourism industry is due to its various scenic spots and the presence of an international airport in the City of Laoag.

Ilocos Sur (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=285889)

Before the coming of the Spaniards, the coastal plains in the northwestern extremity of Luzon, stretching from the Bangui in the north to Namacpacan (now Luna, La Union) in the south, were as a whole known as a progressive region rich in gold.

In 1611, when Pangasinan was created, part of modern La Union was annexed to a new province. By February 2, 1818, growth and prosperity were sufficiently great to compel the Spanish authorities to divide the ancient province of La Union into two: Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur. Ilocos Sur then included its present territory, plus the northeastern part of modern La Union and all of Abra (which was then called Abra de Vigan).

In 1846, Abra was made a separate politico-militar province by the Spaniards, but was re-annexed back to Ilocos Sur as a sub-province in 1903 by the Americans. The present province of Abra was finally established in 1917.

The province of Ilocos Sur is located along the western coast of Northern Luzon. It is bounded by Ilocos Norte in the North, Abra in the Northeast, Mountain Province in the east, Benguet in the Southeast, La Union in the South and the Luzon Sea and the Lingayen Gulf in the West.

The province is composed of:
2 cities and
32 municipalities and
768 barangays.Approximately 23.7 percent of the province's total land area are crop lands. Aside from La Union, Ilocos Sur is one of the country's major producers of tobacco. Its other major agricultural products include onion, tomato and banana.

Industries in the province are mostly small and medium scale ones in the areas of pottery, ceramics and furniture making. These industries absorb more than half of the population total employment.

The ubiquitous old and ancestral houses and churches have made the local tourism industry a major contributor to the province's economy. Other tourist attractions include natural scenic spots and industries such as pottery and ceramics.

La Union (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=367465)

La Union is a Spanish term for "the union" or "the united". No other name could apply more appropriately to this province which was born out of the fusion of towns from the provinces of Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan and Benguet.

La Union was created by virtue of a superior Decreto issued on March 2, 1850 by Governor General Antonio Maria Blanco. The establishment of La Union as a province was formally approved by the Real Orden of Quezon Isabella II of Spain on April 18, 1854.

As a province, it had withstood the rigors of war, first against the Spaniards then against the Americans and lastly, the Japanese. The province has flourished since its creation to the present until it was designated as the center of the Ilocos Region (Region I). Its capital, San Fernando City, is the seat of the regional government offices as well as the region's educational and commercial center.

The province is bounded on the North and Northeast by Ilocos Sur, on the East by Benguet, on the South by Pangasinan and on the West by the South China Sea. La Union is five hours from Manila and more than an hour from Baguio City by car.

The province is composed of:
1 city
19 municipalities, and
576 barangays.Around 35 percent of the total land area of the province is devoted to crop production. Although 62 percent of La Union is upland, only 21 percent remains forested. The province is one of the country's two major producers of tobacco. Its other major agricultural products include banana, coconut and mango aside from rice.

The province has more than 110 kilometers of coastline. The pristine waters of strategically located coastal municipalities make the province a major fishing ground and likewise a top destination for domestic and foreign visitors.

La Union is famous for its tree houses, beaches and other natural tourist attractions.
Small and medium enterprises are thriving in the province with the booming small-scale industries like pottery making and sericulture.

Pangasinan (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=412658)

Created in 1850 by Governor General Ronquillo de Penalosa, Pangasinan was the earliest political and administrative unit in the Philippines. It was officially conquered and colonized by D. Martin de Goiti in 1571. At that time, its territorial jurisdiction included the present province of Zambales and parts of La Union and Tarlac. Lingayen was designated and remained up to the present the provincial capital.

By middle of the 19th century, the northern towns of Agoo to Bacnotan were separated from Pangasinan and became parts of the province of La Union.

In 1975, its territorial boundaries were further diminished when Panique and other municipalities south of it were affixed to Tarlac.

At present, the province is bounded in the North by Lingayen Gulf, La Union and Benguet, in the Northeast by Nueva Vizcaya, in the East by Nueva Ecija, Tarlac in the South and Zambales and the China Sea in the West. It is approximately 170 kilometers North of Manila and 59 kilometers Southwest of Baguio City.

The province is composed of:
4 cities,
44 municipalities and
1,364 barangays.The province's economy is mainly agricultural due to its vast fertile plains. More than 44 percent of its agricultural area is devoted to crop production. Aside from being one of the Philippine's rice granaries, Pangasinan is also a major producer of coconut, mango and eggplant.

As a coastal province, marine and inland fishing have become one of the major economic activities of the people.

Apart from agriculture and fishery, Pangasinan's economy also thrives in light industries. It is famous for exquisitely hand-carved furnitures, naturally-carved bamboo furnitures, rattan and the famous Fish Caviar (Bagoong), which has become the trademark of the province.

Pangasinan also boasts of its natural and scenic spots which have greatly contributed to the booming local tourism industry.

Source:
nscb.gov.ph
Gov.ph

----------

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110228.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110234.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110203.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110202.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110674.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110670.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110279.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110165.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110182.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110714.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110722.jpg

rage@cebu

March 15th, 2007, 02:27 PM

SANTA! seen from Bantay, yung mountains ha..., pero hndi ko nakunan ang bridge... gabi ksi kmi nag.travel...
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110266.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110286.jpg

cheersmate

March 17th, 2007, 06:06 PM

bute naman inayos ang mapa..
how bout ung sleeping beauty sa right-side na mountain?did u notice it?
nice pics u got there..looks like u had fun in vigan:)

have anyone heard of white-water rafting in ifugao ba un?

rage@cebu

March 18th, 2007, 07:48 AM

^^ it was really fun bai! wala akong fotos sa Laoag... gabi ksi kmi pumunta doon... tsaka lowbat ang cam... sayang.

venntro

April 2nd, 2007, 07:47 AM

^^ Michael Keon is running for Governor of Ilocos Norte. I think this guy is forward looking and I believe that Ilocos tourism and sports will benefit a lot under Mr. Keon.

BoNduRanT

April 2nd, 2007, 09:48 AM

Yep, he is. Champion ang Ilocos Norte for 5 straight years na ata sa Ilocos Region Athletics Association Meet under him. I see him running every afternoon sa sports complex whenever Im in Ilocos, kayang makipagsabayan sa mga long distance runner. He'll go up against a former Governor. Rudy Farinas.

Sinjin P.

April 3rd, 2007, 04:28 AM

LIFE-STYLED
‘Heritage resort’ rises in Ilocos

By Thelma Sioson San Juan
Inquirer
Last updated 09:06pm (Mla time) 03/29/2007

TWO WEEKS AGO, WE GOT our summer break earlier than expected, in a place we had always been fond of -- Ilocos.

Through the years Ilocos has provided us rich stories (including ghost stories) and even richer experiences: Irene and Greggy Araneta’s wedding in Sarrat; the centuries-old houses of Vigan, now a Unesco World Heritage site; our magazine colleague Joseph Uy finding himself sleeping on the same bed that Tom Cruise had slept on at Villa Angela during the shoot of Oliver Stone’s “Born on the Fourth of July”; the mind-boggling grand architecture of the Ilocos churches, particularly of Sta. Maria Church with its grand steps and the old graveyard behind it; and the Bantay tower on which Angel Aquino, then a budding model, stood in a Ramon Valera kimona, photographed before sunrise by Neal Oshima for what has since become a classic Metro cover, etc.

But a new Ilocos attraction is bound to be even more memorable: a manmade sitio by the sea, complete with a plaza, a chapel and old houses.

Sitio Remedios is a 18,000-sq-m sprawl along the South China Sea in Currimao, Ilocos Norte.

It recreates a village of mid-20th century Ilocos. As far as we know, there’s no place like it in the country.

The sitio is a beach-front property of Dr. Joven Cuanang, medical director of St. Luke’s Medical Center. Last year he decided to develop it into a mid-century Ilocos Norte village.

Saving memories

Asked why he did it, he replied, “Because they’re taking away my childhood memories.” He added: “More and more, traditions are dying, artifacts and antiques are being taken away. I don’t like the idea of bringing things out of the country.”

A graduate of University of the East-Ramon Magsaysay Memorial school of medicine and Harvard Medical School, Dr. Cuanang has nurtured a passion for art since his youth; in fact, he has leading art galleries.

Born in Batac in the neighborhood of Ferdinand Marcos, Dr. Cuanang and his two siblings were orphaned early. His mother, Remedios, was a schoolteacher; she died when he was only 15.

Dr. Cuanang has lovely memories of the beaches along Currimao, where his family would go on weekends and holidays.

By building Sitio Remedios late last year, the physician has preserved his memories of a genteel past. The wooded gates of the Sitio, named after his mother and dedicated to Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage and Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, open to a grand walkway of old bricks, flanked by pools filled with azucao lotus plants indigenous to Paoay.
The 14 Stations of the Cross are engraved on cement plinths lining the path.

Going up the steps at the end of the walkway, you get a sweeping view of the sitio—the plaza, the chapel made of rough concrete shaded by centuries-old trees, and the six houses replicating the Ilocos homes of old—each structure a labor of love by Dr. Cuanang and his architect, Rex Hofilena.

The chapel, a replica of Paoay church, is the heart of the plaza. Dramatically lit at night, it sets the romantic mood of the place. Inside are massive wooden benches and side altars honoring St. Anthony de Padua and Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage.

The interiors are as stark and spare as its façade. The only color is in the stained-glass windows designed for the chapel by Antonio Leano. Its lone chandelier once adorned the Quiapo church. Anyone, even a man, would feel the romantic urge to tie the knot in this quaint, romantic setting.

A few weeks ago, Cecile Licad had an evening concert at Capilla de San Miguel, as the chapel is named. This Holy Week, it will be the venue of the traditional pabasa to be done by the old folk of Ilocos Norte.

Ilocos places

The homes were built from old wood, bricks and architecture details retrieved from torn-down structures around Ilocos. They were named after places in Ilocos, such as Bacarra, Dingras, Batac, Piddig. Their furnishings come from the ’50s homes or even older. Their artworks are by today’s foremost artists.

In the Batac home is a wedding portrait of Mariano and Remedios Cuanang—the doctor’s parents—done in the “Larawan” style by National Artist Bencab.

In the dining area hangs a Manny Garibay mural of “El Vibora,” depicting the bravery of Gen. Artemio Ricarte. In the living room on the second floor hang the portraits of Juan and Antonio Luna, both illustrious sons of the neighboring town of Badoc.

Called a “heritage resort,” Sitio Remedios accepts stay-in guests and has its own kitchen serving Ilocano fare. You can feast on the homegrown greens and seaweeds and, of course, bagnet. From day to night, you’re lulled by the sound of the waves, and cooled by the sea breeze.

Dr. Cuanang collaborated with fashion designer Lito Perez of Camp Suki fame to give the guests a memorable night. Guests have the option of driving to Vigan (it takes about an hour) to have a turn-of-the-century dinner, an impressive production mounted by Perez in the ancestral Arce home which he is leasing.

On our last night at the Sitio, driving back from dinner in Vigan, we were greeted by the sight of the entire sitio carpeted with lit candles, hundreds and hundreds of them. Against a moonlit sky, the vista was magical.

The Sitio has taken on yet another character. Irene Marcos Araneta, a recent guest, called it the “night of 400 candles,” which, she told Dr. Cuanang, was the talk among her friends.

To Dr. Cuanang, the sprawl represents a return to his roots and his way of giving back. He pointed at the watch tower that was almost completed in one side of the beachfront—it will be a venue for Ilocos arts and crafts. You wonder what drives someone to recreate the past.

“Pride of place,” he said. “It’s for the future (generation).” That’s a rare investment these days.

Sitio Remedios is fully booked for the Holy Week. For future reservations, log on to www.sitioremedios.com.

http://images.inq7.net/img/07/03/29/sho/lif/lif/art_57765/img/gal/pic_gal00.jpg
DR. Joven Cuanang on his beachfront

tyronne

April 3rd, 2007, 04:41 AM

Wow! That's a very nice place to go to. I like the old houses :okay:

BoNduRanT

April 3rd, 2007, 10:16 AM

Hala, bat di ko alam yan :lol: Eh madalas pa naman ako pumunta dati sa coral formations sa Currimao. :lol:

kiretoce

April 12th, 2007, 01:14 AM

China opens consulate in Laoag, northern Philippines (http://english.people.com.cn/200704/11/eng20070411_365695.html)

China Wednesday formally opened a consulate in Laoag, northern Philippines, which is praised by both Chinese and Filipino officials as an important event in the development of relations between the two countries.

Chinese Ambassador Li Jinjun, Governor of Ilocos Norte Ferdinand Marcos Jr., former Filipino First Lady Imelda Marcos, Philippine Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Francisco Benedicto and 500 other people attended the opening ceremony of the consulate.

Hailing the event as an important step in developing Sino- Filipino relations, Li said the opening of the consulate is the result of efforts by the governments and peoples of the two countries.

Li said Ilocos Norte is the Filipino province which had received the first group of Chinese immigrants hundreds of years ago, therefore striking a historical tie with China since then.

Due to its geographical closeness to China, Laoag and its surrounding areas have now become one of the most popular destinations for Chinese tourists in the Philippines and are attracting more and more Chinese to come to visit, study and invest, he said.

Li said China wishes to continue and renew the historical tie with northern Philippines by expanding cooperation in the fields of infrastructure, tourism, trade, mining and agriculture.

Governor Marcos said the people of northern Philippines are happy China has chosen Laoag to open its third diplomatic institutions in the country and called on China to invest in the region in the fields of infrastructure, tourism, renewable energy such as wind and solar energy, and agriculture.

He also recalled that his late father, former President Ferdinand Marcos, made a historical visit to Beijing, capital of China, 32 years ago, which he said had proved to be so important for the Philippines considering the excellent relations existing now with China.

Laoag is the biggest city in northern Philippines with a population of 100,000. It is known for tourist resources including the UNESCO-designated world cultural heritage of ancient Church of Paoay, Luzon cigars and wooden furnitures.

The Chinese consulate is the first foreign consulate to be established here.

mhe-ann

April 13th, 2007, 03:17 AM

haay... one year na pala ang nakakaraan nun nagpunta kami ng vigan at pagudpud. nakaka-miss un lugar. ang bilis ng panahon. :)

BoNduRanT

April 16th, 2007, 09:46 AM

Photos I took during Holy Week. Nagpahinga kami sa Currimao Coral Formations during our Visita Iglesia. Eto sunset pics.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/currimao05.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/currimao01.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/currimao06.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/currimao04.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/currimao03.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/currimao02.jpg

Badoc Church Bell Tower

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/badoc.jpg

Paoay Church

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/Paoay03.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/Paoay02.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/abercromb24/Paoay01.jpg

kiretoce

April 16th, 2007, 02:16 PM

^^ Awesome sunset photos Zach! :applause: :applause: :applause:

So serene and calm. Zen-like even! Ohmmm.... :sleepy:

BoNduRanT

April 16th, 2007, 04:09 PM

Thanks kiretoce! :)

tyronne

April 17th, 2007, 05:20 PM

Those are very classy pictures, Zach. Good job! :okay:

BoNduRanT

April 17th, 2007, 06:11 PM

Salamat tyronne :)

mhe-ann

April 18th, 2007, 12:05 PM

I love sunset photos. great job, zach! :master:

Sinjin P.

April 18th, 2007, 03:53 PM

Nice photos BoNduRanT! :okay:

Anyway, today's highest temperature was recorded in Isabela: 38.8 degrees Celsius! That's hotta hot!

BoNduRanT

April 20th, 2007, 01:55 PM

Thanks mhe-ann and Jhaelnis :)

tyronne

April 26th, 2007, 08:10 PM

Gov’t fasttracks upgrading of Poro Point airport
By Teddy P. Molina
The Philippine Star 04/27/2007
http://philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200704270709.htm

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union —With the impending permanent closure of the Baguio airport to air traffic, the upgrading of the Poro Point international airport that is located in this northern city is being fasttracked.

This was learned from Undersecretary Hermenegildo Dumlao, executive director of the North Luzon Growth Quadrangle Commission (Northquad), who said that the Poro Point Management Corp. (PPMC) is now accepting technical documents and proposals for the upgrading work.

The deadline for the submission of proposals is May 8, Dumlao said.

"Northquad fully supports the immediate rehabilitation of the airport to boost trade and tourism in the North," the Northquad chief told The Star.

Earlier, President Arroyo ordered the permanent closure of the Loakan airport in Baguio City so that its runway will be utilized for the expansion of the Baguio Special Economic Zone.

This was prompted by a growing number of investors wanting to locate their manufacturing firms in the country’s summer capital, it was learned.

Mrs. Arroyo said the San Fernando airport in Poro Point owing to its proximity to Baguio City would serve as the travel and shipment point for Baguio as well as other areas in Northern Luzon.

It was learned that there are available funds for the airport project called "Upgrading of the San Fernando Airport, Phase 1."

The detailed engineering phase of the project is 100 percent complete according to Dumlao.

This developed as congressional leaders of Northern Luzon led by Rep. Eric Singson, president of the Northern Luzon Alliance, and Rep. Conrado Estrella III, chairman of the NLGQA special committee in the House, urged President Arroyo to cause the extension of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac expressway from La Paz, Tarlac to Rosario, La Union.

They said the extension will boost tourism and business activities in Tarlac and Pangasinan particularly in the San Roque multipurpose project complex, Binalonan-Urdaneta-Manaoag pilgrimage area, and San Fabian-Hundred Islands tourism estate.

richard24

May 1st, 2007, 03:42 PM

the bridge connecting the towns of Bantay and Santa in Ilocos Sur.., on our way to vigan. :)

http://i16.tinypic.com/4yfji4o.jpg

-=+cZaRiNa+=-

May 1st, 2007, 05:52 PM

Hey guys!:wave:

Ilang hours ba ang biyahe from Laoag to Pagudpud?
Ano namang magagandang puntahan sa Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur at La Union? Gusto kong magpunto sa wind mills, Malacañang of the North pati na sa beach sa San Juan, La Union pero di ako sure na enough yung 2 days namin.

-=+cZaRiNa+=-

May 1st, 2007, 05:56 PM

BoNduRanT

May 1st, 2007, 06:30 PM

Great pics! Ang ganda pala sa Currimao.:okay:

Salamat. Dyan yung mga dating coral formations. The place looks great on a clear day at pag malinis at konti tao.

Hey guys!:wave:

Ilang hours ba ang biyahe from Laoag to Pagudpud?
Ano namang magagandang puntahan sa Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur at La Union? Gusto kong magpunto sa wind mills, Malacañang of the North pati na sa beach sa San Juan, La Union pero di ako sure na enough yung 2 days namin.

1-2 hours. Mas maigi pag may sarili kayong sasakyan. Gawin niyo ng 3 days, yung first day niyo, mag daytrip. Alis kayo maaga from Manila tapos on the way, stop over kayo sa mga makikita niyong sites from La Union to Ilocos Norte. Tapos yung 2 remaining 2 days, hatiin niyo na alng ang I.N. at I.S.

Ilocos Norte, suggestions ko: Laoag Sinking Bell Tower, Paoay Sand Dunes, Cape Bojeador Lighthouse ( on the way to Pagudpud makikita niyo to ), Windmills ( on the way din to pagudpud, ask for directions kung pano pumunta dun sa site ), Malakanyang of the North, Paoay Church, Marcos Mausuleum and Museum, Fort Ilocandia saka Museo Ilocos Norte. A few minutes drive pala from Pagudpud going to the direction of Cagayan, Blue Lagoon, Patapat Viaduct at Rio Grande.

Ilocos Sur: Vigan sympre, try to visit Casa Isabel? saka Crisologo House, tapos along the way, makikita niyo naman mga old churches ng mga towns. Maganda yung town hall ng narvacan.

La Union, wala na akong alam dyan, yung surfing lang ang alam ko sa La Union.

kiretoce

May 2nd, 2007, 02:55 PM

the bridge connecting the towns of Bantay and Santa in Ilocos Sur.., on our way to vigan. :)

http://i16.tinypic.com/4yfji4o.jpg

I remember this bridge whenever we visit my dad's hometown. But the 8 hour plus bus trip is so exhausting! Thanks for sharing Richard! :okay:

Ilocos Sur: Vigan sympre, try to visit Casa Isabel? saka Crisologo House, tapos along the way, makikita niyo naman mga old churches ng mga towns. Maganda yung town hall ng Narvacan.

That's my dad's hometown! :cheer:

rage@cebu

May 4th, 2007, 04:47 AM

I remember this bridge whenever we visit my dad's hometown. But the 8 hour plus bus trip is so exhausting! Thanks for sharing Richard! :okay:

That's my dad's hometown! :cheer:

pareho pala hometown ng dad natin... try mu mag Manila-LOag flyt 12:00 noon... at bus Vigan-Laog 1HR.30min. lng naman...

or sumakay ka ng Partas ni Chavit... kukunin lng ng 6hours ang byahe. (fasten your seatbelt kung meron)

kiretoce

May 4th, 2007, 05:13 AM

^^ :shocked: Really!? Your dad's from Narvacan too? Wicked! :okay: My dad hails from Lungog, the last barrio of Ilocos Sur before you reach the boundary with Abra province. It'd be freaky-cool if your dad was from there too! :colgate:

rage@cebu

May 4th, 2007, 05:46 AM

^^yep! pero ang family nila ay nasa Sta. Catalina na... a town North of Vigan, ksi dun talaga ang ancestral nila...

napansin ko na lahat ng tao nailibing sa sementeryo doon ay "R" ang first letter ng apelyido... sa semninaryo nga... lahatb ng graduate na taga run ay "R" ...

tyronne

May 4th, 2007, 09:18 PM

kiretoce

May 5th, 2007, 12:01 AM

^^ :lol: The world is getting smaller and smaller every day!

rage@cebu

May 5th, 2007, 09:01 AM

^^Hala! Sta. Catalina ang origin ng family namin before nag-migrate ang great grandfather ko sa Pangasinan. "R" nga ang first letter ng family name ng mga taga-Sta. Catalina. Syempre kami rin, "R" hehe:D

R? anung family name mu... bka cousins tayo... whole block pa naman smin ay magcousins...

we are close with the "Redoble" clan... ang great-grandfather nga namin owns the only museum there...

tyronne

May 5th, 2007, 08:24 PM

^^Ragudo. Meron din kaming relative na naging mayor ng Sta. Catalina before. I'm not sure kung kilala ng parents/grandparents mo. Relative din namin yung mga Rabara. I haven't heard of the Redoble clan pero I'm sure kilala yun ng mga lola ko.

We used to go to Sta. Catalina nung bata pa ako (early 80's), tagal na haha!

rage@cebu

May 5th, 2007, 08:42 PM

ako Rgandac,,, definitely we are dominant in Sta, Ctalina....

Sinjin P.

May 15th, 2007, 06:57 AM

http://i7.tinypic.com/506myz8.jpg

Sinjin P.

May 15th, 2007, 06:57 AM

http://i10.tinypic.com/62egk7r.jpg

Sinjin P.

May 15th, 2007, 06:59 AM

http://i7.tinypic.com/5y01k6h.jpg

Sinjin P.

May 15th, 2007, 11:54 AM

http://i3.tinypic.com/4mi0vgl.jpg

http://i6.tinypic.com/4mjfi21.jpg

Sinjin P.

May 15th, 2007, 12:15 PM

http://i4.tinypic.com/6cnixio.jpg

Sinjin P.

June 4th, 2007, 07:18 AM

ANVAYA COVE - BATAAN

by jaydigital | Flickr (http://flickr.com/photos/jaydigital/)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/218/460872849_bfe9c22753_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/202/460872845_902c04492e_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/210/460872837_5736c51eeb_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/250/460872847_4e8abb8d3f_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/234/460872851_462b00650d_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/227/460872911_c24284e024_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/187/460878729_16c9abde68_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/207/460878759_36bf0be678_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/191/460878823_05e416c308_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/222/460878817_42cd6d91cd_o.jpg

Butanding

June 6th, 2007, 09:01 AM

BoNduRanT

June 6th, 2007, 04:55 PM

Very nice photos! Ang ganda nung pics from Bataan. :okay:

rage@cebu

June 7th, 2007, 11:50 AM

McDonalds Vigan City!
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110189.jpg

Cebuana Lhullier...
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110171.jpg

rage@cebu

June 7th, 2007, 11:53 AM

Bantay...
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110253.jpg

Vigan... forgot the name of the bar... yung meron blue sign... trendy din!
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110216.jpg

Sinjin P.

June 8th, 2007, 01:17 PM

Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte by CS Mallari

http://k43.pbase.com/g4/66/595666/2/59744005.Dsc01242w.jpg
http://i.pbase.com/g4/66/595666/2/59744017.Dsc01316w.jpg
http://k41.pbase.com/g4/66/595666/2/59744246.Dsc01333w.jpg
http://i.pbase.com/g4/66/595666/2/59744241.Dsc01405w.jpg

Eto pala ang Pagudpud. We're planning to go there next year. Magandang-maganda siya sa photos palang. Takam na takam na akong pumunta :D

TheAvenger

June 9th, 2007, 08:09 AM

I took these photos below from a moving car yesterday 8th June.

North bound to Tarlac

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/10sctexdolores.jpg

You can see ahead the SCTEX at Brgy Dolores, Bamban Tarlac

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/12sctex-1.jpg

In Brgy Dolores you will see the SCTEX crossing the Manila North road (from Clark to Tarlac).

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/13sctex-1.jpg

underneath the SCTEX bridge.

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/14bamban.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/15bamban.jpg

a bridge in Bamban

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/16bamban.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/17bamban.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/18bamban.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/19bambanbridge.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/20bambanbridge.jpg

A newly built bridge in Bamban.

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/21bambanbridge.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/22bamban.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/23bamban.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/24bambancapas.jpg

unsure if this is still part of Bamban or Capas

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/25bambancapas2.jpg

unsure if this is still part of Bamban or Capas

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/26capas.jpg

Capas Tarlac

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/27capas2.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/28capas3.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/29capas4.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/30capas5.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/31capas6.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/32capas7.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/33tarlaccity.jpg

Tarlac City

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/34hacienda.jpg

Hacienda Luisita as seen from the Manila North Road

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/35hacienda.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/37hacineda.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/41hacienda.jpg

Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac City

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/42tarlac.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/43tarlac.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/44tarlace.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/45tarlac.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/46tarlac.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/47tarlac.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/48tarlac.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/49tarlac.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/50tarlac.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/51tarlac.jpg

leaving Tarlac City going back southbound to Mabalacat.

TheAvenger

June 9th, 2007, 08:55 AM

8th June 2007

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/52capas.jpg

Southbound Manila North Road - Tarlac City

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/53campaquino.jpg

Camp Aquino in Tarlac City

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/54campaquino.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/55hacienda.jpg

Hacienda Luisita

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/56hacienda.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/57hacienda.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/58hacienda.jpg

Hacienda Luisita

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/59tarlac.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/60tarlac.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/61tarlac.jpg

Tarlac City

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/63capas.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/64capas.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/65capas.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/66bamban.jpg

Bamban Tarlac

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/67bamban.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/68bamban.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/69bamban.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/70bamban.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/71bambansctex-1.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/72sctex-1.jpg

Ahead you can see the SCTEX crossing the Manila North Road.

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/73sctex-1.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/74sctex-1.jpg

SCTEX

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218/jibrael_2008/75sctex-1.jpg

Underneath the SCTEX bridge.

This SCTEX crosses the Manila North Road at Brgy Dolores, Capas Tarlac.

ikra

June 10th, 2007, 01:04 AM

whats the language spoken in vigan?

Sinjin P.

June 10th, 2007, 12:15 PM

^ Ilocano :?

BoNduRanT

June 10th, 2007, 03:01 PM

Opkurs.

Sinjin P.

June 16th, 2007, 12:24 PM

SM City Tarlac will open on December 2008, that is, if the information posted in Wikipedia is reliable ;)

iamjomar

June 18th, 2007, 10:57 AM

ang ganda ng mcdo sa vigan!!!

basti

June 21st, 2007, 04:12 AM

Saud Beach, Pagudpud.
Took during sunset (mga past 7pm na!) using a regular camphone. I was a bit disappointed kasi cloudy, umulan. I have some "sunset" pics to share too.

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q179/asph80/DSC00447.jpg

BoNduRanT

June 21st, 2007, 05:19 PM

^^ 6:44 nakalagay dun sa photo :D

Parang andaming kalat sa Pagudpud sa pic.

basti

June 22nd, 2007, 03:12 AM

^^ hehe, yep hindi pala "during" sunset yan, hinihintay pa lang namin. 6:44 pm pero maliwanag pa rin. Past 7 na, hindi pa rin bumababa yung araw. Madumi yung Saud beach nung pumunta kami, maraming seaweeds and malakas ang alon. So pumunta kami sa Maira-ira point "Blue Lagoon" beach para mag-swimming. Mas maganda dun kesa Saud.

BoNduRanT

June 22nd, 2007, 07:37 AM

Yeah I know, taga-Ilocos ako eh. :D

TheAvenger

June 22nd, 2007, 11:27 AM

mag post sana ako ng about 60 photos of Darapit Beach and Candon Ilocos Sur (or norte ba yaon) taken 3 days ago, pero pagpunta ko dito sa Bulacan naiwan ko naman sa bahay sa Pampanga yaong Flash drive ko na may mga resized photo of Candon.

BoNduRanT

June 22nd, 2007, 02:27 PM

Tama ka. Sa Ilocos Sur ang Candon.

Sinjin P.

June 23rd, 2007, 06:34 AM

Patapat Viaduct, Pagudpud
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/228/505509582_cca4a6f0c7_o.jpg

Entrance to Malacanang of the North
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/204/505486672_5703d278fb_o.jpg

San Nicolas Church, Ilocos Norte
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/231/505486622_12b975b436_o.jpg

Ilocos Norte Museum
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/214/505528795_4f7a619be3_o.jpg

Paoay Lake
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/204/505486956_9d314b63e8_o.jpg

Luzon Sea
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/223/514677868_63045ffac0_b.jpg
by Goms (http://flickr.com/photos/goms77/)

rage@cebu

June 23rd, 2007, 06:50 AM

nice find sinj! i just love the viaduct! tnx!

Sinjin P.

June 23rd, 2007, 06:51 AM

^ No problem. I'm googling for photos of places we rarely see here on SSC. :cheers:

basti

June 23rd, 2007, 07:34 PM

Somewhere in Ilocos (?)...

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q179/asph80/ilocj2.jpg

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q179/asph80/ilocj1.jpg

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q179/asph80/Ilocj4-1.jpg

Banaoang / Quirino Bridge
http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q179/asph80/ilocj3.jpg

tigidig14

June 23rd, 2007, 10:26 PM

nde maalata ang dagat tubig sa pagudpud, w/c ws good
pero ang lakas ng alon, lalo na sa gabi. patay ang abot mo pagnahabol ka, walang kawala

BoNduRanT

June 24th, 2007, 03:42 PM

basti

June 25th, 2007, 04:49 AM

^^ @tigs: true, hindi ako naalatan, hindi masyado mahapdi sa mata. Nung pumunta kami, sa Saud kami nag-stay, pero masyado malakas ang alon kaya pumunta kami sa Maira-Ira.

@bondurant: Thanks, pero hindi ko alam :lol: , basta tumigil lang kami sa daan. Ganda kasi ng view. Katabi lang nita ang National Highway.

Some pics I took in Vigan...

Plaza Burgos (marami nagska-skateboarding dito nung pa-gabi na)
http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q179/asph80/plazabur.jpg

Vigan Cathedral
http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q179/asph80/vigancath.jpg

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q179/asph80/vigancath-int.jpg

Mga kalesa sa tabi ng Vigan Cathedral
http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q179/asph80/horsies.jpg

TheAvenger

June 25th, 2007, 10:20 AM

June 15, 2007

The below photos were taken by my nephews who visited Candon a few days ago.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/candon016.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/candon008.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/candon005.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/15.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/14.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/10.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/4.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/8.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/9.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/candon019.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/candon020.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/candon029.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/candon030.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/candon031.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/darapidapsunsetview.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/parkbesidechurch.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/fieldsofcandon.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/darapidapbeach.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/16.jpg

part 1 of 3

TheAvenger

June 25th, 2007, 10:22 AM

part 2 of 3

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/19.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/20.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/21.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/22.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/29.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/30.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/31.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/33.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/34.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/35.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/37.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/40.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/42.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/43.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/44.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/bayanciviccenter.jpg

Civic center of Candon

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/candon048.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/candon049.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/candon052.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/candon054.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/candon055.jpg

TheAvenger

June 25th, 2007, 10:23 AM

part 3 of 3

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/candon056.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/candon057.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/candon058.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/candon059.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/candon060.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/candon061.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/candon062.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/candon063.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/candon064.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/candon067.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/candon068.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/candonchurchwithlittleeiffeltower.jpg

Little Eiffel Tower beside the church of Candon

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/candonmainchurch.jpg

Church of Candon

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/candonpublicmarket.jpg

Candon Public market

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/darapidapsunsetview.jpg

Sunset as seen from Darapit Beach, Candon

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/fieldsofcandon.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z82/jewel_087/parkbesidechurch.jpg

Park of Candon nearby the Church

these photos is also posted in below blog :

http://jibrael.blogspot.com/

rage@cebu

June 25th, 2007, 10:52 AM

^^ nice pics of Candon! :) :cheers: refreshing!

cheersmate

July 12th, 2007, 12:55 AM

I think sa Santa, Ilocos Sur too.

nope..before Santa..coz ung islands/part ng mainland na nakikita across ng sea..wala ganon sa Santa.
Am sure its before..just can't recall where..i shld have paid attention to my dad when we used to travel from vigan to tagudin:ohno:
nice pics thu..

basti

July 15th, 2007, 12:58 PM

The famous Patapat Viaduct... We really intended visiting this place, but when we took these pics, we actually got lost looking for Maira-Ira Point / "Blue Lagoon". :lol: Muntik na kaming umabot sa Cagayan sa kakahanap.

Pano view of the bridge and Pasaleng Bay. I think over yonder is the northern most tip of mainland Luzon???
http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q179/asph80/patapat5.jpg

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q179/asph80/patapat1.jpg

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q179/asph80/patapat2.jpg

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q179/asph80/patapat3.jpg

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q179/asph80/patapat4.jpg
UFO o dumi ba yung nasa upper right? You would see how far we are from our actual destination - those 2 small islands in the middle, that's where Maira-Ira is. :bash:

brownman

July 17th, 2007, 07:42 AM

nope..before Santa..coz ung islands/part ng mainland na nakikita across ng sea..wala ganon sa Santa.
Am sure its before..just can't recall where..i shld have paid attention to my dad when we used to travel from vigan to tagudin:ohno:
nice pics thu..

yup, hindi nga sa santa yun. i think it's somewhere in sta. maria. if you're going northbound mas nauuna ang sta. maria kesa sa santa.

chocolato1000

July 18th, 2007, 03:14 PM

wow those viaduct really needs an upgrade.

BoNduRanT

July 18th, 2007, 04:50 PM

The destroyed portion has been like that for years. Di ko mainitindihan kung bakit di nila maayos-ayos. They could have built it farther from the moutain edges so that it would not have been subjected to falling rocks which obviously caused that destroyed section. If they do an upgrade, I wish they could come up with something like millau's viaduct. Riiiiiiiiiiight, in my dreams :lol:

Anyway....

cheersmate or anyone who is familiar with the town before santa, have you guys seen this old lighthouse (?) ruin that looks like a small castle tore that can be seen near the beach amidst rows of house along the highway?

brownman

July 19th, 2007, 09:54 AM

^^ yea i've noticed that too. yun yung made of bricks diba? that's in narvacan. if you're coming from vigan susunod sya from bagong lipunan lodge. they would've made some sort of a park on that part. kasi maganda yung location. as in super lapit sya sa beach di ba?

BoNduRanT

July 19th, 2007, 03:48 PM

rage@cebu

July 20th, 2007, 06:22 AM

^^ saw that too!

well be back in Vigan 2nd time this year! maybe November or December as part of our Visayas- Luzon Tour... A BIG break from the hassles of Events here in Cebu. we will be on a roadtrip via RO-RO... 2 weeks may not be enough.

brownman

July 20th, 2007, 06:51 PM

true. i think it really deserve some sort of memorial park. they should find out some more of the history of the tower & the place itself. pero the downside is, what will they do about the private houses around it? that's a tough job to deal.

anyhow, i live in vigan. but i just left for singapore recently for work. and i won't be seeing the city for like 2 years or something like that. have anyone been to chavit's sunflower farm there? i live in vigan my entire life but heck i haven't seen the place. i just see it in pictures. and it look pretty nice.

basti

July 21st, 2007, 04:42 AM

St. Augustine Parish Church, one of the oldest, built in 1590
http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q179/asph80/staug1.jpg

Bantay Bell Tower
http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q179/asph80/staugbelfry5.jpg

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q179/asph80/staugbelfry3.jpg

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q179/asph80/staugbelfry1.jpg

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q179/asph80/staugbelfry4.jpg

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q179/asph80/staugbelfry2.jpg

brownman

July 21st, 2007, 09:43 AM

nice pics basti.

rage@cebu

July 21st, 2007, 09:49 AM

^^ BANTAY!!! tnx for the pics...

my father is from Sta. Catalina, we also have a museum (house) there... when i was there last summer i visited the cemetery and to my surprise 95% of those buried there has the first initial of my Surname! ganun pala karami ang relatives namin dun! and were the only family based in Cebu...

brownman

July 21st, 2007, 11:49 AM

yea, peculiar pero totoo. like every city or municipality sa ilocos sur nadivide ang mga families by alphabet. (eg sta. catalina & sna vicente - mostly starts with letter R, caoyan most of the surnames there starts w/ Q, san juan mostly starts w/ letter V, cabugao starts w/ letter S, sa santa starts w/ letter B) ytung tipong ganun. weird nga eh. sa vigan lang ang all mixed up.

basti

July 22nd, 2007, 02:12 PM

Thanks brownman and you're welcome rage.

Now, pics from the Bantay belfry. Amazing view from the top. Pero nanginig yung tuhod ko kasi nakakatakot talaga. Hindi ko na kinuhanan yung bell sa taas, kasi panay grafiti. Pinabayaan na lang talaga....

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q179/asph80/belfrytop1.jpg

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q179/asph80/belfrytop3.jpg

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q179/asph80/belfrytop2.jpg
Real breathtaking!

brownman

July 23rd, 2007, 04:06 AM

definitely breathtaking. ala ka bang pic ng vigan skyline fr the bell tower?

rage@cebu

July 25th, 2007, 08:24 AM

^^ browsing some of my summer fotos of Vigan... eto yung skyline from the tower... some of my Vigan pics are already in the 1st pages of this thread...
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110263.jpg

eto yung cemetery photo ko...
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110266.jpg

the tower...
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1110253.jpg

nung umakyat kmi there were 3 koreans hotbabes... but knowing for the fact that koreans are for koreans only, tsaka wala kmi sa Cebu... deadma nlng kmi... hehehe.

ILOCOS

July 25th, 2007, 05:34 PM

Hey, u really did a wonderful job for us ilocanos!!! ...your shots are great... it's all lovely; I THANK YOU for sharing :) :) ...keep it up!!!

basti

July 27th, 2007, 05:17 PM

Sorry brownman, I don't have pics of Vigan from up there. But thank you @rage for the pics! I have a lot more pics to share, but I'm afraid of flooding... I have pics of Vigan too, but they're posted in the Vigan thread. It's a new cam so medyo blurry, I don't know how to go around the settings yet hehe

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=285889&page=18

overtureph

August 14th, 2007, 06:47 AM

INQUIRER NORTHERN LUZON
Requiem for the grand Damortis station

By Yolanda Sotelo-Fuertes
Inquirer
Last updated 11:16pm (Mla time) 08/07/2007

ROSARIO, La Union – This used to be full of people, 24 hours a day,” Baltazar Valdez, 72, recalls as he looks around the ruins of the Philippine National Railways station in Barangay Damortis in Rosario, La Union.

In his mind, Valdez tries to reconstruct the “grand station” of his childhood.

“This used to be the freight room, next was the office and [there] was the waiting room for first class passengers. That area was for other passengers while this area was for buses and car service,” he says.

“There used to be four railroad tracks. Trains came and went, and there was not a single hour that the station was empty of people arriving or leaving.”

As one walks around the ruins that offer a view of the Lingayen Gulf, with Valdez describing the old railway station in all its grandeur, the grand Damortis station of old returns to life.

The building stands proud with its tall roof and glass windows fortressed by thick steel bars. Trains chug along the tracks and the familiar whistle pierces the air as coaches arrive or depart. Passengers lug their suitcases or bayong (native bags) while vendors offer water, boiled bananas, corn and rice cakes to weary travelers.

“It was a playground for me,” Valdez says. “But it was also a place of work for me and plenty of residents.”

The Damortis railroad station, established in 1935, could be wider than the PNR’s Tutuban station, Valdez says.

His parents told him that in 1940, when he was 5 years old, the Manila Railways Co. (MRC) bought about 10 hectares of land around the station, “including my parents’ land.”

Additional land was needed as the Manila-Dagupan Railway, which started servicing passengers in 1892, was extended to cover San Fernando.

When the station expanded, the Valdez family moved to another property in the village, but returned in 1966 as they reclaimed ownership of the land through a court ruling.

It turned out that the PNR (the MRC was renamed PNR in 1964) merely paid his father the expenses to transfer the house to another property, but not the cost of the 3,000-square meter lot itself, Valdez says.

War memories

World War II evokes more memories for Valdez about the station.

The Japanese Imperial Army turned the station into its headquarters and used the trains to transport its war materiel, belongings and food.

“We would sneak inside the station, snatching some rice and other food stuff. did not hurt us,” Valdez says.

In August 1945, Gen. Douglas MacArthur landed at the Lingayen Gulf with his warships to liberate Northern Luzon from the Japanese.

“From the towering trees in the station, we watched the massive dog fight between war planes of the Americans and the Japanese … the Japanese planes fell one [after the other] into the gulf,” Valdez says.

“The Damortis station was a casualty of war. The tracks and the structures were damaged when the Americans bombed the area, but it was still usable,” Valdez says.

After the Japanese left for the mountains of Benguet, it was the Americans’ turn to take control of the station, using the building as their headquarters and the fields near it as an airstrip.

[B]Rebuilding PNR

When the war ended, the PNR rebuilt the tracks and the railroad system resumed business.

Valdez and his friends sold bocayo (coconut candy), balut (boiled duck eggs) and newspapers at the station.

“I was also a shoeshine boy, servicing passengers waiting for their train. We also worked as ‘baggage boys’ and carried bags for a fee … we earned much more than the minimum wage earners at that time,” he says.

As porters, the youngsters would board the trains to Dagupan City in Pangasinan or to San Fernando in La Union. They would usually service the “first class passengers” in the air-conditioned coaches.

American tourists would alight at Damortis and be ferried to Baguio City by chauffeur-driven cars waiting for them at the station.

“In those times, most highways were unpaved and dusty. The trains were the most convenient and fastest mode of transportation,” he says.

He says the Damortis station had the first air-conditioned waiting area, long before buildings were installed with such convenience.

Heyday

Valdez left his hometown in 1958 to work in Manila. He returned in 1963 when the railroad system was at its heyday but with buses slowly taking passengers away from the trains.

Valdez’s niece-in-law, Emilia, 53, arrived in this town in 1978 from Bicol. In the late 1980s, the railroad operations grounded to a halt, she says.

Then silence fell over the once busy station.

Settlers started arriving, filling up the empty areas around the station. Some of them got permission from PNR officials to stay there, says Valdez, a former village chief of Damortis.

But things fell apart in the early 2000 when the PNR decided to sell whatever can be removed from the station’s structures—roof, steel bars, wood.

Even the tracks and wooden sleepers (where tracks lay) were not spared.

“All for a measly P45,000,” Valdez says.

He offered P500,000 to the PNR but this was rejected. “Something was amiss,” he says.

Demolition

Rosario Mayor Bellarmin Flores led officials and residents in filing a petition in court to stop the sale and demolition of the structures.

“We considered it a historical landmark in the province. But we were told that it was not listed as such by the [country’s] historical commission,” Flores says.

Copyright 2007 Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view_article.php?article_id=81204

ergit222

August 24th, 2007, 04:18 PM

Australians are royally spoiled when it comes to world-class coastlines. Yet still we travel, chasing sandier or sunnier shores. Here are 10 of the best beaches in Asia according to an Aussie survey of sun worshippers.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h319/ergit222/saud.jpg

1. SAUD BEACH, PHILIPPINES

On the northwest coast of Luzon, little-known Saud Beach at Pagudpud is a 2km arc of blindingly pure sand bordered by the blue of the South China Sea. It's like an uncluttered version of that famous Philippines shore, White Beach, on Boracay Island. Beat the developers, the hair-braiders and sarong-floggers - head to Pagudpud now.

2. KO ADANG, THAILAND

Thailand's far south Andaman Sea coast has clusters of islands that are still off the radar for tour group invaders and full-moon ravers. The towering rock formations and crystal waters of Ko Tarutao National Marine Park, a 51-island group about 30km off the mainland, are a reminder of how islands such as Phuket, Samui and Phi Phi once were. Here you'll find Ko Adang, a jungle island with pristine shores, empty beaches and not a beer bar in sight.

3. BENTOTA, SRI LANKA

At Bentota Beach, 60km south of Colombo, grand arcs of beach sweep north and south from a rocky promontory. The Indian Ocean massages this coast of granite headlands and uncrowded beaches that surfers and European sun-seekers discovered long ago. There is a choice of three, four and five-star resorts from which you can simultaneously contemplate Bentota's fiery sunset and your of sundowner.

4. YALONG BAY, CHINA

At the same latitude as Hawaii, Hainan is where mainland Chinese come to get that Waikiki feeling without leaving home. While Yalong Bay, near Sanya on Hainan's southern tip, may lack Polynesia's heaving surf and swaying skirts, its broad white beaches are better than many in Hawaii. Fishing villages and rice farms once rimmed Yalong Bay's 7km strand. In their place, quality resorts harvest the disposable incomes of China's leisure class.

5. CHINA BEACH, VIETNAM

China Beach, on Vietnam's central coast near Da Nang, is 30km long and has numerous resorts and restaurants, especially around Bai Non Nuoc. The specific section of the China Beach of Vietnam War and television series fame is known locally as Bai Tam My Khe. Here, you can see fishermen paddle out through its breaking waves in flimsy wicker coracles and then, after fishing, surf right back in again.

6. CALANGUTE, INDIA

"Christmas in Goa" was the mantra for heliotropic (and psychotropic) hippies on the 1970s "Overland Trail". Calangute's palm-fringed shoreline was annually invaded by some of the most upbeat and beat-up minds of their generation; today it is simply built-up. Over-development hasn't been kind to Calangute's little fishing hamlets, but its Arabian Sea full moons are as spellbinding as ever.

7. DUNGUN, MALAYSIA

The east coast of Malaysia is a sleeping secret. Macaque monkeys swing like tiny Tarzans through a tree canopy that borders the South China Sea. Beyond the trees, Dungun, an empty swoop of beach, is one of Malaysia's least-exploited shores. Offshore is Tenggol Island, part of Terengganu Marine Park, where you can snorkel and scuba dive amid gin-and-tonic clear waters alive with turtles, grouper, wrasse and jacks.

8. OCCHEUTEAL, CAMBODIA

Sihanoukville (aka Kompong Som) on Cambodia's pretty south coast is home to five fine beaches, even though the best one, Sokha, is reserved for a private hotel's guests. Sokha's neighbour, Occheuteal Beach, comes a close second with its long stretch of white sand lined with pine trees. Popular with Cambodians and travellers alike, Occheuteal's far northern end has become a backpacker hangout.

9. MAE NAM, THAILAND

Ko Samui's east coast strands are almost too well known. Head up to the north coast to snoozy Mae Nam, where the sands may be narrower, but you're not sharing them with the crowds. The water is clear and calm, the palm trees shady. In the distance you can see a flotilla of blue-grey islands that drifts just north of Samui, including Ko Phangan and Ang Thong Marine Park, where the beaches are truly empty.

10. KENTING, TAIWAN

The semi-tropical landscape of southern Taiwan is a surprise until you remember that the island's earlier Portuguese name, Formosa, means "beautiful". The name still fits. Unhurried and warm, Kenting, at the rugged southernmost tip of the island, has reasonable beaches for swimming, diving and surfing, plus an 18,000-ha national park. There is ample accommodation here, the seafood is excellent and, surprisingly, you're well inside the Tropic of Cancer.

allan_dude

September 5th, 2007, 10:13 AM

Toyo eyes P60-B biofuel project (http://business.inquirer.net/money/breakingnews/view_article.php?article_id=86717)

600,000 hectares needed for coco fuel feedstock
By Amy R. Remo
Inquirer

Japanese firm Toyo Engineering Corp. is about to complete a feasibility study on an integrated coco methyl-ester (CME) manufacturing plant that it plans to put up in the northern region of Ilocos, a Philippine official said.

The venture, which will require at least P60 billion, will need around 600,000 hectares of coconut farms in new areas, said Carlos Carpio, deputy administrator of the Philippine Coconut Authority.

The new farmlands will use high-yielding coconut varieties, he said.

Carpio said Toyo Engineering was considering developing new areas where coconut could be planted to supply the feedstock requirement of the CME plant.

Toyo Engineering is considering areas in the provinces of Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte and La Union, he said.

Another alternative is to use the wide coastal areas of these provinces, he added.

Carpio said opening up new areas for coconut farms would require an investment of about P1 million a hectare, while using coastal areas would need only P100,000 per hectare.

The entire output of the plant will be shipped to Japan to supply the country’s growing demand for biofuels, both for fuel-dependent industries and manufacturing concerns and also for its automotive industry, which is now producing hybrid vehicles.

Japan’s total diesel requirement reaches 40 billion liters a year, and plans for a CME blend of five percent will create a huge demand for this additive.

Japan is one of the four Asian countries planning to mandate the blending of CME with petro-diesel to reduce dependence on crude mineral oil.

The Philippine coconut industry, which has yet to recover from devastating effects of major typhoons late last year, recorded a decline in output of 4.93 percent in the first half of 2007.

Coconut prices have bounced back from last year’s slump and increased by 23.97 percent this year.

The increase in copra prices has triggered demand for matured coconut, which in turn pushes up prices at the farm level.

Demand for Philippine agricultural lands has been surging with the interest especially among Chinese companies.

Among the companies from China, Nanning Yong has firmed up negotiations with three local companies for the construction of three separate bioethanol plants worth a combined $105 million.

Documents from the Department of Agriculture show Nanning Yong is pursuing partnerships with SB Integrated Biofuels Co., Negros Southern Integrated Biofuels and One Cagayan Resource Development Inc.

Another company, Jilin Fuhua Agricultural Science and Technology Development Co. Ltd., has started ground validation and seed testing on farms for hybrid corn and sweet sorghum in Cagayan Valley, Isabela, Nueva Ecija and Pangasinan.

allan_dude

September 24th, 2007, 11:32 PM

Fewer hungry folks noted in the Ilocos region (http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p070924.htm&no=22&r=&y=&mo=)

By Henry S. Lagasca

San Fernando City, La Union (24 September) -- The government's hunger mitigation measures such as the provisions of supplemental feeding program, Tindahan Natin and soon the Barangay Food Terminal (BFT) bolstered the significant decrease of provinces in the Ilocos region considered as less vulnerable.

Except for La Union, the provinces of Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte were not included in the list of provinces as having a high rate of hunger incidence.

La Union falls under Priority 3 among the list of provinces nationwide tagged as less- vulnerable to hunger incidence.

Director Margarita Sampang of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Ilocos region, said that the Tindahan Natin and the supplemental feeding program currently implemented in La Union, so far, benefited 10,631 families and 1,200 day care children, respectively.

The DSWD also reported that since June 2007, a total of 125 Tindahan Natin outlets were established covering the entire province.

The number of supplemental feeding beneficiaries is expected to increase by focusing more on the provinces' 5th class hinterland municipalities of Pugo, Santol, Burgos and Bagulin.

Sampang also said that surveys have been conducted in areas identified as "bagsakan" centers under the BFT program in coordination with local government units (LGUs).

Identified as initial BFT areas in the region, according to the DSWD, include barangays Sevilla and Pagdalagan in San Fernando City, La Union and the municipality of Sison in Pangasinan.

The hunger mitigation measures of the Arroyo administration being implemented in the region greatly contributed to the less- vulnerability status of Region 1 in terms of low rate in hunger incidence, according to the DSWD. (PIA Region 1)

_______________

GMA asks China to fund $187m in new projects (http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=news2_sept24_2007)

PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will ask Beijing for at least $187 million (P8.4 billion) in extra financing for farm projects despite a controversy over a deal here involving a state-owned Chinese firm, an official said yesterday.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said securing the money to finance agricultural projects in Luzon would be a priority for Mrs. Arroyo when she visits China on Oct. 2.

The money would represent only half the contract price of the national broadband deal, he said, referring to the $329-million agreement to connect the networks of all Philippine government agencies nationwide.

ZTE Corp. of China won the bidding to build the network, but the project has been shelved following claims by Amsterdam Holdings Inc., the losing local bidder, that ZTE bribed a government official $10 million to secure the contract.

Yap said the extra money would finance the Agno River irrigation program in Northern Luzon and the Balingtingon River irrigation project in Central Luzon. It would also underwrite the repair of the Navotas fish port and buy mobile freezers for fishing communities nationwide.

The government was expected to negotiate a 20-year payment for the loan, he said.

“What we are working on now is to get the Chinese government to grant us developmental funding for these irrigation projects,” said Yap, who will accompany Mrs. Arroyo on her trip to Shanghai and Shandong before she heads for New Delhi and Mumbai in India.

The irrigation project in Agno aims to cover an extra 3,416.5 hectares of farmland in San Manuel, Asingan, Binalonan and Villasis in Pangasinan. It will cost around P5 billion but will add 26,307 tons to Pangasinan’s rice production.

The Balintingon project in Central Luzon will cost at least P3 billion but will irrigate an extra 16,000 to 26,000 hectares of farmland in Nueva Ecija, Bulacan and Pampanga.

The repair of the Navotas fish port and the purchase of refrigeration facilities will cost at least P400 million.

“The Navotas fish port has long fallen into disrepair so we need to fix that for food security and storage purposes,” Yap said.

“The mobile freezers will also help our fisherfolk since the problem in community fishing areas is the absence of refrigerated facilities,” he said. Joyce Pangco Pañares

_______________

The Ilocano Genius Who Put Silicon Valley on the Map (http://www.asianjournal.com/?c=124&a=22698)

Cynthia De Castro/Asianjournal.com

THERE was a time when computers were slow, complicated, and expensive that only the very rich, very techie, and very patient! could afford to have one.

When computers were improved came the problem of linking up computers and communicate with one another. Still later on, computers could only handle data, and if you said you could produce graphics and watch movies on your PC, people would think you’re crazy.

Filipino American Diosdado “Dado” Banatao helped changed all that. He invented the first computer chip that dramatically enhanced the performance of today’s PC. The upgrade not only made faster computers but also more affordable to millions of people. His chip is now found in at least nine out of 10 PC motherboards.

It was also Banatao’s genius that gave the world the video chip, the first graphic accelerator and the first Ethernet controller chip that enabled computers to link up and to communicate with one another. He practically put Silicon Valley on the map with his invention of the chip set that significantly reduced the complexity of the personal computer.

Banatao has been blazing the trail in the IT industry from Cagayan Valley to the Silicon Valley. He was born on May 23, 1946 and grew up in Barrio Malabbac, Iguig, Cagayan Valley. In his youth, the place had no running water and electricity. His father was a farmer, and many of his friends never studied past grade school.

Dado graduated cum laude with a degree in BS Electrical Engineering at the Mapua Institute of Technology in the Philippines. He then pursued his passion for flying by training to become a commercial airline pilot. A twist of fate brought him to the US when Boeing offered him an engineering job in 1968. In the States, he took up an MS in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Stanford University.

He quickly moved up in his career, becoming a top design engineer for some well-known companies. At Seeq Technology, Banatao created a breakthrough technology by putting an Ethernet controller on a single chip.

By the time IBM introduced the personal computer in the early 1980’s, Banatao was already deep in chip technology research and experimentation. He immediately saw that the computer chip had to be redesigned to make it more compact and cheaper to produce.

He founded several companies in Silicon Valley - Mostron, Chips and Technologies and S3 Graphics. Under his companies, Banatao developed the PC motherboards, PC Chip sets (eventually acquired by Intel), high speed video and graphic chips (S3 Graphics).

Having become a legend in Silicon Valley, Banatao has consistently been in Forbes’ Midas List for having “developed advanced chip designs that helped put Silicon Valley on the map.” In 1997, he was honored with the prestigious Master Entrepreneur of the Year Award sponsored by Ernst & Young, Inc. Magazine, and Merrill Lynch Business Financial Services.

Today, the electrical engineer runs his own Palo Alto firm, Tallwood Venture Capital. Prior to Tallwood, he was a venture partner with the Mayfield Fund. He also served on the board of directors and as chairman of several emerging companies, including Marvell Technology Group, NewPort Communications (acquired by Broadcom), and Cyras Systems (acquired by Ciena Corporation.

With all his inventions, Banatao is just glad that the products of his genius continue to benefit not only Silicon Valley but also the Philippines and the rest of the world.

The advice he gives ambitious engineers is to pay attention to the market and market needs. Creating an innovative product that no one wants is a waste of time and energy.

“Because engineers are involved in the design of products, they are the backbone of any company. Engineers that are good at what they do eventually get promoted to upper management. If you learn the other aspects of your business, you will just keep on moving up,” he says.

Now Banatao is among the most prominent and wealthy Filipinos in the world, regularly advising the Philippine government technology and science issues.

“It’s important that we develop a passion for using technology to solve society’s biggest problems,” he says. “I believe technology can make an impact.”

“Create something that is tangible, such as a product or service,” Banatao advises. “Whatever you do, do it passionately.”

rage@cebu

September 25th, 2007, 09:41 AM

^^ great article about the Ilocano engineer!

allan_dude

October 16th, 2007, 11:24 PM

VMLP urged: Promote Region I as tourist destination, agri-business center

Source: AlaminosCity.gov.ph (http://www.alaminoscity.gov.ph/news/newsdetails.aspx?newsid=316)

Mayor Hernani A. Braganza said Region I has all the potentials that if fully harnessed builds a new image in this part of the country.

Braganza, who was one of the guest and at the same time inducting officer during the Vice Mayor League of Philippines (VMLP) Region I Chapter General Assembly and Elections held at Vislas Resort here last Friday, stressed that local government units play role vital in achieving sustainable development in each city and municipalities.

“LGUs must work together for the region’s promotion not just in terms of tourism but also on the aspect of agri-business,” he said.

The former Press and DAR secretary noted that the whole of Ilocandia could also become the agri-business center of North Luzon Super Region as envisioned by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

He said the region has so many unique products that could be processed and exported abroad.

“We also belong in one shoreline and we have the best places and hospitable people in Pangasinan as well neighboring provinces of La Union, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur,” added Braganza.

Compared to the beaches of Thailand or even Indonesia, the Mayor claimed that Philippines have a much better coastline.

“This country is richer than those countries in terms of wealth of wonders and yet we couldn’t fully develop it just because some places are unreachable.”

With the exception of some of the towns, major infrastructures are already in place. Tourist destinations are connected by highways, sea ports and airports.

These infrastructures make the province more accessible not only to tourists but also investors or businessmen who would want to conduct business.

Still, it will take a businessman or tourist several hours to reach the economic hubs in Northern Luzon such as the city of Alaminos, the home of the world-famous Hundred Islands National Park (HINP) despite the good roads.

This is one of the major reasons why the city government requested Pres. Arroyo to put up a commercial airport in the province particularly in Alaminos.

Experts say that PGMA granted the city’s wish to build an airport because of its proximity to key cities in North Luzon Agri-business Quadrangle and presence of major infrastructure support in the first district of the province.

Alaminos also boasts a new city development master plan, a national treasure-the Hundred Islands now being managed, preserved and protected by the city government for two years now.

Braganza said with an airport in Alaminos, it will make the province accessible not only tourist but also for good and services that can be provided for not just for the foreigner but most especially the residents in Region I.

“We can now connect the dots," he added. And we will be very happy since tourists can now visit Hundred Islands as well as other places in the region with relative ease and at the quickest possible.”

Easily, North Central Luzon has a combined population 20 M people. A better tourism promotion and linkages with the different LGUs could simply make the whole region 1 as the biggest tourist destination.

And assuming 10 % of that total population was lured to visit and stay in various tourist spots in the region it would definitely mean 2 M people will be pumping in new money to every municipality or city.

Braganza believed that Region I still got what it takes to prosper and be at par with the best regions in the country.

The key here, according him, is crafting worthy legislation for good governance.

He said that the executive and legislative department of the LGU should likewise work in harmony to realize important programs for the people.

“What was shown to you to day is precisely a good example of how the relationship of the mayor, the vice-mayor and the members of the ocal council should be.”

Braganza, also a former two term congressman, then thanked the city council headed by Vice Mayor Teofilo G. Humilde Jr., the outgoing VLMP Region I President and concurrent Chairman of the provincial chapter, for passing the landmark legislations.

This include the enactment of city ordinances strengthening the city’s status as the business center in western Pangasinan, the granting discounts to prompt tax payers, the utmost protection of children and women in the city.

He reminded the vice mayors, headed by newly elected President, Sta.Barbara Vice Mayor Ruben Jose, that collective wisdom and strength of both branches of the LGU will definitely spell a big difference not only in every locality but in the whole region as well.

The Mayor also assured that the Alaminos government will always be behind the VMLP’s efforts in realizing worthy projects for their constituents even as extended his utmost gratitude to league officials for choosing the city as the venue of their annual affair. (CIO)

allan_dude

November 7th, 2007, 03:26 PM

DPWH I bares completed projects

Fa Sison Almazan (http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20071107107934.html)

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region I Director Fidel D. Ginez said that major infra works in his region include bridges and rehabilitation of national roads which are in line with the objectives of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. for the benefit of the people.

Director Ginez said that the Calvo bridge in Bayambang, Pangasinan worth P50M is ongoing and being implemented by Pangasinan II sub-district under district engineer Bella R. Resuello.

She also said that the construction of the Manila North Road in Candon City has been completed through the responsible supervision of Ilocos Sur 2nd district Engineer Ray Elaydo.

Director Ginez added that the rehabilitation of the Sinait national road in Ilocos Sur under district engineer Andrelito Tagorda, has been accomplished with the allocation of P15 million.

In San Fernando City, La Union, the construction of the San Fernando – San Juan bypass road is almost completed which will bring convenience and comfort to the motorists going north.

Ginez said that all of these said infra projects have been constructed with quality output for the welfare of the public.

"It has been our commitment to build good bridges and roads for our constituents and if there will be any complaint our office is open or text it to 2920," he said.

allan_dude

November 7th, 2007, 07:23 PM

Region 1 seeks use of indigenous "bayong" and paper bags

By Miriam P. Aquino (http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p071107.htm&no=67&r=&y=&mo=)

San Fernando City, La Union -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) La Union Provincial Office seeks to implement its massive advocacy campaign on the use of natural and indigenous materials like bayong, paper bags/boxes in commercial establishments (shopping malls, groceries, restaurants, among others), in replacement for plastics and styropors which contributes to the impact of climate change.

This move is part of the government's efforts to promote and protect the environment from the negative effects/impact of global warming.

According to Venus Junio, Information Officer and Chief - Environmental Education and Information Section of DENR-Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed between DENR and the City Government of San Fernando in cooperation with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on this project.

A project launching was held last year carrying the theme "Bawas Plastic, Bawas Basura", to lessen/minimize the use of plastics in the purchase of goods from different commercial establishments with the city's public market as the primary target. "Based on our monitoring some have tried to comply, but still there's a need for a strict implementation of this program," Celso Jucutan, the City's Environmental Researcher said.

Also in support to this campaign, the City Government of San Fernando has come up with the display and promotion of the bamboo baskets as market bags in the different parts of the city's commercial district. This move also encourages the public to patronize our own bamboo basket producing business in areas like Abut and Saoay, this city, Jucutan added.

Aside from this, the City is also planning on a future program to promote the use of "katsa" for market bags.

Junio said that at present, she and her DTI La Union Provincial Office counterpart are on the planning stages for a more strengthened advocacy measures which will be ready for implementation hopefully by next year.

DENR Secretary Jose Atienza said the agency will coordinate with the city and municipal councils nationwide to determine the sanctions and penalties to be imposed on violators.

"Uunti-untiin muna natin. All we need to do now is to coordinate first with the local council. Once the policy and penalties are created in the local efforts, we will go up to Congress for the passage of a possible law regarding that matter," Atienza said. (PIA La Union)

allan_dude

November 22nd, 2007, 01:45 PM

Pro-environment energy program in N. Luzon set

Mar T. Supnad (http://www.mb.com.ph/ENVI20071122109418.html)
Manila Bulletin Online

VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur – The unique program called the environmentfriendly Pro-Poor Bio-Power was formally launched in Region I.

A creative program hatched by Dr. Enrie A. Mendoza II, Presidential Assistant for North Luzon Growth Quadrangle Area, was culled from his visit at International Crop Research Institute for Semi Arid-Tropics (ICRISAT) in India headed by DirectorGeneral William Dar, a former agriculture secretary.

The program has set a precedent and a new way of thinking in an otherwise traditional region.

The ceremonies were attended by Dar, Mendoza, the presidents of the state universities and colleges in North Luzon, and members of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Development Council for Region I. Academic and NGO representatives were also on hand for the occasion. The LGU was represented by Mayor Ric Revita of Rosales, Pangasinan.

Mendoza said the program is focused on how to utilize the growing local and foreign markets for bio-fuel products and for clean energy in general as the economic leverage to liberate the marginalized rural populations of Regions 1, 2 and the Cordillera Autonomous regions. Bio-power will be used to empower the poor and vulnerable communities of the north.

Gov. Deogracias Victor "DV" Savellano welcomed the environment program.

The organization of modern farm production systems and the adoption of farming practices using traditional proven knowledge combined with modern science and technology promises to be means for the emancipation of these communities.

To demonstrate the program approach concretely, two demo sites were chosen namely, Rosales, Pangasinan and Sta Maria, Ilocos Sur where prototype farms for the poor communities will be set up to produce bio-fuels ) bio-ethanol and bio-diesel ) from sweet sorghum and coconut.

The Pangasinan State University and the Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College will provide technical assistance for these demo farms in Rosales and Sta Maria respectively.

Based on the experiences of the North, using Dr. Aldo Layaoen’s Village Processing Model in Batac, ILocos Norte, it is hoped that more rural communities will also be able to form production villages. Tap public and private financing sources and replicate and improve them for a more widespread use of the program to achieve their economic and social goals, added Mendoza.

allan_dude

November 23rd, 2007, 12:29 PM

COUNTRY COOKING
Breakfasts in Ilocos

http://images.inquirer.net/media/showbizandstyle/lifestyle/lifestyle/images/pic-11220248000525.jpg
BAGNET with KBL and Sinigang na Tanguigue at Herencia Café. PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER

http://images.inquirer.net/media/showbizandstyle/lifestyle/lifestyle/images/pic-11220248210110.jpg
DAWANG restaurant menu on our table (from the napkin, clockwise) insarabasab, igado, dinardaraan, imbaliktad, pinapaitan and laoya. PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER

http://images.inquirer.net/media/showbizandstyle/lifestyle/lifestyle/images/pic-11220248420705.jpg
CARABAO Kilawin at Dayo. PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER

http://images.inquirer.net/media/showbizandstyle/lifestyle/lifestyle/images/pic-11220249100770.jpg
TUPIG or suman malagkit by the sea. PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER

By Micky Fenix
Inquirer (http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view_article.php?article_id=102348)

MANILA, Philippines―We almost missed our first meal of the day in Ilocos. The traffic was so heavy Thursday last week that it was just minutes before takeoff when we arrived at the airport for the flight to Laoag.

Thanks to some understanding Philippine Airlines supervisors, our group made it to our seats, still panting after running from car to security check to check-in counter to the ramp.

The first meal in Ilocos Norte was brunch at Paoay’s Herencia Café with its view of the town’s beautiful church. We were told it was the place to get pinakbet pizza but that wasn’t as inviting as the prospect of having Ilocos longganisa or the inabraw (boiled vegetables).

Not that we have anything against food experiments (more on that in another column) but, for visiting foodies, it is traditional cooking that whets the appetite.

Thankfully, there was tanguigue sinigang, igado and bagnet with KBL or kamatis, bagoong, lasuna (tomato, fish paste, shallots).

Fisherman’s prize

The sinigang broth reflected the freshness of the mackerel. I had the best part, the fish liver that, according to our guide Rene Guatlo, was almost always taken by the fisherman as his prize.

The igado, pork with liver, lungs, heart and kidney, had more sauce than we expected.

I smiled as the bagnet was brought in because I always look forward to it during visits to Ilocos. It still is the best version of lechon kawali.

At the market, they call it chicharon and can be bought by the kilo. Unlike tourists, Ilocanos use bagnet sparingly, treating it as something to add crunch and flavor to their pakbet, for instance.

We saw students snacking on miki, the noodle soup most associated with Ilocos. It made me glad that even with so many other choices (like junk food), they still stuck to their miki.

An electrical maintenance project in the town resulted in a brownout at breakfast the next day but food could still be cooked at the hotel. As the group did not want to miss brewed coffee, we taught the Casa Doña Emilia hotel staff the old way to do it―boil the coffee.

Shocking name

There was great garlicky longganisa taken with plain grilled eggplant. When the eggplant is mixed with eggs, the name of the dish always shocks non-Ilocanos―puki-puki.

Two breakfasts found us at Sitio Remedios in Currimao, the beautiful resort owned by Dr. Joven Cuanang who is from Batac. Nothing like having coffee or chocolate with a view of the beach. It reminded me of equally enchanting breakfasts by the water in many parts of the country.

We had the usual breakfast of pan de sal and butter. There was also leftover food―biscocho from Pasuquin, empanada from Batac and tupig or suman malagkit from Paoay.

The breakfasts were the light prelude to the heavier segunda almuerza (second breakfast) we had in two towns.

Dawang Restaurant was already busy with San Nicolas townsfolk who knew where to get a proper breakfast. The menu consists of Ilocano dishes you can also get for lunch and dinner.

The service people must now be used to people taking photos of the kitchen that they tell you to go ahead when you ask permission. One of them obviously had a well-developed sense of humor. She said, if we took a picture of the stove, we should also ask it to smile.

Best in the north

Cooking on the stove was igado. It later proved to be the best one we had in Ilocos Norte. It was drier but also had a bit of the oil released by cooking, a sign that it was done slowly and properly.

We had two kinds of soup―pinapaitan, which is beef innards with the bile, the bitter taste that Ilocanos loved to be poured in; and the pork ribs laoya, sinigang soured with tomatoes instead of tamarind.

The Dawang specialty dinardaraan or dinuguan was there. It is different because the pork innards, like that part of the intestine called chicharon bulaklak, are fried crisp before being included in the bloody stew.

There was insarabasab as well, pork loin or shoulder butt (kasim) marinated in calamansi, garlic and salt then grilled over an open fire.

As you can imagine, we had the whole menu including imbaliktad, beef with bile that got its name from the act of turning over the meat after one side had been boiled.

So we had our breakfasts at restaurants and by the beach. But the one that was full of local color was at the Dayo, the Sunday livestock market in Batac.

Breakfast was in a tent a few meters away from the main trading area. Nearby, pots were boiling, pans were stewing and several plates used by so many diners were being washed.

Papaitan was the favored dish, the smell of bile contributing to the earthy ambience. Again dinardaraan and igado were there.

I had my first taste of kalabaw kilawin, raw slices of carabao with garlic, onions and spring onions strewn on top. A bit of sukang Iloko was poured over it.

The Ilocos vinegar accompanied almost everything we ate. This dark product of sugarcane that is sometimes likened to balsamic (though I think it is even better than the Italian vinegar) is probably why Ilocano cooking is so exceptional.

It might be difficult to imagine that we would have lunch and dinner after all that. But we did, we did.

E-mail the author at pinoyfood04@yahoo.com

allan_dude

December 4th, 2007, 01:51 AM

Region 1 workers to get P3-P15 daily wage hikeRate is industry-based

WORKERS in Region 1 will get from P3 to P15 daily wage increase depending on the type of industry where they are employed.
The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) of Region 1, headed by Department of Labor and Employment Director Henry John Jalbuena, has approved the increase after due public hearings in the Region 1 provinces including Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte.

The increase is contained in Wage Order No. RB 1-12, approved by the RTWPB on November 19, 2007 and made public in a press conference in Dagupan on Thursday.

The other members of the RTWPB are National Economic and Development Authority Regional Director Leonardo Quintos Jr. and Department of Trade and Industry Regional Director Florante Leal, vice chairmen; Atty. Amado Adquilen and Professor Demetrio Ruiz, representatives of workers; and Jerry Parlan and Salvador Poserio, representatives of employers.

All the members agreed that wage increases cannot alleviate all the financial woes of workers and their families but the new wage order will provide them some relief to cope with the increasing prices of basic goods and services without risking the viability of industries which generate jobs and employment opportunities.

Under the Wage Order, workers in the agriculture plantation and non-plantation sectors in the Ilocos Region, which is predominantly agriculture-based, will receive the highest increase of P15 per day.
Workers in the secondary (Level 3) hospitals, other non-agriculture and micro-establishments will receive increases of P3, P5, and P10 per day, respectively.

Jalbuena, RTWPB Chair, said the labor sector, through the PepsiCo workers in Rosario, La Union, petitioned for an P18 daily wage increase but this was opposed by representatives of the management in the different public hearings that were conducted.
The PepsiCo worker s’ wage petition was adopted in all other provinces in the region.

With Wage Order No. RB1-12, the new minimum wage in Region 1 is now from P210 P230 t for non-agricultural workers; from P185 to P210 for agricultural workers; and from P185 to P210 for micro establishments.
Jalbuena said the wage adjustments were determined using the Board’s Wage Determination Model based on the International Labor Organization Framework for wage fixing that considered four major criteria.

These are the needs of workers and their families, capacity of employers to pay, comparability of wages and incomes on similarly situated and more developed regions; and requirements of social and economic development.

In deciding the varying amounts of wage increases, the Board also took into consideration the levels of growth and development of the different industry sectors using economic indicators, such as their contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GRDP), employment generation and labor productivity.

Jalbuena stressed that wage fixing involves a difficult and intricate task of creating a balance among the divergent interests of labor, management and government sectors.

The new wage order will be submitted to the National Wages and Productivity Commission for Review and shall take effect 15 days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.—LM

Source: Sunday Punch (http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/2007/12/03/nature-clears-way-for-park-redevelopment/)

red_jasper

January 12th, 2008, 10:51 AM

Brewing the Iloco Basi

http://bulatlat.com/files/imagecache/content_mainimage/files/image/bangui.JPG

The painstaking process of making the traditional Iloco basi includes boiling the sugarcane sap for at least two hours before placing the liquid into clay pots or tapayan for a three-month fermentation process. Basi-making is one of the booming small-scale industries in the Ilocos region such as this one located in Baruyan, Bangui, Ilocos Norte. Basi is now widely being commercially promoted.

BY CYRENE REYES
Northern Dispatch
Posted by Bulatlat (http://bulatlat.com/2008/01/brewing-iloco-basi)
Vol. VII, No. 48, January 13-19, 2008

allan_dude

January 27th, 2008, 02:04 PM

Japanese firm starts $600-M coco plantation

By Amy R. Remo (http://business.inquirer.net/money/topstories/view/20080124-114389/Japanese-firm-starts-600-M-coco-plantation)
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines -- A Japanese firm started last month a $600-million coconut plantation project in northern Luzon.

Tokyo-based Pacific BioFields Corp., which has teamed up with local firm BioEnergy Northern Luzon Inc., will convert and develop about 600,000 hectares of ‘public and non-disposable’ timberland and forest land into coconut plantations.

Planting activities have started last month following the project’s groundbreaking in Caunayan village in the town of Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte province.

The plantation forms part of a bigger project that also involves the establishment of coconut methyl ester (CME), an essential component of biodiesel.

In a statement, BioEnergy president Salacnib Baterina said the coconut plantation would be the biggest in the country.

Baterina said the project would be beneficial to the residents of the area, considering the jobs it would create and the environment protection programs the company would implement.

The coconut seedlings that will be used are the “Simba” variety, Baterina added.

Pacific Biofields president Moriaki Hayashida, in the same statement, said the plan was to process the coconut produced in the plantation into CME.

Hayashida added the joint venture would put up a CME plant in Curimao town in Ilocos Norte, which will process the coconuts produced in Northern Luzon.

The entire output of the plant will be shipped to Japan to supply the country’s growing demand for biofuels, both for fuel-dependent industries and manufacturing concerns.

Hayashida said the plant’s output “will not even be enough to fill Japan’s huge biofuel requirement.”

Japan’s total diesel requirement reaches 40 billion liters a year, and its plans for a CME blend of 5 percent will create a huge demand for this additive.

Japan is one of the four Asian countries planning to mandate the blending of CME with petroleum diesel to reduce dependence on crude mineral oil.

The Pacific BioFields and BioEnergy earlier forged an agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on this coconut planting and processing project.

So far, 65,000 hectares have been identified by the DENR technical personnel as suitable planting areas, which spans from Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, going up to Abulog town in nearby Cagayan province.

Earlier, another Japanese firm, Toyo Engineering Corp., said it would also put up a P60-billion CME manufacturing plant in Ilocos.

The venture will need some 600,000 hectares of coconut farms in new areas, including areas in the provinces of Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte and La Union.

kevinb

February 20th, 2008, 08:45 PM

brownman

February 21st, 2008, 04:07 PM

tracymack

February 21st, 2008, 04:11 PM

@kevinb: I think the Poro Point Airport in San Fernando, La Union is currently being upgraded to acommodate international flights. As for Pangasinan, PGMA already gave a go signal for the Alaminos International Airport. Funds have already been allocated for the feasibility study.

kevinb

February 21st, 2008, 04:49 PM

^^ Yeah, but I'm quite interested if all of these airports will be profitable. I'm not saying that Region I isn't a tourist spot, but won't two or three international airports suffice?

brownman

February 21st, 2008, 05:04 PM

I get what you mean and somehow I own the same sentiments as yours. I think w/ the small area of Region I, it won't need 5 or more airports to service it. It would just be useless. Come to think of it, 5 airports w/ only a few miles away apart from each other, I think it's not profitable cause they would end up competing at each other for profits, although analysts would say the region is boosting a lucrative market on that front but I think 3 airports would be enough (the one in Pangasinan, Poro Point, and LIA) if not even too much.

kevinb

February 21st, 2008, 05:15 PM

^^ Maybe three airports would be enough at thismoment. If they feel that three airports isn't accommodating the people that are using the facilities, then that's the perfect time to build some more airports, IMO.

allan_dude

February 21st, 2008, 05:29 PM

I think the proposed renovation/upgrade of Vigan Airport (Mindoro Airport) is only meant for domestic services although they say it could meet international standards but if ever there is a plan to push it even further and make it open for international flights, I think it would only become like an alternative route from either LIA or the one in San Fernando. But recently, I haven't heard any new developments regarding the proposal.

From Rep. Ronald Singson's official website:

October 29, 2007
VIGAN CITY AIRPORT TO BE EXPANDED

VIGAN CITY - The waiting may finally be over as Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson reported that the Vigan airport will soon be expanded to enable it to take in commercial and international flights.

Businessmen, balikbayans and tourists have been wishing to have the airport here widened and made accessible to commercial flights to shorten travel time from Manila that takes eight to 10 hours by land.

The Vigan airport has been available only for small planes.

Singson, in whose first district base the airport is located, told The STAR that he was able to include P250 million in the budget of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) for the upgrading of the airport.

Singson, who is serving his first term as congressman, said the P250-million fund was worked out during the recent budget deliberations in Congress.

He said the DOTC will undertake the airport's expansion in two phasesfor two years beginning next year. Part of the upgrade is the installation of a control tower and radar and aviation equipment.

The runway will be expanded to a desirable size to enable the airport to accommodate commercial and international flights. Presently, the runway measures only 800 meters.

Meanwhile, Singson said the first batch of call center trainees that he initiated under his "train now, pay later" and job placement programs has graduated.

The 25 graduates are now having their job applications processed in several call center firms in Metro Manila, Singson said, adding that the schedule for the second batch of trainees is being arranged.

Benefiting from the program are young individuals from his district, most of whom are fresh college graduates.

http://ronaldvsingson.com/news.html

tracymack

February 21st, 2008, 05:34 PM

@kevinb

To tell you the truth, I have no idea if these airports would be profitable. That is why they do feasibility studies prior to construction. :)

What I can tell you is that Pangasinan needs to have an International/Commercial Airport. Here are some key points as to why:

Pangasinan - Largest province in the region (size & population)
Alaminos City - 100 Islands
Bolinao - Beautiful beaches
Dagupan City - Region 1 center for aquaculture, BPO 'next wave' city, Region's busiest city
San Carlos City - Region 1 mango & bamboo capital, largest in the region in terms of population
Urdaneta City - Region 1 vegetable trading capital, largest livestock market north of Manila, Region 1 financial capital, BPO 'next wave' city, Region's 2nd busiest city

And so on..

Oh, wait. I think these are worth mentioning:
Sto. Tomas - Corn capital
Villasis - Talong capital
:D

Point is trade and tourism in Pangasinan will greatly benefit from the construction of a Commercial/International airport in this province.

brownman

February 21st, 2008, 05:41 PM

@ allan_dude: I've read that somewhere here before. That's the latest development so far, but other than that, we're still waiting.

So when are they gonna start Phase 1 of the rehab this year? From what I have received and what I have been told by my relatives in Vigan they haven't seen any activities on the airport yet nor any signs from the Provincial Government or DOTC as to when are they going to start the works.

allan_dude

February 21st, 2008, 05:57 PM

^^ malala red tape ngayon :lol:

allan_dude

February 22nd, 2008, 04:53 PM

Ilocos-Pangasinan Regional Development Councl (RDC) Adopts Strat Plan for the next 3 years

In its recently concluded Corporate Planning session, the Ilocos-Pangasinan Regional Development Council (RDC) led by its new Chairperson, Governor Deogracias “DV” B. Savellano pushed for the revitalization of the agri-industry and tourism development in the region. Agri-industrialization and tourism development therefore, is the major development thrust of the region for the next three years.

Studies presented by the NEDA staff and Ms. Irene Ubungen of the graduate studies of Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) showed that, the region’s economy is predominantly driven by agri-fishery and forestry sector (AFF), and the services sector. The industry sector contributes a meager portion in the region’s economy. However, deeper examinations on the data using a scientific method revealed that the industry sector’s overall effect to the region’s economy is overwhelming because it tends to dictate the region’s economy. This means that when the industry sector takes a dip in its performance, the region’s gross domestic product (GDP) follows suit, and vice-versa.

Having seen the influence of the industry sector and the large contribution of agriculture sector in the region’s economy, Governor Savellano opted to pursue the industrialization of the agriculture sector, particularly on processing high value cash crops such as mango, tobacco, bangus, onion and garlic. Hence, industrialization pf the agriculture sector will mean realigning of funds and resources for manufacturing and processing of agriculture products.

Relatedly, RDC-I Vice-Chairperson, Director Leonardo N. Quitos, jr. mentioned that the non-metallic mineral resources of the region is another potential growth driver. “Harnessing the full potential of the large deposits of gravel, sand and limestone for export to China and Taiwan could stimulate growth in the region’s economy’, said Director Quitos.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Regional Director Florante O. Leal pledged the full support of his office and his committee on economic development sector for the new development thrust of the RDC-I.

With the invigoration of the agriculture-industry and tourism sector, and tapping the export potentials of the non-metallic resources of the region, Governor Savellano is optimistic that the region’s economy will improve, thus creating more jobs, and eventually reduce poverty. In the meantime, the RDC must sustain its social responsibility by continually supporting the full attainment of the region’s MDG targets.

Results of the corporate planning session will be translated into work plans of the RDCs sectoral committees.

http://ilocos.net.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=78&Itemid=1

allan_dude

February 23rd, 2008, 01:00 PM

Ilocos cops to visit Fujian, China

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union -- Top ranking officials of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-Ilocos are set to fly to Fujian, China for a goodwill educational trip.

The delegation is composed of PRO-Ilocos Director Leopoldo Bataoil, Pangasinan Police Provincial Director Isagani Nerez, La Union Police Provincial Director Franklin Bucayu, Regional Mobile Group (RMG)-Ilocos Director Edgar Basbas, Dagupan City Police Chief Dionicio Borromeo and Urdaneta Police Chief Jimili Macaraeg.

Bataoil said he received the invitation from the Chinese government way before the PNP National Headquarters announced the national awardees for best police units nationwide.

PRO-Ilocos was year 2007's Best Regional Police Office Nationwide; Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPO) was Best Police Provincial Office Nationwide; RMG-Ilocos was Best Regional Mobile Group Nationwide; while Dagupan City PoliceStation (DCPS) was Best City Police Station Nationwide.

The awarding ceremony was held on February 6 at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

In his letter to Bataoil, Song Kening, director general of Foreign Affairs of Fujian Provincial People's Government said, "the trip would enhance the bilateral friendship and promote exchanges in police affairs."

He further said: "In recent years, the bilateral relationship between China and the Philippines has developed quickly with increasing mutual political trust and exchanges and cooperation in the field of trade, culture and tourism, as well as, police affairs."

Kening added: "the trip will not only contribute to the deepening of our friendship between two countries, but also greatly promote the mutual understanding and friendship between the police staff of both sides, and to lay foundation for our future cooperation."

Part of the police officers' itinerary is to visit the different police stations in Fujian province. (LCMY/Sunnex)

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/pan/2008/02/23/news/ilocos.cops.to.visit.fujian.china.html

tracymack

February 24th, 2008, 05:12 AM

^^Nice! The Urdaneta City Police Chief is part of the delegation. Urdaneta probably isn't that far behind in the rankings considering the entire region 1 swept the awards. :)

allan_dude

February 27th, 2008, 03:55 PM

Ilocos-Pangasinan region eyes bio-power to cut oil dependency

THE government has set as one of its top priorities the development of bio-power as an alternative source of energy in order to help reduce the country’s dependency on imported oil and oil products.

Dr. Enrie Mendoza, presidential assistant for Northern Luzon, told newsmen here that the program was endorsed by the Regional Development Council of Ilocos-Pangasinan headed by Ilocos Sur Governor Deogracias Savellano.

Mendoza said the program intends to bring about self-sufficiency on bio-ethanol, the blended mixture for petrochemicals, and the use of solar power in order to energize homes in remote villages yet to be reached by electricity.

He said production of bio-ethanol will be pursued through the massive planting of sweet sorghum in all feasible areas. He pointed out that sweet sorghum is a good source of bio-ethanol that can be mixed with gasoline in order to run engines.

In seeking massive production of sweet sorghum, Mendoza said that the region is very lucky because the Don Mariano Marcos State University in Batac, Ilocos Norte has already acquired a four to five-year experience in production of sweet sorghum seeds.

“We are now disseminating the technology (in the planting of sweet sorghum) to the farmers, aside from the fact that plantations for sweet sorghum are already in several sites,” he said.

He added that priority targets of the massive planting of sweet sorghum, among others, are farmers who do not earn enough incomes from their present crops and who want to shift to this bio-ethanol producing crop.

Sorghum is a cash crop essentially used for animal feeds. But molasses can be produced from its sweet juices.

Sweet sorghum can be planted anywhere, even in arid lands, which the Ilocos-Pangasinan region has plenty of, Mendoza stressed.

He said in promoting the planting of sweet sorghum, the government, through the Department of Agriculture, is now coming out with several models or demonstration farms in the barangay level.

At the same time, Mendoza said that the search for alternative energy source will be exemplified through the use of solar or wind power for the purpose of the common household in the region.

“Maybe, solar power is more appropriate here in Region 1 because of the continued sunshine for almost nine months of the year or year-round,” Mendoza said.

Mendoza sees “solarization” as the answer to the problems of villages that can not be reached by electric lines, adding that there are several areas that are now being piloted for the project.

He said he will ask the Pangasinan State University to pilot the putting up of solar power that will energize a far-flung barangay in San Nicolas, Pangasinan that requested for the project.

Solar power is also being sought in the more interior areas of La Union, Ilocos Sur and Cordilleras, adding that the hinterland town of Del Pilar, Ilocos Sur already has one. (PNA)

http://pangasinanstar.prepys.com/archives/2008/02/26/ilocos-pangasinan-region-eyes-bio-power-to-cut-oil-dependency/#more-2394

allan_dude

March 1st, 2008, 03:42 PM

Pangasinan governor opens IRAA meet today

LINGAYEN - "Let us prove to them that Region I is the best region in sports throughout the country."

Thus said Gov. Amado Espino,Jr. as he welcomed the heads of the 13 schools divisions who joined the Ilocos Region Athletic Association (IRAA) meet at a fellowship night held at the Capitol plaza here.

Espino said the competition is not a battle of the different schools division in the region, but rather a test of strength among the mightiest and best athletes in the region, which will comprise the delegation that will compete with the best from other regions in this year's Palarong Pambansa in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

The governor said this regional sports meet is a venue where Region I can select the best athletes in various events who will vie for the medals in the national games. Afterwards, these will compete in the international sporting events.

Espino also expressed hope that the next year's Palarong Pambansa will be held here particularly at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC).

The NRSCC was also the main venue of the 1995 Palarong Pambansa. -Cesar Ramirez

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Local%20News&p=54&type=2&sec=2&aid=2008030115

allan_dude

March 1st, 2008, 08:33 PM

Ilocos Norte tops Iraa

LINGAYEN -- They traveled almost seven hours from Ilocos Norte to this town to protect and defend their supremacy in the Ilocos Region Athletic Association (Iraa) annual meet.

The 732 Ilocos Norte delegations composed of athletes, coaches, and officials led by Ilocos Norte Schools Superintendent Araceli Pastor went home victorious as they again reigned for the ninth consecutive years.

The Iraa 2008 was held at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center here from February 24 to 29.

The overall ranking and total points are as follows: Ilocos Norte - 695.9; Pangasinan 2 - 486; La Union - 324.5; Pangasinan 1 - 169.4; Dagupan City - 126.5; Alaminos City - 43.5; San Fernando City - 36.67; Vigan City - 34.5; and Urdaneta City - 29.9.

For the special awards, Laoag City was again adjudged as "Most Disciplined Delegation" while La Union who stayed Domalandan Elementary School was chosen as the "Cleanest Delegation."

Pastor credits their victory to the sports program institutionalized by Ilocos Norte Governor Michael Keon. This, he introduced nine years ago when he became Board Member and Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. as then the governor.

Keon was the former head of Project: Gintong Alay, which gained prominence Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) sports meet during the incumbency of the late president Ferdinand Marcos.

"Some of our Iraa veterans have graduated and now we are starting with a new breed. This is a challenge to all of us if the younger breed now can deliver," Pastor said.

In his message at the opening program last Sunday, Pangasinan Governor Amado Espino Jr. said victory of Pangasinan cannot be expected, yet, as there are five schools divisions in the province. These are Pangasinan 1, Pangasinan 2, San Carlos City, Alaminos City, and Urdaneta City (Dagupan City is an independent city).

But with the sports program the Provincial Government is developing, he remarked, Pangasinan as a whole will be very competitive in two to three year's time.

Next year's Iraa will be hosted by Dagupan City.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/pan/2008/03/02/sports/ilocos.norte.tops.iraa.html

tyronne

March 2nd, 2008, 12:42 AM

Yayyyy! Congratulations to Pangasinan Division II for being 2nd :D Good job everyone :)

allan_dude

March 2nd, 2008, 05:17 PM

^^ Congratulations Ilocos Norte! Mahusay talaga sporting programs nila.

Pangasinan II not far behind placing 4th Spot naman! Madami kasing divisions sa Panagsinan kaya hindi matalotalo mga Ilocano. 5 divisions + Dagupan City = 6. Sa Ilocos at La Union tig datawa't tatlo lang ang division (Ilocos Norte & Laoag City / Ilocos Sur, Candon City & Vigan City/ LU & SFC) :lol: :lol:

gr8-one

March 6th, 2008, 03:09 AM

I saw in the La Union thread that there are a lot of international airports in the pipeline. Could five or more international airports be operational in Ilocandia? We all know that there's already one in Laoag, another one will be put up in Vigan, and three more I think scattered all-over the region. Is this really feasible?

There is only one long-range radar in the Philippines and that is the one in Tagaytay. This is supplemented by terminals which I believe are located in Davao, Subic and Laoag.

To build these planned International airports, the Philippines needs one or more long-range radar to adequately patrol its area of responsibility. There was a report that ATO planned to build a long-range radar in both Laoag and Palawan. Until this becomes a reality, these talks of building/converting International Airports in the region are just that - TALKS.

allan_dude

March 7th, 2008, 08:29 PM

Region 1

http://www.gov.ph/aboutphil/images/region1.jpg

Ilocos Norte (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=508754)

Ilocos Norte was created as a separate province by the King Ferdinand VII of Spain through a Royal Decree on February 2, 1818 and Republic Act 2711 on March 10, 1917.

It occupies the coastal plain bordering the China Sea and guarded by the Cordilleras in the northwestern corner of Luzon. Before this, the coastal region encompassing both Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur was one province.

When Juan de Salcedo started his exploration in 1572, he occupied Laoag (now a city) which served as the province's capital and center of commerce and industry as well. Laoag City is about 487 kilometers Northwest of Manila.

The province is bounded in the East by Cagayan and Kalinga-Apayao, in the Southeast by Abra, in the South by Ilocos Sur and in the West by the South China Sea.As of June

The province is composed of:
two (2) cities and

21 municipalities

557 barangaysLike the other provinces of the Ilocos, Ilocos Norte's economy is mostly agriculture- based. Aside from rice, the province is a major producer of fruits, vegetables and legumes, specifically, garlic and tomato.

Manufacturing has become a thriving industry in the province where most of the establishments are focused on general contracting, furniture-making, handicrafts and metalcraft. Ilocos Norte is popular for its old churches and ancestral houses.

The province's booming tourism industry is due to its various scenic spots and the presence of an international airport in the City of Laoag.

Ilocos Sur (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=285889)

Before the coming of the Spaniards, the coastal plains in the northwestern extremity of Luzon, stretching from the Bangui in the north to Namacpacan (now Luna, La Union) in the south, were as a whole known as a progressive region rich in gold.

In 1611, when Pangasinan was created, part of modern La Union was annexed to a new province. By February 2, 1818, growth and prosperity were sufficiently great to compel the Spanish authorities to divide the ancient province of La Union into two: Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur. Ilocos Sur then included its present territory, plus the northeastern part of modern La Union and all of Abra (which was then called Abra de Vigan).

In 1846, Abra was made a separate politico-militar province by the Spaniards, but was re-annexed back to Ilocos Sur as a sub-province in 1903 by the Americans. The present province of Abra was finally established in 1917.

The province of Ilocos Sur is located along the western coast of Northern Luzon. It is bounded by Ilocos Norte in the North, Abra in the Northeast, Mountain Province in the east, Benguet in the Southeast, La Union in the South and the Luzon Sea and the Lingayen Gulf in the West.

The province is composed of:
2 cities and
32 municipalities and
768 barangays.Approximately 23.7 percent of the province's total land area are crop lands. Aside from La Union, Ilocos Sur is one of the country's major producers of tobacco. Its other major agricultural products include onion, tomato and banana.

Industries in the province are mostly small and medium scale ones in the areas of pottery, ceramics and furniture making. These industries absorb more than half of the population total employment.

The ubiquitous old and ancestral houses and churches have made the local tourism industry a major contributor to the province's economy. Other tourist attractions include natural scenic spots and industries such as pottery and ceramics.

La Union (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=367465)

La Union is a Spanish term for "the union" or "the united". No other name could apply more appropriately to this province which was born out of the fusion of towns from the provinces of Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan and Benguet.

La Union was created by virtue of a superior Decreto issued on March 2, 1850 by Governor General Antonio Maria Blanco. The establishment of La Union as a province was formally approved by the Real Orden of Quezon Isabella II of Spain on April 18, 1854.

As a province, it had withstood the rigors of war, first against the Spaniards then against the Americans and lastly, the Japanese. The province has flourished since its creation to the present until it was designated as the center of the Ilocos Region (Region I). Its capital, San Fernando City, is the seat of the regional government offices as well as the region's educational and commercial center.

The province is bounded on the North and Northeast by Ilocos Sur, on the East by Benguet, on the South by Pangasinan and on the West by the South China Sea. La Union is five hours from Manila and more than an hour from Baguio City by car.

The province is composed of:
1 city
19 municipalities, and
576 barangays.Around 35 percent of the total land area of the province is devoted to crop production. Although 62 percent of La Union is upland, only 21 percent remains forested. The province is one of the country's two major producers of tobacco. Its other major agricultural products include banana, coconut and mango aside from rice.

The province has more than 110 kilometers of coastline. The pristine waters of strategically located coastal municipalities make the province a major fishing ground and likewise a top destination for domestic and foreign visitors.

La Union is famous for its tree houses, beaches and other natural tourist attractions.
Small and medium enterprises are thriving in the province with the booming small-scale industries like pottery making and sericulture.

Pangasinan (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=412658)

Created in 1850 by Governor General Ronquillo de Penalosa, Pangasinan was the earliest political and administrative unit in the Philippines. It was officially conquered and colonized by D. Martin de Goiti in 1571. At that time, its territorial jurisdiction included the present province of Zambales and parts of La Union and Tarlac. Lingayen was designated and remained up to the present the provincial capital.

By middle of the 19th century, the northern towns of Agoo to Bacnotan were separated from Pangasinan and became parts of the province of La Union.

In 1975, its territorial boundaries were further diminished when Panique and other municipalities south of it were affixed to Tarlac.

At present, the province is bounded in the North by Lingayen Gulf, La Union and Benguet, in the Northeast by Nueva Vizcaya, in the East by Nueva Ecija, Tarlac in the South and Zambales and the China Sea in the West. It is approximately 170 kilometers North of Manila and 59 kilometers Southwest of Baguio City.

The province is composed of:
4 cities,
44 municipalities and
1,364 barangays.The province's economy is mainly agricultural due to its vast fertile plains. More than 44 percent of its agricultural area is devoted to crop production. Aside from being one of the Philippine's rice granaries, Pangasinan is also a major producer of coconut, mango and eggplant.

As a coastal province, marine and inland fishing have become one of the major economic activities of the people.

Apart from agriculture and fishery, Pangasinan's economy also thrives in light industries. It is famous for exquisitely hand-carved furnitures, naturally-carved bamboo furnitures, rattan and the famous Fish Caviar (Bagoong), which has become the trademark of the province.

Pangasinan also boasts of its natural and scenic spots which have greatly contributed to the booming local tourism industry.

Source:
nscb.gov.ph
Gov.ph

allan_dude

March 16th, 2008, 10:03 AM

From Pangasinan Thread courtesy of tracymack:

[Stats] Pangasinan (And Region 1) Cities

Hey guys, I did some research and number crunching lately and I thought I'd post this data since there's not a lot going on in our thread. I hope this would be of interest to you and hopefully would trigger some discussions. :)

My sources:
Population Data - NSO Census 2000 (http://www.census.gov.ph/census2000/index.html)
Financial Data - COA 2005 Annual Audit Reports (http://www.coa.gov.ph/Audit/AAR.htm)
Land Area, Classification - City & Provincial Websites

I couldn't find more recent data so I settled for those mentioned above. I wanted to include high-income municipalities to see which ones are primed for cityhood but I couldn't find such data. Audit reports from each Province do not breakdown the total income into income per municipality. The youngest Region 1 City, Batac in Ilocos Norte was not included because no city financial data is available since Batac was upgraded just recently.

I ranked the cities from first to last for every statistical category I could get my hands on.

The stats:

OVERALL DATA
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2281/2323225873_5bdecc232b_o.jpg

POPULATION
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2275/2325709341_17efc722d9_o.jpg

LAND AREA
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3248/2323266675_d85ef38047_o.jpg

CLASSIFICATION
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3094/2323266693_36d8305fde_o.jpg

[FINANCE] TOTAL ASSETS
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3279/2324043878_9a10b62c6d_o.jpg

[FINANCE] GROSS INCOME
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2001/2324043640_0b9dd2532a_o.jpg

[FINANCE] NET INCOME
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2164/2323226079_9df5a49550_o.jpg

[FINANCE] EXPENSES
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2232/2323226121_f87567ce65_o.jpg

Weina

March 20th, 2008, 06:01 AM

P100M allocated for dam, other projects in Ilocos Norte

The Agriculture department said yesterday a P100-million budget for the improvement of the Madongan Dam project in Ilocos Norte has been ordered released, to help raise crop harvests in the province by 10%, apart from other interventions in one of the country’s top five crop-producing regions.

Studies show that the development of the dam will raise farm production in Ilocos Norte’s irrigated lands by 10%, the department said in a statement.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap also committed P4 million for an irrigation project in Paoay town, and the delivery of 10 shredders, 10 flatbed dryers. In 11 other municipalities, 10 shallow tube wells will be built.

"We cannot just ask Ilocos Norte to increase its corn production by 10% this year without giving its farmers the support they need to attain this goal," Mr. Yap was quoted as saying.

The Ilocos region is a top producer of both rice and corn, the latter supplied as feeds to hog raisers in Central Luzon.

So far, the country has 1.413 million hectares of irrigated lands, representing less than half of the country’s total irrigable lands. — Eric B. Dorente/Businessworldonline

allan_dude

March 23rd, 2008, 01:43 PM

DA confident of enough rice supply in Region I

Sunday Punch

MALASIQUI– An official of the Department of Agriculture is confident that the Ilocos Region will be spared from an impending rice shortage in the coming months.

Director Cipriano Santiago of the DA field office based in San Fernando City, La Union said he is optimistic that the region’s target harvest of 1.7 million metric tons of rice will be achieved in the coming wet season despite reported decreasing production of grains worldwide.

He said this expected harvest will be the region’s contribution to the national rice stockpile that could help forestall any rice shortage in any part of the country.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap mobilized the DA field office to motivate farmers to expand their production areas in order to achieve target harvest.

Santiago said the DA programmed 310,000 hectares of land to be planted with rice in Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte during the wet season.

Pangasinan will account for one half of the programmed areas.

Santiago said the 1.7million metric tons to be produced by farmers will be more than enough for the consumption of the region’s population, with the excess to be sold outside.

The region had just harvested its second cropping for rice and 6,000hectares of land is ready for third cropping starting in May this year.

Most of the third crop rice will be planted in Pangasinan and Ilocos Norte whose farmers traditionally plant rice early.

http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/2008/03/23/da-confident-of-enough-rice-supply-in-region-i/#more-8715

allan_dude

April 2nd, 2008, 09:35 AM

Ferry system planned to link 3 cities around Lingayen Gulf (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20080401-127765/Ferry-system-planned-to-link-3-cities-around-Lingayen-Gulf)

By Yolanda Sotelo-Fuertes

DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines -- The cities of Dagupan and Alaminos in Pangasinan and San Fernando in La Union have agreed to establish a ferry system along the Lingayen Gulf to help strengthen and spur economic, tourism and cultural ties between them.

Mayors Alipio Fernandez Jr. (Dagupan) and Hernani Braganza (Alaminos) on Monday signed a memorandum of agreement for the ferry system. San Fernando Mayor Pablo Ortega is expected sign the agreement when he returns from abroad.

The officials said the project aims to provide an economically viable, convenient and efficient mode of transportation for tourists, residents and goods between the three cities located on the rim of the Lingayen Gulf.

These cities belong to the North Quadrangle Growth Corridor and the ferry system is envisioned to link them to other ports like Currimao (Ilocos Norte), Subic (Zambales) and Manila.

Fernandez said the ferry system was not a new idea but actually a revival of a system that operated between Pangasinan and the Ilocos provinces before the 1935 floods destroyed the berthing facility in Dagupan.

"Since the 16th century, trading between Pangasinan and Vigan (Ilocos Sur) was done by Chinese merchants and Filipino fishermen through boats that used the Lingayen Gulf. A ferry system is important in the development of provinces and cities and in the Ilocos region," he said.

Braganza said Alaminos stands to benefit most from the project as it is "the least developed" of the three cities.

It was Alaminos that proposed the ferry system to the other two cities.

With the ferry service in place, tourists from Northern Luzon and Baguio City can take boats from San Fernando to visit the Hundred Islands, go to Dagupan to shop, then return to San Fernando, Braganza said.

On the other hand, residents of western Pangasinan can take the ferry to San Fernando where regional offices are located, saving travel time, he said.

The ferry system is expected to cut travel time from Alaminos to San Fernando from three hours to about an hour.

The MOA said a tri-city project committee would be formed to organize a project task force to support the ferry system's operations.

Fernandez, Braganza and Ortega have committed funds for the construction of piers for the ferry system in the three cities and for research to ensure passenger safety.

allan_dude

April 4th, 2008, 04:39 PM

repost:

:wave:

sharing this one in the Sur thread

APRIL 2008 issue of FOOD Magazine
http://i27.tinypic.com/2qwiyro.jpg

allan_dude

April 4th, 2008, 04:41 PM

Ilocos Sur gov seeks involvement of LGUs in evaluation of government regional offices

By Freddie G. Lazaro

Vigan City (4 April) -- Ilocos Sur Governor Deogracias Victor "DV" B. Savellano had proposed the involvement of the local government units (LGUs) in the evaluation on the performance and implementations of different programs of all regional offices from the national government line agencies.

This is to identify these programs from the national government and to know its impact to the people living in the countryside.

"The significance of this proposal is not just an evaluation but we identify the program that is very much relevant for our people in our province, in our towns as well as in our barangays," Savellano said.

Through this initiative, the governor said that the LGUs would also suggest for the sustainability of these programs to be implemented in the communities.

He cited some instances happened in the past years wherein the national government had to implement a project that was not suitable to the needs of the people in the grass roots level.

"The programs and projects should be come from the LGUs because the LGUs know the needs of its people. Thus, the national should properly inform the LGUs about their programs for the local chief executives to include its project based on the need of his constituents," he explained.

"This proposed evaluation procedure would tend to avoid any conflicts in the implementation of the government projects and programs in the grassroots levels," he added

Savellano, the current chairman of the Regional Development Council (RDC), also reiterated that this proposed evaluation system would also assure the reaching out of all government programs to the barangay level. (PIA Ilocos Sur)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p080404.htm&no=16

allan_dude

April 4th, 2008, 04:47 PM

Region 1 to send 200 athletes to national PRISAA games

SOME 200 athletes from the Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) will be sent to Zamboanga City to compete against the best of the nation’s college players for this year’s National PRISAA Games slated on April 8-14.

Except for baseball, football and dance sport, the Region 1 contingent will compete in 17 team sports, individual events in the men and women divisions like basketball, sepak takraw, softball, volleyball, athletics, badminton, chess, karatedo, lawn tennis, swimming, table tennis and taekwondo.

Region 1 is also fielding its bets to the vocal solo singing contest, cultural events (men and women) and the Mutya ng PRISAA.

PRISAA Region 1, which hosted the 2006 national PRISAA, landed fifth in the overall standing of medal tally in 2006 and 2007.

The selected athletes will come from Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte and the cities of Dagupan, San Carlos, Urdaneta, Alaminos, San Fernando, Candon, Vigan and Laoag.

“We hope to improve our ranking in the overall standing,” Phil Celi, PRISAA Region 1 executive director said.

PRISAA Region 1 treasurer Seato Gonomil believes the region has a big chance to land on the top four this time because this year’s athletes are stronger.

Atty. Gonzalo Duque, president of the Lyceum Northwestern University and PRISAA Region 1 president, will head the de-legation—JAG,Jr.

http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/2008/03/30/region-1-to-send-200-athletes-to-national-prisaa-games/

allan_dude

April 13th, 2008, 05:27 PM

4 towns get new police patrol cars

CAMP OSCAR FLORENDO, La Union– The fight against criminality in the province received a boost with the assignment of brand new patrol vehicles to the police stations of Alcala , Malasiqui, Umingan and Bolinao.

Chief Superintendent Romeo Hilomen, the newly installed regional police director, said the procurement of new cars and motorcycles is part of the program to improve the “move, shoot, communicate, and investigate” capability of the Philippine National Police nationwide.

The regional command received a total of 23 vehicles (16 Toyota Hi-Lux 4×2 patrol jeeps, five Toyota Altis patrol cars and two 200cc Honda motorcycles) that were distributed in various towns.

The police stations in Alcala , Malasiqui and Umingan each received a patrol jeep each while Bolinao got a Toyota sedan.

Hilomen, speaking during the turnover ceremonies on April 4, called on the officers and men of PNP Region 1 to conduct more aggressive patrol operations and respond more quickly to calls for police assistance.

“These patrol vehicles must be used to improve our services and to show that Mamang Pulis is ready to serve and act swiftly at all times,” he said.

http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/2008/04/13/4-towns-get-new-police-patrol-cars/#more-8960

tracymack

April 16th, 2008, 03:43 AM

Reposting this article from the Pangasinan thread..

Carabao disappearing in Pangasinan, Ilocos, execs say
By Gabriel Cardinoza
Northern Luzon Bureau
First Posted 11:19pm (Mla time) 04/16/2008

LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN – Carabao, the national animal, is slowly becoming a rarity in Pangasinan and in the Ilocos.

And unless the government acts fast, it may become extinct in five to six years, Urdaneta City Mayor Amadeo Perez Jr. said here on Tuesday.

“The trend has become very alarming already,” said Perez, who was here to attend the provincial development council meeting. “They are becoming extinct because our farmers now use hand tractors.”

Ten years ago, carabaos were a common sight in rice fields on both sides of the road anywhere in the province, he said. But now, he said, for every 10 cows, only one carabao is seen or “nothing at all.”

The carabaos that are being traded at the Urdaneta cattle market are coming from Abra and Cagayan Valley, Perez said. Cagayan Valley, according to records of the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics, is the top carabao-producing region.

“There’s nothing, only a few now come from Pangasinan. Before our carabaos came from western Pangasinan,” he said. Urdaneta has one of the biggest cattle markets in the country.

Perez noted that in the Ilocos region alone, carabao population decreased by 80 percent over 10 years.

He said in his city’s cattle market, only about 5 percent of the animals being traded there every week are carabaos.

“And this has affected our cattle market. Before, on an ordinary market day, about 1,800 heads were there for two days. Now, we only have 800 heads,” he said.

He said the government, especially the Department of Agriculture, should seize the initiative in preventing the possible extinction of the national animal.

“A lot of our people are still dependent on carabeef for their meat requirements,” Perez said. “Not only that this is the cheapest meat but, mind you, it also tastes better than beef or pork.”

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=130611)

***********

Who would have thought that carabaos may become extinct in the Philippines? :omg: I hope the government takes action asap.

allan_dude

April 16th, 2008, 07:38 PM

^^ Calling the National Carabao Canter!!!

Naku baka pagbawal na nila yung pagbenta ng carabeef, sarap pa naan nung "tapan duweg" sa Mangaldan. :crazy2:

allan_dude

April 30th, 2008, 01:08 AM

Chinese official hails potential of Ilocos region

By FREDDIE G. LAZARO

VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur — A high ranking Chinese official cited the socio-economic potential of the Ilocos region in terms of agriculture, export development and tourism industry during the recently concluded tactical planning and workshop by the members of the Regional Development Council (RDC) held in Fort Ilocandia Resort in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.

Hudson Wong, Second Secretary of China’s Consular Office in Manila, said these prospects in the region would help upgrade the economic life of the people.

Ilocos Sur Gov. Deogracias Victor "DV" B. Savellano, the incumbent RDC chairman, initiated the planning workshop attended by the regional officials of all government agencies and local government units to establish the direction of the region by utilizing existing resources of the region for sustainable economic development.

Among the projects deemed to boost the region’s potential as identified during the recent planning workshop included: the improvement of airports in Laoag City and Vigan City; construction of an airport in Alaminos City, Pangasinan; improvement/upgrade of seaports in Currimao in Ilocos Norte, Salomague Port in Cabugao, Ilocos Sur; San Fernando Seaport in La Union; establishment of the Ilocos Sur Special Economic and Freeport Zone (ISSEFPZ) in Cabugao, Ilocos Sur; rehabilitation of communal and national irrigation systems; tri-city tourism project (Pangasinan and La Union);

Upland road development program; key commodities development program on mangoes, bangus and garlic; deep-sea commercial fishing; sustainable agriculture through creation of demo sites for application of new techonology and organic farming; and minerals (metallic and non-metallic) development project.

Wong said he will bring these programs to the concerned Chinese officials for further study in connection with the preparation of the intention for bilateral ties agreement between the People’s Republic of China and the Ilocos region.

"In my own opinion, I am very much willing to establish sisterhood cooperation of China and Ilocos region not only for its potentials but also its geographic proximity considering that the air travel between Hong Kong and Laoag City is 45 minutes," he said.

"I’m also expecting that our government would consider these potentials of Northern Luzon," added Wong.

He disclosed that the good relationship between China and the Philippines had already been established 100 years ago.

With the positive observation of the Chinese official, Savellano said that this would be the start of the fruitful indications for the success of his economic development plan of the region benefiting primarily the local folks.

"The Ilocos region has plenty of resources for our leaders to maximize to attain goals for economic development," said Savellano.

http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20080430123222.html

---
Err they keep ok saying Ilocos Region. It should be called "Northwestern Luzon Region" or "Ilocos-Pangaisnan Region". Puron Pangasinan are not Ilocanos.

tracymack

April 30th, 2008, 04:57 AM

RDC-I PAID TRIBUTE TO LGUS IN REGION I (http://neda1.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=113&Itemid=1)

The Regional Development Council of Region I (RDC-I) paid tribute to the exemplary performances of the local government units (LGUs) in the region through its Recognition and Awards Program. Now on its second year, the Recognition and Awards Program for LGUs is a joint collaboration of the RDC and the DILG. Its primary aim is to recognize and honor the commendable performances of the LGUs. The Awards Program is also a tool in documenting best practices and experiences of the LGUs for possible replication. The program is jointly financed by the members of the RDC through their contribution in the Council’s Trust Fund.

For CY 2007, four major awards namely, a) Search for Cleanest, Greenest and Safest LGU, Inland Bodies of Water and Coastal Area; b) Search for Best Performing LGU through the Local Governance Performance Management System; c) Search for Best Practices; and d) Search for Best Coastal Resource Management (CRM) Implementer, were conferred to deserving LGUs.

Excelling in the Search for Cleanest, Greenest and Safest LGU are the Province of Ilocos Norte, City of Vigan, Municipalities of Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, and Nueva Era, Ilocos Norte. The Tapuakan River in Pugo, La Union was adjudged as the Cleanest and Greenest Inland Body of Water, while Burgos, Ilocos Norte garnered the top award for the Cleanest and Cleanest Coastal Body of Water.

On the Best Performing LGU along the 18 service areas of the LGPMS, the Province of La Union was adjudged for the second time as the Champion in the Provincial Category. Candon City, Ilocos Sur on the other hand, bested other cities in the City Category. While Naguilian, La Union garnered the highest rating for the Municipal Category.

Tagudin, Ilocos Sur garnered the top award for the Best LGU Practices through its ASAP Tagudin Program. ASAP Tagudin stands for “Agpiarkam Siglatmo. Agkakaysakam Panagrang-aymo Tagudin” a program that hastens the speedy development of the municipality. The top three winners shall be assisted by the Secretariat in documenting their best practices and shall likewise be endorsed by the RDC-I as its official entry in the Galing Pook Awards.

For the Coastal Resource Management (CRM), the Province of La Union and the City of Alaminos were adjudged as the Best CRM Implementer in the Provincial and City Category, respectively.

The Conferment of the CY 2007 RDC Awards was held during the CY 2008 First Quarter Regular Meeting of RDC-I in Cabugao Beach Resort, Cabugao, Ilocos Sur.

Below is the complete list of winning LGUs in the four major awards.

Search for Cleanest, Greenest and Safest Province/City/Municipality

Province
Champion - Ilocos Norte
1st Runner Up - Ilocos Sur
2nd Runner Up - La Union

City
Champion - Vigan
1st Runner Up - Urdaneta
2nd Runner Up - San Fernando

1st-3rd Class Municipality
Champion - Cabugao, Ilocos Sur
1st Runner Up - Rosales, Pangasinan
2nd Runner Up - San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte

4th-6th Class Municipality
Champion - Nueva Era, Ilocos Norte
1st Runner Up - Mapandan, Pangasinan
2nd Runner Up - Caba, La Union

Search for Cleanest and Greenest Inland Bodies of Water and Coastal Area

Inland Bodies of Water
Champion - Pugo, La Union
1st Runner Up - Bolinao, Pangasinan
2nd Runner Up - Alilem, Ilocos Sur

Coastal
Champion - Bani, Pangasinan
1st Runner Up - Cabugao, Ilocos Sur
2nd Runner Up - Bani, Pangasinan???

Search for Best LGU-Local Governance Performance Management System

Province
Champion - La Union
1st Runner Up - Pangasinan
2nd Runner Up - Ilocos Norte

City
Champion - Candon
1st Runner Up - Vigan
2nd Runner Up - San Fernando

Municipality
Champion - Naguilian, La Union
1st Runner Up - San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte
2nd Runner Up - Tagudin, Ilocos Sur

Search for Best Practices

Champion - Tagudin, Ilocos Sur (ASAP Tagudin)
1st Runner Up - Alaminos City (One System One Government)
2nd Runner Up - San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte (Bio-Intensive Gardening)

Search for Best Coastal Resource Management (CRM) Implementer
Province
Champion - La Union
1st Runner Up - Pangasinan
2nd Runner Up - Ilocos Sur

City
Champion - Alaminos
1st Runner Up - Laoag

allan_dude

April 30th, 2008, 10:27 AM

Region 1 Records 4.5 Million Population in 2007

Final results of the 2007 Census of Population (POPCEN) conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO) showed that Region 1 had a population of 4,545,906 as of August 1, 2007. The results were released by the NSO through Proclamation No. 1489 signed by President Arroyo on April 16, 2008.

From 2000-2007, the region registered an annual population growth rate of 1.10 percent, with a 4,200,478 population as of May 1, 2000. This growth rate was lower than the 2.15 percent growth rate recorded in 1995-2000. It was also the lowest among the regions of the country.

Pangasinan, the region’s largest province in terms of land area, also recorded the largest population with 2,645,395 in 2007, followed by La Union with 790,972. Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte’s population were 632,255 and 547,284, respectively.

Pangasinan’s population was the 3rd highest among the provinces of the country. Cavite had the largest population with 2,856,765 followed by Bulacan with 2,826,926.

Similarly, the provinces of Region 1 recorded lower annual population growth rates from 2000-2007 as compared with 2000-2005. Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur registered the lowest annual population growth rates from 2000-2007 at 0.86 percent each, from 1.37 percent and 1.85 percent, respectively, in 1995-2000. La Union experienced the highest annual population growth rate at 1.27 percent (from 2.09 percent in 1995-2000) followed by Pangasinan at 1.15 percent (from 2.41 percent in 1995-2000).

The final population counts up to the barangay level can be accessed at the NSO website at the following address: http://www.census.gov.ph

tracymack

May 1st, 2008, 09:10 AM

Region I to benefit from GMA hunger mitigation program
By FREDDIE G. LAZARO
http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20080501123324.html

VIGAN CITY — At least 60 of the poorest towns in the four provinces that composed Region I were beneficiaries of the hunger mitigation program of President Arroyo, it was learned here.

The towns were named sites for "Tindahan Natin" stores, a project where the local folk would buy low cost rice and noodles.

Regional Coordinator Victoria Manez from the National Nutrition Council (NNC) said in a radio interview that out of the 60 towns identified, 11 towns are in Ilocos Norte, 12 in La Union, 17 in Ilocos Sur, and 20 in Pangasinan.

Manez said that the identification of these poorest towns in the region was based on studies conducted by the Philippine Institute of Development (PID), an attached agency of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA).

"The next move of the PID is to identify the indigent families from the identified towns to avail the low cost rice and noodles to be sold in the ‘Tindahan Natin’ stores," Manez said.

Meanwhile, Ilocos Sur Gov. Deogracias Victor "DV" B. Savellano had already started distributing free rice to hundreds of children and residents of the province, which is in line with the Food for School Program.

Each child will received a free kilo of rice daily for a period of 44 days starting last April 22, 2008.

The free rice distribution program for school children is part of the program of President Arroyo to sustain the children’s good health and to mitigate the continous increase of the prime commodities in the market.

allan_dude

May 1st, 2008, 11:28 AM

Yikes! the title of this thread should be reverted back to "Ilocos-Pangaisnan Region/Regional Thread". :rant:

TO ALL MODERATORS

NEDA, The Regional Development Council, TESDA, PNP, Department of Agriculture and various government agencies already call Region 1 as Ilocos-Pangasinan Region becuase it is politically correct. Please be more sensitive and updated.

view sample links below:

http://www.neda1.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=106&Itemid=1
http://www.tesda1.net/www/newswhole.php?news=9
www.ilocos.net.ph/main_menu/Make%20Money%20with%20Us/make_money_with_us_main.htm (http://www.ilocos.net.ph/main_menu/Make%20Money%20with%20Us/make_money_with_us_main.htm)
http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-03-14&sec=4&aid=52606
http://www.pnp.gov.ph/press/press/content/news/2008/feb/herocopslead_04feb08.html
http://ilocos.net.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=78&Itemid=1
http://pangasinanstar.prepys.com/archives/2008/02/26/ilocos-pangasinan-region-eyes-bio-power-to-cut-oil-dependency/#more-2394

tracymack

May 1st, 2008, 11:53 AM

^^Nice work allan_dude! ;)

allan_dude

May 1st, 2008, 12:07 PM

Thanks tracymack! :cheers:

tracymack

May 1st, 2008, 01:44 PM

[Updated Stats] Region 1 Cities

2007 population data & 2006 COA audit reports are already out so I decided to update my previous post.

Sources:
2007 Population (http://www.census.gov.ph/data/sectordata/2007/region%201.pdf)
2006 Audit Reports (http://www.coa.gov.ph/Reports/RFP/2006FP-ProvCities.pdf)

And now the stats:

POPULATION
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2256/2455931719_82ae96a27b_o.jpg

[FINANCE] TOTAL ASSETS
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3161/2455931735_8453f69783_o.jpg

[FINANCE] GROSS INCOME
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3206/2455931761_65d3e145d4_o.jpg

[FINANCE] NET INCOME
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2029/2456760930_85940c10a5_o.jpg

[FINANCE] EXPENSES
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3158/2455931815_bdbb5fe502_o.jpg

Here's my earlier post for comparison and reference to other data such as land area & income classification (no reclassification has been done as of the moment).

[Stats] Pangasinan (And Region 1) Cities

Hey guys, I did some research and number crunching lately and I thought I'd post this data since there's not a lot going on in our thread. I hope this would be of interest to you and hopefully would trigger some discussions. :)

My sources:
Population Data - NSO Census 2000 (http://www.census.gov.ph/census2000/index.html)
Financial Data - COA 2005 Annual Audit Reports (http://www.coa.gov.ph/Audit/AAR.htm)
Land Area, Classification - City & Provincial Websites

I couldn't find more recent data so I settled for those mentioned above. I wanted to include high-income municipalities to see which ones are primed for cityhood but I couldn't find such data. Audit reports from each Province do not breakdown the total income into income per municipality. The youngest Region 1 City, Batac in Ilocos Norte was not included because no city financial data is available since Batac was upgraded just recently.

I ranked the cities from first to last for every statistical category I could get my hands on.

The stats:

OVERALL DATA
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2281/2323225873_5bdecc232b_o.jpg

POPULATION
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2275/2325709341_17efc722d9_o.jpg

LAND AREA
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3248/2323266675_d85ef38047_o.jpg

CLASSIFICATION
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3094/2323266693_36d8305fde_o.jpg

[FINANCE] TOTAL ASSETS
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3279/2324043878_9a10b62c6d_o.jpg

[FINANCE] GROSS INCOME
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2001/2324043640_0b9dd2532a_o.jpg

[FINANCE] NET INCOME
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2164/2323226079_9df5a49550_o.jpg

[FINANCE] EXPENSES
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2232/2323226121_f87567ce65_o.jpg

kevinb

May 3rd, 2008, 09:25 AM

Just a question: How did the cities of Alaminos, Candon and Vigan become cities when their population is much lower than what is required?

allan_dude

May 3rd, 2008, 02:34 PM

^ Alaminos and Candon have the required land area and annual income, while Vigan is a Heritage City.

allan_dude

May 8th, 2008, 01:16 AM

Mayors meet again for Tri-City Ferry project

PROPONENTS of the Tri-City Ferry System will meet again on May 12 in San Fernando City to further discuss mechanics of the project to make sure that it will really succeed.

Director Martin Valera of the Department of Tourism, who is involved in crafting the mechanics of the Tri-City Ferry System, said the three mayors will hear the presentation of one of the private companies interested to operate the project.

The meeting will be hosted by Mayor Pablo Ortega of San Fernando City, to be attended by the other proponents, Mayor Hernani Braganza of Alaminos City and Alipio Fernandez Jr. of Dagupan City.

The three cities seek to operate the project first before they will pass this on to a private investor.

Two more investors, one foreign-owned, were contracted by Braganza to hopefully operate the project.

Valera said the Tri-City Ferry System was endorsed by the Regional Development Council headed by Ilocos Sur Governor Deogracias Savellano as a major project that could stimulate tourism development in the region.

The DOT director said no money of the national government will be spent for the project as this will be bankrolled solely by the three cities.

This is the reason the three cities are anxious to fine-tune all plans to make sure that the project really succeeds so their investment would be protected, Valera said.

Each city will also build landing berths for the ferry in respective jurisdictions.

The three mayors already met two times last year and once sometime last month.

Animo

May 20th, 2008, 09:42 PM

By Rene Guatlo (http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view/20080519-137382/The-romance-of-the-abel-Iluko)
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:27:00 05/19/2008

http://images.inquirer.net/media/showbizandstyle/lifestyle/lifestyle/images/pic-05190130590150.jpg

MANILA, Philippines - Abel is the ilocano term that refers to the process of weaving, while inabel is the final woven product (although the terms are now used interchangeably).

Some of the well-known centers of inabel are Bangar in La Union; Tagudin, Santiago and Vigan in Ilocos Sur; and Paoay, Pinili and Sarrat in Ilocos Norte.

The very name of Tagudin is apparently derived from tagud, a process of scrubbing/combing the cotton yarn using coconut husks.

Paoay and Sarrat are famous for their churches—Church of San Agustin in Paoay and Church of Santa Monica in Sarrat. Both being coastal towns (Paoay on the seashore, Sarrat by Padsan River which drains out to the coast past Laoag), the two are known trading centers from precolonial times.

Interior designer Mel Andino is one of the resource persons in things Ilocano. He says binakol designs, often called “op-art” because of the optical illusion created by its dizzying design, represent the waves of the sea, and ancient tribes believed the binakol patterns protected them from vicious spirits—hence, their predominant use in the rituals of the upland tribes.

Some say there is no such thing as Tingguian (also called Itneg) weave as the textiles were woven by the Ilocanos. The mountain tribes bartered their gold and beeswax for the fabrics, turning them into works of art with beautiful joinery, for use in their rituals.

Others say, while the Tingguians used to weave most of their fabrics, the patterns were mastered by the lowland Ilocanos, who eventually cornered the market for fabrics. There is room for further research in this area.

Among the Tingguians, the number and quality of blankets and fabrics were indications of family wealth and social standing. The family’s best textiles are exhibited during the wake for a deceased family member.

Because of the difference in manner of use, lowland textiles tend to wear out, while those of the tribes, brought out only occasionally, tend to last longer and in better shape. Present-day collectors make the mistake of attributing the weaving to the owners of the fabrics.

Experts also consider the joinery in upland blankets an indication of location—the borders also signify the boundaries between tribes and towns. The knowledgeable person would know which particular town or community made the blanket from the quality and form of the joinery used, in the same way we can tell where people are from based on word use and accents.

The true expert would be able to identify the particular person who put the blanket together. The decorative aspect of the joinery is a given—with some made to look like a row of spiders, fingernails, circles, triangles.

‘Banderado,’ ‘binakol,’ brocade

For Ilocanos, the binandera is the simplest design of all—consisting of stripes on the sides, or in the middle of the fabric. This is probably one of the oldest designs, one that is slowly going out of favor, most users now preferring newer and more elaborate designs. In Ilocos Sur, the design is called cantarinis, and the material was originally used for sailcloths, the same as old binakol weaves.

Binakol is still made in Ilocos Norte, mainly in Sarrat and Paoay; a barrio of weavers west of Vigan also manufactures a thinner variant. Predominantly black or indigo, with patterns in white or cream, binakol is one of the original weaves of Ilocos. Rough and hardy, just like denim, it hardly wears out. There are variants in red, green and yellow, generally considered to have been owned by the richer classes.

The brocade weaves of Santiago are quite elaborate, with some colorful examples. The pinilian—a repeating pattern of stylized geometric figures, leaves, flowers, crabs, horses and even male and female forms—is one of the most representative and is favored by the Tingguians for their ritual blankets. The dinapat, with a “running design which fits the entire field of the textile,” uses repeating figures of two-headed frogs, rivers, mountains.

While the patterns of Ilocano abel are similar, there are subtle differences in color combinations, and the thickness of the weave—from gossamer mosquito nets to thick brocades and embroidery.

There are myriad shapes—stylized stars, pineapples, grapes, turkeys, horses, even the two-headed eagle (which is not really as strange as it seems because the bird is also one of the symbols of the Augustinians, who were among the first missionaries in the north).

In the Ilocano epic “Lam-ang,” the hero has a two-headed pet chicken called Gik-gik—suggesting the image of the two-headed eagle, appropriated to illustrate the mythical bird.

The most sophisticated ones are the monotones with very fine and subtle patterns (tiny diamonds within diamonds, circles, squares and other geometric shapes).

Leno is a plain weave, with a literal twist, as patterns are made by twisting a few selected skeins in the process of weaving. This tedious process creates a simple but beautiful material suitable for blankets and clothing.

Ilocano blankets are known for their exuberant colors, but there are also variants in plain white or cream, with embossed designs. Recently consumers have taken a liking for these white-on-white creations—the elaborate designs muted by the unified color.

‘Sacred blanket’

The inalson, a white diamond twill weave native to the Tingguians, with stripes on the sides, circular designs on top and bottom, and with joinery of dots and dashes, is among the most valued because of the supernatural character attributed to it. It is ceremonially used during births and is considered “possessed by spirits.”

Inalson-inspired skirts are still being made in Ilocos Sur, but times being what they are, the dimensions are smaller, and the colors more garish owing to the use of man-made dyes instead of the traditional plant dyes.
(Ilocos Sur and Abra were centers of indigo production during the Spanish colonial era. Tayum, the local word for “indigo,” is also a place name in Abra, and Tayuman in Manila refers to the trading in the product done there during those times. The bark of the damortis or camachile is traditionally used for the dark crimson/red favored by Ilocanos.)

The northern mountain tribes had some of the richest and most elaborate weaves, some of which have already vanished, like the ikat dyed cotton burial shrouds of the Isinai.

The bandala weave, a simple white cloth with deep-blue line at the sides is a light and almost see-through fabric that is used to this day. A midnight-blue variant, with a white line in the middle, is coarser and is used for funeral rites. They are still woven in the Ilocos lowlands and sold in the Cordillera together with loincloth (ba-ag or bahag).

Rainbow of colors

While Ilocano taste tends to be generally severe, the colors red, yellow, green, blue and their shades figure prominently in abel.

The material used for skirts (pandiling) is specially colorful. Even the predominantly black variants are decorated with bright checks or lines in violet, yellow, red or green. The skirt itself can be more or less straight and tubular, or with a pronounced “tail” that can be tucked into the waist to form a severe silhouette.

The ladies’ tops are usually hand-stitched gossamer creations of fine abaca, cotton or piña cloth. Appliqued or embroidered designs are usually sparse and geometric but there are also elaborate floral samples.

The ensemble is usually completed with matching ring and earrings, gold tamburin necklace (the longer the necklace, the more formal the occasion), and embroidered sapatillas.

The clothing options of the men are limited to pinstripe pants, usually indigo, black or brown, and embroidered jusi or piña for the baro or shirt. Some plaid cotton shirt materials can be quite colorful, complementing the more elaborate ladies’ patterns.

The gentleman’s wardrobe is completed with a simple walking stick, and the headgear called kattokong or tabungao (of dried gourd lacquered a deep orange-red, and finished with elaborate basketry inside).

Looking forward

With the ready availability of cheap machine-made fabrics and ready-made clothing, abel was once a dying tradition.

In the ’80s and ’90s, former Rep. Imee Marcos, Irene Marcos Araneta and Liza Araneta Marcos joined forces with local weavers, headed by the late Aida Fernandez, to revitalize this craft through Bagnos, an organization set up to help the weavers produce better fabrics, and to market abel to the world.

Weavers’ cooperatives sustain this tradition, with the support of organizations like Gameng Foundation and the Museo Ilocos Norte, which were also established by the Marcoses.

Ilocos Norte Gov. Michael M. Keon supports the abel tradition as part of his initiatives for tourism, along with agriculture, health and education.

kiretoce

June 10th, 2008, 05:09 PM

Vigan city council to Lucio Tan: Open Vigan-Manila flights (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/100358/Vigan-city-council-to-Lucio-Tan-Open-Vigan-Mla-flight)

Vigan city council has asked businessman Lucio Tan to open a Philippine Air Lines flight at the seldom-used Vigan Airport.

Tan is an adopted son of Ilocos Sur since his Fortune Tobacco has its main factory in Vigan.

The request for Tan to open a Philippine Airlines flight in Vigan Airport was contained in a resolution that the city council passed recently.

Vice Mayor Franz Ranches said that PAL representatives already came to the airport in Mindoro to inspect the facilities and to see the possibility of using even a 50-seater plane for the Vigan-Manila flight.

Ranches said that the Vigan airport is as long as those in Bohol, Dipolog and Iloilo City so they saw nothing wrong in opening a PAL flight here.

The airport is usually used to land helicopters or the personal airplane of former Gov. Luis Chavit Singson.

allan_dude

July 7th, 2008, 01:41 PM

PGMA to look into rehab efforts and disaster preparedness in Region l

Manila -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would preside over the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) meeting in Lingayen, Pangasinan today, Friday, to check on the rehabilitation efforts and disaster preparedness in Region I particularly with the onset of the rainy season this year.

The President would be briefed by disaster officials on the consolidated damage report and rehabilitation efforts in the region during the RDCC meeting to be held Friday morning at the Narciso Ramos Complex in Lingayen.

The region, particularly Pangasinan and La Union, was heavily damaged by Typhoon Cosme last May 17, by a mini tornado (ipo-ipo) that hit this capital town last June 4 knocking down five electric posts of the National Transmission Corp (TransCo), destroyed six houses and a barangay elementary school, while Typhoon Frank also hit Pangasinan last June 22.

Last May 23, the President also presided the National Disaster Coordination Council (NDCC) meeting here to look into the status of rescue and relief operations being conducted in Region I provinces hardest hit by typhoon Cosme.

The President also directed the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to conduct price monitoring activities to prevent hoarding and jacking up of prices of basic commodities, including galvanized GI sheets.

The President also allocated P500 million for the reconstruction of damaged homes of the affected poor residents in the region. (PIA-MMIO)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p080704.htm&no=26

---

:okay: I'm glad they used the term "Region I".

dark_knight_detectve

July 13th, 2008, 10:24 AM

ADB to fund study on wind power project in Ilocos Norte (http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=2008071217&type=2)

By Donnabelle L. Gatdula
Sunday, July 13, 2008
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will fund the feasibility study for a proposed 120-megawatt (MW) Pasuquin East wind power project in Ilocos Norte to be undertaken by Filipino firm Energy Logics.

The ADB, one of the country’s largest multilateral creditors, said this forms part of their technical assistance package provided to the private sector.

Specifically, ADB will provide $200,000 to fund the development of the basic concept for the layout of wind farm based on installed capacity, construction phases, site boundaries and other parameters.

The bank’s technical assistance will also involve the detailed design of the wind monitoring program, specify, procure and commission wind station monitoring equipment; monitor, collect, and analyze wind data, ensuring quality control of the reference station and calculate standard wind year at the monitoring site.

According to the ADB, it will also enable Energy Logics to select and specify wind turbine generator sets based on capacity, cost per kilowatt installed, operations and maintenance costs.

The study will also cover the calculation of standard wind farm energy production, optimize wind farm grid based on technical data analysis; calculation wind farm construction and development costs, analyze technical risks, sensitivity analysis; and conduct preliminary environmental and social impact assessments, including public consultations with affected persons.

“The harnessing and utilization of renewable energy comprises a critical component of the government’s strategy to provide energy supply for the country,” the ADB said.

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allan_dude

July 28th, 2008, 03:59 PM

Dacawi: Cradling the whimpering watershed cradle

By Ramon Dacawi

REGION 1 is now worried over the dwindling river flow from these uplands that is the life-blood of its lowland agriculture economy. It said so in a message from its Regional Development Council (RDC), the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) to their counterparts up here in the boondocks.

They reiterated the obvious: Less water flow, less food production. And the less obvious, or what has been ignored for quite sometime: Watershed preservation is a collaborative task.

For so long now, the Cordillera has been at the receiving end of neglect. In a "user-friendly" view of national development, the resource base is ignored until it fails to produce and deliver. Or when it refuses to, as in the case of upland tribal villages now opposing new, "responsible" gold mining explorations and operations because previous extractions had them left holding the empty bag. Or when the lowlands get flooded, perceived to have been triggered by deforestation or siltation from the dams or mines up here.

It's more than spilt milk that the Cordillera lost and sacrificed in the name of national development. Yet we're told the whimpering, the shouting in our remaining wilderness is over. We're told it's time to move on, for the sins of neglect will no longer be repeated -- again.

With its message, Region 1 (together with Regions 2 and 3, which also benefit from the law of gravity) can now help us square the account of national development. Perhaps at the roundtable, they can help us address the following suggested resolution to our national development planners and decision-makers in imperial Metro Manila:

1. Urging the Department of Energy (DOE) to redefine "host community" under the implementing rules of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira), from one based on dam location to one anchored on the river-basin concept.

You see, for every kwh produced and sold from the operation of the San Roque Dam in Pangasinan, one centavo is set aside for livelihood and other development projects for the "host community", to include watershed conservation and protection.

While Benguet is where San Roque's watersheds are, it can't avail of the fund as it does not fall within that myopic definition of a "host community" provided for by the Epira's IRR.

The term is limited to where the dam is located, in this case in San Nicolas and San Manuel in Pangasinan. Pangasinan is qualified to a share as host province, so is Region 1 as host region. One centavo may mean nothing, except when equated to the fact that San Roque has a 340-megawatt capacity.

2. Urging the Office of the President, the Congress, the Departments of Agriculture, Energy, Environment and Natural Resources, the National Power Corp., the NIA and other national line agencies supposed to be concerned, to come up with incentive policies for the keepers of the watersheds up here.

For generations, the integrity of the Cordillera watersheds was maintained not because of state policy but through indigenous wisdom exemplified by the "tayan" of Mt. Province, the "lapat" of the Tingguians and the "muyong" or "pinugo" of Ifugao.

In fact, state laws were passed and are still in effect that restrict and constrict the indigenous peoples' access to the land and forest resources that they have conserved for centuries for their -- and the lowlands' -- survival.

The law did not allow them to have titles to their lands that are over 18 degrees in slope. It bans them from cutting trees situated 1,000 meters above sea level and over. It was only lately that their watershed preservation practices, which are the original models of community-based resource management, are starting to be recognized by government.

The purpose of a watershed is to slow down the flow of water to the river and to the sea, so that it will seep down to recharge the water table underground. That's what the rice terraces do -- slow down the water flow. This system made the terraces monuments to "sustainable development", long before world leaders started mouthing that term in the 1992 World Summit in Rio de Janeiro.

3. Urging the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Congress to include the preservation of the Cordillera mossy forests in the country's Forest Management Plan -- if such plan exists and has been ratified.

Our mossy forests up here serve as the water tanks and towers of the river systems that are dammed for electricity of the urban centers and for irrigation of the lowland farms.

They act like a sponge, harvesting and absorbing mist and rain, releasing water gradually to form the rivulets, creeks and springs that form the rivers into the river that flow into the dams and channeled to irrigate the lowland rice lands. While their damp condition insulates the mossy forests from heat, their natural elevation immediately above or beside the resinous and easily combustible pine stands makes them also vulnerable to fires.

We are losing these unique and vital forests because conservation is focused on the lower forests of these islands. We do not even have a national forest fire management plan, and all fires are under the Bureau of Fire Protection that concentrates on structural fires.

4. Urging the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) and the NIA to review and fine-tune equitably policies governing access to and harnessing of water resources.

It took too long for the government to transfer the NWRB from the infrastructure-based Department of Public Works and Highways to the DENR.

We understand the NWRB had awarded water rights over rivers up here to electric power developers and speculators from the outside without the knowledge and consent of indigenous villagers who regard water as a common resource.

It's a good thing that the NIA up here under regional director Abe Akilit is already including provisions for sustainability of water sources in its irrigation development plans. Yet we wonder how many irrigation projects in the past went to waste because of their limit to infrastructure -- dam, inlet and outlet --, without ever taking into account the protection of the watersheds that fed them and had since dried up.

5. Urging the DOE and other (supposed to be) concerned agencies to share electric power to all the villages up here in the Cordillera which is the source of that energy.

The two dams built up here in the 50s -- the Binga and Ambuclao -- are now on their death throes, yet some of our villages within spitting distance of these power generators have yet to be energized. Some of the people displaced by their construction remain uprooted, like pine that can't survive in lowland relocation sites.

Perhaps the practical thing for the Cordillera RDC and Neda to do is to help its local government units seek grants for the building of mini-hydros to be owned and managed by them for a resource base-friendly system.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/bag/2008/07/28/oped/ramon.dacawi.benchwarmer.html

dark_knight_detectve

July 30th, 2008, 02:54 PM

OH ILOCOS! (http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=200807296&type=2)

By Susan Nuevo
Wednesday, July 30, 2008

The longest road trip I ever made was last Holy Week of 2008. Me and my girlfriend spent 16 hours of travel by bus to experience and have a taste of what Ilocos region has to offer.

I enjoyed the bus ride actually. Partas bus is the most comfortable bus I have ever ridden. They have clean rest room in our every stop overs and the driver and conductor were very efficient and very

friendly.

http://www.philstar.com/newphilstar/www/image/20080729/ilocos_files/image002.jpg

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I was not expecting the beauty of Ilocos region. The tobacco leaves swaying
as we pass by as if welcoming us. The radiant smiles beaming in every face of the local folks. Ilocanos were very friendly indeed!

Our first stop was at Saud in Pagudpud. The place is heaven. Clear water, soft sand lying on the beach. My girlfriend instantly forgot the long ride as soon as she saw the beach. It was fantastic! It made us wish that there is a Pagudpud in Makati too! The tranquility of the beach has made us forget the rushes of the metropolis. We basked in the sun and kissed our office-troubles goodbye hahaha!

(Saud beach shore)

(my friend doll basking in the sun)

(me with Saud’s crystal blue water)

Next morning we went to Bangui beach. We were awed by the gigantic wind mills by the shore. All fifteen of them. Birds flocking added a nice symmetry to the overwhelming view. I almost forgot that I don’t know how to swim.

And we had a taste of Ilocano heritage as well. Vigan oh Vigan! The UNESCO site was a fantastic site to behold. Antiques here and there. Too bad, I don’t have enough cash to purchase some. But, I had enough pictures to look at over and over again.

Ilocos cuisine is exquisite too. I had my share of papaitan, their onionriffic cornicks (fried corn bits), the tasty and yummy sweets. The Vigan longganisa was sooo sinful that I had to urged my friend to buy a kilo for me.

So many places to see, so many things to do, so many food to taste but so little time. I promised myself I will go back to Ilocos and itinerary listed as follows:

1. try puffing the tobacco ala Fidel Ramos

2. see the Lighthouse

3. wear my bikini at the Blue Lagoon

4. see Apong Marcos shrine and give him my father’s last respect (my father was a Marcos loyalist)

5. have my picture taken at Paoay church and…

6. feast in Ilocano food and forget the diet J

The ride to Ilocos is pain-in-a-butt so my friend says…but it was worth it! You can feel God’s love radiating when the sun rise. Shining over the lush green fields, making the beaches sparkle and my brown skinned kababayan more beautiful than ever.

I shall return Ilocos! I will.
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freightrunner

July 31st, 2008, 02:31 AM

allan_dude

August 5th, 2008, 07:48 PM

Gakat a mangipasdek iti Bago province, maipila iti Kongreso

Written by Danny Antalan

SUYO, Ilocos Sur - Manamnama ti pannakaipila iti Kongreso ti gakat a pannakaipasdek ti bukod a probinsia dagiti Bago.

Kinuna ni dati a bokal ti Ilocos Sur Alezander Bistoyong, agdama nga Ilocos Sur Federated Chairman ti Bago National Cultural Society of the Philippines, mangipila ni Dip. Mauricio Domogan iti gakat iti kaluklukat a Kongreso a pannakabuangay ti baro a probinsia dagiti Bago.

Innayon pay ni Bistoyong nga iti naudi a dayalogda kadagiti opisial ti probinsia, nasayaat ti nagbanaganda ta awan met ti nagkedked wenno nangtubeng kadakuada iti panagbukbukodda.

No kaskano, ti probinsia ti Bago ti agbalin a maikapat a probinsia a nabukel manipud iti Ilocos. Maipalagip a ti Ilocos ket maymaysa idi, ngem idi agangay ket simmina ti Ilocos Norte ken La Union gapuna a nagkatlo ti sigud a probinsia. Ti Bago ti maikapat no maaprobaran daytoy kas maysa a probinsia.

“Ni Congressman Mauricio Domogan iti Baguio City ti mangipila iti gakat babaen ti koordinasion dagiti opisial ti Ilocos Sur ken Abra,” kinuna ni Bistoyong.

Kinuna ni Bistoyong a naputar ti gakat gapu ta “dawat daytoy dagiti indigenous people kadagiti upland municipalities nga adda koma maipasdek a maysa a probinsiami tapno bukodmin ti mangimaton ken mangpadur-as iti panagbiagmi nga indigenous people.”

Ti main-inaw a Bago province ket buklen dagiti upland municipalities ti Ilocos Sur ken Abra a kaaduanna kadagiti agindeg ti kameng iti tribu a pakairamanan dagiti Bago, Tingguian, ken Kankanaey.

Kinuna ni Bistoyong a ni Domogan ti mangipila iti gakat agsipud ta nayanak ken dimmakkel daytoy iti Patiacan, Quirino, Ilocos Sur ket ammona ti pudpudno a kasasaad dagiti indigenous people.

Innayon pay ni Bistoyong a nasayaat ti nagbanagan ti naudi a dialogda kadagiti opisial ti probinsia agsipud ta awan ti nangibatad iti panagkedkedda wenno panangtubeng iti panggepda a panagbukbukod.

No pumasa ti gakat, agbalin ti probinsia ti Bago a maikapat a probinsia a mabukel manipud iti Ilocos.

Maipalagip a maymaysa idi ti Ilocos ngem napagkatlo gapu iti pa nagbalin a probinsia ti Ilocos Norte ken La Union.

http://www.tawidnewsmag.com/content/view/2681/66/

^^

The article is about the creation of a new province for Bago People.

Just like Pangasinan, Bagos wants to be identified. Region 1 is generalized as Ilocano.

allan_dude

August 5th, 2008, 08:02 PM

Archived article:

Towns’ merger pushed to create ‘Bago’ province

BY DEXTER A SEE

BAGUIO CITY – Local officials of several interior towns of Ilocos Sur are pushing the creation of the proposed Bago Province to spur development in their respective municipalities and preserve the identity of the Bago tribe to which they belong.

During a recent meeting with Baguio City Rep. Mauricio G. Domogan, who is also a member of the Bago tribe, municipal officials of Cervantes, San Emilio, Quirino, Gregorio del Pilar, Ledledda, and Suyo said the creation of a new province would result in greater chances of improving vital infrastructure facilities in the interior areas of Ilocos Sur.

The new province would serve as the seat of the Bago tribe, one of the indigenous cultural communities in the country, they said.

Domogan said the proposed Bago Province would be composed of the 14 interior towns of Ilocos Sur, three remote towns of Abra, and one or two towns of La Union.

Initially, the Ilocos Sur towns targeted for inclusion in the new province include Cervantes, San Emilio, Quirino, Gregorio de Pilar, Ledledda, Suyo, Sugpon, Segay, Alilem, Burgos, Banayoyo, Salcedo, Nagbuken,a nd Galimuyod.

The towns of Tubo, Villaviciosa and Luba, all in Abra, and Sudipen in La Union are also proposed to become parts of the new province.

However, Board member Alex Bestoyong of Ilocos Sur said that the proposal to create a Bago Province must be subjected to consultation with provincial and municipal officials of Ilocos Sur and affected towns. He added this would make the people affected understand the purpose of establishing the province.

At present, members of the Bago tribe, which is considered an indigenous cultural community, are distributed in the remote towns of Ilocos Sur, Abra, and La Union.

Domogan cited the importance of creating an entirely new province for the Bago tribe, saying this would entitle the Bago people to have a representative in Congress and a new set of provincial officials as well as a separate internal revenue allotment (IRA) that could be used for the development of the communities composing Bago Province.

He urged the municipal officials of the concerned local government units to pass a resolution expressing their support for a bill creating Bago Province so that the lawmakers would have a basis for the enactment of the appropriate measure.

Cervantes town has already passed a resolution of support for such legislative measure. The other towns are expected to pass soon their resolutions.

Domogan advised municipal officials of concerned municipalities to consult their provincial officials and ensure that the creation of the Bago Province is not aimed at abandoning Ilocos Sur, but is aimed at promoting the cultural identity of the Bago tribe.

http://northphiltimes.blogspot.com/2007/10/towns-merger-pushed-to-create-bago.html

allan_dude

August 5th, 2008, 08:07 PM

Article courtesy of The Sagunto Star (http://saguntostar.com/about/)
saguntophotos@gmail.com

The Bago

There is a an extensive essay on the Bago (http://bagoculture.bravehost.com//The_Bago.html)found on the internet by Mr. Vic Buaquen who delivered the speech at the the Third Bago Congress in San Emilio, Ilocos Sur on April 23, 2003.

Many of the residents of Sagunto and the surrounding barangays are descendants of The Bago. The Bago tribe is, after some controversy (read Mr. Buaquen’s essay), confirmed as one of the indiginous peoples of the Philippines by the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).
Mr. Buaquen defines the Bago as:"…the most reliable definition of the Bago is what we Bagos know ourselves to be and not the definition of historians, academicians and scholars. The simple fact that many of us are still clamoring for a definition of the Bago should clearly show that historians, academicians and scholars have failed us in this regard. The only acceptable definition of the Bago today is self-ascription of the Bagos themselves. While we are aware of our identity as far as we can remember and now having a legal basis for its confirmation in the IPRA, we still seem to want it formally laid down. And I hereby propose a seed definition for a more comprehensive one that could be done later. This definition is culled from our own deliberations in previous congresses as well as other Bago sources which should be sufficient to distinguish us from all the other ethnic groups and indigenous peoples of the Philippines. And, it is: The Bago are hilltribe dwellers in the border regions between Ilocos and Cordillera mountains who are the offspring of intermarriages as well as product of trade between mountain tribes of the Cordillera and the Iloko of the lowlands. They have evolved their own distinct culture and dialect, which distinguish them from their neighboring tribes and other adjacent ethnic groups."
~ excerpt from The Bago (http://bagoculture.bravehost.com//The_Bago.html) by Mr. Vic Buaquen
NOTE: Mr. Vic Buaquen is related to the Sagunto Bagos by marriage. His son is married to Edil Bliss who is the daughter of the creator of the Sagunto Star, Mr. Bernardo Castillo.

BAGO NATIONAL CULTURAL SOCIETY OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC.
Engr. Orlando Balloguing
President & Chairman of the Board
c/o NCIP Regional Office I Martinez Bldg., Quezon Ave., City of San Fernando, La Union

The Regional Director of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) - Region I is Director Hover M. Ciriaco, Jr. from G. del Pilar, Ilocos Sur.

More Bago Trivia on the Web:
The Bago on Global Pinoy (http://www.globalpinoy.com/ch/ch_category.php?category=tribes&name=Bago&table=ch_tribes&startpage=1&endpage=15)
Manmanok (http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Tagalog/Cynthia/philippine_dances_cordillera.htm) - a dance attributed to the Bagos
Sigay, Ilocos Sur (http://www.sigay.gov.ph/index.php?cat1=3)- refers to the Bago as the mestizo offspring of Ilocanos and lowland Igorots.
The Bago Ancestral Domain (http://www.metagora.org/training/casestudy/Appendix%201.1%20The%203%20Tribes%20and%20Ancestral%20Domains-201206.pdf) - a pilot survey found on metagora.org surveys the ancestral domains of The Bago Tribe in Sugpon, Ilocos Sur; Kankanaey Tribe in Kibungan, Benguet; and the Bugkalot Tribe, found in scattered villages mainly in Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino and Aurora provinces in the northern part of Luzon Island in the Philippines.
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ RIGHTS IN THE PHILIPPINES (http://www.aitrs.org/plan2007/democ_sem/Philippines%20report.pdf) - Study carried out jointly by: the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines, the National Statistical Co-ordination Board, and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples.

This map, showing the “Igorot Territory”, was borrowed from the Bago National Cultural Society of the Philippines website (http://bagoculture.bravehost.com/Index.html). According to this site, the greater part of the territory is the home and origin of the bago.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v439/jmomblogs/Sagunto/AMBURAYAN2.gif (http://bagoculture.bravehost.com/IPCommunities/Amburayan.html)

http://saguntostar.com/the-bago/
(http://bagoculture.bravehost.com/IPCommunities/Amburayan.html)

freightrunner

August 9th, 2008, 10:08 PM

You can't really blame the Bagos in lobbying for the creation of a Bago province since their area is one of the most neglected part of the Ilocos region. Maybe the provincial officials are only concerned about the "show window" towns along the national highway they forgot that there are interior towns too. Oh well...

dark_knight_detectve

August 16th, 2008, 02:34 PM

if im mistaken, kindly pm me.

Benguet LGUs now enjoy shares in nat’l wealth tax (http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2008/08/16/PROV20080816132673.html)

For hosting large-scale operations of mining companies

By DEXTER A. SEE

TUBA, Benguet – Communities hosting the operation of large-scale mining companies in this vegetable-producing and mineral-rich province are now starting to enjoy additional revenues with the release of their shares from the income of mining companies in the past several years.

Two towns, two barangays, and the provincial government stand to receive a total of R49 million as share from the national-wealth tax paid by Philex Mining Corp. here in the first quarter of 2005 and the first three quarters of 2006.

The Local Government Code grants local government units (LGUs) a 40 percent share from the national wealth tax paid by companies exploiting natural resources in their areas, but the release of the funds requires the approval of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

For several years now, the national government has not been prompt in releasing the shares of local government units from the national-wealth tax.

As a result, the host communities were deprived of the opportunity to use the funds for projects aimed at improving the living condition of the people in the affected areas.

The towns of Tuba and Itogon, both in Benguet, received more than RR11 million each from the national-wealth tax paid by the mining company, while Barangays Ampucao in Itogon and Camp 3 in Tuba got more than R8.6 million each.

The provincial government got more than R9.8-million share from the national wealth tax, which it would utilized for the implementation of various impact projects.

Tuba and Itogon, together with their barangays, will temporarily receive equal shares from the taxes paid by Philex, pending resolution of a dispute over which municipality has the jurisdiction over the area where the mining company is conducting its operation.

Of the RR50-million national-wealth tax paid by the company, Rizal Province had received RR1 million for hosting the firm’s main office, while the P49 million was divided among the Benguet provincial government, Tuba and Itogon towns, and Barangays Camp 3 and Ampucao.

Local officials are confident that the national government will again release their respective shares from the national wealth tax paid by Philex for the last quarter of 2006 and the first three quarters of 2007.

The release would enable the LGUs to implement immediately their priority projects for the people.

Mining is one of the most lucrative industries in this province, aside from the growing of semi-temperate vegetables.

allan_dude

August 17th, 2008, 03:21 PM

^ Benguet is part of the Cordilleras :lol:

dark_knight_detectve

August 20th, 2008, 05:43 PM

One Town One Product fair in Luzon hikes sales by 8.5% (http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=2008081620&type=2)

Sunday, August 17, 2008
The third One Town One Product (OTOP) Luzon Island Fair generated 8.5 percent higher than last year’s fair as more people bought food products.

Sales reached P14.2 million, an increase from last year’s P13.1 million, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) reported.

Data from the DTI showed that Cagayan Valley (Region 2) emerged as the top regional seller generating P2.7 million, followed by Ilocos Region (Region 1) with P2 million and Central Luzon (Region 3) with P1.8 million.

A wide array of furniture and furnishings, gifts and houseware, processed food, jewelry and fashion accessories, footwear, novelty products, organic and natural products, arts and crafts, and health and wellness products were showcased during the fair.

The top sellers were organic mushrooms from Isabela, pili nut products from Masbate and processed meat from Ilocos Sur.

For the non-food products, meanwhile, the biggest sellers were handloom woven products from Ilocos Sur, fashion accessories made of sabutan from Aurora and loomwoven ethnic crafts from Kalinga.

The top seller for the furniture sector was furniture and fixtures from Ilocos Sur.

DTI said over 200 OTOP micro, small and medium enterprises from the eight regions of Luzon comprised of 37 provinces joined the fair.

The Luzon OTOP fair is one of the three major island fairs organized by the Trade Department to help micro, small and medium enterprises showcase and market their products to local buyers from Metro Manila and the neighboring cities and provinces.

The OTOP program is one of the government’s important strategies for job generation and entrepreneurship promotion. — Ma. Elisa Osorio

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