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La Union - "Pilgrimage Center Of North Luzon" Brief Description Situated on the northwestern coast of Luzon, La Union is the gateway to the Ilocos Region. With its strategic location, the province has become the business, education, and government center of the Ilocos. Not only is La Union the region’s center for trade but also of religious devotees who flock to one of the country’s popular pilgrimage destinations, especially during Lent. Agoo, the oldest town of La Union, was once the site of the much publicized divine visitations of the Virgin Mary. The Agoo Apparition Site in San Antonio has established the town as a destination of choice for Marian devotees. Agoo comes alive most on Semana Santa, or the Holy Week, which is the week before Easter. Yearly, the townspeople bear witness to ardent devotees relentlessly pulling life-size statues depicting the 14 Stations of the Cross along the processional roads in Agoo during the Good Friday procession on Semana Santa. But the province is not wanting of natural attractions, thanks to seascapes that make it a watersports paradise. The surf fronting Monaliza in Urbiztondo, San Juan is the best site for board surfing from November to February; other good sites are in Carlatan and Wallace in San Fernando. Scuba diving is ideal in Fagg Reef, which is adorned by sharks, barracuda, sea snakes, Moray eels, and other friendly sea creatures, and Research Reef, which is endowed with several tunnels, caverns, and crevices. Geography La Union is located in the southwestern part of Region I and stretches over a length of 102 kilometers from North to South between 120o16' and 120o35' longtitude and 160o15' latitude. It is bounded on the north by Ilocos Sur, on the south by Pangasinan, on the east by Benguet, and on the west by the China Sea. It has a land area of 149,309 hectares with a predominantly hilly terrain that gradually rises eastward from the shore. Its irregular coastal plain is narrowest in Damortis, Sto. Tomas and widest in Balaoan. Its highest peak is in Bagulin with an elevation of 1,200 feet above sea level. The province has several rivers which are short and rapid. Language/Dialect Ilocano is the common dialect. The residents of the coastal barangay of Sto. Tomas and Rosario also speak Pangasinense while the cultural communities in the towns bordering the Cordillera speak Ibaloi or Kankanaey. English and Filipino remain as basic tools of instruction in schools. Political Subdivision La Union has 19 municipalities and one component city, which are subdivided into 576 barangays. The northern towns of Sudipen, Bangar, Luna, Balaoan, Santol, San Gabriel, Bacnotan, San Juan, and San Fernando City comprise the First District. Belonging to the Second District are Bagulin, Naguilian, Burgos, Bauang, Caba, Aringay, Agoo, Tubao, Sto. Tomas, Rosario, and Pugo. Climate The climate condition prevailing in La Union is dry from November to April and wet from May to October. The southwest monsoon brings about the abundant rainfall experienced during the wet season. The relatively dry season is caused by the northeast monsoon passing over the Cordillera Mountains. The average temperature is 27.21°C. Population Population of the province in 2000 was 657,945. The population is concentrated in the coastal municipalities. The capital San Fernando, now a component city, registered the most with 102,082. The population count showed a 2.09% increase from the previous census in 1995. Major Industries Agriculture remains to be the primary industry. Cottage industries are blanketweaving, basketry, bamboocraft, pottery, and broommaking. Commercial activity consists mostly of wholesale and retail business. Brief History La Union was created by virtue of a “Superior Decreto” issued on March 2, 1850 by Governor General Narciso Zaldua Claveria out of nine towns of Pangasinan, three of Ilocos Sur and settlements of the Eastern Pais del Igorotes in the Cordilleras. Its creation as a province was formally approved by a Royal Decree issued by Queen Isabela of Spain on April 18, 1854. From its inception as a province up to the Second World War, La Union experienced transformations in the socio-cultural and politico-economic aspects. After the War, rehabilitation and reconstruction were done, eventually propelling the province as the center of commerce and trade and the administrative center of Region I. La Union is Famous for... Beaches La Union's favored beaches include Bauang Beach, the San Fernando beach area of San Francisco-Canaoay-Pagudpud, and San Juan Beach. Surfing at San Juan Urbiztondo, San Juan is known worldwide for its year-round surfing waves. Grapes Due to its long period of sunshine, La Union has become a great and productive province in terms of grapes-growing. Guapple Baggak Festival (Bauang; April 26 - 29) Agoo Basilica It enshrines the miraculous image of Our Lady of Charity. This imposing structure of Mexican-Baroque architecture is the venue of religious rites, foremost of which is the Semana Santa. Agoo Museum Museo de Iloko, the old "presidencia" of Agoo, houses artifacts and other pieces of cultural importance to the Ilocanos. Filipino-Chinese Pagoda The Macho Temple at San Fernando is believed to be the only one built with five gates. It enshrines the image of the Virgin of Caysasay, the patroness of the Filipino-Chinese residents. La Union Botanical and Zoological Garden The 10-hectare botanical garden in Cadaclan features various themed gardens, picnic areas, a natural museum, and an aviary. How to Get to La Union Buses ply the Manila-La Union route twenty-four (24) hours a day. The types of available land transportation are cars, vans, jeepneys, tricycles, and buses. La Union Emergency Services Medical Facilities ILOCOS TRAINING AND REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER Parian, San Fernando City (072) 888-2691 LORMA MEDICAL CENTER Carlatan, San Fernando City (072) 888-2617 NAGUILIAN DISTRICT HOSPITAL Plaza, Naguilian ROSARIO DISTRICT HOSPITAL Rosario NORTHERN LA UNION DISTRICT HOSPITAL Bungol, Balaoan BETHANY HOSPITAL Widdoes St., San Fernando City (072) 888-2355 DOÑA GREGORIA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL Agoo BACNOTAN DISTRICT HOSPITAL Bacnotan CABA MEDICARE AND COMMUNITY HOSPITAL Caba LOPEZ CLINIC AND HOSPITAL Balaoan MARTINEZ MATERNITY AND LYING-IN HOSPITAL Gov. Lucero Street, San Fernando City. (072) 888-4325 LA UNION MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIC CENTER Ancheta St, San Fernando City (072) 242-0733 Police PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE Regional Command I, Camp Oscar Florendo, Parian, San Fernando City. (072) 888-4980 PROV’L. DIRECTOR’S OFFICES Camp Diego Silang, Carlatan, San Fernando City (072) 888-2656 SAN FERNANDO POLICE STATION (072) 242-4702 BAUANG POLICE STATION (072) 888-3230 Fire Station Tourist Information and Assistance source: Department of Tourism |
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