Laoag City, the jewel of Ilocos Norte

Laoag is also aptly nicknamed “The Sunshine City

because the city gets more than the usual amount of
clear, sunny days.

The name of the city “Laoag” is a derivative of the

Ilocano term, which means light or brightness.

Laoag City is a vibrant and dynamic growth center in the north, a truly unique destination
offering surprises, panoramic sand dunes, lush vegetation, scenic beaches, high land
lures, historical and heritage sites.

Laoag City is the gateway to the North Luzon Tourism Hub and Growth Quadrangle. It
boast of the Laoag International Airport where there are international flights from Hawaii,
San Francisco, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Guangzou, Shenshen, Macau and
Korea.

GEOGRAPHY

Laoag is located at the west-central part of the Province of Ilocos Norte bordering the
West Philippine Sea. It is bounded on the east by the Municipality of Sarrat; in the
southeast by the Municipality of San Nicolas; in the southwest by the Municipality of
Paoay, in the northeast the Municipality of Vintar; in the northwest by the Municipality of
Bacarra; and in the west by the South China Sea. It is one of the largest cities in the Ilocos
Region.

Land area

Administrative Land Area :12,747.351 hectares

Urbanized Land Area : 930.847 hectares

Urban Expansion Area : 1,596.76 hectares

Geographical advantages

• Capital of Ilocos Norte

• Educational, commercial, information and communications center of the province.
• Accessibility to an International Airport
• Accessibility to an International Seaport (26 kms.)
• Accessible to the National Capital Region and other provinces by land
• Identified as Eco-zone by PEZA law (RA 7916)

CLIMATE

Laoag has a tropical savanna climate with warm to hot temperatures year-round.
Temperatures dips sightly during the winter months between December to February.
Characterized by two well-pronounced seasons; dry and wet and is classified as mild and
pleasant climate. Dry season usually starts in November until April and wet during the
rest of the year.
The city is shielded from northeast monsoon and trade winds by the mountain ranges of
Cordillera and Sierra Madre but it is exposed to the southwest monsoon and cyclone
storms.

DEMOGRAPHICS

According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 111,651 people, with a density of
960 inhabitants per square kilometer or 2,500 inhabitants per square mile.

TOURISM

Tourist spots in Laoag

1. Paoay Church - a UNESCO World Heritage Site earthquake baroque style,

characterized by its wide base and massive flying buttresses flanking its sides.

2. Bangui Windmills - 70m-high wind turbines lined up over a 9km stretch of the
Bangui Bay shoreline. It generates enough electricity to support 40% of the power
requirements of Ilocos Norte.
3. Paoay Sand Dunes

Natural coastal desert shaped by sea and wind, are located along the coast near
Laoag City.
 4. Kapurpurawan Rock Formation

Derived from the Ilocano word “puraw” meaning “white.” The rock formation is known
for its creamy white rock surface sculpted and shaped by the relentless pounding
waves.

5. Sinking Bell Tower

The bell tower was built in the 1600s by the Augustinian friars, who did not immediately
realize that it was on sandy soil.
CULTURE

The Pamulinawen is a Laoag’s way to commemorate its patron, Saint William. The locals
celebrate this event every first week of February. From a simple celebration, the
Pamulinawen has evolved into a one-of-a-kind celebration. As a result, it attracts both
tourists and balikbayans alike into the province. Now, the festival showcases the rich
Ilokano culture. These are presented through various forms like interpretative dances
literary arts contests, among other things.

The festivity was initially to honor the city’s patron, Saint William the Hermit. It held as a
reminder of how Christianity gives color to the lives of the Laoageños. This is along with
their unwavering faith that everything will get better, even on the darkest days.

Pamulinawen’s history comes from the infamous Ilokano folk song about courting a tough-
hearted woman with the same name.
Capitol Lights Show Display

the La Milagrosa provincial fiesta features a series of events celebrating both classic and
contemporary Ilocano culture while honoring Ilocos Norte's patron saint, La Virgen
Milagrosa.
Signaling the start of the celebration, a rainbow of lights illuminated the entire facade of
the neo-classical Ilocos Norte Capitol building.

Grand Floral Parade

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

An old Ilocano favorite is the “pinakbet” which literally means to “wrinkle” the vegetables
by overcooking it; “Poki-poki” which is an eggplant omelet mixed with tomatoes; “bagnet”
which is a tasty version of lechon kawali; “sinanlao” which is a watered down batchoy;
“higado” which is similar to but less spicy than bopis; “popotlo” a seaweed salad found
only in the region; crispy dinuguan, which is a dry dinuguan mixed with bagnet and other
vegetables.

1. BASI - is produced by first crushing sugarcane and extracting the juice. The juice
is boiled in vats and then stored in earthen jars (tapayan). Once the juice has
cooled, flavorings made of ground glutinous rice and duhat (java plum) bark or
 other fruits or barks is added. The jars are then sealed with banana leaves and
allowed to ferment for several years.

2. ILOCANO BAGNET is boiled and deep-fried to achieve the crispy, crunchy pork
skin. It's a cross between crispy pata and lechon kawali, both of which have crispy
meat that is not too dry.
 3. ILOCOS LONGGANISA - is a native sausage made from pork meat, herbs, spices
and vinegar, stuffed in pork intestine. Sometimes called garlic longganisa to
distinguish it from that of Vigan longganisa which is sweeter in taste.
4. TUPIG is an Ilocano rice cake originating from northwestern Luzon. It is made from
ground slightly-fermented soaked glutinous rice (galapong) mixed with coconut
milk, muscovado sugar, and young coconut (buko) strips.

5. WOOVEN HANDICRAFTS

BURI
Otherwise known as silag, the buri palm tree is characterized by its large, fan-shaped
leaves from which fibers like the buntal and raffia are derived.

It has become a vital source of income and livelihood for the locals such as the
members of the San Juan Buricrafts-SKA.
INABEL WEAVING

“Abel” or “inabel” is a fabric customarily made of cotton fiber turned into spools of
beeswax-brushed yarn & woven in a handloom. From it comes out beautiful blankets,
pillowcases, tablemats, sweaters & shawls. Traditional designs include the geometric
“binakol” or “inuritan”, the spiral “kusikos” & the flower called “sinan-sabong”.

BURNAY POTTERY
Pottery is an ancient art form & in Ilocos this tradition of molding unglazed earthen jars
is called “burnay”. It was originally used to age vinegar, wine & “bagoong” or fish paste.

AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY & FISHERY

Agriculture occupies the biggest land allocation in Laoag City covering an area of
9,949.29 hectares or 78.05%. Some of the crops raised are rice, mongo, corn,
vegetables, sugar cane, watermelon, peanuts, tobacco, rootcrops and most importantly
garlic and onions.

Laoag City has a total of 262 hectares of forest area. These are situated in the Northern
and Eastern part of Laoag City. Of all the forest zones in the city, Bacsil forest is the most
famous lying along the mountains' easten sector.

Laoag City has no commercial fishing ground. However barangays La Paz and Caaoacan
are considered exceptionally good fishings areas. Inland fisheries are scattered in the
barangays of Apaya, Araniw and Cavit, Gabu Sur, Calayab and Caaoacan.
REFERENCES:

https://laoagcity.gov.ph/?page_id=32

https://laoagcity.gov.ph/?page_id=199

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laoag#Climate

https://guidetothephilippines.ph/articles/what-to-experience/laoag-tourist-spots

https://narrastudio.com/en-ph/blogs/journal/the-inabel-of-ilocos-woven-cloth-for-
everyday

https://laoagcity.gov.ph/tourism/products.html

http://www.traveltrilogy.com/2014/02/traditional-ilocano-handicrafts-weaving-
pottery.html

https://theilocostimes.blogspot.com/2016/06/lights-show-ushers-ilocos-nortes-la.html