Ilocos Region
Ilocos Region
Ilocos, officially named Ilocos Region and Then, the young man formally announces
administratively designated Region I, forms the (panagpudno) his intentions of marrying the young
northwest part of the island of Luzon in the Philippines. woman to her parents. The groom’s parents visit the
It is known for its old towns, historical sites, beaches, bride’s parents, in which they set the date of the
and nature attractions wedding. In setting the date, both parents go to a
planetario (planetarium) to learn what dates are the
History good-luck days.
Ilocos Region was first inhabited by the Another meeting is set for the wedding (palalian
aboriginal Negritos before they were pushed by or ringpas) wherein the groom and his relatives to the
successive waves of Malay immigrants that penetrated bride’s house to finalize the wedding arrangements.
the narrow coast. Tingguians in the interior, Ilocanos in The families set the choice of sponsors, the dowry, sagut
the north, and Pangasinense in the south settled the (wedding dress and accessories which will be provided
region. by the groom), and the parawad (cash that given by the
groom to the bride’s mother as a reward for raising his
Dialects
bride).
Ilocano and Pangasinense
Valuing Education
-Most people use Ilocano and Pangasinense in the
The community is dedicated to providing their
central towns of Pangasinan.
children with a quality education and better
Culture opportunities, believing in a brighter future beyond
farming.
Behavior
Festivals
Hardworking and Frugal
Respect and humility BAC-BACARRA FESTIVAL • • • • Bacarra, Ilocos Norte
Hardworking and Productive Farmers Festival November 30 The legendary word
“bac-bacarra” is a specie of freshwater fish abundant in
Being Thrifty
the river during the 15th century which gave birth to the
They value money so much that most people town’s name .
see them as stingy, but in truth they are just thrifty, they
GULING-GULING FESTIVAL • • • • Paoay, Ilocos Norte
want to spend what they earned wisely.
Guling-Guling Martes May aims to commemorate the
16th century old practice of the Spanish friars for the
religious sector to interact with its parishioners. It has
always been celebrated on the Tuesday before Ash
Wednesday Bagnet
PAMULINAWEN FESTIVAL • • • • Laoag City February 10 Bagnet, known locally in Ilocos as chicharon, is a
Our Lady of Peace Pamulinawen is the name of a deep-fried pork dish known for its crunchy skin and a
woman made popular in the classic Ilocano song titled… golden-brown color.
Pamulinawen.
Pinakbet
EMPANADA FESTIVAL • Batac, Ilocos Norte • December
8 – 30 • BATAC EMPANADA is made of savory filling of Pinakbet may be a beloved dish all over the
grated green papaya, mongo, longganisa and egg. The Philippines, but not everyone knows that it’s a product
dough that serves as its thin and crisp wrapper is made of the Ilokanos. This vegetable stew is made of eggplant,
of rice flour. okra, bitter gourd, garlic, onions, string beans, winged
beans, and tomatoes as its base ingredients.
Tabako Festival • Candon City, Ilocos Sur • every last
week of March • thanksgiving for the city’s bountiful Okoy Tiyosko
harvest of tobacco. Semana Santa • Holy Week • Good Okoy Tiyosko is another famous food from
Friday procession highlights decorated carrozas bearing Ilocos that should be listed in your must-tries. This
life-size, Spanish vintage statues of saints. On Easter crunchy snack is a deep-fried fritter made of glutinous
Sunday, the dawn celebration depicting the Resurrection rice batter, shrimp, and various vegetables.
of Christ called “Sabet” is a scene to watch out for.
Poqui poqui
Bangus Festival • April 16 – May 1 • Dagupan City,
Pangasinan • In 2003, the Guinness Book of World Poqui poqui is a simple delicacy found in the
Records recognized the “Kalutan ed Dagupan” as the region of Ilocos that vegetarians will surely love. It’s
Longest Barbecue of the World Pista’y Dayat Festival • made with grilled eggplants mixed with onions, garlic,
May 1 • Lingayen, Pangasinan • celebrates the bountiful and tomatoes finished with one whole beaten egg.
harvest and abundant fishing from the sea. The events Dudol
feature mass offering on beautiful beaches and fluvial
parade. It’s a mix of rice flour, coconut milk, and
sugarcane juice, cooked continuously under slow fire.
delicacies/cuisines
Chichacorn
Authentic local cuisine consists mainly of
vegetable and poultry from small farms, daily catch from Ilokano version uses glutinous white corn
traditional fishing methods, and local pork delicacies. instead of the usual yellow ones. The corn kernel is then
cooked until crunchy and semi-puffed, making it easier
Vigan Longganisa to chew.
Vigan Longganisa. This plump sausage Sukang Iloko
originated from, typically bite-sized but packed with
garlicky flavor. Sukang Iloko is another popular product of the
Ilocos region made from a local wine called basi. Basi
Ilocos Empanada comes from extracting the juices of crushed sugarcane,
The popular street food originated in Batac, then boiled and stored in an earthen jar. When the wine
Ilocos Norte. What sets Ilocos Empanada apart from the is further fermented, it turns to a sour, dark, and
rest is its color and ingredients! Ilokanos use annatto aromatic vinegar that is Sukang Iloko.
seeds to add color to its dough, making it vibrantly Tupig
orange. Inside, you’ll typically find chopped Vigan
longganisa, green papaya, mung beans, and an egg. Tupig is composed of glutinous rice cake with
grated coconuts and molasses wrapped in banana
leaves. It’s cooked over a charcoal fire, giving the final Rivers and Waterfalls: The region is dotted with
product both an aromatic and smoky hint to it. rivers and waterfalls, providing sources of
freshwater and natural beauty. These water bodies
are often visited for swimming, picnics, and
relaxation.
climate/weather
La Union
Pangasinan