Region 1:

Region 1 or the
Ilocos Region is
composed of four
provinces —Ilocos
Norte, Ilocos Sur,
La Union and
Pangasinan.

Majority of the population
speaks Ilocano, the third largest
spoken language in the Philippines,
although a significant number also
speak Pangasinense.
Dialects

Tagalog and English are the medium
of instruction in schools. Ilocano is
widely used by the majority people
while Pangasinense is spoken in the
central towns of Pangasinan.
Dialects

Industries
• Region 1:
The Ilocos Region

Ilocos Norte
The province specializes in the following products
and industries:
Agriculture - rice, corn, garlic, legumes, root
crops, tobacco, and other fruits and vegetables
Fishery - tilapia and assorted fishes
Livestock - swine and cattle
Cottage industries - loom weaving, furniture,
ceramics, iron works
Manufacturing and food processing

The people are engaged in farming,
producing food crops, mostly rice, corn,
vegetable, root crops, and fruits. Non-food
crops include tobacco, cotton, and tiger
grass. Cottage industries include loom
weaving, furniture making, jewelry making,
ceramics, blacksmithing, and food
processing.
Ilocos Sur

La Union
The economy is diversified with service,
manufacturing, and agricultural industries
spread throughout the province. The Port of San
Fernando operates as an increasingly active
shipping point, and the former American airbase
Wallace Air Station, having been converted into a
business and industrial area, helps to facilitate
such commercial activity.

La Union
Tourism to the province is driven by airlines and
passenger coach bus lines like regionally owned
Farinas Transit Company and Partas.

Pangasinan
Pangasinan specializes in these products and
industries:
Agriculture - The major crops in Pangasinan are rice,
mangoes, corn, and sugar cane.
Energy - The 1200 megawatt Sual Coal-Fired Power Plant,
and 345 megawatt San Roque Multi-Purpose Dam
Marine - Pangasinan is a major fish supplier in Luzon, and
a major producer of salt in the Philippines.
Financial - Pangasinan has 593 banking and financing
institutions.

La Paz Sand Paoay Church
Bacarra Domeless
Tower
Dunes
Sinking Bell Tower Pangasinan
Province Capitol
Juan Luna Shrine

Kapurpurawan
Rock Formation
Vigan
Sta. Maria Church
Bangui Windmill Pasal Falls
Bolinao

The Ilocanos are known for being hardworking,
brave, cheerful and simple. They are independent
and work hard.
They share the same basic values as other
Filipinos. Bain is the Ilocano trait for hiyaor amor
propio (sense of shame). Ilocanos fear of gossip and
would strongly avoid being envied by others.
It is essential to show panagdayaw (respect for
the sensitivities of others). Ilocanos tend to speak
about themselves in the humblest of terms.

Family
The structure of the Ilocano
family conforms to the general
Filipino pattern. Most families
compose of an average size (6-7
persons). The father is the head
of the family. The mother is
the Ilaw ng tahanan (light of the
home) who disciplines the
children and takes care of the
house budget. The eldest child is
responsible in dividing the chores
equally among siblings.

Ilocanos are very
meticulous when it comes to
clothing. Everyday wear
consists of short pants for
boys, and dusters, loose
skirts, shirts, and short pants
for girls. Farmers wear long-sleeved
shirts, long pants,
and wide-brimmed hats.
During rainy season,
Ilocanos wear a headdress of
labig leaves, which extends
well down the back.

Wedding tradition
It is important for children to ask the
approval of their parents before marrying
their partners. The man should ask the
consent of his parents first. The groom’s
parents will pay the dowry and finance the
wedding.
The groom makes
a panagpudno (formal announcement) to
the soon-to-be bride’s parents about his
intention of marrying their daughter. His
parents will then visit the bride’s parents to
set the wedding date. Usually, parents
consult a planetario, which is like an
almanac that identifies “lucky” days.

A feast follows the church ceremony. The bride and
groom usually go through an entertainment ritual. The
groom offers the bride a plate of mung beans, which
symbolizes fertility. The bride refuses the dish several times
before finally accepting it. Then the bride offers the beans
to the groom whom, in return, refuses the dish until an old
man calls an end to the ritual.
Another highlight of the feast is the bitor wherein guests
contribute cash to the newlyweds either by dropping money
onto the plates or by pinning bills to the couple’s clothes.

Death Tradition
To announce a death of a family member, a piece
of atong wood is lit in front of the deceased’s house. It is
kept burning until after the burial. The fire is extinguished
with white wine.
Before the funeral, relatives pay respect by kissing the
deceased’s hands or raising it to his/her forehead (mano).
The corpse is kept inside the house. It is dressed in its
best clothing and a kerchief is tied around the jaw. A basin
of water mixed with vinegar is placed under the bed to
remove the odor.

Death Tradition
Money is placed in the coffin. This serves as a pay to the
“ferry man” who takes the soul to the other world. Before
the burial, relatives conduct a vigil around the body.
Those who attended the burial in the cemetery must
return to the deceased’s home by taking a different
route from the one they’ve taken to get there. Upon
arrival, they must wash their faces and hands. It is said
to remove the power of death.

Festivals
Bangus Festival
Dagupan City,
Pangasinan
Dinengdeng
Festival
May 1
Agoo La Union
Rimat ti Amianan
December 2nd
week
San Fernando
City, La Union
Viva Vigan Festival
First week of May
Vigan City
Longaniza Festival
January 22
Vigan City
Guling-Guling Festival
Eve of Ash Wednesday
Paoay, Ilocos Norte
Feast of Señora de Manaoa
Holy Week
Manaoag, Pangasingan
Pista’s Dayat ,Lingayen
May 1
Pangasinan

Region II or the
Cagayan Valley Region

Region 2:

Region 2
Cagayan Valley
Region

Dialects
Iloko
Ivatan
Ichbayaten
Isamurongan
Ibanagi
Itawis
Tagalog
Gadanag

The Region has a rich and immense natural and
development potentials.
It is also abundant in agricultural products such
as:
 rice, corn, peanut, beans, and fruits and
livestock products include cattle, hogs, curacaos,
and poultry.
 It has also a vast source of mineral resources
like hydro-power – the source of Magat Hydro-
Power plant with a 360 megawatt plant supporting
the power needs of the Luzon Grid.

Lighthouse on
Naidi Hills
Mt. Carmel
Chapter
Marlboro Hills
Diura Fishing
Village
Mt. Iraya
The Mahatao
View Deck

Calvary Hills,
Iguig, Cagayan
Valley
Nueva Vizcaya
The Calao Cave in
Tuguegarao
Palaui Island Isabela
Mt. Pulog, Nueva
Vizcaya

“Pattaradday”, a local
word for unity was the
main theme of Santiago
City’s Pattaradday
Festival, the highlight of
which is a grand street
dance parade
competition by different
contingents from various
towns and provinces.

The people of Batanes
are called Ivatan
and share prehistoric
cultural and linguistic
commonalities with
the Babuyan on
Babuyan Island and
the Tao people of
Orchid Island.

The majority of people
living in Cagayan are of
Ilocano descent, mostly
from migrants coming
from the Ilocos Region.
Originally, the more
numerous group were
the Ibanags, who were
first sighted by the
Spanish explorers and
converted to Christianity
by missionaries.

The Ibanags, Itawits and Malawegs are mainly
lowland farmers whose agricultural practices are similar
to those of the Ilokanos. The Ibanags used to inhabit
the area along the Cagayan coast but migrated further
inland. They conducted trade with neighboring areas
using distinctive seacrafts, and their commercial
interests made their language the medium of
commerce throughout the region before the influx of
Ilokano migrants. They are also excellent blacksmiths
and continue to make good bolos. The Ibanags are
reputed to be the tallest of all the ethno-linguistic
groups in the Philippines.

Region
Or CentIraIl LIuzon Region

Region 3:

Region 3 or the
Central Luzon
Region is composed
of 7 provinces —
Aurora, Bulacan,
Bataan, Nueva Ecija,
Pampanga, Tarlac
and Zambales.

Dialects
1.Tagalog
2.Iloko
3.Kapampangan
4.Zambaleno

Central Luzon is one of the leading growth regions in
the Philippines that strategically located at the heart of
Asia. No other place with sea and air travel and cargo
facilities could equal Central Luzon in terms of almost
equal travel in Asia
The Region also combines the
advantages of an international airport,
a seaport, industrial and agricultural
areas, tourism/leisure sites, and
support services/industries. The
complementation of each of these
elements enhances the potentials of
the region as an investment site.

Mt. Pinatubo Angat Dam
Mapanuepe Lake
Las Casas Filipinas
de Acuzar
Barasoain Church
Lake Pinatubo

Mount Samat Dicasalarin Cove
National Shrine
Dinosaurs Island
in San Fernando
Sacred Relic of
the True Cross
Nagsasa Cove
Anawangin Cove

Culture here is number one and there are
incredible fiestas that reflect each town’s distinct
culture, from the Giant Lantern Parade in San
Fernando, Pampanga, to the Fertility Rites in
Obando, Bulacan. For stunning nature, the
province of Aurora has a stunning 328-kilometer
coastline where beach and surf rule.

Aguman Sanduk is a weird festival not only because of
the freakish makeover of the participants, but also
because it parodies Kapampangan machismo and
Kapampangan pulchritude—two biases firmly enshrined
on the altar of Kapampangan sociocultural values.

Banga Festival, Bataan Pamamupul Festival, Pampanga

• Sto. Nino Festival
January 25
Malolos City, Bulacan
• Aurora Surfing Cup
February 8 - 11
Baler, Aurora
• Aurora Day
February 13 - 19, 2006
Baler, Aurora
• Philippine International Hot-Air Balloon
Festival
2nd Thursday - Sunday of February
Clark, Pampanga
• Paynauen Duyan Festival
April 19 - 23
Iba, Zambales
• Tanduyong Festival
April 25
San Jose City, Nueva Ecija

•Dinamulag Mango Festival
April 25 - 28
Zambales
•Sibit-Sibit Summer Festival
April
Olongapo City (Brgy. Barreto)
•Araquio of Penaranda
May 8
Penaranda, Nueva Ecija
•Pulilan Carabao Festival
May 14 - 15
Pulilan, Bulacan
•Obando Fertility Dance
May 17 - 19
Venue Obando, Bulacan