La Union

For places in Latin America and Spain, see La Unión (disambiguation).

La Union
Province
Welcome Arch of La Union at the La Union-Ilocos Sur border
Flag of La Union Flag Seal
Location in the Philippines
Coordinates:
Country	Philippines
Region	Region I
Founded	March 2, 1850
Capital	San Fernando City
Government
• Governor	Manuel "Manoling" C. Ortega (NPC)
• Vice Governor	Aureo Nisce (NPC)
Area
• Total	1,497.70 km2 (578.27 sq mi)
Area rank	68th out of 80
Population (2010)
• Total	741,906
• Rank	37th out of 80
• Density	500/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
• Density rank	10th out of 80
Divisions
• Independent cities	0
• Component cities	1
• Municipalities	19
• Barangays	576
• Districts	1st and 2nd districts of La Union
Time zone	PHT (UTC+8)
ZIP code	2500 – 2520
Dialing code	72
Languages	Ilokano, Pangasinan, Kankanaey, Ibaloi, Tagalog, English
Website	launion.gov.ph

La Union (Ilocano: Probinsya ti La Union; Tagalog: Probinsya ng La Union; Pangasinan: Luyag na La Union), is a province in the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region in the island of Luzon. Its capital is the city of San Fernando.

The province is bordered by Ilocos Sur to the north, Benguet to the east, Pangasinan to the south, and to the west by the shores of the South China Sea.

History

La Unión, "The Union" in Spanish, was formed in 1850 when the Spanish colonial government of Governor-General Antonio Maria Blanco merged the three southern towns of Ilocos Sur province, the nine northern towns of Pangasinan, and the western towns of Benguet to the east (Eastern Pais del Igorotes in the Cordilleras). Pangasinenses were the majority in the new province because most towns had been in the Province of Pangasinan.

On October 29, 1849, Governor General Claveria issued a "promovido" to fuse the Pangasinan-Ilokos-Cordillera areas into "La Union". On March 2, 1850, Governor General Antonio Maria Blanco signed the Superior Decreto of La Union (34th province from Cebu-1565), with Captain Toribio Ruiz de la Escalera as the first Gobernador Military y Politico. Isabella II of Spain decreed the province's creation on April 18, 1854. In 1661, Andres Malong (Pangasinan) failed to recover La Union from the Spaniards after the Battle of Agoo. In 1896, the people of La Union began a revolt against the Spanish, who had called La Union “Una Provincia Modelo", ed by Manuel Tinio Y Bondoc under Emilio Aguinaldo. The Americans collaborated with the Filipinos to end the Spanish.

Dr. Lucino Almeida became the Presidente Provincial of the American regime, followed by the election of La Union’s first Civil Governor in 1901, Don Joaquin Joaquino Ortega, Grandfather of Governor Manuel C. Ortega. 9 Governors succeeded Don Joaquin before World War II: Joaquin Luna, 1904-1907, Sixto Zandueta, 1908-1919, Pio Ancheta 1919-1922, 1931, Thomas De Guzman, 1922-1923, 1928-1931, Juan Lucero, 1923-1929, Mauro Ortiz, 1931-1934, Juan Rivera, 1934-1937, Francisco Nisce, 1937-1940 and Bernardo Gapuz, 1940. Gov. Bernardo Gapuz (1940), Gov. Jorge Camacho (1941-1942) and Gov. Bonifacio Tadiar (1942-1944) thereafter succeeded these 9.

On January 4, 1945, La Union was liberated by the Battle of San Fernando and Bacsil Ridge. Agaton Yaranon, 1946-1947 was succeeded by Governors: Doroteo Aguila, 1948-1951, Juan Carbonell, 1952-1955, Bernardo Gapuz, 1956-1959, Eulogio De Guzman, 1960-1967, Juvenal Guerrero, 1968-1977, Tomas Asprer, 1977-1986, Robert V. Dulay, 1986-1987, Joaquin Ortega, 1988-1992, Justo O. Orros, 1992-2001, Victor F. Ortega, 2001-2007 and Manuel C. Ortega, 2007–present.

Geography

Physical

La Union is 273 kilometres (170 mi) north of Metro Manila and 57 kilometres (35 mi) northwest of Baguio City. The land area of the province is 149,770 hectares (370,100 acres).

Like most of the region, the province is squeezed in by the Cordillera mountain range to the east and the South China Sea to the west. Yet, unlike other portions of Luzon and the Philippines' two other island groupings, the Visayas and Mindanao, La Union experiences a rather arid and prolonged dry season with little precipitation to be expected between the months of November and May.

Administrative divisions

La Union is politically subdivided into 19 municipalities and 1 component city, all of which are organized into two legislative districts.

City or municipality District Area (km²) Population (2010) Density (per km²) No. of barangays ZIP code Income class (DOF) Coordinates Agoo 2nd 52.84 60,596 1146.8 49 2504 1st Aringay 2nd 84.54 44,949 531.7 24 2503 2nd Bacnotan 1st 76.6 40,307 526.2 47 2515 1st Bagulin 2nd 107.33 12,590 117.3 10 2512 5th Balaoan 1st 68.7 37,910 551.8 36 2517 1st Bangar 1st 37.36 34,522 924 33 2519 3rd Bauang 2nd 73.15 70,735 967 39 2501 1st Burgos 2nd 70.8 7,850 110.9 12 2510 5th Caba 2nd 46.31 21,244 458.7 17 2502 4th Luna 1st 42.9 35,380 824.7 40 2518 3rd Naguilian 2nd 104.6 48,407 462.8 37 2511 1st Pugo 2nd 62.84 16,518 262.9 14 2508 5th Rosario 2nd 73.98 52,679 712.1 33 2506 1st San Fernando † 1st 102.72 114,963 1119.2 59 2500 3rd San Gabriel 1st 129.87 16,628 128 15 2513 4th San Juan 1st 57.12 35,098 614.5 41 2514 2nd Santo Tomas 2nd 64 35,999 562.5 24 2505 4th Santol 1st 93.7 12,007 128.1 11 2516 4th Sudipen 1st 97.59 16,531 169.4 17 2520 4th Tubao 2nd 50.75 26,993 531.9 18 2509 4th  †  Provincial capital and component city      Municipality Coordinates mark the vicinity of the city/town center, and are sorted according to latitude. Income classifications for cities are italicized.

Political map of La Union

Barangays

La Union has a total of 576 barangays comprising its 19 municipalities and 1 city.

The most populous barangay in the province is Sevilla in the City of San Fernando with a population of 10,612 in the 2010 census. If cities are excluded, Central East (Poblacion) in the municipality of Bauang has the highest number of inhabitants, at 4,249. Caggao in Bangar has the lowest with only 170.

Further information: List of barangays in La Union

Demographics

Population census of La Union
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1990	548,742	—
1995	597,442	+1.61%
2000	657,945	+2.09%
2007	720,972	+1.27%
2010	741,906	+1.05%
Source: National Statistics Office

The province is predominantly Ilokano (over 90% based on recent census data) and Roman Catholic. Minority communities of Pangasinense live in the south of the province, Igorots in the Cordillera foothills, and Tagalog people in urban areas. In September 2012, the province of La Union passed an ordinance recognizing Ilocano (Iloko) as an official provincial language, the other is Pangasinan, the second official provincial language alongside Filipino and English, as national and official languages of the Philippines, respectively. It is the first province in the Philippines to pass an ordinance protecting and revitalizing a native language. San Fernando City serves as the administrative, educational, and financial center of the region.

Economy

La Union is known for its softbroom industry. 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.

The main livelihood of the people are: hand-woven blankets (Inabel), softbrooms, baskets, pottery, rice wine (tapuey), sugarcane wine (basi), sugarcane vinegar, wood craft, bamboo craft, native rice cakes, antique-finish furniture, dried fish, honey, and mushroom.

Education

La Union has 333 public elementary schools, 56 private elementary schools, 79 public high schools, 51 private secondary schools, 20 Colleges and 5 State Universities.

Tourism

La Union is the surfing capital of Northern Luzon. Tourism to the province is driven by airlines and passenger coach bus lines like regionally owned Farinas Transit Company, Viron Transit, Dominion Bus Lines and Partas.

Tourists often flock to the beaches of Bauang, or to the more secluded ones further north for snorkeling, surfing or other water sports; the more northerly beaches near San Juan specifically cater to both local surfers as well as portions of the world surfing circuit.

Natural sceneries

• Amburayan River
• Arosip Ecotrail in Bacnotan
• Bambana Natural Cove Formation in Bacnotan
• Beaches
• Bolikewkew Rice Terraces in Burgos
• La Union Botanical Garden
• La Union Centennial Tree in Bacnotan
• La Union Surfing Area in San Juan
• Tapuacan River

Historical

• Bacsil Ridge
• Baluarte Watch Tower in Luna
• Centennial Tunnel in Aringay
• La Union Provincial Capitol in San Fernando City
• Pindangan Ruins in San Fernando City
• World War II Vintage Canon

Religious

• Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Charity in Agoo
• Cathedral of St. William the Hermit
• Ma-Cho Temple
• Our Lady of Namacpacan in Luna
• Saint Christopher Parish in Bangar
• Saint John the Baptist Parish
• Saint Michael, the Archangel Parish
• Saints Peter & Paul Parish in Bauang

Structures

• Eagle of the North Park in Agoo
• Freedom Park /Heroes Hill
• Hanging Bridge in Bagulin
• Imelda Garden in Agoo
• La Union Medical Center in Agoo
• Museo de Iloko in Agoo
• Museo de San Juan
• Poro Point Boardwalk
• Thunderbird Resorts (Philippines)
• Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers

Provincial government and politics

Just as the national government, La Union provincial government is divided into three branches: executive, legislative and judiciary. The judicial branch is administered solely by the Supreme Court of the Philippines. The LGUs have control of the executive and legislative branch.

The executive branch is composed of the governor for the provinces, mayor for the cities and municipalities, and the barangay captain for the barangays.Local Government Code of the Philippines, Book III, Department of Interior and Local Government official website.

The legislative branch is composed of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial assembly) for the provinces, Sangguniang Panlungsod (city assembly) for the cities, Sangguniang Bayan (town assembly) for the municipalities, Sangguniang Barangay (barangay council), and the Sangguniang Kabataan for the youth sector.

The seat of Government is vested upon the Mayor and other elected officers who hold office at the City Hall of San Fernando. The Sanguniang Bayan is the center of legislation, stationed in the Speaker Pro-Tempore Francisco I. Ortega Building, the Legislative Building at the back of the Capitol.

Elected officials

La Union is governed by Manuel C. Ortega, the Chief Executive, his Vice-Governor, Aureo Augusto Nisce and 13 Board Members.

Court system

The Supreme Court of the Philippines recognizes La Union (inter alia) regional trial courts and metropolitan or municipal trial courts within the province and towns, that have an over-all jurisdiction in the populace of the province and towns, respectively.

Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, "The Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980", as amended, created Regional, Metropolitan, Municipal Trial and Circuit Courts. The Third Judicial Region includes RTCs in La Union xxx Sec. 14. Regional Trial Courts. (a) Fifty-seven Regional Trial Judges shall be commissioned for the First Judicial Region. Nine branches (Branches XXVI to XXXIV) for the province of La Union, Branches XXVI to XXX with seats at San Fernando, Branches XXXI and XXXII at Agoo, Branch XXXIII at Bauang, and Branch XXXIV at Balaoan;

The law also created Metropolitan Trial Courts in each metropolitan area established by law, a Municipal Trial Court in each of the other cities or municipalities, and a Municipal Circuit Trial Court in each circuit comprising such cities and/or municipalities as are grouped together pursuant to law: three branches for Cabanatuan City; in every city which does not form part of a metropolitan area, there is also a Municipal Trial Court with one branch, except as provided: Two branches for San Fernando, La Union;

The courts of law are stationed in Halls of Justices of the Province and towns. In La Union, the Regional Trial Court is stationed at the Bulwagan ng Katarungan or Halls of Justice in San Fernando, La Union and other Regional Trial Courts in Bauang and Agoo, La Union.

Notable people

• Diego Silang (1730–1763) - was a revolutionary leader
• Luna Brothers (Juan Luna and Antonio Luna) - Their mother is a native of Luna, La Union
• Magnolia Antonino (1915–2010) - was a Senator of the Philippines
• Camilo Osias (1889–1976) - was a Filipino politician, twice for a short time President of the Senate of the Philippines.
• William Penn Duvall (1847–1920)
• Bryan Termulo (born 1988) - his mother is from Bauang, La Union
• Gloria Diaz (born 1951) - Miss Philippines 1969, Miss Universe 1969
• Vice Ganda (born 1976) - Actor, host, singer and comedian. His mother is from La Union
• JB Magsaysay (born 1980) - Pinoy Big Brother (season 1) housemate; Actor, public servant and businessman
• Jessica Soho (born 1964) - broadcast journalist
• Aiyana Mikiewicz (born 1988) - Miss Tourism World Philippines 2013, Miss Tourism World-Asia 2013. Her Mother is from Agoo, La Union

Image gallery

• 

  Facade of the Provincial Capitol of La Union

• 

  Facade of the Provincial Legislative Building

• 

  Bulwagan ng Katarungan (Regional Trial Courts, San Fernando, La Union)

• 

  View of San Fernando City, capital of La Union

External links

• Geographic data related to La Union at OpenStreetMap
• Official Website of the Provincial Government of La Union
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code

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