Welcome to the Ancient
Homeland!
The Origin of Ilocos Norte
Long before the coming of the Spaniards, there already existed an
extensive region (consisting of the present provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos
Sur, Abra and La Union) renowned for its gold mines. Merchants from Japan and
China would often visit the area to trade gold with beads, ceramics and silk.
The inhabitants of the region, believed to be of Malay origin, called their
place "samtoy", from "sao mi toy", which literally meant
"our language here"
In 1591, when the Spanish conquistadors had Manila more or less under
their control, they began looking for new sites to conquer. Legaspi's grandson,
Juan De Salcedo, volunteered to lead one of these expeditions. Together with 8
armed boats and 45 men, the 22 year old voyager headed north. On June 13, 1592,
Salcedo and his men landed in Vigan and then proceeded towards Laoag, Currimao and
Badoc. As they sailed along the coast, they were surprised to see numerous
sheltered coves ("looc") where the locals lived in harmony. As a
result, they named the region "Ylocos" and its people
"Ylocanos".
As the Christianization of the region grew, so did the landscape of the
area. Vast tracts of land were utilized for churches and bell towers in line
with the Spanish mission of "bajo las campanas". In the town plaza,
it was not uncommon to see garrisons under the church bells. The colonization
process was slowly being carried out.
The Spanish colonization of the region, however, was never completely
successful. Owing to the abusive practices of many Augustinian friars, a number
of Ilocanos revolted against their colonizers. Noteworthy of these were the Dingras
uprising (1589) and Pedro Almasan revolt (San Nicolas, 1660).
In 1762, Diego Silang led a series of battles aimed at freeing the
Ilocanos from the Spanish yoke. When he died from an assassin's bullet, his
widow Gabriela continued the cause. Unfortunately, she too was captured and
hanged. In 1807, the sugar cane ("basi") brewers of Piddig rose up in
arms to protest the government's monopoly of the wine industry. In 1898, the
church excommunicated Gregorio Aglipay for refusing to cut off ties with the revolutionary
forces of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. Unperturbed, he established the "Iglesia
Filipina Independiente". Aglipay’s movement and the nationalist sentiment
it espoused helped restore the self-respect of many Filipinos.
In an effort to gain more political control and because of the
increasing population of the region, a Royal Decree was signed on February 2,
1818 splitting Ilocos into two provinces: Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur. Soon
thereafter, the provinces of La Union and Abra likewise became independent.
Gameng ni Ilocano: Museo
Ilocos Norte
The Museo Ilocos
Norte is a learning center of Ilocos Norte traditions. Within its spaces are
many opportunities for inter-active and multi-disciplinary experiences. Its
presentations are continually evolving, responding to new findings and
revelations on the cultures of Ilocos Norte. In the Museum proper, artifacts
illustrate how peoples such as the Ilocanos, Yapayaos, Isnegs and Igorots have
wrested a living from the earth and waters of the province.
Visitors are
invited to tarry a while in the Ancestral House, and imagine the gracious
living before the 1940s. A Hall for Changing Exhibits links the Museo not only
with special aspects of living in Ilocos Norte, but also with development in
the country and elsewhere. Venues for special events are the Entablado for
small groups, and the Patio for outdoor gatherings. The search for knowledge
continues in the Library, stocked with books and informational materials on the
region. Souvenirs are available at the nearby Sarusar.
