La Union Philippines
San Fernando City|
Agoo |
Aringay |
Bacnotan |
Bagulin |
Balaoan |
Bangar |
Bauang |
Burgos |
Caba |
Luna |
Naguilian |
Pugo |
Rosario |
San Gabriel |
San Juan |
Santo Tomas |
Santol |
Sudipen |
Tubao
La Union was carved from the nine towns of
Pangasinan, three of Ilocos Sur and villages of the Eastern Pais del
Igorotes in the Cordilleras. It was formally created by a Royal Decree
issued by Queen Isabela of Spain on April 18, 1854. The name La Union
indicates the union of towns from different provinces.
Spanish colonizers saw a thriving community
when they arrived in La Union in 1572. The area was then a dynamic trading
center especially for gold for Japanese and Chinese merchants.
The Augustinians were the first missionaries
to build towns along the coast and converted the residents to Christians.
The region became a base for the Spanish colonizers to exploit the gold
mines in the uplands. In 1661, Andres Malong of Pangasinan tried to snatch
La Union from the Spaniards but was later defeated at Agoo.
In the late 1700s, Ilocano immigrants moved
to the region to look for greener pastures thus becoming the majority.
Modern La Union
Presently, La Union is still "young" when compared to older provinces such as
Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Pampanga, Cebu and Cavite. It is a class -
A, progressive and developing province. Its 155 years of existence since 1850
testifies to reality of the original vision -- a province geared towards peace,
prosperity, growth and development. The original "dozen" towns have grown to 19
municipalities and a city. The additional eight are: Santol, San Gabriel,
Bagulin, Burgos, Pugo, Tubao, Rosario and Sudipen. Although the rate of economic
progress has been noticeable faster in the coastal towns, the interior towns
have coped with the pace. The network of modern infrastructure has contributed
to the present progressive condition in agriculture, commerce and industry. In
the late 1990's, the national leadership declared La Union as one of the
archipelago's 12 regional industrial centers.
Beach Fever
Since the advent of martial law in 1972, La Union has all the more progressed
markedly. In commerce, merchants visit and trade from neighboring provinces.
Every town has a "tienda" day. Aside from rice and tobacco, the inhabitants grow
cotton, silk coconuts, cacao, mangoes and vegetables. The prime commercial and
savings banks have their branches in San Fernando. The Central Bank of the
Philippines has built its regional office thereat. Tourists are lured by the
alluring beaches especially during the weekends. Thus, more new resort areas
have mushroomed along the sandy beaches between Bauang and San Fernando.
Filipinos have caught up the "beach fever". Nestled in one of the
environment-friendly hills of the city of San Fernando is the home of the only
botanical gardens north of Metro Manila. The other tourist-getting spots is the
Pindangan ruins and Poro Point in the southern portion of the city.
Located 9 kilometers northeast of San Fernando town proper through the San Fernando-Bagulin Road, Bacsil Ridge was the last bastion of the retreating Japanese Imperial Army in the province. Later, the Ridge constituted the East Flank of the 121st Infantry of the United States Armed Forces in the Philippines, Northern Luzon (USAFIP, NL) during the Liberation in 1945