[6] The region is renowned for its rich natural and cultural attractions, featuring historic and UNESCO World Heritage sites, surfing spots, pristine beaches, island-hopping adventures, and the well-preserved Spanish baroque churches and colonial city of Vigan.

One notable coastal trading post was Bee Gan (Chinese: 美岸; měi'àn; bí-gān), meaning "beautiful shore," which is now the city of Vigan.

[9] In the southern part of the region, the pre-colonial polity (panarian) of Caboloan was situated at the Agno River basin with Binalatongan as the capital, while Pangasinan was located at the delta and near the Lingayen Gulf, became a center for maritime trade.

Goods exchanged included porcelain, silk (inabel), cotton, beeswax, honey, gemstones, beads, precious minerals, locally crafted burnáy (stoneware jars), and particularly gold.

[15] This discovery highlights the advanced aesthetic traditions, burial, trade practices, and social structures of ancient Filipino communities, offering valuable insights into the region's precolonial culture and history.

[16][17] A year after Miguel López de Legazpi declared Manila the capital of the Philippines on June 24, 1571, Spanish colonization efforts expanded to Northern Luzon to "pacify the people."

On May 20, 1572, a year after Goiti's conquest, conquistadores led by Juan de Salcedo, the grandson of Legazpi, ventured northward with eight armed boats and 80 men.

By August 1898, the revolutionaries had driven Spanish forces out of several towns, including Laoag, Ilocos Norte, marking a turning point in the revolution.

While American troops swiftly occupied towns, they faced persistent resistance in the rural areas (barrios), where guerrilla forces led by Gen. Manuel Tinio continued the struggle.

[28] On November 30, 1903, additional municipalities from northern Zambales such as Agno, Alaminos, Anda, Bani, Bolinao, Burgos, Dasol, Infanta, and Mabini were transferred to Pangasinan.

Infrastructure development flourished, with the construction of public schools, bridges, railways, airports, and ports, enhancing the region's connectivity with other parts of the country.

The Japanese 14th Army, commanded by Lieutenant General Masaharu Homma, had also landed at Lingayen Gulf, gaining control of key areas in Pangasinan and La Union.

The local population endured widespread atrocities committed by the Japanese Imperial Army, including gang rape, sexual slavery (comfort women), torture, and other human rights violations.

Japanese kamikaze attacks targeted Allied vessels from January 7 to 9, but despite the damage, the U.S. Navy maintained control of the Gulf, securing it for the imminent invasion.

[34][35] The following year, La Union Congressman Manuel T. Cases filed a bill to "limit the importation of foreign leaf tobacco," which was eventually signed by President Elpidio Quirino as Republic Act 698.

[38] Ilocanos who were critical of Marcos' authoritarian rule included Roman Catholic Archbishop and Agoo, La Union native Antonio L. Mabutas, who spoke actively against the torture and killings of church workers.

[41] In Ilocos Norte, one of the prominent victims of the Martial Law era who came from Laoag was Catholic layperson and social worker Purificacion Pedro, who volunteered in organizations protesting the Chico River Dam Project in the nearby Cordillera Central mountains.

This order transferred Abra, Mountain Province, and Benguet from the Ilocos Region to the newly established CAR, recognizing the Cordillera's indigenous peoples' unique cultural and historical identities.

Many buildings, including the Agoo Municipal hall,[51] the Museo de Iloko, the parish church of Aringay,[52] and the Basilica Minore of our Lady of Charity,[12] collapsed or were severely damaged.

In contrast, Pangasinan occupies the northwestern section of the vast Central Luzon Plain, with the Zambales Mountains forming its natural western boundary.

This mountain, characterized by dense pine forests, reaches an elevation of 7,746 feet (2,361 meters) above sea level, making it the tallest point in region.

[56] Given its location, the Ilocos Region plays a pivotal role in East Asia, being in close proximity to dynamic economies such as Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and Southern China.

The Coefficient of Variation for the poverty incidence in the region was 9.8%, reflecting the statistical reliability of the estimate and indicating a significant improvement compared to previous years.

[6] Other minority groups not native in the region include Maguindanaons, Maranaos, Tausugs, Kapampangans, Cebuanos, Hiligaynons and foreigners and their Filipino-born descendants such as Chinese[91] and Indians.

[96] Protestant and other Christian groups, such as Jehovah's Witnesses, United Methodist Church, and Assemblies of God, collectively accounted for smaller percentages, each at 0.8% or lower.

Their cuisine, featuring delights such as tupig (grilled rice cakes) and bangus (milkfish) dishes, reflects a harmonious connection between land and sea.

The province's komedya performances, a theatrical art form introduced during Spanish colonization, merge Catholic themes with local folklore and remain a cultural highlight.

Cordilleran artistry shines through wood carving, bamboo crafts, metalwork, and traditional rice wine tapuy or tapuey, which reflects mastery of fermentation techniques often created for ceremonial purposes.

Traditional music features instruments such as the gangsa (gongs) and kalaleng (nose flute), while dances like the kanyaw or tayaw and tadek express gratitude and reverence for ancestral spirits.

Similarly, Pangasinan's faith-based festivals blend Catholicism with native beliefs, reflecting the province's unique cultural identity.The region has given birth to numerous artists who have won national acclaim.