Places : La Union Province - The Next Big Thing

Welcome to La Union

La Union is one of the most scenic and progressive provinces in the country. A major gateway to Region 1 ( Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur )  and the Cordillera Autonomous Region. Its capital city of San Fernando, is also the capital of Region 1, where all the important  government offices are located. Region 1 is mainly the  Ilocano-speaking region of the country.

With the on-going construction of the new  Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway ( TPLEX )  and rehabilitation of the old PNR railway (North Luzon Railway project)*,  and with both projects terminating in La Union,   future developments are expected in the province. Residential, hotel/resorts, commercial and mall developments, BPO/Call Center facilities and transportation transit terminals are expected to rise in the areas around and near the north-end train terminal station of the North Luzon Railway project, and likewise, where the TPLEX  Rosario Exit ends.

In San Fernando City where Poro Point is located, the BCDA is presently developing the former  American Military Base-into a prime mixed-use tourist/recreation/resort/gaming, a special economic  and free-port zone. 

With the  closing of the Laoakan Airport in Baguio City, more passengers and increase in air traffic  are expected of the San Fernando Airport, also in Poro Point. It would soon become a major domestic airport in Northern Luzon. But San Fernando Airport should be rehabilitated and improved, and the runway upgraded to accommodate bigger aircrafts. This development would be a big advantage to  the province and would have the potential of making San Fernando City the air transportation hub of Northern Luzon. 

Poro Point could also provide the port infrastructure for the province.

Complementing the economic infrastructure and the geographical advantage of La Union province, are the dynamic developments in the neighboring provinces of  : Pangasinan, Ilocos  Norte and Ilocos Sur and   nearby Baguio City/Benguet. These provinces are basically tourist magnets where major tourist destinations are located e.g., Alaminos-Hundred Islands, Manaoag, Bolinao, San Fabian, Vigan City, Laoag City, Pagudpud, Fort Ilocandia , etc. La Union itself is the Surfers' Mecca of Northern Luzon, and is now becoming a resort/entertainment/gaming haven with the construction of Thunderbird Hotel and Casino at Poro Point. La Union being a coastal province has beautiful beaches with scuba diving, sailing and surfing facilities. It also has many historical sites and old churches, and other  attractions for tourism.

Real estate developments are also booming in the region. Major developers are presently putting up residential, condominium and mall/commercial projects in different parts of the region with developers like Robinson Land Corp, Villar Group and SMDC leading these developments.

With all modes of  transportation infrastructures (road, air, railway and sea) available, expect La Union province to grab a bigger share of future investments and developments in the region. It has all the necessary components for a big economic boom, including the very important human resources. La Union and Baguio City being educational centers with good schools to boast, could provide the educated and skilled human resources needed by companies and business locators.

The proximity of Hongkong, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia and China to La Union/San Fernando City would be a big factor in making it an international travel and business destination in the near future, like Cebu. 

If all the necessary infrastructures would soon be completed and upgraded, particularly the airport and the roads, my fearless forecast : La Union is the next big thing!

*Note : 
The North Luzon Railway Project was stopped and  later cancelled in March 2011 due to some anomaly in the contract. 

Region 1

Picture Sources :

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/23563804

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilocos_Region

Related Link :

http://www.launion.gov.ph/e107_files/business/business_reasons.php

http://www.idcworld.com/poropoint1.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_National_Railways

http://business.inquirer.net/134941/la-union-breathes-new-life-to-freeport-development

Places : The Blue Lagoon at Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte

When we talk about Pagudpud we think of Saud Beach, that long stretch of golden-colored sand beach where most people go if they are in Pagudpud. But Pagudpud is not just Saud beach, there is a new beach destination being develop about 18 kilometers farther north near the  boundary of Cagayan province called the Blue Lagoon. The place is quite remote but the beach is very pristine. Coming from the main national hi-way, there is only one access road going to the place that still needs paving and asphalting.

The Blue Lagoon is a cove with creamy-white sand  and aqua-blue seawater, surrounded by forest and mountains on the land side, and protruding rock islands  and corals on the sea side. It has better surrounding sceneries compared to Saud beach but a smaller beachfront area. At the moment there is only one good hotel/resort existing along the beachfront  but there are plenty of private cottages offering transient accommodations for those who want to stay overnight. There are also a lot of beachfront nipa hut and gazebos for day-long shelter if you just want to swim at the beach.

The Blue Lagoon is really a beautiful beach and one of the best I have seen up North. Here are some pictures I have taken and see for yourselves if it's a beach worthy of the long trip to Ilocos Norte.

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Trivia : How the Ilocanos Cook "Tupig"

Tupig ti Ilocos

"Tupig" is a popular  Filipino native delicacy of  Northern Philippines. Basically its ingredients are : glutinous rice, coconut milk, young coconut meat and brown sugar or raw sugar. Depending on the region or town where it originated, "tupig" has different variants and add-on flavors. Some are sweeter than the others, some are portioned bigger or wrapped in different forms. But all kinds of tupig are wrapped in banana leaves which give the delicacy an unique aroma or flavor, and cooked on fire, hot stones or "earth ovens".

In Ilocos Norte, "tupig" is normally added with crushed peanuts and sesame seeds.  Here's a video of how they cook "tupig" in Ilocos :

Interesting Places : Marcos, Ilocos Norte

The town of  Marcos, Ilocos Norte was named after Don Mariano Marcos  the father of the late President Ferdinand Marcos. It used to be a part of the town of Dingras.  It is an agricultural town and rice production is the main industry. It is part of the so called rice granary of Ilocos Norte. The town lies in a valley  with very fertile soil and all year round irrigation coming from the nearby Codillera mountains. As a matter of fact some farmers  plant rice three times in a year. It is one of the few places where the rivers are still clean that you can still swim in them, catch fishes from them and even drink from them ( yes, drink! some of  the rivers have natural springs feeding them). And would you believe they still have deers and wild boars in their mountains. Interesting! The latest rumor in this town is that the Marcos family will be building a five star resort in the mountains of Marcos. 
Will the five star resort be a boon or bane to the town?

The unique  orange town hall of Marcos.

 A dam in  Marcos which provides all-year-round  irrigation. 

The fields and mountains of Marcos.