Ilocos Norte – Tita S Travels

BANGUI WIND FARM (Bangui, Ilocos Norte, Philippines)

Published on May 8, 2021August 20, 2022 by titastravels17Leave a comment

Dear foreign readers, do you know that there are six operational wind farms in the Philippines? Allow Tita S to tell you about one (of three) which is located in Ilocos Norte.

Yes, there are 3 wind farms in this province. Ilocos Norte^¹ is blessed with regular North Westerly winds because of its strategic location in the northwestern tip of the Luzon island group at the northern part of the Philippines.

Anyway, let me tell you about Bangui Wind Farm. It is a wind farm located in the town of Bangui^², in the province^³ of Ilocos Norte^¹, in the Ilocos^⁴ Region^⁵, in the northwestern part of the island group of Luzon, at the northernmost part of the Philippine archipelago.

Photo source: Jesstine Co, own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, created 10 June 2017, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilocos_Norte#/media/File:Bangui_Windmill.jpg

It is the Philippines’ oldest wind farm and the first power-generating wind farm in Southeast Asia. The undeveloped and uninhabited area is devoid of trees and vegetation and does not pose any threat to the environment.

Photo source: Iandelgado, own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, created 24 September 2010, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangui,_Ilocos_Norte#/media/File:Bangui_windmills.jpg

This wind farm is more accessible and popular than the two other wind farms in the province – the Burgos Wind Farm in the town of Burgos, and Caparispisan Wind Farm in the town of Pagudpod.

It uses 20 units of 70-m (230 ft) high Vestas^⁶ V82 1.65 MW wind turbines, arranged in a single row, stretching along a 9-km (5.6 mi) shoreline off Bangui Bay, facing the West Philippine Sea.

Photo source: https://www.facebook.com/TourIlocosNorte/photos/3560424750700751

The wind turbines are dubbed as Ilocos Norte’s giant electric fans. Each wind turbine has 3 vertically-oriented rotor blades on top of a high tubular tower, with a 6-m diameter base. This wind generating equipment is expected to last for 21 years.

This wind farm project started with an aid grant of US$48 million from the Danish government to the province of Ilocos Norte^¹ in 1998.

It was inaugurated on June 18, 2005, and was commissioned on June 20, 2005. It is owned by the NorthWind Power Development Corporation which developed, and now maintains and operates, the wind farm. The Danish firm Vestas Wind Systems supplied the wind turbine-generator units (WTGs) for the site, similar to those found in Denmark. Since then, this wind farm project has become a popular tourist attraction of the province.

This project was ratified by the NorthWind Power Development Corporation and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development through the World Bank Prototype Carbon Fund. It is the first project in the Philippines to have the Emissions Reduction Purchase Agreement (ERPA) under the Clean Development Mechanism. It is also the first Philippine recipient of the Carbon Emission Reduction Certificates (CER’s) from the Executive Board of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The first phase, which amounted to US$23 million, consisted of 15 70-m (230 ft) high, on-shore wind turbines, each with a maximum production capacity of 1.65 MW of electric power, for a total of 24.75 MW. They were spaced 326 m (1,070 ft) apart, with 41 m (135 ft) long blades, with a rotor diameter of 82 m (269 ft) and a wind-swept area of 5,281 sqm (56,840 sq ft).

These wind turbines face Bangui Bay where the prevailing northwesterly and southwesterly winds blow inland. Their location along the shore is optimal due to a lack of windbreaks and limited terrain roughness. Phase I was completed on May 7, 2005, and generated 24.74 MW.

Phase II added 5 more of the same wind turbines and was completed on August 2008, for a total 20 operational wind turbines, a total maximum capacity of 33 MW, transmitting 5.7 km (3.5 mi) to an electrical substation in Laoag City. Connected to the Luzon Grid, this wind farm supplied 40% of Ilocos Norte’s electricity needs, through the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC).

In 2018, this wind farm expanded and was able to provide 50%, or 33 MW, of Ilocos Norte’s electricity. As of September 2020, Bangui Wind Farm had a total of 26 wind turbines, capable of producing electricity up to a maximum total generating capacity of 41 MW.

The Bangui Wind Farm was also Southeast Asia’s largest wind farm when it opened in 2005 until 2014, when nearby Burgos Wind Farm opened, with 150 MW.

The wind power produced in this farm is bought by INEC, which covers 23 municipalities and Laoag City. INEC purchases the electricity created through a 20-year Energy Sales Agreement (ESA) at a discount to the typical rate, and those savings are passed on to consumers.

This wind farm estimates that almost 57,000 tons of CO_2e (tons of carbon dioxide equivalent) of greenhouse gases will be reduced per year for the duration of the project. That is 1.2 million tons of Carbon Dioxide! Talk about sustainable and renewable energy! This gives Ilocos Norte one of the lowest carbon emission footprints in Asia, when combined with hydro-electric power generation.

Would you believe that the shores where this wind farm is located is a precious place where the critically endangered hawksbill sea turtles lay their eggs, up to 150 eggs in a nest at a time? Local environmental officials have been monitoring the stretch of the shoreline for sea turtle nesting areas. The provincial fishery division of the provincial government and local government units have included in their information campaigns the conservation and protection of this endangered species. NorthWind Power Development Corporation which holds the lease within the foreshore area has commissioned people to look after the nests during nesting season to protect them from predators and poachers.

So, how do you get to Bangui to see this wind farm? From Metro Manila, you can fly to Laoag City’s International Airport, about 1 hour and 20 minutes. From there, a group can hire a van and head straight to Bangui^².

Those on a budget can ride a bus from Metro Manila to Laoag, but the ride is about 10-12 hours, so why not take the evening trip? Next, take another bus from Laoag to Bangui town proper for about 1 1/2 hours, then hire a tricycle to the Bangui Wind Farm and nearby attractions, for about PHP300.

You can also use your own vehicle to drive from Metro Manila to Bangui^², at a travel time of 11 – 14 hours depending on traffic and stopovers. Just follow the Pan-Philippine Highway, and pass through the towns of Bacarra, Pasuquin and Burgos. From the latter, look out for directional signs leading to the wind farm, and Tita S is sure that eventually, the wind turbines will be very visible from the highway. Make a left turn a few meters after passing the Burgos Wind Farm. Drive straight ahead until you reach Estrells’ Place Resort, then turn right.

You also have the option to join a 4-D 3-N package tour of Ilocos Norte^¹, just google options.

By the way, there is no entrance fee to visit this clean and green wind farm. You can walk from one turbine to another and take as many pictures as you want. They say that if you do not want to walk, you may opt to ride around with a horse for only PHP100.

It is recommended that you visit this wind farm early morning or nearing sunset so it will not be too hot for you, and have great sunrise or sunset shots, along the shores of the Bangui Bay.

It would be best to wear closed footwear to avoid collecting sand after your walk. If it is a windy day, better protect your legs by wearing pants for possible small stones blown by the wind. Protect your face, if need be, too.

There is a restaurant where you can enjoy coffee and snacks while looking at the wind turbines’ rotating blades.

I was told that there are a couple of air-conditioned huts where you can stay overnight if you want some alone-time for some peace and quiet away from the city, or just meditate, synced with the circular motion of the wind turbines’ blades.

This wind farm also boosted local farmers to sell onions and garlic in roadside stalls, and small entrepreneurs to sell souvenirs like wooden replicas of the wind turbines, pin wheels, keychains, etc.

The information was obtained from http://www.pagudpud-ilocos.com/bangui-windmills.html,

https://primer.com.ph/travel/2017/03/07/bangui-wind-farm/, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bangui-Wind-Farm/370956566282893,

http://alternergy.com/33mw-bangui-bay-wind-farm/,

https://www.ph.arteliagroup.com/Services/bangui-bay-wind-farm/,

https://app.philippines.travel/experiences/bangui-windmill-farm,

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/563477/ilocos-wind-farm-hosts-endangered-turtles-too?fbclid=IwAR1yiA4aLqKsTGpLTWFZfMYaTnj90erq7hGDOy4O4EraAMLTi38A7cgYUOE and the Wikipedia pages “Bangui Wind Farm”^⁷, “Wind power in the Philippines”^⁸, “Wind power by country”^⁹, and “List of power plants in the Philippines”^¹⁰.

Your Ilocos Norte^¹ trip will not be complete without going to Bangui Wind Farm. So, better include it in your itinerary. See footnote 1 below for the popular tourist attractions of this province that you can include in your Ilocos Norte travel bucket list.

I have not been to this wind farm but have visited Ilocos Norte^¹ during my college days. So, the next time I visit this province, I will include the 3 winds farms and tell you about them.

This is not a sponsored post. I just want my readers to know more about the Philippines.

Did you find this post informative? I would like to hear your comment/s regarding Bangui Wind Farm, especially if you were able to see it.

See other interesting places through other posts in this category and other categories of SCapades, Pinoy Delights, and Smart Traveler – Now You Know, Short and Simple, and Say, Say, Say. Happy reading, and I hope that you will appreciate what I shared and some of the featured destinations will be part of your future travel plans!

Remember to share this post with your friends, follow me by clicking on the bottom right corner of your device, and do not forget to like this post. Thank you.

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The following terms are defined for interested readers, especially those with “Senior-Moments”, those not familiar with Filipino terms, and those too busy or lazy to Google such terms:

^¹Ilocos Norte is a province^³ in the northern tip of the Ilocos^⁴ region^⁵, in the northwestern part of the island group of Luzon, at the northernmost part of the Philippine archipelago. It covers a total area of 3,467.89 sq. km. (1,338.96 sq. mi.). It is bordered by the Luzon Strait to the north, the West Philippine Sea to the west, Ilocos Sur to the southwest, Cagayan to the northeast, Apayao to the east, and Abra to the southeast. It was founded in 1818 and its capital is Laoag City. It consists of 21 towns and 2 component cities^¹¹ (Batac and Laoag).

This province boasts of the following popular tourist attractions: Fort Ilocandia Resort Casino; the Paoay Lake golf course designed by Gary Player for President Ferdinand Marcos in 1977; the La Paz Sand Dunes for sandboarding and 4×4 vehicle riding; the Malacañang of the North which was the family 2-storey mansion-residence of the family of President Marcos when he was president and is now a presidential museum; the 1892 Cape Bojeador Lighthouse where early galleons used to sail by during the Spanish colonial period (1565 – 1898) in the Philippines; the 3 wind farms (in the towns of Bangui. Burgos and Caparispisan); Kapurpurawan Burgos Rock Formation for its creamy white limestone formations sculpted by wind, waves and sedimentation over thousands of years; the 1612 45-m (150 ft) Sinking Bell of Laoag, sinking 1-inch a year because it is so heavy and was built on sandy formations; St. Augustine Church or Paoay Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the collective group of Baroque Churches of the Philippines in 1993, and a national Cultural Treasure; Museo Ilocos Norte, a museum which has a large collection of Ilocano, Igorot and Itneg traditional clothing and artifacts and special exhibits; Batac Museum or Marcos Museum dedicated to President Marcos; and Saud Beach in the town of Pagudpud.

See my post about Saud Beach: SAUD BEACH (Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, Philippines)

The information was obtained from http://www.pagudpud-ilocos.com/laoag-sinking-bell-tower.html, https://guidetothephilippines.ph/articles/what-to-experience/laoag-tourist-spots, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paoay_Church and the Wikipedia page “Ilocos Norte.”^¹²

^²Bangui is a town (called a municipality in the Philippines) in the province^³ of Ilocos Norte^¹, in the Ilocos^⁴ Region^⁵ of the Philippines. It has a total land area of 112.98 sq. km. (43.62 sq. mi.), with 14 barangays^¹³.

It became a popular tourist destination because of the Bangui Wind Farm, along Bangui Bay. Unfortunately, you cannot swim in the latter because of its deepness and water currents, so just appreciate its beauty from the Bangui Bay Viewing Building.

Other tourist destinations include: Abang Falls, Baruyen Dam, Bolo River (or Caramuangen River), Sentinella Hill, Suacan Spring, and the municipal plaza.

The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Bangui, Ilocos Norte”.^¹⁴

^³A province is the primary administrative and political division in the Philippines. It is the second-level administrative sub-division of a region^⁵. There are 81 provinces (called lalawigan) in the Philippines. Each province is governed by an elected legislature called the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, and by an elected governor. Remember, a province in the Philippines is divided into cities and towns (called municipalities), which in turn, are divided into barangays^¹³, formerly called barrios. The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Provinces of the Philippines.”^¹⁵

^⁴The Ilocos Region, or Region 1, is an administrative region^⁵ of the Philippines which occupies the northwestern section of the Luzon group of islands in the northernmost part of the Philippine archipelago. It is bordered by the South China Sea to the west, Cagayan Valley Region to the northeast and southeast, Cordillera Administrative Region to the east, and the Central Luzon Region to the south.

It has a total area of 13,012.6 sq. km. (5,024.19 sq. mi). It comprises 4 provinces^³ – Ilocos Norte^¹, Ilocos Sur, la Union and Pangasinan, and a total of 116 towns. Its regional center is the city of San Fernando (in La Union). It has 1 independent city^¹⁶ – Dagupan City, and 8 component cities^¹¹ – Alaminos, Batac, Candon, Laoag, San Carlos, San Fernando, Urdaneta and Vigan. Most residents speak Ilocano.

The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Ilocos Region.”^¹⁷

^⁵A region is an administrative division based on geographical, cultural and ethnological characteristics. Each region is further subdivided in provinces^³, composed of cities and towns(called municipalities), which in turn, are divided into barangays^¹³, formerly called barrios, according to Wikipedia page “Regions of the Philippines”^¹⁸.

^⁶Vestas Wind Systems A/S is a Danish manufacturer, seller, installer and servicer of wind turbines, with headquarters in the city of Aarhus. It was founded in 1945 by Peder Hansen. It operates manufacturing plants in Denmark, Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, India, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the USA.

As of 2013, it is the largest wine turbine company in the world. It has installed over 66,000 wnd turbines for a capacity of 100 GW, in over 80 countries, on 5 continents, as of 2019.

The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Vestas.”^¹⁹

^⁷“Bangui Wind Farm,” accessed February 20, 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangui_Wind_Farm

^⁸“Wind Power in the Philippines,” accessed February 20, 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_power_in_the_Philippines

^⁹“Wind power by country,” accessed February 20, 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_power_by_country

^¹⁰“List of power plants in the Philippines,” accessed February 20, 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_power_plants_in_the_Philippines

^¹¹A component city is a type of city in the Philippines which does not meet the requirements of a highly urbanized city (see footnote 12). It is under the jurisdiction of a province^³. If such a city is located along the boundaries of 2 or more provinces, it shall be considered part of the province of which it used to be a municipality (town). The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “List of cities in the Philippines.”^²⁰

^¹²“Ilocos Norte,” accessed February 20, 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilocos_Norte

^¹³A barangay in the Philippines is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines, headed by a barangay captain, aided by a Sangguniang Barangay (Barangay Council). It is the native Filipino term for a village. It was formerly called a barrio. In a metropolitan area, a barangay is an inner city neighborhood, a suburb, or a suburban neighborhood. The word barangay originated from the term balangay, a kind of boat used by a group of Austronesian people who migrated to the Philippines. A number of barangays grouped together is called a district. The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Barangay.”^²¹

^¹⁴“Bangui, Ilocos Norte,” accessed February 20, 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangui,_Ilocos_Norte

^¹⁵“Provinces of the Philippines,” accessed May 29, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provinces_of_the-Philippines

^¹⁶An independent city in the Philippines has 3 major characteristics: its Sangguniang Panlungsod (the city’s legislative council composed of councilors, with the vice mayor as presiding officer) legislation is no longer subject to review by any province’s Sangguniang Panlalawigan (the provincial council/board; the provincial legislative branch); it stops sharing its tax revenue with any province; and, the President of the Philippines exercises direct supervising authority over the city government.

It can be classified as either:

* highly urbanized city – a city with a minimum population of 200,000 inhabitants, as certified by the Philippine Statistics Authority, and with the latest annual income of at least PHP50 million (USD1 million), as certified by the City Treasurer; or,

* independent component city – a city which is independent from the province in which it is geographically located, and residents cannot vote for provincial officials; there are only 5 – Cotabato, Dagupan, Naga (Camarines Sur), Ormoc and Santiago.

The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “List of cities in the Philippines.”^²⁰

^¹⁷“Ilocos Region,” accessed February 20, 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilocos_Region

^¹⁸“Regions of the Philippines,” accessed July 17, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regions_of_the_Philippines

^¹⁹“Vestas,” accessed February 20, 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vestas

^²⁰“List of cities in the Philippines,” accessed April 2, 2018,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_in_the_Philippines

^²¹“Barangay,” accessed December 30, 2018, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barangay

SAUD BEACH (Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, Philippines)

Published on May 7, 2021August 20, 2022 by titastravels171 Comment

Dear foreign readers, do you know that there is a beach in the Philippines that, in April 2021, was included in the 25 Most Beautiful Beaches in the World by Travel+Leisure? No, it is not Boracay, nor any Palawan, Visayan, or Mindanao beach. It is up north in the Philippines, proving that world-class Philippine beaches are all over our country!

Want to know what the Philippine beach is, and the rest of the beaches in the list? Allow Tita S to tell you.

1.Saud Beach is located in Barangay^¹ Saud, in the municipality^² of Pagudpud^³, the province^⁴ of Ilocos Norte^⁵, Ilocos^⁶ region^⁷, in the island of Luzon^⁸, Philippines.

Saud Beach, “The Crown Jewel of Pagudpud” – Photo source: https://www.facebook.com/page/197186436974903/search/?q=saud%20beach

2. It was listed among the 25 Most Beautiful Beaches in the World^⁹ by Travel+Leisure, a New York-based travel magazine, in its post dated April 12, 2021.

The magazine described the beach this way: “If you’re searching for Southeast Asian beach bliss, super-mellow Saud Beach on the island of Luzon^⁸ is a sure thing. Its white sand pitches gradually into the clear-as-glass water, like a real-world example of a zero-entry swimming pool. Swim in the peaceful waves, lunch under a thatch-roof cabana under the palms, or hire an outrigger for excursions on the water.”^¹⁰

Watch this 3:38 video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MyoN69qPK8https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MyoN69qPK8

3. Imagine, it is the only beach in the Philippines to make it to the 2021 list, along with the famous beaches in Brazil, Hawaii, Greece, Seychelles, and Italy, among others!

Photo source: http://www.pagudpud-ilocos.com/saud-beach.html

It is also one of the 3 Southeast Asian beaches included in the list, with the other two being Bai Dam Trau in the Con Dao Islands of Vietnam, and Railay West, in Krabi, Thailand.

Bai Dam Trau, Vietnam – Photo source: https://www.facebook.com/condaodiscover/photos/

Railay West, Thailand – Photo source: kailerna, own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, created 13 January 2012, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railay_Beach#/media/File:Railay_Beach_5.jpg

On second thought, why not! Pagudpud^³ is dubbed as the “Paradise of the North” because of its pristine coastline and Saud Beach as the “Boracay of the North” because of its powdery white sand which is similar to Boracay^¹¹.

However, unlike Boracay, Saud beach has tranquil waters and quiet and underdeveloped surroundings. It is not as crowded and is very peaceful, perfect for those who want to relax, swim, surf, snorkel or scuba-dive, without too many tourists and establishments.^¹²

See footnote 9 for the 25 beaches included in the prestigious list.

4. About half of Saud beach is private so you can book a beach resort for a beachfront treat. The other half of the beach is public/municipal, you just have to pay a minimal amount for your beach-stay, and you can stay in a homestay or lodging property in town, or even in Laoag (2 hours from Pagudpud). For more information, you can contact the Pagudpud Municipal Tourism Office at the Municipal Hall, at telephone number 0920-228-6569.

5. Interested to visit Saud beach when it will be again safe to do so? Now, here is how to get there:

* The fastest way is to ride a plane from Manila to Laoag, using Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific, among others. It would cost about PHP7,500 to almost PHP10,000.

* If you have the time and are on a budget, go by land. Those from Metro Manila can ride a bus like Farinas, Florida, Maria de Leon, Partas, or Victory Liner, costing about PHP700 to almost PHP1,000, depending on the type of bus, with 9 hours travel time to Laoag. There are bus companies that offer air-conditioned sleeper buses with comfortable reclining seats and built-in toilets.

From Laoag, ride a bus, jeep or van to Pagudpud, for less than 2 hours, for a road distance of 73 km. It would cost around PHP75-100 for a bus, For a group, you will be more comfortable to negotiate for a rented van.

* If you want to drive your own vehicle, it would take around 10-12 hours from Metro Manila to Pagudpud, depending on traffic and stopovers.

The information was obtained from the following sources: Anne Olivia Bauso, https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/beach-vacations/most-beautiful-beaches-in-the-world; Joyce Ann L. Rocamora, https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1136740; https://www.pwc.com/ph/en/gems/pagudpud.html; https://primer.com.ph/travel/2017/03/08/boracay-of-the-north-saud-beach/; and https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/travel/783668/pagudpud-s-saud-beach-among-the-most-beautiful-beaches-in-the-world-us-travel-magazine/story/?fbclid=IwAR1L_NwREuhxPhT_jqarf316jdi-xuXecPQ2zcckrRo_9pphB_Rxr6qhNdE.

Tita S wishes to visit this place when it is again safe for seniors to do so. However, for those living in the Ilocos^⁶ region^⁷ or Luzon^⁸, why not visit this beach when all is safe?

Filipinos, be proud of our Philippine beaches, considered one of the most beautiful in the world! Foreigners, why not include Saud Beach in your Philippine travel bucket list?

You can find several beach resorts or homestays in Saud/Pagudpud, depending on your budget. Be adventurous and try the local dishes and delicacies.

If you have the time and interest, why not visit other attractions in:

*the municipality of Pagudpud – You can visit Bantay Abot Cave, Blue Lagoon, Caparispisan Wind Farm, Dos Hermanos Islands, Hannah’s Zipline, Kabigan Falls, Maira-ira Beach, Paraiso Ni Anton, Patapat Viaduct, and Secret Green Hills.

*the rest of the province of Ilocos Norte – Bangui Wind Farm; Cape Bojeador Lighthouse; Fort Ilocandia Hotel, Resort and Casino; Kapurpurawan Rock Formation; La Paz Sand Dunes; Malacañang of the North; and Paoay Church.

You can also opt to simply join a package tour from Manila to Pagudpud/Ilocos Norte, usually set for 4 days.

This is not a sponsored post. I just want my readers to know more about different destinations.

The photo of this beach used in the cover picture collage was obtained from https://www.facebook.com/page/197186436974903/search/?q=saud%20beach

Heads up: Before planning to travel, always get updates regarding local government status, rules, restrictions and safety measures of the destination/s you want to visit, taking into consideration your personal health conditions, and level expectations.

Did you find this post informative? I would like to hear from you regarding Saud Beach. If you were able to visit it, would you please tell Tita S about it, and share your photos too?

Remember to share this post with your friends, follow me by clicking on the bottom right corner of your device, and do not forget to like this post. Thank you.

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The following terms are defined for interested readers, especially those with “Senior-Moments”, those not familiar with Filipino terms and other terms used in this post, and those too busy or lazy to Google such terms:

^¹A barangay in the Philippines is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines, headed by a barangay captain, aided by a Sangguniang Barangay (Barangay Council). It is the native Filipino term for a village. It was formerly called a barrio. In a metropolitan area, a barangay is an inner city neighborhood, a suburb, or a suburban neighborhood. The word barangay originated from the term balangay, a kind of boat used by a group of Austronesian people who migrated to the Philippines. A number of barangays grouped together is called a district. The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Barangay.”^¹³

^²A municipality is a small, single urban administrative division, or local government unit (LGU), in the Philippines which has corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by law. It is a unit under a province^⁴, subdivided into barangays^¹, and is locally called bayan. In the Philippines, a municipality is headed by a mayor, a vice mayor, and members of the Sangguniang Bayan (legislative branch). It can enact local policies and laws, enforce them, and govern its jurisdictions. It can enter into contracts and other transactions through its elected and appointed officials and can tax as well. It enforces all local and national laws. There are almost 1,500 municipalities in the Philippines. The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Municipalities of the Philippines.”^¹⁴

^³Pagudpud is the municipality in the province of Ilocos Norte^⁵, in the Ilocos^⁶ region^⁷, located at the northwestern tip of the island of Luzon^⁸, in the Philippines. It is known for its beaches and resorts and the 27 wind turbines in Caparispisan, among others. It was founded on July 5, 1954 and has 16 barangays^¹. It has a total area of 194.9 km^² (75.25 sq mi). Visit its website: www.pagudpud.gov.ph. The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Pagudpud.”^¹⁵

^⁴A province is the primary administrative and political division in the Philippines. It is the second-level administrative sub-division of a region^⁷. There are 81 provinces (called lalawigan) in the Philippines. Each province is governed by an elected legislature called the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, and by an elected governor. Remember, a province in the Philippines is divided into cities and towns (called municipalities^²), which in turn, are divided into barangays^¹, formerly called barrios. The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Provinces of the Philippines.”^¹⁶

^⁵Ilocos Norte is a province^⁴ in the northern tip of the Ilocos^⁶ region^⁷, in the northwestern part of the island of Luzon^⁸. It covers a total area of 3,467.89 km^² (1,338.96 sq mi). It is bordered by the Luzon Strait to the north, the West Philippine Sea to the west, Ilocos Sur to the southwest, Cagayan to the northeast, Apayao to the east, and Abra to the southeast. It was founded in 1818 and its capital is Laoag City. It consists of 21 municipalities^² and 2 component cities^¹⁷ (Batac and Laoag). The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Ilocos Norte.”^¹⁸

^⁶The Ilocos Region, or Region 1, is an administrative region of the Philippines which occupies the northwestern section of the island of Luzon^⁸. It is bordered by the South China Sea to the west, Cagayan Valley Region^⁷ to the northeast and southeast, Cordillera Administrative Region to the east, and the Central Luzon Region to the south.

It has a total area of 13,012.6 km^² (5,024.19 sq mi). It comprises 4 provinces^⁴ – Ilocos Norte^⁵, Ilocos Sur, la Union and Pangasinan, and a total of 116 municipalities^². Its regional center is the city of San Fernando (in La Union). It has 1 independent city^¹⁹ – Dagupan City, and 8 component cities^¹⁷ – Alaminos, Batac, Candon, Laoag, San Carlos, San Fernando, Urdaneta and Vigan. Most residents speak Ilocano.

The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Ilocos Region.”^²⁰

^⁷A region is an administrative division based on geographical, cultural and ethnological characteristics. Each region is further subdivided in provinces^⁴, composed of cities and municipalities^²(or towns), which in turn, are divided into barangays^¹, formerly called barrios, according to Wikipedia page “Regions of the Philippines”^²¹.

^⁸Luzon is the largest and most populous island in the Philippines. It is ranked the 15^th largest island in the world by land area, at 109,964.9 sq.km. (42,457.7 sq mi). It is the northern portion, among the three primary island groups in the Philippine archipelago, with Visayas at the center, and Mindanao at the southern part. It is the economic and political center of the country, with Manila as the capital city, and Quezon City as the country’s most populous city. It has a population of 53 million, as of 2015, representing 52.5% of the country’s total population, and the fourth most populous island in the world. The name Luzon comes from the Tagalog word lusong, a large wooden mortar used to dehusk rice. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Luzon”^²².

^⁹Here are the 25 Most Beautiful Beaches in the World, according to Travel+Leisure magazine, as of April 12, 2021, which I arranged alphabetically:

1. Anse Source D’Agent,

2. La Digue Island, Seychelles

3. Bai Dam Trau, Con Dao Islands, Vietnam

4. Camps Bay Beach, Cape Town, South Africa

5. Cape Le Grand National Park, Western Australia

6. Clearwater Beach, Florida

7. Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

8. Elafonissi Beach, Crete, Greece

9. Grace Bay Beach, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos

10. Hanalei Bay, Kauai, Hawaii

11. La Pelosa Beach, Sardinia, Italy

12. Le Morne, Mauritius

13. Nungwi Beach, Tanzania

14. Matira Beach, Bora Bora, French Polynesia

15. Playa de Ses Illetes, Formentera, Balearic Islands

16. Praia de Marinha, The Algarve, Portugal

17. Praia de Santa Monica, Boa Vista, Cape Verde

18. Radhanagar Beach, Havelock Island, Andaman and Nicobar Islands

19. Railay West, Krabi, Thailand

20. Saud Beach, Philippines

21. Scala dei Turchi, Sicily

22. Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman

23. Shark Creek Beach, Great Harbour Cay, Berry Islands, The Bahamas

24. Sotavento Beach, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands

25. Whitehaven Beach, Whitsundays Island, Australia

The information was obtained from https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/beach-vacations/most-beautiful-beaches-in-the-world.

^¹⁰Anne Olivia Bauso, https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/beach-vacations/most-beautiful-beaches-in-the-world

^¹¹Boracay is a small island at the northwestern tip of Panay Island, in the Western Visayas region^²³ of the Philippines. It is administered by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) and the provincial government of Aklan. It is known the world over for its fine white sand beaches, and was repeatedly chosen and awarded as one of the top destinations in the world for relaxation. The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Boracay.”^²⁴

^¹²https://primer.com.ph/travel/2017/03/08/boracay-of-the-north-saud-beach/

^¹³“Barangay,” accessed December 30, 2018, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barangay

^¹⁴“Municipalities of the Philippines,” accessed January 29, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Municipalities_of_the_Philippines

^¹⁵“Pagudpud,”accessed February 11, 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pagudpud

^¹⁶“Provinces of the Philippines,” accessed May 29, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provinces_of_the-Philippines

^¹⁷A component city (CC) is a type of city in the Philippines which does not meet the requirements of a highly urbanized city. It is under the jurisdiction of a province^⁴. If such a city is located along the boundaries of 2 or more provinces, it shall be considered part of the province of which it used to be a municipality^². The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “List of cities in the Philippines.”^²⁵

^¹⁸“Ilocos Norte,”accessed February 11, 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilocos_Norte

^¹⁹An independent city in the Philippines has 3 major characteristics: its Sangguniang Panlungsod (the city’s legislative council composed of councilors, with the vice mayor as presiding officer) legislation is no longer subject to review by any province’s Sangguniang Panlalawigan (the provincial council/board; the provincial legislative branch); it stops sharing its tax revenue with any province; and, the President of the Philippines exercises direct supervising authority over the city government.

It can be classified as either:

* independent component city – a city which is independent from the province^⁴ in which it is geographically located, and residents cannot vote for provincial officials; there are only 5 – Cotabato, Dagupan, Naga (Camarines Sur), Ormoc and Santiago.

The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “List of cities in the Philippines.”^²⁵

^²⁰“Ilocos Region,”accessed February 11, 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilocos_Region

^²¹“Regions of the Philippines,” accessed July 17, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regions_of_the_Philippines

^²²“Luzon,” accessed April 2, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luzon

^²³The Western Visayas region, or Region VI, is a Philippine region^⁷ located in the island group of Visayas (the central part of the country), with Iloilo City as its regional center. It has 8 local government units^²⁶ (LGUs): Aklan, Antique, Bacolod, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Iloilo City, and Negros Occidental. It has two international, and six domestic, airports.

This regions is known, among others, for:

* the world famous beach – Boracay^¹¹; other beaches and islands; scuba-diving

* January festivals – Ati-atihan Festival in Kalibo (3^rd Sunday) and the Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo City (4th Sunday)

* * the Antique Rice Terraces of the Panay-Bukidnon people, discovered in 2014;

* old heritage houses and churches (e.g., the Miagao Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site); and,

* Guimaras mangoes, seafood, and local delicacies;

The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Western Visayas”.^²⁷

^²⁴“Boracay,” accessed January 29, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boracay

^²⁵“List of cities in the Philippines,” accessed April 2, 2018,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_in_the_Philippines

^²⁶A local government unit (LGU) in the Philippines is divided into 3 levels: provinces^⁴ and independent cities^¹⁹; component cities^¹⁷ and municipalities^²; and, barangays^¹, according to Wikipedia page “Local government in the Philippines”.^²⁸

^²⁷“Western Visayas,” accessed April 2, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Visayas

^²⁸“Local government in the Philippines,” accessed April 2, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_government_in_the_Philippines