| La Union Watchtowers | |
|---|---|
| Native name Mga Bantayán ng La Union (Filipino) | |
 Baluarte in Luna, La Union | |
| Type | Watchtowers |
| Location | At least five La Union municipalities: |
| Architectural style(s) | Spanish colonial |
| Official name | La Union Watchtowers |
| Designated | 2014 |
The province of La Union in the Philippines has various Spanish colonial watchtowers (bantayan) which are recognized as National Cultural Treasures since 2014. [1]
In June 1572, Spanish conquistadors led by Juan de Salcedo arrived in the Ilocos Region to subdue the native people and pacify the area. On October 1849, Governor-General Narciso Clavería issued a decree that led to the creation of La Union province, formed by merging towns from Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, and the eastern part of the País del Igorrotes (now the Cordillera region). This decision was formalized on March 2, 1850, by Governor-General Antonio María Blanco, making La Union the 34th province established since the founding of Cebu in 1565. [2] [3]
Historically, the coastal areas of the Ilocos Region were frequent targets of raids by Moro and Chinese pirates, who looted villages (barrios) and captured women and children for enslavement. These attacks led to a persistent need for defensive measures. [4]
During the 18th and 19th centuries, conflicts between the Moros and Christian Filipinos were common in the coastal areas of Northern Luzon. [2] One notable encounter occurred on October 8, 1846, when Moro pirates landed on the northern shores of Pangasinan, specifically in Bauang, due to adverse weather conditions. [2] The local gobernadorcillo (town mayor) organized a defense, resulting in a bloody clash in which the Christians killed four Moros, captured 29 prisoners, and seized a warship armed with four cannons. [2] However, the attackers managed to free six Christian captives. This event illustrated the determined and defensive spirit of the Pangasinenses and Ilocanos in protecting their communities. However, the number of Moro seamen involved in the attack remains unclear in historical accounts. [2]
Oral traditions in coastal towns such as Bauang, San Fernando, Bacnotan, San Juan, Balaoan, and Namacpacan (now Luna) recount that the Moros were referred to as "Tirongs" (raiders, attackers, or pirates). [2] The 6- to 7-meter-high circular adobe watchtowers (baluartes), constructed mainly from coral blocks and held together by lime and egg whites, stand as historical monuments to the vigilance of these communities against potential attacks. [1] These fortifications dot the coastline of Luna, Balaoan, San Fernando, and Bauang, serving as enduring symbols of the local people's defense against piracy. [2]
In Namacpacan, a gobernadorcillo recorded in his diary the “maikaddua nga iyaay daguiti tirong” (second arrival of the marauders). Furthermore, a secret report from Spanish civil servant Sinibaldo de Mas in 1842 noted that, on September 8, 1841, the Namacpacan gobernadorcillo sent a dispatch to Governor-General Marcelino de Oraa Lecumberri, reporting the sighting of "eight Moro pancos with six launches" and, the following day, "another fleet of 17 pancos and 5 launches." [2] In response, the Governor-General ordered all neighboring provinces to remain on alert, as the Moro fleet had passed through Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, and Cagayan. [2]
On July 31, 1870, the Namacpacan gobernadorcillo reported to Governor-General Carlos María dela Torre that "two bands of Moros were seen toward Bangar." [2] Several days earlier, the alcalde mayor of Pangasinan also reported sightings of Moro bands. In response to these threats, precautionary measures were implemented in La Union and Pangasinan to guard against surprise attacks. [2]
The formation of La Union as a province in 1850 was part of broader administrative changes in the Ilocos Region. From the 16th to the 19th centuries, the original Ylocos province was divided. [2] In 1818, the region was split into Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur, and in 1846, the province of Abra was created. La Union was formed by combining the southernmost part of Ilocos Sur, the northern portion of Pangasinan, and the western area of Benguet. [2]
Maps from 1832, created by Augustinian Friar Manuel Blanco, indicated the existence of established towns (pueblos) in the region, with populations steadily growing. [2] By 1838, the combined population of 12 towns was estimated at 51,163 inhabitants, and by 1848, this figure had risen to 61,472. These figures excluded the Igorots, the indigenous people from the mountains. [2]
During the American colonial period and the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in World War II, the watchtowers of La Union were repurposed as military installations for monitoring potential threats along the coastline, such as enemy ships or aircraft. These structures played a crucial role in maintaining maritime security and order in the region. [5]
After over 400 years, many of the baluartes have fallen into disuse and decay, with several in a state of neglect. The once-imposing fortifications, which once stood as critical defenses against invaders, now serve as historical remnants. For instance, the watchtower in Bauang no longer exists, having been demolished due to commercial development in the area. Despite their deterioration, these watchtowers remain symbols of the region's resilience and its people’s longstanding efforts to protect their communities from external threats. [1]
| Name | Municipality | NMP marked [1] | Coordinates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Almeida Watchtower | Balaoan | Yes | 16°49′06.5″N120°19′49.2″E / 16.818472°N 120.330333°E | |
| Bacnotan Watchtower | Bacnotan | No | situated inside private property | |
| Baluarte Watchtower | Luna | Yes | 16°51′24.3″N120°22′22.3″E / 16.856750°N 120.372861°E | |
| Carlatan Watchtower | San Fernando | No | 16°37′57.6″N120°18′39.8″E / 16.632667°N 120.311056°E | situated inside private property |
| Ili Sur Watchtower | San Juan | No | 16°40′17.6″N120°20′01.0″E / 16.671556°N 120.333611°E | Damaged |
Ilocos Sur, officially the Province of Ilocos Sur, is a province in the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region in Luzon. Located on the mouth of the Mestizo River is the capital of Vigan while Candon is the most-populous city. Ilocos Sur is bordered by Ilocos Norte and Abra to the north, Mountain Province to the east, La Union and Benguet to the south and the West Philippine Sea to the west.
La Union, officially the Province of La Union, is a coastal province in the Philippines situated in the Ilocos Region on the island of Luzon. The province's capital, the City of San Fernando, is the most populous city in La Union and serves as the regional center of the Ilocos Region.
The Ilocos Region, designated as Region I, is an administrative region of the Philippines. Located in the northwestern section of Luzon, it is bordered by the Cordillera Administrative Region to the east, the Cagayan Valley to the northeast and southeast, Central Luzon to the south, and the South China Sea to the west.
Aringay, officially the Municipality of Aringay, is a coastal municipality in the province of La Union, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 50,380 people.
San Férnando, officially the City of San Fernando, is a component city and the capital of the province of La Union, Philippines. It is a coastal city consisting of fifty-nine (59) barangays and covers an area of 105.26 square kilometers. According to the 2020 census, the city has a population of 125,642. San Fernando serves as the gateway to trade and commerce to the North and the culture and heritage of Ilocandia.
Caba, officially the Municipality of Caba, is a coastal municipality in the province of La Union, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 23,119 people.
Bauang, officially the Municipality of Bauang, is a municipality in the province of La Union, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 78,449. Bauang is recognized as the "Fruit Basket and Beach Capital of the North," known for its pristine beaches, which remain a popular destination for swimming, as well as its cultivation of grapes and guapples.
Santiago, officially the Municipality of Santiago, is a municipality in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 19,471 people.
Agoo, officially the Municipality of Agoo, is a coastal municipality in the province of La Union, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 66,028 people.
Bacnotan, officially the Municipality of Bacnotan, is a coastal municipality in the province of La Union, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 44,388 people.
Balaoan, officially the Municipality of Balaoan, is a coastal municipality in the province of La Union, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 40,339.
Naguilian, officially the Municipality of Naguilian, is a municipality in the province of La Union, Philippines, According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 52,189 people.
Luna, officially the Municipality of Luna, is a costal municipality in the province of La Union, Philippines, known for its pristine pebble beaches and historical sites. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 37,318 people.
Pugo, officially the Municipality of Pugo, is a landlocked municipality in the province of La Union, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 19,337 people.
San Juan, officially the Municipality of San Juan, is a coastal municipality in the province of La Union, Philippines, know as the Surfing Capital of the North. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 40,507 people.
Tubao, officially the Municipality of Tubao, is a landlocked municipality in the province of La Union, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 31,763 people.
The Captaincy General of the Philippines was an administrative district of the Spanish Empire in Southeast Asia governed by a governor-general as a dependency of the Viceroyalty of New Spain based in Mexico City until Mexican independence when it was transferred directly to Madrid.
During the Spanish colonial period in the Philippines (1565–1898), there were several revolts against the Spanish colonial government by indigenous Moro, Lumad, Indios, Chinese (Sangleys), and Insulares, often with the goal of re-establishing the rights and powers that had traditionally belonged to Lumad communities, Maginoo rajah, and Moro datus. Some revolts stemmed from land problems and this was largely the cause of the insurrections that transpired in the agricultural provinces of Batangas, Ilocos sur, Cavite, and Laguna. Natives also rebelled over unjust taxation and forced labor.
The legislative districts of La Union are the representations of the province of La Union in the various national legislatures of the Philippines. The province is currently represented in the lower house of the Congress of the Philippines through its first and second congressional districts.
Manuel Tinio y Bundoc was the youngest General of the Philippine Revolutionary Army, and was elected Governor of the Province of Nueva Ecija, Republic of the Philippines in 1907. He is considered to be one of the three "Fathers of the Cry of Nueva Ecija", along with Pantaleon Valmonte and Mariano Llanera.
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