La Union

La Union. The province’s name comes from that fact that it was created by putting together towns that were originally under the jurisdiction of Ilocos Sur—Bacnotan, San Juan, San Fernando, Bauang, Naguilian and Aringay—with those under Pangasinan—Agoo and Santo Tomas. This was in accordance with a government decree, dated 2 March 1850.

La Union is situated along the northwestern coast of Luzon. With the Cordillera to the east and the South China Sea to the west, it encompasses a narrow coastal plain and the foothills of the Cordillera, an area of about 167 km north to south and 30 km at its average width. The rivers Amburayan, Agno, Benguet, Lepanto and Bacoco run through it, often defining town boundaries. Rabon River separates it from Pangasinan to the south.

La Union was under the diocese of Nueva Segovia (Lal-lo then later Vigan) until the establishment of the Diocese of San Fernando on 9 February 1970. It is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan. Its titular patron William the Hermit, whose feast the diocese celebrates on 10 February, is counted among the Augustinian saints. Although San Guilliermo as he is known in Spanish did not join the Augustinian order, his followers the Williamites were among those who joined the Order of San Augustine in response to Alexander IV call in 1256 to create a Grand Union among many small but disparate religious groups at that time. By the time of the union, William had been dead for more than half a century having died on 10 February 1157. Through most of the Spanish period, the La Union province was under the spiritual administration of the Augustinian order except for a short period (1771-90) when Bishop Miguel Garcia, O.P., asked the Dominicans assigned to Pangasinan to take charge of the parishes.

The province’s coastal position exposed it to slave raids, hence, the presence of watchtowers, many in ruins along the shore.

Except for a cement factory in Bacnotan, the province depends on agriculture, trade and tourism for its livelihood. Rice and corn are principal products; in colonial times the cultivation of wheat, cotton and sugar cane was introduced. The introduction of cotton encouraged a weaving industry, which to this day produces hand-woven blankets, towels and other household items, called abel. Except for sugar cane used for the alcoholic drink, basi, the other introduced crops have ceased cultivation so weavers source their threads and fibers from outside sources. Synthetic material is routinely combined with cotton threads in the modern weaves from La Union. Tobacco was introduced in the 19th century and the existence of drying flues that one occasionally sees along the national highway is a reminder of this legacy of colonial times.

A United States naval station was built at Poro Point, a narrow tongue of whitesand that juts west out of San Fernando. The US navy has long turned over the station to the Philippine military. The fine beaches of Poro Point, Bauang, San Juan and Bacnotan have attracted their share of seaside resorts.