Abra (province)
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| Province of Abra | |
 Provincial seal of Abra |
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 Map of the Philippines with Abra highlighted |
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| Region | Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) |
| Capital | Bangued |
| Divisions | |
| - Independent cities | 0 |
| - Component cities | 0 |
| - Municipalities | 27 |
| - Barangays | 304 |
| - Congressional districts |
Lone District of Abra |
| Population | |
| - Total (2007) | 230,953 (67th out of 80) including independent cities: 230,953 (67th out of 80) |
| - Density | 55.0/km² (77th out of 80) including independent cities: 55.0/km² (77th out of 80) |
| Area | |
| - Total | 4,198.2 km² (32nd out of 80) including independent cities: 4,198.2 km² (33rd out of 80) |
| Founded | March 9, 1917 |
| Spoken languages | Ilokano, Tingguian/Itneg |
| Governor | Eustaquio P. Bersamin (Lakas-Kampi-CMD) |
Abra is a landlocked province of the Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. Its capital is Bangued, and it borders Ilocos Norte and Apayao on the north, Ilocos Sur and Mountain Province on the south, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur on the west, and Kalinga, and Apayao on the east.
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[edit] Demographics
Abra's inhabitants are mostly descendants of Ilocano settlers and members of the Tingguian tribe. As of 2007, the population of the province is 230,953.
The predominant languages are Ilocano[1] and Itneg[2]. Based on the 1995 census survey, Ilocano is generally spoken by 73.65% of the region's total population. 25.18% speak Itneg, 0.16% speak Tagalog, and the remaining 0.54% speak other dialects.
[edit] Economy
As of 1990, there were 743 cottage industries in Abra, of which 208 are registered with the Department of Trade and Industry. 59% are engaged in bamboo and rattan craft making, both leading industries in the area.
In 1992, the natural dye industry, together with loom weaving and embroidery, was revived by former Governor Ma. Zita Claustro-Valera, the first woman governor of Abra.
Abra's economy is agriculture-based. Its major crops are rice, corn, and root crops; and commercial produce are coffee, tobacco, and coconut. Extensive grassland and pasture areas are used for livestock production.[3][4][5][6]
[edit] Geography
[edit] Political
Abra is subdivided into 27 municipalities.
| Municipality | No. of Barangays |
Area (km²) |
Population (2007) |
Pop. density (per km²) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangued |
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| Boliney |
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| Bucay |
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| Bucloc |
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| Daguioman |
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| Danglas |
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| Dolores |
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| La Paz |
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| Lacub |
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| Lagangilang |
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| Lagayan |
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| Langiden |
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| Licuan-Baay |
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| Luba |
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| Malibcong |
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| Manabo |
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| Peñarrubia |
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| Pidigan |
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| Pilar |
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| Sallapadan |
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| San Isidro |
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| San Juan |
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| San Quintin |
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| Tayum |
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| Tineg |
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| Tubo |
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| Villaviciosa |
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[edit] Physical
Abra is hemmed in by the towering mountain ranges of the Ilocos in the west and the Cordillera Central in the east. It has an extremely rugged terrain, with mountains and hills rising along its perimeter and interior. The plains are drained by the Abra River, which flows northward from Mt. Data in the Mountain Province.
[edit] History
The first inhabitants of Abra were the ancestors of the Bontocs and the Ifugaos. These inhabitants eventually left to settle in the old Mountain Province. Other early inhabitants were the Tingguians, or Itnegs, as they are also known.
In 1598 a Spanish garrison was established in Bangued to protect the Ilocanos who converted to Christianity from Tingguian raids. During the British Occupation of the Philippines, Gabriela Silang and her army fled to Abra from Ilocos and continued the revolt begun by her slain husband, Diego Silang. She was captured and hung by the Spanish in 1763.
In 1818 the Ilocos region, including Abra, was divided into Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur. In 1846 Abra was created[7] as a political-military province with Lepanto as a sub-province. It remained so until the arrival of the Americans in 1899.
In 1908 the Philippine Commission once again in annexed Abra to Ilocos Sur in an attempt to resolve Abra's financial difficulties. But on March 9, 1917, the Philippine Assembly re-established Abra as a province.
In 1942, the Japanese forces occupied the Philippines and entered Abra.
In 1945, the liberation in Abra in Northern Luzon from defenders by the Allied Philippine Commonwealth forces and the local Cordilleran guerrillas against the Japanese during the Battle of Abra at the end the Second World War.
The revolutionary priest, Father Conrado Balweg, who fought for the rights of the Cordillera tribes, began his crusade in Abra. After successfully negotiating a peace accord with Balweg's group in 1987, the Philippine government created the Cordillera Administrative Region, which includes Abra.
[edit] Notable people
Here is a (partial) list of notable sons and daughters of Abra which our generation and our children's generation can emulate.
- Anna Colet Villadolid - (Ballerina) Her mother, Alice is from Bangued, Abra.
- Antonio L. Villamor - (Court of Appeals Justice)
- Belandres, Ronald - (OFW) A Cost Engineer working in Malaysia for Cham Sdn Bhd, he is a friend of Edwin Angeles (now in Qatar) and Robert G. (now in Canada), he is famous of preparing and cooking of "Bak Kut Teh" that made Chinese Malaysian's favourate dish. Ronald is from Bangued, Abra.
- Bernard Billedo - (Photographer) Google his name and chances are, he's all over the net.
- Bernardino C. Alzate - (Author of the short novel, Alsa Masa 1763)
- Blas Villamor - First Governor of the Mountain Provinces and Colonel of the Katipunan Army.
- Bong Lazo - (Fashion Designer) He's from Bangued, Abra.
- Boobay - from Takeshi's Castle of GMA-7. He is the son of Mr. Norie Balbuena of Dolores, Abra.
- Carmelo Barbero - (Deputy Defense Minister, Marcos Administration)
- Claro B. Lizardo - (Military General) He led the Division of US and Philippine Army in Bataan during the Second World War.
- Conrado Balweg - Rebel Priest.
- Cornelio Balmaceda - (Professor of Economics/Cabinet Member, Diosdado Macapagal Administration) He was born in September 1896 and considered as the "Father of the Department of Commerce and Industry," now known as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). He "developed the policy of sending commercial attachés abroad to promote Philippine products and expand the market for our exports."
- Don Quintin Paredes - First Filipino Fiscal of Manila/Philippine Resident Commissioner in the US Congress.
- Don Ramon Valera - (Dean of Philippine Haute Couture) His father was from Abra.
- Emil P. Jurado - (Veteran Columnist) Her mom is from Bangued. Emil himself grew up in Bangued.
- Fay L. Dumagat - (Author of "Ways of the Itneg"/Writer) He is from Peñarrubia, Abra.
- Federico T. Lazo - (Co-founder of Modern Arnis) He was born in Ananaao, Tayum, Abra.
- Florentino T. Timbreza - From Tayum, Abra. First Filipino to author the first book on Filipino Philosophy (Pilosopiyang Filipino). Co-author of the first and only Encyclopedia of Philosophy in the Philippines (Ensayklopidiya ng Pilosopiya). First Filipino to present and defend a dissertation paper in Filipino for a doctorate degree in Philosophy. First Filipino author to translate the Tao Te Ching of Lao Tzu in Filipino language (Ang Tao Te Ching ni Lao Tzu sa Filipino). "Father of Filipino Philosophy."
- Gail Nicolas - from Pinoy Fear Factor. Her mom is a Bringas from Bangued, Abra.
- Hortencio J. Brillantes - (Ambassador)
- Ignacio Villamor - First Filipino President of University of the Philippines.
- Jericho Rosales - (Actor/Lead Vocalist of Jeans) His father hails from Bucay, Abra.
- Jess Paredes - Radio Announcer/Public Official during Magsaysay Administration, father of Jim Paredes.
- Jesus Villamor - Famous Filipino Pilot in the US Army. Villamor Air Base was named in his honor.
- John Carlo "JC" Barreras Tiuseco - First Filipino Sole Survivor held recently in Kotarotao, Thailand by GMA 7. He is the son of Rosemarie "Pinky" Barreras (daughter of the late Judge Jorge "Inton" Barreras & Mrs. Conchita Barros Barreras, a retired Principal of Bangued East Central School).
- Jose Ma. Cariño - (Consul, Philippine Embassy in Spain) Son of retired Ambassador Rosario V. Cariño.
- Joy Viado - (Singer/Stand-Up Comedienne/Actress) During her past guesting in Abra, she mentioned that she has relatives from Lalaud, Bangued.
- Juan Villamor - Author of Abra's Separation from Ilocos Sur
- Juana Tejada - Caregiver who campaigned for overseas Filipino workers’ (OFW) and immigrants’ rights in Canada even while waging a fight against cancer.
- Leonidas Benesa - (Writer/Teacher) He was one of the founders of the International Association of Art Critics and received the first prize in art criticism from the Art Association of the Philippines.
- Liceria Brillantes Soriano - (Director of Public Schools, Marcos Administration)
- Linda Alcid - (Singer) Tagalog Wikipedia describes her as "Maliit at may magandang tinig." She was born in 1955 and became famous in 1970s.
- Lucas Bersamin - Court of Appeals Justice.
- Manny Valera - Manager/Producer.
- Maria Josefa Gabriela Cariño Silang - First Filipina General and Martyr, her mother was a Tingguian from Pidigan, Abra.
- Mike Bigornia - (Poet/Editor/Fictionist/Translator) Born in Bangued, he was once a chairman of the Unyon ng Mga Manunulat ng Pilipinas (UMPIL) and a recipient of several Palanca Awards. He penned "Prosang Itim" (Anvil) and "Punta-Blanko."
- Myles Hojilla Ocampo - (Actress) Her mom is from Bangued, Abra.
- Nerio Paculdo - (Entrepreneur/Businessman) Owner of Nepa Q-mart, now Mega Q-Mart in Cubao, QC. He hails from Lagayan, Abra.
- Normandie B. Pizarro - (Court of Appeals Justice) He was born in Bangued, Abra.
- Paul "Bong" Alvarez - (PBA Player) He's from Angad, Bangued and he attended Sinalang Pilot Elementary School til second grade.
- Pedro Bayle - (Structural Engineer) Father of International Fashion Model, Anna Bayle. He designed San Juanico Bridge, Mandawe-Opon Bridge and the electrical steel posts we see today.
- Precious Jade Navarro - Only student to pass the Philippine Science High School Entrance Exam.
- Rosario V. Cariño - (Ambassador to Burma) He's from Tayum, Abra.
- Samson S. Alcantara - Labor Lawyer/Labor Law Book Author.
- Tetchie Agbayani - (Actress) Born in 1961 in La Paz, Abra as Visitacion Parado.
- Veda-Bañez Alonzo - Philippine Dance Choreographer and her son Ralion Alonzo (Singer/Dancer/Actor).
[edit] References
- ^ Dalby, Andrew (2004-02-18). Dictionary of Languages: The Definitive Reference to More Than 400 Languages. Columbia University Press. p. 264. ISBN 978-0231115698. http://books.google.com/books?id=CnckpL8auSIC&pg=PA264&dq=Abra+Philippines&lr=&num=100&as_brr=3&ei=MlNQSMOyDKPujAGtjsFD&sig=nfubD1ejngacEsJ_VTQIMLGZgQc.
- ^ Tryon, Darrell T. (1994). Comparative Austronesian Dictionary: An Introduction to Austronesian Studies. Ratzlow-Druck. p. 171. ISBN 3110127296. http://books.google.com/books?id=U5EbSnWd-18C&pg=PA171&dq=Abra+Philippines&lr=&num=100&as_brr=3&ei=I09QSPOtEYLGjgG31oRB&sig=r6ZdRsMs6HGe5H3DdvpHqgMGaIs.
- ^ http://www.congress.gov.ph/bis/hist_show.php?save=0&journal=&switch=0&bill_no=HB04708&congress=14
- ^ http://www.congress.gov.ph/bis/hist_show.php?save=0&journal=&switch=0&bill_no=HB04710&congress=14
- ^ http://www.congress.gov.ph/bis/hist_show.php?save=0&journal=&switch=0&bill_no=HB04711&congress=14
- ^ http://www.congress.gov.ph/bis/hist_show.php?save=0&journal=&switch=0&bill_no=HB05366&congress=14
- ^ Fernández, Leandro Heriberto. A Brief History of the Philippines. Ginn. p. 195. http://books.google.com/books?id=1MRFAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA194&dq=Abra+Philippines&lr=&num=100&as_brr=3&ei=MlNQSMOyDKPujAGtjsFD#PPA195,M1.
[edit] External links
- The Website of the Province of Abra
- 2007 Philippine Census Information
- Houses, Homes, Property, Real Estate For Sale/Rent
- Philippine Standard Geographic Code
- Featuring Tingguian Cultures, Traditions and Beliefs
- History articles and links on Bucay and Abra
- Northern Luzon Online Community
- Online Community for Abrenians
- WOW Philippines - Abra
- Arya Abra
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