Laoag

File:Laoag1923.jpg

Long before the coming of the Spaniards, there already existed an extensive region consisting of the present provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, and La Union renowned for its gold mines. Merchants from Japan and China would often visit the area to trade gold with beads, ceramics, and silk. The Austronesian inhabitants of the region called their place samtoy, from sao mi itoy, which literally meant "this is our language."{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}

In 1571, when the Spanish conquistadors had Manila more or less under their control, they began looking for new sites to conquer. Legaspi's grandson, Juan de Salcedo, volunteered to lead one of these expeditions. Together with eight armed boats and 45 men, the 22-year-old voyager headed north.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}

On June 13, 1572, Salcedo and his men landed in Vigan and then proceeded towards Laoag, Currimao, and Badoc. As they sailed along the coast, they were surprised to see numerous sheltered coves (looc) where the locals lived in harmony. As a result, they named the region "Ylocos" and its people "Ylocanos".{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}

As the Christianization of the region grew, so did the landscape of the area. Vast tracts of land were utilized for churches and bell towers in line with the Spanish mission of {{lang|es|bajo de las campanas}} ('under the bells') – a proclamation by King Philip's 1573 Law of the Indies. In the town plaza, it was not uncommon to see garrisons under the church bells. The colonization process was slowly being carried out.

The Spanish colonization of the region, however, was never completely successful. Owing to the abusive practices of many Augustinian friars, a number of Ilocanos revolted against their colonizers. Noteworthy of these were the Dingras uprising (1589) and Pedro Almasan revolt in San Nicolas (1660). In 1762, Diego Silang led a series of battles aimed at freeing the Ilocanos from the Spanish yoke. When he died from an assassin's bullet, his widow Gabriela continued the cause. Unfortunately, she too was captured and hanged. In 1807, the sugar cane (basi) brewers of Piddig rose up in arms to protest the government's monopoly of the wine industry. In 1898, the church excommunicated Gregorio Aglipay for refusing to cut off ties with the revolutionary forces of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. Unperturbed, he established the {{lang|es|Iglesia Filipina Independiente|italic=no}}. Aglipay's movement and the national sentiment it espoused helped restore the self-respect of many Filipinos.

{{stack|float=right|File:A street of Laoag, the capital of Ilocos Norte, 1900-1913.jpg}}

"The great increase in population from 1715 to 1818 from 18,980 to 282,845 made the administration of the province very difficult. Due to the excessive monopolies and forced labor, there were several uprisings: first by the people of Dingras in 1589; one that was led by Pedro Almazan in 1616; the revolt of Diego Silang in 1762–1763; by Ambaristo in 1788; by Pedro Mateo in 1808 (also known as Basi Revolt) and uprising of Sarrat in 1815. For this reason, the division of the Ilocos into two provinces was recommended by the local authorities. On February 2, 1818, a Spanish Royal Decree was promulgated dividing the Province of Ilocos Norte from Ilocos Sur. Laoag, which was then the biggest center of population, was made the capital of Ilocos Norte."

Laoag was captured by the Japanese Army on December 12, 1941, two days after the landing at Vigan and Aparri. Its airport was then used by the Japanese for most of World War II.

{{main|Cities of the Philippines}}

On June 19, 1965, Laoag changed from municipality to city status, following a plebiscite and passed into law by the Senate President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos. It remained the capital of Ilocos Norte. Mayor Eulalio F. Siazon and Engineer Trinidad Lucas Aurelio were part of a team that led the drive to convert Laoag into a city. Another members of the group was Simeon M. Valdez who filed the bill in congress, co-authored by Antonio V. Raquiza. The first city mayor was Eulalio Fonacier Siazon.{{cite web|url=http://laoagcity.gov.ph/index.php/about-the-city/background/history/|title=History|publisher=City Government of Laoag|access-date=August 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160723075321/http://laoagcity.gov.ph/index.php/about-the-city/background/history/|archive-date=July 23, 2016|url-status=dead}}

The City of Laoag is located at the west-central part of the Province of Ilocos Norte bordering the South China Sea. It is bounded on the east by the Municipality of Sarrat; in the southeast by the Municipality of San Nicolas; in the southwest by the Municipality of Paoay, in the northeast the Municipality of Vintar; in the northwest by the Municipality of Bacarra; and in the west by the South China Sea. It is one of the largest cities in the Ilocos Region.{{cite web|url=http://laoagcity.gov.ph/index.php/about-the-city/background/geographical-location/|title=Geographical Location|publisher=City Government of Laoag|access-date=August 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011020942/http://laoagcity.gov.ph/index.php/about-the-city/background/geographical-location/|archive-date=October 11, 2016|url-status=dead}}

Laoag is situated {{convert|482.95|km}} from the country's capital city of Manila.

Laoag is politically subdivided into 80 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Laoag has a tropical savanna climate with warm to hot temperatures year round. Temperatures dips sightly during the winter months between December and February. Characterized by two well-pronounced seasons; dry and wet and is classified as mild and pleasant climate. Dry season usually starts in November until April and wet during the rest of the year. The city is shielded from northeast monsoon and trade winds by the mountain ranges of Cordillera and Sierra Madre but it is exposed to the southwest monsoon and cyclone storms.

The rainy seasons, which has an average monthly rainfall of more than {{Convert|100|mm}}. is from May to September with its peak in June, July and August. Rainfall during the peak month represents 68% of the annual rainfall with an average of {{Convert|200|mm}}.

In the afternoon of May, temperature reach up to {{Convert|36.2|C}} and drops down to {{Convert|11.4|C}} in the early mornings of January. The city recorded an average temperature of {{Convert|27.25|C}} with a relative humidity of 75.5% in 1996. The city experiences an average of four to five tropical cyclones every year.

{{Weather box

| width = auto

| location = Laoag City (1991–2020, extremes 1908–2023)

| single line = Y

| metric first = Y

| Jan record high C = 36.0

| Feb record high C = 36.8

| Mar record high C = 39.5

| Apr record high C = 39.6

| May record high C = 41.8

| Jun record high C = 38.3

| Jul record high C = 37.8

| Aug record high C = 36.7

| Sep record high C = 37.1

| Oct record high C = 37.1

| Nov record high C = 37.2

| Dec record high C = 37.1

|year record high C = 41.8

| Jan high C = 30.6

| Feb high C = 31.2

| Mar high C = 32.5

| Apr high C = 33.6

| May high C = 33.7

| Jun high C = 33.1

| Jul high C = 32.2

| Aug high C = 31.6

| Sep high C = 31.8

| Oct high C = 32.1

| Nov high C = 32.0

| Dec high C = 31.1

|year high C = 32.1

| Jan mean C = 25.2

| Feb mean C = 25.8

| Mar mean C = 27.2

| Apr mean C = 28.6

| May mean C = 29.2

| Jun mean C = 28.9

| Jul mean C = 28.4

| Aug mean C = 28.0

| Sep mean C = 27.9

| Oct mean C = 27.8

| Nov mean C = 27.4

| Dec mean C = 26.3

|year mean C = 27.6

| Jan low C = 19.8

| Feb low C = 20.4

| Mar low C = 21.9

| Apr low C = 23.6

| May low C = 24.7

| Jun low C = 24.8

| Jul low C = 24.5

| Aug low C = 24.4

| Sep low C = 24.1

| Oct low C = 23.5

| Nov low C = 22.8

| Dec low C = 21.4

|year low C = 23.0

| Jan record low C = 11.1

| Feb record low C = 11.9

| Mar record low C = 13.0

| Apr record low C = 16.3

| May record low C = 20.4

| Jun record low C = 18.9

| Jul record low C = 19.5

| Aug record low C = 20.9

| Sep record low C = 20.0

| Oct record low C = 16.1

| Nov record low C = 13.3

| Dec record low C = 12.0

|year record low C = 11.1

| rain colour = green

| Jan rain mm = 6.1

| Feb rain mm = 3.0

| Mar rain mm = 5.3

| Apr rain mm = 21.8

| May rain mm = 218.8

| Jun rain mm = 286.5

| Jul rain mm = 478.9

| Aug rain mm = 593.7

| Sep rain mm = 412.9

| Oct rain mm = 117.2

| Nov rain mm = 36.6

| Dec rain mm = 6.2

|year rain mm = 2187.0

| unit rain days = 1 mm

| Jan rain days = 2

| Feb rain days = 2

| Mar rain days = 1

| Apr rain days = 2

| May rain days = 8

| Jun rain days = 12

| Jul rain days = 16

| Aug rain days = 17

| Sep rain days = 13

| Oct rain days = 7

| Nov rain days = 4

| Dec rain days = 2

|year rain days = 86

| Jan humidity = 75

| Feb humidity = 75

| Mar humidity = 74

| Apr humidity = 75

| May humidity = 78

| Jun humidity = 82

| Jul humidity = 86

| Aug humidity = 87

| Sep humidity = 87

| Oct humidity = 80

| Nov humidity = 78

| Dec humidity = 75

|year humidity = 79

| Jan sun = 246.4

| Feb sun = 256.1

| Mar sun = 294.4

| Apr sun = 291.9

| May sun = 249.1

| Jun sun = 229.3

| Jul sun = 218.1

| Aug sun = 196.8

| Sep sun = 201.5

| Oct sun = 227.7

| Nov sun = 227.9

| Dec sun = 242.7

|year sun = 2881.9

| source 1 = PAGASA

{{cite web

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181013045159/https://pubfiles.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/pagasaweb/files/cad/CLIMATOLOGICAL%20NORMALS%20%281991-2020%29/LAOAG.pdf

| archive-date = October 13, 2018

| url = https://pubfiles.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/pagasaweb/files/cad/CLIMATOLOGICAL%20NORMALS%20%281991-2020%29/LAOAG.pdf

| title = Laoag, Ilocos Norte Climatological Normal Values

| publisher = Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration

| access-date = October 13, 2018}}

{{cite web

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181013045240/https://pubfiles.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/pagasaweb/files/cad/CLIMATOLOGICAL%20EXTREMES%20%28as%20of%202023%29/Laoag.pdf

| archive-date = October 13, 2018

| url = https://pubfiles.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/pagasaweb/files/cad/CLIMATOLOGICAL%20EXTREMES%20%28as%20of%202023%29/Laoag.pdf

| title = Laoag, Ilocos Norte Climatological Extremes

| publisher = Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration

| access-date = October 13, 2018}}

|source 2 = Deutscher Wetterdienst (sun, 1961–1990){{cite web

| url = ftp://ftp-cdc.dwd.de/pub/CDC/observations_global/CLIMAT/multi_annual/sunshine_duration/1961_1990.txt

| title = Station 98223 Laoag

| work = Global station data 1961–1990—Sunshine Duration

| publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171017195327/ftp://ftp-cdc.dwd.de/pub/CDC/observations_global/CLIMAT/multi_annual/sunshine_duration/1961_1990.txt

| archive-date = 2017-10-17

| url-status = dead

| access-date = October 13, 2018

}}{{Cite web |url=ftp://ftp-cdc.dwd.de/pub/CDC/help/stations_list_CLIMAT_data.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017195318/ftp://ftp-cdc.dwd.de/pub/CDC/help/stations_list_CLIMAT_data.txt |archive-date=2017-10-17 |url-status=dead |title=Station ID for Laoag is 98223. Use this station ID to locate the sunshine duration |access-date=October 13, 2018 }}

}}

{{Philippine Census

| align = left

| title= Population census of {{PH wikidata|name}}

| 1903 = {{PH census population|1903}}

| 1918 = {{PH census population|1918}}

| 1939 = {{PH census population|1939}}

| 1948 = {{PH census population|1948}}

| 1960 = {{PH census population|1960}}

| 1970 = {{PH census population|1970}}

| 1975 = {{PH census population|1975}}

| 1980 = {{PH census population|1980}}

| 1990 = {{PH census population|1990}}

| 1995 = {{PH census population|1995}}

| 2000 = {{PH census population|2000}}

| 2007 = {{PH census population|2007}}

| 2010 = {{PH census population|2010}}

| 2015 = {{PH census population|2015}}

| 2020 = {{PH census population|2020}}

| 2025 =

| 2030 =

| footnote= Source: Philippine Statistics Authority{{PH census|2015}}{{PH census|2010}}{{PH census|2007}}{{LWUA population data}}

}}

According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 111,651 people,{{PH census|current}} with a density of {{convert|{{sigfig|111,651/116.08|2}}|PD/km2|disp=or}}.

Laoag City had a total population of 94,466 for the year 2000 as per NSO official report. In 1995, the total inhabitants of the city was 88,336, an increase of 6,130. Based on the 1995 and 2000 intercensal periods, the Average Annual Growth Rate of the city was 1.35%.

The number of households is 19,751 and the average household size is five (5) persons per household. Male-female ratio is 1:1; Birth rate is 26.44% while Death rate is 4.28%.

In the city of Laoag as of year 2000, Urban barangay San Lorenzo had the largest number of population at 2,883, followed by Rural barangay Buttong at 2,277, and then by Barangay 2 Santa Joaquina at 2,048. With the least inhabitants was Rural Barangay 39 Santa Rosa, 592, and then Barangay 52-A San Mateo, 594. Noticeably, the residents of Barangay 23 San Matias decreased by 740.

The dominant dialect spoken in Laoag City is Ilocano.

The Roman Catholic and the Aglipayan Church are the dominant religious affiliations. The rest of the existing religions in the city include the Iglesia ni Cristo, and other Protestant groups with a significant number of adherents.{{clear left}}

{{stack|float=left|{{PH poverty incidence}}}}

File:SM City Laoag at Night 2.png]]

Strategically located at the northern tip of the Northwestern Luzon Growth Quadrangle. It is within hours of air travel to any one of East Asia's economic tigers such as Hong Kong, Mainland China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan by way of the Laoag International Airport.

A banking system is also found in the city with more than twenty different local, domestic, and foreign banks ready to serve any financial needs.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}

With a {{cvt|12,747.35|m2|adj=on}} total land area, Laoag City provides a large opportunity for economic expansion. The historic scenic tourist spots, availability of internationally competitive accommodations and facilities, and the presence of supportive national government agencies, makes Laoag an ecotourism center, as classified by the Department of Tourism. The Northwestern Luzon Growth Quadrangle – fondly called the North Quad – also aims to develop rural areas through an integrated countryside agri-industrial development approach with emphasis/focus in attaining sustainable and equitable growth; increase the productivity of agriculture and fisheries; and encourage industrial competitiveness in the local and foreign markets.

Laoag and the surrounding municipalities also bolster a strong workforce. At present, most industries in the city are small-scale, consisting of small-scale food-processing factories, rice mills, jewelry-making, hollow blocks factories, and metal crafts. Retail giants like SM Prime Holdings with three stores (SM Savemore, Savemore Market, SM Hypermarket), and Puregold are present within downtown area. SM City Laoag is located south of Padsan River in Barangay Nangalisan West, along Airport Road. Unitop, Mart One, Novo, New India, ME, JTC, and ØNE Ø 5IVE are popular shopping centers. Robinsons Ilocos located in Barangay Nangalisan East (Laoag) and San Francisco (San Nicolas) is only 5 minutes ride from Laoag City Hall.

Megaworld has also secured {{Philippine peso|15 billion|link=yes}} project to be developed in Barangay Calayab along the coast to be called "Ilocandia Coastown," its 34th township. The mixed-use beachfront is an 84-hectare parcel of land with {{convert|1.4|km|adj=on|sp=us}} beach line adjacent to Fort Ilocandia Resort Hotel.

Other townships under construction are the EL Sands Residences in Barangay Talingaan, and Bramasole Residences in Barangay Zamboanga. Robinsons Homes, Hanalei Heights, and Camella are located closely to the airport.{{cite news |last1= Valmontge|first1=Kaycee |title=Megaworld heads up north with 84-hectare Laoag township|url= https://www.rappler.com/business/megaworld-township-ilocandia-coastown-laoag-ilocos-norte/|accessdate=October 23, 2024 |work = Rappler|date=October 14, 2024}}

Meanwhile, San Guillermo Complex located east of Aurora Park is on its first phase of construction. It will feature a modern shopping center, a hospital and a high-rise hotel.

{{main|Sangguniang Panglungsod}}

File:Ilocos Norte Provincial Capitol 02.jpg

File:Laoag City Hall (front).jpg

Laoag, belonging to the first congressional district of the province of Ilocos Norte, is governed by a mayor designated as its local chief executive and by a city council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code. The mayor, vice mayor, and the councilors are elected directly by the people through an election which is being held every three years.

Laoag City elected officials, term of office June 30, 2022 – June 30, 2025:{{cite web |date=May 13, 2022 |title=Laoag City Partial, unofficial results aggregated from Comelec data |url=https://halalanresults.abs-cbn.com/local/ilocos-norte/city-of-laoag |access-date=August 20, 2022 |publisher=ABS-CBN News}}

File:Ph seal ilocos norte laoag city.png

• Building and Garden — the Ermita Garden and Building on top of the Ermita Hill.
• Bridge — formerly the Gilbert Bridge, recently renamed Marcos Bridge.
• Airport — the Gabu Airport, one of the international airports of the country.
• Tower — the Sinking Tower, one of the oldest and strongest edifices built during the early Spanish Regime.
• Monument — the Tobacco Monopoly Monument, the only one of its kind in the entire country.
• Farmer plowing — symbol of the agricultural industry of the Ilocos Region.

{{See also|List of Cultural Properties of the Philippines in the Ilocos Region}}

File:Museo Ilocos Norte 05.jpg

File:Aurora Park of Laoag City 02.jpg

Tourism has become a major economic driver of Laoag City, paving the way for new commercial investments and infrastructure development. Fort Ilocandia Resort, first and only 5-star hotel in the north, continues to attract foreign and domestic tourists. Other places of interest include a tour of heritage sites featuring Spanish colonial buildings, baroque churches, La Paz Sand Dunes, white-sand beach resorts of Pagudpud, and Marcos-era mansions.

The Laoag Cathedral was built in 1612 by Augustinian friars to replace a wooden chapel. It also serves as the seat or central church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Laoag. Built with an Italian Renaissance, the church has an unusual two-story façade, supported by two pairs of columns on each side of the arched entrance architecture design and at the top of the facade holds a recessed niche that showcases the image of the city's patron saint, William of Maleval.

The dramatic increase in tourist arrivals also prompted the establishment of a Chinese consulate to oversee the security of Chinese citizens living or visiting the city. A new immigration policy was made to simplify entry of Chinese tourists into the country by issuing visitor visas at the airport upon arrival to entice more guests to come. Laoag City has been named as one of the top tourist destinations in Region I and in the country.

File:Gilbert Bridge, Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, Philippines.jpg

Laoag International Airport services flights by PAL Express, Cebu Pacific and Sky Pasada with destinations to and from Manila, Cebu, Calayan Island, and Basco, Batanes. The Honolulu - Laoag vice versa will soon resume its direct flight with Philippine Airlines as its carrier. Foreign airlines offer direct charter flights to Laoag as part of travel packages with optional excursions to tourist destinations outside the city. Tourists can find travel agencies including ticket offices of several airlines at the terminal building.

Several large bus companies serve Laoag City making connections to North and Central Luzon provinces including Metro Manila. These transportation services are provided by GV Florida Transport, Viron Transit, Maria de Leon Bus Lines, Partas and Fariñas Transit Company. Laoag is {{convert|487|km}} from Manila via South Road Access of Laoag and {{convert|750|km}} via North Access of Laoag from Metro Manila.

Mode of transport within the city includes taxi, jeepney, tricycle, and kalesa. Mini buses have daily routes to and from Pagudpud, Batac, and Vigan among others.

The Laoag bypass linking Paoay on the western part serves as diversion road to long wheeler trucks without crossing the city proper. Another bypass road east of the city is under construction linking Bacarra and San Nicolas towns will help decongest traffic upon completion.

File:Laoag Central Elementary School.jpg

As the provincial capital, Laoag is the center of social and economic activity with almost all major commercial and institutional establishments gravitating towards it. The importance of education in socializing its population is shared by both the local government and the private sector, which has invested heavily in the development of the academic infrastructure.

The Schools Division Office of Laoag City governs all public and private schools within the municipality. There are three schools district offices which manage the operations of elementary and high schools, namely Laoag City Schools District I Office, Laoag City Schools District II Office, and Laoag City Schools District III Office..{{Cite web |date=January 15, 2021 |title=Masterlist of Schools |url=https://www.deped.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/SY-2020-2021-Masterlist-of-Schools-Address-only-1-1.pdf |access-date=April 16, 2025 |website=Department of Education}} Most of the lower-level schools are government-owned comprising a total of thirty-three elementary schools. Ten private elementary schools are also present including a Chinese school. In addition, there are eight private and six public high schools, and significant rise of integrated schools.

{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}

• Agripino P. Santos Elementary School
• Alipio N. Ignacio Memorial Elementary School
• Amarosa Elementary School
• Bacsil Elementary School
• Balacad Elementary School
• Barit Elementary School
• Bible Believing Baptist Church Educational Ministries Foundation (Elementary)
• Buttong Elementary School
• Cabeza Elementary School
• Caaoacan Elementary School
• Calayab Elementary School
• Casili Elementary School
• Cataban Elementary School
• Caterpillar Centre for Early Learners
• Cavit-Araniw Elementary School
• Darayday Elementary School
• Don Galicano R. Rafales Memorial Elementary School
• Emmanuel Fundamental Baptist Learning Center
• Eulalio. F. Siazon Memorial Elementary School
• Faustino Reyes Memorial Elementary School
• Gabaldon Elementary School
• Gabu Elementary School
• Ilocos Norte Adventist School
• Kids' Kollege
• Lagui-Sail Elementary School
• Laoag Central Elementary School
• Laoag Four Square Kindergarten School
• Maranatha Christian School of Laoag
• MRS Dayspring Christian School
• Navotas Elementary School
• Pila Elementary School
• Plaridel Elementary School
• Roque B. Ablan Elementary School
• Salet Elementary School
• Saved by Grace Christian Academy
• Shamrock Elementary School
• Sta. Maria Elementary School
• St. Santiago School Foundation
• Sto. Nino Elementary School
• Suyo Elementary School
• Tangid Elementary School
• The Living Gates of Praise Christian School
• The Salvation Army Educational Services
• Vira Elementary School

{{div col end}}

The Rodolfo CG Fariñas Jr. National Science High School which is the second being established in Ilocos Region under the Department of Science and Technology, located in Barangay Vira east of bypass road, has already opened since 2024 for Grades 7 and 8. The following are full list of secondary schools:

{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}

• Balatong Integrated School
• Bible Believing Baptist Church Educational Ministries Foundation
• Caaoacan High School
• DWCL Laboratory High School
• Gabu National High School
• Holy Spirit Academy of Laoag
• INCAT
• Ilocos Norte National High School
• Ilocos Norte Regional School of Fisheries
• International School of the Arts, the Languages, and the Academe
• MMSU Laboratory High School
• Northern Christian College Basic Education School
• Northside Bible Baptist Academy
• NU Laboratory High School
• Our Saviour's Foundation
• Padre Annibale Integrated School
• San Mateo Integrated School
• St. Joseph High School of Laoag
• St. Mary's Seminary

{{div col end}}

Also found in Laoag are vocational schools namely:

• Bel Arte School of Fine Arts
• Lazo Fashion School
• Overseas Technical Institute

In order to provide continuing education to sustain the economic momentum of the region, the government has established tertiary public learning institutions in the city: the College of Teacher Education (CTE) and the College of Industrial Technology (CIT) of the Mariano Marcos State University.

Other higher education institutions in the city:

{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}

• AIE College - Laoag
• AMA Computer College
• Data Center College of the Philippines
• Divine Word College of Laoag
• Ilocos Norte College of Arts & Trades
• Mariano Marcos State University
• Northern Christian College
• Northwestern University
• STI College - Laoag

{{div col end}}

• {{flagicon|PHI}} Vigan, Ilocos Sur
• {{flagicon|PHI}} Ozamiz, Misamis Occidental
• {{flagicon|PHI}} Caloocan, NCR
• {{flagicon|PHI}} Dagupan, Pangasinan
• {{flagicon|CHN}} Xiamen, China
• {{flagicon|CHN}} Changsha, China
• {{flagicon|CHN}} Laibin, China
• {{flagicon|CHN}} Huangshan, China
• {{flagicon|USA}} Honolulu, Hawaii
• {{flagicon|USA}} Kauai, Hawaii

• Roque Ablan, Sr. – governor of Ilocos Norte and World War II guerilla.
• Fidel Segundo – Filipino brigadier general and World War II hero.
• Severino Montano – National Artist of the Philippines for Literature
• Purificacion Pedro – Filipina social worker and Catholic layman who was killed by soldiers under the Marcos dictatorship. Her name is inscribed in the Bantayog ng mga Bayani.
• Soledad Salvador – Filipina religious worker and activist in the Philippines who fought against the Marcos dictatorship. Her name is inscribed in the Bantayog ng mga Bayani.
• Antonio Zumel – Filipino journalist during the Marcos dictatorship. His name is inscribed in the Bantayog ng mga Bayani.
• Orlando Quevedo – Filipino Catholic cardinal, and Archbishop Emeritus Archdiocese of Cotabato
• Fred Ruiz Castro – 12th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
• Diosdado Peralta – 26th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
• Ysabel Ortega - actress

{{reflist}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book|last1=Dela Torre|first1=Visitacion|title=The Ilocos Heritage|date=2006|publisher=Tower Book House|location=Makati|isbn=978-971-91030-9-7}}
• {{Cite book|title = Historical Markers: Regions I-IV and CAR|publisher = National Historical Institute (Philippines)|year = 1993|isbn = 9715380611|location = Manila|language=fil|pages = 88|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=AvBuAAAAMAAJ|ref={{harvid|National Historical Institute|1993|p=124}}}}

{{refend}}

{{Commons category}}

{{wikivoyage|Laoag}}

• {{official website|http://www.laoagcity.gov.ph}}
• [{{NSCB detail}} Philippine Standard Geographic Code]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20131004104825/http://census.gov.ph/ Philippine Census Information]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120502154208/http://www.blgs.gov.ph/lgpmsv2/cmshome/index.php?pageID=23&frmIdDcfCode=7&fLguType=CM&frmIdRegion=2&frmIdProvince=18&frmIdLgu=192 Local Governance Performance Management System]

{{Geographic location

| Centre = Laoag

| North = Bacarra

| Northeast = Vintar

| East = Piddig

| Southeast = Sarrat

| South = Paoay / San Nicolas

| West = South China Sea

}}

{{Ilocos Norte}}

{{Ilocos Region Provinces}}

{{Philippine cities}}

{{Philippine Provincial Capitals}}

{{Metropolitan areas of the Philippines}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Cities in Ilocos Norte

Category:Provincial capitals of the Philippines

Category:Populated places established in 1580

Category:1580 establishments in the Philippines

Category:Component cities in the Philippines