Laoag, Provincial capital city in Ilocos Norte, Philippines.
Laoag is the provincial capital of Ilocos Norte in the Philippines, sitting along the South China Sea. The city spreads across 80 barangays with streets where colonial Spanish buildings stand next to modern shops and homes.
Spanish explorer Juan de Salcedo arrived here in 1572 and founded a settlement that quickly grew into a trading hub. Gold from nearby mines and agricultural goods made the town an important outpost in the region.
The name Laoag comes from Ilocano and means bright or light, referring to the open coastal setting. Today locals gather at the central plaza and markets where they buy fresh regional produce and chat with neighbors.
The city has an international airport with several daily connections to Manila, while getting around locally works best by jeepney or tricycle. Early morning and late afternoon see lighter traffic than midday hours on the main roads.
A bell tower from the 17th century slowly sinks into sandy ground because its weight pushes it down about 1 inch (2.5 cm) each year. Visitors today see how the base sits almost at street level when the structure once stood much taller.
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