Abra (province)

This article is about the Philippine province. For other uses, see Abra.
Abra
Province
Province of Abra

Abra Provincial Capitol

Flag

Location in the Philippines
Coordinates: 17°35′N 120°45′E / 17.58°N 120.75°E / 17.58; 120.75Coordinates: 17°35′N 120°45′E / 17.58°N 120.75°E / 17.58; 120.75
Region Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)
Founded 10 March 1917
Capital Bangued
Government
 • Type Sangguniang Panlalawigan
 • Governor Eustaquio Bersamin (LP)
 • Vice Governor Chari Bersamin (LP)
Area[1]
 • Total 4,165.25 km2 (1,608.21 sq mi)
Area rank 29th out of 81
Population (2015 census)[2]
 • Total 241,160
 • Rank 68th out of 81
 • Density 58/km2 (150/sq mi)
 • Density rank 80th out of 81
Divisions
 • Independent cities 0
 • Component cities 0
 • Municipalities
 • Barangays 303
 • Districts Lone District of Abra
Time zone PHT (UTC+8)
ZIP code 2800–2826
IDD : area code  +63 (0)74
ISO 3166 code PH-ABR
Spoken languages
Website www.abra.gov.ph

Abra (Ilocano: Probinsya ti Abra; Filipino: Lalawigan ng Abra) is a landlocked province of the Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. Its capital is Bangued, and is bordered by Ilocos Norte on the northwest, Apayao on the northeast, Kalinga on the mid-east, Mountain Province on the southeast, and Ilocos Sur on the southwest.

History

Pre-colonial period

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.

Spanish era

In 1598, a Spanish garrison was established in Bangued to protect Christian Ilocanos from Tingguian raids. Originally the area was called El Abra de Vigan ("The Opening of Vigan"). 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 hanged 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[3] as a political-military province with Lepanto as a sub-province. It remained so until the arrival of the Americans in 1899.

American period

In 1908, the Philippine Commission again annexed Abra to Ilocos Sur in an attempt to resolve Abra's financial difficulties. On March 9, 1917, the Philippine Assembly re-established Abra as a province.[4]

World War II

In 1942, the Japanese forces occupied the Philippines and entered Abra.

Abra was liberated by the Philippine Commonwealth forces and local Cordilleran guerrillas during the Battle of Abra in 1945, at the end of the Second World War.

Modern history

The revolutionary Marxist priest, 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.[5]

Geography

Abra is situated in the mid-western section of the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. It is bordered by the provinces of Ilocos Norte on the northwest, Apayao on the northeast, Kalinga on the mid-east, Mountain Province on the southeast, and Ilocos Sur on the southwest. Abra has a total land area of 4,165.25 square kilometres or 1,608.21 square miles[6].

The province is hemmed in by the towering mountain ranges of the Ilocos in the west and the Cordillera Central in the east. The Abra River runs from the south in Benguet to the west and central areas, bisecting the whole Abra Valley. It is joined by the Tineg River originating from the eastern uplands at a point near the municipality of Dolores.

Administrative divisions

Abra comprises 27 municipalities, all encompassed by a single legislative district.[6]

Municipality [lower-roman 1][lower-roman 2] Population ±% p.a. Area[6] Density (2015) Brgy.
(2015)[2] (2010)[7] km2 sq mi /km2 /sq mi
17°35′47″N 120°37′04″E / 17.5965°N 120.6179°E / 17.5965; 120.6179 (Bangued) Bangued † 20.0% 48,163 43,936 +1.76% 105.70 40.81 460 1,200 31
17°22′44″N 120°49′11″E / 17.3790°N 120.8198°E / 17.3790; 120.8198 (Boliney) Boliney 1.5% 3,573 4,063 −2.42% 216.92 83.75 16 41 8
17°32′20″N 120°43′00″E / 17.5388°N 120.7167°E / 17.5388; 120.7167 (Bucay) Bucay 7.1% 17,115 17,126 −0.01% 107.17 41.38 160 410 21
17°26′27″N 120°51′26″E / 17.4409°N 120.8572°E / 17.4409; 120.8572 (Bucloc) Bucloc 1.0% 2,501 2,176 +2.69% 63.77 24.62 39 100 4
17°27′30″N 120°55′31″E / 17.4584°N 120.9254°E / 17.4584; 120.9254 (Daguioman) Daguioman 0.9% 2,088 1,715 +3.82% 114.37 44.16 18 47 4
17°41′03″N 120°39′35″E / 17.6841°N 120.6597°E / 17.6841; 120.6597 (Danglas) Danglas 1.7% 4,192 4,734 −2.29% 156.02 60.24 27 70 7
17°38′56″N 120°42′37″E / 17.6490°N 120.7103°E / 17.6490; 120.7103 (Dolores) Dolores 4.7% 11,315 11,499 −0.31% 47.45 18.32 240 620 15
17°40′35″N 120°41′07″E / 17.6763°N 120.6853°E / 17.6763; 120.6853 (La Paz) La Paz 6.4% 15,437 14,882 +0.70% 51.41 19.85 300 780 12
17°39′48″N 120°56′51″E / 17.6634°N 120.9474°E / 17.6634; 120.9474 (Lacub) Lacub 1.4% 3,403 2,977 +2.58% 295.30 114.02 12 31 6
17°36′37″N 120°44′04″E / 17.6103°N 120.7344°E / 17.6103; 120.7344 (Lagangilang) Lagangilang 5.9% 14,255 13,824 +0.59% 101.44 39.17 140 360 17
17°43′15″N 120°42′21″E / 17.7207°N 120.7058°E / 17.7207; 120.7058 (Lagayan) Lagayan 1.9% 4,499 4,477 +0.09% 215.97 83.39 21 54 5
17°34′37″N 120°33′50″E / 17.5769°N 120.5638°E / 17.5769; 120.5638 (Langiden) Langiden 1.3% 3,198 3,170 +0.17% 116.29 44.90 28 73 6
17°36′22″N 120°53′36″E / 17.6061°N 120.8932°E / 17.6061; 120.8932 (Licuan-Baay) Licuan-Baay (Licuan) 1.9% 4,689 4,864 −0.70% 256.42 99.00 18 47 11
17°19′05″N 120°41′43″E / 17.3181°N 120.6952°E / 17.3181; 120.6952 (Luba) Luba 2.6% 6,339 6,391 −0.16% 148.27 57.25 43 110 8
17°33′49″N 120°59′24″E / 17.5636°N 120.9899°E / 17.5636; 120.9899 (Malibcong) Malibcong 1.4% 3,428 3,807 −1.98% 283.17 109.33 12 31 12
17°25′59″N 120°42′17″E / 17.4331°N 120.7048°E / 17.4331; 120.7048 (Manabo) Manabo 4.5% 10,761 10,756 +0.01% 110.95 42.84 97 250 11
17°33′51″N 120°39′08″E / 17.5642°N 120.6522°E / 17.5642; 120.6522 (Peñarrubia) Peñarrubia 2.8% 6,640 6,544 +0.28% 38.29 14.78 170 440 9
17°34′13″N 120°35′21″E / 17.5703°N 120.5893°E / 17.5703; 120.5893 (Pidigan) Pidigan 5.1% 12,185 11,528 +1.06% 49.15 18.98 250 650 15
17°25′00″N 120°35′43″E / 17.4168°N 120.5954°E / 17.4168; 120.5954 (Pilar) Pilar 4.2% 10,223 9,908 +0.60% 66.10 25.52 150 390 19
17°27′18″N 120°45′36″E / 17.4551°N 120.7599°E / 17.4551; 120.7599 (Sallapadan) Sallapadan 2.7% 6,622 5,985 +1.94% 128.62 49.66 51 130 9
17°27′56″N 120°36′06″E / 17.4656°N 120.6017°E / 17.4656; 120.6017 (San Isidro) San Isidro 1.9% 4,574 4,888 −1.26% 48.07 18.56 95 250 9
17°41′00″N 120°43′55″E / 17.6834°N 120.7320°E / 17.6834; 120.7320 (San Juan) San Juan 4.1% 9,867 10,546 −1.26% 64.08 24.74 150 390 19
17°32′34″N 120°31′13″E / 17.5427°N 120.5203°E / 17.5427; 120.5203 (San Quintin) San Quintin 2.3% 5,438 5,233 +0.73% 66.59 25.71 82 210 6
17°36′59″N 120°39′19″E / 17.6165°N 120.6553°E / 17.6165; 120.6553 (Tayum) Tayum 6.0% 14,467 13,940 +0.71% 61.14 23.61 240 620 11
17°46′58″N 120°56′38″E / 17.7828°N 120.9439°E / 17.7828; 120.9439 (Tineg) Tineg 2.1% 5,097 4,668 +1.69% 744.80 287.57 6.8 18 10
17°15′24″N 120°43′32″E / 17.2567°N 120.7256°E / 17.2567; 120.7256 (Tubo) Tubo 2.4% 5,699 5,719 −0.07% 409.87 158.25 14 36 10
17°26′16″N 120°37′31″E / 17.4379°N 120.6253°E / 17.4379; 120.6253 (Villaviciosa) Villaviciosa 2.2% 5,392 5,377 +0.05% 102.93 39.74 52 130 8
Total 241,160 234,733 +0.52% 4,165.25 1,608.21 56 150 303
 †  Provincial capital      Municipality
  1. ↑ Former names are italicized.
  2. ↑ The globe 
    icon marks the town center.
Political map of Abra province showing its component municipalities

Barangays

The 27 municipalities of the province comprise a total of 303 barangays, with Poblacion in La Paz as the most populous in 2010, and Pattaoig in San Juan as the least.[7][6]

Further information: List of barangays in Abra

Demographics

The population of Abra in the 2015 census was 241,160 people,[2] with a density of 58 inhabitants per square kilometre or 150 inhabitants per square mile.

Abra's inhabitants are mostly descendants of Ilocano settlers and members of the Tingguian tribe. Based on the 2000 census survey, Ilocanos comprised 71.94% (150,457) of the total provincial population of 209,146. Tingguians came in second at 18.7% (39,115), while other ethnic groups in the province were the Ibanag at 4.46% (9,334), Itneg at 3.17% (6,624), and Tagalog at 0.42% (869).[8]

The predominant languages are Ilocano[9] and Itneg.[10]

Population census of Abra
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 184,743—    
1995 195,964+1.11%
2000 209,491+1.44%
2007 230,953+1.35%
2010 234,733+0.59%
2015 241,160+0.52%
Source: PSA[2][7][11]
Population by ethnicity (2000)[8]
Ethnicity Number
Ilocano
  
 150,457 (71.94%)
Tingguian
  
 39,115 (18.70%)
Ibanag
  
 9,334 (4.46%)
Itneg
  
 6,624 (3.17%)
Tagalog
  
 869 (0.42%)
Others
  
 2,175 (1.04%)
Other foreign ethnicity
  
 16 (0.01%)
Not Reported
  
 556 (0.27%)

Santa Catalina de Alejandria Parish Church in Tayum

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 female governor of Abra.

Abra's economy is agriculture-based. Its major crops are rice, corn, and root crops; commercial products include coffee, tobacco, and coconut. Extensive grassland and pasture areas are used for livestock production.

References

  1. ↑ "List of Provinces". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "CORDILLERA ADMINISTRATIVE REGION (CAR)". Census of Population (2015): Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay (Report). PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  3. ↑ Fernández, Leandro Heriberto. A Brief History of the Philippines. Ginn. p. 195.
  4. ↑ "Act No. 2683; An Act to Authorize the Segregation of the Subprovince of Abra from the Province of Ilocos Sur and the Reestablishment of the Former Province of Abra, and for Other Purposes.". Supreme Court E-Library. 9 March 1917. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  5. ↑ "Executive Order No. 220; Creating a Cordillera Administrative Region, Appropriating Funds Therefor and for Other Purposes". The LawPhil Project. Manila, Philippines. 15 July 1987. Retrieved 29 July 2016. Sec. 2. Territorial Coverage. For purposes of the CAR, the region shall consist of the provinces of Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga-Apayao and Mt. Province and the chartered city of Baguio. Until otherwise provided by the Cordillera Executive Board (CEB), the seat of the CAR shall be Baguio City.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Province: Abra (province)". PSA. Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  7. 1 2 3 "CORDILLERA ADMINISTRATIVE REGION (CAR)". Census of Population and Housing (2010): Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay (Report). NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  8. 1 2 "Abra: Housing Unit Occupancy Rate Nears 100%; Table 5. Household Population by Ethnicity and Sex: Abra, 2000". National Statistics Office. 3 April 2002. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  9. ↑ Dalby, Andrew (2004-02-18). Dictionary of Languages: The Definitive Reference to More Than 400 Languages. Columbia University Press. p. 264. ISBN 978-0-231-11569-8.
  10. ↑ Tryon, Darrell T. (1994). Comparative Austronesian Dictionary: An Introduction to Austronesian Studies. Ratzlow-Druck. p. 171. ISBN 3-11-012729-6.
  11. ↑ Census of Population and Housing (2010): Population and Annual Growth Rates for The Philippines and Its Regions, Provinces, and Highly Urbanized Cities (PDF) (Report). NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Abra.
 Ilocos Norte Apayao
Ilocos Sur Kalinga
   Abra  
Ilocos Sur Mountain Province
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