La Union

Not to be confused with La Unión, a department in El Salvador.

La Union, also known as L.U. in short, is a province in the Ilocos region of the Philippines.

Cities

• 1 San Fernando (La Union)
• 2 Sudipen
• 3 Bangar (La Union)
• 4 Balaoan
• 5 Bacnotan
• 6 San Juan
• 7 Bauang
• 8 Burgos (La Union)
• 9 Naguilian
• 10 Agoo
• 11 Aringay
• 12 Caba
• 13 Santo Tomas (La Union)
• 14 Rosario (La Union)

Understand

La Union is a relatively new province, having been formed in 1850 from the southernmost towns of Ilocos Sur, westernmost towns of Benguet, and the northernmost towns of Pangasinan. True to its name, meaning “the Union” in Spanish, the region is a melting pot of Pangasinan, Ilocano and Cordilleran (Igorot) cultures. Since the early 2000s, L.U. (as the province is called informally) has a growing tourism industry centered on the coastal towns facing the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea).

Despite the majority of the province being formed out of parts of Pangasinan, Ilocanos now form the majority of the population. The province is also the first in the Philippines to declare a regional language as co-official with English and Filipino (Tagalog), having declared Ilocano as an official language in the province since 2012.

Talk

Native languages spoken in La Union are Ilocano, Pangasinan and the indigenous languages of the Igorot. Ilocano is the most spoken, and is also co-official with English and Tagalog as the official languages in the province.

Get in

With the end of rail service in the 1980s, the only main way of reaching La Union is by bus or car. There is one airport at San Fernando, but has no commercial passenger service.

By bus

Buses are available from Manila, Baguio, Dagupan, Vigan and Laoag, running up to San Fernando. Premium express buses are also available from the new bus station at Bocaue, Bulacan.

By car

With the completion of the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) in 2020, travel times to La Union has been reduced to about 4-5 hours.

From the Cordilleras, the primary routes are Naguilian Rd (Rte 54) and the Jose S. Aspiras Hwy (Rte 208, formerly but still often called Marcos Highway), both radiating from Baguio. Both routes are winding mountain roads and are quite dangerous.

Within Ilocos region, the primary road links are Manila North Rd (Rte 2) and Pangasinan-La Union Rd (Rte 55).

Get around

There is frequent bus service along the Manila North Road corridor, but other parts of L.U. are only served by occasional jeepneys. Getting around by car is recommended.

See

• 1 Baluarte Watch Tower. This rotund structure built along the shore in Luna during the Pre-Spanish time was used as look-out point for impending attacks by pirates. (updated Oct 2020)
• Luna Watchtower.
• 2 Baroro Bridge Marker. The siege of Baroro in Bacnotan started the operation to liberate San Fernando. This marked the first victory of the Luzon Guerrillas over a Japanese armed unit before the American Liberation forces landed on Luzon. The marker stands at the southern approach of the bridge approximately 14 kilometers north of San Fernando. (updated Oct 2020)
• 3 USAFIP, NL Military Shrine and Park, Darigayos (34.2 km north of San Fernando). Camp Spencer, the general headquarters of the USAFIP, NL located along Darigayos Cove in Luna is reserved as a Military Shrine and Park by virtue of Proclamation 590 signed by President Fidel V. Ramos on June 1, 1995. Darigayos is approximately (updated Oct 2020)
• 4 Bahay Na Bato, Luna, La Union. 

Do

• Learn to surf on the black volcanic sand beaches of La Union. While the waves aren't Hawaii by any stretch of the imagination, the gently sloping beaches provide a steady supply of trainer waves. Seasoned surfers will yawn and stay in the bar. You can also enjoy beaches in San Fernando like in the 5-star Thunderbird resort, Sea Park and you can also go shopping at Manna Mall and CSI.
• Go Diving!. 

Drink

• You can enjoy drinking in bars while singing in a local videoke.

Sleep

• Thunderbird Resort Poro Point, VOA Compound, Pennsylvania Avenue, ☏ +63 72 888-7777. A/C rooms equipped with LCD tv, free Wi-Fi access, coffee and tea maker. Some of its facilities and services are restaurant, pool bar and swimming pool. From ₱4687.50. 
• Plaza hotel: Located at the City Proper near 7-Eleven

Go next

• Ilocos Sur
• Benguet