Aurora (province)

Province of Aurora
Province of Aurora; Lalawigan ng Aurora
	— Province —
; Flag	; Seal
	Map of the Philippines with Aurora highlighted
	Coordinates: 15°53′N 121°33′E / 15.883°N 121.55°ECoordinates: 15°53′N 121°33′E / 15.883°N 121.55°E
Country	Philippines
Region	Central Luzon (Region III)
Founded	August 13, 1979 †
Capital	Baler
	Government
• Type	Province of the Philippines
• Governor	Bellaflor Angara-Castillo (LDP)
• Vice-Governor	Gerardo Noveras (Liberal)
	Area
• Total	3,147.32 km2 (1,215.2 sq mi)
Area rank	44th out of 80
	Population (2007)
• Total	187,802
• Rank	69th out of 80
• Density	59.7/km2 (154.5/sq mi)
• Density rank	75th out of 80
	Divisions
• Independent cities	0
• Component cities	0
• Municipalities	8
• Barangays	151
• Districts	Lone district of Aurora
Time zone	PHT (UTC+8)
ZIP Code
Spoken languages	Tagalog, Ilocano, Kapampangan, English
Website	http://www.aurora.gov.ph
	† Became a sub-province of Quezon in 1951.

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Aurora is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is Baler and borders, clockwise from the south, the provinces of Quezon, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and Isabela. To the east of Aurora is the Philippine Sea.

Before 1979, Aurora was part of the province of Quezon. Aurora was, in fact, named after Ma. Aurora Aragon, the wife of Pres. Manuel L. Quezon, the president of the Philippine Commonwealth, after whom the mother province was named.

[edit] People and culture

The majority of the people of Aurora province are lowland Christians, particularly Tagalog in municipalities south of Baler, the capital, Ilocano in municipalities north of Baler, and some Kapampangan in the capital.

There are also pockets of Negritos, called Dumagats. Most Dumagats are living in the hillsides or mountains. They are believed to have result from a fusion of Austronesian and Melanesian ancestries, and survive from fishing and hunting. There are three kinds of Dumagats in Aurora province, the Umiray Dumagat, Casiguran Dumagat, and the Palanan Dumagat. All three subgroupings have the Bible translated into their languages.

[edit] Economy

Corn crops, rice and other major agricultural crops are grown in Aurora.

[edit] Geography

[edit] Political

Aurora is subdivided into 8 municipalities.

[edit] Municipalities

[edit] Physical

[edit] History

In 1572, the Spanish explorer Juan de Salcedo became the first European to visit the region that would be known as Aurora while he was exploring the northern coast of Luzon. Salcedo reportedly visited the towns of Casiguran, Baler and Infanta.

In the early days of the Spanish colonial period, Aurora was ecclesiastically linked to Infanta, which today rests further south, in northern Quezon. The earliest missionaries in the province were the Franciscans, who had established missions in Baler and Casiguran in 1609. Due to lack of available personnel, the region was given to the jurisdiction of the Agustinians and Recollects in 1658, but was returned to the Friars Minor in 1703. Other early missions included Dipaculao, established in 1719, and Casiguran, in 1753.

The early history of Aurora is linked to Quezon Province, of which it formed a part until its establishment as a province, and Nueva Ecija, under which the area was governed as the District of El Principe.

Aurora became a sub-province of Quezon in 1951, and finally attained provincehood during the presidency of Ferdinand E. Marcos, by virtue of Batas Pambansa Blg. 7[4] enacted on August 13, 1979.

[edit] Demographics

Based on the 2000 census survey, More than half of the population is Tagalog 52.85% and about less than 1/3 of the population is Ilocano 31.43%. Other ethnic groups like Kapampangan, Kasigurahin and Kankana-ey compromised about 16% of the population.^[1]

[edit] Aurora Pacific Economic Zone

Casiguran is home to the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority or APECO a special economic zone located in this coastal town. Created in 2007 by virtue of Republic Act No. 9490 thru the efforts of Sen. Edgardo Angara and Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara, it is expected be a major transshipment hub going to the pacific region. It aims to boost social, economic and industrial developments in Aurora and nearby provinces by generating jobs for the people, improving the quality of their living conditions, advocating an eco-friendly approach to industrialization and enhancing the potential of the community in productivity.

[edit] See also

Super regions of the Philippines

Pamahalaang Panlalawigan ng Aurora.
Aurora Provincial Jail[1], Suklayin, Baler, Aurora.
Bulwagang Ng Katarungan (RTC, Suklayin, Baler.
Aurora Parole and Probation Office, Suklayin, Baler.
Aurora Police Provincial Office, NPC, PNP, Baler.
Balete Park’s (Quirino) “Millennium Tree”[2].
The Aurora State College of Technology (ASCOT) in Sitio Dicaloyungan, Zabali, Baler.
Blue Crab Breeding and Hatchery, Baler.[3].
Aurora Brackishwater and Marine Aquaculture Technology Center, ASCOT, Zabali, Baler, Aurora.
Aurora Provincial Tourism Office (Suklayan).