Jump to content

Abra (province)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by AnomieBOT (talk | contribs) at 19:06, 22 April 2016 (Dating maintenance tags: {{Elucidate}}). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

This article is about the Philippine province. For other uses, see Abra.
Abra
Province
Province of Abra
Abra Provincial Capitol
Abra Provincial Capitol
Flag of Abra
Flag
Location in the Philippines
Location in the Philippines
RegionCordillera Administrative Region (CAR)
Founded10 March 1917
CapitalBangued
Government
 • TypeSangguniang Panlalawigan
 • GovernorEustaquio Bersamin (LP)
 • Vice GovernorChari Bersamin (LP)
Area
[1]
 • Total4,165.25 km2 (1,608.21 sq mi)
 • Rank31st out of 81
Population
 (2010)[2]
 • Total234,733
 • Rank68th out of 81
 • Density56/km2 (150/sq mi)
  • Rank80th out of 81
Divisions
 • Independent cities0
 • Component cities0
 • Municipalities
27
 • Barangays303
 • DistrictsLone District of Abra
Time zoneUTC+8 (PHT)
IDD : area code +63 (0)74
ISO 3166 codePH-ABR
Spoken languages
Websitewww.abra.gov.ph

Abra is a landlocked province of the Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. Its capital is Bangued, is bordered by Ilocos Norte and Apayao on the north, Ilocos Sur and Mountain Province on the south, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur on the west, and Kalinga and Apayao on the east.

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 once again in 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.[further explanation needed]

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.[further explanation needed]

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.

Geography

Physical

Abra 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.[5]

 †  Provincial capital

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.[5][6]

Further information: List of barangays in Abra
Back to contents

Demographics

Santa Catalina de Alejandria Parish Church in Tayum
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%
Source: National Statistics Office[2]

Abra's inhabitants are mostly descendants of Ilocano settlers and members of the Tingguian tribe. As of 2011, the population of the province is 240,141.

The predominant languages are Ilocano[7] and Itneg.[8] Based on the 2000 census survey, the majority of the province population is Ilocano 71.9%. Other ethnic groups living in the province are the Tinguian 18.7%, Ibanag 4.5%, Isneg 3.2% and Tagalog 0.4%.[9]

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.

Back to contents

References

  1. ^ "List of Provinces". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Population and Annual Growth Rates for The Philippines and Its Regions, Provinces, and Highly Urbanized Cities" (PDF). 2010 Census and Housing Population. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  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. ^ a b c d "Province: Abra". Philippine Statistics Authority - National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  6. ^ a b "2010 Census of Population and Housing: Population Counts - Cordillera Administrative Region" (PDF). National Statistics Office (Philippines), April 4, 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Tryon, Darrell T. (1994). Comparative Austronesian Dictionary: An Introduction to Austronesian Studies. Ratzlow-Druck. p. 171. ISBN 3-11-012729-6.
  9. ^ "Abra: Housing Unit Occupancy Rate Nears 100%". National Statistics Office. 3 April 2002. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
Map all coordinates using OpenStreetMap

Download coordinates as:

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Abra_(province)&oldid=716613811"