San Fernando City, La Union

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**San Fernando City**
Location
Map of La Union showing the location of San Fernando City.
Government
Region	Ilocos Region (Region I)
Province	La Union
District	1st district of La Union
Barangays	59
Income class:	1st class City; urban
Mayor	Mary Jane Ortega (Lakas-CMD)
Founded	1850
Cityhood	1998
Physical characteristics
Area	109.10 km²
Population Total (2000) Density	115,650 936/km²

San Fernando City is a 1st-class city in the province of La Union, Philippines. It is the capital city of La Union and the regional center of the Ilocos Region (Region I). According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 115,650 people in 20,755 households.

San Fernando is the financial, industrial and political center of the province, engaged in agriculture, aquaculture, shipping using the port of San Fernando, and other industrial sectors. Its ethnic population is predominantly Ilocano and Christian (Roman Catholic).

San Fernando belongs to District 1 in La Union province.

[edit] Barangays

San Fernando City is politically divided into 59 barangays.

Abut
Apaleng
Bacsil
Bangbangolan
Bangcusay
Barangay I (Pob.)
Barangay II (Pob.)
Barangay III (Pob.)
Barangay IV (Pob.)
Baraoas
Bato
Biday
Birunget
Bungro
Cabaroan
Cabarsican
Cadaclan
Calabugao
Camansi
Canaoay

Carlatan
Catbangen
Dallangayan Este
Dallangayan Oeste
Dalumpinas Este
Dalumpinas Oeste
Ilocanos Norte
Ilocanos Sur
Langcuas
Lingsat
Madayegdeg
Mameltac
Masicong
Nagyubuyuban
Namtutan
Narra Este
Narra Oeste
Pacpaco
Pagdalagan
Pagdaraoan

Pagudpud
Pao Norte
Pao Sur
Parian
Pias
Poro
Puspus
Sacyud
Sagayad
San Agustin
San Francisco
San Vicente
Santiago Norte
Santiago Sur
Saoay
Sevilla
Siboan-Otong
Taboc
Tanqui
Tanquigan

[edit] History

The earliest settlement in San Fernando is believed to have existed before the early Ming Dynasty. Archeological findings revealed porcelain, beads, spearheads and other objects indicating that early settlers traded with mainland China and the Middle East.

The ancient villages were often raided by pirates---Muslims from the south or the Chinese from the north---who plied the South China Sea, or were at war with tribal groups from the highlands of the Cordillera.

Pindangan, as it was then called, became San Fernando in 1850 and was made provincial capital of the new province of La Union.

Dissent against the Spanish authorities found its outlet through numerous uprisings. In San Fernando, the climax came in 1896 when the Spanish garrison was attacked by Filipino insurgents.

The Americans ruled the Philippines after the short-lived Spanish-American War in 1898, after which Spain ceded the country to the United States for $20 million, along with Cuba, Puerto Rico and Guam. San Fernando experienced naval bombardment by the Americans as well as actual fighting on land.

The Japanese bombed San Fernando and the Poro Airport on December 8, 1941. After three years of Japanese occupation, American planes reappeared over San Fernando on September 22, 1944. The Japanese retreated in 1945.

San Fernando was designated a component city in 1998.

In March of 2004, San Fernando saw the building of its first shopping mall: CSI City Mall La Union (also the first true mall in La Union province).

During her State of the Union Address in 2006, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced the ongoing planning and development of San Fernando International Airport which will serve as the second largest international airport of the Philippines after Ninoy Aquino International Airport of Manila. San Fernando International Airport will provide a much needed modern and technologically up-to-date facility comparable to NAIA.

One of the long term goals of San Fernando City is to become a world class competitive port and commercial center alongside the likes of other middle-tier world cities. The fact that San Fernando is situated on/near a peninsula can only help facilitate such future competitiveness.