Laoag

Laoag
Ilocos Norte Capitol in Laoag
Seal
Nickname(s): The Sunshine City
Location in the province of Ilocos Norte
Laoag Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 18°12′N 120°36′E / 18.2°N 120.6°E / 18.2; 120.6Coordinates: 18°12′N 120°36′E / 18.2°N 120.6°E / 18.2; 120.6
Country	Philippines
Region	Ilocos (Region I)
Province	Ilocos Norte
Congressional District	1st District
Founded	1580
Cityhood	19 June 1965
Barangays	80
Government
• Mayor	Chevylle V. Fariñas
• Vice Mayor	Michael V. Fariñas
Area
• Total	116.08 km2 (44.82 sq mi)
Population (2015 census)
• Total	111,125
• Density	960/km2 (2,500/sq mi)
Time zone	PHT (UTC+8)
ZIP code	2900
IDD : area code	+63 (0)77
Languages	Ilocano, English, Tagalog
Website	www.laoagcity.gov.ph

Laoag, officially the City of Laoag (Ilocano: Ciudad ti Laoag; Filipino: Lungsod ng Laoag), is a third-class city and capital of the province of Ilocos Norte in the Philippines.  The city is the province's political, commercial, and industrial hub and the location of the Ilocos Region's only commercial airport, the Laoag International Airport. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 111,125 people.

The municipalities of San Nicolas, Paoay, Sarrat, Vintar, and Bacarra form its boundaries. The foothills of the Cordillera Central mountain range to the east, and the West Philippine Sea to the west are its physical boundaries.

Laoag experiences the prevailing monsoon climate of Northern Luzon, characterized by a dry season from November to April and a wet season from May to October, occasionally visited by powerful typhoons.

Long before the coming of the Spaniards, there already existed an extensive region consisting of the present provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra and La Union renowned for its gold mines. Merchants from Japan and China would often visit the area to trade gold with beads, ceramics and silk. The inhabitants of the region, believed to be of Malay origin, called their place "samtoy," from "sao mi itoy," which literally meant "this is our language."