I meet up with Ilocos Sur Gover­nor DVB Savellano in the open air restaurant of the Cabugao Beach Resort. A large basket of fresh produce from a local farm is being carried into the kitchen while out on the South China Sea the light is fading and a strong wind is gaining momentum. A lone surfer capitalizes on waves that crash hard against the white sand beach while a few tourists roll up their towels to call an end to another day soaking up the Filipino sunshine.

Casually dressed in jeans and white shirt the governor greets me with a firm hand­shake and points to an impending storm that threatens to wipe out the surfer. “My focus is on developing the agriculture and tourism industries of this province,” the governor explains. “I believe if we concentrate on agriculture it will help the people live their lives and if we develop tourism it will create jobs – these two industries complement one other.”

Having served the people of Ilocos Sur for the past 27 years DVB Savellano is well qualified to understand the needs of his constituents. After graduating from University of the Philippines, he went straight into politics – riding a sway of political storms before becoming Vice Gover­nor of Ilocos Sur in 1988 and Governor in 2001. In 2004 he relinquished the title only to reclaim the role in 2007. “I don’t come from a farming background but when I was studying things to help my people I realized these were the most important industries in Ilocos Sur.”

Ilocos Sur, with a population of around 600,000 occupies a stretch of coast line in the northwest west corner of Luzon Island and is considered one of the most historically important regions of the Philippines. A rocky coast interspersed with a series of white sand bays make it ideal for water-sport activities such as fishing, snorkeling, surfing and even dolphin watching. The ter­rain sustains the crops that form the bedrock of the people’s livelihoods while further inland the landscape becomes mountainous – less hospitable but impressive nonetheless.

For all its natural beauty it is history that draws world attention to Ilocos Sur. The region’s pro­vincial capital Vigan was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001. Founded in 1574 by Juan De Salcedo – a soldier of the Spanish conquest – Vigan was spared annihilation during WWII and today stands like a living museum to a spirited past.

“There is a reason why Vigan survived WWII,” Savellano explains, keen to shed light on the region’s history. “In 1945 the US troops advanced forcing the Japanese to flee the city. Usually they would set fire to the places they evacuated but in Vigan a general from the Japanese Imperial Army made a deal with a Philippine priest. He said ‘If you take care of my wife and daughters I promise not to burn your city.’ The General died in battle but the city and his family, who were half-Filipino, survived.” Vigan is the only colonial corner of the Philippines to have been spared destruction.

For Governor DVB Savellano the importance of educating young people to the regions history can’t be overstated. He sees a great opportunity to promote Ilocos Sur as the country’s premier destination for those with a keen interest in history. “Ilocos Sur has so much to offer. We have churches in pristine condition dating back four hundred years, a national museum, ancestral houses, period houses and cobbled streets where you feel like you’ve entered a time zone.”

Governor Savellano is quick to point out that the regions history is best appreciated when fully understood, a rule that applies to both tourists and locals alike. “By upgrading the schools, stressing importance of history and introducing tourism into their curriculum we can prepare young people for an industry that deserves to succeed. Many of the young here don’t know the history of where they come from but this is changing, it has to change if we are going to develop tourism to international standards,” Savellano explains by way of stressing the importance of improving education standards.
Another of Governor DVB Savellano’s initiatives has been to orchestrate the private sector to collaborate in improving the service sector; not just through first person contact but through marketing the region to the outside world.

“There are 92 million people in the Philippines, every year thousands of these people travel to Europe to see the ancient churches and cathedrals; to discover and learn about history. Many of them don’t know that we have such a history here in the Philippines. News from Ilocos Sur can reach people thousands of km away, we need to reach out to the Filipino people.”

In part to cater for this influx the infrastructure of Ilocos Sur is being developed at a swift pace. Bridges have been upgraded while cables are being laid underground to assure 21st century IT services reach every village, town and school in the region.

“More should be done throughout the Philippines to promote tourism,” he stresses as the waves crash harder against the coast. “In Thailand the numbers have gone up to around 15,000,000 tourists a year. We’re down at 3,000,000.” Looking across at the surfer who won’t give up DVB Savellano continues to ex­pand on the projects in place to promote tourism, “We are making videos to be shown in the Philippines and abroad. We have the Ilocos Sur Total Vacation Package, why total vacation package? Because if you compare Ilocos Sur with other provinces we have things they don’t have, not only world heritage sites but festivals, fine cuisine and white and beaches.”

As if to extend the recommendation DVB Savellano insists I return in the near future. “In February we have the Kannawidan Festival in Vigan. Kannawidan literally translates as ‘traditional practices. The week long festival celebrates the healing arts of saints from all over the province bringing to the fore traditional parades, musical performances, colorful markets laden with traditional crafts, welcoming people and copious amounts of the unique and irresistible Ilocano food. “Try our Baradibud” he recommends with more than a hint of temptation in his eyes “a vegetable stew of anchovy sauce, crushed ginger, utong tops, squash tops and flowers – delicious.”

A few days in Ilocos Sur reveals a people with an elaborate network of cultures born from a dramatic history. For centuries foreign forces have entered and im­posed their influences upon the Philippines. On occasions the influences have been for the good while at other times utterly destructive. Throughout its tur­bulent history the people of this region have maintained their identity, practiced their traditional crafts and held onto their beliefs.

Travel through any of the small towns and villages that define the region and you’ll happen upon a myriad of cottage industries producing hand woven material, pot­tery and stonemasonry using the same methods that were used centuries past. In all the village centers young people fill out the basket ball courts while teams of racing cyclists are commonly seen pounding the roads that link the coastal towns with remote villages high up in the mountains. The network of communities that comprise Ilocos Sur offer not only a fascinating journey into history but also the chance to meet a people of warm embrace who are ready to welcome in the 21st century while maintaining that of which they’re most proud – their heritage.

Thanks to policies that involve the vigilance of local communities crime rates re­main some of the lowest in the Philippines while care for the elderly and the young is quickly becoming a benchmark for Governor DVB Savellano’s new term.

For the young the governor has initiated a provincial wide campaign for planting the nutrition filled vegetable malunggay. Coupled with food production initia­tives it is hoped this project will go a long way to alleviating malnutrition amongst young children in the area. For the elderly the Governor hopes to have a home-care center operational during the first quarter of 2009.

“People from many countries come here for the surfing,” the Governor says as the skies are torn open with a rip of thunder forcing the lone surfer to pull his board out of the sea. “In December we have a big competition that we’re hoping to de­velop into an international surfing competition. We have much to offer; a number of festivals throughout the year, a people who speak a lot more English than other Southeast Asian nations, a good ecology and a fascinating history.”

Still relatively young and evidently enthusiastic Governor DVB Savellano has served less than two years of his first term in office. With a strong grasp of history and a clear focus on the road ahead he seems set to steer Ilocos Sur into a future befitting the glory of its past.