About the Seal

Shield, derived from the Provincial Seal of Ilocos Norte

Paoay Church, represents the most famous historical structure of the town because of it architectural style

Deep Sea Fishing, salt Making, Agriculture, Inland Fishing and Loom Weaving, represents the main sources of income of the townspeople.

Paoay Lake, one of the most famous tourist spot in the municipality.

Brief History

Paoay lies on the tiny strip of Iloco Norte’s coastal plain facing the China Sea, bounded by the City of Laoag on the north; Currimao on the south; Sarrat on the east; and the Luzon Sea on the west. It has a total land area of 76.24 square kilometers,with a population of 21,253 in 1995.

To spearhead the spiritual conquest of Ilocos Norte during the early years of Spanish rule, the Augustinians founded Paoay in 1593 along with other towns of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra and La Union. On February 2, 1818, a royal Decree was issued dividing the Ilocos province into Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur. Paoay was annexed to Ilocos Norte.

Simultaneously revolts against the Spanish colonial government broke out in Paoay and in other neighboring towns. One of which was the protest against the May 14, 1814 decree of Fredinand VII abrogating the liberal Spanish Constitution of 1812. However, poor leadership and inferior arms resulted in the failure of the revolt. At the outbreak of the revolution in 1896, a chapter of the Katipunan was organized by Gabriel Dumlao in Paoay.

During the Filipino-American War (1898-1902), the town suffered tremendous losses of lives and property. The stubborn resistance of the people against the American occupation of the town led to the indiscriminate burning of houses and the incarceration of suspected rebels.

Paoay has a high agricultural yields and stable handicraft industries. The major crop of the town is garlic, sometimes called white gold by the farmers deriving their income from this produce. Other agricultural crops are rice, corn, tobacco, sugarcane, and vegetables. The town is also noted for its weaving industry. Among its finished products are blankets, towels and pillow cases, which are favorite souvenir items of foreign and local visitors. He long stretch of Paoay’s coastline is both an intensive fishing ground and a site for many beach resorts. The town is also rich in cultural and historical landmarks. A two-storey Spanish-style brick house, better known as the Malacańang of the North, nestling on top of a hill overlooking the legendary lake in Barangay Suba was coverted into a museum by the government. The Paoay Church, on eof the best religious structures left by the Spaniards, built and completed in 1699 to 1707 under forced labor, is regarded as the embodiment of the colonial Filipino style.