Aurora (province)

Aurora, officially called the Province of Aurora, is a province in the Philippines. It is found in the eastern part of the Central Luzon region and looks out toward the Philippine Sea. The capital city of Aurora is Baler. The province shares borders with several other provinces, including Quezon, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and Isabela. One special town in Aurora is Maria Aurora, which is the only town in the province without any roads leading in or out, yet it is the most populated area.

Before the year 1979, Aurora was not its own province and was part of Quezon. It was later named in honor of Aurora Aragon, the wife of Manuel L. Quezon, who was the president of the Philippine Commonwealth. This is why the nearby province of Quezon also carries his name. Aurora is unique in Central Luzon because it does not have any cities that have their own charters, meaning all its towns are linked together in a special way.

History

Spanish colonial era

In 1572, Spanish explorer Juan de Salcedo was the first European to visit the area that would become Aurora. He explored towns like Casiguran and Baler. These towns were originally part of a larger area called La Provincia de La Pampanga, which also included places like Bulacan and Tarlac.

During the early Spanish period, Aurora was linked to Infanta, which is now part of Quezon province. Missionaries such as the Franciscans set up early communities in Baler and Casiguran. Over time, different groups of missionaries cared for the area.

A big storm and a wave called a tromba marina destroyed part of Baler in 1735. People swam to safety and built a new community.

American colonial era

Aurora's history is tied to Quezon and Nueva Ecija provinces. It changed hands several times before finally becoming part of Quezon.

World War II

In 1942, Japanese forces landed in Casiguran. In 1945, Allied and Filipino forces fought there to push the Japanese out during World War II.

Postwar era

After the war, people in Aurora wanted to be independent from Quezon because they felt isolated and wanted to join the Central Luzon region instead.

Aurora became a smaller part of Quezon in 1951. Later, in 1978, it officially became its own province.

During the Marcos regime

The 1970s were difficult in Aurora, with many challenges during a time of unrest in the Philippines.

Birth of the surf tourism industry

In the 1970s, the movie Apocalypse Now was filmed in Baler, which helped start surfing in the area.

Administrative assignment

In 2002, Aurora was moved from the Southern Tagalog region to Central Luzon, although many people still felt connected to Quezon.

Contemporary

In April 2024, Reynante A. Tolentino became the new governor of Aurora.

Geography

Aurora is a coastal area in the eastern part of Central Luzon in the Philippines. It covers 3,147.32 square kilometres and faces the Philippine Sea, which opens to the Pacific Ocean. To the north, it borders the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park in Isabela, and to the west lies the Sierra Madre mountain range, home to the Casecnan Protected Landscape and Aurora Memorial National Park. The Umiray River forms its southern border.

The land in Aurora is mostly steep due to the Sierra Madre mountains, with only about 14% of the area being flat. The province has a tropical rainforest climate, meaning it gets plenty of rain all year. Because it faces the Pacific Ocean, typhoons often pass through the area.

Aurora is divided into 8 municipalities. Dilasag and Casiguran are in the north, while Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, and Baler—the capital—are in the central part. The southern half includes San Luis and Dingalan. Together, these municipalities have 151 barangays.

Demographics

The province of Aurora has 240,824 people living there, with 77 people for every square kilometre of land.

Most people in Aurora speak Tagalog or Ilocano. Tagalog is very common, especially in places like Baler. Ilocano is more often heard in the northern parts of the province. People there also speak other languages such as Kapampangan, Pangasinan, and several local languages. English and Filipino are also used by many people.

Aurora is mostly Catholic, with about 87% of the people following this religion. There are also smaller groups of other Christian beliefs and a few Muslims living in the area.

Economy

Aurora is a place where important crops like corn and rice are grown. About 13% of the land in Aurora is used for farming, and there are large areas dedicated to rice plantations that produce thousands of metric tons each year.

In the town of Casiguran, there is a special area called the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority, known as APECO. This zone was created in 2007 to help create jobs and improve living conditions. It aims to support growth in Aurora and nearby areas while taking care of the environment.

Culture

The culture of Aurora is a mix of Tagalog and Ilocano traditions, with influences from Kapampangan, Pangasinense, and other local groups like the Aeta, Bugkalot, and Igorot. The province celebrates many festivals and has unique traditions that make up its heritage, along with special places and objects that are important to its history.

Notable people

Aurora has been home to many important people in the Philippines. Some well-known figures include Sonny Angara, who used to be a senator and is now the secretary of education, and Bellaflor Angara-Castillo, who was governor from 2004 to 2013. Others include Edgardo Angara, a former senator, and Manuel L. Quezon, the first president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines. His wife, Aurora Quezon, served as the country's first lady. There are also notable individuals like Arvin Amatorio, an attorney and politician who is the mayor of Bergenfield, New Jersey, and Reynante Tolentino, who has been governor since 2024.