The creation of a new province in northwestern Luzon was conceived by Spain's most dynamic colonial chief -- Governor General Narciso Claveria y Zaldua -- on October 29, 1849 to address the exigencies of colonial policies, geographic considerations, religious factors and economic enterprise.

On March 2, 1850, his successor, interim Governor General Antonio Ma. Blanco, issued an Executive Decree that officially gave birth to the Philippines' 34th province, La Union. This colonial act was approved by Queen Isabela II of Spain through a Royal Decree issued on April 18, 1854.

Its name, which means "the union" or "the united" in Spanish, was borne out of the following facts: 1) The province was a fusion of three contiguous territories -- Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan and Benguet; 2) The co-existence of three ethnic groups -- the Ilokanos, the Pangasinenses and the Igorots -- was mandated; and 3) Three missionary groups -- the Franciscans, the Dominicans and the Agustinians -- invaded the province and civilized it "under the bells". Notably, however, it was the Agustinians who wielded the most influence in conquering the souls and restructuring the indigenous culture of its inhabitants.

While it was the last province constituted by the Spaniards and classified as political-military government until the end of its colonial rule, it was the second province to be bestowed civilian government status by the Americans and became the laboratory for American style of local governance in the country.

Through its 150 years, La Union has significantly contributed its share to the economic, social, cultural, moral and political development of the country. It has firmly set the flow and pace of development in coastal upland areas and has steadily built itself up. It is now the emerging agro-industrial and tourism center of the North Quad.

Despite its relatively rapid growth, it has earnestly maintained and improved her record as the most peaceful, cleanest and greenest province in Region I. It is also one of the country's "Top Ten" provinces and is undeniably one of the most congenial abodes in the Philippines where 639,673 friendly and hospitable people have set up their homes.

Originally composed of twelve (12) towns, La Union is now composed of 576 barangays constituting its nineteen (19) municipalities and one (1) City that now serves as the government center of Region I. Needless to say, La Union is one of the most viable places for investment in the entire country.

Mt. Makiling is a favorite destination for mountain climbers and hikers. One can climb the 1,247-meter-high mountain and hike to its natural hot springs on its slope via the access road through the UP Los Banos campus. A trail continues to Mt. Makiling's summit. Many resorts in Los Banos and Calamba, Laguna have harnessed hot waters from volcanic mud and channeled them into baths where people come for medicinal cures.

Mt. Kanlaon rises 2,488 meters above sea level and is located in Negros Occidental Province. It last erupted in 1988. La Carlota's barrio Ara-al stands as a good starting point for the challenging journey to the peak of Mt. Kanlaon. Halfway up is a welcoming stretch of white sand that awaits climbers spending the night under a clear sky. The trek goes through mountain rainforests into a dwarf forest to small lakes and finally to a beautiful view of Mt. Kanlaon's quiescent main crater.

Mt. Kitanglad is located in Bukidnon Province and rises to a height of 2,938 meters. It is the second tallest mountain in the country and it is a mountain climber's haven and a sanctuary for wild plants and animals, including the Philippine eagle. Mt. Mating-oy is located deep in the heart of Kalinga Province. Legends say it was on its mountaintop that the two ill-fated lovers, Chinayao and
Finsay, met. Finsay was killed and Chinayao asked the supreme god to take her to his throne. The next morning villagers were amazed to find out that

Mt. Mating-oy, its original name, had changed into a profile of a beautiful maiden lying on her back and her head gently tilted towards the poblacion. They could only surmise that the maiden is Chinayao and the streams flowing on the mountainside were her tears for her lost love.

Mt. Iraya is an extinct volcano located in Batan Island and rises 1,008 meters northeast of Basco, Batanes. It is covered with dense rainforests and laced with springs that inspired folk tales. It is also the principal source of water in the capital town of Basco.

Mt. Hibok-Hibok is a dimunitive volcano that rises 1,332 meters from the sea and one of the seven volcanoes found in the island of Camiguin, Northern Mindanao. Since it is an incandescent volcano, which consumes vast quantities of oxygen, its violent eruption in 1951 killed many persons by asphyxiation. Many were found dead as if merely asleep.

Mt. Apo is the godfather of Philippine mountains with the highest peak in the country and can be seen to the south of Davao City, the provinces of Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, and Cotobato. It is a gigantic verdant cap stretching to a height of 2,955 meters and covering 76,000 hectares. Mt. Apo is a dormant volcano with no recorded eruption. However, its jagged crater walls are mute testimonies to ancient activities.

Mt. Sto. Tomas is located in Benguet Province and rises 2,259 meters from sea level. One can start the trek form the road beside Green Valley Country Club in Baguio City and continue seven to eight kilometers to the summit. Mt. Sto. Tomas is a huge, soft mountain, much of it limestone, stretching almost to the shores of Lingayen Gulf. It is also riddled with caves for spelunking pleasures.

Maria Cristina Falls is the most beautiful and tallest waterfall in the country at 58 meters high and nearly as wide. It is located nine kilometers south of lIigan City, a prosperous city which owes its wealth to the hydroelectric power the falls generate.

Pagsanjan Falls is the most famous of all Philippine waterfalls. It is actually located in the town of Lumban, Laguna. The famous falls got its name from the mighty Pagsanjan River that runs through several towns in Laguna. Pagsanjan Falls and shooting the eleven rapids in a banca meandering down the brown stillness of the Pagsanjan River and entering gurgling rapids strewn with large boulders have always been perennial tourist attractions.

Katibawasan Falls is located in Mambajao, Camiguin Island, a beautiful and enchanting island teeming with volcanoes and falls.

Bagongbong Falls is located in Barangay Caubcab in the town of Almeria, Biliran. The island province of Biliran is a land of flowing streams, white sand beaches, and mighty mountains, home to many spectacular waterfalls.

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Casiawan Falls is located in Barangay Casiawan in the municipality of Cabucgayan, Biliran. Like other spectacular falls located in the island, Casiawan Falls is a tourist destination especially forged in the richness of the fiesta celebration and cultural traditions of the modest people of Biliran.

Pangi Falls is located in Eastern Samar. Its enchanting falls lay rest on the freezing watershed and frolic around the sculptured rock formation.

Kipot Twin Falls is located in the outskirts of Bago City in Negros Occidental. Like its name connotes, this spectacular falls comes in a pair of long white ribbon-knotted waters cascading down the mountains.

Tinago Falls is located in Lanao del Norte. It is as beautiful as its sister falls, the Maria Cristina Falls.

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Mag-aso Falls is located in the town of Antequera, Bohol. The falls is one of the major tourist destinations in the island along with the world-renowned Chocolate Hills, the cuddly tarsiers, Baclayon Church, and the white sand beaches of Panglao.

Kawasan Falls is located in Badian, Cebu. It is one of the major tourist attractions in Southern Cebu. The pristine and tranquil waters of Kawasan Falls are ideal for canoeing.

The Philippines and the People's Republic of China signed on 09 June 1975 the Joint Communique establishing diplomatic relations between them. Since then, relations between the two countries have evolved into one of the most important bilateral ties the Philippines has forged. The past twenty-five years bear witness to the increasing vibrancy of these relations.

Throughout the twenty-five years, the Philippines and China have exchanged high-level visits such as the State Visits to China of Philippine Presidents Ferdinand E. Marcos, Corazon C. Aquino, Fidel V. Ramos and Joseph Ejercito Estrada. Similarly, Chinese President Jiang Zemin, Premiers Zhao Ziyang, Li Peng, and Zhu Rongji visited the Philippines. These exchanges illustrate the significant strides already taken in the relationship between the two countries, a relationship firmly guided by the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, and equality.

The Philippines-China cultural, scientific and technological relations have equally flourished. This year marks the implementation of the 11th Executive Program implementing the Philippines-China Cultural Agreement signed on 8 July 1979 and the 12th Protocol of the Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement signed on 14 March 1978. Both agreements focus on exhanges on the official and people-to-people levels where both sides learn from the experiences of each other.

In the field of bilateral trade and economic cooperation, trade between the Philippines and China has surpassed the US $2 billion mark in 1998. China is the Philippines' 11th largest trading partner. On 13 September 1999, the Agreement on Agricultural Cooperation was signed, another milestone in the effort to further enhance Philippines-China relations.

In the twenty-five years of Philippines-China relations, eleven (11) agreements have been signed between the two countries in areas such as: trade, investment, science and technology, education and culture, agriculture, civil aviation, and taxation. More agreements are to be signed in the fields of narcotics and transnational crimes, judicial cooperation, and tourism.

The increasing official and people-to-people contacts between the two countries augur well for warmer and more fruitful cooperation in the new millennium.