Gloria Diaz

Gloria Maria Aspillera Diaz is a veteran in Philippine cinema, and the first Filipino to bring home the Miss Universe crown.
She was born on 1950 in Aringay, La Union. Often referred to as one of the Diaz clan in newspapers, Diaz was one of 12 children.
She became Miss Philippines in 1969 and represented the country in the 1969 Miss Universe Pageant in Miami, Florida. She was only eighteen when she was crowned Miss Universe of 1969 outsmarting other candidates on how to welcome the first men that had just landed on the moon as soon as the were back on the planet. President Richard M. Nixon described 1969 as the year when "the Americans conquered the moon, but the Philippines conquered the universe!"
Díaz is also a well-respected actress in the Philippine film and TV industry. Her box-office mettle, as well as her acting prowess, was recently honored when she received the most-coveted FAMAS Award (the Philippine equivalent of the Oscars) of the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences for Best Supporting Actress in her role as a spinster adoptive mother in the FAMAS Best Picture Nasaan Ka Man (2005). To date, she had made 38 movies her latest was the box-office Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo.
Gloria Diaz - an Ilocano pride. The Ilocana talent, beauty and brain is truly universal.

Teofilo Yldefonso - The Ilocano Shark

Teofilo Yldefonso is considered to be the finest Filipino swimmer in history.

Born in Piddig, Ilocos Norte on February 9, 1903 and known as the "Ilocano Shark" because of his speed.His fastest time was 2 minutes and 48.4 seconds in the 200m breaststroke.
He is best remembered for accomplishing two feats: being the first Filipino to win an Olympic medal and the only Filipino who won two Olympic medals. He won his first bronze medal at the 200m breaststroke event at the 1928 Amsterdam Summer Olympics, and his second bronze at the same event at the 1932 Los Angeles Summer Olympics. His fastest time was 2 minutes and 48.4 seconds in the 200m breaststroke.

Teofilo Yldefonso - an Ilocano pride. The remarkable Ilocano strength and speed is mirrored in his athletic prowess and continues to inspire the present and future Filipino athletes to strive, to achieve and to excel in world sports.

Manuel E. Arguilla

Manuel E. Arguilla was born on June 17, 1911 in Nagrebcan, Bauang, La Union to parents Crisanto Arguilla, a farmer, and Margarita Estabillo, a potter.Their mediocre living was not a hindrance for Manuel to attain his dreams especially in literature.
He finished his elementary school in his hometown and his high school in San Fernando where he became the editor-in-chief of his school's newsletter, the La Union Tab. He was also an athlete where he became champion in swimming events he joined.He entered the University of the Philippines where he joined the UP Writers Club and later became the president and the editor of the UP Literary Apprentce. He finished Education in 1933. He married Lydia Villanueva, a fellow artist and writer and lived in Ermita, Manila.Upon graduation, he practive his profession in University of Manila. He later joined the Bureau of Public welfare where he was the editor of Welfare Advocate, the bureau's publication.As a writer, his famous works were compiled in a book entitled How my Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife (And Other Stories) published by Philippine Book Guild in 1940. These stories were written when he was 22-29 years old. This collection of stories won first prize in short story category during the first Commonwealth Literary Contest in 1940.
When the Japanese invaded the country in 1941, Arguilla join the freedom forces of the country and led a division of the Marking's Guerillas. He was captured by the Japanese in 1944 and was imprisoned in Fort Santiago together with his family. His family was later freed but Manuel was sentenced to death. He was executed on October 1944 at age of 33.
Manuel Arguilla, an Ilocano pride. His shown love to the country as a teacher, a writer, and a freedom fighter was a virtue of patriot who offered his talents and life for the country.