Currimao, Philippines

Currimao is a fourth class municipality in the province of Ilocos Norte, Philippines. It is surrounded by Pinili in the south, Batac in the east, the South China Sea in the west and Paoay in the north. Currimao is politically subdivided into 23 barangays.

The municipality came into existence in 1920-21 by a joint and unanimous petition of the then Union Obrera and the people of the then barrios of Currimao, Pias, Maglaoi, Gaang, and Pangil which now form an integral part of the municipality.

During the Spanish regime, when the Galleon Trade was still flourishing, Moro pirates frequented the Coast of the China Sea. To protect the natives from the pirates, the Spanish authorities built watchtowers at two strategic points, one at the tip of what is now called Arboledan Point and the other at Barangay Torre.

Whenever pirates appeared in the horizon to attack the villages, the people manning the watchtowers warned the people by shouting ‘CORRER’ which means “to run”. As soon as the natives heard the warning shouts, they would hide themselves. During those times, pirates were known among the natives as “CUMAWS”, a name struck fear and terror among the people. It was from these two words that the name of CURRI-MAO was derived.

Weather in The Phiippines is tropical so it is warm and humid all year round. The Tropics don’t have seasons as such, they have the wet and dry periods. The wet season or monsoon period is from June to September.

Cruises are available year round, although both cruising and weather are better in the non monsoon period.

General Information:

Population: 11,970 (2010)
Time zone: PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code: 2903
Dialing code: 77
Income class: 4th class; rural
Native Products: tupig, bibingka & kutsinta,
glutenous rice cake delicacies & puto,
cassava and ginger juice