818 from 18,980 to 282,845 made the administration of the province very
difficult. Due to the excessive monopolies and forced labor, there were several
uprisings: first by the people of Dingras in 1589; one that was led by Pedro
Almazan in 1616; the revolt of Diego Silang in 1762-1763; by Ambaristo in 1788;
by Pedro Mateo in 1808 and uprising of Sarrat in 1815. For this reason, the
division of the Ilocos into two provinces was recommended by the local
authorities. On February 2, 1818, a Spanish Royal Decree was promulgated
dividing the Province of Ilocos Norte from Ilocos Sur. Laoag City, which was
then the biggest center of population, was made the capital of Ilocos Norte
