Ilocos norte: Barely two months since the Genuine Ilocano (GI) program was launched in Hawaii, global Ilocanos have been reaching out through a unified membership and engagement program while strengthening Ilocos Norte's position as a leading tourism and investment destination. 'The Genuine Ilocano program is basically our way of connecting Ilocanos across the Philippines and around the world. Ilocanos by birth, by heritage, and even those who simply embrace the Ilocano way of life all have a place in the GI community,' said Aianree Raquel, head of the Ilocos Norte Tourism Office (INTO), in an interview on Thursday.

According to Philippines News Agency, the online platform unlocks access to opportunities in investment, business, travel and leisure, culture and the arts, film, heritage, education, and more. To register, the INTO announced that interested individuals may scan the QR code found on https://gi.ilocosnorte.ph/. Once registered by following three simple steps, members may access travel benefits, airport assistance, exclusive event invitations, tourism activities, and business and investment opportunities in Ilocos Norte.

The GI program goes beyond promoting tourism. It is designed to strengthen the global Ilocano community by encouraging overseas Ilocanos to remain actively engaged in the province's development. The GI program was officially launched in Waipahu, Hawaii, in May 2026 during Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos' visit to the United States. The event gathered hundreds of Filipino-Americans, many with roots in Ilocos Norte, to strengthen cultural and economic ties between the province and the Ilocano diaspora.

The GI program aligns with the province's strategy of using culture, identity, and innovation to attract more visitors, investors, and global partnerships.