Ilocos Adventure - Vigan
It was such a wonderful and unforgettable experience exploring Ilocos. It was our first time to visit this historical and beautiful province! Ilocos is located in the northwestern region portion of Luzon. It is bounded by the Cordillera Administrative Region and Cagayan Valley to the east, Central Luzon to the south and by the South China Sea to the west.
March 31st 2010 at around 11 o'clock in the evening we embarked our journey to the province in the north... Ilocos. It was an 8-9hr bus ride from Manila to Vigan. We arrived at Vigan at around 8am, Thursday and then met up with our very jolly and friendly tour guide "Kuya Harold".
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| Vigan Cathedral |
After we had breakfast, we began the tour starting with the Vigan Cathedral also known as St. Paul's Metropolitan Cathedral, it is an earthquake Baroque-styled church with a separate belltower. We went inside and prayed. :)
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| Baluarte ni Chavit |
Then we went to Gov. Chavit Singson's BALUARTE or "fortress", another popular tourist destination in Vigan. Chavit has a collection of exotic animal which include tigers and lions that are playful and bred in captivity, ostriches, deers, snakes, birds, horses, fishes, camels, and a butterly garden of over 500 varieties. It’s open to the public and there are no entrance fees. All you need do is to tip the guides generously for the time and trouble it takes to bring you around.
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| The Hidden Garden |
Next is the Hidden Garden, a gorgeous haven owned by an architect famous for his landscaping projects. They actually sell the plants and garden settings there and offers landscaping.
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| One of the rooms of Syquia Mansion |
Syquia Mansion of Former President Elpidio Quirino is next in the list, a historical ancestral house.
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| Bantay Belltower |
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| Bantay Church |
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| Bantay Belltower |
Bantay Church also known as St. Augustine Church and Belltower, named after its Patron St. Augustine, one of the oldest churches of Ilocos Sur.
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| Calle Crisologo |
Calle Crisologo is the most famous cobblestone street of Vigan and stepping on it is like being transported into the Philippines' past.
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| Front of Sinait Church |
Lastly is the Sinait Church, home of the Miraculous Black Nazarene also known as Apo Lakay. Of course we didn't leave Vigan without trying their delicacies such as bagnet, biscocho, longganisa, chicha-corn, and rice cake (bibingka). Next stop -- Laoag City! :)
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