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Wednesday December 26, 2018

Ilocos : An Impromptu Adventure

’Twas the year-end yuletide break ( December 26-31 ), my late wife had traveled earlier to Kuwait to celebrate the holidays with my son, while my other children had their own out-of-town plans.

Faced with the prospect of being home alone for almost a week with nothing much to do, I thought about putting together a 3-day itinerary that would let me visit both Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur, two provinces I had always wanted to discover and explore.

Drafting the Journey Schedule

With a little help from the Internet and some documents I have saved from earlier travel research, I prepared a brief outline of what I wanted to see and do within the limited time frame I have allotted.

And here is what I came up with:

Day 0: Departure
Day 1: Ilocos Norte: Laoag, Burgos, Bangui, Pagudpud, Laoag
Cape Bojeador Lighthouse

A prominent cultural heritage site that stands as the highest-elevated active Spanish-era lighthouse in the Philippines, perched 160 meters above sea level on Vigia de Nagpartian Hill.

Bangui Windmills

An iconic oceanfront wind farm featuring massive turbines lined up along the coast, recognized as the first commercial wind farm in Southeast Asia.

Saud Beach

Widely celebrated as the “Boracay of the North” due to its expansive stretch of pristine, powdery white sand and crystal-clear turquoise waters.

Museo Iloco

A museum showcasing local ethnic artifacts, traditional Ilocano clothing, and heritage exhibits.

La Paz Sand Dunes

An expansive 85-square-kilometer coastal desert and beach ecosystem featuring rolling sand ridges ranging from 10 to 30 meters high, terminating directly where the desert meets the West Philippine Sea.

Laoag Cathedral

St. William’s Cathedral, a foundational 17th-century landmark and the central seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Laoag.

Day 2 AM: Ilocos Norte: Sarrat, Batac, Paoay
Santa Monica Church

An exceptional 18th-century landmark recognized as the largest church in the Ilocos Region, famous for its beautifully preserved, sprawling red brick architecture.

Marcos Family Ancestral Mansion

A historic museum that serves as a visual walkthrough chronicling the early life, military background, and political career of the late former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

Batac Church

Immaculate Conception Parish Church, an important 16th-century sanctuary founded by Augustinian friars in 1587. It is the second oldest Augustinian foundation in Ilocos Norte.

Paoay Church

A UNESCO World Heritage site built in 1710. Famous for its massive, earthquake-proof Baroque-style architecture and prominent side buttresses.

Malacañang Ti Amianan

A grand, lakeside two-story mansion overlooking Paoay Lake. It serves as a presidential museum displaying historical exhibits and memorabilia.

Day 2 Noon: Travel to Vigan, Ilocos Sur
Day 2 PM: Ilocos Sur: Vigan
Vigan Cathedral

St. Paul’s Metropolitan Cathedral, a landmark 18th-century church that serves as the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia and is a core centerpiece of the UNESCO World Heritage Historic Town of Vigan.

Plaza Burgos

A historic public square situated right beside the Vigan Cathedral’s detached bell tower, this vibrant plaza serves as the ultimate local street food hub and a community gathering point in the heart of the city’s heritage zone.

Calle Crisologo

The crown jewel of Vigan City, a world-renowned, four-block cobblestone street lined with beautifully preserved 15th to 19th-century Spanish colonial houses, a core highlight of Vigan’s UNESCO World Heritage designation.

Day 3 AM: Ilocos Sur: Vigan, Calesa Tour (Bantay, Caoayan)
Bantay Church

The Parish of Saint Augustine of Hippo is one of the oldest surviving religious complexes in the Ilocos region, established by Augustinian friars in 1590.

Pagburnayan

The famous historical district dedicated to the centuries-old art of crafting Burnay jars. These heavy, unglazed clay storage vessels are prized for their extreme durability, achieved using a unique Chinese-Ilocano manufacturing technique.

Baluarte

The Baluarte Resort and Mini Zoo is a massive, 120-hectare interactive wildlife sanctuary, a private estate owned by Luis “Chavit” Singson, who opened his personal property and exotic animal collection to the public.

Abel Weaving

A firsthand look at a local weaving Inabel—the heavy, beautifully patterned traditional Ilocano textile meticulously crafted on ancient wooden looms.

Day 3 PM: Ilocos Sur: Vigan
Crisologo Museum

An archival ancestral home turned museum that showcases the political legacy, antique furnishings, and extensive personal artifacts of the prominent Crisologo political dynasty.

Syquia Mansion Museum

A majestic 19th-century ancestral home built in 1830, housing the extensive presidential memorabilia of former Philippine President Elpidio Quirino, who married into the affluent Syquia family.

Mira Hills

An ecological hill park that originally served as a quiet, tree-shaded public park, but now has become the site of the brand-new ONE Mira Hills Waterpark.

Securing Room Reservations

After finalizing my itinerary, I still needed to ensure I have a place to stay upon arrival, so I pre-booked my accommodations for both Laoag and Vigan ahead of time. After some cross-referencing online, I found two lodging options that well suited my needs.

In Laoag, I chose Hotel Tiffany due to its reasonable price and proximity to several of Laoag’s attractions.

Likewise, in Vigan, I chose Grandpa’s Inn for the same reasons: budget-friendly and conveniently located near most of Vigan’s main attractions.

Planning ahead is essential when embarking on a trip involving multiple stops, especially when time is a constraint.

Otherwise, you risk wasting much of your valuable time on-site figuring out what happens next.

With this list as my roadmap, I set out on my journey, hoping I had made the right choices in the right sequence. In the end, the trip proceeded mostly as intended, save for a few minor glitches.

Posted by Reynald V. Nuñez
Tags: Ilocos, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur

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