DAY 3. FROM NORTH TO SOUTH
We left our hotel at past 7 am. Just like all travellers, we come and go, leaving in us memories of a lifetime experience- memoirs of places, culture and people. We then headed to our next destination- Juan Luna Shrine
JUAN LUNA SHRINE
Juan Luna Shrine is now the repository of the memorabilia and reproductions of the works of the renowned painter Juan Luna. It can be found in Badoc, Ilocos Norte. Badoc is the last town when you exit Ilocos Norte. Better you also got here when you visit Ilocos. It houses the Ilocos Brand - Paoay Kumakaway.
Badoc town got its name from badok-badok ( Phleum- pratense), a plant which abounds in the locality.
BANTAY BELL TOWER
Bantay Bell Tower is a bell- fry structure built since 1591. From its name Bantay which locally means " mountain" and " guard", it can be denoted why this structure is built on the highest point in the locality. It served as a watch tower and a bell tower by Spaniards, overlooking the whole Vigan in the south to the South China Sea and Paoay in the north. Bantay town, which name was deriverd from the same, is adjacent to Vigan, so I recommend that you add this to your itinerary when you plan your travel to Vigan . This is also what the conductor will shout out if you reached Vigan if you are commuting, so better take note of " Bantay". =)
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| four- century old structure made of bricks, stones, seashells and sugarcanes |
VIGAN, ILOCOS SUR
My Vigan Ultimate Tour
We arrived Vigan City at lunch time. We have lots of places to visit, yet limited time to do so. From afar is the Crisologo Museum, and we found it closed for lunch break. We headed then to Burnayan Jar making at Brgy Burnayan. Thanks to the street vendor at Bantay Bell- fry Tower, who sold us some "kalamay" that satisfied our hunger. If you want to visit all the must- see sites, I recommend you ride a Kalesa ( horse-drawn transportation carriage), not only that you'll able to feel the ambiance of a way back to the past but also it is more cheaper, especially when you are in a group. You can hire them for 120pesos/ hour. Tricycles here collects 20-50/ head in every stop so you better take the kalesa instead.
To see the complete tourist destination map of Vigan, you may open it on the ff. website.
TOUR MAP OF VIGAN: http://www.vigancity.gov.ph/images/Vigan%20City%20Map.jpg
BURNAYAN JAR MAKING
Brgy. Burnayan, Vigan
Our next stop ( after Vigan's Plaza Maestro, Vigan Cathedral, Plaza Burgos and Plaza Salcedo) was the Brgy. Burnayan, known for its high quality jars and earthen pots.
Before, I thought that jar or "burnay", which was used before on Spanish era as container pails for shipping goods and for fermentation, was easy to make. Just as easy as Demi Moore made her earthen pots in the movie " Ghost" but I was wronged. It is never easy.
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| a lump of clay with perfect consistency, was smacked on the turntable... I was having a hard time to heighten the pot, whew! |
CALLE CRISOLOGO
Heritage houses, cobblestones, relics, kalesas (horse- drawn contraption for transportation), these are the main reasons why people get here to Vigan. These will be the way to have a glimpse of the past. Seems they are time machines.
Here we are at last, to the best Heritage Site ( the Calle Crisologo).
Walking through it is like walking back in time. Some portions made me have "goosebumps". As if someone is watching over me from behind. Wah!
Heritage hotels, souvenir shops, pasalubong centers, and empanada stalls... I can't ask for more. We felt more gastronomic needs so we bought Vigan's Empanada at a well known specialty food stall, Irene's Empanada. Their empanada is actually made of longganisa, papaya strips, mango sprouts and fresh eggs rolled on rice flour crust. Usual sauce is garlic vinegar and spicy vinegar. For a choice of pork, tuna, beef, or chicken at 30-35pesos/ piece, not to mention its delicious taste, you'll definitely love it
Some food stalls that you may visit are:
Cafe Uno- known for their tasteful coffee
Kusina Felicitas ( near Grandpa's Inn) - known for their longsilog breakfast
Cafe Leona- try their Bagnet KBL pizza
Afterwards, we hurried to the Syquia Museum, which can be found not more than a 100 meters from Gordion Inn at Calle Crisologo.
SYQUIA MUSEUM
Syquia Museum is the ancestral house of the 6th President of the Philippines, Pres. Elpidio Quirino. It is actually owned by her wife, Dona Alicia Syquia, which has her Chinese domain with a high fortune on robust trading in Vigan. This houses the extensive memorabilias of the late president. Not only that. It's really a worth visit cause you will feel the magnificent and historical gatherings that took place here amongst elegant furnishings.
Here, we found not only family portraits and antics but also international gifts such as paintings and collections. They have the replica of Spolarium of Juan Luna, the 3 more paintings from Fernando Amorsolo, and the most precious of all is the Ming Dynasty twin 18-k golden vase and mirror that was given by the Ming Dynasty Emperor to the Quirino family.
You will see a lot of big cabinets and mirrors here, and with the so silent surroundings, anyone, will definitely have another peak of goosebumps!
REMINDER: Don't ever miss to see the Emperor seal, which is engraved at the bottom of the two 18-K golden vase.. just ask the caretaker for it, and he will so willingly show it to you.. Slowly, he will show the Emperor's seal...Focus on the marks on the marble table, este on the bottom of the vase. No photo taking of Emperor's seal allowed.
Open Hours: 9 am- 12pm; 1:30 pm- 4:00 pm ( exceptTuesday)
Tuesday- by appointment
Entrance fee- P20
CRISOLOGO MUSEUM
This is the ancestral house of Atty Floro S. Crisologo, a first district congressman back in 1940's. Some of the bills he created is the formation of Social Security System (SSS) and the Virginia Tobacco Law. We just take pictures, and we went out.
Open hours: 8:30- 11:30 am; 1:30-4:30 pm, Monday to Sunday
Entrance fee: none
Open for donations
Hidden Garden
South of Vigan lies a hidden beautiful garden which havens gorgeous landscapes and restaurants. This is a must dining place as it offers very affordable prices, good service and very delicious meals. A must taste here is their Vigan Empanada worth P45/pc. Small boxes for half a dozen were also packaged here. I bought mine, since the seller told us that their empanada can last upto one week when refrigerated.
BALUARTE NI CHAVIT
At the heart of Vigan lies also the Chavit Singson's Baluarte Zoo. I find it not a zoo, but an interactive wildlife sanctuary where you can walk with the ostrich, roar with the lions, whistle like the birds, and you can play with the ponies, dears, etc. Much more incredible with this one of a kind zoo in the country is that everyone may avail it all for FREE. Thanks Chavit!
Our last stop then was the Marcia's Delicacy, located along the roadside of Maharlika Highway. So better buy your pasalubongs here before you drive your way back to Manila. They offer Bagnet at 380/ kilo; Ilocano delicacies, with medium package of 100-150, and large package at least 250. A must try also here is their version of lomi, cause they serve it with chicharon toppings and lots of seafood sidings, for nearly 50/order, it's a nice merienda treat.
Well, at sunset time, we bid goodbye to Ilocos. Thanks Sir Troy and NEC Tours who made our dream vacation to Ilocos possible Thanks also for our free Manaoag and 50% off tour to Baguio, as we are the first ever group who completed the 34 destination sites listed in Ilocos Itinerary. Thanks to Anton's group (my open tour travel-mates) which was named after failing to see Anton in the Paraiso ni Anton in Kalbaryo de Patapat.
I will definitely miss the place and the people. Bye for now, Ilocos! I'll get back to you soon! =)
NEXT:
PART 12. MY PERSONAL ILOCOS ITINERARY.
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