The Ilocos Highway

The road to Ilocos is long and winding and filled with great sights. Its a nature lover's delight that's why I barely slept during the long ride.

The Charm of Old World Vigan

October 27-28, 2007. Arriving in Vigan after 8 hours of travel from Dau (with minimal sleep and still with OPES hangover), we went straight to Grandpa's Inn for our breakfast.

Our itinerary for the morning was to pass by the Heritage Site and go straight to Sta. Maria and back to Vigan for a night cap. I've always wanted to enjoy Vigan at night what with the full moon and the soft lights... very romantic, quaint and old world. Shopping for pasalubong can wait the next day. I had fun taking pictures during the night walk... I even met new playmates who gamely posed in front of the camera. The night didn't only reveal the splendor of the old city, it also revealed some of its oldest residents (see those orbs?). My sister (who's kind of clairvoyant) even saw a kapre in one of the photos.

 We dined at Cafe Leona right at the end of Calle Crisologo. Their tables have been set outside the streets so you really get that Vigan feel while eating. I also like their menu--you get to choose between Thai, Italian, Japanese and Filipino food. Talk about variety (best for food lovers like us).

The next morning was scheduled for shopping. We were supposed to check out at 10 am because we had to travel 3 more hours and take two more buses to Pagudpud but we ended up leaving the place at 12 noon. It's hard to leave the place without taking a second look, though this is already my second time in Vigan after almost 7 years. Buti na lang 1 GB ang memory card or else there won't be pictures of Pagudpud. My Canon's first outing was really worth it.

 

Historic Ilocos Churches

October 26-29, 2007. An Ilocos tour would not be complete without seeing its historic churches. We weren't able to cover them all, but we were lucky enough to see three of these landmarks: Sta. Maria Church, St. Paul's Metropolitan Cathedral and Laoag's Sinking Bell Tower.



The Sta. Maria Church in Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur was built in 1769 and is included in the UNESCO World Heritage list. A very picturesque church in a quiet town. If my digicam's battery wasn't drained, there would've been more shots. Thank God for my SE W800i or else there wouldn't be any pictures of this church to post.

 

St. Paul's Cathedral is located in Vigan City. It was built by the Augustinian friars and has a "distinct "Earthquake Baroque" style of the Ilocos region and features Neo-Gothic and pseudo Romanesque motifs," according to www.dotpcvc.gov.ph. The full moon gave the night shots an eerie feel, and if you look closely you'll see orbs. Spooky.


Seeing the Sinking Bell Tower was only by accident as we we only made a stopover to Laoag City for half an hour before going to Pagudpud. We only ate a quick lunch (at 3:00 pm) before proceeding to the bus terminal. Good thing I remembered to buy my contact lens solution from an optical shop which incidentally sits in front of the bell tower. So I got my digicam and took some photos. If you find the shots a bit off-center, that's because the Sinking Bell Tower sinks an inch every year, much like the Leaning Tower of Pisa... But the good thing is it's still working just like the bell tower in Sta. Maria. Unfortunately, the Sinking Bell Tower is 85 meters away from the church so we weren't able to get a peek at St. William's Church, which is older than the Paoay Church also located in Ilocos Norte.

If churches here were as beautiful as these ones, I'd probably hear mass everyday. =)

Pristine Pinsal Falls

Located in Barangay Babal-lasioan, Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur, Pinsal Falls became part of our itinerary during our weekend Ilocos getaway last October 26-29, 2007. Thanks in part to the MNTC calendar hanging in my room that I found out of its existence.

More than an hour away from Vigan City, Pinsal Falls can be reached through the Municipality of Sta. Maria. From the town proper, it is almost an hour's tricycle ride away. Its location is really remote that you can't help but wonder how special it could be to be hidden from mortal eyes. Yet when we got there, we found out that locals practically pass by it in going to and from Pilar, Abra, hence the steep stone steps which reminds me of the path of Cirith Ungol in the Lord of the Rings.

Boat ride to the falls is only Php15 per person, but you have to wait a long time for other passengers. One of the locals even told us about the hot springs at the topmost part, but we weren't able to get there and soak in it for lack of time... and lack of boat to take us back. There was only one boat traversing the calm river to the falls when we were there and we seem to be the only tourists.

If only we got there a little bit earlier, then there'd probably be plenty of time for a few more hikes... But then again, there's always another time.