|
|
|
Major Hubs 5 Major Destinations
Manila and Its Spokes
|
Cebu and its Spokes
Laoag / Baguio and its Spokes
|
Davao and its Spokes
Clark/Subic and its Spokes |
Others and its Spokes
Laoag
7,000 TIMES MORE ROMANTIC
Time - locked Ilocos is a broad hardy country blessed
with impressive wide highways and stretches of narrow
cobblestoned roads, antiquated towns dominated by
heavily-buttressed grand churches and Antillan ancestral
homes, and a brave people who, by sheer industry, harnessed
a formidable terrain into a source of sustenance.
A seemingly tempestuous sea rimmed with uneven rock
formations and ascetic mountains are the two scenic images
that first impress the visitor to Ilocos. Wedged between the
wild China Sea and the rugged Cordillera mountain range, the
region presents a visual feast that is at once dazzling in
its boldness. Divided into Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte,
their capitals - Vigan and Laoag City - are anchor tourist
destinations and part of the 7,000 times more islands that
make up the Philippine archipelago.
OLD WORLD CITY
Vigan, with its centuries-old edifices, is a breathing
reminder of what was once a royal city. One of the earliest
Spanish settlements in the country, Vigan was founded in
1572 by Juan de Salcedo who patterned its design to that of
Intramuros (Old Manila). It became the seat of the
Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia and was called Ciudad
Fernandina in honor of King Ferdinand.
Today, Vigan retains much of the patina of 18th century
Castillan architecture as seen in some 150 stone houses
which stand in the town's Mestizo District, notably Mena
Crisologo Street. Many of these ancestral homes are still in
good condition and some have been turned into cozy inns,
museums, and souvenir shops.
Along with the homes are other vestiges of the town's colonial
past :
The majestic St. Paul's Cathedral was built by the Augustinian
friars along the distinct "Earthquake Baroque" style of the
Ilocos region and features Neo-Gothic and pseudo Romanesque
motifs. Standing on an elevation west of the cathedral is
Plaza Salcedo, the oldest monument in Northern Luzon. The
Archbishop's Palace is a rich repository of religious
artifacts from the Ilocos region. Plaza Burgos was built in
honor of Fr. Jose Burgos, one of three Filipino priests who
were garroted by the Spaniards for espousing church reforms.
But it is not only edifices which are preserved in this town
inscribed in the World Heritage List. Viganos also remain
steadfast in their traditional crafts, notably pottery
(burnay) and handloom weaving (inabel). The horse-drawn
calesa (rig) is as much a presence in the streets as motor
vehicles.
GATEWAY OF THE NORTH
After Vigan, Juan de Salcedo pressed
further north to Laoag which even before the Spanish
colonial times was already a center of trade with the
Japanese and Chinese. Laoag City, today, is the major
crossroads for international trade and commerce in the
Ilocos region. Though bustling with business, the city has
retained pretty much an unhurried, laid-back lifestyle.
Dominating the city landscape is the provincial capitol
which sits atop Ermita Hill, also popularly known as Raquiza
Garden. Another point of interest is the St. William's
Cathedral, built by the Augustinians in 1612 along the
Italian Renaissance design. Its unique 2-story facade is
held by four pairs of coupled columns. A deeply recessed
niche carries the image of St. William. A hundred meters
away from the church is the Sinking Bell Tower which leans
slightly to the north. It sinks an inch a year to the
ground. Like in Vigan, the calesa is an integral part of the
street landscape.
A HARDY BUT BEAUTIFUL LAND
Because of its difficult terrain and arid temperature, the
Ilocos was once described as a "God-forsaken land" and one
was well-advised to have the "patience of a spider" in order
to survive it. But Ilocanos, the hardy people that they are,
not only survived in this formidable land but were able to
turn this highland country into "God's own paradise."
Ilocos has many churches of distinction which include two
that are inscribed in the World Heritage List. In Ilocos Sur
is the salmon-bricked Santa Maria Church. Built in 1769, it
sits atop a hill towering over the town proper. In Ilocos
Norte is Paoay Church. Built by the Augustinians in 1596,
the church looks like a cross between a Javanese temple and
a European church. The town of Bantay was the scene of
fierce uprising led by Diego Silang against the tobacco
monopoly in 1762. The town's savage seascape has been
immortalized in the films of Philippine Action King Fernando
Poe, Jr. The town church is an architectural gem combining
Baroque with Gothic motifs.
Currimao has a burgeoning beach resort industry. Visitors to
this coastal town never fail to appreciate the sight of
fishermen pulling in their nets shortly before dusk while
performing a song-and-dance ritual for a bountiful harvest.
Everybody is welcome to join in and each participant is
given a rightful share of the catch. The town of Pagudpud
offers a breathtaking landscape which includes the
enchanting Bantay Abot-abot, a natural sculpture carved by
the wind and sea, the white sand Saud beach and the majestic
Mabogabog Falls. Impressive living canvasses unravel as one
traverses the winding Patapat and Calvario roads.
Aside from its church, Paoay has a national park that
envelops a placid lake. Built along its edge is the
Malacaà ¹‘ang of the North, official residence of the
late President Marcos in northern Luzon. The town also has
stretches of undulating sand dunes, the setting of Mel
Gibson's "Mad Max" series and Tom Cruise's "Born on the
Fourth of July." The Paoay Sports Complex is the biggest in
northern Luzon.
The pastoral town of Pasuquin has many fine beaches and is
known for its salt-making industry. Its hills and mountains
abound with wild game. Pasuquin Cave can be reached after
some 45 minutes of traveling via a dirt road. A Mayor's
Permit is necessary.
ISLAND FLOVORS
The simplicity of Ilocano cookery is its own virtue.
Bitter-flavored dishes are part of the Ilocano cuisine.
Purposely laced into meat stews, fish grills and salads, the
bitter taste is as enjoyable as the other aspects of taste,
such as sweet, sour and salty. A popular dish is pinakbet, a
vegetable stew of bitter melon, squash, eggplant and okra
with crisp pork belly.
The town plaza and the marketplace are the best places to
savor local flavors. The hotels and resorts have their own
dining outlets and serve both native and international
dishes. They can prepare picnic meals upon request.
WARM HOSPITALITY
Filipinos do not simply provide the guest with a place to
rest or park their luggage, they also share the best of what
they have. This warm, effusive brand of hospitality is what
distinguishes Philippine hotels from the others. In Ilocos,
one can easily find comfortable lodgings to suit one's
budget and needs
|
|
|
|
