Archive for April, 2009
Vigan, Ilocos Sur: Philippine Heritage City
Posted by Fred in Food, Places to Go, To See on April 22, 2009
Postcard-perfect. That’s how I’ve always imagined Vigan would be. Kalesa (horse-drawn carriage) leisurely rolling through cobblestone roads, passing century-old houses that are witnesses to Vigan’s rich history. I thought it would feel like being brought back in time, walking through the past which we’d otherwise read only in books. Read the rest of this entry »
Syquia Mansion Museum (Vigan, Ilocos Sur)
Posted by Fred in Places to Go, To See on April 21, 2009
A Philippine Historical Committee marker notes that the Syquia Mansion was constructed in 1830 and subsequently became the residence of a Philippine President and his spouse, Alicia Syquia (I don’t understand all the contents of the marker, as it’s in Spanish, so I’m including a photo of the marker at the bottom of this post, just in case somebody could translate the entire thing . . . though I fear my Spanish I and II teacher would kill me). Read the rest of this entry »
Malacanang of the North (Paoay, Ilocos Norte)
Posted by Fred in Places to Go, To See on April 20, 2009
One would usually associate Paoay with the Paoay Church, also called San Agustin Church, and for good reason — this beautiful architecture that is a showcase of Spanish-era churches in the Philippines is listed as one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Site. Read the rest of this entry »
Cape Bojeador Ligthouse (Burgos, Ilocos Norte)
Posted by Fred in Places to Go, To See on April 19, 2009
A lighthouse, parola in Filipino and other dialects in the Philippines (and in Spanish, I suppose) guides ships and anyone at sea. The Philippines is an archipelago, composed of thousands of islands and, quite understandably, a large number of lighthouses. I’ll be surprised to know if you haven’t seen a lighthouse. Read the rest of this entry »
Bangui Wind Mills (Ilocos Norte)
Posted by Fred in Places to Go, To See on April 19, 2009
There must be some logical explanation why people love really big things. Now that we’re in the midst of a really hot Philippine summer, perhaps it would be refreshing to be cooled by a huge electric fan. But while the huge structures in Bangui, Ilocos Norte may resemble gigantic electric fans, they are really wind mills meant to generate electricity to power our gadgets, including, well, electric fans. Read the rest of this entry »
The Churches of Ilocos
Posted by Fred in Places to Go, To See on April 10, 2009
There’s so much to write about in a trip through Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte. Some of the places in Ilocos deserve a separate post, like Pagudpud, while others are lumped according to category just to have a semblance of order. Let’s discuss the different churches in this post. This may be timely for those who wish to visit different churches (visita iglesia) this Holy Week. Read the rest of this entry »
Amana Waterpark (Pandi, Bulacan)
Posted by Fred in Places to Go, Things To Do on April 10, 2009
Summer is that time of year to enjoy the outdoors. Some prefer the beach, like Boracay, Pagudpud or Anilao. Some prefer mountain climbing, like in Mt. Pulag. Others, especially those with kids, prefer to cool down in water theme parks like Splash Island. Those who are near Bagong Barrio, Pandi, Bulacan, have a new destination — the Amana Waterpark. Read the rest of this entry »
Blue Lagoon at Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte
Posted by Fred in Places to Go, Things To Do, To See on April 8, 2009
One yardstick of a great destination, in my book, is when it’s somewhere I don’t mind driving straight for hours, get immersed in the splendor of the place for an hour or so, pack up then go home. Pagudpud (Ilocos Norte) definitely fits that standard, although the beauty of this destination is not limited to the wide open and smooth country roads, the nice views along the way, or the compelling history of the place and its people. Read the rest of this entry »
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