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.
Wind mills at Bangui, Ilocos Norte
Apologies for this preoccupation about fans, but that’s just how these monsters look like. It’s hard to miss them when you’re going to to Pagudpud beach (two towns away). Plus, the town of Bangui — where the windmills are found — is just beside Burgos, the home of Cape Bojeador lighthouse, reportedly the oldest working lighthouse in Asia, and it’s just under one hour from Laoag, Ilocos Norte (around 10 hours from Manila).
Base of a Windmill
There’s a platform along the highway where you could watch the windmills of Bangui from a distance. Unless you have telephoto lens, you’ll have tiny fans on your sights. Whatever lens you have, however, it’s always better to look at the structure up close and personal.
It’s only up close where you can see the full majesty of these 3-bladed humongous monsters.
I forgot the name of the barangay in Bangui where the gravel road leads to the beach that is home of the windmills. Just ask for directions (although I must say we had a hard time looking for people to ask, as there’s a few souls beside the road, or maybe it was because pre-Good Friday practices kept them inside the house or the church).
Giant blades of a wind mill
The road towards the base of the windmills cuts across a narrow stretch of rice field, then through a low hill with small trees at both sides. Birdwatchers would probably notice the birds perched on the branches and on the road itself. There was a blue kingfisher. There were other birds, but I really don’t know their names.
The windmills emerge after going over the hill. Cross the mini-sand dunes and you’re within a stone’s throw away from the base of a windmill. There, under the shadow of the giant windmills, you’ll have all the time to marvel at man’s ingenuity. Now, let’s see if they can create a giant aircon for the entire Metro Manila.
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#1 by hill roberts on May 12, 2009 - 6:40 pm
Hi, Fred,
Greetings from sunny Spain!
My PC has been so unreliable these last four months that I couldn’t begin to tell you how nice it is to have it back—although it sometimes go black all of a sudden, for reasons I do not know. Hope you are all having a wonderful summer, as it is practically summer in Spain, where I am stuck…ooops, where I’ve been living.
Your articles on windmills are interesting since Andalucia is famous for them: they are located well high up on the hills and mountains as you drive the coastal and mountain roads going towards Cadiz, Gibraltar, Sevilla all the way to Portugal. Inthe north of England, one can find them right in Workington, a whole stretch of the road
and indeed they are so massive!
What I am surprised about though is why our windmills there are right on the shores
of a white sand beach. Why? Who approved the location of those windmills? They are so handy for anyone and it seems security has been compromised, don’t you think so? Still, i hope people just stand and admire them while they approach
the sandy beach…
Anyway, windmills or not, if they provide electricity or energy to the townspeople there, hopefully this strange tourist attraction would be there for a long, long time
to come. Mabuhay! Hill
#2 by Fred on May 17, 2009 - 1:25 am
Hi Hill,
I’m glad you’re back (and hopefully your pc continues to work ok), happily “stuck” in Spain. Summer in the Philippines was cut short, although it’s difficult to conclude whether the early end of summer is good or bad. It’s good because it was really hot; gets worse every year, anyway. It’s bad because the rainy season always brings news of landslides and other unfortunate calamities.
Anyway, it didn’t occur to me to ask why the windmills are located along the beach. I always assumed that it’s the best place for optimum use of wind. I might be wrong, of course. The windmills look good resting on the curved beach, though. But as you say, let’s just enjoy the view.
Ingat.
#3 by Will Pido on September 12, 2009 - 7:26 pm
Nice article… perhaps I can add to the DIRECTIONS: Past the poblacion of Bangui, while northbound along Maharlika Highway, there is a sign” windmills of Bangui” at Barangay Taguipuro. Make a sharp V-turn and drive all the way to the end (where a brgy outpost is there to guide visitors)… then left turn, and then take the next right turn which leads you to a gravel dirt road. … this will lead you to the beach where the windmills are located… I have more pictures of the place if you need more to choose from…obviously yours are more professionally done.
#4 by Fred on September 17, 2009 - 8:05 am
Thanks, Will, for the kind words and for giving the directions. It’s highly appreciated. As to the photos, you could post them at the Photo Gallery. Looking forward to see your photos one of these days.
#5 by peter paul canuto on January 31, 2010 - 5:14 pm
how can we contact the officials of ilocos windmill?
we are planning to have a field trip to ilocos windmill n connection to our subject about energy.
urgent reply is needed.
thank you!!!