Ilocos Tour
We were fortunate enough to travel as a group in Ilocos. Though everyone is on a budget about this trip, we enjoyed it anyway. Our first stop, Sta. Maria Cathedral Church.
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| about to climb the 85-steps stairs |
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| the boys ... |
Sta. Maria Church (Asunta Parish) is a national landmark that was used as a fortress during the 1896 Revolution. It is located in Ilocos Sur. It was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO on December 11, 1993. Its patroness is Our Lady of Assumption or Nuestra Señora. During the Spanish era, the church also functioned as a citadel.
It was built in around 1765 by the Augustinians. The church is nestled on top of a hill and may be reached by climbing 85 steps of granite rock that was imported from China. The thick buttresses on each side functions as protection from earthquakes. The architecture of the church is Baroque inspired.
Second Stop... Batac
Batac is a city in the province of Ilocos Norte. It is located in the northwest corner of the island of Luzon, about 11 kilometers (6.8 mi) from the eastern shores of the South China Sea. The municipalities of Banna, Currimao, Paoay, Pinili, Sarrat, Marcos and San Nicolas form its boundaries.
Batac is known as the "Home of Great Leaders", as it is the hometown of many significant figues in the history of the Philippines. Among them is the former Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos.
The Marcos Museum and Mausoleum lies in the heart of the city. The Mausoleum is where the glass-entombed, preserved corpse of the former president can be found. The Museum holds the memorabilia of the late President, from his stint in the Armed Forces down his presidency
Our third stop ... Paoay Church
Paoay
Church (St. Augustine Church) is a historical church located in Paoay,
Ilocos Norte. During the Philippine Revolution in 1898, its coral stone
bell tower was used by the Katipuneros as an observation post. Paoay
Church is part of the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Construction
of Paoay Church was started by the Augustinian friars in 1694. It was
completed in 1894 led by Fr. Antonio Estavillo and was re-dedicated in
1894.
http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Paoay_Church  |
| with officemates and friends =) |
In front of Paoay Church is Herencia Cafe. They are serving this very unique pizza flavor, the pinakbet (pakbet) flavor. Imagine a pizza with amapalaya, talong and sitaw.... sarappppp!!!
After Paoay, we proceeded to Laoag City...
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| ayan na ang mowdel! |
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| pa side side lang =) |
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| with dabarkadz |
Fort Ilocandia is the only 5-star hotel resort in the northern Philippines with over 77 hectares of land amidst gentle sand dunes and pine forests with a two kilometer sandy beach facing South China Sea. It is located at Laoag City and only ten-minute drive from Laoag domestic airport.
Check out their promo packages that starts with Php4,300. Click here.
Visit their official webpage at http://www.fortilocandia.com.ph.
We spent the night at Cabugao. The best known place to stay in this place is the Cabugao Beach Resort. For room rates check their official website at http://cabugaobeachresort.weebly.com/rates.html
Before going home, we visited The Heritage at Vigan, Ilocos Sur...
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| inside the Vigan Cathedral |
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| with ninang Pau |
On December 2, 1999, the City of Vigan, the capital city of Ilocos Sur, was inscribed in the prestigious UNESCO's World Heritage List of Sites and Monuments of 630 cultural and natural properties of exceptional universal value. UNESCO described the city as "a best preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia with its architectural reflecting the coming together of cultural elements from elsewhere in the Philippines and from China with those of Europe to create a unique culture and townscapre without parallel anywhere in East and Southeast Asia.
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| my one and only princess, Janelle |
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| Souvenir Shop in Vigan |
