Bantog Backpackers: Ilocos Norte

Showing posts with label Ilocos Norte. Show all posts

Sunday, August 31, 2014

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.

about to climb the 85-steps stairs

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.

http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Sta._Maria_Church_%28Ilocos_Sur%29

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

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batac

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...

ayan na ang mowdel!

pa side side lang =)

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...

inside the Vigan Cathedral

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.

http://www.nscb.gov.ph/ru1/Vigan_feature.pdf

my one and only princess, Janelle

Souvenir Shop in Vigan

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Ilocos Norte (Ilokano: Amianan nga Ilocos) is a province of the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region. Its capital is Laoag City and is located at the northwest corner of Luzon Island, bordering Cagayan and Apayao to the east, and Abra and Ilocos Sur to the south. Ilocos Norte faces the South China Sea to the west and the Luzon Strait to the north.

Ilocos Norte is noted for being the birthplace of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, who led an authoritarian rule over the country during the latter half of his incumbency. The Marcoses enjoy a modicum of popularity in the province. Ilocos Norte is also known as a northern tourist destination, being the location of Fort Ilocandia, an upper class hotel and beach resort famous among expatriates, and Pagudpud.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilocos_Norte

Before my flight back to Manila, I requested my officemate to take me to Paoay. The town is home to Paoay Church, Paoay Lake, and Malacañang of the North.

Paoay Church

The Church of Saint Augustine, commonly known as the Paoay Church, is the Roman Catholic Parish Church of the municipality of Paoay, Ilocos Norte in the Philippines. Completed in 1710, the church is famous for its distinct architecture highlighted by the enormous buttresses on the sides and back of the building. In 1993, the church was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as one best examples of the Baroque Churches of the Philippines.

Paoay church is prime example of Earthquake Baroque architecture, which is the Philippine interpretation of the European Baroque adapted to the seismic condition of the country. Destructive earthquakes are common and have destroyed earlier churches all throughout the country. Aside from Baroque, the church facade also exudes Javanese architecture reminiscent of Borobudur of Java.

^{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paoay_Church}

inside the cathedral


the bell tower of Paoay Church

the Neo classical architecture Ilocos Norte Capitol

you can notice the image of Mama Mary on the 3rd layer from the top

The Sinking Bell Tower of Laoag City in the province of Ilocos Norte is one of the first things you may spot upon entering the city proper. It’s a massive 45-meter bell tower said to be one of the tallest bell towers in the Philippines and was built by the Augustinians in 1612.

The tower has earned its “sinking” reputation because it is so heavy and it was build on sandy foundations that it is sinking into the ground. Stories mention that a person on horseback could enter the tower with ease back when it was built. Now, a person of normal height has to bend down just to enter the vaulted entrance.

http://www.vistapinas.com/article/sinking-bell-tower-of-laoag

a lunch treat from kuya Jun before my flight

time to go home ...

I stayed at Java Hotel during my five days stay in Ilocos.

For Ilocos Norte accommodations, particularly Laoag, click here.

Sunday, July 6, 2014

There are a lot of touristic places in Ilocos Norte. This province is blessed with a lot of interesting and amazing places. I was fortunate to travel Ilocos Norte once again. The first time we went here, we were not able to reach the beautiful places after Laoag. So when I learned that I will be coming back here I made sure that I will tour Kapurpurawan, Bangui and Pagudpud. There are more touristic places but my time is so limited so I was not able to visit the other sites.

The Kapurpurawan is located between two famous tourist spots Cape Bojeador and Bangui Windmills.

The once dusty and dirt road has become paved already so going to this place will be easier. There is an entrance fee of Php15 per person. Horse back riding is also a must-try in Kapurpurawan for only Php100.

the newly constructed wind mills

Kapurpurawan Rocks are rock formations created by forces of ocean and wind

with my friend Ate Oly

The highest portion of the rock formation had been cordoned because of some irresponsible tourists visiting the place. A lot of vandalism was observed and because of these that area became off-limits to the tourists.

Only one word for Kapurpurawan.... STUNNING!!!

I must say that Kapurpurawan is a must-site visit in Ilocos Norte. This is the best place I've seen in Ilocos Norte. Everything is just so amazing! The wind is so strong that they extended the wind mills in this area. Perfect views, perfect place, perfect sea breeze, perfect place for photography. Kapurpurawan really rocks!!!

There are a lot of souvenir items at Kapurpurawan from shirts to mini windmills items. The price is reasonable and affordable.

Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, also known as Burgos Lighthouse, is a cultural heritage structure in Burgos, Ilocos Norte, that was established during the Spanish Colonial period in the Philippines. It was first lit on March 30, 1892, and is set high on Vigia de Nagpartian Hill overlooking the scenic Cape Bojeador where early galleons used to sail by. After over 100 years, it still functions as a welcoming beacon to the international ships that enter the Philippine Archipelago from the north and guide them safely away from the rocky coast of the town.

The light marks the northwestern-most point in Luzon. The northeastern-most being Cape Engaño Lighthouse on Palaui Island, Santa Ana, Cagayan.

The 66-foot-tall (20 m) octagonal stone tower, the most prominent structure in the vicinity, can be seen from as far away as Pasuquin town in the south and Bangui on the east on a clear day. Contrary to popular belief, it is not the highest-elevated nor tallest lighthouse in the Philippines. But the highest elevated still original and active Spanish era lighthouse in the country. Corregidor Lighthouse is higher at over 600 feet (180 m), and among the Spanish Colonial lighthouses, the tower of Cape Melville Lighthouse is the tallest at 90 feet (27 m). In Mindoro Strait, the recently erected modern tower at the Apo Reef Light Station rises to a height of 110 feet (34 m).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Bojeador_Lighthouse

Bangui Wind Mills

Bangui Wind Farm is a wind farm in Bangui, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. The wind farm uses 20 units of 70-metre (230 ft) high Vestas V82 1.65 MW wind turbines, arranged on a single row stretching along a nine-kilometer shoreline off Bangui Bay, facing the South China Sea.

Phase I of the NorthWind power project in Bangui Bay consists of 15 wind turbines, each capable of producing electricity up to a maximum capacity of 1.65 MW, for a total of 24.75 MW. The 15 on-shore turbines are spaced 326 metres (1,070 ft) apart, each 70 metres (230 ft) high, with 41 metres (135 ft) long blades, with a rotor diameter of 82 metres (269 ft) and a wind swept area of 5,281 square metres (56,840 sq ft).

Phase II, was completed on August 2008, and added 5 more wind turbines with the same capacity, and brought the total capacity to 33 MW. All 20 turbines describes a graceful arc reflecting the shoreline of Bangui Bay, facing the South China Sea.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangui_wind_farm

Pagudpud is approximately 560 kilometers north of Manila. It can be reached 2 hours from Laoag City or 10 to 12 hours from Manila. The white sand beaches and the crystal blue water make Pagudpud a haven for tourists. The beach has been dubbed as the Boracay of the North. The local tourism of Pagudpud encouraged the homeowners to offer their houses for a place to stay for tourists. And for a lists of good home stay accommodations, click here. A stay can costs as low as Php230/person/day.