ANG PINAGMAMALAKING BAKASYUNAN SA ILOCOS NORTE

Calle Crisologo, Vigan

The most famous and major tourist magnet in Vigan, Calle Crisologo is full of Spanish-styled houses that gives people of this generation a glimpse of the Spanish era. This street also features the prosperous lifestyle of the said era because of the Manila-Acapulco trade.

Pagudpud Beaches

  One of the finest beaches in the Philippines, Saud beach is actually what people usually refer to when they talk about Pagudpud beach. The beach boasts of white sandy shores with a great backdrop of coconut palm trees arrayed beautifully perfect for a humming sound and gentle breeze during one’s stay here.

Blue Lagoon 

 This beach used to be a secret, however, as many tourists find the place to be relaxing and cozy many have to come to see the place themselves. Blue Lagoon also known as Maira-Ira Point is a crescent-shaped beach with soft white sand lining its pristine blue waters. The beach is the perfect place to stay if you want to rest your tired bodies from the day’s event in Ilocos.

Baluarte

There are two good reasons why you should visit Baluarte, also known as the Fortress: first, because of its mini-zoo that serves as the home of many endemic animals in the Philippines and second, is that it is actually owned by Mr. Chavit Singson, a well-known politician in the country.

Kabigan Falls, Pagudpud

If you are on a tour to Pagudpud, don’t miss visiting the Kabigan Falls. It’s a good breather actually to have about 30-40 minutes lazy trekking en route to Kabigan and swim into its concave basin or simply enjoy the bountiful trees and ferns surrounding the mighty falls.

 Patapat Viaduct

The Patapat Viaduct is a road an elevated coastal bridge with a distance of 1.3 kilometers. It gives a nice view of the elevated concrete road winding along the mountainside of the municipality of Pagudpud. It was constructed to solve the landslides with causes many accident especially during rainy season.

Pinsal Falls

Pinsal Falls is also known as the “Twin Falls” where it has a height of 85 feet surrounded with nature’s beauty perfect for swimming and going on a picnic. It is located in the town of Santa Maria Ilocos Sur. It has been featured by different travel shows and it was even featured on the famous movie “Panday” by the late Fernando Poe Jr. because of its beauty. Legend has it hat the natural pools found in the site are believed to be the footprint of a giant named Angelo when he was searching for his wife, Aran.

Pagburnayan Pottery Making

Pagburnayan Pottery Making is one of the most frequently visited and photographed tourist spot in Vigan next to Calle Crisologo. It is home to the famous pottery in the Philippined. The locals say that they use the authentic and old method if making jars with the use of a potter’s wheel. The root word “Burnay” is an earthenware jar, which is the ones used by pottery makers while anay is a material that is heated in high temperature heat which makes the jars durable and and hard.

THE TOP 15 YOU MUST SEE IN ILOCOS NORTE

  1. The Sinking Bell Tower

If Italy has its leaning tower of Pisa, Laoag City has its own local version: the Sinking Bell Tower. This edifice is one of the tallest bell towers in the country and it's located in the heart of the city. As of today, it stands at 45m tall.

The tower is called a sinking tower because it's incredibly heavy, and it was built on a sandy ground. So, the combination of the loose foundation and its weight made it sink considerably into the ground at a rate of an inch every year. Normally, bell towers are situated near a church. However, this tower is far away from the cathedral.

The tower is also especially beautiful at night when it's lit up.

2. Lapaz Sand Dunes

Ever want to visit the Sahara Desert in Africa or the deserts found in the Middle Eastern countries? Just come and visit the unique geological dessert environment found only in Ilocos Norte — the Lapaz Sand Dunes. These sand dunes, their heights ranging from 10-30 meters, were created as a result of the interacting wind, sea, and river.

These sand dunes are accessible by tricycle or jeepney. They're only 15 minutes away from the city proper. Due to its desert environment, it is a popular location for shooting films for both local and international films makers alike. Notable local films include Himala and Panday, while internationally or on the U.S. front, there are Hollywood films such as Mad Max and Born on the Fourth of July (both starring Tom Cruise).

  3. Fort Ilocandia Resort and Casino

The Fort Ilocandia Resort and Casino is a first class hotel in Ilocos Norte, located in Brgy. Calayab, Laoag City — just 9km away from the city proper. Its design was inspired by Spanish colonial architecture. The main building houses a lobby, the casino, the arcades, the shopping arcade, and restaurants.

4. Malacañang of the North

Malacañang of the North was built as the official residence of the late President Marcos in Ilocos Norte. It is a two-story building located near the legendary Paoay Lake. The residence is complete with bedrooms, a dining area, a kitchen, an office, a spacious ballroom on the second floor, and even had an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Also, it has an expansive terrace and a beautiful garden with magnificent views of the lake.

Currently, it operates as the Marcos Memorabilia Museum, which is open to the public with an entrance fee of P20.00.

5. Paoay Church

Paoay Church is a national treasure of Ilocandia and a designated UNESCO world heritage site. It was built in 1896 by the Augustinian friars using coral bricks, which can be seen from its massive walls. Also, as a prime example of a Baroque church, it brings along a picturesque view truly reminiscent of the Spanish era, with details like enormous and magnificent buttresses on the sides and back of the building.

From Laoag City, it is just a 30-minute ride to visit this tourist attraction in Paoay. Once you've visited the Malacanang of the North in Suba, go straight ahead here.

Food tip: Also, don't forget also to try the pinakbet pizza at Herencia Cafe just in front of the church!

7. Playa Tropical Resort

Playa Tropical Resort is situated in Currimao, Ilocos Norte. It's a Balinese inspired beachside hotel haven where one can enjoy stunning sunsets and a constant, gentle ocean breeze, with a beach where the calm waves and fine sand reminds you of the infinite wonders of the world.

Playa Tropical also has an incredibly friendly staff, reflecting the brand of hospitality that Filipinos are known for. The suite rooms are very clean, large, and comfortable. The location is also close to all the popualr tourist spots located in Batac, Paoay, and Laoag.

8. Marcos Museum and Mausoleum

Marcos Museum and Mausoleum is located in Batac City, Ilocos Norte, just a 30-minute ride from Laoag City. The museum can easily be found, as it is near the bridge where all the public buses stop.

• The museum houses memorabilia of the late President Marcos. It is incredibly well-organized, making it a very enjoyable experience for visitors to learn about his life. The entrance fee is P50 per person while children under the age of four are free.
• The mausoleum is on the other side of the museum and it houses the body of the late president. Picture taking is prohibited inside here. Upon entering the mausoleum, one will also hear Gregorian sounds. There is no entrance fee to visit this side.

9. Juan Luna Shrine

The Juan Luna shrine is situated in Badoc, Ilocos Norte and houses the famous Luna family's memorabilia. This includes Juan Luna's paintings, namely his masterpiece, the Spolarium.

The house has two stories, the ground floor used to be the basement while the second level is for the living room and bedrooms. Today, the ground floor displays different memorabilia not only of Juan Luna but also Antonio Luna and the rest of the family.

10. Bacarra Domeless Tower

The Bacarra Domeless Tower is a 50-meter tower and was built in 1830, but was damaged in 1931 by an earthquake. Another strong earthquake (with a 7.8 intensity) in 1983 caused its dome to totally go down. Thus, gaining the romanticized title “Dignified Domeless Belltower in Asia.”

Bacarra is a town adjacent to Laoag City. It is just 15 mins away. Museo de Bacarra, which houses many artifacts, is right near the Bacarra Tower.

11. Kapurpurawan Rock Formation

The Kapurpurawan Rock Formation is situated in Burgos, Ilocos Norte. To get to it from the national highway, you'll have to traverse down a long and winding (and dirty) road. There's no public transportation that passes through the area, so a car would be very convenient here. Otherwise, you'd have to walk under the scorching heat of the sun.

The name of this formation is derived from it's characteristically white color. In Ilocano, the word puraw means white. The rock also looks like a large dragon watching over the entire coast. Once you reach it, you'll be rewarded with the natural beauty of the erosion created by the years and years of crashing ocean waves.

12. Cape Bojeador Lighthouse

Another national historic site in Ilocos Norte is the Cape Bojeador Lighthouse. This lighthouse, with brick walls as is the style of many other lighthouses in the country, is one of the highest elevated Spanish colonial lighthouses in the Philippines. Currently, it still functions as a an active and welcoming flare to ships that enter the Philippine Archipelago from the North.

13. Bangui Windmill

The Bangui Windmill is not only the first of its kind in Southeast Asia, but it's also right here in Ilocos Norte.

The windmill has 20 tri-blades that 70 meters high, with windmills spread about in an arc formation along the Bangui Bay. It is situated north of Laoag City and about a 45-minute ride.

As a result, Ilocos Norte is one of the few provinces in the Philippines that generates renewable energy. The Bangui wind farm provides for 40% of the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative's supply. Additionally, it generates 25 MW of electricity to power up an estimated 108,000 households.

14. Pagudpud Beaches

Pagudpud is popularly known for its beaches. Visitors may choose from the following:

• The Punta Azul Beach Resort was originally built as a family retreat to escape the hectic and stressful life in the city. Its design seamlessly blends with the natural beauty, and you're bound to be captivated by the stunning crystal blue water and pristine white sands at the foot of the Verdant Mountains. Much like a hidden treasure; this resort is a paradise at the northern tip of the Philippines.
• Hannah’s Beach Resort & Convention Center is the newest and most exciting vacation destination in Pagudpud. It is situated right in front of the famous Blue Lagoon (Maira-ira Beach) at Brgy. Balaoi, Malingay, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. It offers both exclusivity and luxury in an incredibly friendly environment. The Blue Lagoon, with its captivating crystal clear waters and white sand beach, will surely make your stay a memorable and enjoyable one.
• The Saud Beach Resort and Hoteloffers overnight accommodations where each rooms has a sunset view. Its amenities includes a private shower and toilet, a coffee table, a mini-refrigerator, a mini bar, and sulo lights facing the beach area. There are also beach huts and beach lounges provided for free of charge to check-in guests.
• The Kingfisher Resort, built in a traditional style, is your go-to destination if you want to kitesurf. Kite surfing, windsurfing and many other water activities can be experienced here.

15. Patapat Bridge

    

      

The Patapat Bridge is a 1.2 km long bridge that connects two barangay in Pagudpud. This zigzag-y bridge is often referred by some as the “French Riviera of the North.” Visitors and motorists can enjoy the amazing view of the sea and the luxuriant mountains as they cross this bridge, which is 200 meters above sea level.

It is also the fourth longest bridge in the Philippines.

ITINERARY

SALITANG ILOKANO

Ilocano is a language very distinct from Tagalog. Variously spelled as Ilocano, Ilokano, Ilukano, Ilucano, Iluko, Iloco or Iloko, it is the third most-spoken language in the Philippines.

An Austronesian language, it is related to such languages as Indonesian, Malay, Fijian, Maori, Hawaiian, Malagasy, Samoan, Tahitian, Chamorro, Tetum, and Paiwan. It is closely related to some of the other Austronesian languages of Northern Luzon, and has slight mutual intelligibility with the Balangao language and Eastern dialects of the Bontoc language

HISTORY

  YLOCOS

•  Literally meant from the "Lowlands" 
• Region was the 1st inhabited by the aboriginal Negritos before they were pushed by successive waves of Malay immigrants that penetrated the narrow coast. Tingguians in the interior Ilocanos in the north and Pangasinense in the south settled the region.
• Ilocos Norte, which is about 488 kilometers north of the Philippine capital of Manila, means two things to ordinary Filipinos – the late Philippine dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos who was born in the town of Sarrat and the sprawling 77-hectare Fort Ilocandia (http://www.fortilocandia.com.ph/hotel.htm) (one of the largest resorts in the entire Asia), which according to stories, were hastily built by the late President in time for his daughter, Imee’s wedding and primarily caters now to Chinese Mainlanders, Macanese, and Taiwanese high-rollers who fly in to gamble in its casino. So much so that the name Ilocos alone, is almost synonymous with the Marcoses, one of the most controversial Philippine political dynasties in recent memory. Undeserving or not, this hardy and sometimes misunderstood northern province is definitely more than the sum of its contributions to the political history of the country – and in recent years, a wave of change finally came to wake up one of the usually overlooked destinations in the Philippines from hiatus since the fall from grace of its beloved son as more and more Filipinos and the occasional foreigner discover one of the most interesting and beautiful northern frontiers of the Philippines.