MALACAÑANG OF THE NORTH

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Official residence of the Pres. Ferdinand Marcos in Ilocos Norte was built on a high

point of land projecting into the sea right beyond the coastline of the legendary

Paoay Lake. This is now a museum.

We were met by a tourist guide who gave us a brief background of the history of the place and toured us around the different rooms of the palace. 

LA PAZ SAND DUNES

A few minutes drive from Paoay Church, we proceeded to La Paz  Sand Dunes    -- consists  approximately 85 square kilometers of protected sandy coastal desert and beach close to Laoag City, capital of Ilocos Norte. 

The area is locally known as “Bantay Bimmaboy”  - refers  to common perception that the dunes resemble  pigs in shape. The area is also popularly known as the “Desert of the North” and is popular location for shooting of films  e.g. Himala and Panday.

The glaring heat of the sun did not stop the pilgrims from going down the buses. With umbrellas, we spent the time taking pictures of the site and posing beside the four-wheel cars for hire at P2,500 per hour drive around the area.

PAOAY CHURCH - ST. AUGUSTINE PARISH

Canonically known as St Augustine Church, Paoay Church is of the four baroque churches in the Philippines designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1993.  The other three are San Agustin Church in Manila; Miag-Ao Church (Sto Tomas de Villanueva Church ) in Iloilo; and La Asuncion de Nuestra Senora Church in Sta Maria, Ilocos Sur.

Construction by the Augustinian Friars started in 1694  and completed in 1710  using coral  stones and bricks. It is an example of earthquake baroque architecture  -- Philippine interpretation of the European Baroque adapted to the seismic condition of the country. The location of the Philippines in the Pacific Rim of Fire called for  the emphasis on buttresses – architectural structures built against a wall which serve to support or reinforce the wall. The most imposing of buttresses in Philippine churches are found in Paoay Church which was damaged during the earthquakes in 1865 and 1885.

During the FIl-Spanish war in the 1800’s, the bell tower served as an observation post for Filipino guerrillas.

  

We were welcomed by  Parish Priest Rev Fr Earl John Domingo, who proudly told us that because of Paoay Church and their other ancient churches, historical and tourist spots particularly Calle Crisologo and Pagudpod, Ilocos Region now ranks number two as the region most visited  by tourists,  second to Camsur.

REV. FR. EARL JOHN DOMINGO

MORNING PRAYER

At the adjacent office and reception building, we had a taste of the native breakfast prepared and served by the parishioners.

BREAKFAST

A JOURNEY OF FAITH AT ILOCANDIA

By ODETTE LEON

All praise and thanksgiving to God for the successful Journey of Faith @ Ilocandia  -- a pilgrimage for a cause held September 14-16, 2012.  Said activity was organized by the Volunteer Catechists Commission as part of this year’s Catechetical Month celebration and In preparation for the opening of the Year of Faith, October 2012 – November 2013 as proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI. 

The 100 pilgrims -- catechists, families and friends -- are from the Diocese of Manila and 5 sufragan dioceses of Pasig, Paranaque, Cubao, Novaliches and Kalookan.  Blessed with  good sunny weather and safe trip, the pilgrims marveled at and  enjoyed every place visited during the 2-day pilgrimage.

Pilgrimage itinerary included the visits to four churches in Ilocos Norte  and three churches in Ilocos Sur as well as side trips to a few historical and tourist spots in the Ilocos Region. Last stop before departure for Manila was St William Parish in San Fernando, La Union.

DAY 1 - September 14

http://volcats.blogspot.com/2012/10/paoay-church-st-augustine-parish.html

http://volcats.blogspot.com/2012/10/la-paz-sand-dunes.html

http://volcats.blogspot.com/2012/10/malacanang-of-north.html

THE GRANDEUR OF VIGAN

By: Odette Leon

The itineraries of my first two trips to the Ilocos Region (in the early 90’s and in 2006)  did not allow me  to have a good  enough  glance of the famous UNESCO World Heritage Village --  Calle Crisologo in Vigan City.  Learning about it, my proud Ilokano cousin-in-law who has gone on  European tour commented, “Sayang,  If you’ve been to Vigan, you’ve seen Madrid. Same na same ang setting and ambiance – the cobbled-stone streets, the century old houses, etc.  Next time you go north, be sure to find time to see  VIgan.”

And so I did – during the September 14-16, 2012 Journey of Faith @  Ilocandia –  the pilgrimage for a cause organized by the Volunteer Catechists Commission.

Arriving 7pm at the Socio Pastoral Center at Vigan for our overnight rest  (about 2hours drive from Badoc Church - the fourth and last church visited  in Laoag), we had  quick refreshing up.  After having some hot noodles for dinner at nearby Chowking, we walked to Calle Crisologo. Unfortunately some souvenir shops were already closed  as it was already almost half past 8pm when we got there.  

Conscious of the 9pm curfew at the Pastoral Center, we only had some brisk browsing of souvenir items in two or three stores and were not able to buy anything and take pictures. Disappointed  but tired and sleepy, we decided to call it a day and get some rest for the next day’s schedule. 

As we hurried back to the dormitory, we were met by surprise  by the flash of the camera of our two “guardians” who were just about to start their stroll along Calle Crisologo – and experience the beauty of nightlife at the Heritage Village.

Next day, from Bantay Church and Bell Tower, three of us from my team took a tricycle ride to Calle Crisologo  -- for shopping  and picture taking as we strolled along the cobbled-stoned streets lined up with  colonial houses called “bahay na bato”  -- two storey house with the ground floor made of stone and used as rice granary and storage area while the upper floor is made of wood and used exclusively for living quarters with sliding windows made of capiz.  Some of the houses are now used as souvenir shops.

Established in the 16^th century by Chinese traders from the Fujan Province, Calle Crisologo is the main street in VIgan, the Capital City of Ilocos Sur which has withstood the trials of time specially WW II. Stories have been told that Vigan was spared from destruction out  of love.  During the later part of the WWII, retreating Japanese troops would blaze any town before leaving so that the American  forces could not make use of them.  However, one Japanese General who lived and married a local girl, made a pact with the parish priest  to spare the city in exchange for the promise that the parish priest will take care of his family.

Hence, VIgan is a city spared out of love and so impressively preserved that present day visitors are able to experience what life was centuries ago. It is no wonder it is one of the Philippines’ UNESCO World Heritage sites, the Ilocos Region is very proud of.

And to conserve the nostalgic colonial street in this UNESCO World Heritage City of VIgan,  only horse-drawn kalesas are allowed to enter and pass by Calle Crisologo.  And so from there, to complete our Vigan experience, we took a calesa ride going to Gov. Chavit’s Baluarte Zoo to meet our other co-pilgrims.   

HERITAGE VILLAGE

By:  Jhosie Olayrest