Ilocandia Adventures - Sta. Maria, Ilocus Sur

Sta. Maria was not in my original itinerary.  I heard about the Sta. Maria church from a fellow guest staying at Grandpas Inn.  I got curious. My curiosity paid off!  

Sta. Maria is around an hour by bus from Vigan. I boarded the bus heading for Baguio from the terminal near the Public market complex. Buses going to manila is also an alternative when going to Sta. Maria.

One cannot miss the church.  All buses going to and from the town passes by it.  With its impressive bell tower and stone steps, one can never miss the location. The church is also a world heritage site.

 
 

The church interiors is impressive.  Stepping inside the church made me felt as if I went back in time due to the century old wood carvings and statues found inside.  

On my way in through the rectory, I spotted some worn out documents inside an 'aparador' in one corner.  They seemed old.  I noted of making a detailed inspection on my way out...

They were indeed baptismal records and church hymnals dating back to the 1700s!  I was even surprised when the records keeper showed me more documents stored in another 'aparador'.  

I was overwhelmed by the age of such documents, however, I felt sad realizing the fact that no form of protection was being done to safeguard these documents from further decay.  I confirmed this from the office workers in the rectory.  Paging, National Historical Commission !!!

My Sta. Maria trip was a short but revealing visit.  After lunch I headed back to Vigan.

Ilocandia Adventures - Vigan

A twelve hour bus ride from Manila to Laoag is too much for me.  It will consume a considerable time of my limited schedule in exploring the Ilocos region.  Thanks once again to the seat-sale of Cebu Pacific, I was able to book a round-trip ticket from Manila to Laoag at a discounted price.  

Touch down at the Laoag international airport was just after lunch. The flight was delayed for almost an hour due to the air traffic congestion at the Manila airport (as always).  I availed of the free shuttle service from the airport to the city proper, from where I took a tricycle to bus terminal for Vigan. To avail of the free shuttle service, just go to the passenger assistance counter near the exit of the arrival hall in the airport and register your name there.

I took the Farinas aircon bus going to Pasay. No, i'm not going back to Manila.  Vigan is to the South of Ilocos with respect to Laoag. It was cozy enough that I was able to relax for the next two hours.  I dropped off at the terminal near the Vigan Market Complex where I took a tricyle to Grandpa's Inn -- my home for the next two nights.  

Grandpa's Inn (http://www.grandpas-inn.com/index.php) is just a walking distance from the Heritage Strip where one finds the more known Calle Crisologo.  The Inn itself gives the feeling of being in an old Spanish mansion. I would recommend that you stay in this place at least one night.


 
Calle Crisologo is a cobble-stone street lined with century old spanish-inspired old houses and souvenir shops.  Kalesas (horse-drawn carriage) ply the street ferrying mostly tourist and a few locals. Popular souvenir items from this part of Ilocos are the ilocono towels and similar woven items, native garlic and onions.  The best time to go around the Calle is night time. If time permits, buy your souvenir from the Vigan Public Market complex where they are cheaper, otherwise get them from the souvenir shops in the Calle area.

With no intentions to buy souvenir items at Calle Crisolog, I instead sampled the dishes that were sold in some of the cafes in the street.  I sampled Ilocos' famous empanada from one of the stalls - at P24 piece. Its huge enough that it can be considered a meal for the 'small-eaters'.  






For an early dinner, I sampled Cafe Leona's bagnet (which is just like a lechon kawali) and a sinigang soup.  The food at Cafe Leona's is delicious, but expensive. I know there's a more cheaper food-joint some other other parts of Vigan.  

Oh, I tried their tabacco, but I never got passed the third puff -- too strong!

I ate my breakfast here as an alternative to Grandpas Restaurant which can be full during peak season.  They serve the typical breakfast 'silog', especially the one having the sweet Vigan Longanisa. 

Vigan Cathedral (St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral) and the Plaza Burgos are alternative hang-outs after the Calle Crisologo.  The church is the third reconstruction during the 1700s after an earthquake destroyed the first one during the 1500s and after a fire gutted the second one in the 1600s.  

I passed the cathedral earlier that day but never got interested until I saw it during night time.  

Fifteen to twenty minutes from Vigan City proper is the Baluarte. It is a mini-zoo owned by the politician Chavit Singson.  The resort complex lies in hectares of land that stretches from the rolling plain towards the hills, where the former governor’s multi-storey house sits with a grand view of Vigan, the mountains of Abra and the South China Sea. 

There are no entrance fees so everyone is welcome. 









There is a butterfly farm, a track for horse riding and an aviary.  Ostrich roam freely in the track much to the delight of the visitors. 

Caged peacocks, pheasants, deers of various kinds are found adjacent to the butterfly garden.

The Bengal Tigers can be seen at the entrance to the zoo.  

It is advisable to hire a tricycle when going to the Baluarte Mini-zoo.  I paid 200 pesos for the one I hired.