The Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion church in Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur, one of four of the UNESCO enscribed (1993) Baroque Churches of the Philippines, a World Heritage Site is perched up on a hill overlooking the town of Sta. Maria as well as the surrounding mountains and seas. Built at about 1765 by the Augustinians, it served as a fortress during the Philippine Revolution in 1896.
I thought that I’ve already uploaded this one but upon recheck of my photos for this blog, forgot it. Anyway…
Crisolog St. in Vigan City is the primary tourist destination in this UNESCO World Heritage site. It is also where the most well preserved ancestral houses in the city are located. However, its really quite a short walk and a known tourist trap.
Left, Crisolog St. during the day with calesas (horsedrawn carriages) plying the well maintained stone pavement. Right, At night, the ancestral houses are eeriely lighted and really looks creepy.
Shops catering to tourists also line this street. From the usual souvenir t-shirts, trinkets and what have you to, as what Sidney commented in my photoblog: “contemporary antiques” (right).
Once you finish your walk in this particular street and, for me, your Vigan trip ends.
Related posts:
A trip to Vigan, 1
A trip to Vigan, 2
A trip to Vigan, 3
A trip to Vigan, 4
A trip to Vigan, 5
A trip to Vigan, 6
Left, a few meters from the Vigan Cathedral, Simbaan a Bassit, another centuries old religious structure in the city. This is actually a cemetery chapel known for its uniqueness as it is the only such kind with an espadana, bells placed at the top of the pediment.
Right, one of four UNESCO World Heritage site (baroque churches in the Philippines), the Church of the Assumption in Sta. Maria is another imposing structure. One need to have an ultrawide angle lens just to capture the facade.
Just outside of Vigan is Bantay with its impressive church of St. Augustine. The massive belltower located a few meters from the church overlooking a hill serves also as a watchtower against enemies.
Another town near Vigan, San Vicente is also a proud host to another beautiful church. Right, its centuries old fence still exists.
Related posts:
A trip to Vigan, 1
A trip to Vigan, 2
A trip to Vigan, 3
A trip to Vigan, 4
A trip to Vigan, 5
St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral is an impressive baroque structure that was completed in 1800. Its belltower is located a few meters from its side. While the facade is simple, the interior is sumptuous and richly ornamented.
Left, the cathedral during Sunday. RIght, one of the side altar retablo and the main altar retablo (background).
Left, another side altar with details of Christ’s passion. A statue of St. Lorenzo Ruiz, the first Filipino saint/martyr is in the foreground. Right, beaten silver panels below this side altar.
Left, one of the beautiful and intricately carved tomb marker found in one of the cathedral’s pillars. The elites during the spanish occupation were priviledged to have a space for their dead inside churches and can be found in most old religious structures around the country. Right, the top of the cathedral’s nave.
Related posts:
A trip to Vigan, 1
A trip to Vigan, 2
A trip to Vigan, 3
A trip to Vigan, 4
A trip to Vigan, 6
Left, okoy deep fried small shrimps, still with shell and formed into cakes bound with flour and eggs and, right, empanada, vegetables, vigan longanisa (native sausage) and egg wrapped in a tortilla is deep fried. These are delicious treats that one can enjoy especially at night at the plaza.
A vendor frying and making her delicacies, left. Right, small bowls of vinegar with minced onions where one can dip the empanada or okoy.
Tinubong is a glutinous race delicacy cooked inside bamboo mixed slivers of coconut allegedly originating from Magsingal, a town further north of Vigan. Its really delicious especially when still hot. The first time I saw this upon my first visit to the place I asked a vendor what it was and the name given to me was durul. That word is akin to the dudol of Jolo, another delicacy the same as this one. I should know since I was able to buy some at the pier in that southern town. Now, I just don’t know how it became tinubong (perhaps, its in the way of cooking) but I’m curious, which is the original? the dudul/tinobong of Magsingal or the dudol in Jolo?
Related posts:
A trip to Vigan, 1
A trip to Vigan, 2
A trip to Vigan, 3
A trip to Vigan, 5
A trip to Vigan, 6
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