Rough Groove

A trip to Vigan, 1

I’ve been passing Vigan everytime I’m going to Ilocos, usually to Laoag. The first time I was there was to spend my birthday a few years ago but only slept for a night there before proceeding to another place. The second time was more than a month for Ryan’s birthday. Well, this time, I was able to go around.

At the Partas Cubao bus terminal, we were able to board the deluxe coach, a rather welcome transport as compared to the cramped usual aircon buses. The seats are plush, comfy and with a proper leg rest that really makes you want to sleep :p

Vigan City, then a flourishing Spanish settlement in Ilocos became the seat of the Diocese of Nueva Segovia which was formerly located in Lal-lo, Cagayan, after the might Cagayan River, with its constant flooding threatened the town and has eroded the plaze infront of the Cathedral there.
Its a city in contrast. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, being an example of a best preserved 16th century planned Spanish town, with its centuries old Baroque church and the ancestral houses, the pressure of commercial establishments and modernity is somewhat taking a toll.

Left, a fastfood chain stands, foreground to the St. Paul Cathedral. Right, at the other side of the street, tricycles and other vehicles along a busy commercial road.

Left, a somewhat unique tricycle with a door, usually to keep the rains from wetting the passengers. Rather unusual for me since I haven’t seen this in other places.

Right, with a cluster of many ancestral houses, many have been converted for tourist accommodations. Unfortunately, its quite expensive and haphazardly done that while the exteriors are charming, the interior and rooms are poorly planned and just badly done.

Related posts:

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

Trip to Guiuan, Samar, 3

Its been six years since I’ve been back to Guiuan. The last time I was here was just to transit and collect beetles and butterflies in Homonhon Is. Well, nothing much has changed except maybe that it has mobile communications already and the road leading to the town is well paved. Other than that, its still the same.

Pedicamb drivers infront of the church waiting for passengers (left). Right, a nonfunctioning male urinal most probably inspired by the MMDA male urinals in Metro Manila. Fortunately, its a cool shade of blue compared to the original pink.

My real intent for going to this town was to photograph the lovely 16th century church of the Inmaculada Concepcion. The structure stands on the grounds of a fortress, considered during the mid 1600 as the 2nd best after Manila and one of three that are heavily fortified (Manila and Zamboanga are the other two) that was built to protect the town from Muslim raiders, usually for the slave trade in Sulu. The belltower, built a few meters from the church has the Franciscan insignia.

Other than the wonderful facade, what makes this church special is the mosaic of different kinds of shells that adorns its baptistry and a side chapel that cannot be found nowhere else in the country. Just imagine cone shells, corals, bivalves, nautilus and many other shell species that just make up the beautiful design of butterflies and flowers.

Unfortunately for me, I was not able to take photos inside as the parish priest forbids taking of photos since a few years ago, a rash of thievery befell the churche’s furnishings and antique statues. The towns people are equally defensive.

The beautifully carved and intricately done front doors of the church that, as what the Lonely Planet guidebook for the Philippines wrote, Imelda Marcos once offered 2 million pesos to buy these for her collection.

This church is really a jewel and has been nominated for inclusion for the UNESCO World Heritage Site list under Baroque churches of the Philippines.

San Agustin procession

Last August 27, San Agustin church in Intramuros had a procession in honor of the order’s feast day. I was there to take photos upon the invitation of Fr. Pedro Galende.

The main image of San Agustin (1 of 3) carried out of the church (left). The oldest church in the Philippines with much history with it, the only standing church remaining during the Liberation of Manila, WWII, San Agustin Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site stands proud through the centuries as the procession starts its centuries old path around the once walled city of Intramuros (right).

The band that played behind the procession (left). The main image coming back from the procession (right). The churche’s interior is so rich and beautiful with the trompe l’oeil still intact when the painter Alberoni (brothers?) first did the church. Just beside the altar, the tomb of Legazpi, founder of Manila is located.

Sta. Monica church in Albur

sta_monica_church

Originally uploaded by pigarotti.

I was flickr surfing ’s photostream when I saw this photo of the beautiful church of Albur (Alburquerque) in Bohol. Now, its been years since I’ve been to that island province but didn’t expect that they had “landscaped” the front.

Ugghhh, how I wish that parishes in the country would just leave the front and facade intact and unhindered. It detracts one from the architectural beauty of these churches.

Zambales Churches: Masinloc and Iba

Last Tuesday, I was in Zambales to cover Masinloc church for the book project. Its the second time I have come to Zambales. The first one was during our climb in Mt. Tapulao. The trip was quite long. Instead of the 5 hours that I expected it to be, I was on the road for 6.5 hours! And that’s just the one way trip. The buses that I took (Pasay - Olongapo & Olongapo - Iba - Masinloc) just had many stops that time just stretched.

Anyway, upon arriving in the town of Masinloc (founded 1607 and is the first town to be established in the province of Zambales and by next year, the towns quadricentennial –> 400 years, will be celebrated), I was just awed by the beauty of the church of San Andres. Except for the belfry that was just added later, its antiquity just overwhelms the senses. The facade is simple and a relief as well as a saint’s niche adorns the pediment. Unfortunately, this church was hit by a strong earthquake December 1999 and is now undergoing restoration partially funded by the NCCA which listed this as one of the 26 colonial churches, national treasures, of the country.

For those who would want to help in the funding for the completion of the restoration, you can visit the website http://www.sanandres1607.org/. Financial support is really needed to bring back the church’s old glory.

It was already late in the afternoon that I proceeded to Iba to catch the return trip to Olongapo and then to Manila. On the way, I stopped first at this old cathedral established by the Recollects. Like most churches in the country, this was repainted and has already gone a facelift. However, the orignal coral stones that made up the walls can still be seen at the sides. The belfry is a new addition since originally, the bells were attached to the church’s espadana at the top (right). Unfortunately, to reasons unknown to me, the bells were no longer hanging at the espadana and its back was covered with cement and people who don’t know this would think that these are saints’ niches.

1800H and I was already on my way to Olongapo. When I reached the terminal, the last trip for the bus bound for Pasay was already ready to go and I just have to catch it and bought a small piece of siopao for my dinner. I arrived 2300H tired and weary.