Discovering Ilocos' Hidden Treasures

Last year, in 2023, our department in Tourism and Hospitality Management went on an educational tour to the Ilocos Region. As a tourism student, I was excited to visit the famous heritage sites in Ilocos, especially the Heritage City of Vigan.

     Our first stop was the Santa Maria Church, followed by breakfast at Hidden Garden, where I had Vigan longganisa, eggs, rice, and Milo. After eating, we headed to Baluarte ni Chavit, which is home to a variety of animals such as lions, tigers, deer, peacocks, and more. For lunch, we went to the Ancieto Mansion, a buffet restaurant where we enjoyed delicious Filipino-style dishes. During my tour, the most exciting activity was the 4x4 ride at the Laog Sand Dunes. It was my first time trying this kind of activity and it was so much fun and a great experience. We were lucky to see the beautiful sunset while riding the 4x4 vehicle. There was also sandboarding available, but I chose not to try it since it was already dark and I was a bit scared of heights. For dinner, we had a meal at La Preciosa Restaurant/Arabella and stayed at the Sola hotel.

       On the second day of our tour, the first destination we visited was Pagudpud. We stopped by Patapat Viaduct, which is a long bridge located near the beach. We took pictures with my friends and enjoyed the perfect view and serene surroundings of the beach. When we reached Pagudpud, we played games, took more pictures, had a buffet lunch, and bought souvenirs. It was so much fun because we could also go swimming. I can say that Pagudpud beach is similar to Boracay because of its white sand and clear, clean water. On our trip, we visited the Bangui Windmills for the first time. I was amazed to see how big they were up close. I took lots of photos, videos, and even bought some souvenirs. We also went to Kapurpurawan, a rock formation. It was a lot of fun exploring the area and taking pictures. To get to the highlight of the rock formation, you can ride a horse for 100 pesos, but I preferred to walk despite the strong winds that could knock you down. The scenery was beautiful, and I took pictures of the beach and the windmills. On the way back to Laoag City, we passed by St. William's Cathedral before heading back to our hotel. The second most enjoyable activity was the culminating activity at the hotel, where we had a talent contest for singing and dancing. We also had a pajama party, where we wore pajamas. Proceed to Bangui Windmills my first time also that I can see up close and how big it is in personal. I take a lot of pictures, videos and I buy also souvenirs. We went to Vigan City where we had a buffet lunch at Hidden Garden Restaurant. After lunch, we visited Cristy's Loom Weaving where we saw how they make clothes, bags, and other woven items. When we visit the Pagburnayan,  where the pottery making is, it makes me emotional to hear the story of Kuya, who demonstrated to us that he was the only one left who was making pottery, and he told us how their business was greatly affected as no one went during the pandemic. On the positive side, he was able to finish his four children's just-making pottery, and that’s why he stayed and worked, as well as because of the tourists who came and inspired him.

   

     The last destination we visited was Vigan. The Heritage Village, specifically Calle Crisologo. It was the most amazing place that I've ever been to. My experience in Calle Crisologo was unforgettable, and I was ecstatic to be there as it is the most popular heritage site in Ilocos that we visited. I personally witnessed how beautiful and unique the old houses and other facilities were, which made me understand why tourists visit this place. There are a lot of souvenir shops in every corner where we can buy things like keychains, bags, wallets, and many more. There is also a restaurant and cafe where you can buy food and drinks. The most beautiful moment in Calle Crisologo was at night, when we could feel the vibes of the place and how beautiful it was, especially with the lights and carriages passing by while we were walking. We spent a lot of time taking pictures and videos of me and my friends, and we also bought souvenirs. Although we did not ride in the carriage, it was worth it to go there. So far, it is my favorite place in Ilocos, and I promise myself that I will come back here.