Showing posts with label Ilocos Sur. Show all posts

Adventure n Rolla at NOAH | Narvacan, Ilocos Sur

Marky Ramone Go July 16, 2017

Adventure plays out like a series of rock en roll tunes on this part of Ilocos Sur. Iggy Pop’s Lust for Life could very well be blasting in your head once you signed up for the day’s first undertaking. Taking advantage of the varying rudiments of our planet; water, wind, earth and fire and incorporating it with various thrilling activities and the great outdoor vibe - a one-stop adventure hub is born. Situating at the foot of the rolling slopes and the coastline of Narvacan in Ilocos Sur - NOAH or the Narvacan Outdoor Adventure Hub, dishes a landscape that provides a perfect setting to a number of great outdoor exploits.

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Bantay Church Bell Tower | Ilocos Sur

Marky Ramone Go June 02, 2015

One of the places we visited as part of our Vigan side-trip was the Saint Augustine Parish Church. Commonly known as Bantay Church, it was first constructed on its current site in 1590. The present facade though, was the result of the reconstruction job done in 1950, after it was heavily damaged during World War II. Aside from its Neo-Gothic Architecture that incorporated pseudo-Romanesque elements, the church is also famous for its Belfry situated a short distance from the church.

Bantay Church Bell Tower view of the town

The Saint Augustine Parish Church

Located in Bantay, Ilocos Sur, the Saint Augustine Parish Church is also referred to as the Shrine of Nuestra Señora de la Caridad, and houses the image of the Virgin Mary as Our Lady of Charity—said to be a miraculous image crowned by the Pope Pius XII as patroness of Ilocandia on January 12, 1956. Originally, the church was built and designed with Baroque architecture and in later years in the late 19th century, was reinforced with thick buttressed walls after it endured numerous destructive earthquakes. This method of strengthening old churches back then earned the Earthquake Baroque architecture label.

The interior of the church is bare other than the arching steel columns, and a modest altar. The walls are painted white and the big windows allows natural light that keeps the inside appear lighter. Beside the church is a small museum housing old photographs of the church and the town of Bantay. There is also a small courtyard leading to a garden and an outdoor chapel—aptly called Chapel by the Ruins.

The Bantay Belfry of the Bantay Watchtower

Living up to its name Bantay, which translates to ‘guard’ in English, Bantay Belfry sits atop a hill overlooking the quaint town of Bantay. Back in the day, it was constructed on its strategic spot to also serve as a watchtower to defend the town from attacking pirates. During World War II, it was also manned by Filipino Guerilla Fighters and later on by retreating Japanese forces during the peak of the liberation of the Philippines.

Today, if you look out from one of the Belfry’s windows, you can see the pleasant view of the encircling trees and the piles of white crosses planted on multiple levels of graves laid over at the town's public cemetery.

Film quiz trivia hotshot: The Bantay Watchtower was among the shooting locations of the classic Filipino movie "Ang Panday".

Together with my girlfriend Monette and her two sisters Tuesday and Len, we spent almost an hour just resting and enjoying the view from the Belfry's tower. If it weren't for the arrival of a couple tourists we would have stayed longer as we left a few minutes later to give the two of them some privacy. Plus, we're already famished and craving for Vigan bagnet and pinakbet already.

Full of history and charming architecture, the Bantay Church and Bell Tower is must-see attraction whenever you find yourself in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

How to go to Bantay Church Bell Tower

Take either a slow but calming Kalesa ride or a faster tricycle ride to Bantay Church Bell Tower if you don't fancy taking a 20-minute walk from Vigan City.

This is a part of my Ilocos Roadtrip Series that also include the following:

- The Baroque Church of Paoay

- The Heritage House of Villa Angela

- Malacañang of the North

- Charging at the Mad Max Vibe of La Paz Sand Dunes

- Where to Stay in Laoag: Balay de Blas

- A Pit-stop at Kapurpurawan Rock Formation

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Where to Stay in Vigan: The Heritage House of Villa Angela

Unknown December 25, 2014

It was still dark when we arrived at the front gates of Villa Angela where fortunately, the caretaker was waiting for us already. She opened the gates and let us enter a long driveway flanked by a spacious garden leading to a staircase going to the upper level of the house. Stepping on creaking wooden floors we were ushered inside our room furnished with two double beds and a lone single bed. Exhausted from our long bus trip, we dozed off in no time. At that moment, we were still unaware of the rustic charm of Villa Angela, whose historic walls we just walked by under the mask of darkness.

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Feels like Sparring with Bobby Pacquiao in Vigan | Ilocos Sur

Unknown November 30, 2010

Vigan was our last stop-over during our long Bonifacio weekend trip. A journey that started in Cubao and passing by the towns of Tumauini and San Pablo in Isabela, a pit stop for the night at Tuguegarao then to Sta Ana in Cagayan for an overnight camping at Palaui Island.

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Vigan

Unknown May 15, 2007

On our way to Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte we stopped over at Vigan, Ilocos Sur to attend a mas (fyi: I got to mass once in every 5 years), eat some empanada and of course visit the heritage village at Calle Crisologo which is included in the list of the United Nation’s World Heritage Sites.

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Walking along Calle Crisologo – seeing those antique shops and old houses that dates back to Spanish colonial era kind of gives you a slight picture of how life was lived back in the old days.

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Around the area you’ll see the Ilocos Sur capitol hall and the nearby park.

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Vigan is a great place to visit on the way further North of Luzon, either by pit stop or the main point of your destination. There’s a nice inn near Calle Crisologo where visitors can stay.
What a way to have a fine food trip (Empanada, but many says Batac’s Empanada is the best of em all) go down a historic tour of the old colonial houses at the heritage village in Calle Crisologo or stroll around town riding one of those horse carriages parked besides the church.
All that and then some.

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