A Close Visit to La Union | Surfing the Horizons

From a province usually passed by until I get the chance to have a closer look of this "Surfing Capital of Ilocos Region". 

Tourists flocked at the shore of Luna, La Union in the Baluarte Watchtower overlooking the sea.

La Union is a province located at Ilocos Region, noted for its surfing spots, old churches, grape vines, and red clay pottery. It is the gateway going to Ilocandia, being the first province passed by travelers for those who are going to Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, and Abra. Furthermore, I have a chance to visit last December 2024, although I passed it in this province in 2018 which is the usual route going to Ilocos Provinces.

Baluarte Watchtower in Luna is one of the old Spanish lighthouses in the province
while other old lighthouses are just ruins found in towns in La Union including Balaoan,
Bacnotan,San Fernando, and San Juan.

The old brick watchtower is one of the tourist attractions in La Union.

There are few sites that I visited in this province. First, the Baluarte Watchtower located in the town of Luna, which was built during the Spanish era. It was intended to guard the shores against pirates and Muslim invaders during the Spanish colonization and it served as a communication tower post for Filipino and American armed forces during the World War II. 

The circular interior of Baluarte Watchtower. 

Due to the quarrying within the tower' site, the coastline receded, and the sea waves damaged the foundation of the tower. Furthermore, efforts are made to preserve the ruins of Baluarte Watchtower, and it served as a tourist spot for those who visit the province. 

A warning sign indicating dangerous waves for safe swimming and surfing.

The strong blue waves of La Union which makes the province one of the prominent surfing capitals.

Where the ocean meets the shore. An ideal time to swim to enjoy the stay in the province. 

Moreover, the beach resorts and surfing spots of La Union truly make this visit a memorable one. Simply enjoying the strong, foamy waves of the blue sea. Furthermore, the province is also rich in aquatic resources which can be a source of food and livelihood for the residents. 

Sunset in San Juan, La Union as it signals another evening for parties and night life. 

Other activities in La Union that you can enjoy including church visits, nature trips in forests and waterfalls, grapes picking, buying of dried fish and local delicacies, and enjoying the nightlife. 

Therefore, La Union is a place which you can come back for more - exploring the history, enjoying the surfing and beach parties, and appreciating the nature. 

Date of Travel: December 20-21, 2024

First Ilocandia Escapade | An Afternoon Visit in a Historic City of Vigan

The Philippines is noted for its several cultural heritage sites traced back to its history. Most of these places are preserved since the pre-colonial times such as the Banaue Rice Terraces, while others are maintained since the Spanish era. Therefore, these historical sites are visited by tourists in order to explore the history and culture of our country.

The UNESCO World Heritage City of Vigan in an afternoon visit.

In this blog, there are posts which are featured heritage cities which are preserved dating back from the Spanish colonial period. Some of these were visited and featured in blog such as Intramuros in Manila, Pila in Laguna and Taal in Batangas. These three heritage sites were featured in my blog which expressing my thoughts of traveling back in time because of the architecture in ancestral houses and structures which are made during Spanish colonial times. Therefore, I visited another heritage city which made my bucket list complete in this tour - the Heritage City of Vigan.

Vigan City is one of the New 7 Wonders Cities.

Before we go home to Cavite, we never missed the opportunity to visit this old Spanish city of Vigan. Located on the western coast of Ilocos Sur, Vigan is one of the few towns left in the Philippines whose old houses and structures are remained intact. The city is known for its sett pavements and a unique architecture of the Spanish colonial era in the Philippines. There are abundance of bahay na bato (literally house of stone) houses and an Earthquake Baroque church. In fact, the entire city was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage City after being declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. In 2015, Vigan City was officially recognized as one of the New7Wonders Cities.

The Saint Paul Metropolitan Cathedral located in Plaza Salcedo.

The bell tower of Saint Paul Metropolitan Cathedral.

Before we begin the roaming tour in the city, we visited the Saint Paul Metropolitan Cathedral. It serves as the seat of the Roman Catholic archdiocese of Nueva Segovia in Ilocos Sur. It was built in 1574 as a church made up of wood and the present day church was built from 1790 to 1800 under the supervision of Augustinians.

Plaza Salcedo

Plaza Burgos

Ilocos Sur Provincial Capitol

The church is located within the Plaza Salcedo which featured a dancing fountain and light show in the evening and an adjacent plaza called Plaza Burgos which is noted for its food stalls. You can also find the Ilocos Sur Provincial Capitol within the vicinity of the town center.

Faded walls and capis windows are evidences of the 

There are many tourists walked in this century-old street.

It is amusing to see Mamang Sorbetero (ice cream vendor) with his ice cream cart.

The Kalesa or horse-drawn carriage is very common in the Philippines until today.

The sights and sounds of Calle Crisologo.

Then, we entered at the Calle Crisologo, the most popular ancestral street in Vigan. You have this time traveling back in time because of the stone houses which were preserved since the Spanish era. The sett pavements (also known as Belgian blocks or sampietrino) which are common during the colonial era and the calesa (a horse drawn carriage) is the most common mode of transportation in the street. Seeing those bahay na bato (stone houses) made and preserved since the Spanish era are quite amusing because it remained intact in the actual place. Nowadays, the ancestral houses are business establishments, historical museums and transient houses and hotels, however, the structure and architecture remained intact.

The Ilocos Sur Provincial Tourism Office.

The ancestral house of Leona Florentino, the first female Filipino poet and her son, Isabelo Delos Reyes
the first Filipino who organized a labor union.

Aside from roaming along the old streets of Calle Crisologo, you may also visit the ancestral house of Leona Florentino, the first Filipina poetess and noted for her poems such as "Blasted Hopes." Her son, Isabelo Delos Reyes played an important role in history which he organized the first labor union in the Philippines and he did a major role in the Aglipayan Church. Today, there are two establishments shared in their ancestral house - a restaurant named Cafe Leona and the Ilocos Sur Provincial Office. In addition, Elpidio Quirino was also born in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

An afternoon scene in Calle Crisologo.

We've done a lot of things in this place from souvenir shopping, photo sessions, and strolling in the streets of Calle Crisologo. We enjoyed the last part of our Ilocos Tour and definitely, memories will be treasured and if we were given a chance to come back, definitely, we will grab the opportunity to explore more about the Ilocandia. 

Date: August 27, 2018

Visita Iglesia: Baroque Churches of Laguna Loop

There are different traditions in commemorating the Lent season. One of the common Filipino customs during Holy Week is the Visita Iglesia. It is the custom of visiting seven to fourteen churches where people pray the Stations of the Cross with the stations are divided among the churches. According to Wikipedia, Visita Iglesia is customarily observed during Maundy Thursday but today, it is commonly practiced in any day of the Holy Week.

The historical province of Laguna is also popular because of the ancient Baroque churches. These churches were built during the Spanish era and it was located in various towns and cities in the province. Therefore, Laguna is an ideal venue to conduct a visitation to seven churches or Visita Iglesia because of the majestic architecture and the serene ambiance of the province that teemed with the captivating landscapes and the abundance of nature in the province.

Shrine of Saint Anthony de Padua
Pila, Laguna

Located in the town of heritage houses, the Shrine of Saint Anthony de Padua is the first Antonine house of worship in the Philippines. It was built in 1618 but the town was transferred from Pagalangan to its present site in 1800 in order to avoid frequent floods. The church was completed in 1849. In addition, the first printing press was established under Tomas Pinpin and Domingo Loag. The church was located in the town plaza, adjacent to the town hall and museum.

Immaculate Conception Church
Santa Cruz, Laguna

Within a five to ten minute travel from Pila, you can reach the busy and progressive provincial capital of Santa Cruz. In this town you can visit the Immaculate Conception Church. It was originally constructed of stone in 1608 and enlarged in 1672. It was destroyed by fire in 1945 during the Liberation and reconstructed in 1948. It is located in the town center of Santa Cruz.

Saint Mary Magdalene Church
Magdalena, Laguna

Nestled in the lush and verdant foothills of Banahaw, you can visit the peaceful and historical town of Magdalena. Within ten minutes from Santa Cruz, you can reach the town plaza of Magdalena and you can visit the St. Mary Magdalene Church. It was completed in 1829. It plays a significant role in the Philippine Revolution of 1896 where Emilio Jacinto sought refuge in the church after he was shot and wounded near the Maimpis River.

Saint John the Baptist Church
Liliw, Laguna

You can visit the St. John the Baptist Church located in Liliw, the town which is popular for its slippers and footwear. The church was built in 1605 after the town was separated from Nagcarlan. The church is popular because of its elegant bricked facade as well with the solemn interior.

Saint Bartholomew the Apostle Church
Nagcarlan, Laguna

Few minutes away from Liliw, we have the St. Bartholomew the Apostle Church in Nagcarlan. The first church was built in 1583 made of light materials. The second church was built in 1752 which is made of stone. There also stories that there is a tunnel from the church to the Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery which is the secret meeting place of the Katipuneros in the 1896 Revolution. In addition, this church is the setting of the defunct fantasy series "Kampanerang Kuba".

Saint Gregory the Great Church
Majayjay, Laguna

One of the tallest churches and a National Historical Treasure in the Philippines, the St. Gregory the Great Church was built in 1571 in the highland town of Majayjay. It was made up of nipa and bamboo and its church made of stone was completed in 1616 to 1649. This church is popular because of its stunning height and the Baroque architecture which was made during the Spanish era.

Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish
Luisiana, Laguna

This church is located after crossing the zigzag roads of Luisiana which is known as "The Little Baguio of Laguna". The town is located in the highlands of Sierra Madre and it is popular because of its cold climate and its town festival called "Pandan Festival" because of its products made of pandan. The church was built somewhere in 19th century and it looks like in a process of reconstruction when I visited the place because the facade looks newly construct.

Parish of the Transfiguration of Our Lord Chruch
Cavinti, Laguna

Located in the rugged terrain of the province, Cavinti is the home of famous Pagsanjan Falls. In the town center, there is the 400-year old Parish of the Transfiguration of Our Lord which is one of the old churches in Laguna. The church was built in 1621. It was destroyed by the Chinese uprising in 1639. The present structure was destroyed by an earthquake in 1824 and the tower collapsed in 1880. The walls were cracked in 1890 and 1937. Today, it is one of the Baroque churches in Laguna which is still standing after many centuries.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Church
Pagsanjan, Laguna

Pagsanjan is known as the Tourist Capital of Laguna. In the town center located in the highway going to Lumban and Cavinti, the Our Lady of Guadalupe Church is located. It was named after their patron of the town which is the Our Lady of Guadalupe. It was originally made of bamboo and nipa when the church was founded in 1687. It was reconstructed in 1690 and improved in 1853. It was destroyed during the Second World War. The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was a gift from Mexico in 1948.

San Sebastian Church
Lumban, Laguna

Lumban is one of the oldest towns in Laguna and it was a center for missionary activities in the province. The San Sebastian Church is located in the town center near the Pagsanjan River. Rev. Juan de Plasencia ministered here in 1578 and the original church was made of wood and thatch. The first stone church was built in 1600. *

Saint John the Baptist Church
Kalayaan, Laguna

This church is located in Longos, a small barrio in the lakeshore of Kalayaan. The church was built in 1669 by the Franciscan friars. Its bell was one of the oldest in the country which was cast in 1642.

Saint James the Apostle Church
Paete, Laguna

In the town of colorful woodcrafts and artistic woodcarvers, the Saint James the Apostle Church was located in the town center of Paete. The church also offers the view of Sierra Madre as a background. The town was founded in 1580 and the church was built in 1646. The church was also a gathering area of wood sculptures of images of Jesus Christ and the saints for the Procession in Holy Week.

Saint Peter of Alcantara Church
Pakil, Laguna

Pakil is a town which is famous for Turumba Festival, delicate woodcarvings and the old Saint Peter of Alcantara Church. The church was originally made of nipa and it was established in 1676. The stone church was completed in 1767 and the belfry was made in 1777.

Nuestra Senora de Candelaria Church
Mabitac, Laguna

The Nuestra Senora de Candelaria Church was located in the hilltop in the town of Mabitac. This church is unique because you need to take the one hundred twenty-six steps to the hilltop church. The church was built in 1613 under the Franciscan missionaries. It was destroyed by earthquakes and the belfry of the church was remained standing after many centuries. The church is also located near the Battle of Mabitac historical marker. In addition, you can see the panoramic view of Mabitac from the hilltop church. *

Saint Paul the Hermit Cathedral
San Pablo City

The Saint Paul the Hermit Cathedral was first established in 1586 and its present structure was completed in 1714. San Pablo City is the diocese in the province of Laguna where the cathedral was located. *

You can read my post in Perspectives in White Scratch Papers entitled Visita Iglesia: A Pilgrimage to the Baroque Churches of Laguna which tells about my personal experience in visiting the Spanish era churches in the province.

Date of Travel: April 5, 2012

* The churches of Lumban, Mabitac and San Pablo City are not included in Visita Iglesia tour last April 5, 2012. The visit to the first two churches is part of Laguna Loop Tour from October to December 2011 while the visit to San Pablo Cathedral was happened on February 2012

A Walk in the Historical Fortress

In the heart of Manila's oldest district, there is a fortress that was strengthened by history. You will take a walk in a clean and green park where you can see carriages (calesa in Tagalog term) which is the mode of transportation during the Spanish period. Then, you will make it to the bricked moat filled with water lilies and an old facade where history awaits as you enter the old fortress, Fort Santiago.

Located in the mouth of Pasig River in Intramuros, Fort Santiago is one of the most visited parks and historical sites in Metro Manila. The entrance fee is worth P50.00 for students and P75.00 for tourists. If you want to experience to ride in a calesa, you can pay P20.00 for children or students, P50.00 for tourists and P300.00 for Intramuros tour. 

Fort Santiago moat

Fort Santiago facade

Historical Background
Fort Santiago is the location where Rajah Sulayman, a Muslim chieftain of pre-Hispanic Manila. It was palisaded fort with bronze guns during the ancient period. It was destroyed by Martin de Goiti who fought with the natives in 1570. The Spaniards started building Fuerza de Santiago (Fort Santiago) in 1571 after the establishment of City of Manila which made as the capital of our country. The construction of Fort Santiago was accomplished from 1590 to 1593 headed by Governor General Gomez Perez de Dasmarinas and the gate was built in 1714. During the American period, the citadel served as headquarters of the U.S. Navy. It was destroyed during the Battle of Manila in 1945. Today, the 16th century military defense structure is one of the most visited parks and historical sites in Manila.

Following the Footsteps to a Historical Walk

The footsteps of our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal.

As I entered the gate of the historical citadel, I noticed the metal footsteps which lead you to a journey which reflects our colorful past. These steps represent the footprints of Dr. Jose Rizal as he walked to Bagumbayan for his execution in 1896.

The memorial cross of Fort Santiago for the victims of World War II.

I followed the footsteps and it lead me to another place which is the Memorial Cross. This site marked the resting place of 600 Filipinos and Americans who were victims of atrocities during the last days of February 1945. They suffered from starvation and suffocation on dungeons. Near in the memorial cross are the dungeons or underground prisons where it is formerly a battery of weapons. 

Dungeon

The skyline view of Manila from Baluarte de Santa Barbara located at the mouth of Pasig River.

Then I went upstairs to go in the stone bastion called Baluarte de Santa Barbara. Built in 1593, it formed a part of the Fort Santiago and it commemorated the memories of the Second World War in Manila. 

The prison cell of Dr. Jose Rizal in Fort Santiago.

I also visited the Rizal Shrine where the prison cell of Dr. Jose Rizal was located in this area. In addition, the poems "Mi Ultimo Adios" (Last Farewell) and "Sa Kabataang Pilipino" (To The Filipino Youth) in different languages are posted in the museum as well with the different pictures and the objects he used during his lifetime.

Other Photos from Fort Santiago

A ruined brick building which is considered as the oldest building in Fort Santiago.

Media Naranja, located near in Baluarte de Santa Barbara

The ruined buildings.

Therefore, my visit in Fort Santiago helped me to reflect in our colorful past. In addition, this place served as a witness of our history from the establishment of Rajah Sulayman's kingdom in the pre-colonial times to the fortification of this citadel as a military defense site during the Spanish period. Today, it is one of the most visited historical sites among Filipino and foreign tourists. 

Date of Travel: February 12, 2012