A Trip to the Land of the Marcoses - Laoag City

While in the process of planning our trip to Laoag, Vigan and Pagudpud, I was a little bit confused as to which place we should visit first, mainly because I also did not have any idea how the places are located strategically. The only information I had was that Laoag to Vigan is about an hour and a half, while Laoag to Pagudpud is around 2 hours.

Since we will be flying from Manila to Laoag, our itinerary involved going around Laoag first before going to Vigan. The day we were scheduled to head to Laoag, we still do not have a hotel in mind as our place to stay while there. So we tried contacting Balay da Blas, the place that was recommended to us by tour guide Carlos Celdran. We Googled for his website and found their phone number in the website.

I called at around lunch time and Sammy, the owner of the place, was the one who answered my call. We arranged for a hotel pick up. Sammy told us they will be charging P500 for that. Fine with us as we will be arriving at almost 7pm so it is safer, as we have no idea what to expect when we arrive there.

Our plane trip to Laoag was a bit scary as it was a small plane  (only 2 seats on each side), but thankfully we arrived safe. When we arrived at the airport, Bob grabbed a trolley while waiting for our baggage. What surprised me was as we were about to go out of the airport, we were flagged down by a lady in a counter and was asking for a fee of the trolley. So I reacted. Of course I was reacting as there was no marker where the trolleys were situated that they were for rent. However, she was kind enough to point to us some trolleys hidden in another corner which are for free. The trolley that the passengers would easily notice and pull out happens to be owned by an airport cooperative that is why they are asking for a fee. Bob and I decided to just leave the trolley and hand carry our baggage. By the way, we also grabbed a map from the DOT counter at the airport. The driver was already outside of the airport waiting for us. He carried our baggage as we followed him to the parked van. As we hopped inside, Sammy greeted us. Sammy is the owner of Balay da Blas. He was very pleasant and friendly.

After placing our belongings inside our room, we asked Sammy if he can suggest a place to have dinner. It was a Sunday night by the way. Sammy suggested to try Saramsam (a place which he also happens to own) and was also just 1-2 mins away by trike. The trikes in Ilocos are not too pleasing to ride on as they are just way too small. Something that the government should fix since the place is a tourist destination.

We arrived at Saramsam and ate a late dinner. We ordered Insarabasab, Ylocano Longganisa, Okoy (more flour than shrimp), Pinakbet Pizza, and Iced tea with wild basil. We also had Chocolate Fondue but instead of the usual strawberry and other fruits, we had banana and camote to dip into the chocolate. A very heavy dinner for two :)

Insarabasab

Pinakbet Pizza

Banana Fondue

The following day, we woke up early and had breakfast at Balay da Blas. I had Bangus and fried egg with rice while Bob had the Vigan Longganisa (he fell in love with it!) and friend egg with rice.


After eating breakfast, we asked Sammy if there was a way we could rent a trike to take us to the places we wanted to see and we also showed him the list that we have. He helped us look for a trike and we rented it for P900.

Our first stop was the Museo Ilocos Norte. Good thing that it was open that day, as it was a Provincial holiday. Inside the museum, you can see a collection of items used for farming, weaving and fishing during the old days. They also have a boutique where one could buy pasalubongs. A piece of warning though, do not buy from the museum as they are very expensive. Especially if you still have plans to go to Vigan and Pagudpud afterwards. I was disappointed to find out that a bracelet I bought from the museum for P250 can be purchased for only P100 somewhere in Pagudpud and Vigan.

Our next stop was the Sinking Bell Tower of Laoag. You cannot get inside this bell tower that was built back in 1612.

After taking a few pictures, we proceeded to the Church of Laoag. Went inside and took some pictures outside, then we started heading to Paoay.

It took about 30 minutes for us to reach Paoay. By the time we arrived at Herencia Cafe in Paoay to have our lunch, my butt was numb from the bumpy ride and my face was numb from the blowing of the wind. For ladies with long hair, I advise you tie your hair or wear a bandana. It took me several minutes to untangle my hair! Huhuhu...

We can see the beautiful Paoay Church while we were at Herencia Cafe, but we decided to have lunch first before looking inside the Church. Herencia Cafe is known of their Pinakbet Pizza, so even if we already tasted a Pinakbet Pizza, we just had to try their version and compare. True enough you cannot deny their pizza is the best! You cannot even taste the veggies on top of it. You also have the option to use chilli sauce or the bagoong sauce.

Herencia Cafe's version of Pinakbet Pizza

He ate the last piece!

We also tried their Poque poque. It is an eggplant recipe with onions, tomatoes and egg. After eating that hearty lunch with our trike driver, we rode the trike again and proceeded to Paoay Church.

Bad timing though, as a funeral march was going inside as we arrived. I had to take pictures of the church interior quickly before the hearse enters the compound. I was just amazed at the very huge buttresses that were on the sides of the church structure.

They also have the bell tower which is still very much functioning. I had to pause and think before attempting to go up. The stairs were made of very old wood, steep and of course I am afraid of heights! The person in charge of the bell tower was kind enough to assist us as we got up and kept reminding us to hold on to the hand rails while going up.

When we got to the top, the view was just amazing! We saw their very old 15th century bell that weighs 5000kls! As we went down, I asked Bob to go down first and wait for me after a few steps. I was just glad to go down safe, and it was there when the bell tower caretaker revealed to me I just went up and down 95 steep steps of stairs! OMG! He was laughing at me and told me he did not want to tell me as I was still about to go up coz I might get scared and decide against going up.

Our next stop was the residence of the Marcoses in Batac. It was also where you can see the body of the late President Ferdinand Marcos said to be preserved in their air conditioned family mausoleum. Picture taking is not allowed inside and you can only view for a few minutes. I had to stare curiously to see if this was for real or just a wax replica of the late president. From what I have seen, I can say it is more of wax than the real one. I saw 2 pictures in the Internet and I just don't know how they got pictures but here are the links: http://cdn.wn.com/ph/img/50/54/4a383ff5805dfec823af5452ae10-grande.jpg and http://lisawallerrogers.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/imelda-kisses-coffin-of-ferdinand-marcos.jpg?w=300&h=227

Next stop is the Malacañang of the North. While on the way, the trike driver stopped at a view deck of the legendary Paoay Lake.

According to the transcript that is written in the view deck, the place used to be a village but there was constant rivalry among its villagers and they were punished, hence the village sank and it is now what you call the Paoay Lake.

When we arrived at the Malacañang of the North, we were not allowed to enter as it was a holiday and they were close. Bummer!!!! We begged the guards because this will be our only chance to see the place, but they did not give us the chance.

Since we were not allowed entrance to the Malacañang of the North, we proceeded to Sarrat to see the Marcos Museum (the house where Ferdinand Marcos was born). An old guy, the caretaker of the house greeted us. He showed us around and toured us to the room where the Donya Josefa gave birth to Ferdinand Marcos.

As he was touring us around, he started mentioning things like he needs budget for the maintenance of the house and stuff. My instinct tells me he was asking for money indirectly. Don’t get me wrong, I know most of the places we have been to are asking for donations for the maintenance of the place and there is nothing wrong with that. It’s just that this guy is talking to us in order to convince us to give it while we were still sightseeing. Not a pleasing thing to do to the tourists especially that I am with a foreigner. We still gave him some donation though.

Next stop is the Sta. Monica Church. It was the church where Irene, one of the daughters of Ferdinand Marcos, got married.

Aside from that, it is in Sta. Monica Church compound where you can see the Strangulation room and a torture chamber.

This is where the Filipinos who were charge of subversion were brought during the Spanish colonization. What amazed me the most was that part of the church compound where the caretaker asked me to stand on one corner facing the brick wall as Bob stood on the other end also facing the brick wall. He asked Bob to whisper to the wall and asked me if I could hear what Bob was saying. OMG! We communicated while whispering thru the brick wall! Apparently these were used by the friars to spy on their visitors so they can hear them talking even if they were meters away.

After Sta. Monica Church, it was time to go back to Balay da Blas and get our things and head to the bus station to catch a ride to Vigan!