This blog is a sequel to my previous entry, an escape to Ilocos Region. Previously, i've shown you the wonders of Ilocos Sur. Now, we'll continue the fun way up to the Northen Ilocos Region. Tuned in as i tour you to the beautiful place of Ilocos Norte.
It was roughly a 3-hour drive from Vigan city (Burnayan Pottery), the Ilocos Norte is dubbed as home of the great leaders of the country. If Ilocos Sur has Chavit Singson (we already visited his Baluarte), Ilocos Norte of course has the World renown Marcoses.
So our first stop, the President Ferdinand Marcos's mausoleum.
It was already a quarter before 1PM when we arrive in the town of Batac.
It is where the Mausoleum of the late President Ferdinand Marcos is located. We were lucky that we got in the mausoleum for free. The care taker was so nice to accompany us inside a black lit room. It was dim inside, walls were all painted in black with a yellowish array of lights spotting the transparent box. The temperature was low that it was very cold inside. There were fresh flowers along the aisles going to the mausoleum. I couldn't explain my feelings at that time when i finally saw the corpse of F. Marcos. Goosebumps! I was standing in front of this glass crypt enclosing the remains of F. Marcos for almost 23 years is now. Geez! I only saw this on tv news before but now it's real. Too bad no picture taking allowed inside.
I had a lil chat with the care taker (i forgot his name). I learned that Marcos's body was brought to Batac in 1991 (after his death in Hawaii in 1989). He was already a help of the Marcos's since that time. According to him, a Filipino mortician (who is based in Hawaii) goes to Batac four times a year to re-touch the remains of F. Marcos. I asked him if what procedure did the mortician do but he couldn't tell us as they were not allowed to get in when the mortician was doing the procedure.
Truly, it was an amazing experience being in that place. It's certainly a blast from the past.
Just beside the mausoleum is the Marcos Museum. While were able to get in for free in the mausoleum, we had to pay if we get in the museum. We didn't mind though. Seeing the remains of F. Marcos was more than enough! Besides, I could hear the odd sounds from my tummy. Oh Uh! time to replenish. We headed to a cafeteria just across the mausoleum. According to our tour guide, this cafeteria is the best in Batac.
Berna outside the Batac Food House.
Completely replete from lunch, we jumped into the van to explore more of what the north has to offer. Not long after, around 20 minutes drive when we arrived in the town of Paoay. This town holds the 3rd oldest church in the Philippines - the St. Augustine Church of Paoay. The church was built by the Augustinian friars in 1694 and was completed in 1719.
I was in awe! The exterior was majestic. That solemnity it gave me when i entered the church. Jesus Christ! thank you for this one epic structure that has stood still.
It was quiete hot (around 2:00PM) but who cares about the giant above? For first timers like us, we never mind the heat so long as we took all the photos we wanted.
The church interior...
Church Prayer Garden...
The exterior was a perfect backdrop for photography fanatics. Staring on my Canon dSLR, i could see the beauty of Paoay registered through uthe lense of my camera. The perfect marriage of the sun and sky illuminated the grounds of green grass creating a seamless landscape. It was Epic!
After a 30-minute of photoshoot galore, we headed to the most anticipated part of this trip - the ADVENTURE. This was the time were Dianne Castillejo and Mark Nelson spirit were with us. Oh Yeah! It's the sand dunes 4x4 ride and sand boarding up next.
Sand dunes is just around 20-minute drive from the Paoay Church. It was around 3PM when we arrive at the dunes. This place has been very familiar to us. We had been seeing this on blogs plus this was also used by a hit filipino movie - Panday. It's the only desert in the country. Feels like we were out of the country. HaHa. Love that feeling.
Just after we jumped off from the van, we were then asked to jumped into the 4x4 truck. Less talk, more adventure. Literally! haha, no waiver, no demo, and no orientation given. But there's no retreat, not even in my thoughts.
Slowly, the truck strated to move. Oh yes! hold tight - the driver shouted. Jesus Christ! It's happening. Haha. I never lose grip on that metal tube of the truck. We were brought on the hills. We went up and down. Up and Down! Adrenaline rush indeed. I couldn't maintain my Shamcey Supsup posture, not even able to stand straight. My knees were shaking. Well, everyone had their knees shaking too. We we scared. We screamed. We laughed. The feeling was incomparable. Thank God we're still alive.
The ride took us around 15 minutes then we jumped off for the sand boarding. The 4x4 ride and sand boarding cost us 2500 pesos. The price is flat rate for a maximum of 5 pax.
I had a sneak peek in youtube about this sand boarding stuff in Ilocos. That gave me confidence to try it first in the group. I sit on the board and olah! i was moving too fast, sliding down. That was fun. I had to do it again and again. I didn't try standing on the board from top as i am acrophobic. Couldn't do it. haha. But Berna though she stumbled many times enjoy standing on board. Good job Berna! you just made a show. You made our day. HAHA.
Thirty minutes after, we rode the truck again and we were off to the Ups and Downs of the sandy hills. This time it went faster. Couldn't help but scream it loud. Then we jumped off again by the sea. Awesome! the gray sand in the beach facing the south China sea. The waves were wild that even caught us on the shore. Crisly lost his slipper :( We never thought that wave would caught us. We were far from the shoreline. Oh well, it started to rain. After that terrible heat, now we were on the 4x4 truck with waters drizzling unto our face. How i love every minute of this adventure.
My shoes are all filled with sands and so my pants too. Crisly and Berna went on a quick wash in an open shower in the middle of the sand.
Around 4 PM we left Sand Dunes with heart going back to normal beat. We were off to the Malacanang of the North. The palace was just a 15 minute drive from the sand dunes.
This was a mansion of the Marcoses which was used by Ferdinand Marcos (whenever he's in Ilocos) during his Presidency. The house is spanish inspired. At the back of it is the famous Paoay Lake. Seeing the the sun about to set and the picturesque view of the lake was a grandeur living. The building is very big and it housed some of the Marcos's original furnitures and photos.
We were given a tour by a PSG (Presidential Security Guard) where he gave brief history of the Marcoses. Also, he highlighted the Marcos's projects both those accomplised and unrealized.
My first up close encounter with a PSG!
Facade of the Palace...
Replica of the receiving area of Malacanang House in Manila...
This was used to be Aimee and Irene's room. The 2 dolls belong to them.
There's nothing much to do in the house other than picture taking. Thirty minutes was enough.
So off to a road trip again, this time going to another historical site in Ilocos Norte - the Cape Bojeador Lighthouse. It was quite a long trip going to the light house. We passed by Laoag City - a progressive town in Ilocos Norte. It was around 45 min putes ride.
The light house is located in the town of Burgos. This was built during the Spanish Colonial period and was first lit on March 30, 1892.
Only Crisly, Berna and i went up. The lighthouse was not really impressive (well, not as impressive as the Malacanang of the North). I think it was not well maintained. Had some photos there and then we're off to our next destination.
view from the lighhousenoverlooking the cape of Bojeador.
Who wouldn't have recognized the background windmills in Regine Velasquez's DOT TV ad biyahe tayo sa Pilipinas? We were all so excited that even when still in the van we kept on singing Biyae tayo. It was quiet far around 30 minutes from the lighthouse. It was already 10 minutes past 5 when we started to see turbines from the road. Oh yeah, that must have been the windmills. Impressive! (my mind utter).
Wooooooooow! the 20 turbines plotted in a single line along the shore of Bangui, Ilocos Norte were awesome! These mills provide power to 3 towns of Ilocos Norte.
That model inside us again. Picture here, picture there.
My J-Force Style. Haha
At 6PM, we left Bangui and headed to another 40 minutes drive to the resort where we stayed. It's located in the shorelines of Saud, Ilocos Norte. We dropped by there market to buy food for dinner. We had staff from the resort who would cook for us.
Alright! the day was about to end.
See yah in my next blog for the part 3 of my Ilocos Adventure.
No comments:
Post a Comment