Ilocos Sampler

The Ilocos Sampler is about our trip from Pagudpod back to Manila. This part of our trip is like a summary that describes every piece of culture that makes an Ilocos tour a unique travel experience.  

On day three, we’re back on the national highway returning to Laoag. The road in this part of Ilocos Norte skirts the sea. Occasional views of tempting foamy surf and mocha sand would come up then would just quickly disappear from our view.

By the time we approached Laoag, we could see roadside stalls displaying local produce including sacks of salt, fat garlic lies and bottles of sukang Iloko –the brown northern vinegar. 

Across the brick-covered Ilocos Norte Capitol is the view of the Sunshine City’s famous sinking bell tower. 

We made a U-turn through a tunnel for a glimpse of the façade of St. William’s Cathedral then up to the fly over for Paoay to visit its famous Earthquake Baroque church.

 

Paoay 

A few minutes drive from Laoag is the town of Paoay. The town’s most famous attraction is its Earthquake Baroque church. From the road, we can see the Oriental spires of Paoay Church that resembles those seen in Angor Wat and Borobodur.  

The centuries-old edifice is supported by massive buttresses found nowhere else in the country. Thus, it rightfully deserves to be recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site –another architectural feat that every Filipinos should see and can be proud of. 

Just across the church is Herencia Café. The café looks like French Café but looking closely at the mural, we noticed that scene depicts the town of Paoay with its church. Herencia Cafe is well-known for its Pinakbet Pizza – such an unusual treat we enjoyed up to the last slice.    

 

Marcos Museum and Mausoleum 

Batac is known as the hometown of President Ferdinand Marcos. The wax remains of the former dictator has become an attraction in this Ilocos Norte town. 

Entering the Marcos Museum and Mausoleum is an eerie experience. Surrounded by Gregorian music, in a dark chamber is the wax remains of Ferdinand Marcos incased in glass. 

After a quick look at the mannequin-like corpse, all of us silently exited the museum/mausoleum probably  thinking –is the dictator’s preserved remains made of pure wax much like those displayed at Madame Tussauds’ Wax Museum? 

 

The Famous Ilocos Empanada

 

Our dark and morbid imagination quickly faded away while we watch intently how the famous Ilocos Empanada is being made in stalls near the church of Batac. 

Using her bare hands, a woman took out small balls of bright orange dough. She then rolled them out and placed the filling of mashed monggo beans, grated papaya, the tangy local longganiza and a whole egg before folding the laden dough circles in half. Trimming the edges with a plate, the empanada is slipped into scalding wok filled with oil. 

Excited and starving, we dipped the crunchy and piping-hot Ilocos Empanada into the tangy sukang Iloko before grabbing a bite.

 

Quirino Bridge

 

Leaving Batac, we returned to Vigan to shop for pasalubong and pick-up some souvenirs before finally hitting the road on the way back to Manila. 

By the time we passed over the iron-braced Quirino Bridge in the town of Santa, raindrops began to pepper our windshield as a sign of blessing for a good trip back home.

 

This concludes our Ilocos tour. Click part 1 –Vigan on Foot, part 2 –Vigan Calesa Tour, part 3 –Ilocos Earthquake Baroque, part 4 –Cape Bojeador Ligthhouse, part 5 –Windmills of Bangui, part 6 –Pagodpud