Vigan City, Ilocos Sur

"Old Spanish HousesAbout 400 kilometers from Manila is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Vigan. It is the capital city of Ilocos Sur located on the west coast of northern Luzon. One can see precious remnants of old Spanish architecture throughout the center of the city. Established in the 16th century, Vigan is the best-preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia with a unique European atmosphere. Several museums exist for the many national heroes that were born here. Vigan is the oldest surviving Spanish colonial city in the Philippines. The name Vigan was derived from "Biga", a giant taro plant that grows abundantly along the banks of the Mestizo River.


Places of Interest:



Ancestral housesOld Vigan Colonial Houses – the ancestral houses were built mostly by rich Chinese traders. These great big houses are made of thick brick walls and plastering with red clay. Tile roofs are made to survive earthquakes. The Mestizo district where more than a hundred houses line side by side along Calle Crisologo.



St. Paul’s Cathedral - built in 1790-1800 by the Augustinians, this impressive Baroque Vigan Cathedral cathedral has most of its interior walls well preserved. The 12 altars and 3 naives only enhances the church beauty and grandeur. The bell tower is octagonal and is located 10 meters south of the cathedral. It is a place not to be missed when visiting Vigan.



Palacio de Arzobispado – built in 1783, it is the official residence of the Archbishop of Nueva Segovia. The palace was the headquarters of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. Included in the palace is the Museo Nueva Segovia with a collection of paintings, manuscripts and religious articles accumulated through the centuries.







Burgos National Museum. - the museum building is the ancestral house of Padre Jose Burgos. One of the museum’s best feature are the paintings of Esteban Villanueva depicting the 1807 Basi Vigan Bell TowerRevolt. The dioramas of local historical events is worth the visit. Included in the collections are antiques, manuscripts and other priceless items. There is a Tourist Information Center in Vigan to help visitors. And if you want to take a break, there are beaches to go to just a few minutes away from the town.



A good time to visit Vigan is during the town fiesta. Celebrated for one whole week -concluding on January 25 to commemorate the conversion of the apostle, St. Paul. The fiesta is marked by street parades, beauty contest and variety shows on the town plaza.



During the Holy Week, local and foreign tourist come to Vigan to see the religious processions of the antique and life sized statues mounted on elaborately designed carrozas that are paraded on the streets of Vigan.



To get to Vigan City from Manila, you can get a bus or take a plane to Laoag City and take a bus ride to Vigan. There are many places to stay. Many ancestral houses have been turned into quaint hotels and inns. There are also many bars and restaurants offering a variety of local and international dishes.


Buses that ply Manila & Vigan daily (approx. 7 hours trip):



Philippine Rabbit Bus Lines: Rizal Ave., Manila & EDSA, Q.C. Tel # 734-9838, 734-9836

Dominion Bus Line: New York St., Cubao, Q.C. Tel # 731-4180, 741-4146

Partas Bus Company: Aurora Blvd., Q.C. Tel. # 725-7303, 724-9820

Maria de Leon Transit: Dapitan cor. Gelinos Sts., Sampaloc, Manila Tel # 731-4907

PAL (Philippine Airlines) flies to Laoag City 3 times a week. Laoag, 80 kilometers away from Vigan takes about 1½ hours to commute."

Palawan Adventures

"Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm.
It is located in Barangay Iwahig, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, 35 minutes by tricycle from the city proper. One can take a jeepney along Valencia Street or may hire a tricycle/private vehicle going to the penal farm. It is located 16 kilometers south of Puerto Princesa.

The colony encompasses a 37-hectare scenic farm planted with coconut palm trees, rice, and other crops cultivated by the prisoners and their families. The prison has about 4,000 population and many inmates live with their families in so-called rehabilitation areas. Within the farm is Balsahan River, known for its cascading waters coming from the nearby mountain. Iwahig is more like a modern farm, rather than a prison, where prisoners toil their farms unguarded and are allowed to earn an income by working in the many shops which turn out various handicrafts, most popular of which are the handcarved items made of mahogany wood. The farm is definitely a good shopping stop for tourists.

Vista Luz Picnic Grounds.
It is located in Circulation Road, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, 5-7 minutes by tricycle from the city proper via Circulation Road. It is two kilometers away from the airport.

It offers facilities like cottages and picnic huts. Locals come on weekends for swimming and picnicking. The biggest hut called the pavilion is good for groups up to 100 persons. Two cottages, each with two beds, electric fan, and private bathroom are available for an overnight stay.

Nasin-aw White Beach and Silica Beach.
It is located in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, 5-7 minutes by tricycle from the city proper. The beach is two and a half kilometers away from the airport.

It is a seaside fun place for those who wish to indulge in marine pleasures, without leaving the confines of the city. The fine white sand and clear waters of White Beach make it a perfect spot for swimming. A few picnic tables were installed but an overnight stay is not possible since there are no accommodation facilities here."

Cave in Palawan Philippines

"El Nido has a black marble and limestone cliffs contain large caves with whimsical names like Cathedral Cave and Disco Cave because of their formation. Palawan's St. Paul National Park is Palawan's most popular attraction and covers 5,349 hectares of lush forest, dark mountains, caves and white beaches. In the deep recesses of the marble and limestone peaks of Mt. St. Paul flow the Underground River, said to be the longest in the world. It is easily navigable for at least four kilometers. The caves are filled with filigree-like sculptures formed by stalagmites and stalactites. Near its mouth is a beautiful lagoon with crystal-clear water that teems with fish. Also within the park is the Monkey Trail, a series of wooden paths that winds into the forest where monkeys, squirrels, lizards and some 60 species of birds are found.

Tabon Cave is situated on Lipuun Point, Quezon, Palawan . Tabon Cave is a 138-hectares, of rugged cliffs and deep slopes. Discovered by an American, the late Dr. Robert B. Fox and his team of Archaeologist from the National Museum in 1962. The discovery of the caves have yielded an important Archaeological find - Fossil human bones tentatively dated from 22,000 to 24,000 years ago. Excavations were done from 1962 to 1970. Of the 200 caves found in Lipuun Point only 29 caves were fully explored, including Tabon Cave, which were found to been used for habitation and / or burial sites by ancient people.

Tabon cave complex is a 30-minute banca ride from the town of Quezon, a Southern municipality of Palawan. It is 155 kilometers away from Puerto Princesa City."

La Union Philippines

"La Union has predominantly hilly terrain which gradually rises eastward from the shore.The western border is a coastal plain of raised coral and alluvia (sand or clay deposited by flowing water) overlaying older sediments. East of this palin are rolling hills parallel to the coast covering a wide portion of the central area. The province has two pronounced seasons - dry from November toApril and from May to October.

HISTORY
The natives of what is now La Union were already trading with the Japanese when the Spaniards came to the Philippines, the area of Agoo was then known as "Puerto de Japon". Captain Juan de Salcedo explored the region in 1572, followed by Augustinan missionaries who founded the towns of Balaoan, Bauang, and Agoo in the late decades of the 16th century. The province was created on March 2, 1850 out of towns then belonging to Ilcos Sur and Pangasinan. Luciano Almeda headed the provincial government for a time during the Philippine Revolution while General Manuel Tinio occupied San Fernando in May 1898. After the battle in Aringay River on November 19, 1899, the American troops took controll of the province. A civil government was established in La Union in 1901. A year later, La Union ceded a narrow strip of land to Amburayan which later became a sub-province of the old Mountain Province.

The majority of the population are Ilocanos. Some Pangasinenses are found in the southern part of the province, while a substantial group of Chinese Filipinos are in San Fernando, the commercial center. Ilocano is the predominant language of the people. La Union has 20 municipalities which are subdivide into 576 barangays. The Northern towns of Sudipen, Bangar, Luna, Balaoan, Santol, San Gabriel, Baonatan, San Juan and San Fernando comprise the First District. Belonging to the Second District are Bagulin, Naguilian, Burgos, Bauang, Caba, Aringay, Agoo, Tubao, Sto. Tomas, Rosario and Pugo. San Fernando is moving forward to become a component city.

Commerce and Industy:
The main sources of livelighood are farming and fishing. The pricioal product are rice, corn tobacco, garlic, sugarcane and cassava. Grapes are extensively grown in Bauang. The rich Lingayan Gulf is the main fishing ground. Cottage industries include blanket-weaving, basketry, shellcraft, pottery and furniture-making. La Union is also well known for its basi-making industry, the Ilocano native wine mande from fermented sugarcane juice."

Pagsanjan Falls Laguna Philippines

"This is the place to visit if your time in the Philippines is limited. Approaching the province is one of the most pleasant 1 hour drive in all of Luzon. It is characterized by historic towns, coconut plantations, lakeshores, sheltered valleys, waterfalls, hot springs, and volcanoes.

A popular place in this picturesque province is Pagsanjan where visitors flock for the thrilling experience of shooting the rapids. Just across the river from Pagsanjan is the town of Lumban, the celebrated embroidery capital of Luzon. The town of Los Banos , famous for its hot springs, is also where the International Rice Research Institure (IRRI) is located. Laguna's richly-forested hills and mountains provide material for the livelihood of the towns of Pakil and Paete which are woodcarvers' haven. The Philippines' biggest family theme park , Enchanted Kingdom, is in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

Laguna was one of the first eight provinces to rise in revolt. On August 31,1898 last Spanish garrison in Sta. Cruz surrendered to Filipino troops. Laguna expressed its full support to the First Philippine Republic declared in Malolos, Bulacan. During the Filipino-American War from 1899-1901, Laguna was a major battlefield between American and Filipino troops. Laguna's revolutionaries conducted one of the most successful guerrilla campaigns in the country but the struggle was eventually abandoned after the capture of President Emilio Aguinaldo in 1901. Civilian government was established in June 1902.

Hidden Valley SpringsDrive through a scenic countryside South of Manila to a unique place called Hidden Valley. It's bewitching vegetation flourishes in a 110-hectare crater 300 feet deep believed to have been formed by aviolent volcanic upheaval thousands of years ago.

A private resort that boasts of virgin forests, century old trees, giant ferns, wild orchids, and a hidden waterfall which is a sight to behold. Several natural spring pools are available for dipping to guarantee a well day spent. Meals include Buffet Lunch and Afternoon Snacks (Merienda)."

Iloilo Philippines

"Iloilo is the Philippines’ Heritage Haven of Panay. This is because it is popular for its gentry living as displayed by its majestic and colonial mansions and churches scattered throughout its beautiful landscape. This beautiful province is set in a graceful and refined repose between Batiano and Iloilo rivers forming the shape of a nose. Hence, it was given the name Iloilo from the word Ilong-Ilong, which means “nose-like”.

Iloilo City

Castle Hotel in Iloilo CityIloilo City is a living testimonial of the rich cultural heritage of the province. At its city proper, the popular landmarks include: Muelle Loney, Museo Iloilo, Plaza Libertad, Arevalo, Jaro, and Fort San Pedro. Arevalo boasts of its 19th century mansions, flower nurseries, and looms that weave piña and jusi. Jaro is the province’s residential center of the rich and elite who, to this day, have maintained their grand ancestral homes in impressive and tip-top condition.

Iloilo Towns

Jaro Iloilo CathedralEach town that lies along the city’s west coast possesses centuries-old churches. Guimbal shines brightly with its yellow sandstone, Tigbauan is proud of its Baroque façade, while San Joaquin boasts of its white coral. However, the most impressive of all is the Miag-ao Church, which is included in the World Heritage List. On the other hand, the eastern towns of the city lead to the town of Estancia, which will take you to the beautiful cluster of islands off the northeast Panay.

Iloilo Festivals

Iloilo is a host to a number of festivals people from different places not only in the country but also from around the world visit. The most popular of these festivals are: Dinagyang Festival, Ati-Atihan Iloilo version, Our Lady of Candles Feast, Paraw Regatta, Festival of Bulls or Pasungay, and the Carabao Race.

Iloilo Travel Destinations – Places to Visit


Iloilo has more to offer than grand churches and mansions. When you set your foot on this beautiful Panay province, you will never run out of destination. Below are just some of them:


Bucari - Iloilo’s little Baguio is located in the town of Leon. It is a popular summer destination in this hot spot of the Philippines.

Water Park
Westown Hotel’s El Dorado Waterpark - This is the newest addition to Smallville, the very popular entertainment and dining center of Iloilo. El Dorado features an elegant South American inspired pools and poolside rooms. This place has also become Smallville’s daytime attraction for those who want to spend a fun and refreshing time with family and friends.

Panay Beach in Iloilo with tourist Iloilo’s Beaches – The place to be when you want to be wet and hot. The island of Panay is blessed with beautiful islets and coasts teaming with diverse marine life and fantastic seascapes just like other islands in the Pacific. Iloilo is definitely no exception; however, it has many exceptional beaches with great potentials to become the next top tourist destination in the Philippines. From Iloilo’s northern to southern tips, you will definitely enjoy a lineup of beautiful beaches where you could get wet or be hot anytime of the year.

How to get to Iloilo

If it is your first time to visit Iloilo, you may opt to take the easy route by taking an airplane. Major cities in the Philippines have daily flights to Iloilo. However, if you are after a great adventure, you can take a long but wonderful route from Cebu City to Iloilo City via Negros Occidental. If you will be coming from Manila, you should first go to Cebu, then to Negros. Moreover, you can enjoy an overnight boat trip from Manila or Cebu. Indeed, Iloilo is the place to find refuge if you want to escape from the hustle and bustle of the busy life in the city. It offers a peaceful, quiet, and calm haven to anyone who needs a more laid-back holiday. While it is a city where you can hear the birds chirping and smell the fresh fragrance of flowers, it is also a city where you won’t miss the convenience offered by a well-developed city. So, what are you waiting for? Book a trip to Iloilo now!"

Alona Palm Beach Resort Bohol

"An ideal island get away for those who want total privacy, comfort, topnotch service and lots of coconut trees for that perfect tropical atmosphere. The pristine beachfront that’s but a short stroll away would access you directly to Panglao Island’s beachside hub. So it’s paradise away from the maddening crowd and yet not far away at all, should you yearn for some island action. Enjoy any of the holiday packages that suit your fancy. The Island Hopping Special if you simply cannot resist getting some serious doses of beach fun.


The Dolphin & Whale Watching package if you want to try a different kind of island delight; watching these sea creatures in action in their own habitat! Or you can take a Countryside Holiday. After all, what’s a Bohol trip without getting the chance to climb one of the Chocolate Hills! Better still; pick the best selling All Out Package that’s guaranteed to make this Bohol experience one that you’ll always remember and smile."