Heading North (Conclusion)

The heart of downtown Vigan offers such a dramatic landscape – a city with so much architectural heritage, Spanish mansions, kalesas (horse-drawn carriages available all over town) and incredible history.

The baroque style St. Paul Cathedral is a must-see though you wouldn’t miss it as it stands at the center of town. Other museums worth visiting are the Syquia Mansion and the Padre Jose Burgos National Museum (home to Father Jose Burgos, one of the three martyr priests who became known as the heroes GomBurZa) featuring an endless collection of items, even an arinola (bed-pan), located directly beside the provincial jail.

A zoo called Baluarte owned by Chavit Singson is an excellent zoo open to the public for free, featuring animals of all sorts including some graceful well-fed Bengal tigers (even a camel and you may get the chance to ride on it), as well as pony rides and an animal show. I chose to have a pretty looking parrot sit on my shoulder and waited for it to give me a peck on the cheek, which I thought was extremely cute! A must-see attraction for a close encounter with the animals!

Vigan’s amazing heritage includes the Crisologo Museum, the ancestral home to Vigan’s political family, the Crisologos. I found the antique calesa the most attractive among the displays and was intrigued that I was given the chance to sit inside the carriage for a photograph, despite it being antique. Having been converted into one of the city’s finest museums with free admission it is not to be missed. The expansive and detailed collection I reckon is just brilliant!

Adding on to history, we had a hearty lunch at Vigan’s popular destination, Café Leona also known as Leona Florentino’s stone house, along Vigan’s Heritage Village. We sampled some vegetables soaked in bagoong (fish sauce to Ilocanos is bagoong) and other delicious local specialties. Point being, Ilocanos do know how to eat well having loads of vegetables that play a huge role in their menu and only using the best of ingredients. You can’t go wrong, I suppose.

Directly after lunch, we witnessed burnay-making (pottery making of clay jars, pots and antiques) using an actual carabao to mix the clay. The intricate process of quality hand woven inabel (blanket-making) is a must-see. Make a purchase of these handloomed items and other accessories, which make an excellent take-home present.

There are many places to stay in Vigan, from budget, midrange to top end, with each retaining every morsel of its charm. A few days to spend in this city with unspoilt treasures is well worth visiting. I was truly overwhelmed with the kindness of the people around me. Hope you would enjoy it as much as I did!