Our Ilocos Expedition
For the past four days, my parents and I, along with some of our relatives, went on a trip to the northernmost region of mainland Luzon, specifically the Ilocos provinces. The total traveling time going up north took us more or less 12 hours, including stopovers, so we hit the road at five in the morning.
Since we traveled by land, we needed to make as much time as we can so that there would be enough left to stroll around and do some sightseeing.
Of course, a faster alternative would be to travel by air: take a flight to Laoag International Airport and from there, you can simply take a tricycle to visit the different landmarks and tourist spots in the region.
We prefer traveling by land because it is more thrilling and adventurous from my perspective. When you are high up the sky, the only things you would see when you look out the window are the clouds; while on land, it is totally different.
You would really get to enjoy and experience the full package of witnessing the culture and lifestyle of the places and towns you pass by and try out the food and specialties of the different regions.
Traveling by land gives you a more nuanced understanding and somehow a personal perspective on the places you drive by because you see them up close and feel the energy of the surroundings.
It will also be nice to breathe in some fresh air since you will be going through farms and rural areas far from the pollution and noise of the urban jungle.
Some towns may be isolated from advanced technology and civilization but their rustic lifestyle exudes an aura of serenity and peace and contentment.
The route we took going to the Ilocos region was through the North Luzon Expressway or NLEX, the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway or SCTEX, and the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway or TPLEX and from there, we traveled through different towns, mountainsides, and off the coastal areas.
It was definitely an exhilarating ride because along the way you would notice that as you get closer to your destination, some of the roads get steeper and narrower giving you mixed feelings of excitement and anxiety because the road is too close to the edge of a cliff with sharp curves and a steep incline.
This is part and parcel of the full package of traveling across the country. Through it all, I am grateful to God for giving us His traveling mercy and the protection of the Holy Spirit as He went with us and before us to our destination.
After long hours of driving on steep mountains and treacherous roads, we finally reached our destination!
Our itinerary for the trip starts with the heritage city of Vigan in Ilocos Sur, teeming with culture as this is where the old houses and roads way back in the time of Spanish colonization survived and were preserved and retro-fitted to modern times.
We also visited the Baluarte Zoo just a few minutes from Vigan which was developed by Chavit Singson. Here you can take a picture with their 800-lb tiger, play with the Burmese albino python, ride a little pony, and meet some really cute animals!
Then we were off to Pagudpud to swim in the beaches and to play in the sand. Just a couple of hours from Pagudpud, you would reach Bangui where the giant towering windmills of the North stand; there is also a beach here with huge waves and beautiful azure water.
We then moved on to Paoay where the St. Augustine Church takes residence and where you will see the Malacañang of the North (Malacañang Ti Amianan) which is the home of the Marcos family in Paoay.
This mansion is a true cultural heritage embedded as an important part in the history of the Philippines and a place of effervescence and grandeur.
It overlooks Lake Paoay on the side and it displays different artifacts and antiques of the Marcos family. It was truly a spectacle to see what kind of lifestyle the late former President Marcos and his family lived.
And the highlight of the whole trip for me was when we arrived at Batac, the hometown of the late President, where his mausoleum and museum are found, next to their private home.
Inside the mausoleum, encased in glass and surrounded by flowers, which are actually shells, is where the cadaver of the late President lay coated in wax although rumors say that the body is actually just wax and he was actually buried somewhere.
So this is the summary of our whole trip which was a truly enriching and fulfilling excursion that helped us to relax while exploring the wonders and diversity of the Philippines.
I am truly blessed to have been able to experience all these with my family and I am hoping that I would get to revisit these places someday to get to know more about them in depth.
Since we traveled by land, we needed to make as much time as we can so that there would be enough left to stroll around and do some sightseeing.
Of course, a faster alternative would be to travel by air: take a flight to Laoag International Airport and from there, you can simply take a tricycle to visit the different landmarks and tourist spots in the region.
We prefer traveling by land because it is more thrilling and adventurous from my perspective. When you are high up the sky, the only things you would see when you look out the window are the clouds; while on land, it is totally different.
You would really get to enjoy and experience the full package of witnessing the culture and lifestyle of the places and towns you pass by and try out the food and specialties of the different regions.
Traveling by land gives you a more nuanced understanding and somehow a personal perspective on the places you drive by because you see them up close and feel the energy of the surroundings.
It will also be nice to breathe in some fresh air since you will be going through farms and rural areas far from the pollution and noise of the urban jungle.
Some towns may be isolated from advanced technology and civilization but their rustic lifestyle exudes an aura of serenity and peace and contentment.
The route we took going to the Ilocos region was through the North Luzon Expressway or NLEX, the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway or SCTEX, and the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway or TPLEX and from there, we traveled through different towns, mountainsides, and off the coastal areas.
It was definitely an exhilarating ride because along the way you would notice that as you get closer to your destination, some of the roads get steeper and narrower giving you mixed feelings of excitement and anxiety because the road is too close to the edge of a cliff with sharp curves and a steep incline.
This is part and parcel of the full package of traveling across the country. Through it all, I am grateful to God for giving us His traveling mercy and the protection of the Holy Spirit as He went with us and before us to our destination.
After long hours of driving on steep mountains and treacherous roads, we finally reached our destination!
Our itinerary for the trip starts with the heritage city of Vigan in Ilocos Sur, teeming with culture as this is where the old houses and roads way back in the time of Spanish colonization survived and were preserved and retro-fitted to modern times.
We also visited the Baluarte Zoo just a few minutes from Vigan which was developed by Chavit Singson. Here you can take a picture with their 800-lb tiger, play with the Burmese albino python, ride a little pony, and meet some really cute animals!
Then we were off to Pagudpud to swim in the beaches and to play in the sand. Just a couple of hours from Pagudpud, you would reach Bangui where the giant towering windmills of the North stand; there is also a beach here with huge waves and beautiful azure water.
We then moved on to Paoay where the St. Augustine Church takes residence and where you will see the Malacañang of the North (Malacañang Ti Amianan) which is the home of the Marcos family in Paoay.
This mansion is a true cultural heritage embedded as an important part in the history of the Philippines and a place of effervescence and grandeur.
It overlooks Lake Paoay on the side and it displays different artifacts and antiques of the Marcos family. It was truly a spectacle to see what kind of lifestyle the late former President Marcos and his family lived.
And the highlight of the whole trip for me was when we arrived at Batac, the hometown of the late President, where his mausoleum and museum are found, next to their private home.
Inside the mausoleum, encased in glass and surrounded by flowers, which are actually shells, is where the cadaver of the late President lay coated in wax although rumors say that the body is actually just wax and he was actually buried somewhere.
So this is the summary of our whole trip which was a truly enriching and fulfilling excursion that helped us to relax while exploring the wonders and diversity of the Philippines.
I am truly blessed to have been able to experience all these with my family and I am hoping that I would get to revisit these places someday to get to know more about them in depth.
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