Balisong
The balisong is a handmade fan knife or butterfly knife made by local blacksmiths. Although its origins are vague, this local utility weapon has received recognition by appearing in local and international movies.

Mt. Maculot
It is one of the highest and most prominent mountains in the province. The mountain is said to be the last stronghold of the Japanese forces during the World War II.

Beaches, Resorts, and Dive sites
Due to its wide shoreline, Batangas boast of several beaches, resorts and dive sites.

Parada ng Lechon
Held every June, several lechons, or roast suckling pigs are paraded throughout the town of Balayan. These mouthwatering native delicacies are dressed in accordance to the theme of the fiesta

Delectable Food
Take a bite or sip in some of Batangas’ well known dishes, drinks and desserts
1. Kapeng Barako – a coffee bean variety that emits a strong taste when brewed.
2. Lambanog – local coconut wine or coconut vodka
3. Bulalo – boiled beef bone marrow and shank
4. Lechon – roast pork suckling
5. Nilupak – pounded cassava with grated coconut, sugar, condensed milk and margarine
6. Suman – rice cake made of glutinous rice, coconut milk, brown sugar and salt. It is usually served with hot tablea chocolate.

Places of Interest

Cultural

Museo ng Batangas at Aklatang Panlalawigan
Location: Batangas City, Batangas
This museum and library rolled into one houses several artifacts and memorabilia of the history of Batangas and its rich cultural heritage. It was created by Executive Order no. 30-93 signed by then Batangas Governor Vicente A. Mayo on March 3, 1993.

Casa de Segunda Katigbak
Location: 198 Calle Real, Lipa City, Batangas
This is the ancestral house of Segunda Katigbak and her family. Segunda is known as the first love of Dr. Jose P. Rizal. The ancestral house has been transformed into a museum.

Ilagan Ancestral House
Location: Marcela Agoncillo St., Taal, Batangas
Still used by the descendants as their residence, this ancestral house is only open upon special arrangement with then owners.
Historical

Apolinario Mabini Shrine
Location: Tanauan, Batangas
Born in Barangay Talaga in Tanauan, Batangas, the “Sublime Paralytic”, and “Brains of the Revolution” wrote the first constitution of the Philippines and in Asia. The shrine houses some of his prized possessions and works.

General Malvar Museum and Library
Location: Gen. Malvar St., Sto. Tomas, Batangas
Gen. Miguel Malvar is known as the last Filipino General who surrendered to the American forces in April 13, 1902. Among the items inside the museum are his personal items and books he read.

Nasugbu Landing Memorial
Location: Nasugbu, Batangas
Like the Leyte Landing Monument, the bronze memorial replicates the arrival of Gen. Douglas Macarthur and the rest of the Liberation forces during World War II.

Marcela Agoncillo Historical Landmark
Location: Marcela Agoncillo St., Taal, Batangas
This is the birthplace of Marcela N. Agoncillo, the maker of the first official Filipino Flag. The other flags of the country are displayed here as well.

Leon Apacible Historical Landmark
Location: Marcela Agoncillo St., Taal, Batangas
Tour Days: Monday – Saturday
Tour Hours: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Entrance Fee: Free
This was originally the ancestral home of Don Leon and his wife, Doña Matilde Apacible. Here, visitors can find antique items used by the family including an 18th century old chandelier and the abaniko (fan) used by Doña Matilde during the wake of her husband.

Batangas Memorial Foundation Museum and Library
Location: V. Ilustre Street, Taal, Batangas
This 18th century house underwent two major renovations in 1870 and 1940, before it attained its present form.

Jose P. Laurel Monument
Location: Sto. Tomas, Batangas
This 6-foot tall bronze statue was unveiled during the 85th birth anniversary of President Laurel in 1976. The unveiling was attended by former President Ferdinand Marcos and First Lady Imelda Marcos.

Jose P. Laurel Memorial Library
Location: A. Mabini Ave., Tanauan City, Batangas
Library Hours: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Entrance Fee: Free
This personal property of late President Laurel was donated to the Philippine government to be converted to a public library. The library has a wide collection of book, including Laurel’s works.

Hamilo Cove Wreck
Location: Nasugbu, Batangas
The wreck is a Japanese freighter that sunk during the liberation of the Philippines by the US Forces in 1945. Batfish, stonefish and lion fish are a common site at the wreckage.

Pastor House
Location: Tirona St., Batangas City, Batangas
William Howard Taft who served as governor general during the American occupation almost died in this house due to an assassination attempt by an unknown sniper. To this day, the bullet is still embedded in one of the doors of the house.

Natural

Taal Lake and Volcano
Location: Taal, Batangas
Found in the crater of an extinct volcano, Taal Volcano is considered the smallest volcano in the world. The volcano is situated on an 8.8-kilometer islet and surrounded by a 27-kilometer-long lake.

Mount Maculot
Location: Cuenca, Batangas
The mountain once served as the last stronghold of the Japanese forces during World War II. Evidence of this battle are found inside the tunnels built the Japanese during the war. Now, Mt. Maculot has become a favorite destination for hikers an trekkers.

Matabungkay Beach
Location: Lian, Batangas
This two-kilometer white sand beach faces the South China Sea. Swimming, boating, yachting, fishing and skin diving are some of the most commonly enjoyed activities in the area.

Submarine Garden
Location: Lobo, Batangas
It is called a submarine garden because corals near the shore can be clearly seen during early morning when the water is clear and the tide is low.

Hugon Beach
Location: Brgy. Hugon, San Juan, Batangas
The stretch of the sea floor is covered with white sand and smooth rocks. Snorkeling is advised when visiting the area.

Munting Buhagin Beach
Location: Nasugbu, Batangas
This small cove has become a favorite haunt with locals and tourists,and offers water enthusiasts with a fine stretch of powdery white sand beach fringed with foamy blue water

Natipunan Beach
Location: Nasugbu, Batangas
Natipuan Beach bears a resemblance to Munting Buhangin,with off-shore sands and refreshing waters. It is located in another cove which is similarly accessible.

Sombrero Island
Location: Anilao, Batangas
Resembling a hat, the shoreline extends long way underwater. Gorgonians, black coral, shells, turtles, rays, grunts, jacks, snappers, and a great variety of soft corals are scattered all over the place. Currents are normally strong during the full moon.

Bulalacao Falls
Location: Brgy. Bulaklakan, Lipa City, Batangas
IT is composed of three falls enclosed in a canyon, the highest of which is about 10 feet high with water coming out of the mouth of a small cave.

Calijon Falls
Location: Brgy. Calijon, Malvar, Batangas
The attraction consists of two major falls and two smaller ones. One of the bigger falls is about ten feet high with a great volume clear water gushing down to a shallow pool, while the other one (also about ten feet high) braces the rock where the water flows look like a bridal gown.

Tingga Falls
Location: Batangas City, Batangas
The falls is about 30 feet high with a pool made into a swimming area at its base. It is semi-developed with concrete steps built for access.

Ilijan Falls
Location: Batangas City, Batangas
Ilijan is a unique waterfalls with water coming from a big spring at the top of a mountain gracefully flowing from one bowl to another. It has seven huge stone bowls carved naturally out of the mountainsides and beautifully arranged like a fl flight of stairs.

Religious

Basilica of San Martin de Tours (Taal Basillica)
Location: Taal, Batangas
Built in 1575 by Father Diego Espina, the church was originally situated in San Nicholas but was moved to Taal when the former was destroyed by a volcanic eruption in 1754. It was rebuilt at is present site in 1755 but was badly damaged after an earthquake in 1849. Construction of the present church, measuring at 96 meters long and 45 meters wide, started in 1856. The tabernacle is made of silver and its facade is similar to the St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

Sta. Lucia Wells
Location: Taal, Batangas
Found near the Flight of Steps, the twin wells used to be a brook where, according to stories, the Virgin of Caysasay performed her miracles. The locals built a church in the area but was destroyed by an earthquake which caused the church to sink. The only evident portion of the structure is its facade.

Transfiguration Chapel (Caleruega Chapel)
Location: Brgy. Kaylaway, Nasugbu, Batangas
The chapel is a replica of the Transfiguration Chapel in Caleruega, Spain. The seal of the Dominican Province of the Philippines is depicted in stained glass in the upper portion of the chapel’s façade. The main altar is a carved tree trunk representing the “stem of Jesse,” mentioned in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah.

Church of Our Lady of Caysasay
Location: Taal, Batangas
It houses the miraculous Our Lady of Caysasay that was found by a fisherman at sea. Documented accounts states that the Virgin Mary herself wanted her image to stay in Caysasay, where it was first found. Aside from the image of the Our Lady, other artifacts in the church include a carved holy water receptacle and Baroque motifs that are well preserved.

Church of San Jose
Location: San Jose, Batangas
Built in 1812, the church has a large one-aisle interior and is remarkable for its restored main altar, ceiling frescoes, and flowery capital on the columns. The church is an interpretation of Baroque architecture in the Philippines, and combines this with the neo-classical lines of the adjacent convent.

Church of the Immaculate Conception
Location: Bauan, Batangas
The altar has a tri-centered arch, with a niche containing the statue of the Virgin Mary. The façade of the church features both geometric and circular forms. It has a bell tower, which is hexagonal, and rests on a base decorated with coupled columns.

San Sebastian Cathedral (Lipa Cathedral)
Location: Lipa City, Batangas
Built in 1865, it went massive reconstruction when it was damaged during World War II. The domes of the church and the bell tower have intricate moldings and arched stained-glass windows. The church also features a winding stairway to the choir loft.

Carmelite Convent of Lipa
Location: Lipa City, Batangas
The convent of the contemplative order of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel was the site of several apparitions and miraculous events brought about by the Virgin Mary from 1948 – 1991. The most notable miracle happened in January 24, 1991 when rose petals fell from the sky. Few days later six children who were playing on the convent grounds saw the image of the Virgin Mary come to life.
Man-Made

Punta de Santiago Lighthouse (Cape Santiago)
Location:Calatagan, Batangas
This lighthouse, built in 1890, is one of the oldest and still operational lighthouse in the province. It was named after Don Santiago Zobel who donated the property to the government for the construction of the lighthouse. It is made from brick and mortar.

Flight of Steps
Location: Taal, Batangas
This 123-marble steps connects the Taal Cathedral and the Chapel of Our Lady of Caysasay.
Festivals
Parada ng Lechon
Place: Balayan, Batangas
Date: June 24
Celebrated in honor of St. John the Baptist, several lechons, or roast suckling pigs are paraded throughout the town dressed in unique clothing based from the theme of the festival. Water dousing commence after the parade.

Tapusan Festival
Place: Alitagtag, Batangas
Date: May 31
The festival venerates the Holy Cross through a special procession where the Cross, along with Marian images are mounted on gaily decorated floats and are paraded throughout the town.

Subli-an sa Batangas
Place: Batangas City, Batangas
Date: July 23
The festival is celebrated with the Foundation day of the city. It highlights the Subli, an indigenous dance of the Batanguenos.

Tinapay Festival
Place: Cuenca, Batangas
Date: February 7 – 13
The Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage is being honored for abundant living and thanksgiving. With the flourishing industry of bread making, locals showcase breads of varying shapes and sizes and parade their work throughout town.

Anihan Festival
Place: Lobo, Batangas
Date: September 24 – 29
The fiesta serves as the town’s thanksgiving for the bountiful harvest for the year. During the event, locals dress up in colorful costumes inspired by local produce such as sugar apple (atis), tamarind, rice, buli fabrics, seashells, corn kernels and dried tree bark, among others. The festival is also in honor of the town’s patron saint, Saint Michael Archangel.

Coffee Festival
Place: Lipa City, Batangas
Date: December 11 – 16
The festival was created to honor the city of Lipa as the ‘Coffee Granary of the Philippines”. The event features trade fair, market bazaar, traditional “Karera ng Tiburin” race, Barako ng Bayan contest and parlor games.

Flickr Photos by Miguel Navaza
On top of the fabulous surf spots, Siargao’s remoteness, natural beauty, unspoiled beaches and a distinct idyllic charm captivates its visitors. Even for non-surfers, there is a ton of things to see, do and discover. One can go kayaking around the island’s vast natural mangrove forest, go diving or island hopping in the lagoon and nearby islands which have natural white sand and crystal clear blue waters.

How to Get There

PAL Express has a direct flights from Manila (NAIA Terminal 3) to Surigao City (capital of Surigao del Norte) via PAL Express. Cebu Pacific Air or Philippine Airlines offer routes that fly first to either Cebu City or Butuan City before taking another flight to Surigao City. You’ll then need to take a pumpboat/ferry from Surigao City to Siargao. This pumpboat trip takes around two hours to reach your destination.

Flickr Photo by Paolo Manalac

Accomodation

There’s only a few accommodations available in Siargao. Most of them are pension houses and hostels targeted for the backpacker/surfer crowd. They are, however, comfortable enough and provide a range of services.

Some of the more popular ones are

• Patrick’s on the Beach or Patrick’s on Cloud 9. It is one of the more established resorts in the area. You can choose from air-conditioned rooms to tents on the beach.
• Traveller’s Pension House. As a pension house, it has basic amenities. You can choose between air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned rooms.
• Kalinaw Resort. It is Siargao’s newest and relatively modern resort with individual cottages with simple furnishing but is really comfortable.
• Pansukian Tropical Resort. This is first upscale resort in Siargao with all the luxury and first-world amenities you’ll expect to find in an upscale resort.

What to do in Siargao

Siargao is popular with its Cloud 9 waves so it’s just fitting the most of your stay here will be better spent surfing. Additionally, it is also recommended to explore the island and its environs. Most resorts will gladly recommend places to see and things to do. Popular among the sights to see are Cloud 9, Sohoton Cove and mangrove swamps while the most popular activity beyond surfing is fishing.

Flickr Photos by Kringkat_ii

Prime Spots for Surfing

Tuason Point: Located three kilometers north of the municipality of General Luna and is where the world-famous Cloud 9 is located. It is an exposed reef break that has reasonably consistent surf. Offshore winds blow from the west. Most of the surf comes fis in the form of windswells and the best wave direction is from the northeast. A left hand reef. Best around high tide when the tide is rising. It very rarely gets crowded here. Surfing here means negotiating dangerous rips so this is for experienced surfers only.

North of Cloud 9

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GL and South

It is always a highlight of one’s holiday in Siargao. It can only be reached via a boat ride to Daku Island. Daku is an island to the east of General Luna and has a fun right hander that breaks during large swells. The wave breaks on the protected side of the island so it is usually small and great for beginners. Pansukian Reef is a fickle but hollow right hander; another for experienced surfers only. Further south are the islands of La Janoza and Mamon. These islands are beautiful. There are numerous waves in this area with the pick of the bunch being at Mabuntok Reef, which is to the left on Mamon. This wave will cater to all levels and is situated by one of the most pleasant and picturesque beaches in the region.

Siargao Travel Tips

The best time to visit Siargao is between July and November when waves can reach from 10-15 feet high.

Flickr Photo by cia b

Siargao Travel Tips

• Swimwear/beachwear, of course!
• Rubber Surfing Boots – you’ll need to walk in some rocky reefs to get to the waves
• First Aid Kit – as always but you’ll need it here more
• Lots and lots of sunblock and sunscreen
• You must have a Smart or Talk and Text mobile phone because it’s the only mobile connectivity in this island. Not sure if Globe or Sun has arrived there yet.
• Waterproof Camera. The island is beautiful and has a lot of large bodies of water. Better protect those pictures so you can post them in FaceBook and Flickr and have bragging rights!
• CASH!!! No ATM/Credit Cards in Siargao island

Happy Surfing!!!!!

The province is gaining prestige as a prime eco-cultural tourist destination in the region. It has an abundance of pristine white sand beaches and azure blue waters. Coral reefs teem with a variety of picturesque marine life. Most notable of these sites and increasing in world renown are those found in Pamilacan, Balicasag, and Cabilao islands, becoming a haven for tourists and scuba divers.

It’s a must for all tourists in Bohol. You can rent a van or a car and even mini-SUV to bring you to popular tourist attractions in and around Bohol. You can find one just outside the airport. You can haggle with them. There’s a lot of choices so you may ask around. The usual price is PHP1,500 per day for the usual route if you rent a car. But you can ask the driver to bring you to more places at an additional fee. Gas/Diesel isn’t cheap, anyways.

Here are the famous attractions to visit in Bohol:

Chocolate Hills

Bohol’s most famous tourist attraction. They look like giant mole hills, or as some say, women’s breasts, and remind us of the hills in a small child’s drawing. Most people who first see pictures of this landscape can hardly believe that these hills are not a man-made artifact. However, this idea is quickly abandoned, as the effort would surely surpass the construction of the pyramids in Egypt. The chocolate hills consist of are no less than 1268 hills (some claim this to be the exact number). They are very uniform in shape and mostly between 30 and 50 meters high. They are covered with grass, which, at the end of the dry season, turns chocolate brown. From this color, the hills derive their name. At other times, the hills are green, and the association may be a bit difficult to make.

Blood Compact Site

The Sandugo is a blood compact, performed in native-Bohol style between the traveling Spanish explorer Miguel López de Legazpi and Datu Sikatuna of Bohol on March 16, 1565 in the Philippines to seal their friendship as part of the native customs. The pact was entered into by López de Legazpi for the purpose of insuring friendly relations between the Spaniards and the Filipinos. This is considered as the first international treaty of friendship between two people of different races, a Filipino and a Spaniard. ‘Sandugo’ is a Visayan amalgamation term ‘sang dugo’ which means ‘one blood’.

Man-Made Forest

In your travel from Tagbilaran to the Chocolate Hills in Carmen, you’ll pass this man-made forest in Bilar town. It’s a two-kilometer stretch densely planted with Mahogany trees. When you enter this area, you feel like you are entering another world, one that is refreshing and you can taste and feel the fresh air around you. But this man-made forest is just part of the larger Bohol Forest filled with naturally grown trees of different species and giant ferns lining the road.

Loboc River

Loboc is around 24kms away from Tagbilaran and it’s one of the iterenaries of most, if not all, Bohol Tour Packages.

There are two choices fo the river cruise. One is via a banca(canoe) where boatmen will take you to the cascading mini waterfall of Busay. Another, which is more popular, is boarding the floating restaurant new the Loay bridge where they are stationed. Food here was fine and plenty and features local delicacies. While cruising and eating your sumptous buffet, a band will serenade you. Guests are also invited to sing if they like to.

Hanging Bridge

Another important attraction of Bohol is its Hanging Bridge. It’s a bamboo bridge hanging above the Loboc River. Adventurous people might find walking across really exciting. Normally, if you’re on an island tour, it’s not included in the itinerary but you might want to check with the driver if they could pass you to the area even for 10 minutes. It will surely add excitement to your day in Bohol.

Baclayon Church

The Baclayon Church, just six kilometers away from Tagbilaran City, Bohol, is the second oldest stone church in the Philippines (the oldest is San Agustin Church, in Real Street, Intramuros, Manila, built in 1571). Constructed in 1595 by the Jesuit priests, it is still intact and houses important relics and images reminiscent of the historic Roman Catholic religion in the country. Among those displayed in the church museum are: crystal chandelier, silver tabernacle, altar with carvings inlaid with gold, life-size statues and more.

Loboc Church

The Church of San Pedro in Loboc, Bohol is the second oldest church in Bohol. It was originally built in 1602, but soon reduced to ashes. In 1638, a stronger one was build. Located near the river, it has survived a number of floods. Inside the church, you can admire some remarkable naive paintings on the ceiling.

Getting There:

Bohol is very accessible by air and sea travel, it is the closest province to Cebu city, with travel time of 1 hour and 30 minutes by fastcraft and 20 minutes by plane. From Manila, it is accessible by plane in less than an hour and there are four flights daily to and from the capital.

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Beaches of Pagudpud
Its white-sand beaches and crystal-blue water makes Pagudpud a haven for tourists.

Maira-ira Point which is also known by its moniker, Blue Lagoon. It has a shorter beach but has calmer waters compared to Saud.

The Pagudpud beach has a pristine-white sand with the bluest of sea water. There are numerous cottages lining up the Pagudpud shoreline which offers affordable accomodation, and several restaurants serving the nicest Ilokano food.

Saud Beach resort is among the top beaches in Asia. Starting in 2000, Saud Beach Became popular among tourist and beach resorts started musrooming in the area but again htis resort is the Gran Dame of All. and being the original, it also has the most expensive prices for accmodations.

Aside from the stunning beaches, Pagudpud offers a lot of other attractions as well.

Patapat Viaduct

The Patapat viaduct which is also considered as the 4th longest bridge in the Philippines, is a winding bridge hugging the cliffs of the Northern Cordillera Mountain Ranges which connects the barangays Balaoi and Pansian and is about 1.2 kilometers long. Dubbed as the “French Riviera of the North” for this breathtakingly beautiful coastal drive, one can pass by Mabugabog Falls, a source of power for the mini-hydroelectric plant. This pretty bridge features a blue sea and sea birds on one side and the beautiful mountains on one side.

Bantay Abot Cave

A natural sculpture carved by the wind and sea which means sea mountain with a hole. It is also called the underground sea for on top of the cave is a lustrous vegetative cover. Inside the cave is a church that once you are inside, you do not only hear the echoing sound of the waves, the chirping of the birds but you can also feel the cool breeze of the air. It is a favorite hangout of swallows that swarm to their roost in the late afternoon. It is a very unique creation partly surrounded by the clear blue sea. Its shore has white sand mixed with fragments of shells and rocks that can be made as a decor. Parts of the shore are forms of rocks where you can sit and relax and enjoy a lucid view of the wide sea and verdant mountains.

Kaibigan Falls

Kabigan Falls is 80 feet surrounded by lush forest and a concave basin and practically reminds us of those picturesque waterfalls of the jungles of the Caribbean while Saguigui Falls is a smaller waterfall and very hard to get to.

Agua Grande River Park

The Agua Grande River Park is a combination of waterfall, stone-laden brook falling to the sea, and pebble-rich gray-sand beach. It is located just 1 kilometer after the Patapat viaduct and is fed by a spill-over of the Mogabog falls.

Paraiso ni Anton

A few meters away from the Agua Grande River Park is Paraiso ni Anton which is said to have miraculous water. A lot of people stop over here to get a sip from this drinkable flowing water. Some others get water from here to put into their vehicles.

Other nearby attractions:

Bangui Windmill Energy
Vigan HispanicVillage
Paoay Church

Getting There:

From Manila to Pagudpud, the ride takes about 10 hours via the northwest highway. For a casual traveler, Philippine Rabbit, Partas and Farinas Transit have frequent buses heading to Laoag. From there, take a minibus to Pagudpud or hop in a bus bound for Tuguegarao, get off the highway and take a tricycle to the town proper.

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Famous Tourist Sights and Destinations

Burnham Park

Burnham Park is the very heart of Baguio City. It contains all the amenities of a traditional green park, mature trees, flower beds, a small lake, walking paths, open fields and facilities for bike riding and paddle boats.

Camp John Hay

Used to be an American military recreational camp during World War II, Camp John Hay is now a popular destination for people who wish to see the pine forests in the city. The place also boasts a sprawling country club with a full 18-hole golf course as well as many trendy restaurants and a nice hotel.

This place remains a “must visit” for tourists.

Mines View

Mines View is a popular tourist attraction where tourists can shop, explore and view the scenery.

Any visit to Mines View Park would not be complete without a stop at the Good Shepherd Convent where you can buy jam, brittle and other goodies. They also have a very nice view deck with the vista of the mountains of the Cordillera range as a backdrop for photos.

Wright Park

Directly across The Mansion is Wright Park that features the much photo-graphed Baguio landmark, the “Pool of Pines”.

Tall pine trees and decorative street lights line both sides of the access road beside the pool. There are times that you will find at the park some Igorots dressed in their native attire and regalia who are willing to pose for a photograph … of course, for a fee. Native handicrafts are also sold at the Mansion end of the park by a few Igorot peddlers. From the park circle is a walkway which leads to a wide stairway made of stones that descend to an area where ponies are rented out.

Botanical Garden

Also known as the Igorot Village, it showcases the native houses of the different Cordillera tribes. Tourists can usually take pictures with the Igorot tribesmen dressed in their traditional costume. It is also the home of the Baguio Arts Guild.

Botanical Garden is named such because it is tasked with growing pine seedlings and other flora and fauna for the constant “greening” of Baguio

Lourdes Grotto

The grotto is a favorite pilgrimage site during Holy Week most especially during Holy Thursday and Good Friday. Access to the top of the grotto could be made by climbing the 252 steps or by driving a light vehicle through a winding, narrow and steep asphalt-paved road. Devotees who go up to the grotto to pray usually light up a candle at an altar below the image. There are also vendors at the shrine who are willing to light up a candle for you and say a prayer for whatever personal intentions you might have.

Baguio Cathedral

Rising above the city skyline, Baguio Cathedral with its tall, pastel-colored, twin towers stands on a hill overlooking Session Road. It is one of the more familiar and most visited landmarks of Baguio. This beautiful structure has twin spires and is the most photographed structure in the city. From Session Road it is accessible by pedestrians who ascend a long concrete stairway of more than a hundred steps. Visitors and churchgoers who would rather avoid the difficult climb drive vehicles through an access road which passes behind the nearby post office building.

The cathedral was consecrated in 1936.

Panagbenga Festival

Panagbenga is month-long annual flower festival held in Baguio. The term Panagbenga a Kankanaey term that means “a season of blossoming, a time for flowering”. It was created as a tribute as a tribute to the city’s flowers and as a way to rise up from the devastation of the 1990 earthquake that devastated the city. Held every February, Panagbenga showcases street dancing, presented by dancers clad in flower-inspired costumes, that is inspired by the Bendian, an Ibaloi dance of celebration that came from the Cordillera region. One of the main attractions is the parade of floats decorated with flowers.

The festival has been very popular among locals that the City is jam packed with tourists from all over the Philippines leading to and after the festival. Hotels are fully booked and reservations have to be made months before the event.

Things to Do

Sight-seeing, Horseback Riding, Golf, Bars & Discos, Live Music, Ukay-Ukay (Second Hand Clothing), Picnics, Skating Rink, Biking, Mini-Golf, Internet Cafes, Video Arcades, Shopping for Fresh Produce

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When visiting the town make sure you sample the local longganisa (pork sausage), bagnet (air-dried, deep-fried pork), bibingka (rice cake) and the empanadas at the Plaza Salcedo. You can take a tour around town on a horse-drawn calesa. Vigan is also famous for antique (both authentic and faux) furnitures and handwoven textile.

Here are some of the historical places to visit in Vigan:

Burgos House
The ancestral house of Padre Jose Burgos, along Crisologo Street, has been turned into a national museum.

It showcases an excellent collection of archeological and ethnographic treasures, antiques, dioramas of local historical events, and photographs of Ilocano heroes and achievers. On its uppper floor, you will find a priceless collection of 14 Esteban Villanueva canvasses depicting the 1807 Basi Revolt.

Calle Crisologo

Calle Crisologo is one of the main tourist attractions in the city of Vigan. A fairly well-preserved cobblestone street, a few hundred meters in length, and lined with many old buildings (that are intact, restored or in disrepair), it certainly takes one back a century or more to Vigan at its peak. Houses characterized by high ceilings, meter-thick stone walls, balconies, tiled roofs and ornate iron grillwork. These houses are still in use today as residences of the original builders’ descendants. Some have opened their homes to the public as museums and inns, while others transformed their ground floors into boutiques where you can buy gift items, antiques, fine antique reproductions, and Vigan furniture at reasonable prices.

Crisologo Museum

Crisologo Museum in Delos Reyes Street is dedicated to one of its most colorful political families.

Several decades of feuding between rival clans and their private armies of hired guns turned Ilocos Sur into a political powder keg, especially come election time.

The museum houses the Crisologo family’s memorabilia, a rich collection of historical artifacts, antique statues of saints, antique furniture, and various ethnological pieces.

St. Paul’s Cathedral

The majestic St. Paul’s Cathedral (also called Vigan Cathedral) was built along the distinct “Earthquake Baroque” style of the Ilocos region and features Neo-Gothic and pseudo Romanesque motifs. Most of the original features of the church interior are still intact. The Cathedral has twelve altars, three naves, and a choir loft. Above the main doorway is an alcove that depicts the coversion of St. Paul. Other elements such as the Fu Dogs and the moldings on its facade and the brass communion rails give hints of the Chinese influence in the church’s designs and architecture.

The first Vigan Cathedral was ordered and built in 1574 by Juan de Salcedo. Another version of the church was again constructed in 1641. The present baroque-style building was constructed in 1790 and completed in 1800. Its bell tower is located stands separately in Plaza Burgos, 10 meters south of the cathedral.

Plaza Burgos

The other major plaza of historic Vigan, Plaza Burgos is flanked by the the cathedral and the old “seminario” (which burned down in 1968). Its ambiance and the presence of kiosks offering local delicacies make Plaza Burgos a favorite promenade for local folks and visitors alike. It is a landmark tribute to the Vigan martyr priest, Father Jose P. Burgos. On the east end of the Plaza is the newly renovated, large stage where important events are held. The Plaza has an adequate and attractive lighting system, clean surroundings and mini Children’s Park. At the northwestern portion stands the century-old Bell Tower of Vigan Cathedral. The plaza’s special attraction are the “empanada” stands which are situated at its premises in the afternoon up to late evening.

Plaza Salcedo

Plaza Salcedo, named after Vigan’s conqueror Don Juan de Salcedo, is situated right at the center of Vigan Ilocos Sur. It is an elevated elliptical plaza, and among the most beautiful in the Philippines. It features the 17th century Juan de Salcedo Monument, the oldest one of its kind in Northern Luzon.

It was here in Plaza Salcedo where Gabriela Silang, a revolutionary hero, was executed by public hanging in 1763.

Palacio de Arzobispado

Completed in1783, the Arzobizpado is the official residence of the Archbishop of Nueva Segovia. The only surviving 18th century Arzobizpado in the country, the palace served as the headquarters of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo in 1898 and the invading American forces under Col. James Parker in 1899. Its Museo Nueva Segovia showcases ecclesiastical artifacts, antique portraits of bishops, a throne room, archdiocesan archives and other religious paraphernalia gathered from various colonial churches all over Ilocos Sur.

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