Philippine Travel: The Old World Appeal Of Ilocos

Going to the province of Ilocos can be like going back in time. Not just for the historic Spanish colonial dwellings, but for the very easy laid-back feel of the residential areas and its men and women.

In old times, Ilocandia was described as a God-forsaken land due to its arid and arduous landscape. However the robust men and women of this province had the staying power as well as the will to thrive, and ultimately transformed it into a rich and plentiful highland. Amidst each one of these, is actually a wealthy past consisting of famous uprisings, monumental edifices, and noble men and women that have made Ilocos a unique and amazing area that it is nowadays.

Vigan is known as a sleepy township in the centre of Ilocos Sur. It’s easy to find your way around since the people are helpful and warm to vacationers. At the center of the community is Plaza Salcedo built in honour of Juan Salcedo who actually named this unique location Ciudad Fernandina after King Ferdinand of Spain. Right across from the plaza is St. Paul’s Cathedral built in 1641 and which came under the Diocese of Nueva Segovia in 1758.

A few minutes’ walk will take you towards the Burgos House. Now converted into a museum, the property is the birth place of Fr. Jose Burgos, one of the priests executed in Cavite in the revolution. The museum houses what was left of the Burgos family members personal belongings which include antique home furniture, clothing along with other artefacts given by some prominent families in Vigan.

Without a doubt, Vigan is best known for its Castillian houses with old tile roofs, hardwood floorings and azoteas. These buildings can be found in the Heritage Village which is the heart of the Mestizo district. Some of the houses remain in possession of descendants of their original owners together with the antique interiors and home furnishings intact, although some of these ancestral properties have been transformed into comfortable inns, museums, and souvenir shops.

While some of these buildings have already been converted into commercial businesses, the brick structures usually are maintained. The whole of the area has an eerie sensation highlighted more by the calezas or horse-drawn carriages which remain a form of transportation around town.

You can purchase genuine or reproduction antique furniture around VIgan’s antique merchants or even visit pottery producers along Rizal Street for ceramic goods. These manufacturers are often more than prepared to supply a demonstration on pottery-making. You can also buy woven blankets and table napkins at low prices.

Vigan continues to be declared a World Heritage Site and it is advisable that you view the properties in the evening with the streets lights on.