Smart Backpacker: Vigan

A heritage site is a location designated by the governing body of a township, county, province, state or country as important to the cultural heritage of a community (from Wikepedia).

These are the heritage houses that I have visited in the Philippines.

1. Vigan Heritage Houses, Ilocos Sur

from pagudpud.olx.com.ph

The City of Vigan was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 due mostly to the fact that the place has been carefully preserved.

At present, Old Asian and Spanish architecture and the famous cobblestoned street of Calle Crisologo are well preserved.

Related link - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/01/ilocos-sur-experience.html

2. Heritage City of Silay, Negros Occidental

Hofilena Heritage House

The Hofileña Heritage House was the first ancestral house in Silay City, Negros Occidental to open its doors to the public in 1962.

Visits to the Hofileña house is by appointment, Tel. no. (034) 495 4561.

I was able to talk to the owner of the house (Mr. Ramon Hofilena) while he was throwing garbage early in the morning and he allowed me to tour the house.

Related link -
http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/03/heritage-houses-in-silay-city.html
http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/12/exploring-negros-oriental-and-negros.html

3. The Ancestral Houses in Sabtang, Batanes

Related link - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-captivating-and-stunning-beauty-of.html

4. Heritage Town of Taal, Batangas

I simply love my home province!

picture was taken in Batad, Banaue Rice Terraces

The Banaue Rice Terraces is a product of the Ifugao's agricultural engineering. It was proclaimed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993, and cited as the “priceless contribution of Philippine ancestors to humanity.”

Worthy of mention are the heritage houses in Intramuros in Manila and the heritage houses in Marinduque and Mauban, Quezon.

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Year 2006. My best friend "Mau" invited me take a vacation in Ilocos Norte, particularly in Laoag. I had no idea what to expect then. What I did not know then was that this travel was the start of my tour in the Philippines. Thanks Mau! =)

with Mau

I stayed in Laoag for three days.

Her family and I went to different tourist spots in Ilocos.

Topping the list of the itinerary during that tour was - Pagudpud

Followed by the other tourist spots...

Vigan Ancestral Homes

Cape Bojeador Lighthouse

Bangui Windmills

Baluarte

We also went to the Malacanang of the North and Marcos Museum.

I enjoyed my first tour!! Ilocos Tour!

And I simply cannot just get enough of it, and so I WENT BACK TO ILOCOS in 2011!

December 27,2011

From Seoul, South Korea, I went to Bicol and stayed there for four days. And after my tour in Bicol, I boarded the connecting flight of Cebu Pac from Naga to Manila, and Manila to Laoag.

It was already 8 pm when I arrived in Laoag and I stayed at Mau's home anew.

Around 6 am the following day, I went to the Laoag City Church and Bell tower.

Laoag City Church

Sinking Bell tower

and

Museo Ilocos Norte

After seeing the three tourist spots in Laoag, I boarded a jeepney and went to Paoay.

The travel to Paoay was less than an hour.

The first spot to visit -
Paoay Church

One of the UNESCO heritage sites in the Philippines.

My main spot for the day is going to famous Paoay Sanddunes for Sand bashing and sand boarding.

From the town of Paoay, I hired a tricycle to bring me to the jump-off point for this thrill!

I paid P2,500 for the adventure.

Paoay Sandboarding
Joseph - 0947-543-0971 (driver)

Paoay Sanddunes

You will love the terrain, scorching heat, and the bumpy ride at Paoay sanddunes!

This is the picture of the guy having a good time. =)

Sandboarding is simply awesome!!!

Tip: You have to go to the spot early in the morning. In the afternoon, the heat is simply unbearable.

After the adventure, I went back to the town of Paoay and boarded a bus to Ilocos Sur.

It was already past 2 pm when I reached my next destination -

Vigan Ancestral Homes

The experience this time is different. Before I was with Mau's family, and now I was alone and reminiscing that they were with me again.

I hired a "Kalesa Tour."

I spent 2 hours for the tour. The problem is I cannot recall how much I paid for the two-hour tour. But if my memory served me right, I paid only P700 for it.