Monday, February 20, 2012

Walking the Streets of Vigan

There are loads of articles related to the beautiful and almost perfectly picturesque city of Vigan.  The place is so popular that it even has two (2) websites claiming it as the ‘official’ site.  So I would have to deviate from  my usual blog writing style and present to you this one as a compendium of various information that might be of interest to you my readers.  To those who have visited the place in the past, read on to get a deeper appreciation of your experience.  And to those to have not yet ventured into this treasure in the far north, do try it soon.

My adventure in Vigan started when I was still in my early post-college days. It is with mixed emotions that I am writing and reminiscing these memories as in a way, this shall be my tribute for one of the greatest persons I met in my life.  I pray that you are now smiling back at me proud of where I am and the things that I achieved so far.  You missed a lot from my adventures.  You said you’ll be back, I know you wanted to come back.  But I know you are in a far better place now.  This one is for you!

I had a ‘lolo’ (grandfather) through affinity who lived in Vigan.  I have been seeing him then from pictures and on rare instances when my lola (grandmother) visits our country from Canada (they were ‘ex-married-couple’).  My father and most of my relatives secretly refer to him as Lolo Tisoy (light skinned) which is the opposite of his rich brown skin tone.  He is Ilokano, my grandmother was Kapampangan (weird combination to begin with ehe…).  But his real name was George Avila.  He was a retired US Navy.  He then lived in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.  I always wanted to visit the place but the adventurer in me was then still very young and lacking experience.  My grandmother continuously egged me to try and visit my lolo.  The only problem was that Lolo does NOT and will NOT recognize me from the child that he might (if even possible) remember of me.  Warning.  the photos here were from WAY WAY BACK so my skin is still fresh, my hair is uber rich, and i'm super GWAPO pa... maybe now I had lost about 20% of that looks but invested instead on APPEAL, ehe. Indulge me would you?
THE FIRST DIP TO VIGAN'S CULTURE
So armed with his address, an assurance from all-the-way from Canada that my lola already phoned her ex-husband of my visit and the guts that I can’t recall I had back then, I ventured to my first ever SOLO trip using public transport going to Vigan.  It was my first experience of a solo EIGHT hours bus ride and it was such an adventure.  The provinces we passed by and the number of stop overs (which up until now and my succeeding trips, I was not able to count) was priceless.  There were only a few of us in the bus and I was lucky to have the whole two seats just for me from Pampanga until I reached Vigan.

At the bus station, I just went around to look for their local tricycle terminals and asked for the address that I had with me.  In less than 10 minutes I saw my lolo and introduced myself.  The funny thing was that I was welcomed as if we know each other from way back.  I was shown my room (which was his room, on a regular day) and the first thing that I noticed was how smooth the bed linens were.  He said that they are one of Vigan’s pride.  Up until today, I use that one linen I bought from that trip.  This trip also gave me my first experience of locals looking (read: starring) at me even when I was buying mint candy at a nearby store.  It did not took long when my lolo told me that people are starring because of my looks (ehe modesty aside, I was still young then) and the fact that he told neighbors that I was his son from Manila.  And they had quite a ‘wow’ impression of those coming from Manila as cool and sophisticated (I wonder if I was able to give them a good impression with my stay).
 
The warm welcome did not fade from day 1 up until my departure after three days.  Each day was filled with visits to museums, tours done by my lolo himself, food trip, a fridge filled with beer (and I was the only guest then --- I remembered only drinking one or two bottles each night).  The evenings were cool and it made sleeping feel close to home.  Oh, by the way, I did not yet have internet nor a good camera back then.  I only had ‘stories’ of what to expect and my mobile phone as my trusted camera so please bear with me on the photos, I promise though that my face will be splattered on most of them, but hey it was the time when I was still blemish free eheeheheh.  Below were some of the photos I managed to salvage from my Friendster account (had I know that I will be blogging in the future, or that Friendster would suddenly change it mind, I would have archived these photos better).

VIGAN REVISITED
I returned to Vigan after less than 2 years, it was December if I am not mistaken.  Only this time, I visited Lolo with three other good friends from work.  I went back to this majestic place with ‘travel-mates’ Dion, Mike and Ramon (Gov, ehe).  This time I acted as the tour guide.  The hospitality of my Lolo, however did not waver one bit.  Every meal served and shared on those dinners were forever etched in my heart as well as Lolo’s stories from the past.  See below photos salvaged of that wonderful trip.

hey, yo, PIMP this ride will'ya?
You will fall in love on the history of each pieces
The smell, the sound and the visual feast won't disappoint you
You'll appreciate how it was done then and realize, it wasn't as bad at all
Our horse's name??? Would KC care for a ride?
Our NINUNOs (old men) ehe... this was how our ancestors might have looked back then
We had to had this shot... an authentic belfry...
Every corner is worth the photo
Enjoying Vigan empanada at the Piazza Burgos
hey we were kids... boys and red blooded at that....give us some slack
view from the top of the belfry
cobble-stone streets at day time
and at night...
cathedral history
View of the altar
wonder how many treasures and history these chests held in their days
One tip though I have of Vigan is ‘talk to the locals’ they are almost always willing to show you were to find great food that isn’t expensive as well as a better way to experience the place the way it should be done.  DO NOT FORGET TO VISIT THE LOCAL MARKET too as it is a shopping haven of sorts.  I am contemplating on visiting Vigan again soon.  Impossible it may seem, I still wish I will see Lolo there waiting for me.

33 comments:

  1. haha daig ako ng anak ko.. my daughter's been here when she was 3 yrs old. I wish to visit this place too...

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  2. The streets of Vigan are so beautiful. the old and rustic appearance makes me feel I was taken back in the 1940s or 50. I took the calesa ride on that street just to chalk it up to experience.

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    1. I agree.. the calesa ride is a must 'try' to fully have the Vigan experience

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  3. I think Vigan still holds the title of "little Spain" category for me compared to other provinces in the Philippines. You agree?

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  4. That was a great experience, going along and seeing your lolo. I love how they treated you well. Well, in the province (Ilocos), the "OLDIES" have very big expectations from people who are from Manila especially if he is Tagalog-speaking or light-skinned. The people especially the "oldies" regard these people as highly-educated or highly-respected. But as of now, the thing is different, super oldies may still have the same point of view but now, it is much equal. Sometimes people are afraid dealing with Tagalog-speaking peole already because some are involved in human-trafficking, drugs, and killing :< Manilenios are not treated great as goog as before already. I can say the thing is so much equal now, but Ilocanos still respect tourists "as a visitor" but not as a Manilenio.

    By the way, do you know what barangay your lolo George is living?

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    1. hala i'd have to see and experience for myself... as for the barangay.. il ask my mom again cge.. God, it must have been that long na nga...i can't remember pero it's about 5 mins or less lang from the cobblestoned streets eh...

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  5. Great post and great tribute to your "lolo". I have been wondering what it's like to be in Vigan for real. I have heard so many stories from friends and have read a lot more of it in this blogging world. Seriously, this is a place I really want to visit when I get home soon. Any blogger whose from here?

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    1. yes, i seriously recommend you going to this place enzo..go invite some of your friends to organize.. a 3 person team would be enough.. plus it doesn't have to be costly...

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  6. ok now, I reall need to plane my Vigan get-away!Thanks at least now I have a virtual guide!

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    1. yup highly recommended.. do not hesitate to drop me an email should you need detailed guide...

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  7. Looks like there are more places in Vigan that we have not been too. Will try this summer.

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    1. really? ehe... you should research on the web to see the best places be it for sight seeing or for eating...

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  8. Ganda talaga ng vigan!! Hope to explore the place soon! ;)

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    1. yes beautiful to the point that it is sometimes difficult to describe how one feels when in Vigan... do try it...

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  9. Sigh. Sana naman matupad na pangarap ko na makapunta ng Vigan.

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    1. u just have to invest a bit of time as one day cannot contain the experience..

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  10. Nice! :) Intramuros pa lang ata yung "Little Spain" na napuntahan ko. Hindi ko kasi alam kung kaya ko yung 8 hours na nakaupo lang sa sasakyan eh. By the way, saan niyo nakuha yung costumes niyo? :) Astig! Hahaha!

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    1. kaya yan... me too, i did not expect to make and survive the trip... just befriend the driver ehe... costumes were courtesy of the photo place....

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  11. 'Igan, Vigan streets were of Hispanic origin. If you wanted to feel the ancient historic happenings in our country, Vigan is the best place to visit. What a place!

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  12. I'll visit Vigan, hopefully, pag bakasyon namin! anjan bro ko work e! masarap vigan empanada?

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    1. yes, the best i had so far.. and taga pampanga pako nito ah...

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  13. Last time I visited Vigan was ten years ago. Glad that it hasn't change much and it sill remains the same way I left it. :)

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  14. Vigan is really good place to go to especially if you have relatives to visit there. I'm planning to do a photowalk there sometime soon as looking at your pictures, it seems no one was prohibiting you from taking them (pictures)

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    1. yes at least during those times that i was there ah... ehe

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  15. You have great photos here. I heard lots of interesting stories about Vigan but never been there actually. I wish I could visit the place someday with my family and we'll be exploring the place together.

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    1. thanks for complementing the photos... sure, it is highly recommended

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  16. I'm ashamed to say Ive never been to Vigan..
    yet I call myself a travel blogger! hahaha!
    I promised to bag this soon..
    You sure look like you had a great time.

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  17. Vigan is more on Spanish influence. I hope that they will preserve the place because there are only few cities in the Philippines has this kind of attractions. And thanks for sharing your wonderful adventure.

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