From Photographs to Reality: Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur

Hello! And I am back! No post for the month of October :( Bawi na lang this month and hopefully next month. :)

Uunahan ko na, magagalit sakin ang friends ko pagtapos ng post na to! Huhuhu :((

One of the plans I mentioned on my last post did push through! It was this Ilocos tour! We had a 3 days 2 nights tour package from Explore Island Philippines which costs only Php3500 per head which includes Manila-Vigan-Laoag-Pagudpud-Manila van transfers and accommodation for 2 nights. Good deal?

Meeting time was 9pm of October 25 (not counted as first day). And expected time of arrival at Vigan is 5am for the night view of Heritage Village.

CALLE CRISOLOGO

Vigan City, Ilocos Sur

Vigan City is called the Heritage Village and was listed on the UNESCO World Heritage for having well preserved Spanish structures.

(c) Ace Santos

 (c) JC Natividad

"Tour mates"

Since we had a tour package and we can't occupy the entire van, we were included to other groups.

 (c) Ace Santos

BANTAY CHURCH AND BELL TOWER

Bantay, Ilocos Sur

It is just a few minutes away from Vigan City, became popular because of its belfry which sits few meters away from the church. I think it's a must to climb the top most part of the belfry, you'd enjoy the view of Vigan and other cities.

 (c) Elka Prudente

 (c) Elka Prudente

The belfry

 (c) Elka Prudente

CAFE UNO
1 Bonifacio St. Corner Quirino Blvd., Vigan City, Ilocos Sur

Had our breakfast at Cafe Uno which is located in Granpa's Inn. Our driver told us that it would take too much time if we will be ordering the time we got there and since they have someone to contact there, we had our meals pre-ordered.

(c) Ace Santos

Tapsilog for Php110

 (c) Ace Santos

Longsilog for Php 95

Vigan Longanisa!!!!

CHAVIT SINGSON'S BALUARTE ZOO

Vigan City, Ilocos Sur

http://chavitsingson.net/baluarte/

A total of 80 hectares of land as a home to different animal species owned by Governor Chavit Singson. The good thing about Baluarte is that they do not have an entrance fee and asks only donations for animal interactions.

(c) Elka Prudente

 (c) Elka Prudente

(c) Elka Prudente

 (c) Elka Prudente

(c) Elka Prudente

Maliit pa to! Scary sa laki yung mga nasa kulungan :)

 (c) JC Natividad

Ang cute dahil nakatingin siya. Parang hahampas pa yung buntot. Haha.

 (c) JC Natividad

One of the scariest moments of my life. Haha.

OA pero ang scary talaga. Tapos nung isang beses pa biglang gumalaw nung ako yung pipicturan. Scaryyyy pero nakakaaliw :)

 (c) Elka Prudente

(c) Elka Prudente

Bahay ba to ni Gov? Bongga sa pagkaGold! :D

After Baluarte, next stop is the Marcos Museum and Mausoleum in Batac, Ilocos Norte. We did enter the Mausoleum but not the Museum. Later would be the explanation why I don't have any photos. :( :)

PAOAY CHURCH

Paoay, Ilocos Norte

A Roman Catholic Church in Paoay completed in 1710. It is famous of its huge buttresses on the side and back of the church making it as an Earthquake Baroque Structure mainly for earthquake protection. One of the best examples of Baroque Churches in the Philippines as it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993. 

(c) Elka Prudente

(c) Elka Prudente

MALACAÑANG TI AMIANAN

Suba, Paoay, Ilocos Norte

“Malacañang ti Amianan” is an Ilokano term for a two-storey mansion. A 2-storey mansion in a 5 hectare property in Suba which sits right next to Paoay Lake. It is also known as the Malacañang of the North. It is one of the rest houses of Former President Marcos. It was also considered to be their official residence in Ilocos Norte during the Marcos Regime.

(c) JC Natividad

greeted by a refreshing ambiance.

(c) JC Natividad

(c) Elka Prudente

(c) Elka Prudente

There's Paoay Lake

(c) Elka Prudente

(c) Elka Prudente

Second Floor

Ang presko lang. Madaming bintana at may terrace (right side) na overlooking ang Paoay Lake.

(c) Elka Prudente

(c) Elka Prudente

(c) Elka Prudente

(c) Ace Santos

This was our Day 1 in Ilocos. May kulang pa pero next post na lang.

On getting mad at me, alam niyo na kung bakit? Lahat sa post na to photo credit lang tapos halos lahat may mga tao pa. May face-less version sana ako ng lahat ng picture kaso ayun nga. WALANG NATIRA SA PHOTOS ng Day 1! Huhuhuhuhuhuhu. :((((((( Ang sakit lang pero wala na akong magawa, burado na e. :(

Thanks to Elka, Ace and JC for all the other photos. :)

Explore Island Philippines by EIP Travel & Tours

Mobile: 09359072592 (John) TM

Email: natividadjohnchristopher@y.c.

Or visit www.exploreislandph.multiply.com

Next Post: PAOAY SAND DUNES!!

Chinx♥ 

Such a school girl :))

It's the last day of the month and sadly, I didn't have time to travel AGAIN. My last travel was the Bacolod-Iloilo-Guimaras tour last June. After 4 months, no travel plans are sure. There were A LOT of plans but those are just bare plans and no confirmations yet. :( I was looking forward for a travel-filled semestral break but we'll still see then.

No travel means that I am busy at school. My very close friends might not believe me (haha. di halata?) but hell yeah! I was busy! There are days/weeks wherein me and my classmates would say "eto na pinaka pahinga ko e.(pertaining to having some kwentuhan moments with friends)" And if before, updating my Facebook or Twitter or just going online relieves my stress, it's not that way now. Yung pagpasok mo sa umaga sa school, problema ang sasalubong at dala mo na yung buong araw tapos paguwi mo sa gabi, pagonline mo problema pa din. Tapos school works tapos puyat. And it becomes a cycle.

Daming reklamo? Haha. Karekla-reklamo na din kasi minsan. :) PERO KONTING TIIS NA LANG! KONTING-KONTI NA LANG! Kayang-kaya pa!!! :DD

Syempre walang kwenta ang post kung wala namang picture. Haha. Eto na oh!! This is just for the month of September. :)

(c) Ace Santos

Started the month on chill mode. 

Reunion with swimming friends and coaches.

(c)Haelene Piller

Savings and Investment seminar at Adamson University.

Thanks to JFINEX-AdU for inviting us!

 (c) Kelvin Roxas

O, si Mayor Lim ang keynote speaker. Dinidiscuss niya yung financial center o!

O, ganito ah. O, ganyan yan! O, kayo ba.... O, ano masasabi niyo? Hahaha!

Limsanity!! :)) I Love Mayor Lim! :)))

I also love that he's active on twitter kahit secretary naman niya talaga ang naguupdate. Haha. Follow him @TheMayorLim :)

 Portfolio Management seminar at Adamson University in preparation for the Stock x Challenge

JFINEX-AdU, thanks again! See you next week!! :)

 With Mr. Xandy Gilles, CFA. Market educator of FirstMetroSec

 A successful tour at  the Philippine Stock Exchange.

Kuddos to my co-officers for patiently arranging everything!

September 24-28 is our school's foundation week. The most stressful foundation week ever! Dati kasi irregular ang classes at petiks ang lahat. Grabe lang talaga ngayon!

Monday - seminar (not just a participant but an organizer)

Tuesday - rest  day

Wednesday - Quizzes + blood donation

Thursday - Thesis defense

Friday - Feasibility Study defense

Huge huge thanks to Prof. Arman!!

Every year, they allot a day or two for the blood letting activity by the Red Cross. I always wanted to donate but didn't have the chance to. But this time, I won't let it pass without me participating. :)

 There are screenings before the actual donation of blood. And good thing, I passed!

 Here are other students, volunteering :)

Success!! :))

1 bag is 450 ml :) Mainit-init pa. hahaha.

*hello din sa namamaga kong mata! 4 days now :(*

(c) Rutchel Peregrino

Baller from Red Cross :)

(c) Rutchel Peregrino

Thesis defense!!

(c) Rutchel Peregrino

After defense, revisions naman oh! :))

(c) Rutchel Peregrino

Feasib defense!!

Defense includes the stressful search for a matching outfit. Haha.

Sabi ko pa naman after ng mga defense ko lalakwatcha ako ng bongga kaso exams naman para next week naman kaya di pa din pwede. :( OA ba pagkakakwento ko sa simula? Haha. Di lang halata sa pictures! Syempre wala naman kaming picture habang pinagpupuyatan ang bawat detalye. Haha.

I may not have traveled for months now but learning experience na din sakin ang lahat. Alam naman ng everyone how I love trying new things like the blood letting and meeting new people from the seminars and tour. Sadyang kastress lang Thesis and Feasib pero kaya naman!! Friends, see you soon! :)

Ang maganda lang sa school life kong to, more time para makapagipon para sa next travel! Woohoo! Tapos may extra panshopping na din! :)) Travel soon!! :)

Chinx♥

Negros Occidental: Balay Negrense & Hofileña Heritage House, Silay City

Finally, the last post for our Iloilo-Guimaras-Bacolod(Negros) tour last June(tagal na :|). Kaloka. Dami ko kasing chika kaya ang tagal matapos. Haha. Sure na sure na to! Last na talaga to! Pagbigyan niyo na ako, di ko pa alam kung kelan ulit ako makaka-major lakwatsa :)

From the Angry Christ Church in Victorias City we traveled for 30 minutes (according to my camera's time) to reach Silay City. Medyo naligaw pa kami kasi di masyado kabisado ni kuya ang daan. 

BALAY NEGRENSE
Bgry. III Cinco De Noviembre Street, Silay City

We reached Balay Negrense a few minutes before 4pm. Medyo tight na kami sa oras since our flight back to Manila is 7pm but the airport is just around Silay City anyway.

Another very popular tourist attraction near Bacolod City is the restored nineteenth century Victor Fernandez Gaston Ancestral House built in 1897. It was left unused by the family and was abandoned in the mid 1970's but the government renovated the house.

It was referred to as "Bahay na Bato" or "House of Stone" but with the American influence, the lower portion of the house was made concrete. The posts are made out of trunks of a local hardwood.

There was no one outside to assist us when we got there so I rang the door bell.

Then there came a lady in Filipiniana!

Entrance fee: Adults: Php40; Students(up to HS only): Php20

We tried haggling for the student fare. Haha. Kaaliw, pati si kuya nakitawad din! At least effective at pumayag si lola na nakabantay :)

Receiving area

on the opposite side of the receiving area are these rooms.

Not on a tree Family Tree

Generation per generation. Galing lang!

a souvenir shop sa likod-bahay

Motor-operated bicycle

 Stairs with a capacity of 30 persons

Medyo scary kasi mukang weak na yung ibang wood. Well, not just on the stairs but in the entire house.

the 2nd floor

there were rooms on each side

There are 12 large bedrooms on each floor with connecting doors.

HOFILEÑA HERITAGE HOUSE

It was the first ancestral house in Silay City to open in public, 30 years before the next house did. Built in 1934 and owned by Manuel Severino Hofileña and his wife Gilda Ledesma Hojila and now inhabited by their son Ramon Hofileña.

As soon as we entered the house, we met the tour guide and he immediately asked us on how long are we available for the entire tour. He said it would be 45mins (shortest) or 1hr+ (longest), since we couldn't stay that long, we opted for the shorter one. Sayang!! There were so many stories not just behind the house but also about Mr. Ramon Hofileña's contributions. If only we had a lot of time...

 Old flat irons as decorations

The library houses newspapers reporting important events in the Philippines. The oldest was La Vanguardia. There were also Spanish books, first pocket books for the American soldiers during World War II and some folk toys.

Dated "Martes 23 de Enero de 1912"

Declaration of Martial Law - Sunday, September 24, 1972

pocket books

Tektite stones. Swerte daw to!

(c) http://superhappytotravel.blogspot.com/2011/01/hofilena-ancestral-house-silay-city.html

This is the smallest doll in the world. Mr. Ramon Hofileña bought this in Japan. Mas maliit pa ito sa butil ng palay. The guide even let us use a magnifying glass to see the doll up close.

a hand-powered printing machine.

1st print made by the hand-powered print machine at 1971. Art by Mr. Ramon Hofileña.

There are only 18 copies released and this is the 1/18. It was sold for some Php...millions. (13M yata?)

Photos are not allowed in the second floor since it was filled by his painting collections which is about 1,000 pieces made by Filipino artists, some were Fernando Amorsolo, Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo and Jose Rizal, the camera flash can destroy the art work.

(c) http://superhappytotravel.blogspot.com/2011/01/hofilena-ancestral-house-silay-city.html

And that is Mr. Ramon Hofileña!

(c) http://superhappytotravel.blogspot.com/2011/01/hofilena-ancestral-house-silay-city.html

He also goes nude.

He modeled for this when he was 50 years old! Ang hot ah!!

Actually, meron pang ibang drawings but I choose to get the not censored one. :)

He had been in New York and became a CEO of two companies, became in the cover of Reader's Digest, savior of historical artifacts, loves to travel, a model, theater actor and a swimmer. Oha! Ang dami lang!! And to mention, her sister is the mother of PJ Abellana, a veteran actor and father of actress Carla Abellana. We asked the guide if PJ or Carla visits the house, he said PJ does but Carla haven't been in the house.

While the house was open to public, I was actually shocked that Mr. Ramon still lives in the house and the tour includes entering his room for us to see other painting collections and tourists come and go to see the house.

We didn't have the chance to meet him, I think we was having some afternoon snacks back then. Sayang!!

Our tour guide.

Argh. Forgot his name! But he is one of the many scholars of Mr. Ramon

I don't have all the information about the tour. Was too lazy to take down notes. Hihi. Next time na lang! Kapag naalala ko din. :)

SAN DIEGO CHURCH

We just dropped by the church and go to the airport to catch our flight.

And of course, I would like you to meet our tour guide/driver, Kuya Romeo, I saw his taxi in the internet and tried communicating about the tour. The tour costs Php3000, ang mura na din nun kasi we reached Victorias City kung saan sa lahat ng tinanungan ko, may additional payment pa pero sakanya wala. Tapos super bongga ni kuya kasi minsan siya pa mismo yung nagtatanong sa mga bantay ng mga pinuntahan namin like in Bacolod. Super helpful at mabait!

He also fetched us in Bacolod-Silay airport on our first day and bring us to the port for Iloilo.

YAY!! TAPOS NA ANG MAHABANG SERIES!! Hihi. :)
Looking forward for my next travel. Was also very happy to meet new people from other parts of the country. :)

Credits to Majo Regilme for other photos.

Related posts:

Iloilo - Heart of the Philippines | Iloilo City, Jaro, Molo, Guimbal

Iloilo - Heart of the Philippines | Miagao, San Joaquin

Discover Guimaras!

Guimaras: Guisi Beach and Lighthouse

Guimaras: Raymen Beach Resort | Alubihod Beach

Travel from Guimaras to Bacolod | The City of Smiles at night! 

Negros Occidental: Bacolod City

Negros Occidental: Talisay City's The Ruins

Negros Occidental: Angry Christ Church, Victorias City

Chinx♥