BUS GOING TO VIGAN

PARTAS
Address: 816 Aurora Boulevard corner P. Bernardo St., Cubao 1109 Quezon City
Tel. No.: (02) 725-1740
Destination: Laoag in Ilocos Norte Province, Vigan in Ilocos Sur Province, Baguio in Benguet Province

DOMINION BUS LINES
Address: New York Street, Cubao, Quezon City
Tel. No.: (02) 741-4146, 731-4180
Destination: San Fernando City in La Union Province, Vigan in Ilocos Sur Province and Laoag in Ilocos Norte Province

FARIÑAS TRANS
Address: Laong Laan corner M dela Fuente Street, Sampaloc, Manila
Tel. No.: (02) 743-8582
Destination: Vigan in Ilocos Sur Province and Laoag in Ilocos Norte Province

MARIA DE LEON
Address: Gelinos Street 1000 Manila
Tel. No.: (02) 731-4907
Destination: Vigan City in Ilocos Sur Province, Laoag City in Ilocos Norte Province

PHILIPPINE RABBIT BUS LINES, INC.
Address: 819 Oroquieta Street 1000 Manila
Tel. No.: (02) 734-9836
Destination: Angeles City in Pampanga Province, Tarlac City in Tarlac Province, Sta. Cruz in Zambales Province, Alaminos City and Bolinao in Pangasinan Province, Baguio in Benguet Province, San Fernando in La Union Province, Vigan in Ilocos Province, Laoag in Ilocos Norte Province

VIRON TRANSIT
Address: 1209 Blumentritt Cor. Dapitan St., Sampaloc 1000 Manila
Tel. No.: (02) 741-0405
Destination: Manaoag in Pangasinan Province, Vigan City in Ilocos Sur Province

VIGAN KALESA TOUR-VILLA ANGELA HERITAGE HOUSE

 

Manong kutsero brought me to the old house called Villa Angela Heritage House where the local movie “Maruja” was filmed.

Villa Angela Heritage House personifies the charm of old world Vigan. It is located along Quirino Boulevard.  Gobernadorcillo Agapito B. Florendo had it built in 1870 in a 2,000 square meter property.

Upon entering the garden of Villa Angela, you will see a wooden carriage, said to have been used by Irene Marcos, daughter of former President Ferdinand Marcos. It was allegedly used to transport her to Sta. Monica Cathedral in Ilocos Norte on her wedding in 1983.

Villa Angela counts among its visitors Hollywood actor Tom Cruise. This heritage house is said to be where Tom Cruise stayed in 1989 while he was filming Oliver Stone’s Born on the Fourth of July. A picture of him with the owner hangs in one of the main rooms.

Villa Angela’s living room area has huge windows made of capiz or windowglass shells. There visitors can rest in big, old wooden chairs called butaka while imagining listening to the victrola (old phonograph) or giant harp that decorate the living room together with antique oil lamps and jars.

In the dining room or comedor, visitors will also see many antique dining and kitchen objects like copper pots, porcelain and china ware. There is even a huge old jar that was used to keep food fresh or chilled, much like a refrigerator.

Effort has been made in each room to keep the ambiance of the old Spanish period. That’s why Villa Angela has been used also for the filming of the movie “Jose Rizal.”
 

Villa Angela is opened to the public, as venue for weddings, birthdays, baptismal parties, workshops, meetings and other important gatherings. They specialize in catering traditional Ilocano food to guests and participants.

They are now also a bed and breakfast hotel. All the rooms are air-conditioned, with private baths and cable television. Breakfast is included in the rates. Guest  may choose to stay in the rooms with verandas and four-poster canopy beds.

Note: This is not a paid post. The author is a travel blogger and her passion is traveling on a shoe string. The Villa Angela tour is one of her stop during her kalesa tour.

VIGAN KALESA TOUR:Burnay Factory

VIGAN KALESA TOUR:Burnay Factory

My visit to the Burnay Factory in Vigan is one of the best ever experience I had in Vigan.

The Burnay Factory (earthen jar or pottery) at Barangay Pagburnayan, Vigan City is one of the best keep secrets of Vigan!

Hundreds of Burnay (earthen jar or pottery) is on display at the grounds of the factory.

If you find yourself  in Vigan, don't you miss this place.

Nothing compares in seeing the earthen jars in person. 

I tried to make an earthen jar to no avail, so I just pose for posterity with the earthen jar made by the son of the owner. It is said that pottery making calms the mind and promotes relaxation so you better try it if you have time.

It is more fun in the Philippines! Visit and enjoy pottery making at the Burnay Factory in Vigan.

VIGAN KALESA TOUR- BELL TOWER AND ST. AUGUSTINE CHURCH

VIGAN KALESA TOUR- BELL TOWER AND ST. AUGUSTINE CHURCH

St. Augustine Church

After my tour around Padre Burgos house we went to Bantay Bell Tower and St. Augustine Church.

The St. Augustine Church is the oldest church in Region 1.  It is a beautiful old church with a glorious maroon and white façade.

 

This is where the original Panday movies by the late FPJ was shot according to manong kutsero.

Manong Kutsero (carriage driver) brought me to Bantay the next town after Vigan. There you will find the Bantay Bell Tower. Towering over the town, the Bantay Bell Tower is a sight to behold, standing separately over a hilltop next to the equally beautiful St. Augustine Parish Church.

The bell tower original structure was built by Augustinian Missionaries in 1591, most likely as a part of the parish church nearby.  It was made of bricks, rocks, and a mixture of seashells and sugar cane. There are hardly any renovations done to the structure, except for the repairs of the stairs inside the tower.

The bell tower stands on the tallest point in town.  It was used as a watch tower during the Spanish colonial period.  That's the reason why the tower is named “bantay” which in Ilocano means “mountain” and “guard.”

Climbing up the second level of the belfry is no problem, but going up the third level may take a bit more guts. The wooden stairs are new, but the rickety sound and the tall open windows may trigger a heart attack to the weak. But mind you the views from both levels are absolutely breath-taking.  The bell tower provides a good view of the town and the mountain in the horizon.

The bell tower is also quite popular because according to manong kutsero because it is the  location of the film- Panday by the late Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ)

The next time you find yourself in Vigan, ride a kalesa ( horse carriage) and tour the different glorious locations of the province.

VIGAN KALESA TOUR PART THREE- FR. BURGOS MUSEUM

VIGAN KALESA TOUR PART THREE- FR. BURGOS MUSEUM

Our next kalesa stop is the nearby Padre Burgos Museum. Entrance fee is ten (Php 10) pesos. The museum is managed by staff from the National Museum. You can either explore the artifacts yourself or have a guide join you free of charge.

The Burgos Museum is open the entire week except for Mondays and holidays. Museum hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
                                                 
Fr. Burgos Museum in Vigan, Ilocos Sur is a two-storey ancestral house of the martyr-priest Padre Jose Burgos. The house was built in 1788 and owned by his grandparents Don Juan Gonzales and Doña Florentina Gascon. Despite the limited funds of the city, the museum has maintained its 19th century interior and its well-preserved kitchen.

                           

Antique collections and dioramas of local historical events can be found here along with a hall of fame for the Ilocano heroes and achievers.

                                                          Earthen Jars from yesteryears.       

                   This is their rain gears! The ever reliable salakot and rain coat with gasera.

                                

Fr. Jose Burgos museum contains his memorabilia along with an excellent collection of archaeological and ethnological finds such as a series of paintings dating back to Basi Revolt and records of the native reactions to colonialism.

The hot and cold water dispenser of Fr. Jose Burgos' Family

This is the flat iron during Fr. Jose Burgos time. It was my first time to see a round flat iron like this:-)

Where to stay?

There are numerous options for accommodation in Vigan. Prices are very reasonable, typically around P 2500 pesos for a descent accommodations. Cheaper accommodation is available. The Villa Angela Heritage Hotel offers a good antique feel, but there are numerous quality options.

How to get there?

By plane via PAL. Upon landing in Laoag City visit Fort Ilocandia and enjoy the swimming pool and amenities they offer. Take a bus or hire a vehicle to take you to Vigan city which is about two (2) hours away.

By bus from Manila (about 8 hours).

Partas Transportation Co. Inc., located at #816 Aurora Boulevard, corner Arayat, Cubao, Quezon City. Buses leave Manila every hour.

Air-conditioned Bus Fare is P600. For more info call 724-98-20/ 725-17-40.

Other buses

Tip: Go to San Fernando, La Union first and enjoy the San Juan Surf Beach then get a bus to Vigan which takes 2-3 hours. Ask a local as to where the bus station is located.

How many days should I stay?

Overnight if you arrive early is sufficient to see most of the sights.

Tips and Comments 

• Bagnet is delicious in Vigan. 
• Buy at the local market it is cheaper there! 
• I personally like the design of the shirts at Casa Rica.
• You could haggle with the kutchero so don't be afraid to make tawad hindi tuwad ha ha ha! Joke!

VIGAN KALESA TOUR PART TWO- AROUND TOWN

Plaza Salcedo Kalesa Station in front of St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral.

We passed by Vigan Municipal Hall

 

I like the McDo Building. It has a church like bell tower .

Vigan Builders Bank in front of Plaza Salcedo 

Vigan Cathedral 

 House of ex-Congressman Ronald Singson

 

 

Where to stay?

There are numerous options for accommodation in Vigan. Prices are reasonable, typically around P 2500 pesos for a descent accommodations. Cheaper accommodation is available. The Villa Angela Heritage Hotel offers a good antique feel, but there are numerous quality options. 

How to get there?
 
By plane via PAL. Upon landing visit Fort Ilocandia and enjoy the swimming pool and amenities they offer. 

By bus from Manila (about 8 hours). 

Partas Transportation Co. Inc., located at #816 Aurora Boulevard, corner Arayat, Cubao, Quezon City. Buses leave Manila every hour.
Air-conditioned Bus Fare is P 600. For more info call 724-98-20/ 725-17-40.


Tip:  Go to San Fernando, La Union first and enjoy the San Juan Surf Beach then get a bus to Vigan which takes 2-3 hours.  Ask a local as to where the bus station is located.

How many days should I stay?

Overnight if you arrive early is sufficient to see most of the sights.

Tips and Comments

Bagnet is delicious in Vigan. Buy at the local market it is cheaper there!


I like the design of the shirts at Casa Rica.

VIGAN KALESA TOUR

I was always fascinated with the old charm of Vigan. Vigan for me is the land of Bagnet and Longganisa. Omg! They make me tulo laway! Ha ha ha! Yummy yum yum!  I had a wonderful time roaming around in Vigan aboard a kalesa or horse drawn carriage which you could rent for P200 -300 per hour depending on your tawad skills. I was able to rent one for P200/ hour @ Plaza Salcedo in front of the Vigan Cathedral.

My first stop is the Vigan Cathedral.

The Vigan Cathedral also known as St. Paul's Cathedral is one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. During the Spanish times (1525), the Spaniards chose Vigan as their center of government. It was called the Villa Hernandina then the Spaniards built the Cathedral on this site in 1574 (by Juan de Salcedo) and was damaged in the earthquakes of 1619 and 1627. A second was built here in 1641 and the present baroque-style church was built in the 1800's.

The Cathedral withstood many earthquakes, the latest was in 1990. The church is kept beautifully by the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia. They just recently painted the Cathedral and it stands great with it's fresh creamy-white  look.

 ARZOBISPADO DE NUEVA SEGOVIA

 The priest live in the convent beside the church.

 

Diocese of Nueva Segovia.

Celine Acut's Facebook Post against Sendong Victims in Mindanao

Screen capture of supposed Facebook posts have gone viral, angering Filipinos and fueling their drive to help victims of tropical storm "Sendong" (international name Washi).

 

The posts were supposedly written by a certain Celine Acut, a Filipino living in France, and a certain Van Carumba, a Cebu native living in the United Arab Emirates.

“According to the news, almost all of the victims are poor families, so its better that they all die this early…whats the point of living a life which is full of hunger, at least they are now resting with peace..they are worthless, they are unproductive and their lives has no value at al.. they are just making more problems to the society so as i said its better that they have died this early.. they don’t desserve a chance to live because they are poor, they are not VIP anyways,” Acut’s first post said.

“I even wish sendong to come back and flash away those remaining poor families over there,” said her second post.

Van Carumba, meanwhile, posted on December 19, “Buti nangyari yan sa CDO (Cagayan de Oro)…Di pa namamatay lahat ng tao jan.” One person commented on her post, saying “Wag ka naman ganyan, di lahat ng taga-Cagayan de Oro may kasalanan sayo.”

An screen capture of a post written by Van Carumba on Facebook. It has been shared almost 600 times as of press time.

Acut’s Facebook profile has since been deleted, but the page was cached by Google on December 20. Screen captures of her profile posted online show that she studied at Mindanao State University-Iligan; lives in Le Petit-Paris, France and is engaged.

Carumba’s Facebook page is still active, but all her wall posts have been hidden aside from the controversial one she posted on Monday.

Acut and Carumba are now the subject of angry posts on social networking sites such as Twitter and Tumblr, and the screen captures of their posts have been posted on several blogs as of press time. Pages have even been created on Facebook specifically to bash them. 

One page on Acut had 1,544 likes, while the other had only 138. A page dedicated to Van Carumba had 451 likes as of press time.

Neither Acut nor Carumba could be reached for comment.

It is not certain if Acut is a real person or a figure created by people seeking to involve others in efforts to help the victims of tropical storm Sendong.

According to Camama Marwah from the Registrar’s Office of the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, they have no records of a Celine Acut graduating from their school.

Online searches of her name yielded only social networking site links to the screen captures of her posts, and a search in French phone directories such as Pages Blanches and 118218.fr also came up negative.

Celine Acut's Facebook page, cached December 20, 2011. The account has been deleted.