Philippines-Ilocos Region-Ilocos Sur

In Ilocos Region, Ilocos Sur is where a many of the cultures and histories converge into a living museum of it’s past. It’s national shire and landmarks, museums, period homes and cobbled stone streets all makeup the timeless landscape of Ilocos Sur.

The historic town of Vigan is the best preserved example of Spanish colonization in Asia. With its architecture and culture it shows more than anywhere else in the Philippines and from China with those from Europe to create a unique culture and townscape without parallel anywhere in East and Southeast Asia.

Geography

Ilocos Sur is located along the western coast of Northern Luzon. It is surrounded by Ilocos Norte on the north, Abra on northeast, Mt. Province on the east, Benguet to the southeast La Union to the sourth and to the west the China Sea. It has undulating to rolling elevations ranging from 10 to 1,700 meters above sea level.

Climate

It is generally dry in Ilocos Sur. It is dryer in the months from October to May. The Southernmost portion (part of Cervantes) can be humid and rain is evenly disturbed throughout the year. In the eastern part of Sugpon is dry with not a lot of rain. August has the most rainfall while January and February have the least. For the most part the province is about 27 degrees centigrade (80 F), while the coldest is in the month of January.

Language

Filipino and English are the main languages used in the schools and for the tourists. The main dialect spoken is Ilocano while Kankanaey and Itneg are spoken in the local communities.

What to See

Declared a national landmark, the centuries old Saint Maria Church was used during the Philippine Revolution in 1896 as a fortress. Tirad Pass had been the last stand of the Filipino Revolutionary Forces commanded by General Emilo Aguinado in 1896. You should also see Bessang Pass which was the backdoor for General Yamashita’s last ditch defense near the end of World War II.

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Philippines – Ilocos Region – Ilocos Norte

Even before the Spaniards arrived, this region was well developed and known for it’s gold mines by Japanese and Chinese merchants who came often to trade gold with beads, ceramics and silk.

Laoag City is northwest of Manila. Ilocano (Iloko) is the major dialect, while English and Tagalog are also spoken here and taught in the schools. locos Norte is popular for its old churches and ancestral houses.

Climate

The province has two distinct seasons. It is dry from November to April and wet during the rest of the year. Monthly average rainfall reaches 172.3 millimeters (7 inches). Temperature averages 26.8 degrees centigrade (80 F).

Getting There

You can get to this region by air by landing in he Laoag International Airport, located in Laoag City. You can get some scheduled flights to and from Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Taiwan, and Korea. They also have domestic flights via the national carrier Philippines Airlines.

If you want to go by sea there are various sea-going vessels docked at the ports of San Fernando and Currimao. These tend to be used mostly for inter-island transport.

You can also go by land by taking a scenic bus trip starting in Manila (the capital of the Philippines) to Ilocos Norte, that lasts about eight hours. These are some of the companies that travel this route – the Philippine Rabbit, Partas , Dominion, Florida, Farinas, and Maria de Leon bus lines.

Ilocos Norte is best explored on foot or riding the calesa, the traditional horse-drawn carriage. This is a very unique experience in itself. Tricycles are also used for traveling short distances. Getting from town to town is a little more involved and would mean taking a bus, a mini-bus, or a jeepney.

Historical Tourist Attractions

The Cape Bojeador Lighthouse

Built in 1892, the lighthouse stands on a promontory in Burgos, It is 45 kilometers (approx. 30 miles) north of Laoag City. This lighthouse still sends out signals to ships passing by the Cape facing the northern portion of the South China Sea. This is the highest lighthouse in the Philippines.

Tobacco Monopoly Monument

This monument was constructed at the foot of the Marcos Bridge to serve as a memorial to the lifting of the Tobacco Monopoly. From 1872 to 1881 it gave the Ilocos untold miseries as they were obliged to plant tobacco that was to be delivered solely to the government.

General Ricarte National Shrine

Built in honor of General Artemio Ricarte, a native of Batac and a revolutionary hero. He is remembered every July.

Aglipay Shrine

Found in Pinili, Ilocos Norte. This shirne is in memory of the most colorful revolutionary figure, Fr. Gregorio Aglipay. He stood squarely behind the oppressed people of God when he founded his protestant sect known as the Filipino Independent Church.

Natural Tourist Attractions

Ilocos Norte offers many natural attractions. You have Paoay Lake National Park – landlocked lake located 3 kilometers (2 miles) away from the sea in Suba, Paoay has an area of 470 hectares., Abang Falls – it’s falls cascade like the Hinulugang Taktak in Rizal and is accessible by jeepney from the Bangui town proper., Bangui-Pagudud Beach – it’s stretch of beaches in the two municipalities are earmarked for development as tourism estates.

Other sites to see are the Paoay Sports Complex, the Sing Belltower, Banguai Windmills and some special interest activities are Spelunking at Pasuquin Cave, Kayaking on the Bulu river, Adams and Paoay Lake National Park, Paoay, 4-Wheel Drive on the sand dunes in Suba, Paoay and Calayab, Laoag City and Trekking/Mountain biking in Adams.

These are just some of the spectacular sites in this region of Ilocos.

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The Philippines, with the over 7000 islands that comprise them, can easily boast that they are one of the best scuba diving vacation sites in the world. Low cost rentals and inexpensive food costs allows them to also claim to be one of the world’s most cost effective scuba diving vacation destinations.

There is a place, North Pandan Island, located off the west coast of Mindoro Island that is one of the better kept secrets of the scuba diving world. Since it is a bit off the beaten path, it has not been over developed and it is not over-run with scuba diving enthusiasts and yet scuba diving is its main attraction.

There are coral gardens and drop-offs at many sites in the Philippines and the marine life is everything that a scuba diving enthusiast could hope for. Sea snakes, turtles, sting rays, mantas, barracudas, garoupa, schools of jacks, white sharks, black tip sharks, white tip sharks, and even lionfish and scorpionfish abound.

For wreck diving scuba enthusiasts the Philippines offer an abundance of such dive sites. Subic Bay, which is closest to Manila, has seven wreck dive sites and Anilao has 36 wreck sites. There are many wreck sites all over the Philippines and there are over-night excursions to sites that are located further from the coastline.

Scuba diving lessons are offered at many dive shops in the Philippines and there are many expert instructors, as well.

The Philippine Islands are an excellent choice as the destination for a scuba diving vacation. There are so many wonderful dive sites that will allow you to see and photograph a wide variety of marine life and there are, also, many wreck sites to capture the imagination of wreck diving enthusiasts. Add to that the low cost of rental cottages and food and you have a win/win plan!

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