Vigan, Ilocos Sur

The City of Vigan is a 5th class city in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. It is the capital of the Province of Ilocos Sur. The city is located on the western coast of the large island of Luzon, facing the West Philippine Sea.


It is a World Heritage Site in that it is one of the few Hispanic towns left in the Philippines, and is well-known for its cobblestone streets, and a unique architecture that fuses Philippine and Oriental building designs and construction, with colonial European architecture.

Father Jose Burgos' Residence - Located almost behind the Provincial Capitol. The birthplace of Father Jose Burgos, one of the three martyred Filipino priests at Bagumbayan (GOMBURZA).



One of the best places to visit in Vigan is the Heritage Village. It's a well preserved Hispanic themed village. You must try buying their famous longganisa and kalamay.

And if you're looking for an ostrich and variety of zoo animals, you'll find one in Chavit Singson's Baluarte Zoo.

Source: Wikipedia - Vigan, Ilocos Sur

Sagada, Mountain Province

Hanging Coffins

Sagada is a 5th class municipality in the province of Mountain Province, Philippines. It is located 275 km. north of Manila, 140 km. from Baguio, and it is adjacent to Bontoc, the provincial capital.

Sagada is famous for its "hanging coffins". This is a traditional way of burying people that is still utilized. Not anyone is qualified to be buried this way; one had to, among other things, be married and have grandchildren.

Popular activities include trekking, exploring both caves and waterfalls, spelunking, bonfires, picnics, rappelling, visiting historical sites, nature hikes, and participating in tribal celebrations. Guides can be found upon registration at the tourist-office in Sagada Proper (the main town) for a small fee.

Nature hiking, personally, is the most exciting part of my travel in Sagada especially going deep into the caves. You will see variety of shapes and familiar figures formed by the growing limestone, fossils (fishes and shells) and of course the famous but not the thing you would want to run into - bat droppings. ☺

Natural Limestone Bath Tub

Sagada Cliff

Source: Wikipedia - Sagada, Mountain Province

El Nido, Palawan

El Nido Lagoon

        El Nido (officially the Municipality of El Nido) is a first class municipality and managed resource protected area in the province of Palawan in the Philippines. It is about 420 kilometres (260 mi) southwest of Manila, and about 238 kilometres (148 mi) northeast of Puerto Princesa, Palawan’s capital.Trivia: Leg 12 of The Amazing Race 5 was shot in the Bacuit Bay of El Nido in 2004.


        From the towering marble cliffs and enchanting lagoons to its 100 white sandy beaches and lush jungle, El Nido is one of the top tourist destinations in Palawan, which is often referred to as the Philippines' Last Frontier. In the November–December 2007 issue of the National Geographic Traveler's magazine, Palawan was chosen as one of the best travel destinations in the world, and particularly, it recommended El Nido and the Calamianes Islands.

        My favorite places during my stay there would be the helicopter island, snake island, small and big lagoon, caves (where the Nido birds lay their eggs in their saliva nests used in Nido soups) and of course the white sand beach.

El Nido

Me

Source: Wikipedia - El Nido, Palawan

San Juan, La Union

Sunset View

San Juan is a 3rd class municipality in the province of La Union, Philippines. San Juan is politically subdivided into 41 barangays.

Sunset 

San Juan is bounded on the north by the municipality of Bacnotan along the Baroro River, and on the east by the municipalities of San Gabriel and Bagulin along the Dasay-Duplas-Nagyubuyuban Creek. On the south it is bounded by the City of San Fernando and on the west by the South China Sea.

This is a very great place to play beach volleyball and frisbee.




Source: Wikipedia - San Juan, La Union