Paoay Sand Dunes

PAOAY SAND DUNES

The Paoay sand dunes is a 88km of pure sand which is adjacent to Suba Beach. This place is a protected area that was furnished with landscapes creating a stunning view of creative nature. It has been a shooting ground of some Hollywood and local movies such as Ang Panday, Mad Max and Born on the Fourth of July. Due to the nice sand landscape this place attracts a lot of sandboarders and thrill riders and us.

At first I was so nervous and afraid that I might fall flat on my face or worst tumble down but desire gives you limitless experience so I did my first try (bahala-na-si-batman-mode). I fell my ass on the sand gracefully on the middle of the trail but it was fun and fine – no wounds and sprains what so ever, same goes with my sisters and Jac. I have tried it more than a dozen of times because the moment that you learn to balance and slide smoothly down without falling is a very nice experience and  will make you crave for a deeper slopes. 

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Bangui Windmills

BANGUI WINDMILLS

Reminds me of a huge ivory that looks like a boat at the top of that spot. How nature and years and years of forces of the water, current and waves formed that amazing rock. Actually the rocky coast of that beach is totally beautiful. Every part of it tells different story and speaks magical history of the place and time from then and till now.

The windmills are considered as Southeast Asia’s biggest wind turbines.They are located in Ilocos Norte are 20 beautiful windmills or wind turbines which resemble giant electric fans. Each wind turbine has the capacity to generate electricity up to a maximum of 1.65 Megawatts for a total of 24.75 Megawatts. The 20 turbines are lined up along an arc manner following the shoreline of Bangui Bay facing the West Philippine Sea at the northwest tip of Luzon island.

The windmills or wind farm is part of the Ilocos Norte wind power project which erected the turbines in a single row, 326 meters apart. The turbine hub height from ground level to center of nacelle reaches 70 meters high. Each blade is 41 meters long with a rotor diameter of 82 meters and wind swept area of 5281 square meters.

40 % of the generated electricity is sold and used by the residents in the area.

Everyone is welcome to see and go near the windmills so as to closely appreciate the beauty of the wind turbines and the Pagudpud beach.

The windmills as well as nearby Pagudpud is a favorite travel destination in Ilocos Norte. Booking a hotel in this area is easy and can be done via an online travel services like agoda.com. Simply type in the location: Ilocos Norte.

The fascinating windmills are considered the biggest wind turbines in Southeast Asia. We, Filipinos are proud for having a fascinating site while utilizing renewable energy resources to reduce greenhouse effect that causes global warming.

The Bangui Windmills can be reached from the city of Laoag, Ilocos Norte by taking the Laoag-Cagayan route. A directional marker provided at the left side of the road about 5 minutes from Burgos town proper will guide you to Bangui Bay. This leads to a gravel road with a downward slope leading to the beach. You will be amazed by the sight of the windmills right after the initial turn.

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Kapurpurawan Rock Formation

KAPURPURAWAN ROCK FORMATION

The Kapurpurawan rock formation is located on the rocky coast of Burgos, Ilocos Norte. It is known for its creamy white and streamlined limestone formations, which have been sculpted by different oceanic and weather forces. Burgos is located on the northwestern tip of Ilocos Norte.

One of the most fascinating and stunning wonders of the Philippines I ever saw was the Kapurpurawan Rock formation in Burgos, Ilocos Norte. We went here after we visited the famous Cape Bojeador Lighthouse. In this page, I’ve included some photos taken from our travel in Ilocos and specifically in this beautiful place, how to go there and how much would it cost.

Kapurpurawan Rock Formation nestles along the popular Kapurpurawan beach (called by locals) but really the spot is along the Bangui Bay. Seeing this nature’s wonder, I asked ‘Manong’ our tour guide what is meant by the term ‘kapurpurawan’. He told me it is an Ilocano word which means white. And the magical rock is indeed white.

Reminds me of a huge ivory that looks like a boat at the top of that spot. How nature and years and years of forces of the water, current and waves formed that amazing rock. Actually the rocky coast of that beach is totally beautiful. Every part of it tells different story and speaks magical history of the place and time from then and till now.

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Leona Florentino House and Statue

LEONA FLORENTINO HOUSE & STATUE

Leona Florentino (19 April 1849 - 4 October 1884) was a Filipino poet in the Spanish and Ilocano languages. She is considered as the "mother of Philippine women's literature" and the "bridge from oral to literary tradition".

Born to a wealthy and prominent family in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Florentino began to write her first verses in Ilocano at a young age. Despite her potential, she was not allowed to receive a university education because of her gender. Florentino was instead tutored by her mother, and then a series of private teachers. An educated Ilocano priest taught her advanced Spanish and encouraged her to develop her voice in poetry.

Florentino married a politician named Elias de los Reyes at the age of 14. They had five children together. Their son Isabelo de los Reyes later became a Filipino writer, activist and senator. Due to the feminist nature of her writings, Florentino was shunned by her husband and son; she lived alone in exile and separately from her family. She died at the age of 35.

From the Vigan City Plaza to the Heritage Village, a conspicuous structure at the left side of the Crisologo Street greets the eager yet oblivious tourists. The building is called Leona Florentino House.

Named after the foremost Ilocano poetess, subtle satirist and playwright, the Leona Florentino House was built by Don Marcelo Pichay, Cabeza Actual of the Mestizo District, and his wife, Doña Maria Estefania. The original house was burnt to the ground during the great fire in 1797.

The house was inherited by their daughter, Doña Luisa, who married Don Josep Florentino de San Joaquin on April 22, 1801. The couple had three children: Paula, Marcelino, and Victor. The middle child, Marcelino became the father of Leona.

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Pagburnayan (Jar Marketing Factory)

PAGBURNAYAN (JAR MAKING FACTORY) 

Pagburnayan Jar Making is one of the famous and must see attraction in Ilocos Sur. It is located in Brgy. Pagburnayan Vigan. Pagburnayan is a place where they used the old and authentic methods in pottery. The root word “burnay” is an earthenware jar crafted by potter’s hands with the aid of a potter’s wheel. It uses fine sand (anay) as a tempering material and fired at a high temperature in a huge brick-and-clay ground kiln that make it is harder and more durable than other terra cotta. The local bagoong(fish sauce), sugarcane vinegar, and basi wine would not taste as good as if not fermented in burnay jars.

Tourists can also experience pottery making with their bare hands for free. There are also souvenir shops around the area and it’s cheaper compared to those stores in Calle Crisologo. One of the famous shops is the Ruby Pottery, it is open daily from 9:00 AM – 4PM. There are so many designs and sizes available for tourist to buy. 

It was so cool. You can try it! I was lazy to wash my hands afterwards so I didn’t try it.  

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Vigan City

VIGAN CITY

 Vigan is one of Philippines' most beautiful cities, as it showcases the Spanish heritage of the country.

Vigan, the capital of Ilocos Sur, has been announced as one of the 14 official finalists in the New 7 Wonders, a project that seeks to have people choose their 7 wonders of the world.

Vigan city is located in the northern part of the Philippines and it's historical center, which is called the heritage village, is listed on the UNESCO world heritage list since 2 December 1999 for it's unique spanish colonial history in Asia and the very well preserved spanish monumental buildings which where build in the 18th century.

With this website we like to give our viewers an impression of the spanish heritage village in Vigan city completed with other touristic information about Vigan city which might be very usefull for those viewers who are also intending to visit the Philippines and planning a trip to Vigan City in the future.

People who will visit Vigan City will find a very modern and clean city with lots of restaurants, hotels and shops and many touristic sight to be seen. The climate in Vigan is ideal in the winter season with temperatures from 20 to 25 degrees celcius and if you like it more warm the the summer season might be the best.

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