Paoay Church and Jardin de San Augustin

Ilocos Norte is one of the provinces we visited in our North Luzon Escapades. Like Vigan, Ilocos Norte is one of the most beautiful and historic places in the Philippines. Paoay Church, formally called St. Augustine Catholic Parish Church, is the must-see tourist spot in Ilocos Norte. It is truly a national treasure of Ilocos and is considered as one of the oldest church in the Philippines. Paoay Church was awarded in 1993 as UNESCO world heritage site. It is a prime example of a baroque church, in which, the bell tower is physically separated from the church. The church was built by the Augustinian friars in 1694 and was completed in 1894. It is made of coral blocks and bricks that incorporates gothic, baroque and oriental designs that add up to its striking appeal. Like St. Paul Cathedral of Vigan, it is built to withstand earthquakes. It has 24 carved buttresses that support the church's structure during earthquakes.

It is made of coral blocks and brick that incorporates Gothic, Baroque and Oriental designs that add up to its striking appeal.
- See more at: http://www.pinoyadventurista.com/2011/06/paoay-church-unesco-world-heritage-site.html#sthash.xvQLZluh.dpuf

It is made of coral blocks and brick that incorporates Gothic, Baroque and Oriental designs that add up to its striking appeal.
- See more at: http://www.pinoyadventurista.com/2011/06/paoay-church-unesco-world-heritage-site.html#sthash.xvQLZluh.dpuf

It is made of coral blocks and brick that incorporates Gothic, Baroque and Oriental designs that add up to its striking appeal.
- See more at: http://www.pinoyadventurista.com/2011/06/paoay-church-unesco-world-heritage-site.html#sthash.xvQLZluh.dpuf

Paoay Church, also known as the St. Augustine Catholic Parish Church

Paoay Church and the bell tower on its left side

It was raining when we visited there

The whole gang with a big smile on our faces despite the rain

.....and more big smile

A close shot of one of the oldest church in the Philippines

Another close shot...from different angle

The carved buttresses that support the church during earthquakes

Side view of the church, taken from the Jardin de San Augustin

The bell tower, which is separated from the church

In front of the church

A shot taken from the street

A shot taken from the street

The altar

The altar

Picture taken from the front door

Another shot of the altar

Stolen shot...my brother, Bowie

The church by night

The church by night...from different angle

The bell tower by night

Right behind it, is the “Jardin de San Agustin”, a prayer garden for churchgoers and visitors. I’ve got goosebumps when I walked in this garden, probably because of the atmosphere – it was raining a little, nobody was there but me and the statues of saints and all those green plants and flowers and man-made fountains - I should have waited my brother and sisters - and not left them in the church. As I was walking along the garden path, I read all the biblical quotes scattered along the beautiful landscaped garden and somehow I was into it and I felt like I was stepping into the old times when the monks and nuns were in the same place praying and meditating. It was so quiet and so solemn. I felt like I was disturbing them with the sounds / clicks of my camera. Whatever it was that got into me, it scared me that I almost run but then, I saw my brother coming.

Signboard...to the prayer garden

On the right side of the pathway

A garden pathway

The prayer garden is just next to the Paoay Church, on the left side just behind the detached bell tower

A prayer garden path

The buttresses of the church is so visible in this pic

The side window and wall of the Paoay Church

The buttresses of the church is so visible in this pic

...and also from here

Plants...and plants...and plants

The buttresses of the church is so visible in this pic

Statue of a little boy or saint?

Statue of a saint

The cross with a hanging plants around it

The bell tower and the side of the church is visible in this pic

A pathway going to the side door of Paoay Church

One of the biblical quotes

Garden landscape

The side wall of the church

A pathway going to the side door of Paoay Church

Taken near the gift shop

Taken near the gift shop...from different angle

Greens

....and more greener

They just came to the garden when I have already finished my rounds of the entire garden

For more info, please check this link.....https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paoay_Church

Vigan - an old colonial city with a modern touch

One of the highlights of my vacation - what I am expecting most and waited so much -  is meeting and having fun with my family. I treasured it a lot and I considered it as the most memorable days of my vacation in my home country. It is actually becoming a habit and hopefully, tradition, to organize a family get-together every time I am at home. It doesn’t matter if it is a one-day family outing, an overnight in a resort or in a rented beach house, dining out at restaurant, sightseeing trip and even ordering a meal at McDonald's or eating halo-halo at Chowking - it is always fun. I am so blessed with having a very close and fun-loving family. We get along well with each other, especially my sisters and I….and I considered all of them as my best friends. 

My family...brother Greg was not in the picture and also sisters, Cora and Bhabes, who were out of the country.

My family

 

The iron ladies of Maranan Family. Susan, one of my sisters, is not in the picture

During my vacation in June 2014, we decided to visit North of Luzon. My brother rented a van immediately and off we go….on the road. Since my mother can’t stand a long driving anymore and my nephews and nieces didn’t make it because their school has just started, only those who were available at that time came with us in a 5-day trip. Heading up North of Manila, we drove the whole night and passed so many towns before we reached the coast. 

My travel companions. Also in the trip was Petteri, Iryll and Veera (not in the picture).

With my siblings, my son and two nieces.

 

My travel companions except for Petteri, he was the one who was taking the picture.

Further along the coast is the province of Ilocos Sur, which is famous for its old colonial city, Vigan. Vigan is unique among other Philippine towns because it is the country’s most extensive and only surviving historic city that dates back to the 16th century Spanish colonial period. Imagine walking in the cobblestone walkways and riding the horse-drawn carriages in a narrow cobblestone streets of Calle Crisologo, and reminiscing life during the pre-colonial times or the 16^th century. Due to its unique Spanish colonial history in Asia and its intact and very well-preserved mansions and Spanish monumental buildings of yesteryears, Vigan is listed on the UNESCO world heritage list since December 2, 1999. What fascinates me most about this city is that, it is a combination of an old and modern times - ancient buildings against modern buildings in a modern city. Although this is an old colonial city, visitors and tourists will find this place as a modern and clean city with lots of restaurants, hotels and shops. 

McDonald's, the style of the building is a combination of an ancient and modern style

The cobblestone streets of Calle Crisologo is one of the nicest and liveliest street in Vigan where the visitors, tourists and local people meet. You'll find the old Spanish style houses and historical buildings in this place. The streets are line-up with antique, clothes and souvenir shops. There were also benches to sit - wooden benches from old times - not to mention that there are a lot of restaurants and snack shops around the area. 

Horse-drawn carriages station

Kalesa, a horse-drawn carriage

My brother, Bowie, sitting in a wooden bench.

Also found in the same area is the St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral and the Cathedral's Bell Tower, which is separated from the church, on its right. The cathedral's original structure was built in 1574 upon the command of Spanish founder of Vigan, Juan de Salcedo. The church as it stands now was completed in 1800. The cathedral is a baroque architectural design that has been modified by the Ilocanos, the local people, to strengthen the structures against earthquakes. Although the front of the cathedral is not that appealing compared to other churches, the cathedral's interior is so impressive and something to be admired. The main altar is a silver-panelled and the presence of naves, minor altars and brass communion handrails forged in China gives the interior of the church a feeling of grandeur. The choir is located at the loft. The Cathedral's Bell Tower, on the other hand, stands separately in Plaza Burgos, 10 meters south of the cathedral.

In front of St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral

Side view photo of St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral

Inside the cathedral

The isle going to the main altar

The isle going to the main altar

The main altar

One of the 12 altars

The Cathedral's Bell Tower

The Cathedral's Bell Tower located in Plaza Burgos, 10 meters away from the cathedral

Right beside St. Paul Cathedral’s Bell Tower is the Plaza Burgos named after Father Jose P. Burgos, one of Vigan's illustrious sons put to death by Spaniards. He fought for the ecclesiastical reforms together with two priests, Mariano Gomez and Jacinto Zamora, to ease inequality suffered by the Filipino priests during their time. They are knowned to the Philippine history as the Gomburza - an acronym denoting the surnames of these three priests - Gomez, Burgos and Zamora. Plaza Burgos is the local's favorite hang-out. If you want to get acquainted with the locals and to know more about Vigan's history, culture and everyday life, here is the best place to go. Plaza Burgos is also famous for its empanada, a local meat and vegetable-filled pastry. According to the local people, you have to dip it to the Vigan vinegar for a perfect taste. 

The Plaza Burgos landmark

 

Another major park of the historic Vigan is the Plaza Salcedo. It is right in front of St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral and it is named after the Spanish conqueror, Juan de Salcedo, the founder of Vigan. The Salcedo Obelisk was placed in the elevated park during the 17th century as the park's centerpiece. The park's lagoon was added in the seventies to store water. Vigan has suffered destructive fires many times in its history and the city thought that the lagoon was a creative solution to the need for water during times when fire occurs in the city. Plaza Salcedo is also the place where Gabriela Silang was executed in September of 1763. She was the first woman leader of the Philippine revolution who was hanged in that plaza to serve as a warning to the restive populace.

A welcome sign

A welcome sign, taken in front of St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral

The Salcedo Obelisk as the park's centerpiece.

 
Vigan is one of the cities that we visited in the North. It is about 407 kms. from Manila to the North. There are so many historic places in this city that are worth visiting and a lot to write about. From Plaza Salcedo, one can see and walk leisurely to not only St. Paul Cathedral, Calle Crisologo and Plaza Burgos but also the Vigan City Hall and the Ilocos Sur Capitol as well. All these places were seats of power over life and death in the olden times, and now one of the tourist attractions of the North. Indeed, Vigan is an interesting city.

Vigan shirt bought from one of the souvenir shops in Calle Crisologo

For more info, please visit this link: http://wikitravel.org/en/Vigan