When you go to Ilocos Sur, it is a must for you to visit a very popular tourist spot there, Calle Crisologo at Vigan Heritage Village. It’s like travelling back in time during Spanish era. Calle Crisologo also known as Mena Crisologo street named after one of the most respected people in Ilocos,   Mena Pecson Crisologo.  He wrote Mining wenno Ayat ti Kararwa, which many compare to Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere; an Ilocano translation of Don Quixote entitled Don Calixtofaro de la Kota Caballero de la Luna; and a zarzuela entitled Codigo Municipal. (vigan.ph)

It is really amazing how Vigan local government and their constituents preserve this village and its structures that even tenants for restaurants and other establishments are required to have a vintage Spanish look structures to be built. This is to maintain the old time Spanish look  and will blend with the rich culture and heritage of the said village.

Calle Crisologo is a very busy street day and night because lots of business establishments are in there  which includes hotels, antique shops, restaurants, souvenir shops, and even funeral parlor. 

If you want to tour around without tiring you feet, there are Kalesas  everywhere that you can ride for ony Php150/hr. Be reminded that Calle Crisologo is closed to vehicular traffic at any time of the day. Only Kalesas and bikes are allowed inside the village.

 Calle Crisologo is also the best place for a vintage or spanish-style themed wedding photoshoot where soon to be married couples can enjoy a vintage-like romantic ambiance  as they stroll along the lamp-lit streets.

There’s more to visit during your stay at ILOCOS SUR like  Baluarte, Vigan Empanadahan, Bantay Belfry,  Plaza Hotel, Cafe Leona, Plaza Salcedo and many more…

Bantay Belfry was built in 1951 and this is said to be  the people’s watchtower which is part of the city’s defense that helps in alerting people or warn them against possible enemies

On a historical aspect, Banatay Belfry is where Diego Silang and his troops were said to have fought with the Spaniards in 1763.

From the top of this tower, you may see the view of Vigan and some claimed that you may see most parts of Ilocos Sur from the there.(I wasn’t able to climb to the top most part of the tower because I have Acrophobia “fear of heights”, my knees were shaking all the way up to the mid part of the tower, that’s the farthest I can go and I almost crawl going down hahahaha)

Tourist who wanted to visit and explore this very historical landmark will definitely love and enjoy their tour in the tower. It is worth visiting.

If you are getting married, this is a nice place to do a pre-nuptial photo shoot,very nice spot.

Fun Photos at Belfry Tower

And just a few meters walk from the Belfry Tower,tourist can  visit and see an old church,  the St. Augustine Church which is also one of the oldest churches in Ilocos Sur. It was built in 1590. This church suffered damages from  the World War 2 and was reconstructed during 1950.The church suffered damages from World War II and so it underwent reconstruction in 1950.

This tourist spot is very accessible, just ride a tricycle and tell the driver to drop you off to Bantay tower or St. Augustine Church they know it already.

Other places to go to at Ilocos Sur: Baluarte, Vigan Empanadahan, Heritage Village, Vigan Plaza Hotel, Cafe Leona, Plaza Salcedo.

IT’S MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES

Traveling is fun, but it is more fun to travel if you get to taste and eat the delicacies of the places you’ve gone to.  So, I embraced that kind of fun when I went to Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

The Vigan people loves vegetables in their cuisine that is why they made this dish.

 One of the very popular delicacies in Ilocos Sur is the VIGAN EMPANADA.

BATAC/LAOAG EMPANADA(credits to the owner of this photo)

VIGAN EMPANADA

 In Manila, I have tasted the orange-colored empanada and according to the folks in Vigan, if the color of the empanada is orange it is the BATAC or LAOAG EMPANADA from Ilocos Norte  and if the color is light yellow in color, it is  the Original VIGAN EMPANADA from Ilocos Sur.

I visited 2 stores of VIGAN EMPANADA…

Outside BALUARTE, along the souvenir shops. It will not be hard for you to find the store because they are the only store selling VIGAN EMPANADA ther. Price: Php35

 The Vigan Empanadahan  near Vigan City Plaza. (credits to the owner of the last photo)

Do you want to learn how to make one? here’s how…(source: Kusina 101)

Ingredients:

Filling:

4pcs. Vigan Longganisa
2 large unripe green papaya
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped

salt and pepper to taste

Crust:
1/4 kilo ground rice(galapong)
1/4 cup water
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 egg
atsuete to add color.

Preparation and Cooking Procedures:

3. Set aside while you make your filling. Before you make your filling preheat your deep fryer by adding the cooking oil and set aside.

4 . In another skillet pan sauté garlic and onions in oil. Add longganisa sausage and season with salt and pepper to desired. When sausage is cooked put in a bowl and mix it a little to cool it down. Wait 2-3 minutes and mix in grated papaya.

5.  Spoon out 2-3 tablespoon of filling to flattened dough and crack a piece of fresh egg. Seal the sides anddeep fry in the preheated deep fryer.

6 . Place Empanadas in a plate topped with plenty of paper towels to blot oil. Serve in another clean platter and with sweet chili dip or garlic vinegar on the side.

Thats it!, now you know already how to prepare and cook VIGAN Empanada. Enjoy Eating!!!

 IT’S MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES

Other places to go to at Ilocos Sur: Baluarte, Vigan Empanadahan, Heritage Village, Vigan Plaza Hotel, Cafe Leona, Plaza Salcedo. Bantay Belfry and St. Augustine church

I love to travel and I love animals, and that love lead me to a place where I can enjoy both. It is a very rewarding experience for me when I visited Chavit Singson’s Fortress… BALUARTE.

Baluarte just a ten-minute drive from Vigan City proper. Baluarte is a wildlife sanctuary dedicated to facilitating education,  protection, and conservation  of endangered species and other wildlife animals.

  Unlike other zoos here in the Philippines where all animals were secluded in a cage and tourist can only view them, at Baluarte animals can freely roam around(well, except for the tigers, it is understandable that they are in a cage hehehe 🙂 ) where tourist and visitors can interact, touch, feed these animals and enjoy the safari experience.

 Here are some of the animals that I encountered inside the Baluarte.

Baluarte also has a very educational daily Animal Show where they showcase different animals from the wildlife.

During the animal show, they allow audiences to participate.

If you don’t want to walk  around Baluarte since its a big place, you can ride a pony ride to tour around  for a certain fee.

Another attraction at Baluarte is Butterfly Garden, where you can appreciate green and colorful scenery and of course the different breeds of butterfly.

Garbage segregation is also well implemented inside Baluarte, so be careful throwing your trash because the animals roaming around might eat it and get sick or die. Throw it to designated trash bins or put it in your pocket.

 If you need souvenir items for pasalubong it is available inside Baluarte for a very reasonable and affordable prices.

Outside Baluarte, there’s wide array of souvenir items also available for tourists. I am really amazed on the prices of their souvenir items, they are VERY AFFORDABLE, for example a white souvenir shirt which usually cost 200 and above at other tourist destination, but in Vigan they only sell it 100-150 pesos in all designs, prices only varies for the colored shirt.

So if you are going to Ilocos Sur, you might want to drop by and visit Baluarte.

GOOD NEWS for tourist… Admission Fee to Baluarte IS ABSOLUTELY FREE! . Again, there’s NO ENTRANCE FEE!!! 

Open from 6am to 6pm

It is a must visit. I recommend it.