Tourist attraction of Ilocandia

   

Marcos Museum and Mausoleum

The Marcos museum that housed all the memories of his reign is the president's former house in Batac, Ilocos Norte where he was born and raised. It has been renovated and still preserves its Spanish look. The house contains the huge memorabilia and collections of the late president. Marcos Museum and Mausoleum in the heart ofBatac City, Ilocos Norte. The mausoleum is where the glass-entombed, preserved corpse of the deposed president Ferdinand Edralin Marcos is found. The dictator died in exile in Hawaii in 1989 and his body was brought to his hometown in Batac awaiting a state funeral at the previously-featured Libingan ng mga Bayani, which no subsequent administration has dared given (though President Estrada had come close to giving it at the start of his term). The mausoleum, visitors say, is a gloomy place only lit with candles and filled with piped Gregorian chant music. Visitors are not allowed to take any pictures of the interior and I think the only time photos were ever taken of Marcos’ corpse was when his widow Imelda visited it for some publicity. The museum is where memorabilia of the late president is stored, from his stint in the Armed Forces down to his presidency. Here, taking pictures are allowed. Among the things you can view here are tons of photos of him and Imelda, military awards, pieces of his writing, and his work desk. I’m not 100% sure but I think the museum houses the office of former Ilocos Norte Representative Imee Marcos, his daughter, and current Ilocos Norte Representative Bongbong Marcos, his son.

 

PAOAY LAKE

This is an event aimed to celebrate the healthy environment of the Paoay Lake because it is being visited by migratory and local birds. This is a sign of a bountiful lake and a thanksgiving is just necessary. According to its legend, this is a place where a village sank due to flood. It is being told that if someone goes into the deep, one can see the shadows of the houses and buildings. It is also believed that the catch of the fishermen are the fishes adorned with jewels who were the inhabitants of the ill-fated village.

  

MALACANANG OF THE NORTH

“Malacanang of the North“, or  known as the White House of the North.

This palace in northern Ilocos overlooks Paoay Lake, and is the residence of deposed president Ferdinand Marcos and his family when they are in the north. This was one of 29 summer residences that Marcos built during his rule. When it was built in 1977, Malacanang of the North became the venue of the trendiest high society settings. The Marcoses entertained their guests to parties, water skies and golf.After Marcos was deposed in 1986 and died a few years later, the palace transformed into a museum of the late president’s memorabilia.When I visited the palace in 1990, everything was still very impressive. The massive staircase and living areas that greet visitors on the first floor are reminiscent of Spanish-inspired extravagance. The two masters bedrooms have royalty written all over it.

  

LA PAZ SANDUNES, LAOAG ILOCOS NORTE

La Paz Sand Dunes is a unique attraction in the city of Laoag for being a sandy coastal desert with an area of 85 square kilometers. This is considered to be a National Geological Monument because of its uniqueness being a desert environment. La Paz is just a part of a long stretch of the Ilocos Norte Sand Dunes. It spans from Currimao to Pasuquin. This is locally called Bantay Bimmaboy in which they perceive that the dunes resemble the shape of pigs. The sand dunes were formed by the interaction of the wind, sea and river that together cause erosion and deposition. The height of the sand dunes ranges from 10-30 meters. Its pretty amazing to see this from a horizon with the South China Sea. There are exciting activities that can be done here aside from trekking for an hour to traverse the entire stretch of the beach, one can drive a rugged 4-wheel vehicle or the exciting all-terrain vehicle. The latest craze is the sand boarding where one can use a board to slide down the dunes. This site is accessible by tricycle and jeepney and its just 15 minutes away from the city proper.

  

EMPANADA

Ilocos empanada is one of my favorite Philippine snacks. Every time I go to Ilocos, I make sure to get my share of Ilocos empanada, especially the one in Batac, which is reputably where the best empanadais served.
The Ilocos empanada is actually of Spanish and Mexican origin. Notice how it's similar to the taco? The basic empanada has a rice flour orgalapong crust with grated green papaya inside. The longaniza, egg and bean sprouts were later added. There are actually two varieties of Ilocosempanada, the one in Batac (which is the same one served in Laoag), and the empanada served in Vigan.

  

Vigan Heritage Village

Vigan Heritage Village is where Ilocos region’s rich culture and history are crafted in ornate architecture, furniture and detailed ornaments. For this reason, Vigan Heritage Village was considered a UNESCO Heritage Site to preserve the cultural past of the Ilocandia region.Visitors can explore the area of Vigan Heritage Village via a kalesa ride, available near the Vigan church, or they can walk through the village of rows of residential buildings built during the Spanish occupation of the Philippines.Vigan Heritage Village was designed just like a typical town during the Spanish era in the Philippines. At the center is a square with the church on one side and the municipal building on the other side.Walking through the village can reveal much about the old Ilocos culture, which was centered on farming. Here are just some of the curious items up close and their roles in the lives of Ilocanos, past and present.Religion plays a major role in Ilocano culture. Around Vigan Heritage Village, religious wood carvings such as these are commonly found.

 

Baluarte Vigan Ilocos Sur 

The Baluarte stands on a hill and has an excellent view of the city.Aside from being a mansion with the required pools, courts, and things like that, Chavit’s Baluarte is best known for housing a menagerie too. Like the Gaws who loved collecting animals resulting into Avilon Zoo, Chavit is also fond of collecting animals. But instead of creating a separate zoo like the Gaws, he made his home the zoo instead and opened it to the public. Harry, the friendly tiger, is probably the best known among his animals and often greets visitors at the entrance. The Baluarte also has orangutans, ponies, ostriches, a butterfly farm, lizards, and other types of fowls.