Escape to Ilocos for only 2,999!

Roadtrip Travels offers a one of a kind group tour experience of Ilocos.  Explore the many sights of the province including the historic city of Vigan, the heritage church in Paoay and the beaches of Pagudpud,  for only 2,999!

Inclusions:

• The tour includes roundtrip van transportation with the assistance of a guide and photographer.
• Entrance Fees
• Standard room accommodation 
• Please take note, that they are under the Homestay, Lodging/Pension House Category and upgrades are subject to additional fees.  Room assignments are done per group.

Terms and Conditions:

• Open Tours are combined individual or groups 
• Exclusive tours are available upon request.  Same rate applies to 12-14 participants.  
• Van seating is on a first come first serve basis
• 4-6 person shares a room.  Additional fee applies for double and triple occupancy option.
• Confirmed reservations are strictly non refundable but is considered transferable to the third party designated by the client otherwise the participant's group will be responsible for the payment of his/her balance.
• All tour details and itinerary may be altered or canceled due to hazardous conditions, uncontrollable circumstances or any fortuitous event which may arise. In the event that a tour gets cancelled due to these reasons, you may opt to reschedule your tour to a different date, subject to the van and room availability.
• Roadtrip Travels (CMDJ Travel and Tours) has the right to cancel any tour that does not reach the required minimum number of participants (at least 12 pax per van).         

Available Dates:

• October 2-4 (2nd Van Open)
• October 9-11 (8 Slots)
• October 16-18 (3 Slots)
• October 23-25 (Open)
• October 30 - Nov 1 (2nd Van Open)

Buy now for a minimal booking fee of 100 pesos.

Vigan, Laoag, Pagudpud in 36 Hours

The first time I went to Ilocos was on June 15, 2008.  Because of the duration of the land travel which is 12 hours, we were only exploring Pagudpud.

I joined a group I was meeting for the first time on the day of the departure itself, and they turned out to be good friends up to now.

I was also able to visit Vigan on a separate occassion.

This is one of the remaining pictures I salvaged from my multiply account.  I borrowed the curtains from our room to achieve this shot, not to mention that it was raining hard that afternoon.

3 years after, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to go back, thanks to the promo fares of Cebu Pacific. 

Friday Night

Our flight to Laoag was originally scheduled to arrive at 8:00PM, but due to delays, we arrived at 11:00PM.  From the airport, we asked the transport service to take us to the Bus Terminal to Vigan.

Saturday Morning

We arrived in Vigan around 2AM since the bus to Vigan departed at 12MN.  Originally, we were supposed to stay at the guest room of my boss at Casa Maria, but since it was really early in the morning, we opted to check-in at Grandpa's Inn within the heritage district.  They have affordable rates, from 730php/2pax to 2680php/4pax.  Amenities corresponds to the rate, but all comes with a free breakfast.  We took the fan room at 980php/2pax.  With the included plated breakfast of Vigan Longganisa and Tapa, I must say, it's a real value for money.  We ordered Bagnet Pinakbet to compliment our meal to complete the experience.

http://www.grandpas-inn.com/rates.php

After the hearty breakfast, we did not waste time and went on to tour Calle Crisologo.  We thought we were so fortunate when we visited because there was a parade that turned out to be a funeral procession.

After the the Heritage houses, we took a tricycle to visit the nearby Bantay Church and go on a Calesa tour of the Heritage Streets stopping at the Vigan Museum.

After the short tour of the city, we went back to the hotel to freshen up just in time for check-out.  We were on our way to our next destination, Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte.  Before the ride, we stopped by the Plaza near the church to sample the Vigan's famous Empanada and Okoy.

Saturday Afternoon

The trip to Pagudpud will take another 3 hours.  Since we are pressed for time, my contact in Pagudpud, Ms. Mary Ann of Polari Beach House suggested that we start the tour at Cape Bojeador where our Trycle guide will wait for us and progress with the tour north bound finally ending at the resort.

After the light house, we made a stop at the View Deck to view the windmills and went to see it up close at Bangui.

We arrived at the Polari Beach House in Saud just in time for Sunset.

Dinner in Polari as well as breakfast had to be arranged beforehand.  After our meal, we retired for the evening and woke up the next day for our trip back to Laoag.

We decided to leave early so we can sample food and still be able to explore a few sites in Laoag.

Sunday Lunch

We started with Lunch at the famous La Preciosa with Mami, Dinuguan, Adobo and cakes for dessert.
We then explored the Sinking Bell Tower and the Tabacco Monument at the center of town.  We also visited the Ilocos Norte Museum with their vast collection of cultural treasures of Ilocos.

Around 5PM, we were back in Laoag Airport for our flight back to Manila.

Things To Do And See In The Philippines - Ilocos Sur

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Before I move on to another region, I need to take time to make sure I have covered the majority of Region I.  This very important landmark is one of the significant entry I have missed out.  

I'm sure I will still add more as this project moves forward, especially with Metro Manila, but this is a work in progress, suggestions and comments are deeply appreciated.

68. The Asunta Parish Church (Sta Maria Church) click on the link for the source

The Sta. Maria Church in the Archdiocese of Nueva Segivia in the Province of Ilocos Sur is the most magnificiently located of all the churches in Ilocandia. Perched strategically on top of a hill, it provides a panoramic view from which one can enjoy and survey the most delightful sight for miles whether looking at the blue China sea or into the verdant paddy fields of the valley, the surrounding seven hills, the coastal plains of the town, and Cordillera mountain ranges. It is approached by three broad stairways – one from the eastern side where lies a now abandoned cemetery with a quaint chapel, another from the southwest side at the back of the church and the main stairway with 83 steps from  the northwest side.

The church façade itself is not too impressive, being blocked from view by the convent. It has three openings and one blind niche. But its rose-tinted stonework is worth a second look. So are the Moorish floral an foliate designs around the recesses. The recessed arched entrance is flanked by a pair of rectangular pier framed by heavy circular buttresses that end up in urn-like finials. The svelte octagonal bell tower nearby seems a stark contrast to the church’s simple and massive structure. The church measures 75.15 m. long (90 varas) and 14.19 m. wide (17 varas). The bells arrived in 1811.

The parish was established in 25 April 1765 with the first baptismal record signed in 1767. it served as a station of the Augustinian missionaries in 1822 on their way to evangelize Abra. The first parish priest was Fray Jose Cuadrado, OSA. The original Ermita of the small village once known simply as Purok was in the sitio of Bulbulala in Barangay Maynganay Norte. It started as visita of Narvacan. As the community grew, a twin chapel was built at the center of the town in the present Poblacion. This if the rarity in Philippine colonial architecture. The southern chapel was dedicated  to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the northern chapel was dedicated to Senor Sto. Kristo. These chapels were located just at the foot of the hill where the present church was built  which replicated both in the bigger scale. The construction of the church begun in 1810 apparently in the obeisance to the wishes of the Blessed Virgin Mary whose image, dating back to 1769, would periodically be found there at the foot of a large guava tree growing right at the spot where the main altar now stands. This God fearing community deemed it wise to follow the heavenly hint and transferred the church on top of the hill where it now dominates the surrounding countryside like fortress with brick buttresses and thick ramparts. The fortification and cemetery was the work of Fray Lorenzo Rodriguez, OSA, in 1863. Fray Benigno Fernandez, OSA, built the convent in 1880. on this shrine, the Virgin Mary serves as a perennial beacon and guide to her children in the Ilocos where she is known not only as Apo Asunta or Asuncion but also as Apo Caridad, Apo Esperanza, Apo Carmen, Apo Rosario and La Immaculada Concepcion.

Things To Do And See In The Philippines, Ilocos Sur (52-61)

52. Have Vigan Empanada and Okoy at Plaza Burgos

53. Travel Back in Time at the Heritage Village (Meztiso District)

1000 Things To Do And See in the Philippines

A few days back, I started on a project for myself.  I want to come up with 1000 things to do and see in the Philippines, before I die inspired of the TLC program, which has a list for the entire world.

It’s actually harder than I thought it would be.  I started by listing down all the provinces per region and researched as many possible things to do and see in that area.  Here’s what I have so far:

Metro Manila	1	Kilometer 0 and the Rizal Monument in Rizal Park.
	2	Walk along the Walls of Intramuros and visit all the attractions within the walled city.
	3	Malacanang Palace
	4	Binondo Church and a Calesa Ride in Chinatown
	5	Shop in Divisoria
	6	Shop in Bonifacio Global City, High Street and Town Center
	7	Have Halaan Soup at Igmaan, Seaside Macapagal
	8	Explore SM Mall of Asia and the Bayside
	9	Visit Malate Church and watch the Sunset along Roxas Blvd
	10	Coffee in Greenbelt
	11	Have lunch at Greens near Tomas Morato in Quezon City
	12	Watch a performance at CCP
	13	Ride the LRT from Baclaran to Balintawak
	14	Check out the Galleries and Get some booze at Cubao Expo
	15	Visit the Bamboo Organ in Las Pinas
	16	Dinner at Cafe Juanita in Pasig
	17	Offer a prayer at Baclaran Church
	18	Try your luck at the casinos of Resort World Manila
	19	Spa at Wensha
	20	Ayala Museum
	21	Night Out in Malate
	22	Shopping in Ortigas
	23	Elevation 0 at the Welcome Rotunda
	24	Ace Water Spa
	25	Manila Bay Cruise
	26	Picnic at the La Mesa Eco Park
	27	San Agustin Church
La Union	28	Check out the Ma Cho Temple
	29	Stroll the Botanical Gardens of San Fernando
	30	Chill and get into conversations over dinner with Lola Nanny Landrigan of Lola Nanny’s
	31	Learn to surf on the breaks of San Juan
Ilocos Norte	32	Watch the Sunset in Pagudpud
	33	Kabigan falls
	34	Roadkill shot at Patapat Viaduct
	35	Explore the caves of Bantay Abot
	36	Sand Dunes
	37	Paoay Church
	38	Lunch at Herencia Café
	39	Bangui Windmills
	40	Cape Bojeador Lighthouse
	41	Tobacco Monopoly Monument
	42	General Ricarte National Shrine
	43	Aglipay Shrine
	44	Juan Luna Shrine
	45	Marcos Museum & Mausoleum Or Balay Ti Ili
	46	Malacañang Of The North
	47	Loom Weaving
	48	Paoay Lake National Park
	49	Abang Falls
	50	Sinking Belltower
	51	Trek up the river of Karingking in Solsona and take a dip by the magnificent waterfalls
	52	Sample yummy Ilocano chow at Dap-ayan ti Ilocos Norte – the Laoag Empanada is just uber-delicious
	53	Catch the sunset at Pangil in Currimao
Ilocos Sur	54	Vigan Empanada
	55	Calle Crisologo Stroll
	56	Go Museum Hopping (Crisologo Museum, Burgos Museum, Syquia and Quema Houses
	57	Check out the churches of Bantay, Santa Maria and St. Paul’s Metropolitan Cathedral
	58	Take a calesa ride through the Mestizo District
	59	Visit and shop for Abel Iloco in Barangay Camangaan
	60	Try your hands in making your own burnay at the Paburnayan
Pangasinan	61	Kayak or do island-hopping at the Hundred Islands
	62	Snorkel and check out the Giant Clams at Silaki Island
	63	Chill out the Patar Beach in Bolinao
	64	Sample the Boneless Bangus
	65	Explore the beach of bolinao and Light House
	66	Our Lady of Manaoag
Isabela	67	Bonsai Forest at Sumanget
	68	Sta Victoria Caves
	69	NORTHERN SIERRA MADRE NATURAL PARK (PALANAN RAINFOREST)
	70	GUIBANG CHURCH
	71	PARISH CHURCH OF ST. MATHIAS IN TUMAUINI
	72	THE CHURCH OF ALICIA (Our Lady of Atocha Parish) AND GAMU
	73	MAGAT DAM TOURISM COMPLEX (MAGAT HYDRO ELECTRIC POWER PLANT)
	74	SAN PABLO CHURCH
	75	AGUINALDO SHRINE in Palanan
Batanes	76	SABTANG ISLAND
	77	ITBAYAT ISLAND
	78	BATAN ISLAND
	79	MOUNT IRAYA
	80	Y’AMI/AMIANAN
	81	DI-ATAY BEACH
	82	SONGSONG
	83	NAIDI HILLS
	84	SITIO JURA AT RACUJAIDE
	85	NAKABUANG CAVE
	86	MT. MATAREM
	87	WHITE BEACH
	88	RADAR TUKON
	89	OLD LORAN STATION
	90	RUINS OF SONGSONG
	91	SAN JOSE CHURCH
	92	KANYUYAN BEACH & PORT
	93	SAN CARLOS BORROMEO CHURCH
	94	Batanes Houses
	95	RADIWAN POINT
Cagayan	96	The CALLAO CAVES TOURIST ZONE of Peñablanca
	97	JACKPOT CAVE
	98	ODESSA-TUMBALI CAVE SYSTEM
	99	SAN CARLOS CAVE
	100	SAN VICENTE, STA. ANA & THE PALAUI ISLAND
	101	Cape Engano
	102	PORTABAGA FALLS
	103	THE CAGAYAN RIVER OR RIO GRANDE DE CAGAYAN
	104	APARRI DELTA
	105	THE BUNTUN BRIDGE
	106	MAGAPIT SUSPENSION BRIDGE
	107	ST. PAUL UNIVERSITY
	108	CARSUMCO
	109	LALLO
	110	CAGAYAN PROVINCIAL MUSEUM & HISTORICAL RESEARCH CENTER
	111	REV. FR. GERRY Z. FILLIPE HO, OFM MEMORIAL MUSEUM
	112	THE BASILICA MINORE OF OUR LADY OF PIAT
	113	IGUIG CALVARY HILLS and the PARISH OF ST. JAMES THE GREATER
	114	ST. PETER AND PAUL METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL
	115	ST. HYACINTH CHURCH OR SAN JACINTO CHAPEL
	116	ALCALA’ ST. PHILOMENE CHURCH
	117	THE OLDEST BELL IN THE FAR EAST is in Camalaniugan’s San Jacinto de Polonia Parish
Nueva Vizcaya	118	Mt. Pulag
	119	Mt. Ugu
	120	Provincial Capitol
	121	People's Museum and Library
	122	St. Vincent Ferrer Church
	123	St. Dominic Cathedral
Quirino	124	Nagbukel Caves
	125	Mighty Cagayan River
	126	Aglipay Caves and Campsite
Bataan	127	Las Casas de Acuzar
	128	Climb Mt. Samat
	129	Visit the Pawikan Conservation Center. Donate
	130	Admire the panoramic vistas from the viewing gallery of the Dambana ng Kagitingan
	131	Hit the trail and climb Mt. Natib
	132	Visit the many historical markers in the peninsula
	133	Walk the hanging bridge in Morong
Aurora	134
Bulacan	135
Pampanga	136	Foodtrip from San Fernando to Angeles
	137	Gabaldon Schoolhouse
	138	Nayong Pilipino sa Clark
	139	Bale Herencia
	140	Bale Matua
	141	Camalig
	142	Pampanga Lodge & Restaurant
	143	Abe's Farm
	144	Bale Dutung
	145	Everybody's Cafe
	146	These are Guagua (Razon’s), Angeles (Corazon’s) and Arayat (Kabigting's and Jurado's) halo-halo.
	147	Also check out Aling Lucing's at the Crossing (Henson Street, Angeles City)
	148	Hot Air Balloon Festival
Nueva Ejica	149
Tarlac	150
Zambales	151	Camp in Nagsasa Cove,
	152	Check out the Wildlife Farm in Botolan
	153	Do a quick island hop – Camara and Capones Islands; Snake and Grande Islands
	154	Go waterfall-hopping
	155	Eat famed Zambales mangoes, the sweetest mangoes in the Philippines after Guimaras
Cavite	156
Batangas	157	Beach Bumming in Laiya
	158	Taal Heritage Town
	159	Trek the Crater Island of Taal

I am yet to come up with activities for Aurora and Bulacan for Region 3 and Nueva Ecija and Tarlac for Region 4.

Feel free to contribute if you think I've missed out on some areas.