Libotero – Philippine Travel Photo Blog

Part 26 of a series
DAY 3

Unknown to many, Vigan also has its own nightlife. The only difference maybe is that their parties start and end earlier. When I was exploring every corner of the Vigan Plaza Hotel, I found this: Sitio Bar

At 7:06pm, I already overheard some ladies screaming their throats out.

8:22pm. We decided to get out of the hotel to check out how Vigan is during nighttime.

Just across the Vigan Plaza Hotel is Plaza Salcedo where the El Shaddai was holding their Rock for Jesus program. You can really see the passion among the crowd as they jumped, sang, danced and partied hard for joy and thanksgiving to the Lord.

Leono Florentino Monument. The text on the plaque reads: Leona Florentino was born on April 19, 1848 and was a famous Ilocana poet, satirist, and playwright during the Spanish Period. Through her exemplary works, she was able to gain international recognition. She is the daughter of Marcelino and Isabel Florentino. Her works were translated in different languages but the original copies were destroyed during the Philippine Revolution. Don Isabelo de los Reyes, the Father of Philippine Labor Movement, is her son. She died on October 4, 1884, leaving a legacy to the Filipino people as the most outstanding woman writer during the Spanish era.

At the back of the Leona Florentino monument is Max’s Restaurant (with Free WiFi) which is among the commercial establishments that made an effort to harmonize with the heritage structures in the city.

In previous installments of this series, I shared with you how Calle Crisologo looks like in the afternoon. Now, let me share to you how it looks like at night.

Calle Crisologo Street Marker

It was raining when we arrived in Vigan. It was a blessing in disguise though, since it added a shining effect on the cobblestones along Calle Crisologo.

I wasn’t able to bring a tripod with me. So, to be able to take decent night shots (which usually need long exposure times), I looked for a stable and sturdy object to lean my camera on and I found this bench. Fortunately, benches like the one in the photo below were spread throughout Calle Crisologo.

(…to be continued)

Part 25 of a series
DAY 3

While in Saud, we reviewed our itinerary for the day and realized that for us to reach Bauang, La Union before dusk, we’d have to drive straight, without any more stopovers before our destination. But I suggested that we’d spend the night in Vigan instead because I didn’t want us to to race with time. I wanted time to race with us instead. I wanted to make the most out of the moment since I realized that we rarely embark on long and tiring roadtrips like this, especially for dad, our ever patient driver. I was thinking that this opportunity, to explore places thousands of kilometers away from home, happens once in a blue moon and I didn’t want to regret about not having been able to explore some beautiful places that you can find nowhere else.

Mom and dad agreed. Yipee! So, I then called all the Vigan hotels listed in the M.A.D (map-atlas-directory) we brought (since I was the official map holder, reader and what-have-you) but unfortunately all of the hotels were fully booked (April is one of the peak months of Vigan for tourists). There was still one hotel that I wasn’t able to call though, the Vigan Plaza Hotel. We were quite hesitant because the hotel was the most expensive in Vigan (according to the M.A.D.) and we did not want to spend much on accommodations since we’d just sleep the night there anyway but hey, we had no choice because we’d have to spend the night in Vigan or else we would find ourselves lost in the middle of a deserted and dark Ilocos road. So Vigan Plaza Hotel it was.

6:52pm. We arrived in Vigan and it was raining! It was still quite bright though because the sun has just set (The sun sets later in the North since it is farther from the equator). We parked right in front of the Vigan Plaza Hotel. Good thing there was a huge canopy assuring us that we won’t get wet. The bellboy was also prompt with his huge umbrella and he carried all of our luggage.

Our Room.

The dorm-type room, good for 6 people (we were 7 but there were 2 kids so they can share a bed), was worth P6,000 a night! But when we entered the room…

Wow, it’s all worth it! A very beautiful room, with 2 shower rooms and 2 toilets. Finally, the whole family shared a room together. (Unlike in Tarlac and in Laoag where we had to get 2 rooms.) Aside from that, we were also given 6 complimentary breakfast stubs. Amazing!

Vigan Plaza Hotel’s main hallway

One of the reasons why dad was quite hesitant about staying in Vigan was that he’s afraid we might stay in a haunted house/room. But I know it was a joke though since dad isn’t a scaredy cat, unlike me. Lol. But, err, did I just capture a ghost?!

Mumu?!

The upper levels of the hotel. Looking at that open window with exposed curtains freaks me out!

Some paintings and works of art by David T. Pichay are hung at the walls of Vigan Plaza Hotel’s main hallway.

Painter Profile

Some paintings of David Pichay

(…to be continued)

Part 12 of a series
DAY 2

4:50pm. Still on our calesa, we finally reached the heart of Vigan, Calle Crisologo!
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Part 11 of a series
DAY 2

4:45pm. A visit to Vigan and Ilocos Sur will not be complete without a tour around the city on a horse-drawn calesa. For 200 pesos only, you’ll be toured around the city with a guide for at least 30 minutes.

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Part 10 of a series
DAY 2

In between Plaza Salcedo and Plaza Burgos is the Cathedral of Vigan
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Part 9 of a series
DAY 2

From the national highway, Vigan City is actually out of the way, as it is the only town to the left while the rest of the northern towns of Ilocos Sur are on the right, all the way to Ilocos Norte.
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