Rediscovering Pagudpud, Paoay and Dingras

Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte

21 December 2015

It was three long years since my last visit to the touristic province of Ilocos Norte. I was so excited again to see the place and rediscover the historic province.

In particular, I planned to see three major sites: The Wind Mills, Paoay Church and Convent and Dingras Church. With this plan, I considered staying in the province for three days.

From Manila I traveled to Pagudpud on the night of the 20th of December 2015. Travel time from Manila to Pagudpud is approximately twelve hours.

I left Manila at 2130H on board luxury bus bound for Pagudpud. Since it was a holiday, the bus terminal was crowded with passengers who were escaping the metropolis at that time.

When I reached the town of Burgos, I was amazed at the gigantic wind mills along the highway and many more scattered in the area. These wind mills are the newly installed units. I was assuming there are more or less than a hundred units installed and operational already.

At 0930H, I was at the bus terminal waiting for a tricycle to bring me to my accommodation. I checked in at a budget hotel. Then I asked the tricycle driver to move me around the wind farm by 1000H.

I started to explore the wind farm at 1030H. I visited the Bangui wind farm first and I noticed many cottages at the site. These cottages weren't there yet during my first visit to the site. According to the tricycle driver, the cottages are meant for tourists - there is a tourist information center, several souvenir shops and even accommodation. It was windy and cold at that time.

 

I was surprised to learn that there are three wind farms operational in the area already. Before there was only Bangui. Now, there are Burgos and Pagudpud wind farms.

From Bangui, I moved to Burgos and find a nice spot along the highway to take a shot of the scattered wind mills. I enjoyed the scenery and took several shots of the nice landscape.

From Burgos, I moved to the Blue Lagoon. I was surprised to see the developments in the area. A long zip line is now operational from atop the hill down to the Hannah's Beach Resort. Different resorts have also occupied the entire stretch of the white sand bar and there were constructions ongoing at that time. 

 

 

At 1500H, I had a late lunch at the cafeteria near the Hannah's Resort.

I left the place at 1630H and moved to Patapat Viaduct. It was drizzling at that moment so I decided to get back to my accommodation after taking a few shots of the winding highway sandwiched between the high mountains and the sea.

When I reached my accommodation, I was lucky to see the beautiful sunset with the Burgos wind farm at the foreground.

The scenery was so nice.

Rediscovering Dingras

22 December 2015

Ruins of Dingras Church
Photo source: http://museoilocosnorte.com/wp-content/gallery/dingras/dingras_church_1.jpg

On the 22nd of December 2015, I traveled to Laoag City from Pagudpud. It was a two-hour bus ride. I left Pagudpud at 0830H and reached Laoag City at 1035H.

From the bus terminal, I took a jeep from near the capitol building bound for Paoay. I reached the town of Paoay at 1115H and checked-in at a place few steps away from the Paoay Church.

At 1200H, I went back to Laoag City and took a jeep bound for Dingras. I reached the town at 1515H. I alighted at the municipal hall of the town near the church.

From the highway, I immediately noticed the imposing grandeur of the restored facade of the church. It's beautiful. I remembered the last time I visited Dingras, the church was still on a major restoration.

What impressed me the most was the way the facade was restored. The old bricks from the original facade wall were used on the new facade. Also, the ornate of the old facade was also restored. It's not completely a new wall after all.

 

I moved in front of the restored facade and gazed at the grandeur of the church for nearly an hour. I was happy to see it that way. It was a job well done for the church admin, the people of Dingras and the PGIN. I spent sometime taking photos of the church.

After exploring the church, I had a chance to explore the old house of Josefa Llanes Escoda which is a new tourist spot located near the church plaza and facing the municipal hall at the other side of the highway.
 

I love the ambiance of the restored old building and spent sometime inside siting on a chair looking at the windows made of polished capiz shells. 

I left Dingras at 1800H and moved back to Laoag City and then back to Paoay.

Rediscovering Paoay

23 December 2015

I reached Paoay at 2010H from Laoag City. At that time, the church facade and side walls had been illuminated with warm light.

After fixing my things at my accommodation, I immediately moved to the plaza with my camera and tripod. Taking photos at night of old structures nicely lit is one of my favorite photo moments.

 

A lighted scroll mark at the plaza ground was lighted making it very visible at dark.

The building at the right side of the plaza (facing the church) that was under construction when I last visited the place is now a souvenir shop and a food court.

On the 23rd of December, I moved around the Paoay church and explored the old convent that used to be in ruins and currently being restored at the time. The PGIN is transforming the building ruins into another tourist site in Paoay.

By the time of my visit, half portion of the old building had already been covered with a metal roof supported by metal columns and trusses. I was so happy to learn that the old convent ruins will be resurrected soon and will no longer be just a ruin.

 

I left Paoay at 1700H and traveled back to Laoag City and then later traveled to my hometown in the province of Isabela.

While waiting for the bus, I took the chance to move around and took photos of the Sinking Bell Tower and the Plaza.

 

 

As always, I had a busy yet enjoyable and relaxing quick trip to Ilocos Norte. I always look forward to see this place again as PGIN continue to restore old buildings and improve the province as a whole.

AGYAMANAK, APO ILOCOS NORTE!!

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