Town of Paoay, Ilocos Norte
17 February 2012
Paoay Church Renovation
The Paoay Church also know as San Agustin Church in Paoay Ilocos Norte is one of the only 4 ancient catholic churches in the Philippines listed in the UNESCO World Heritage list.
 |
| Church Facade with Scaffolding |
This church, according to the experts, was constructed in 1694 and made of massive coral blocks. Standing through war and earthquake for more than 300 years, the church finally require renovation.
According to Paoay officials, the renovation will restore the designs on the massive walls of the church. For the past hundreds of years since the colonial period, for many times many churches and old buildings have been destroyed by either natural calamities and wars and for many times, the Ilocoanos also rebuilt or restored them. This is a testimony of how the Ilocanos love and value their heritage.
I can't wait to see the church fully renovated and marvel at its grandeur.
====================
====================
-----o0o-----
Guling-Guling Festival in Paoay - Street Dance Rehearsal
17 February 2012
There was a rehearsal of the different street dances that will be presented during the annual "Guling-Guling" festival of the town of Paoay during my visit.
 |
| Paoay Town Hall |
The rehearsal started at the back of the Municipal Hall and converge at the Plaza facing the Paoay Church. There were around 200 dancers at that time.
According to historians, "This festival of Paoay, Ilocos Norte started in the olden days since the Spanish regime. The friars have introduced this event in the 16th century.
It is a celebration held on Tuesdays before Ash Wednesdays to signify that this is the last day for the townsfolk to enjoy all forms of merrymaking before they observe the Lenten season. The Ilocano word “guling” means to mark or smear.
Using wet and white rice flour, the town mayor would smear the sign of cross in a person’s forehead. Its white color signifies purity and it is believed that through this procedure a person is cleansed of all of his past sins.
I even submitted myself to be smeared with the sign of the cross on my forehead."
Visit Treasures of Ilocandia and the World web site.
====================
====================
-----o0o-----
Sand Dunes
Suba, Paoay, Ilocos Norte
18 February 2012
Although not on my bucket list, I decided to pass-by Suba in Paoay Ilocos Norte to see the National Geological Monument in the Philippines that can be found only in the province of Ilocos Norte, the amazing Sand Dunes.
 |
| 4x4 Terminal |
With limited time, I just decided to climb one of the sandy hills and take some shots. Stretching 800 meters wide, the sand dunes of Suba is the only place where you can find a desert in this tropical country.
The place was the setting for memorable movies like Oliver Stone’s Born on the Fourth of July and Temptation Island, that famously campy 1980s film by Joey Gosiengfiao. It is also where Nora Aunor uttered the now-immortal line “Walang Himala!” in the Ishmael Bernal classic Himala.
This was also the setting of Fernando Poe's - Panday. Ilocos Norte’s unique sand dunes stretches from the municipality of Currimao in the north up to La Paz in Laoag City then to Suba in Paoay and finally in Pasuquin in the south.
-----o0o-----
Paoay Lake
Suba, Paoay, Ilocos Norte
18 February 2012
On my way to the "Malacanang ti Amianan" I stopped over to have a glimpse of the fresh water lake of Paoay in Suba. Paoay lake located 3 kilometers away from the sea in Suba, Paoay has an area of 470 hectares. Declared as a National Park under Republic Act 5631 on June 21, 1969, its environs has been turned into a sports complex including a world-class golf course.
 |
| Paoay Lake and the Malacanang of the North |
-----o0o-----
Malacanang ti Amianan
Paoay, Ilocos Norte
18 February 2012
Malacañang of the North "Malacanang ti Amianan" is the other term used by Ilocanos to describe Malacañang of the North. This is the official residence of the former President Ferdinand Marcos in Ilocos Norte, built on a high point of land projecting into the sea right beyond the coastline of the legendary Paoay Lake, this enduring structure is now a museum.
 |
| Paoay Church Painting |
====================
====================
-----o0o-----
Town of Bacarra, Ilocos Norte
19 February 2012
I had a nice and relaxing photo walk at the peaceful town of Bacarra in Ilocos Norte. Specifically, I went there to see the old church and its belfry. Riding a jeepney from the City of Laoag, I reached the town of Bacarra and I was welcomed immediately by the gigantic ruins of the church belfry that still standing and can be seen from afar.
 |
| Church Facade and Bell Tower |
According to the Philippine Department of Tourism, the Bacarra Church was constructed by the Spanish Augustinian Friars in 1593 and subsequently inaugurated in 1782. It was destroyed by the intensity 7.8 earthquake on August 1983 and reconstructed and once again inaugurated in August 1984.
 |
| Main Altar |
The image of the patron saint, San Andres stands in front of his x-shaped cross in the central niche. The Bacarra Bell Tower with its unusual elongated cupola was built during the 1830’s is located at the left side of the Roman Catholic Church.
 |
| Bell Tower |
It was built in 1830’s and made up of coral blocks and stucco with an original height of fifty meters and a five meter-thick wall. An earthquake wrecked it in 1931, which had caused the top most portions to tilt a little sideward on the right.
====================
====================
-----o0o-----
No comments:
Post a Comment