Soar @ 24!

Santiago, Ilocos Sur

November 05 - 06, 2016

It was the 24th anniversary of Hapag-Lloyd Philippines and I was tasked to organize the overnight out-of-town activities.

We had been brainstorming for more than a month. In the past, most of the company's anniversary celebrations were done south of Manila - Batangas, Laguna, Quezon and Rizal. To celebrate the 24th anniversary of the company, we had thought of making it a little different from what we used to do and we had agreed to explore the north.

Our anniversary theme was "SOAR @ 24"!

Planning for the whole program had started in mid October. The idea was to conduct activities that are fit for every member so that everyone will enjoy. There were no team building activities set because the intention of the whole program was for everyone to relax, unwind and bond as one team, as one company.

During the planning, I was thinking of two possible northern destinations: Ilocos Norte or Sur since these provinces are home to many tourist attractions both natural and historical in nature. Both provinces are my favorite travel destinations in the North and I am quite familiar on the major tourist spots in the area.

ORGANIZING THE TRIP

My first idea was to explore Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte and neighboring places for the team to enjoy the white sand beach, take photos at the wind mills, climb the Kapurpurawan rock formation and marvel at the lush green landscape from atop the Cape Bojeador. However, with the limited time allotted for all the activities and considering the travel time from Manila, I decided to explore Ilocos Sur instead.

Speaking of Ilocos Sur, one would immediately think of Vigan City, the capital of the province considered a premiere heritage site of the Philippines. Visiting Ilocos Sur means visiting Vigan City.

While browsing my list of tourist attractions and sites in Ilocos Sur, I had know from a close friend in the town of Santiago that a new Villa had just opened. At first, I thought of a "usual" Villa that I see elsewhere, however, upon checking the photos that I got, I was completely impressed. At first, I thought my friend was just kidding. As I looked at the photos, I thought I was looking at the Villas in Santorini, Greece.

 

 

Santorini inspired Villa known as "Vitalis Villas" is a newly opened resort perched on a rocky mountain side facing a cove in the town of Santiago, Ilocos Sur.

After making arrangements on the Villas, I started to organize our heritage tour in Vigan. At first, I thought of handling it myself with the help of another staff however, I also wanted to enjoy the trip and so I decided to seek the help of the Tourism Office in Vigan City to handle the tour instead.

I was able to get in touch with sir John Noel Andaya from the Tourism Office in Vigan City through the help of a friend sir V-Andrei Purugganan, who is from the heritage city.

Through the help of sir Janoh, I was able to organize our customized half-day heritage tour in Vigan City.

THE TRIP: ALL IS READY!

Original Itinerary:

Nov 04

2100H ETD Manila to Ilocos Sur

Nov 05

0500H ETA Santiago Ilocos Sur; Prepare for tour

0600H Breakfast at white beach

0700H ETD Vigan City

0800H Start Tour

          Walking tour within the heritage city

          Kalesa tour around city outskirts

1200H Lunch at Hotel Luna

1330H ETD Sta. Maria Ilocos Sur

1400H Explore Sta. Maria Church (World Heritage Site)

1430H ETD Sta. Maria Ilocos Sur

1500H ETA Santiago Ilocos Sur; Check-in at the Villas

1900H Dinner; Bonding

Nov 06

0600H Breakfast at the Villas; Bonding

1200H Check-out; ETD Candon City

1230H Lunch at Bistro Candon

1330H Explore Candon Church (NHC)

1400H ETD Sta. Lucia

1430H Explore Sta. Lucia Church (NHC)

1500H ETD Manila

2200H ETA Manila

Nov 04: TRAVEL TO ILOCOS SUR

At exactly 2100H on the night of the 4th of November, we traveled North onboard a tourist bus from Makati. We were 39. 

Santiago in Ilocos Sur is approximately 315 KM from Makati, according to Google Maps. Estimated travel time was 8H including traffic in Manila.

It was a Friday and as expected, traffic along EDSA was horrible. Fortunately, the bus was comfortable. While braving the heavy traffic along EDSA, we had fun using the onboard videoke for a couple of hours.

We had our first stop to refuel and for refreshments at a Shell Gas Station along NLEX. From NLEX, we took TPLEX and reached San Fabian, Pangasinan past 1200AM and had another stop for refreshments.

From San Fabian, we traveled further north via Pangasinan - La Union Road. We were at the vicinity of San Fernando, La Union past 0200H and had our final bust stop before reaching Ilocos Sur.

There was a detour along the way because of a road accident and so we took Luna road and traveled up north all the way to Tagudin, the first town of Ilocos Sur coming from Manila.

At 0512H, we reached Santiago Cove in Santiago Ilocos Sur and proceeded to the White Sand Resort opposite of Vitalis Villas. We stayed at the resort for 2H to prepare for the heritage tour in Vigan. It was still dark when we arrived at the resort.

We got a room for shower and we had a sumptuous breakfast near the beach. We had few photo ops and for the first time, we had a view of the Vitalis Villas which we dubbed as "Santorini of the North" at the opposite side of the cove. It's like white rocks on a rocky mountain side overlooking the calm sea.

 

We were thankful that the weather was excellent at that time. There was complete clearing of the sky.

At exactly 0700H, we took the bus and started our journey to the heritage city of Vigan.

Nov 05: HERITAGE TOUR IN VIGAN CITY | BONDING AT VITALIS VILLAS

HELPFUL TOUR GUIDES
We meet sir Janoh and sir Mark at our first tour destination in Bantay. Before we reached Bantay, sir Janoh had already texted me that they were waiting at the entrance of the Bantay Church for us.

 

I am so thankful of them for helping me organize the Vigan City tour very well.

BANTAY CHURCH

From Santiago, we reached Bantay at 0850H. Our first destination was the Bantay Church and Bell Tower.

Sir Janoh suggested that we divide the team into 2 groups to better manage the tour. There was ongoing church activity at that time.

 

Sir Janoh handled the first group to explore the Bantay Church while Mark handled the second group to explore the Bell Tower and vice-versa. We had photo ops in front of the church Facade and Bell Tower after the tour.

VIGAN CATHEDRAL

At 0918H, we boarded the bus and then proceeded to the City of Vigan. We alighted infront of the Provincial Capitol facing the Cathedral.

 

From there, we walked towards the Cathedral and explored the Cathedral's interior.

CALESA RIDE

One of the highlights of our Heritage Tour in Vigan was the experience to ride a horse drawn carriage called "Calesa/Kalesa". I got 14 Calesas for all of us including sir Janoh and sir Mark.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Calesas took us to Pagburnayan, Inabel Weaving place, Calle Crisologo and finally at the Museum Complex.

PAGBURNAYAN

At 0947H, we took the Calesa. We had 14 Calesas. From the Cathedral, the Calesas took us outside the City to visit the Vigan Pottery called "Pagburnayan". 

We reached Pagburnayan at 1001H. Pagburnayan in the Iloco vernacular comes from the word "Burnay" a hand-crafted unglazed clay jar (pot) made in Vigan.

The Pagburnayan, according to sir Janoh, is owned and managed by Apo Fidel Antiporda Go. In 1990, the National Commission on Culture and Arts recognized him as a National Folk Artist.

Apo Fidel conducted a live demo on burnay making then a funny Q and A followed. I was lucky to answer a question and got a small pot as souvenir from Apo Fidel.

Accoring to Apo, it will take days to dry a freshly made pot and several days more to bake it.

ABEL WEAVING

At 1031H, we left Pagburnayan and then went to see the Inabel Weaving in Camangaan. The Inabel or popularly known as Abel Iloco is a handwoven cloth. Abel in Iloco is the process of weaving while Inabel is the finished product. Inabel is made from Cotton and other Natural Fibers, as sir Janoh explained. Inabel is the traditional Iloco fabric.

We were lucky to see the actual weaving process using the traditional "Pagabelan". There are varieties of Inabel like table runner, pillow cases, blankets and many more.

We left the weaving place at 1059H and proceeded to Calle Crisologo for the walking tour.

OLD PROVINCIAL JAIL

At 1140H, we boarded the Calesas once more and proceeded to the Old Ilocos Sur Jail (now restored as Museum) for the final leg of our heritage tour in Vigan. 

http://pamana.ph/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/nmv_feature.jpg

At the lower level of the museum, there are paintings depicting the Basi Revolt in Ilocos. Also displayed inside the museum are important Iloco heritage collections one of which is the "Pagdapilan" (old sugarcane juicer).

Sir Janoh carefully explained the history of the Basi Revolt and the way the executions were carried out. "Basi" is a native Iloco wine made from sugarcane.

http://www.imgrum.net/media/973450562903139517_10219024

http://www.imgrum.net/media/977156804276316013_10219024

At the second level of the museum is a showcase of collections from the late President Elpedio Quirino and his wife Alicia Sy-Quia Quirino.

At 1240H, we left the museum and walked towards Hotel Luna for lunch. 

 

Along the way, we had a chance to take few shots at the Plaza Salcedo.

HOTEL LUNA

We finally had our lunch at Hotel Luna at 1315H, which also concluded our heritage tour in Vigan City. Hotel Luna is actually a "Hotel Museum" located at the center of Vigan City.

 

While having lunch, I received a call from a mobile number which is not on my phone book and I was surprised to know that it was V-Andrei's father asking me to visit their place in Vigan to pickup the Vigan longganisa.

I was touched and so much thankful of their kindness and hospitality.

BAGNET FACTORY

We left Hotel Luna at 1401H back to Santiago. Along the way, we visited the Bagnet factory.

I believe this place is called "Pagpartian" in Iloco meaning slaughter house. This is where Bagnets are usually made.

Photo source: https://wanderlen.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/bagnet-factory-1.jpg

Photo source: https://wanderlen.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/bagnet-factory-2.jpg

It was around 1610H when we checked in at the Vitalis Villas.

 

 

We enjoyed the place, the pool and the good food.

Nov 06: TRAVEL BACK TO MANILA

Early on the following day, we went out of the resort to attend the Sunday Mass at Sta. Maria. We were 6. We went out at 0500H.

 

The mass was at 0630H. The Sta. Maria church is 1 of the 4 Baroque churches in the Philippines inscribed by UNESCO as World Heritage Site. We left the church after the mass at 0745H and traveled back to Santiago.

Before checking out, we had final photo ops as a team at Vitalis Villas.

 

 

We checked-out at 1200H and then prepared for the long trip back to the city. We had lunch at Bistro Candon near the Candon church at 1308H and then finally traveled back to Manila at 1350H.

We took the same route via TPLEX and had our dinner at KFC Shell Gas Station along NLEX past 1900H. We were back in Manila at 2220H.

-o0o-