iLonGgA ♥ LaKwAtSerA: ILOCOS NORTE: Day 2 Ilocandia Adventure

... and were off to Laoag City

On our way to Laoag City, we stopped-by many places in the province of Ilocos Norte. Laoag is almost two-hours away from Vigan City.

Welcome to Ilocos Norte

Ilocos Norte (Ilokano:Amianan nga Ilocos; Filipino:Hilagang Ilokos) is a province of the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region in Luzon. Its capital is Laoag City and is located at the northwest corner of Luzon Island, bordering Cagayan and Apayao to the east, and Abra and Ilocos Sur to the south. Ilocos Norte faces the South China Sea to the west and the Luzon Strait to the north.

Ilocos Norte is noted for being the birthplace of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, who led an authoritarian rule over the country during the latter half of his incumbency. The Marcoses enjoy a modicum of popularity in the province. Ilocos Norte is also known as a northern tourist destination, being the location of Fort Ilocandia, an upper class hotel and beach resort famous among expatriates, and Pagudpud. (Wikipedia)

☛ JUAN LUNA MUSEUM

The Juan Luna Museum is a restored house of the family of Juan Luna. Inside the museum are exhibits of the family portraits of Juan Luna as well as replica of Juan Luna's paintings. Juan Luna's known painting is the Spolarium. The Museum is managed by the local tourism.

During our visit we were gladly accommodated by the tour guide. The tour guide talks about many things about Juan Luna and what he had contributed to our history. His paintings says something about or history and his works were all dedicated to his countrymen.

Also, the tour guide talks about the relationship of Juan Luna, Andres Bonifacio and Emilio Aguinaldo. Well, history speaks to itself... It's all in the Philippine history.

☛ PAOAY CHURCH

Paoay Church (also known as the St. Augustine Church in Paoay) is a historical church located in Paoay, Ilocos Norte. During the Philippine Revolution in 1898, its coral stone bell tower was used by the Katipuneros as an observation post. Paoay Church is part of the UNESCO World Heritage List. It currently is a property of the Diocese of Laoag, Ilocos Norte. (Wikipedia)

Our visit to Paoay Church is just so quick because of the heavy rains... =(

mga basang sisiw..lol


Inside Paoay Church

☛ MALACANANG OF THE NORTH

used to be the bedroom of bong-bong marcos

Malacanang of the North is the home of the Marcos's in Ilocos. This is one of the houses the the former president had built during his leadership.

Right now, the house is one of the tourist destination in Paoay area. They preserved some of the furinitures of the marcos's that is used in the mansion and some exhibits of the paintings of President Ferdinand Marcos and former first lady Imelda Marcos.

Paoay Lake is overlooking from the veranda of the house.

Paoay lake as the background

☛ FORT ILOCANDIA

The only 5-star deluxe resort hotel in northern Philippines sprawling over 77 hectares of land amidst gentle sand dunes and pine forests with a 2 kilo-meter sandy beach facing the South China Sea. It is located in the heart of the city of Laoag and the province of Ilocos Norte. The resort is a complete service complex resort hotel. It’s a 10 minutes drive from Fort Ilocandia Golf & Country Club at Paoay and from the Laoag International Airport.