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Ilocos Sur – Heritage
Village of the Philippines
Famed for its museums and
ancestral houses, Ilocos Sur can seemingly turn the hands of
time bring back tourist to the Spanish occupation era. A visit
to the province can give visitors a view of the life of the
Filipinos under the rule of the Spaniards. Aside from this,
there are several landmarks in found in Ilocos Sur which recants
the stories of World War II.
Demographics
1. Population – 632, 255
(as of 2007 Census)
2. Land Area – 2,579.6 sq. km.
3. Capital – Vigan City
4. Language/Dialect –Ilocano/Iloko, Tagalog, English
5. Divisions
Cities (2)
Municipalities (32)
- Alilem
- Banayoyo
- Bantay
- Burgos
- Cabugao
- Caoayan
- Cervantes
- Cervantes
- Gregorio del Pilar
- Lidlidda
- Lidlidda
- Nagbukel
- Narvacan
- Quirino
- Salcedo
- San Emilio
- San Esteban
- San Ildefonso
- San Juan
- San Vicente
- Santa
- Santa Catalina
- Santa Cruz
- Santa Lucia
- Santa Maria
- Santiago
- Santo Domingo
- Sigay
- Sinait
- Sugpon
- Suyo
- Tagudin
Famous For...
Vigan Heritage Village
The historic town of Vigan depicts the typical Spanish-era residence
which gained the UNESCO's World Heritage List in November 1999.
Kamestizoan District
in Vigan
The district is replete with ancestral houses with ancient tile
roofs, massive hardwood floorings, ballustrades and azoteas
in varying Spanish-Mexican-Chinese architectural styles.
Besang Pass Monument
The monument serves as marker where General Yamashita set up
his last defense against the American soldiers and Filipinos
guerillas during World War II.
Tirad Pass National
Shrine
The shrine commemorates the bravery shown by General Gregorio
del Pilar and his comrades to protect the escape of General
Emilio Aguinaldo from the Americans.
Burnay
This locally made jar is used to store local vinegar, local
wine called basi, and bagoong (fermented fish sauce) and as
a decorative ware. Locals make burnay using pre-historic method.
Palces of Interest...
Cultural
Padre Burgos House
Location: Vigan City, Ilocos Sur
Tour Days: Monday – Friday
Tour Time: 8:30 - 11:30a.m. / 1:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Entrance Fee: Php. 10.00 (adult)
Php. 5.00 (12 years old and below)
The residence of the Burgoses contains the memorabilia of GomBurZa
priest Padre Jose Burgos as well as Ilocano artifacts and ethnic
arts of the Tinggians.
Archbishop Palace
Location: Vigan City, Ilocos Sur
Completed in 1793, the palace has a collection of priceless
ecclesiastical artifacts and relics from all over the province.
Vigan Heritage Village
Location: Vigan City, Ilocos Sur
The historic town of Vigan depicts the typical Spanish-era residence
which gained the UNESCO's World Heritage List in November 1999.
Historical
Tirad Pass National
Shrine
Location: Gregorio del Pilar, Ilocos Sur
This National Shrine was the last stand of the Filipino Revolutionary
forces led by President Emilio Aguinaldo. The young general
Gregorio del Pilar gave his life in order to let the president
escape the American forces.
Nuestra Señora
De La Asuncion Church
Location: Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur
This World Heritage site and National Landmark was used as a
fortress during the 1986 Philippine Revolution.
Northern Luzon Heroes
Hill National Park
Location: Santa, Ilocos Sur
A marker honors the place where Gabriela Silang built her stronghold
against the Spanish forces.
Lapog Bay
Location: Brgy. Saoang–Sabangan–Camindoroan, San
Juan, Ilocos Sur
The bay served as port for Japanese warships during World War
II. On October 18, 1944, Liberation forces bombers attacked
the bay and destroyed the warships setting the bay on fire and
killing hundreds of Japanese soldiers.
St. John the Baptist
Church
Location: San Juan, Ilocos Sur
During the World War II, Japanese forces held hostage many locals
during the war and threatened to bomb the church if no one revealed
the burial site of fallen comrades.
Besang Pass Monument
Location: Cervantes, Ilocos Sur
The Battle of Besang Pass was won by the USAFIP, NL on June
14, 1945. Besang Pass served as the backdoor to General Yamashita’s
last defense during the end of World War II.
Man-made
Tagudin Sundials
Location: Tagudin Municipal Hall, Ilocos Sur
Built by the Spaniards in 1841 and 194, these sundials are still
used by the locals to this day.
Moro Watchtower
Location: San Esteban, Ilocos Sur
The watchtower, according to old folks and registry from the
National Historical Institute, served as a vanguard against
approaching pirates during the Spanish era.
Plaza Salcedo
Location: Vigan City, Ilocos Sur
Located in between St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral and the Provincial
Capitol, the elliptical plaza was named after the founder of
Viga, Don Juan de Salcedo.
Natural
Pinsan Falls
Location: Brgy. Babalasiwan, Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur
Found a few kilometer ayaw from the highway, the falls features
the ‘footprint’ of Ilocano legendary giant, Angalo.
Santiago Cove
Location: Santiago, Ilocos Sur
It is gifted with a golden sand beach with amenities for picnic,
swimming and diving
Baluarte Falls
Location: Salcedo, Ilocos Sur
The falls is embraced by lush greens of the rainforest of Salcedo.
Visitors can scale the top of the falls through a steep pathway.
Tourist are assisted and guarded by the Baluarte Barangay tanods.
Sulvec Beach
Location: Brgy. Sulvec, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur
Aside from its cool water and rocky shore, the Paraiso ni Juan
is located at the shoreline where a grotto sits atop a huge
rock.
Religious
Sta. Lucia Church
Location: Sta. Lucia, Ilocos Sur
The image of its patron, Sta. Lucia, dates back as far as the
19th century. The parish was established since 1586.
Nuestra Señora
De La Asuncion Church
Location: Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur
Also called the Church of the Assumption, the church was designated
as a National Historical Landmark on Sept. 26, 1982 and included
in the World Heritage List on December 11 1993. Visitors will
have to walk an 82-step stairway to reach the church built atop
a hill.
St. Paul Metropolitan
Cathedral
Location: Vigan City, Ilocos Sur
Erected through the orders of Juan de Salcedo, the conquistador
and Founder of Villa Fernandina (Vigan City) in 1574, the church
became a cathedral when the the seat of the Diocese of Nueva
Segovia was transferred from Lal-lo, Cagayan, to Vigan in 1758.
Shrine Of Santo
Cristo Milagroso
Location: Sinait, Ilocos Sur
The miraculous image of the crucified Christ, locally called
as “Apo Lacay” was said to have drifted ashore in
Logo, a sitio in Brgy. Dadalaquiten along the boundary of Sinait,
Ilocos Sur and Badoc, Ilocos Norte, along with the La Virgen
Milagrosa de Badoc. The two towns decided to separate the two;
La Virgen for the people of Sinait and Apo Lacay for the people
of Badoc. Unfortunately, the men of the towns carried their
own image but to no avail. When the respective parish priest
decided to exchange instead, the men who tried to carry the
images surprised that they were able to carry the santos without
any problem.
Festivals...
Viva Vigan Festival
of Arts
Place: Vigan City, Ilocos Sur
Date: first week of May
Since its first celebration in 1993, the festival features a
calesa parade, Binatbatan street dancing, ramada games, religious
rituals, santacruzan, bankathon, exhibits, trade/food fairs,
abel-iloco fashion show and other exciting events.
Sinait Garlic Festival
Place: Sinait, Ilocos Sur
Date: May 1 – 3
Patterned with the Garlic Festival in Gilroy, California, USA,
the event recognizes the garlic industry, the farmers, and aims
to educate visitors and local residents on the importance of
the garlic industry to Philippine economy. Highlights of the
Sinait Bawang (Garlic) Festival include garlic cooking and presentation,
Search for the Most Beautiful Cow and Carabao, Search for the
Biggest Garlic Bulb and Garlic Bundling, and the Search for
Sinait Garlic Festival Queen |
