Travel: Vigan: A Haven of Cultural Heritage

Vigan is synonymous to history. When we think of Vigan, pictures of old Spanish houses, century old churches, of calesas, longganisas and bagnet comes to our mind. It magically walks you down memory lane.

Vigan, the only World Heritage City in the Philippines was inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage list of sites and monuments on December 2, 1999. It represents a unique fusion of Asian building design and construction with European colonial architecture and planning. Today, Vigan remains to be the home of proud Bigueños who welcome everyone with warm smiles to the city where traditions blend well with the present demands of the times.

On my first journey to Vigan, my friends and I experienced the Kalesa ride in touring the Vigan City.

The most famous landmark of the town is the Bantay Church and Bell Tower. Bantay Church and Bell Tower is about 15 minutes Kalesa ride from the Calle Crisologo ofVigan City.  In fact it is a walking distance from the heritage city. I never knew there are towns like these two so closest to each other. And being adjacent, Bantay is also part of the Vigan Heritage Tour where it highlights the visit to Bantay Church and Bell Tower. 

Bantay Church is also known as the St. Augustine Parish Church. Built by Augustinian Friars in 1590, it is considered as one of the oldest churches in the Province of Ilocos Sur. Bantay Church is a baroque-gothic style church. It has a separate belfry situated on top of a small hill few meters away from the church.

Burgos Museum, inside the museum, visitors will see a collection of Father Burgos memorabilia and photographs, family antiques and jewelry, Father Burgos’ quarters and a mini library containing his student Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere, which the teacher received as a gift. 

Baluarte, owned by Gov. Chavit Singson. Ten minutes away from downtown of the heritage city of Vigan you can find the zoo known as "BALUARTE"which means territory. Everyday there is an animal show open for public where audience can play, touch or hold some animals that are presented on the show like Bengal tiger, monkeys, parrots, pythons, and others. What's good in here, unlike other zoos, is that entering the place is free of charge, no entrance fee. It is good to know that there are places like these where some of the endangered species are being preserved.

Calle Crisologo is one of the highlights tourist spot in Vigan City. The street itself is made up of cobblestone then lined with the heritage houses of the former Filipino-Chinese traders.  Majority of the houses have thick walls made of cement, brown and red bricks; the doors are wide made up of shiny and solid woods; the sliding windows are perfectly made from capiz shells designed with iron grills and wood.  The ceilings are created higher, maybe this is for ventilation purposes.

Today, some of the century-old houses were converted into commercial shops, museums, restaurants, cafe and hotels.  Each shops are selling antiques, woven products, bags, basi, chicharon, jewelry, woodcraft and many more.  In night time, the gorgeous light in different colors in each shops added an additional effects that registers in the camera.

Crisologo Museum; The museum is actually Crisologo's own home, a traditional bahay-na-bato.  We were greeted by an eager guide who ushered us into the first room with a brief introduction on Crisologo. 

Another home-turned-museum is the Syquia Mansion.  A very knowledgeable guide welcomed us into the mansion, leading us from room to room. The Syquia's are an affluent family and this affluence is very much evident in their home -- from the house itself to the littlest of details.