Going Loco in Ilocos Norte
Do you know what they call sitaw in Ilocos? It’s utong. How about patola? They call it kabatiti. And tortang talong? It’s called puki-puki. Oh yeah, I’m serious here.
But their local names for vegetables aren’t the only things fascinating about Ilocos. And my recent trip to the region was a testament to how these twin provinces could blow anyone away. And I’m not just talking about the Bangui Wind Mills. Here are some pics I took with my point-and-shoot cam.
PAOAY CHURCH
The Paoay Church is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen in my enter life. I’ve seen so many pictures of this magnificent landmark but I thought those pictures were lying. You know how sometimes pictures make places seem prettier than they actually are? I thought the Paoay Church was only picture perfect but boy was I so wrong. When I was standing there, looking at this wonder, I really thought no photo has given justice to it. I haven’t seen a picture that captures just how amazing this church is. It’s just so breathtaking.
The construction of this Gothic-Baroque-Oriental church started in 1694 by the Agustinian friars. A few meters away from the church stands a bell tower that is said to had been used by Katipuneros as an observation post during the Philippine-Spanish revolution.
During the 1865 and 1885 earthquakes, portions of this church were damaged. In 2000, an excavation inside the church revealed a prehistoric human skeleton and some fragmented ceramics, which are now on display at the National Museum. Currently, Paoay Church is part of the UNESCO World Heritage List.
BANGUI WIND MILLS
You know what they say, every place has its element. (Yes, they say that.) They say Siquijor’s and Camiguin’s element is fire. Sagada is earth. And I strongly believe that Ilocos has to be air. The wind has such a strong presence in the region. If you don’t believe me, I’ll slap you with the Bangui windmills.
Seriously, I actually felt like having a closer, more intimate relationship with the wind when I was in Ilocos. I had missed the feeling of the wind blowing to my face. But yeah, to be honest, the wind kinda pissed me off, too. I wanted to have pictures of me taken with these giant power-generating fans in the background but the wind just kept messing my hair, it ruined my mood. I couldn’t take a decent picture of myself. My hair was a disaster. Damn you, wind, damn you.
We were expecting 15 of these windmills but I think there were more. But there were a couple of units that weren’t spinning. We were joking, “Who’s the manager here! We traveled a million miles just to get here, hoping to see all of them working! We’re not leaving until those two start working!”
And oh, I just have to mention that I saw something amusing on the way there.
Yep, that’s Kangkang Windmill Cafe right there. I wonder how many customers they serve every day.
PAGUDPUD
There’s a secluded beach called “Blue Lagoon” in Maira-Ira Point and it was crazy. The waves were just so fun. It felt like the wind was commanding the sea to slap us with every wave. Braving the giant waves was so cool and being swept meters from where we were reminded of our lost dream to become mermaids. Aha!
Pagudpud is heaven.
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Oh by the way, if you want your own Ilocos adventure for 3 days and 2 nights for only P3330, click here!
Part 2 is coming up.
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ABOUT YOSHKE
On May 31, 1985, tragedy struck when 41 tornadoes hit Canada and the US, leaving 76 people dead. At the same time, a doomed couple in the Philippines were having the best orgasms of their lives. Nine months (280 days) later, a healthy baby boy was brought into this world by normal delivery. That was exactly a week before Microsoft had its initial public offering.
Today, Yoshke Dimen resides independently in Mandaluyong City. He got a degree in Film from an overrated university in Diliman but is now pursuing a career in Social Media.
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PLEASE?
taga laoag ako. so…….parang wala lang hahahaha
wow. sa laoag kami nagstay nung first night!
Wow pumunta ka palang Paoay Church! Three blocks away lang dyan yung bahay namin. Dyan ako lagi nagsisimba noong virgin pa ako. Wahaha chareng! Haha.
I’m pleased to hear you had fun in Ilocos! 
Kumusta naman!? I didn’t know Ilokana ka bakla kaaa. haha. Panalo yung dyan ka nagsisimba nung virgin ka pa.
I remembered our HUM 2 trip there in Ilocos. It was really fun and the scenes were all enlightening! We didn’t get to go to Pagudpud though, much to our disappointment even if it was part of the itinerary.
I experienced drinking their ‘wine’, forgot how it was called though. Haha.
ay buti ka pa, nakatikim nung wine nila. ako, suka lang. haha
ahhhhh
nag KANGKANG ka rin pala ha! bwahahaha
haha, nag-kangkang ka rin ba?
That first photo kinda does capture the church’s beauty, but I can’t really conclude so because I haven’t seen the place myself. Maybe I will next year.
I’m sorry, but I don’t get what’s amusing about the Kangkang Windmill Cafe. :/
haha, ayoko mag-explain. sabihin nila bastos ako. haha
omg, gorgeous shots!
wow mel, welcome!
partida, i was using a point-and-shoot camera. YABANG! haha
mermaid talaga? Any plans on growing boobs?
Joke lang. Holds true to its name: Blue Lagoon. Looks nice!
bakeeeet? me problema ka sa mermaids? haha
i like the church. it is indeed majestic.
true, true
Yes I have heard of those words as well. Its sounds pretty funny.
I have Ilocano friends thats why.
In Malaysia susu means milk but in Filipino its a taboo word.
hahaha, quite amusing trivia. thanks
YOSHKE!!! I’m so glad you found Ilocos unforgettable! It’s an awesome awesome place! I wish I could’ve gone back one more time before I left for the States again.
Ilocos holds many wonderful memories for me! It is the home of one of the few dearest friends I have in the whole world!
*hugs Yoshke! Miss you!
*Chemae!!! Ilocos! Musta hacienda mo dun? Hahaha! I sooo remember that!
aaaaaaw! I miss you, too.
You shouldve gone to Ilocos with us!
I concur! Now I dunno when I’m gonna be able to go back!
Hindi mo na naintroduce si ehem sakin! Hahaha!
hahaha, mahiyain kasi yun!
ma mi-miss ko ang ilocos
o bakit naman?
im proud to be Ilokano!
wow! ilokano ka rin pala!
Hi yoshke.. I saw your vigan trip grabe ang ganda! Its my dream to visit ilocos yung nostalgic ambiance. I’m planning to have my vacay this march with my best friend but I am trying to call all the numbers listed in your blog but no one’s picking up.. Just want to know cno ang nacontact mo sa knila…please help..
Thanks.. your blog was very entertaining…one of my frustrations in life..to be a writer…maybe some other lifetime
Cheers
WOW..SUPER LOVE THE PLACE!
ang gandaaaa sobraaaa
nag-ilocos adventure din kami dati. and i love, love, love pagudpud! nakakatakot nga lang yung waves sa blue lagoon, but the place itself was amazing.
true, para kang hinihigop ng waves tas ibabato ka ng pagkalayo-layo. ang saket sa katawan
been to ilocos too,super ganda, napuntahan mo din ba yung falls sa pagudpud?
Nice Kuya Yoshke
I love to see more sceneries in the north.
Sa Bolinao palang ako nakapunta :/
wow! ganda naman nyan! nice to know na okay na sagada after typhoon!