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Published: September 14th 2007
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Welcome to Ilocos Norte!
di naman kami masyadong masaya noh? This is the second part of our tour at Ilocos Province. The first part was the Vigan City tour at Ilocos Sur. We went there during Holy Week of this year with my co-workers and stayed at Allan's place. We went to many different places and it was all worth it.
Places we visited Cape Bojeador Light House, Laoag City They call it Faro Cabo Cape Bojeador, as it set majestically on a hill overlooking the South China Sea, located approximately 35 kilometres north of the City of Laoag, the lighthouse is the most accessible of all lighthouses in the north of the Island of Luzon. It was built in 1892 and is still functioning to date, serving ships passing by the northern part of South China Sea. This is one of the famouse historical landmark in the province of Ilocos Norte. It is the highest lighthouse in the Philippines above sea level on top of a hill named Vigia de Nagparitan (estimated a total height of around 160 meters high; tower height = 17 meters approximate) and is located in the town of Burgos.
The Lighthouse is the most western of the lights on the northern coast
Bojeador Lighthouse
at the top of the lighthouse of the island, and in the approach of vessels from the China coast on the northwest. It lights the bend that marks the northwestern corner of the Island of Luzon, separating it from the South China Sea and the Babuyanes Channel. Similarly, it also assists ships heading towards the ports of Salomangue in Ilocos Sur which is 87 kilometres south from the lighthouse, and Curmimao, which is 60 kilometres away in Ilocos Norte. The Light flash once in every minute.
Completed on the 30th of March, 1892, the design and construction of the Lighthouse of Cape Bojeador was initially undertaken by the Engineer Magin Pers y Pers but was subsequently reconfigured and finished by the Engineer Guillermo Brockman. Built of locally made brick, the tower is octagonally-shaped and has an inner dimension of two meters and an exterior dimension of three and half meters.
The mechanism fitted into the lighthouse at Bojeador was of the basic specification for all first order lighthouses (Ed, take note, this is why you were astonished to see similarity with that of the Capones Lighthouse). It contained a winding mechanism composed of a counter weight which when wound would enable the lantern supporting
the lenses to rotate. The housing of the counter weight is located in the centre of the spiral staircase which when wound would drop all the way to the bottom of the stairs. It takes approximately one hour for the weight to reach a full cycle, which would enable the lantern to rotate numerous times. The job of the lighthouse keeper was to religiously wind the mechanism to ensure the continuous rotation of the lens throughout the night. This practice was subsequently stopped when the tower suffered damages during the 1990 earthquake.
Compared to the Lighthouse at Cape Enga?o in Palaui Island, the Lighthouse in Cape Bojeador is in an envious position among Philippine Spanish Lighthouses. Not only does it protect one of the more treacherous bends of the vast Philippine coastline, but it has as well earned the distinction of being the most visited light station in the country. The lighthouse of Cape Bojeador today is not only a mere light station with an obvious functional use, its pavilion has now been transformed into a mini-museum as well as lodging for people seeking basic accommodation, though except from shared cooking facilities and water from the cistern, no other
amenities are provided. Its tower is quite accessible and with little enticement from its friendly light keeper, accesses to its lantern and, if the winds are not that strong, the precarious perch from its overhanging balcony is possible. As a tourist attraction in a politically powerful province, the lighthouse of Cape Bojeador has ensured its preservation and protection for years to come.
This is one of the must see landmarks when visiting Ilocos Norte province.
Paoay Church St. Augustine Church, or more popularly called Paoay Church, in Ilocos Norte is one of the the oldest churches in the Philippines and is among the major attractions of the province.
It is inscribed in UNESCO's World Heritage list (together with 3 other Philippine baroque churches: Nuestra Senora in Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur; San Augustin in Manila; Miag-ao Church in Iloilo) in recognition of its unique architectural style which is a reinterpretation of European Baroque by Chinese and Philippine craftsmen.
The Paoay Church in particular is famous for its distinctive Gothic, Baroque and Oriental architecture. Its facade reveals Gothic affinity, its gables show Chinese elements, while the niches topping the walls suggest Javanese influence (reminiscent of the famous Boroboudur
Temple).
Construction of Paoay Church was started by Augustinian friars in 1694. It was completed in 1704 and re-dedicated in 1894.
The church was dubbed "Earthquake Baroque" because of its fortress-like structure, with 24 massive buttresses designed to withstand the destructive forces of earthquakes.
Its thick walls were built of coral stones and bricks and sealed by hard lime mortar, which according to historians, was made by "mixing sand and lime with molasses boiled with mango leaves, leather and rice straw for two nights."
Malacanang of the North, Poay Ilocos Norte Built as the official residence of then President Marcos in Ilocos Norte, overlooking the legendary Paoay Lake, this imposing structure is now a museum.
Marcos Museum, Batac Ilocos Norte The Marcos Museum and Mausoleum in Batac, Ilocos Norte showcases memorabilia of the late Philippines President Ferdinand E. Marcos and a large stately and gloomy tomb housing his embalmed remains which are contained in a vacuum-sealed glass coffin. Within the property of the Marcos family is a cluster of three houses and the hallowed grounds of the mausoleum. The Museum is the first structure seen from the main street and is the one which follows
Marcos Museum
so many picture so little time the lines of a colonial wood-and-brick house, with solid ground floor walls and an upper storey of wood decorated with floral motifs. The Mausoleum is a cube of adobe blocks and is stepped towards the top of the structure. The dark interior is divided into an entry foyer in which are exhibited old English standards and a bust of the former president.
Bangui Windmills, Bangui Ilocos Norte There are 15 wind mills located in the coastal town of Bangui. Supplies electrical energy to the community & nearby towns. Those were built by the NorthWind Power Development Corporation to take its share in reducing the emission of harmful greenhouse gases (GHGs) causing global warming and to accelerate the rural electrification of the goverment.
Pagudpud Ilocos Norte Pagudpud is a coastal resort town on the northernmost tip of Luzon in the Philippines. It is bounded to the south by the town of Bangui and to the east by the Cordillera Mountain Range, the town of Adams and the province of Cagayan. The South China Sea lies to the west and north. The town rolls over mountains, hills, valleys and flat coastal land. It lies 45 miles north of Laoag City,
Pagudpud beach
let's take a swim! the provincial capital, and about 350 miles north of Manila.
Its white-sand beaches and crystal-blue water makes Pagudpud a haven for tourists. With its spectacular white sand beaches, the place has gained the reputation as the "Boracay of the North"...only more charming. This entire coastal area is lined with many coconut trees, making it a truly picturesque scenery and an ideal place to stretch and unwind.
The most popular beaches are in Saud. Beyond Saud, there are other shores that are growing in popularity, including Blue Lagoon, Burayoc, Ayoyo, Patapat and Pasaleng.
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shiela joy
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wow!super ganda ang mga view!............nka2-amaze tlaga!