Malacanang of the North

One of the major attractions in Ilocos Norte is the Malacanang of the North which was built during the time of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos. This mansion done in typical 14th century stone house of the rich during the era is now maintained as a museum.

It is worth visiting to experience even for a while the opulent lifestyle of the former first couple of the Philippines. The place is a showcase of Philippine made furniture and fixtures. Since this Malacanang of the North is situated by Paoay Lake and has large capiz windows on all sides, you can enjoy the breeze coming from the lake.

Northern Exposure

I have been planning for the longest time to go to Pagudpud in northernmost tip of the Philippines. So I immediately booked an airline ticket when Cebu Pacific offered a round trip ticket to Laoag for only P1K(US$23.25). Traveling to Ilocos has been made easy and cheap with Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and Air Philippines now flying to Laoag on a daily basis.

Ilocos Norte was a revelation. I was not expecting much because of my disappointment with Ilocos Sur where I went many years ago to see Vigan. Ilocos Sur offers nothing much for tourists except for the row of old houses along Crisologo Street in Vigan. And these are not really impressive considering the long bus ride to go to Vigan from Manila. So I suggest that if you travel to Ilocos, best to used Laoag as a base. From Laoag you can do a day trip to Vigan which is only 2 hours away by land travel, and to the many other interesting tourists spots of Ilocos Norte. There are also more reasonably priced, and more and better options for accommodations in Laoag.

In Laoag, you will be impressed by its cleanliness and the numerous attractions which includes an old church (St. Williams Catherdral), the sinking Bell Tower, the Museo Ilocos Norte (this is small musuem but world class in its presentation), and the provincial capitol and city government office. All these sights are beautifully lit at night making Laoag a City of Lights in its own right.

There are also many restaurants offering local cuisine like bagnet, empanada and pinakbet.

So if you go North, make Laoag your hub for traveling around Ilocos!

Kalibo's Congee

A fresh take on congee and as an alternative breakfast is the Congee at the Wellness Kitchen in Kalibo, Aklan. I discovered the Wellness Kitchen on a side trip to Kalibo before proceeding to Boracay.

Their Congee is made of locally grown black rice mixed with free range chicken and fresh garlic and onion. This is supposedly a healthy breakfast from a pioneering fresh produce restaurant in Aklan. This Congee is priced at a very reasonable P50 (US$1.16).