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!