Hello everyone! Another day, another travel series. Today, I'll be sharing our adventures on day 2 in Ilocos, Philippines. If you missed out on our Day 1, feel free to check out my previous blog post. As always, sit tight, take a cup of virtual coffee, make yourself comfy, and let’s go on this adventure together.
After having breakfast at our hotel, we didn’t waste time, and we hopped on the road to catch our day 2 itinerary, which includes visiting historic sites, tourist spots, and souvenir shops around Vigan, Ilocos. Our first stop was the iconic Bantay Church and its accompanying Bantay Bell Tower. According to Guide to the Philippines, Bantay Church is a Roman Catholic church in the Ilocos town of the same name. Also known as the Saint Augustine Parish Church, it’s one of the oldest surviving churches in the region, dating back to 1591. A few meters from Bantay Church is the Vigan’s most iconic symbol, the Bantay Bell Tower. According to Primer, it has looked over the towns of both Bantay and Vigan for over a century and was known as Diego and Grabiela Silang’s favorite date spot during the 17th century. I really liked our picture at Bantay Bell Tower because it looked like my father was holding a bell above us.
After a quick visit to Bantay Church, we decided to finally try the famous Ilocos Empanada. It is a savory snack filled with cabbage, Ilocos longganisa, and eggs. It has an orange outer shell that makes it unique among other empanadas. While it is best paired with vinegar or ketchup, I preferred eating the empanada in its authentic form to fully appreciate its original flavors.
After that delicious snack break, we get on with our tour at the heart of Vigan, which is the Calle Crisologo. It is Vigan’s most popular tourist attraction and the highlight of a Vigan City tour. The best thing to do in Calle Crisologo during the day is to shop for souvenirs to give to friends and families from different shops. So when you visit Vigan, don’t forget to buy souvenirs to take home a little bit of something from Ilocos, and of course, don’t forget to take tons of pictures to treasure those memories.
That wraps up our Day 2 adventure in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. Join me on my next blog as I take you to Ilocos Norte. Stay tuned and stay connected for more adventures ahead. Thank you, and until next time!😘