Ever heard of a story that left you in awe? Be it love, heroism, or anything in between. What if I tell you one? It's something that could make you feel loved and like you come back in time.
It's romantic and means a lot not just in history but also in what is preserved and carried forward to the present, which can be brought to in the future.
As I walk in the Calle Crisologo with my classmate as we look for a taho vendor, the story I once heard when I was younger came into mind.
I've been sharing a lot about Vigan lately, and some or a few might be wondering about it. Aside from being born here, there's really a lot to talk about this place, and that is something I'd like you to experience too. Anyway, here it goes.
During the last days of the Japanese occupation in the town of Vigan, the town was supposed to be completely burned up into ashes before withdrawing. Yet here comes a romantic love story between a Bigueña and a Japanese Military Commander that miraculously spared the whole town from being destructed.
The bigueña, a term used to call the local women, is named Adela Tolentino, and the other half was Captain Fujiro Takahashi. According to the story, on the night when the Japanese troops are going to leave Vigan, the captain talked to a priest to take custody of his wife and child because he didn't want his family to be in danger. The said priest was Fr. Joseph Kleikamp, a procurator of the Vigan seminary.
Now what happened is that the priest agreed to the plead of the captain in a condition - to leave Vigan together with his men without devastating the town. Soon after they left, the locals were happy because the city was spared from being shattered. However, what exactly happened to the captain after such an event is unknown.
Thinking about what the place would have been if it wasn't spared from bombing makes me feel sad. But fortunately, it was saved, and it's happy to see how the historic town was preserved.
Sure some improvements have happened already, but the ambiance when you're there while surrounded by the antique houses feels different and unexplainable.
Today, Vigan, particularly Calle Crisologo remains to be a top pick of the places to visit not only because of its instagrammable scenes and distinct ambiance but also because of its rich history that is worth telling to everybody.