Baluarte

"A zoo, hacienda, safari or a Jurassic theme park?" Entering the place for the first time made me feel so uncertain of where I was exactly at. 

Welcome to Chavit Singson's BALUARTE!

It is actually a Resort Complex (based on my research)! Just fifteen minutes away from the center of Vigan, one may enter the former governor's premises free of charge. Another exciting part of it is that visitors can have a close encounter with animals, both strange and endemic in the Philippines.

So, I did...given an assurance that most free-roaming animals here don't bite. I'd been to other zoos before, but it's my first time to see ostrich, spotted deer, impala and miniature horses in the flesh or at a short distance. They somehow interact with people as if they were tamed and trained to do so. 

Bengal tigers, elk, snakes and other reptiles are also bred and taken care of at Baluarte. On the contrary, you need not to worry because they are the caged ones!

These dinosaurs, too, won't harm you! Of course, they're just replicas! 

Baluarte serves also as a sanctuary to animals that can only be found in our country. These endemic species include Palawan bearcat, Philippine Tarsier and the Philippine cloud rat. 

To introduce some of the animals to the visitors,  they have regular shows in which the host asks for volunteers. Never ever raise your hand if you're the type of person that gets jittery and overstrung so easily because you'll never know if a python or an iguana would be placed on your arms or nape!

There are few animal species in the complex but hey, it's for free so there's no reason to complain.

Additional attractions are butterfly cages, miniature horse ride, bird feeding, picnic cottages, museum, chapel and souvenir shops! 

A golden building is situated on a hill but it's off-limits to the public...  simply because it's Mr. Singson's rest house or rather an extremely extravagant rest house!  I heard some gossips that the former governor originally intended to develop the site as a casino resort. But, it's a good thing he changed his plans to create Baluarte instead, saying that it's his way of giving back to his people. 

Baluarte has been gaining popularity among people touring the stretch of Ilocandia. Apart from the Old Vigan Town Tour, tourists are now including Baluarte to their travel itinerary. Now, I know... More than a zoo, hacienda, safari or theme park, Baluarte is a unique tourist attraction in Vigan! 
 

Vigan: Revisited

It took a long decade prior to my second visit in Vigan. Back in my heydays as a student, I had the chance to explore Vigan with my classmates as part of our Ilocos Region excursion. This time around, it was so remarkably different when I went on a solo-backpacking to visit the UNESCO world heritage site. Vigan was also recently announced as one of the New7Wonders Cities.  

Around five in the morning, I got off the bus somewhere in Bantay. Although a neighboring town, one could easily spot a welcome arch of Vigan. A leisurely walk was a great idea heading to the town proper. So, I just kept moving with my legs instead of hiring a trike. I had a gut feeling it was just within walking distance. And Wah Lah... in less than 10 minutes, I reached the historical Hispanic Town!

I continued my walk around Plaza Salcedo that brought me to the Archbishop's Plaza, the Provincial Capitol and Vigan City Hall. Historians say that the central park was the site of the execution of Gabriela Silang. In 1763, the heroine was publicly hanged to death. At present, Plaza Salcedo has been one of the major attractions in Vigan. That very early morning,  the park was so busy where people were flexing their muscles through Zumba group excercise and jogging.  There were also photographers and bystanders in the park. In the middle of it all, I noticed the park's lagoon. I never knew of a fountain in Vigan from my previous visit. Too bad I won't be able to watch a fountain show in the evening because I would have  to leave before dusk.  

                         

I just went straight to the church. Unbelievably, the Baroque-style Vigan Cathedral (or St. Paul's Metropolitan Cathedral) has withstood the test of time since its completion in 1800. With its unattached bell tower, they have surpassed earthquakes and storms side by side for years. Immediately beside the cathedral is another park called Plaza Burgos where I saw some children playing Filipino street games.

Finally after a few more steps, I reached Calle Crisologo. This portion of the city remained relatively intact despite wars and natural calamities. It's where time seemed to have stopped. 

Anyone would instantly experience being transported back in time with plying calesas on cobble stone streets and existing heritage houses. 

The houses' designs are fusion of Filipino-Chinese and Spanish architecture built  with red tiled roofs, huge entrance doors, stone basement walls,  and sliding capiz shell windows. The owners of the houses are decendants of prominent Filipino-Chinese traders before and during Spanish colonization.

Presently, some houses were transformed into stores, souvenir shops, restaurants, guest houses and museums. This only proves  that the ingenious designs of the ancestral houses are still relevant up to the modern times. 

According to Vigan's official website, there are 187 residential, institutional, commercial and religious structures that are well preserved. The famous half-kilometer street is as appealing as a any place can be but the difference is the culture, heritage and a rich history behind it. I even heard a story that Vigan was saved during World War II. The place was supposed to be bombarded  but Japanese General Major Sakae Narioka commanded his soldiers to depart to the further north of the Luzon island. His purpose was to intentionally spare his beloved wife and child in Vigan from any danger. A love story saved the city!

It's time to eat. I chose eating Empanada over dining in a resto to feel "the real Vigan" . Around the complex, one would simply notice the implication of consumerist culture with the presence of Mc Donald's, Max's, Chowking, Jollibee and the Plaza Maestro Commercial Center. 

In harmony with the the old city's ambiance, these business establisments complied with Vigan Municipal Ordinance No. 04 Series of 2000: AN ORDINANCE ENACTING THE PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION GUIDELINES FOR VIGAN ANCESTRAL HOUSES- SECTION 16. GUIDELINES FOR INFILLING AND NEW ARCHITECTURE. 

I admit, their architectural designs are amazing. However, I just thought they're eyesores which somehow distract the idea of a heritage city. Zoning is really significant in defining the historic character of the place. However, I must say- Commercialization is unstoppable... and of course, money talks.

Ending my Vigan trip, I thought nothing much has changed. But, I must say, a lot has changed. Change is inevitable, as they say. But, there are some things that we must retain unchanged so that the future generations will still have a chance to see, feel, experience and learn something from the past.

Hundred Island-Hopping

Hundred Islands: just by hearing the name you will instantly get a hint of what this tourist attraction can offer. The Philippine archipelago is comprised of 7,107 islands. But, did you know that 123 of them are all concentrated in one place- in Lingayen Gulf, Alaminos, Pangasinan?

It would be a great idea to conquer more than 100 islands all at once. So, my friends and I made our way to Alaminos to visit the said tourist attraction for the summer. 

Getting there...

From Dagupan City, it took us approximately two hours by Five Star Bus going to the town proper of Alaminos. As soon as we alighted from the bus, tricycle drivers immediately approached and  offered us a ride to Lucap Wharf. It took us 10 minutes to get to the jump-off point. Trike fare was PhP 20 per person. By the way, the tricycle drivers also have contacts with motorboat owners, who offer island hopping tour. We bargained and closed a deal at PhP 1,400 for a whole day tour service boat plus snorkel sets.  We were five in the group so, it was PhP 280 per pax.  Alternatively, you may go directly to the Hundred Island Information Center, which is also located at Lucap Wharf, for more tour package options and additional assistance. Each one of us also had to pay the PhP 40 Environmental Fee in conformity with the Tourism Code.

(Check their website for rates and other info: http://www.hundredislands.ph)

Island Hopping...

We were never got disappointed upon seeing this marvelous  creation by nature. Islands of different sizes and shapes mesmerized right before our very eyes. White sand beaches, unbelievable limestone rock formations and the clear blue sea water were well worth a visit. Breathing in these  refreshing views made us escape from the stressful and busy city life even just for a while.

Prototypical it was--- we we're hopping from one island to another! There were three mostly visited islands that we went to see including Quezon Island, Governor’s Island and Children’s Island. My favorite island was the Governor's Island where we trekked to the peak of the cliff to have a picturesque view of the national park. 

As expected, a lot of tourists flocked their way to the beach because it's summer. We could hardly find a spot where there were less people until we discovered Scout Island. There's another group of yuppies on one side of the beach but after a few minutes, they departed to see the other islands. So lucky we were- the entire island was all ours! We opted to stay to do what's on our bucket list for that day: swimming, snorkeling, diving, eating, photoshoot and beach bumming under the summer sun. Our  service boat men brought the small vessel into a dock until we finished our activities. Anyway, there was no time limit so we enjoyed ourselves until the sun set

Going Home...

Pack up time! We made sure that all our trash were collected to dispose them properly. As responsible travelers, we believe in the saying that goes: "Take nothing but pictures. Leave nothing but footprints. Kill nothing but time."  It was just annoying that there were evident act of vandalism- engraving people's name on the surface of the rocks. If only they knew that the geological process involving the formation of Hundred Islands took roughly about 2 million years! The Hundred Islands Conservation and Development Authority (HICDA) must do something about this to educate their visitors and to keep the national park protected.

The sun was setting as we're heading our way back to the port. While on the boat, we had a final glance of the fiery sun slowly sinking beneath the horizon while creating a dramatic silhouette effect to the beautiful islands. Our Hundred Islands adventure  was a memorable experience and my final shots would always remind me that there's more than a hundred reason to smile and enjoy life! =) 

WOW Lubao: 2nd International Balloon Festival

Before airliners dominated the skies, hot air balloon was the first one to take its flight. Historically, the first manned hot air balloon was propelled through the air of Paris, France in 1783. For most kids and "kids at heart", hot air balloon at one point of time has been one of our fascinations. We might have wondered how it's like to go up in a hot air balloon and have a bird's eye view of the earth's terrain or an old town. It's even more fun to fly away to the next town up up and away to the South American jungle, right? You know what I mean if you watched the Pixar-Disney movie, "Up."

This fascination came to reality as Lubao, Pampanga launched its 2nd International Balloon Festival. Touted as the largest of its kind in the Southeast Asian Region, Filipinos and foreign tourists alike had the chance to see & experience hot air balloon flying.  It was a four-day event from March 26 to 29, 2015. According to organizers, this year's event surpassed last year statistics in terms of the number of tourists and hot air balloon participants from different countries.  There were about 42 participating balloons from all over the world that dazzled the skyline. 

The venue was Pradera Verde in Prado Siongco Lubao, Pampanga. Travelling by car or by bus (Genesis or Victory Liner) from Manila to Lubao may take approximately 1 to 2 hours. One-way bus fare costs PhP150, as of March 2015. Entrance fee was at Php250 per head.

The sports and recreation park's open space was transformed into a very festive atmosphere. As expected, each day was fun-filled. Activities highlighted the festival including motor paragliding show, kite flying, cultural shows, paint ball exhibition and balloon flight. Shaded activity areas with bazaars and food booths were provided to the viewing public just in case they got tired or hungry. By the way, bringing food inside the venue was not allowed. Police officers, fire trucks and paramedic rescue team were strategically stationed for security and quick emergency response. 

Depending on wind and weather condition, the balloon flight shows might come about or be cancelled. Though there were occasional strong winds, hot air balloons were not prevented to take flight. The pilots were able to launch balloons as many as they could. 

Photo Credits: Rence Bryan Villamarin

In the evening, an spectacle called "Night Glow" was showcased. Spectators were so amazed how the balloons' fabric gas bags (called the envelope) were illuminated by flames, ejected from the gondolas' burners. It was very interactive because the public had the chance to enter the activity grounds and see the actual thing- how a hot air balloon works! Adding more enjoyment to the evening skies were uniquely shaped hot air ballons like Yoda, Darth Vader, Humpty Dumpty, a Frog and a Smurf! Afterwards, nightly onstage shows featuring local artists like Eureka Band, The Voice of the Philippines Season 2 Final 4, Mitoy Yonting and Kamikazee entertained the audience. 

Night Glow Show

Based on the visitors' positive responses evident on their delighted faces, the event was indeed an enormous success. The Municipality of Lubao's effort to promote and harness tourism was exemplary. This is one way how a local government can boost the local economic impacts of tourism--- by promoting more job and business opportunities to its people. Despite of the cataclysmic 1991 Mt. Pinatubo eruption and lack of unique natural wonders, they were still able to put Lubao on the map--- as a famous destination for hot air balloon enthusiasts!