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!