BEAUTY OF VIGAN CITY
In our world, there are many beautiful and historic places that anyone can visit. Every country has a proud place. Our Philippines is one of them. There are many beautiful sights and places that anyone in the Philippines can go to. The Philippines has seventeen (17) regions, and in each of these regions there are "Tourist Spots" or in Tagalog, Places that are often visited by Tourists or travelers. Vigan City is one of them that the Philippines is proud of. Vigan is located in the Ilocos Region (Region I) in the northwestern part of the coastal province of Ilocos Sur. This city is known for its historic houses and buildings with a mixture of Asian and European design influences. It has been dubbed the "best preserved Spanish colonial town". When you travel it, it is as if you were traveling during the Spanish occupation of the Philippines. They take good care of it because they preserve the antiquity and history of this place. It is a unique "World Heritage City" in the Philippines based on the UNESCO World Heritage list of Sites and Monuments on December 2, 1999. It is known not only in the Philippines but all over the world because it was included in the title "7 Wonders of the World" and it is currently included in the "New 7 Wonders City".
COME ON! AND LET'S DISCOVER THE BEAUTY OF VIGAN!
Let us begin our discovery of its History and Origin.
Vigan City was once an Island surrounded by the Abra River, the Govantez River and the Meztizo River that circled around it. The name of this city is derived from the name of a type of plant called "Biga-a" which grows on the banks of the rivers here and was commonly seen in the rivers here then. The "Biga-a" plant is a species of the "Gabi" plant. Vigan got its name because of a story or anecdote from past generations, that there was a Spaniard who met a native and he asked here what the name of the place was, but a native could not understand his said and in his assumption that what the Spaniards were asking was the Biga-a plant, and a native of Ilocano answered the word "Biga-a Apo". But no Spaniard could say that, so Vigan became the name of this City.
Even before the arrival of the Spaniards in our country, the city of Vigan was known as a Trade Center or Center of trade between our Indigenous and foreign Chinese aboard their respective ships crossing the Meztizo River to exchange their products such as "exotic goods" from the kingdom of Asia, for gold, silk, beeswax and other products from the Cordillera mountains. Foreigners, mostly Chinese, settled and settled there and married natives, and that is where the "multi-cultural" race of the Biguenyos began.
During the Spanish conquest, when Don Juan de Salcedo, a well-known Spanish conqueror, completed his successful voyage and discovery in the North, the king of Spain rewarded him for his service. The old province of Ylocos was given and granted to him as his encomienda. When he was encomiendero and Justicia Mayor of Ilocos, he returned to Vigan which he first discovered on June 12, 1572. The natives there warmly and warmly welcomed him because Don Juan de Salcedo treated them well then. . He made Vigan the capital of the whole of Ylocos which then consisted of Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Abra, La Union and some parts of Mountain Province. In January 1574, he brought with him Agostino missionaries to preach about the Gospel and established Vigan as a Spanish city to dominate the neighboring countries of the Philippines.
Let's Learn about the Legacies and historical places in Vigan
CALLE CRISOLOGO
Calle Crisologo or Mena Crisologo Street in the Meztizo District is one of the most important and most important places in Vigan. It is frequented by many tourists.
On Calle Crisollogo of Vigan are about 150 stone houses. They show the skill and ingenuity of Filipino artisans before the era of modern materials, equipment and technology in building construction. Only stone houses survived the earthquakes and typhoons that often hit the Ilocos region. Its roof is made of Tisa and its second floor and floor are made of wood. Many of them are in good condition and some have been turned into Hotels, museums, souvenir shops, eateries or bars.
ST. PAUL METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL
The St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral built by the Agostino friars and completed in 1790 was used exclusively in the Ilocano Baroque Earthquake style due to the earthquakes experienced in Ilocos and with the design repeatedly used throughout the Neo- style. Gothic and Romanesque. It is located in Plaza Burgos, its bell tower (more than a century old) and the part of Vigan Seminary that was not destroyed by fire. The interior of the church has three naves, twelve altars and a choir loft. Chinese influence can be seen on the altar in the baptistry, on the forged bronze communion handrail, on the two Fu dogs just outside the cathedral and on the octagon of the cathedral dome.
MUSEO CRISOLOGO
Vigan Museum Crisologo is under the supervision of the National Museum, which keeps the memorabilia of the late Congressman Floro Crisologo and the original furniture previously seen in the Houses in Vigan.
New Segovia Museum
The Nueva Segovia Museum is inside the Archbishop's Palace with a collection of expensive antique church furniture and relics from churches in the Ilocos region. Some of these are images of ancient bishops, wooden images of saints, costumes of priests and bishops and a silver shrine still in use during Holy Week. There is also the archive of the archdiocese and the throne room. The Palace (Arzobizpado) served as the headquarters of General Emilio Aguinaldo in 1889.
MUSEUM OF SAN PABLO
The San Pablo Museum is located on the eastern side of the cathedral. Religious materials, materials for making Vigan Houses and 19th-century Vigan paintings can be found here.
And here are the other places to visit that you can visit!
BALUARTE
DANCING FOUNTAIN
PLAZA SALCEDO
PLAZA BURGOS
And much more.........
AND OF COURSE, LET'S DISCOVER THE DELICIOUS FOODS AND COOK IN VIGAN!
Vigan is also known for its variety of delicious and special dishes. Come and find out what they are!
Vigan's 2 main foods are:
LONGGANISA
EMPANADA