Hello Travel Lovers!
Our destination: Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Philippines Featuring Baluarte Zoo and Safari Gallery
Baluarte Zoo is a zoological park in Vigan which was established and owned by a Filipino politician and business tycoon named Luis Crisologo Singson who is better known as Chavit Singson.
Chavit Singson as a politician. He is serving as a Mayor of Ilocos Sur from 2019 up to present and also served as a Governor. In 2008, he was the Deputy Security Adviser in the Philippines Government. He is also the president of the Philippines National Shooting Association since 2018. He is well known in the Philippines for raising $11 million we needed to host Miss Universe 2016 pageant in the country.
Chavit Singson as a businessman. He owns multi-million businesses from construction to transportation business that make him one of the richest men in the Philippines. You can consider him as one of those crazy rich Asians. Now we know where his money comes from to set up the Baluarte Zoo.
Baluarte Zoo
The Baluarte Zoo is well maintained and is free admission even for the animal show except if you want to take pictures with the Baluarte's big cat (tiger) and other animals, feeding or riding them. Mayor Chavit Singson, as I heard made it free so that the people of Ilocos can come to the zoo and see the animals without the need to go to Manila.
You will see animals you typically see in the zoo. You can feed the kangaroo, ride on the donkey, caressed the tiger or put a reptile on your hand or a snake in your shoulder while it slithers lol. They have an amazing interactive show like the wild boar painting and the Fur Sea Experience where you can feed the seals, watch their fantastic show and feed them. They are well-cared for as I see. They are very tamed and gentle. Just feel bad about the tigers chained up in the cage.
Have a look of some of the animals inside.
There are shops and restaurant around so you can eat Ice cream while walking about. You have to bring an umbrella because it is seriously hot in there especially walking up the hill.
Like every tourist attraction, Baluarte also offers a wide range of souvenir items of plush animals and apparels and personalized items so you can bring your favourite animal with you. The shop is open from 8-5 p.m. during zoo hours.
Safari Gallery
The owner Mr Chavit Singson has a hunting hobby which becomes his agenda to set up the Baluarte. When his hunting collection trophy grew big he then decided to put up the Baluarte Zoo.
This is on top of the hill inside the Baluarte. The Safari Gallery is a "trophy room" of Chavit Singson's collection of animals he hunted for years and years. It features the remains of real animals. You'll see the mounted head, just skin and the whole animals. Some are really massive that I wonder how did they bring it in there. They all look magnificently preserved.
Some of the animals in the gallery are bison, wild beast, bear, elephant, lion and deer. Everything is well labelled and the gallery itself is designed flawlessly. And the good thing about this place is it is free for everyone to view. I was really fascinated when I first saw it. It's unbelievable.
Here's what you can see in the gallery.
I really wonder how did Chavit Singson manage to bring it all here when it comes from various parts of the world. And I can't imagine how much it costs to preserve all of it.
I know we don't all agree with him hunting and killing animals. And many petitions to stop animal trophy hunting. And there are questions in my mind. Did he enjoy killing those animals? Does he find pleasure to see them as trophies?
Your thoughts?
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I've been there and I like it but I hate long walk to reach last cage of the animals well maybe because im not that young anymore