What made this vacation more exciting is that I was with Liit, Amba, Jen and Tita Yhetta and 14 more members of their family. It’s quite a long story how I met them but Liit is our common denominator. I met Liit’s almost entire family when I helped her planned the wedding of Tita Yhetta and Tito Apollo via net and as they say everything is history.
How me and Liit known each other? Well, that’s another story. But knowing her and her family is one of the greatest things that ever happened to me. I feel so welcome whenever I’m with them which I didn’t feel much when I’m around my relatives. They embraced me with warmth and love. They’re superb!
It was my the first time I’m traveling with them and hopefully not the last. Our destination…Laoag City.
May 24, 2007, at five o’clock in the morning, I woke up still undecided whether I would have someone drive me to the airport or not. I’m supposed to be at the Centennial Airport by 9am our flight is at 10am.. Because my car is coding as well at my bro’s, I decided to take the cab. And it was a wrong idea to take EDSA during that time. Anyway, I arrived at the airport a little past 9 with Amba, Alfred and their kids about to enter.
Laoag City, is 257 miles away from Metro Manila, 12 hrs on land trip and about 50 minutes by air. We were on flight PR 226 arriving Laoag International Airport at 10:50am.
It’s not my first time going to Laoag. I’ve already been there for about 2 or 3 times with family and always take the land trip. It was my first time to go there taking the plane. Actually to save time and for the trip to be more convenient to my friends since they came from San Francisco we took the plane.
Laoag is located at the northern tip of the Philippine. It is the capital city of Ilocos Norte. It is known for its bagnet [a tasty deep friend pork], sukang iloco [balsamic vinegar], tiny native garlic whose flavor is more intense than that of the Taiwanese garlic, red onions and cilantro.
Laoag is a very ideal place to take a vacation if you’re looking for a serene side and you’re ready to shift gears and slow down to almost to a full stop.
We arrived at Laoag International Airport on time. Our plane touched down very smoothly. We were greeted by a very hot weather. After getting our stuff at the baggage claim, we immediately got on the bus that will take us to where we will be staying for 4-days and 3-nights, Fort Ilocandia, the only 5-star hotel in the northern Philippines with casino. Fort Ilocandia is a Spanish Moroccon inspired villa, the resort is complete with facilites and luxuries designed to provide absolute satisfaction for the tourists.
Fort Ilocandia is equipped with 280 deluxe rooms that offers panoramic view of the resort. It has an exclusive 18-hole golf course, olympic size swimming pook, video arcade, tennis court, gym and sauna. At the beach you can enjoy water activities such as, jetski, banana boat, surfing, sailing, and volleyball. You can also do recreational activities such as horseback riding, all terrain vehicles, shooting range, archery and many more.
From the airport, it’s about 15 to 20 minutes ride to the resort. When we arrived we were greeted by local singing group singing Ilocano songs.
The trip to was full of fun. We ate, went to the beach and had fun seeing all the beautiful historical places of Ilocos Norte and Vigan, Ilocos Sur.
At Vigan, Ilocos Sur we saw the residence of famous Filipino painter in Badoc, Juan Luna. The ancestral house of the Crisologos, the town’s museum, the famous heritage where in you can see old old old Spanish-era buildings and houses.
In Ilocos Norte, aside from Laoag, we went to Paoay where the famous Paoay Church is, we also visited the Malacanang of the North. It is the house of the former President Marcos. We went to see Cape Bojeador Lighthouse in Burgos . It is the tallest lighthouse in the Philippines. We also traveled to Bangui where giant windmills are located. Those windmills are the first in southeast asia and have been attracting tourists. Then we went to Pagudpud beach, the Boracay of the North. It is famous for its white fine sand.
I would have wanted to write more but I’m kinda lazy today. Anyway, here are hotos which I took. Enjoy!
Btw, thanks to Liit and Amba for making this trip possible. I owe you guys!
