[741] Reasons to Drive to Vigan (Again)

Before I go on, apologies in advance if I get some of the names wrong. I should be bringing along a small notebook to take notes next time I travel.

A few weeks ago my family and I drove to Vigan for a three-day holiday. It was a long and tiring drive, about 10 hours at our pace from Metro Manila to Hotel Veneto de Vigan.

I won't be recapping what we did on our trip. I will be writing down reasons why I would happily do this again. Budget and schedule willing, of course. So here they are, the reasons why I would want to go to Vigan again via road trip.

The Food

Before getting to Vigan my family and I stopped to eat at Bistro Candon in Candon, Ilocos Sur. We intentionally did not have lunch anywhere to eat here. My mom mentioned how good the food was, and boy it did not disappoint! The two highlights of our meal were the Bagnet on Poque-Poque Pizza and the Sunny Vigan Longganisa Pizza. Great food, so great I would probably willingly drive all the way and spend a night in Candon if I can eat lunch, dinner, and breakfast there before driving home!

My favorite pizza - Sunny Vigan Longganisa. Look at that egg!

Bagnet on Poque-Poque Pizza - also a great dish

Good food is INDEED meant for sharing.

Another amazing surprise was the restaurant in Cordillera Inn. The food was also very good, if not a bit pricey. Pricey in the sense that in the eateries outside you can get a meal for around Php60. But the price here is definitely worth it. The food is just great. The fact that the restaurant is air conditioned is just a lovely bonus. I am just glad my mom also recommended we eat here. I honestly didn't have any plans to eat here since every time we passed by the restaurant it was always empty.

Cordillera Inn's Bagnet Sisig

Poque-Poque, Fish Croquetas, and Bagnet from Cordillera Inn

Another reason to go back is the Ilocos Empanada. I only had one the whole trip, and to be honest it wasn't as great as the empanada from Laoag or Batac. I think I have to go back there to try Vigan empanada and not just from one branch.

Finally a good friend of mine recommended we try Tongson's Royal Bibingka. Good thing Maica went there early to buy because the lines were already getting long. Their bibingka was heavenly. It was made of cassava and was a lot chewy and creamier than the usual budin I eat from Quezon Province.

Tongson's Royal Bibingka - bite sized and very delicious

The Sights

So on the only whole day in Vigan Maica, Martina, and I took a calesa city tour. We were lucky our kutchera (female calesa driver) was very nice and pleasant. Aside from that she was also a very experienced tour guide. She brought us to the two places I wanted to visit -- Bantay Bell Tower and the Pottery places. If ever you want to take a city tour in Vigan, look for Manang Ditas.

Manang Ditas with Maica and Martina taken at Baluarte

This building is older than me. Obviously.

One of the Spanish era houses in Vigan

Calle Crisologo is the most famous place in Vigan. It is a cobblestone street and all the buildings there are Spanish-era restored buildings. This street is full of stores selling pasalubong and there are plenty restaurants to eat at. Calle Crisologo is also where Cordillera Inn is located.

Calle Crisologo at night

Finally, Vigan has two Churches to look at. San Agustin Church with Bantay Bell Tower and Vigan Cathedral.

San Agustin Church

Bantay Bell Tower - Decorated for Christmas Season

View from Bantay Bell Tower. The left mountain range is Cordillera and the right is Benguet.

Vigan Cathedral at Night

Family Bonding Time

Of course time spent with my family was the best reason to go to Vigan. It was a chance to relax and enjoy each other's company in a different environment. We spent around 72 hours together, for good or for bad.

Our family photo just outside the hotel. The start of our city tour.

Anyway that's all I have as reasons for going back to Vigan. I would definitely love to save up for another trip there.

Out.

On Road Trips, A Big Announcement, and Reminiscing

It's that time of the year again for my parents' (not-quite) annual Northern Road Trip. This time though I was a bit concerned since their route will make them chase after Typhoon Dodong (internation name: Noul).

Fortunately they've arrived at their first stop-off point and will spend the night there, as they usually do. Tomorrow they continue their northern road trip and hopefully by the time they head off tomorrow the typhoon will have left the islands of the Philippines.

I must admit that I am quite jealous I was not able to go with them this year. Recent events caused me to miss my chance. What event? I accepted a job offer from a multinational game development company and I filed my resignation.

What this means is I'm basically finishing my tasks at my current employer and training my replacement. So I can't really take a week off to go with my folks, as much as I would like to. I'll be finishing my term with AutoPerformance Ph near the end of May, so I have little time to finish everything.

The impending career change is basically what I was getting at in my previous blog but at the time I felt I should not announce it publicly.

Now, however, the die hast been cast. The deed (resignation) has been done.

I had a blast with my current company, AutoPerformance Ph Inc. I still am having a blast, actually. My passion and knowledge for cars grew by leaps and bounds, as well as my attitude and maturity. I learned a lot about life aside from new skills I learned as a sales coordinator then supply chain officer.

Unfortunately I am a 3D artist, and the call of going back to creatives was too great to ignore. I had an opportunity to return and had to take it, for reasons greater than just quenching my creative thirst.

Out.