Ilocos Norte and Paoay: More than meets the eye The North Gears Up for the 23rd Philippine Travel Mart

As the summer months officially usher in the peak travel season, destinations all over the country gear up to gain foothold in the competitive tourism market. And who wouldn’t? Welcoming tourists, after all, comes natural for Filipinos.

Among those leading the drive in local tourism is Ilocos Norte. Known by many for Pagudpud, bagnet, and empanada, Ilocos Norte recently revamped its tourism efforts by officially launching a new tourism brand—“Paoay Kumakaway!”

“This year, we’re really excited that the local government of Ilocos Norte has made leaps to frontload little-known, but equally fascinating destinations,” says Cesar Cruz, president of Philippine Tour Operators Association (PhilTOA).

The new campaign aims to present the town of Paoay as a viable jump-off point, a gateway to Ilocandia and its various attractions. In a recent familiarization tour by PhilTOA, members of the media were among those who experienced the sights behind the campaign, a treat from one of the top tourist destinations in the country.

A Rich Heritage

Upon arriving at Paoay, tourists will immediately be immersed in the town’s quirky history. For starters, tourists can go to the Malacanang of the North, the presidential residence overlooking Paoay Lake. St. Augustine Church, built from coral stones and stucco-plastered bricks, is unlike any landmark. The huge buttresses flanking the sides and rear façade make it a fine example of earthquake baroque, an adaptation of the European style to Philippine tectonic conditions. Furthermore, it exhibits elements akin to Javanese architecture such as those found in the Temple of Borobudur in Indonesia; thus, earning its well-deserved inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Venturing to neighboring towns, tourists would find enough historical sites to fill up a few days’ worth of travel itinerary. Aside from the popular Marcos Museum, Mausoleum, and Juan Luna Shrine, Ilocos Norte also has a variety of other heritage sites that would keep any history buff delighted.

Due to the province’s storied colonial past, Ilocos Norte is home to a handful of Spanish-era cathedrals. The capital city of Laoag itself has two of these magnificent structures, including the oldest of the bunch called St. William's Cathedral. One of the biggest cathedrals in the country, this Italian Renaissance-styled cathedral also gained fame for its peculiar bell tower. For reasons unknown, the massive structure sinks a couple of centimetres every year, causing locals to consider it as the Philippine version of the Leaning tower of Pisa.

The other church in Laoag also has a unique history of its own. Sta. Monica church (which also houses a convent) features a 137-meter nave, the longest in the country. Despite surviving two fires, the church remains so remarkably preserved that it was chosen as the venue for Imee Marcos’ nuptial, dubbed then as “the wedding of the century.”

Coming to the town of Burgos, travelers could spot the Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, an impressive Spanish-era structure set high on Vigia de Nagparitan Hill overlooking the scenic Cape Bojeador. The majestic edifice marks the northwesternmost point of Luzon, where early galleons used to sail by.

Ilocos Norte has such a rich culture and history that extends long before the coming of the Spaniards. The Museo Ilocos Norte in Laoag chronicles these times impressively with exhibits that give visitors a glimpse into the culture that sparked pre-colonial trade with Asian neighbors to the north—tobacco farming, cloth weaving, pottery-making, blacksmithing, woodcarving, and furniture making.

Hidden Natural Treats
Ilocos Norte is home to various natural attractions. For the casual beachgoer, there’s Pagudpud. Situated an hour- and- a- half north of Laoag City, Pagudpud is fast gaining the fancy of beach bums with its fine white sand and clear blue waters which could rival that of world-famous Boracay. But while the country’s more party-conducive beaches are filled to the brim, Pagudpud’s remoteness offers relatively crowd-free beaches even on long weekends.

Sightseers flock to Kapurpurawan rock formation in the town of Burgos for unique chalky limestone cliffs, carved by strong sea winds over the centuries. These wind-blasted formations is a geographic feature you’d be hard-pressed to find elsewhere in the country, and many compare it to those found along the coast of Dover, in England.

For those looking for more thrilling engagements, there’s the sand dunes of Paoay. Site of all the Panday movie desert scenes, these famed slopes have also seen action in Mel Gibson’s Mad Max movie. Nowadays, the sand dunes from renowned painter Juan Luna’s home province provide a fun playground for 4x4 off-roaders and sandboarding enthusiasts.

But sand isn’t the only gift of Mother Nature that Ilocos Norte is currently making use of to attract tourists. Situated in the path of most typhoons, the country’s northernmost province also harnesses the power of wind through the Bangui Wind Farm—a testament to the province’s support for sustainable ecotourism.

Gateway to the Ilocandia and neighboring provinces
“Ilocos Norte is a heritage treasure-trove.” says Cesar Cruz. “There are still lots of destinations for us to discover. For tourists, the Ilocandia experience is constantly expanding.”

One such expansion is the inclusion of dreamy Batanes in an Ilocos Norte-Cagayan-Batanes adventure package.  The intrepid explorer can venture to the otherworldly islands of Batanes for less by travelling first to Ilocos Norte; then heading off to Tuguegarao in Cagayan, where a plane whisks one off to Basco in Batanes. This tour package covering three alluring destinations costs Php15,000 which is more economical than the 2-night/3-day package wherein one flies directly from Manila to Batanes for Php20,000.      

This is just one of the new tour packages included in “The Philippines is on Sale“, one of many things to watch out for during the 23rd Philippine Travel Mart, the biggest annual tourism expo in the country. With the expanded roster, the event to be held at SMX Convention Center on August 10-12 this year is set to boost the campaign for sustainable domestic and inbound tourism.

The Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA), Inc. is an organization of tour operators and allied members actively involved in the advocacy of responsible tourism. Founded on 12 June 1986, non-stock and non-profit organization. The membership includes travel agencies, hotel, resorts, transportation companies, handicraft stores, and other tourism-oriented establishments and association.