Impressed by Ilocos Norte's Incredible Beauty (Part 4)

Pagudpud. I first came to know about Pagudpud from the movies I’ve seen, dreaming that I’d get there someday—and I did! Still not known to many, the town is one of Ilocos Norte’s hidden gems, which I believe, can give Boracay, the country’s premier tropical beach, some stiff competition in the not-so-distant future. Unlike the former, Pagudpud offers picturesque sights and sceneries without the madding crowds of a commercialized tourist spot (I hope it stays that way for a longer time).

Pagudpud Archway

A portion of Patapat Viaduct

During the brief time that I was in Pagudpud, I finally had the chance to have a few selfies taken at the Patapat Viaduct, which my friends and I missed the last time we were there due to inclement weather. Rising some 31 meters over sea level, the structure which connects the Ilocos Region to its neighbor, Cagayan Valley, is a concrete 1.3 km-long coastal bridge that was opened to traffic in October 1986.

From the viaduct, my guide and I headed for Hannah’s Beach Resort and Convention Center for our lunch. After our meal, I went around the resort to catch some fresh air at the pristine beach of Maira-ira Cove, more popularly known as Blue Lagoon whose huge waves, turquoise blue waters and white sand attract throngs of beach worshipers from different parts of the country.

Roaming around Hannah’s, I also had fun taking snaps at the assemblage of motley comics and/or cartoon characters spread all over the resort’s mini-theme park! Geez, I felt like a kid once again as I went around and took selfies with the dinosaurs from Jurrasic Park and the heroes who form part of the Avengers and Justice League! 

Before leaving Pagudpud, I grabbed the chance to explore Bantay Abot Cave, which I saw during my first visit to the coastal town. From a distance, the unique rocky formation looks like a whale with its eyes serving as the hole, which the locals claim was caused by an earthquake that struck the area many years ago.

Welcome to Sarrat!

Sarrat. Known as the birthplace of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, the quaint town of Sarrat is one of Ilocos Norte’s heritage towns. If you want to take a trip down memory lane, this town is a must-see that should be included in your itinerary. Two-story ancestral houses known locally as bahay-na-bato, the traditional wood and stone homes of middle-class Filipinos, that date back to as early as the 1800s can still be seen dotting its well-preserved landscape.

President Ferdinand Marcos Monument

Ancestral houses like these dot the old town of Sarrat

One of these ancestral houses worth visiting is the Edralin-Marcos home where the late president was born. After exploring St. Monica Church, I asked my guide to take me to the said house owned by the family of the president’s mother, Josefa Edralin-Marcos. Now a public museum, the two-story ancestral house features numerous memorabilia and age-old wooden furniture depicting the typical lifestyle of the Edralin family. Before moving to Batac, the young Marcos and his family stayed in that house.

Furniture and memorabilia of the Edralin-Marcos family 

The ground floor has some exhibits featuring Josefa and his son, Ferdinand.  Also found there are items showcasing abel, the collective term used to refer to the local weaving process (abel) and the woven cloth (inabel). At the second floor, some of the notable pieces on display are the four-posted bed in which the baby Ferdinand was born, heirlooms from his Edralin and Marcos ancestors, and memorabilia from childhood years.

Not to be missed when you’re in Sarrat is an old convent located next to the town’s old church—now known as Casa del Palacio Real. It felt like déjà vu as I first stepped into it.. I can’t exactly recall where I first saw it until the tourist guide shared that it was the locale for some scenes of a Fernando Poe, Jr. movie, “Ang Maestro” which I saw on TV just a few months ago. It was there where the climactic sword fight between the hero (played by FPJ) and his antagonist (portrayed by Romy Diaz) took place!

Rit-Ritemon Kayong Uprising Monument

One of Sarrat’s most interesting historical landmarks, Rit-Ritemon Kayong Uprising Monument was built to commemorate the heroic resistance and valiant assault led by Don Jose Ver on the American garrison in Laoag. The monument serves a testament to the freedom-loving spirit of the people of Sarrat who boldly displayed their for love for freedom and for country even under the direst of circumstances. Incidentally, rit-ritemon in Ilocano means “rip the fence apart”.

While the sojourns I had from Badoc to Pagudpud, at certain times, seemed chaotic, stressful, and overwhelmed my senses, I consider Ilocos Norte as one of the few destinations I’ve visited where I felt I had the time of my life, where I was in my best element. I loved what I experienced during this second coming and everything else about the sought-after destination in the northernmost part of the Philippines.

From magnificent ruins to historical shrines to pristine beaches to deep blue waters to alluring coves to mysterious caves to lush mountains and hills, the wonders of this incredibly beautiful province allowed me once again to truly appreciate the pure beauty of nature, the delightful simplicity of life, and the rich cultural heritage of our country. If given another chance, I’d definitely won’t say no to a third coming to Ilocos Norte! 💙💙💙