Bacsil Ridge Monument

 

Located 9 kilometers northeast of San Fernando town proper through the San Fernando-Bagulin Road, Bacsil Ridge was the last bastion of the retreating Japanese Imperial Army in the province. Later, the Ridge constituted the East Flank of the 121st Infantry of the United States Armed Forces in the Philippines, Northern Luzon (USAFIP, NL) during the Liberation in 1945

Bacsil Ridge is now famous for its breathtaking view of the coastal line of San Fernando. In here, you can almost see the entire city of San Fernando.

Cervantes Ilocos Sur Philippines

The earliest known historical document about Cervantes was that it started as a small Igorot village known as “Mantamang” an Igorot word meaning “to look over”. Man and horse trails connecting the lowland and upland neighboring localities were frequently used by Igorot traders and Chinese merchants who always had to pass the village.

In the year 1879, March 4, the residents of Mantamang petitioned that the village be recognized as a Christian town under Lepanto-Amburayan, a sub-province of Mt. Province. The town was given the name “Cervantes” which remains the name of the town at present. How it got the name Cervantes is not known or documented


By year 1922, Cervantes became a regular Municipality in the Province of Ilocos Sur.

The windmills of Ilocos Norte

There are no huge markers proclaiming the 15 windmills of Bangui in Ilocos Norte. But if the locals find out that you are a tourist, you are likely to hear about “their” windmills every day. It is also difficult to miss if you’re spending your holiday on the famous beaches of Pagudpud or Saud, from where the windmills can still be seen. The structures, after all, are 70 meters tall and the bases cover four meters square. Once there, you are likely to meet travelers from afar who, like you, are there for the view and the pictures they just have to take.

Ma Cho Temple

Constructed on September 11, 1975 through the initiative of then Tourism Minister Jose D. Aspiras and cooperation of the Chinese community, this majestic Taoist Temple is located on a hill 70 feet above sea level at Barangay II, San Fernando City, facing the China Sea.  Here, people form all walks of life come and pray for change of luck from Ma Cho, a Chinese deity, whose eight inch wooden image surprisingly has a counterpart in the Roman Catholic faith known as the “Virgin of Caysasay” who is enshrined at the Basilica of Saint Martin in Taal, Batangas.

Tobacco Monopoly Monument

When the Spaniards discovered that the land and climate of Ilocos is perfect for growing tobacco, they forced the people to plant only tobacco and no other crop. The sakadas were also forced to sell the tobacco leaves only to the Spanish government. This has lead to numerous resistance among the locals. There were also stories of untold abuses done by the authorities. For one hundred long years, 1781 until 1881, the tobacco monopoly existed in Ilocos. A period of dark history in Ilocandia.

It was only in 1881 when King Alfonso XII lifted the tobacco monopoly. The people of Ilocos then erected the Tobacco Monopoly Momunent as a thanksgiving to the Crown of Spain for recognizing the stuggles of the Ilocano people against the Monopoly.

The tall yet graceful monument is located right at the center of Laoag City plaza, in front of the Provincial Capitol.

La Union Philippines World Class Dive Sites Destination

 La Union has one of the first beach resorts that ever developed in the Philippines. La Union has so much to offer to tourist and visitors. This place has many historical and cultural heritage. It has also enchanting and marvelous natural scenic views. La Union is one of the popular and famous vacation getaway in the Philippines.

La Union is also the home of the beautiful and world class dive sites/spots in the country. The main attraction of La Union for scuba divers is the long stretches of reef at Long Beach. In La Union, there are many attractive offshore reefs that that are superb dive sites and you can experience variety of wild and exotic marine life. La Union is a particularly good place to learn scuba diving as there are a number of shallow dives and the waters are protected, so currents are minimal.

La Union is also provides excellent wreck dive sites to wreck divers. There is one dive site in LA Union that is known as the Tanks in which where three World War Two M10 tanks were dropped off a barge at the end of the war.

Fagg Reef: This dive site has a depth of 20m to 100m and the current can be very strong. This dive site is the most famous in the area. The reef is part of the shelf that makes the divide between The Lingayen Gulf and The South China Sea. This dive site is also known as the Tanks as where three World War Two M10 tanks were dropped off a barge at the end of the war. They now rest on a ledge at a depth of 39 metres, and have become the home for a large number of fish including Dorado’s, Spanish Mackerel and Barracuda. Also spotted in the area have been a number of Leopard Rays, Whitetip Sharks and whale sharks.

Sinking Bell Tower of Laoag

The sinking bell tower is one of Laoag City’s most famous landmarks in fact one of the top Ilocos Norte tourist attractions. The structure is claimed to be the most solid and tallest bell tower in the Philippines. This massive 45-meter (150 foot) bell tower was also built by the Augustinians in 1612. Located almost a hundred meters away from the St. William's Cathedral, the tower has sunk to the ground and leans slightly to the north.