"As I left the ruins and was about to ride the tricycle, manong driver told me that the people in the place are actually afraid of entering the ruins because..."

• Having experienced a 7+ magnitude earthquake twice in my life as of 2023, I could imagine how destructive that earthquake was that it has turned this church into ruins.

• Inside the premises, the only remaining structures were the walls of a destroyed church that used to embolden the faith of the people for unity and harmony.

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ญ SAN FERNANDO, LA UNION, PHILIPPINES
PINDANGAN RUINS

So what about these ruins? For view seekers and sunset chasers, this may not be the place for you. Because if you try to align your love of sunset and stunning panoramic views with these ruins, will you consider this place beautiful? What's beautiful in these mossy, old, ruined structures?

Can this be a beautiful background for wedding photos? How about a perfect background for jump shots? If you're looking for a place to brag and showcase in your instagram feed, I will not recommend this place; because for sure, it may not suit your pursuit for spectacular views. But for heritage conservation advocates, history freaks, researchers, and ghost hunters (Uh? Yes ghost hunters), this place I am going to feature on this blog can be the right place for you. It is called the Pindangan Ruins located in the city of San Fernando, La Union.

 ►  A Quick Overview



Before proceeding to the ghost finale, there must be an introduction; and let us start with the etiology of Pindangan. The word Pindangan is an Ilocano term for "a place where meat is sun-dried with salt for preservation." Because this place is abundant with this Pindang (sun-dried, salted fish or meat), the place was called Pindangan.

PINDANGAN RUINS
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ญ SAN FERNANDO • At the present day, these ruins are located in Brgy San Vicente.
PINDANGAN RUINS
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ญ SAN FERNANDO • The Pindangan Ruins are the remnants of an old church destroyed by an earthquake.
Pindangan Ruins are the remnants of an old church built on May 6, 1786. That old church was the symbol of the union of 2 (two) sitios called San Vicente de Balanac, a coastal village and San Guillermo de Dalangdang, a village at the foothills of the mountain. There was a need for union for the reason of mutual protection against their assailants—the pirates and headhunters.

At the present day, the ruins are located in Brgy San Vicente.

 ►  Why Did I Visit This Place?



This was in 2012. In that year, I was still very young in traveling and blogging; and the Pindangan ruins were not yet popular in my point of view that time. I was very curious about this place that was pinned on my printed La Union guide map that I purchased in National Bookstore. That guide was a printed version. I still didn't know how to maximize the use of digital apps that time.

By the way, I'm updating this post now after 11 years! It's 02:51 AM of 08/06/2023 in Vigan the moment I'm typing this line.

Going back, I was here to see the ruins without expecting a panoramic view. In January 2012, there was no entrance fee (if I am not mistaken). As far as I remember, I did not pay any entrance fee.

The Pindangan Ruins are located outside the central business district of the city and I reached this place through hiring a tricycle driver that toured me around the city.

As I entered the premises, it was quiet; and the sound of the tricycle where I rode was considerably noise pollution in the area. Again, this was in 2012.

I told manong driver to turn off the tricycle engine as we approached the place, because there was a service or a solemn event going on inside the religious property called the Carmelite Monastery. The noise of the tricycle was such a disturbance to the solemnity of the activity.

There were nuns quietly sitting on the elongated wooden chair in their nun uniform, while a priest was delivering his sermon. I could see them inside through the glass windows of the monastery.

PINDANGAN RUINS
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ญ SAN FERNANDO • The Pindangan Ruins' premises at that time was very quiet.
PINDANGAN RUINS
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ญ SAN FERNANDO • Some plants have overgrown the old walls.
Inside the premises, the only remaining structures were the walls of a destroyed church that used to embolden the faith of the people for unity and harmony.

In this visit, the old walls remained; but the ceiling is gone, and its old community importance is also gone, too.

If the Old Daraga Church was destroyed by the Mayon Volcano, this old church in San Fernando, La Union was demolished by an earthquake.

Having experienced a 7+ magnitude earthquake twice in my life as of 2023, I could imagine how destructive that earthquake was and how it has turned this church into ruins. Unfortunately, the community that united to build this church no longer rebuilt it.

PINDANGAN RUINS
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ญ SAN FERNANDO • The church was no longer rebuilt to survive up to this day.
PINDANGAN RUINS
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ญ SAN FERNANDO • The church buttresses were strong enough to survive an earthquake, though, as evidenced by these ruins that continued to stand up to this day.
The church was destroyed in 1892, and that was 133 years after its completion. It survived a century before its destruction.

The church has united the community for more than a century, and the old walls were the remaining witnesses of how this church played its role in the community back then.

 ►  A Ghost Finale?



It was about to go dark when I visited this place at about 5:45 in the afternoon. As I entered the ruins, the rays of the sun were no longer enough to provide ample light in the area; and it was quite darker to note.

The tricycle driver stayed outside, and I entered the area alone. I enjoyed capturing the walls and even did a self-captured photo of myself; but as I set the timer of my camera in flash mode, the camera didn't flash.

I repeated the procedure and made sure to put on the flash, but it didn't work again. For the third time, the flash worked.

As I left the ruins and was about to ride the tricycle, manong driver told me that the people in the place are actually afraid of entering the ruins because they have been seeing unusual things there—like a priest without a head (they call it pugot in Ilocano); and that priest carries his head with his hands. Another one, according to manong driver, is a nun dressed in white who also appears inside the ruins.

Whooahhh!!! I had goosebumps instantly! Could that be the reason why my camera flash didn't work? I became afraid, and I asked manong driver to rush. I wanted to leave the place immediately.

PINDANGAN RUINS
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ญ SAN FERNANDO • These ruins got me some chills in my spine before I left.
I am personally not so afraid of ghosts (ok, not so, meaning I can still be afraid anytime); but with manong's story, it blew my mind away giving me an adrenaline rush.

Important things to know about Pindangan Ruins.

1. The Pindangan Ruins are located 500 meters from the National Highway.
2. The Pindangan Ruins are near Camp Oscar Florendo, the Regional Headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP)—just in case you get lost in your direction.
3. The Carmelite Sisters, whose monastery is situated behind the ruins, take care of the landmark.
4. For people with third eye, please do come here and email me immediately whenever you see the priest and the nun for verification, LOL. :D

Thanks for reading my story. • ◄ END OF STORY ►


LATEST STORIES COVERING [SAN FERNANDO] • SEE ALL IN A SEPARATE WINDOW

MORE RELATED BLOGS YOU MIGHT LIKE. SEE TABS BELOW.

▼ LA UNION ▼ RUINS ▼ HERITAGE

 ►  More 'La Union' Blogs



MORE STORIES COVERING 'La union' | SEE OLDER STORIES

 ►  More 'Ruins' Blogs


MORE STORIES COVERING 'RUINS' | SEE OLDER STORIES

 ►  More 'Heritage' Blogs


MORE STORIES COVERING "HERITAGE" | SEE OLDER STORIES

MORE TOWNS OR LOCATIONS YOU MIGHT LIKE TO EXPLORE:
SM B A S C B B LT V L

UPDATE HISTORY FOR THIS BLOG POST
• 2023-August-02: This whole blog post was overhauled. The page lay-out, format, and photos were patterned on my format v.2023.1 as of 07/31/2023. After 11 years, I've updated, re-formatted, and re-written this blog post.
• 2012-March-03: This post was published.
SPEAK YOUR HEART OUT. DON'T BE SHY TO POST YOUR COMMENT, THOUGHTS, OR FEEDBACK. MAG-REREPLY AKO ONCE MAKITA KO ANG COMMENT MO. :)

Axact

EDMAR GUQUIB y DEL CASTILLO

Born and Raised in Vigan, Philippines. Hardcore Ilocano-Cordilleran. Professional Nurse on Weekdays. Coffee Addict. Travel Blogger in Between. For collaboration or partnership, email your business proposal at admin@edmaration.com.

Post A Comment:

48 comments:

  1. I'm not a ghost hunter Edmar but you just got me interested in this place. Besides, I have been hearing stories about "ulong-pugot" since time immemorial but haven't had the chance to see a real one...maybe, I'll be lucky to meet one in here. lol...

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  2. Haha! Go Enzo and I'll just be around handling a bottle of water just in case you need it hahaah!

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  3. I'm not surprised about the ghost story, ruins or even old buildings are stereotype as dwellings of the dead... hehehe

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  4. ^^ Romelo... Oo nga!!!!! At first wala sa mind ko, pero nung sinabi ni driver kinilabutan talaga ako ng sobra

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  5. another great travel post. I love these kind of places. Mysteries, ghost hunting and stuffs but I am a scared cat myself haha..

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  6. wow, may ruins din sa la union. pero natakot naman ko sa kwento ni manong driver.

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  7. @Julie, thanks... oo nga. hala siniraan ko na yata ng image ang lugar at ghost hunting na talaga ang iniisip ng mga taga-comment. Hahaha...

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  8. @michi, sinabi mo pa. Sana hindi nalang sinabi ni manong para happy ending pero nagmistulang horror ang finale eh hehe.

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  9. The place looks eerie, pero di ko maiwasang ma-excite, haha. Fan din kasi ako ng ghost stories! :D

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  10. @Paliiiits, sabi ko na nga ba we have diverse likes.. I'm glad you love ghost stories to at least balance this post should I have written it downward. hehe.

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  11. I love to try ghost hunting. the place looks creepy and mysterious, but I'd love to visit it someday. thanks for sharing this sir :)
    *excited*

    -itsmsairra.blogspot.com-

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  12. @Airra. Yup! It's actually a landmark of our history so that could be worth it :)

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  13. Eeek! Bakit ba kapag merong mga ruins, laging merong ghost stories? Natakot ako sa kwento ni manong. Tsk.. I'm afraid of ghosts pa naman. Hindi ko keri to.. Though I love having some adrenaline rush once in a while, gusto ko yung sa mga trek/travel adventures.. not ghost-hunting adventures.. eek!

    Dumalaw po, Kuya..

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  14. As I see your pictures in this blog, I feel something eerie. As I keep on reading your blog, nothing strange I feel. Then I take a second look of the pictures. Here goes again the ghostly feelings I have had felt. Really the place is strange, the ruins are so haunted. After you've visited the ruins, did you sleep well? Nothing has bothering you?

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  15. @LEah... oo nga eh and I only learned about it after I am done seeing the place.

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  16. @Sir Gil, so far, I never felt anything strange after it. Maybe because I was so stressed going home that I waited until 8pm waiting for an empty bus. It was Friday and all buses were fully-loaded and students are going home for a weekend. As in unahan talaga sa bus and the the bus I rode on to was also overcrowded and we are 3 in our seat. Yet, because I wan tired, I managed to sleep in spite of the situation and I didn't care what the person beside me might be feeling or talking that time hahaha.

    When the back sits were empty, I laid down the dirty couch and slept very well. haha.

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  17. Awww, good thing I didn't insist to my friend that we go there when we were in La Union last year. I'm afraid of ghosts, & I don't want to see one. Buti na lang talaga...hehe!

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  18. @ThePinayWanderer. Haha... Pwede naman kayong groupie... :))
    At saka para may thrill narin diba? haha

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  19. I feel eerie reading your blog,lumalaki ang ulo ko,and that was strange.I had this ghostly feeling especially when your camera flash did not work.I was hoping na sana nagpakita sa iyo ang taong Pugot just to know your reaction,hehehe.

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  20. Errr... having read that, I actually refrained from looking at your photos. Haha! I fear that something will pop out. LOL. Still that was a very eerie experience! I'm not one for experiences but I do like stories like this (when I'm with friends but not alone!) :))

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  21. @Tess! Waaah!!!!! Epic 'yun lalo na kapag nag-appear sa photo. Ibebenta ko 'yun. Wahahaa!

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  22. ahahahay noo need for me to bring a friend that has 3rd eye in this place. Seeing the place myself is enough ..haha
    - Sionee

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  23. @Aileen. Haha.. fear goes with the emotion. In fact I was excited to be here when I didn't know abou the story but when manong told it to me, there you are! Goooooosebumps!

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  24. @Sionee, (kindlehearts), Ang rami kong tawa hahaha!!!

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  25. I don't believe in ghosts. Never did. But I believe in visiting interesting places like Pindangan Ruins. Great share, man!

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  26. common story sa mga provinces ang pari na may ulong pugot and white ladies... maybe because it's an effective way of folks there to easily keep their children in their houses during night fall. LOL. Yahweh bless.

    http://trunklocker.blogspot.com/2012/02/day-of-leaplings.html

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  27. @RAlph. I really think soooo.. There's a great point there :))

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  28. Eeeeeeeeeeeerie...those pics gave me the creeps :(

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  29. i love old churches but don't want to see ghosts too! better visit pindangan ruins early morning to be sure...

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  30. Still thanks to manong driver... at least he's still that kind not to tell you about it until you're about done with your exploration and photo taking, hehe...


    Nancy
    http://www.katsboxanddice.info

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  31. Meep!! Scary. But the place is interesting. Wanna visit ;p

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  32. those stone walls surely spell some great history and memories. i hope the ruins will be preserved all the more for the future generations.

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  33. The place is a bit creepy. >__<

    Alam mo nangyari saken yan sa Corregidor. Yung tour guide namen kalog, dinala niya kami sa bawal p[agdalhan ng tourists. Yung old hospital ng mga soldiers dati. They declared it unsafe for people to explore and sabi nga nila haunted. When I turned my camera ON to take a few shots, nasira ang cam ko. As in di ko nagamit. Di ko alam bakit eh di ko naman nabagsak. Hay..

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  34. I am so not fond of ruins, old churches, etc. Just not the kind of places I am drawn to, but I know that it's a big thing for history buffs, etc. Pindangan Ruins look like the perfect setting for a Pinoy horror movie!

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  35. first time to hear about this place. what kind of pinoy am I, right?! but then again, i haven't really traveled the philippines extensively. and i envy you coz you travel off-beaten destinations versus those of us who opt for the tried and tested.

    RC Gweniful from FBW

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  36. some photos are actually really creepy! :{

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  37. Ruins scare me and after reading you review it scared me more. I think I'll have a few sleepless nights thinking about that "pugot na ulo". Huhu..

    -KC Canlas

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  38. Great post! I like the suspense and twist at the end.

    I like ruins. But I am not as brave as you to go exploring it by myself. :D

    Also, like the others have said, the manong driver was indeed very considerate, not to "ruin" the fun of your adventure by telling the story before you were able to do your explorations.

    BTW, you made me miss Intramuros. I studied with the ruins of it's wall for four years, and through the years heard a lot of stories of supposed to be apparitions from ghost of the past but never actually experienced them.

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  39. wow! That was exciting trip! Hahaha I would love to go there one day. :)Happy anniversary! Keep blogging!

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  40. Good luck to the ghost hunters. I won't be visiting there as I am so scared of the ghost and their related. hohoho!

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  41. This is my 2nd attempt at posting a comment. Yesterday, for some reason, my comment was lost after I clicked publish.

    Just wanna say that a similar thing happened to me at Bacolor Church, the one that was buried by lahar. So yeah I believe there's some supernatural power that takes a hold of our gadgets. :)

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  42. @AJ, hmmmmmmmm.. maybe there's a bug in blogger platform.

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  43. Ed, thank for sharing. I love these old places --spooks, nooks and crannies, and tend to unconsciously capture stuff that show up in my images (you won't want me around as I am a magnet for strange phenom). :-D :-D Your location is similar to the Old Catarman Church ruins in Camiguin Island, which was also severely damaged by a volcanic eruption. If I may so share? http://www.pbase.com/jojie_alcantara/camiguin

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  44. kodakerdabawenya.com | Welcome and thanks for sharing the link! Great to know you love old places! Your paranormal ability is quite interesting ha. :)

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  45. I've been to this place and I didn't find it scary or creepy but more of a beautiful piece of history. :D

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  46. Sole of Missy | Wow Missy! I love those positive and good vibes! Darn that 'fear' I felt last time I went here! It ruined my experience. Ang ganda pa naman ng ruins na to. :D

    But I am actually a chaser of old structures/houses/churches. :)

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