Showing posts with label Eccentric Posts. Show all posts

🇵🇭 TAGUDIN • The Jaundiced Yellow Town of Ilocandia

Edmar del Castillo Guquib at Tuesday, October 30, 2012 27

Stories of town explorations.

No... not many call it a yellow town except unless you already heard someone telling you who is not from the Land of kuripot (but hot, yummy and smart) people na itago natin sa pangalang Ilocos (I belong, just so you know :p)! But before you believe that the yellow town is Tagudin, can you please check you teeth first? LOL! It is not actually the real title of the town. Actually it a first class municipality in Ilocos Sur with a lot of major major titles that can steal the crown of Venus Raj. It is indeed a title holder town but I just want to coin a new title and I will call the town as "Yellow Town" :p Some acceptable titles are The Gateway to Ilocos, Malunggay Capital of the Philippines, and the Pearl of the Amburayan River.

Ok, I will show you some reasons why the town of Tagudin is the yellow town. But before anything else, Tagudin is not a cold town (yelo). LOL!

The Yellow Town

Yellow Tricycles. One of the lame reasons why I call the town as a yellow town is the tricycles. All public tricycles are painted with yellow. It doesn't matter if it is dark yellow, light yellow or a new wave golden brown yellow (uh?), what is important is that you can recognize them as yellow. blahh >.<

The yellow tricycle above is the same yelow tricycle that toured me around the town. They virtually make the road (especially in poblacion) as the official dumpsite of fresh peelings of yellow bananas (those that aren't banned in China).

Yellow Market: There you are! -- the yellow market that sells yellow roses (not the real one, the plastic type made in China), yellow bikinis and yellow flip flops that will make you look like a walking mango shake (kidding, uh, please bear with the things I am saying because mango trees can bear yellow mango fruits when ripe :p).

Yellow People: Yes! They are yellow people because they are wearing yellow clothes that glare me. I have no photos because I saw them inside the municipl hall. Oh my! Taking a photo inside requires that you must be wearing a yellow underwear #fiction :p

Yellow Mangoes: I know yellow mangoes are almost everywhere, so what? I want to include it here to make this post super yellow! LOL!

Yellow Leaves: Uh? What about that? Well Tagudin is in the making as the "Malunggay Capital of the Philippines." Seriously. But I want to leave a trivia. Malunggay leaves become yellow when their life is nearing it's end. Do you know that?

Yellow Juice: Aside from malunggay, Tagudin has also adopted calamansi as their OTOP (One Town One Product). The town produces calamansi juice and other products from calamansi. Oh uh. Please take note that the juice needs to be yellow, please erase black gulaman in your mind because calamansi juice that is black in color requires food coloring. Oh well, the town produces healthy food for everyone :)

Ok, I hope I did not convince you that the town is the yellow town of Ilocos because once I convinced you, I am convinced too. LOL!

Interesting Trivia about Tagudin

The first 7-11 store in Ilocos provinces. While the Ilocos Sisters (Sur and Norte) have sprawling touristy cities like Vigan, Laoag, Candon and Batac, Tagudin is the first town in Ilocos to have a 7-11 store, whew!

The first sundial in the Philippines. Because I do not know how to use a sundial, I also don't know what is this for honestly. But based on the context of the word sundial, this has something to do with the sun. This is the oldest surviving sundial in the whole Philippine archipelago from Aparri to Jolo (more about this sundial for my upcoming posts in this series).

First town. It is the first town in Ilocandia when you are coming from Manila either by bus or by a bicycle when you are taking the Manila North Road, lol. It is also the last town in Ilocandia when you are coming from the north either by a calesa or simply alay-lakad walking up to sawa... Indeed the first and the last.

So are you excited for the upcoming discoveries I discovered in Tagudin? Well this is just the prelude and we will spend 1 whole month or more (like 10 years, lol) to blog some details of the town of Tagudin that only me can observe the weird way, lols!

See you for the next post #TownExplorers!

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You are reading the Prelude of the Tagudin town series of the #Town Explorer

Prelude | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

NAGUSTUAM DIAY NABASAM/NAKITAM? MABALIN MO MET I-LIKE.

All ARTS Eccentric Posts Ilocos (Region 1) Ilocos Sur Luzon Philippines

🇵🇭 VIGAN • Abel Iloko Fabric as Decoration to Vigan Ancestral Houses

Edmar del Castillo Guquib at Tuesday, September 11, 2012 2

Stories of town explorations.

"It is exposed to sun, air, rain and other elements but I tell you, Abel Iloko fabric is very durable."

The city jam-packed with things to see, to discover and experience turns a city full of artistry and culture once a year (although it is full of culture and heritage everyday). The valued ancestral houses of this heritage city that people all over the world can not afford to lose become dressed with Abel Iloko, or inabel, a local fabric woven by the locals through a process called pinagabel.

Can't see the Abel Iloko fabric? Just continue reading and you will find out that they are really there.

In a regular day, the old houses that line the old streets of Vigan (not necessarily along Calle Crisologo because there are several old streets here lined with equally valuable ancestral houses) aren't full of color. It doesn't mean they are boring on a regular day but of course we have to maintain the harmony of the houses without exaggeratedly painting them with rainbow colors or from pink to purple to light red, dark blue or slightly dark green and super slightly light yellow.

At a certain part of the year (1st week of May, don't mark your calendar, memorize it rather), these ancestral houses unleash a power that will make your eyes bulge in awe.

The houses turn to be a subject of art and the inviting decoration of each house can be seen even if you are wearing a dark-tinted eyeglasses (blind men wearing that shade don't qualify with that ruling).

This semi-colorful orange ancestral house became more colorful when a set of red-orange abel Iloko fabric was placed as decoration at its huge door.

The abel-weaving industry has been thriving in this small heritage city and its use can be traced as early as the start of Spanish occupation in the Philippines.

This old-age local industry of Vigan leveled-up. Aside form being a highlight of many fashion shows locally and abroad and even in some international beauty pageants like Ms. Earth, Abel Iloko has evolved to be a flexible fabric that can be used as blanket, cell phone casing, heirloom, long gown, clothes (possibly underwear) and lately as a house facade decoration.

A big cut of this fabric has been placed at the facade of this ancestral house and it stays there for about 1 week (or more, possibly up to two weeks).

It is exposed to sun, air, rain and other elements but I tell you, Abel Iloko fabric is very durable. Sad to say, the traditional threads made from cottons are now imported from China. So Abel Iloko nowadays can be considered as partially "Made in ______" (Fill in the blanks... I don't wanna talk about it :p).

Above: Street Dancers of the Viva Vigan Binatbatan Festival are wearing this traditional fabric made from cotton and they are portraying how this Abel Iloko fabric is made through performing arts.

Notice the ancestral house at the back. That is the ancestral home of the Crisologo Family. If you are familiar about SSS (Social Security System and definitely not your Skin so Soft), Crisologo is the legislator behind that thing.

The Crisologo house-turned-museum was also decorated with Abel Iloko.

Ok it is definitely more fun in Vigan. That house where this "It's More Fun in Vigan" was written is an ancestral house-turned-hotel - now the Vigan Plaza Hotel. The fabric there is made up of Abel Iloko.

For the last photo, never mind the 3 hats. They just look cute but they are not the focus of this post. Look at the back rather. Those decorations are mainly made up of Abel Iloko.

I'm not yet done. If the Abel Iloko Fabric turns as decoration, the seeds, grains and glasses (as in bubog) also have a part of the Viva Vigan Art fest. To be continued....

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This is the Part 3 of our Viva Vigan Arts Series

Go to: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

NAGUSTUAM DIAY NABASAM/NAKITAM? MABALIN MO MET I-LIKE.

ARTS CULTURE Eccentric Posts Ilocos (Region 1) Ilocos Sur Luzon Philippines

🇵🇭 VIGAN • Calle Crisologo and the Calesa Parade

Edmar del Castillo Guquib at Monday, September 03, 2012 10

Stories of town explorations.

"It was as breathtaking as seeing a natural wonder. They come in different colors, design and X-Factor..."

It is not the usual way. Yes it is not. Vigan, being one of the few remaining old towns in the Philippines where calesas are still present in the streets, seeing a calesa with the traditional Abel Iloko fabric, some vegetables and farm products, fruits, the Vigan Longanisa and the Vigan Bagnet hanging as decorations is a thing you should not miss. Sadly (not really sad), it only happens once a year.

Unknown to many, calesas in Vigan are also used for commuting but usually, tourists use it as a way to experience and enjoy Vigan.

There happened a Calesa Parade and what a nice experience to see this parade at the Calle Crisologo itself.

It was as breathtaking as seeing a natural wonder. They come in different colors, design and X-Factor on which Pilita Corrales would love I bet, and Gary V would have his concert while riding a calesa in an imaginary way.

But of course if there is such a thing as beautiful, there is also a thing called more beautiful but definitely there can be beautifuler if I want to use that, by the way I coined the name edmaration, don't I (blah blah)?

Her horse is beautiful, but she is more beautiful even there's nuisance at the back :p

Lola, the muse of this calesa above, was smiling sweetly. She was so confident to pose before the lens. I love lola! She has this potential, I mean... yes! A potential to be a muse if ever I am making sense out of here.

Until that "man" came, served as nuisance to the smile of Lola who believes that this picture is a solo picture of her. By the way, I am not related to this grandmuse (as in grandma + muse), I just love describing her :p

And then this calesa came with a "dome" labeled with Calesa No. 78. A large burnay is also placed prominently. There is also a muse inside but it was camuse (camera shy + muse).

And suddenly, the parade began. A series of calesas have been coming with identical X-Factor and some don't have muse inside but surely people are still amused. But there are PasaMuse (Passengers acting as if like a muse) and Kutse-not-muse (Kutsero without a muse).

Kutse-Not-Muse

PasaMuse

And more calesas came with different versions of their muse.

So that's it! Note: Max's Restaurant did not sponsor this post just so you know :p

I have included a map, just in case you're not familiar with a place called Vigan although your diet is Vegan on which it has a slight variation in terms of the usage of vowel.

Maybe I still have a fair share of the copyright of that map? It is owned by Wikipedia but I arranged it. :p

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This is the Part 2 of my VIVA Vigan Arts Series and I am expecting you to see the next post because it is more epic where "clothes" as in traditional clothes are placed at the facade of almost all houses you have to see within Vigan's Heritage District this time. That is the Abel Iloko fabric. To be continued...

Go to: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

NAGUSTUAM DIAY NABASAM/NAKITAM? MABALIN MO MET I-LIKE.

All ARTS Eccentric Posts Ilocos (Region 1) Ilocos Sur Luzon Philippines

🇵🇭 VIGAN • Pasagad Dressing and the Largest Gathering of Carabao in Vigan

Edmar del Castillo Guquib at Tuesday, August 28, 2012 18

Stories of town explorations.

"Pasagad dressing, is another form of art where a thing called Pasagad is being transformed into a wonderful piece."

What is pasagad? Pasagad is that thing that these carabaos usually pull at the field sometimes used to carry farm products.

Ok, this time these so-called pasagad/s are not dirty because they serve as an attraction that coincide with another art festival called the Karbo Festival wherein Carabaos become living canvasses under one mother festival called Viva Vigan Festival of the Arts. It branched out to several sub-festivals so don't get confused.

This is not yet the pasagad just so you know :p It is still the carabao because I want a pleasing opening photo, if ever this one really looks pleasing :p

It happened in the middle of a historic street called Nueva Segovia. Along this street is a line of massive ancestral house-palace (turned to a college, then shopping center, irkkk), the Plaza Salcedo (the oldest of its kind north of Manila), the Arzobizpado Nueva Segovia, the only surviving 18th century archbishop palace in the Philippines, the Legion of Mary House (where some religious people stay) and a portion of the Vigan Cathedral.

Just a warning, I am running out of words to say and this post will be overdone with photos.

Now that's the pasagad. In case you don't know :p

Look how cool lolo and lola are! Kagat dila si Lolo!

At may Plate number pa! Ayus!

I forgot to say I'm against same-sex marriage :p

Riding on a "pulled" pasagad before the public.

And once again it is a pasagad parade, not a float parade :p

The shy-type Carabao. Hey! You're a star now!

Proud Farmer. Kudos Manong!

Pedicure: More Fun in the Philippines

A crowd of Carabaos. But some of them are not real carabaos, lol.

Then, there you have it! Just in case you want more photos aside from these photos here, visit my complete set for this event by clicking here and not there :p

Now, if overdoing a travel blog with non-professional casual blogger-type photos like this is a crime, then put me now to JAIL! But please before doing that don't forget to share and like this post to your networks to spread this blogging crime :)

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This is the Part 1 of my VIVA Vigan Arts Series

Go to: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

So what's next? Let's see the Parade of these colorful carabaos with their colorful pasagad. And look whose capturing below. Yes that's the fellow travel blogger EAZY Traveler who loves these carabaos that much.

This un-watermarked photo below serves as a teaser for the next post as the carabaos pass in front the majestic and historical Vigan Cathedral.

Vigan is located there. Just in case you don't know :) Hope to see you at our next post. I'm sure it will be another crime. Bye! :p

NAGUSTUAM DIAY NABASAM/NAKITAM? MABALIN MO MET I-LIKE.

All Batac Eccentric Posts HERITAGE Ilocos (Region 1) Ilocos Norte Luzon Museums Philippine Ancestral Houses Philippines

[Batac] ► Marcos Museum and Mausoleum of Ilocos Norte

Edmar del Castillo Guquib at Wednesday, August 01, 2012 9

Stories of town explorations.

"That body is waiting to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

It is open for public viewing, but it is actually private. Uh, quite confusing, hard to reconcile but it actually exists."

Ok, before we tackle this point, let me give you first a chance to explore what's inside this Marcos Museum. But before we proceed, I just want to let you know that all the information I added here are personal thoughts - personal to the point that I am making it sure to get rid of Google and of Google-ing to refrain me on becoming objective.

I'm writing this based on my personal experiences...

[BATAC] Inside Marcos Museum

AN INTRODUCTION

Ok, if you may have arrived here through search engine, the things written may not be the information you need. As I said above, I'm writing this based on my personal experiences and feelings so please bear with me for that. But you can read it. I am sure, you will learn [not-so-sensible-non-living-] things a lot.

Ok, this not-so-kick-ass 1 day town explorer explored the city of . I believe one day isn't that enough to explore the whole city but I only [usually] explore in a day because my work on which I need to fund my wanderlust only gives me a 1-day break in a week. Can you just imagine how workaholic I am?

So now, I just explored sites in Batac that fill a part of our history. I have actually made a teaser post about the 5 historical sites of Batac few days back but for now I want to blog about Marcos Museum heart-to-heart.

[BATAC] Replica of Ferdinand Marcos

As I walk along the streets of Batac, I noticed that there was this old-looking house that looks elegant. A lot of cars parked near the house and tourist-looking people flocked in front of the house.

So this one made me think... and made me curious. Without any hesitation, I went near this elegant old-looking house. There I saw the words written on a rectangular stone with letters made up of golden shining metallic thing: "Ferdinand E. Marcos Presidential Center."

[BATAC] Marcos Presidential Center houses the museum and the mausoleum

I supposed to enter the house but someone, sitting at the desk near the door, requested me to fill-up the form and pay 50 pesos for the entrance fee.

MARCOS MUSEUM INTERIOR

I entered the so-called Marcos Museum and "Apo Lakay" Marcos welcomed me. No, not his ghost, but a life-sized statue dressed in Barong Tagalog (second photo above).

[BATAC] Classic Interior

Inside the Marcos Museum, a.k.a. Marcos Presidential Center, it brought me back in time because of the ambiance while seeing some portraits of the late President Marcos in paintings and in sepia prints.

It made me feel proud, because 3 Philippine presidents are Ilocanos and I guess the greatest of them is Ferdinand Marcos - being renown for his great works (both good and bad, if there is) and visited by tourists although he is now dead.

[BATAC] Old-feel stair

...3 Philippine presidents are Ilocanos and I guess the greatest of them is Ferdinand Marcos...

[BATAC] Sepia interior

...a life-sized statue dressed in Barong Tagalog.

[BATAC] Marcos' replica

I have to be honest that I am not amazed by the interior of the museum because I have seen a lot of this set-up and it is common to many old mansions in my hometown but still, the old-world feel brings charm! Sorry to say that because I see ancestral houses in a row along cobblestone street everyday.

Anyway, I love the unison of the colors inside Marcos Museum -- the sepia-effect ambiance, the red floor and some furniture in maroon.

IMELDIFIED!

I never have seen Imelda Marcos in person but everytime I hear about her name, the first thing that comes out my mind is... I'm sure we must be thinking the same now... Yes, her iconic terno and those pointed shoes!

[BATAC] Macoy's wife is known for her terno."

Inside the Marcos Museum, the presence of Imelda Marcos is evident. There I saw her adorable clothes. She must not be using these clothes anymore but I bet she now has another thousand set of new clothes. So these clothes will just be worthy now for a display.

MARCOS MAUSOLEUM

Marcos Mausoleum is the one I am referring to you as a public and private entity in one (if there is a thing like that or I am just making a story on my own) well, look who is telling the story, it's me.

...the viewing public is restricted to capture photos inside.

[BATAC] This way...

The Marcos Mausoleum is a public site (yes, it is open to public) but in limited time. So make it sure to be here from 9am-12noon and 2pm-4pm.

This is the one I am talking about that although the Marcos Mausoleum is open for public, the viewing public is restricted to capture photos inside. So the privacy of what can be seen inside must be upheld.

...the privacy of what can be seen inside must be upheld.

[BATAC] Preserved house

Marcos Mausoleum is where the remains of Marcos' body is laid to rest...

[BATAC] The mausoleum

The photo you are seeing above is where the Mausoleum is housed. So what about this mausoleum?

Marcos Mausoleum is where the remains of Marcos' body is displayed for public viewing. This must be the longest wake -- friends, family members and almost anyone can visit him. Don't worry there are no necrological services happening each time.

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY

You may have brought with you your most expensive camera, or the most sophisticated camera lens but sorry, they will occupy no space inside the Marcos Mausoleum.

[BATAC] Marcos' visitors

Marcos Museum has ample of visitors except during Holidays and extreme weather conditions.

[BATAC] Bust of a great man

Every weekday, the Marcos Mausoleum (which is just beside the Marcos Museum) has ample of visitors except during Holidays and extreme weather conditions.

But the displayed body is thought to be a wax, a replica of Marcos' dead body. So do you think the visit is of worth seeing just a wax?

Wait, they say the real body is located beneath. That body is waiting to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani but who cares right? The Yellow government is reigning in power, right Noynoy? Marcos' family mortician said the body is real but some speculations reveal that the body is buried secretly.

FINAL THOUGHTS

This is my disease, I tend to overrate every place I have been because I can not resist becoming excited even if the place I am exploring is a barangay with nothing to see but ricefields, or cornfields, or olive farm (the last example is imaginary).

I guess it has no cure at all. I am even blogging , on which I tend to make people believe to be cool because I look at it to be cool, , about the , etc.

So if you ask me if this visit is of worth, I will surely say yes! As long as it has given me a lot of thoughts in mind to share, as long as it made me feel excited, and as long as I have blogged about it, it means, I find it cool and interesting. And yip yeah... I don't blog things that don't catch my attention, even if that place is your favorite beach or mountain.

...some speculations reveal that the body is buried secretly.

[BATAC] Capiz window of the museum

[BATAC] Windows of the past

Look how dramatic those windows are! I am imagining that a beautiful girl wearing a Maria Clara dress is waving her hands to me while she is saying "Goodbye! Keep safe," as her tears fall down seeing me dragged by the Japanese soldiers, LOL!

Wait I am not yet done with Batac City because after seeing the Marcos Museum and the Marcos Mausoleum collectively known as the Marcos Presidential Center, I visited another museum in the City. /end