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Stories of town explorations.
"So it was possible to experience a pebble beach and a black sandy beach in one place. This is my observation in Farola Beach."

The place was not a big surprise, although it is one of the most memorable places I have been because it is where I saw a lighthouse for the very first time. What is interesting in this beach is that the shoreline is divided into two types of beach.


Farola Beach in Tagudin, Ilocos Sur

Farola Beach in Tagudin


It has two types of beach in one place. The shore nearer to the sea is lined with pebbles, thus a pebble beach, while about 100 meters away from the sea is a black sandy beach.

Well, it is just an observation and it was the way I saw it. 

Pebble

Pebble Beach

Black Sandy Part of Farola Beach

Black Sandy Part of Farola Beach


So it was possible to experience a pebble beach and a black sandy beach in one place. This is my observation in Farola Beach. 

This beach is mainly known in the town because of the historical Farola Lighthouse and it's historical importance as landing site of missionaries from Belgium who came Christianize the country.

Farola

Raft at the Beach


Farola Beach in Tagudin

Fishermen of Brgy. Farola


Although the beach is not as popular as any other beaches, it's importance in the community is as big as other beaches for the reason that many people in this coastal barangay earn a living from this beach.

So there's no way to underestimate any beach I am seeing. A beach does not need to be as powdery white as Boracay to consider it important. In the long run all beaches were made by God in different forms as a blessing to the people.

Map of Tagudin


I am not against if businessmen will establish their resorts here. But if I were to be asked, I would rather keep the beach as it is and leave the fishermen undisturbed if business establishments will be the reason of the modification of the natural beauty of the beach for personal profits.

How to get here? 

Just get a tricycle near the municipal hall and just tell the driver to drive you to Farola Beach. Fare is around 30-40 pesos if you are alone. Please negotiate for the fare first. The fare is cheaper individually if you are in group since you have to divide the total fare among yourselves. Enjoy! Don't forget to see the lighthouse too and the Kandaruma Park at the beach.


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Stories of town explorations.
"Appreciation of our great history and heritage does not need to be embodied to grand structures because the greatest parts of the past were built from small details."

Yes, it is really my first time to see a lighthouse, in person. I have never seen one even in my dreams. Good thing there is TV and internet. At least, they made me realize that lighthouses are not really the upscale type of houses -- and not really a house, nor the bright luxurious part of an exclusive mountainside subdivision. 

First Time to See a Lighthouse

Farola Lighthouse of Tagudin
I wanted to maximize my time in the town of Tagudin. So what I did was to go to the municipal hall and meet the tourism officer. Honestly, the tourism officer was accommodating and nice. 

 What I just wanted was information about places to see in Tagudin until it leveled up! Whew! I was asked to meet the Mayor!!!

 Hmmm... I was already in queue, but since I only have limited time and the wait has been too long, I decided not just to meet the mayor. Outside the office, I saw a picture of a lighthouse and that was the start of the Amazing race (solo version).

 Below the municipal hall is a line of yellow tricycles waiting for passengers. I was able to grab one.

 And finally! For the very first time in my life, for the 24 years of my existence, through thick and thin, through all the struggles, typhoons and floods, elementary, high school, college, post graduate school and all that (LOL!), I will be seeing a lighthouse!

History (A Connection to Belgium)

Farola Lighthouse of Tagudin
Farola Lighthouse shares a slice of the history of the town. The existence of this lighthouse traces its roots from Belgium in Europe.

The story started when a group of missionaries from Belgium landed on the shore of Brgy. San Roque (present-day Brgy. Farola) by boat.

The group was headed by Sister Marie Louise de Meester and they set foot to San Roque on June 21, 1910. The lighthouse has been standing about 100 years now!

As a symbol of their landing in the Philippines, they built a PAROL (Lighthouse). Later on, the small Parol became famous to all fishermen and this has served as their guide when they go back and forth to the sea.

This group is called the CICM Missionaries -- the group who is responsible in the foundation of the famous institution in Baguio City, St. Louis University, the St. Louis College in San Fernando City, La Union and the At. Augustine School of Tagudin.

Climbing the Lighthouse

FAROLA LIGHTHOUSE OF TAGUDIN, ILOCOS SUR
I did not let the opportunity to pass without climbing the lighthouse. When I arrived there, it was not a grand lighthouse like what I am seeing on TV and Internet. But why be fooled by a grand lighthouse if the history and story is not as sweet and juicy as the history of this small lighthouse? 

Appreciation of our great history and heritage does not need to be embodied to grand structures because the greatest parts of the past were built from small details. I asked my guide if I am allowed to climb the lighthouse. The tricycle driver (my guide) had no idea. So what I did is to ask the residents near the lighthouse if I can do it. One lady said it's OK.

The lighthouse is located within the residential community and there was no stunning seascape background to see unless you go near the beach... or climb it instead.

The old lighthouse is already rusty. As I step my foot to the first steel in the ladder, there was hesitation. I wasn't sure why I still care to do it. Huh, what am I doing? The steel feels like it can be detached anytime. Actually, some have been in fair condition. But I still continued to climb it.

FAROLA LIGHTHOUSE OF TAGUDIN, ILOCOS SUR 
FAROLA LIGHTHOUSE OF TAGUDIN, ILOCOS SUR
Before I reached the top, I again, was reluctant if I will continue it because of the possibility of electrocution. I am really eccentric this time that I was so compelled to climb it. Thank God I was safe!

At the top of the lighthouse are solar panels and an amazing view of the sea. I won't recommend you to climb this. But if you want, let it be. But be cautious. A white paint concealed the old rusty steel ladder. It is medyo delikado.

Well, it was fun! What made this place worth the visit is the fact that I again learned a new lesson in history. It was not about the place itself but it was about the great event in our history that happened in that soil where I personally set my feet on. (end)

  Map of Tagudin (via Wikipedia)

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You are reading the Part 3 of our Tagudin town series

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

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I Visited an off-beaten destination in the town called Ambalayat Hanging Bridge. This is a great place for adventure-seekers in Tagudin.
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Stories of town explorations.
"The church has been restored several times since but the original appearance is maintained."

I can sense that time that almost everyone was looking at me. I was a bit shy but I don't want to make this opportunity to pass. I know, I am looking like a stranger that moment and I can't help my self but to smile and look amazed while seeing the Tagudin Church, an architectural masterpiece in this town located at the southern part of the province of Ilocos Sur.

Tagudin Church

I keep on taking photos, I know my behavior was unusual. No one was doing it this time. I mean, the taking-photos-obsession thing. Obviously no one in that place that moment was taking photos and I am quite sure most of the people inside the church premises are residents of the town.

I tried to act as if I am living in the town but I just can't hide how I was amazed seeing a new destination. The facial expression of being a newbie to see the place was hard to conceal and I just can't resist to ask and talk with the people about several questions and curious lingerings in me.
 
Most of the people sitting near this church were parents and guardians waiting for their little kiddos to finish their school lessons for the day.

Tagudin Church
The name of their school is St. Augustine School while the name of the Tagudin Church is St. Augustine Parish Church. Within the premises of the school is the other Tagudin Sundial, the oldest sundial in the Philippines on which the school is taking care of.

The church is not located in a place so that it can be very visible to everyone. Although the church compound is located along the road, the church does not stand out in the town because it is hidden by some trees and you still need to enter the gate for you to fully see the structure.

I wanted to take my own photo with the church as the background but I became shy when almost all eyes have been focused to me. As I said, taking photos of the church seems like not common there.

Tagudin Belfry

Tagudin Belfry
The belfry is located several meters away from the church. Tagudin Belfry has its own gate and fence. It has 3 layers and the bells are placed at the 2 higher layers.

The belfry is octagonal in shape, also hidden by huge acacia trees.

Tagudin Belfry
Those acacia trees were huge that the belfry is almost covered from my previous location at the church yard, just in front of the church. The trees soar as high as the 3-layer belfry.

So I need to walk close to the belfry to see it wholly. The belfry is guarded with another fence and gate. I was thinking that I have to ask a permission but the gate was open and no one was around.

Much better! The belfry looks better up close. It has been painted but the paint was not enough to hide how old the belfry is. One can still see the oldness of the belfry once you see it up close.

Tagudin Belfry
Hmmmm. Lovely bells are there! Of course, I want to take my own photo with the belfry as the background as souvenir photo until I saw a lady inside a building in front of the belfry smiling while looking at me. She was alone and I can see she was about to laugh.

I was doing a pose with the camera on a self-timer mode and I suddenly became conscious. I was feeling that time that taking photos there is unusual or strange really. So I am landing into a conclusion that people who take photos there is uncommon.

Well, to note, the town is not a popular tourist attraction. Taking photos while being amazed could be unusual as compared to popular places where taking photos is a must and people won't care about you even you will pose 100 times.

Tagudin Church History

Tagudin Belfry
The history of the construction of the church is based on a document (an official report) of the 24 cabeza de barangay of the town of Tagudin and the governor of the Ilocos Sur province in 1829. The report states that the church was built by a priest named Father Gutierez while he was still a priest of another town in La Union called Bangar. The wall was finished in two years time.

The construction of the church was continued by another priest named Father Franciso Hernandez in 1816. The said priest died in 1821 and that time, Tagudin Church was almost finished.

Other cited document states that the church's vault, interior and presbytery were not yet completed as of 1829. The church was made of stones and brick and measures 40 brazas long and 8.5 brazas wide which are equivalent to 66.80 meters and 14.19 meters respectively.

The construction of the church was completed by Father Juan Sorolla, the prior of Tagudin in 1832. He is the same priest who installed the Tagudin Sundial, the only sundial used by the Spanish people in the Philippines when they colonized the country. It is also the first and the oldest surviving sundial in the Philippines.

Tagudin Belfry
The church belfry, however, was built later on. Another priest named Fr. Geronimo Rubio built the slender belfry in 1881. Father Mariano Ortiz made some restorations in the church in 1880. The church has been restored several times since but the original appearance is maintained.

Architecture

Tagudin Church
The façade of the church pervades a clear Baroque style. It has huge main door which is arched elliptically. It has Augustinian symbolisms crowned by a triangular pediment of Baroque influence.

If you are a conspiracy theorist, I am sure you will tend to be particular with the symbolisms. But I would prefer not to discuss it here because not every reader has the same way of thinking like the way conspiracy theorists do.

Tagudin Church is the southernmost structure with Baroque Architecture in the Ilocos provinces. Large and sensuously rounded, paired columns with double capitals flanked at the sides of the main entrance.

Some accounts state that some of the designs are Greek in origin as embodied to some of the decorations placed at the façade. The impediment has broken lines, very common features of the Baroque.

Historical Timeline

Tagduin Belfry
1814 (?): This date is not certain. But according to the report of the 24 cabeza de barangay of Tagudin and the Ilocos Sur governor in 1829, the phrase "he was prior of Tagudin" was referring to Fr. Gutierez, the one who started the construction of the church. The document further states that the walls of the church was completed in 2 years time until it was continued by another priest in 1816. So, 1816 minus 2 years is 1814. I don't know what happened to Gutierez that the construction of the church was handed to another priest.

1816: The church construction was continued by Fr. Franciso Fernandez.

1821: Franciso Fernandez died, the church is almost finished.

1832: Father Juan Sorolla completed the construction of the church. He also built the convent now used as a school bulding of St. Augustine's School and the 2 Tagudin Sundials (1841, 1845).

1880: Fr. Mariano Ortiz made some restorations in the church.

1881: Fr. Geronimo Rubio built the slender belfry located west of the church.

Location of Tagudin on Map

Map of Tagudin, Ilocos Sur

Disclaimer


This post does not promote, protect, or support any religion. This post aims to educate the readers about our history, appreciate our heritage and to promote tourism. Religious belief/preference has no bearing in this article.

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You are reading the Part 2 of our Tagudin town series

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

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FAROLA LIGHTHOUSE OF TAGUDIN

Subject: FAROLA LIGHTOUSE, still in Tagudin town. Learn how Ilocos is linked to Belgium!

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Stories of town explorations.
"Tagudin Sundial, being the oldest sundial in the Philippines is the only sundial used by the Spaniards during their era in the country."

During those years wherein the use of wrist watch is not common or could it be common but hindi lang uso, people have devised ways to know the time. In England, they use the stonehenge to tell time. In the town of Tagudin, they use the sundial. Nope, you don't need to dial something because the sun will dial it for you, lols :p

The First Sundial in the Philippines

Tagudin Sundial
They may  look ordinary. Ordinary person without the thirst for knowledge, history and interesting trivia may just say, "So what about that? A monument with numbers?"

But for history freaks and people inclined with history, this ordinary monument is a treasure to behold, a precious gem to consider and a golden part of our heritage to be taken care of.

History

Tagudin
Tagudin is indeed a historical town. The town had an important role during World War II. Well, I am not saying that I am pro-war. Wars have been a part of the history of mankind and there's no way we can turn back time to revert it. The town of Tagudin is part of those wars that most of us wouldn't agree to happen, right?

It was the site of the Base Hospital of the United States Armed Forces in the Philippines-Northern Luzon (USAFIP-NL) in 1945 during World War II which is believed to be the largest World War II hospital in the Philippines. The town used to be the capital of the defunct Amburayan province and the site of the military general headquarters of the Philippine Commonwealth Army 1st and 12th Infantry Division and the USAFIP-NL 121st Infantry Regiments. They were stationed in the town and was active during World War II (1942 to 1945) and Post-War Era (1945 to 1946). I will be talking more about the history of the town for the upcoming post for this series. For now, we will focus more on the sundial.

Tagudin Sundial, being the oldest sundial in the Philippines is the only sundial used by the Spaniards during their era in the Philippines. Built in 1841 and 1848 respectively, the Tagudin sundials are still in use now and considered to be accurate in telling the time. The sundials ware built by Father Juan Sorolla.

Location

Tagudin Sundial
There are two sundials in Tagudin. One is located at the town Plaza in front of the Tagudin Town Hall and one is located inside the St. Agustine School.

The one at the plaza is readily available for everyone. The one inside the school requires you to ask permission first. When I visited the latter, I asked permission from the security guard.

The photo above is a scene inside the St. Agustine School which takes charge of the other sundial.

Underrated and Why?

Tagudin Sundial
For regular tourists in Ilocos Sur, of course, they will be particualr about the city of Vigan and the ample destinations and food they can experience there, the UNESCO World Heritage Church of Sta. Maria, The Bantay Bell Tower and others. But if you ask about the Sundial, I bet few are familiar about it.

For this case, who is to blame why this historical niche in the Philippines in not well known? Are we going to blame the DOT for not promoting it? Or the Local Government Unit for not promoting it too? Or simply blame ourselves for not exerting an effort to research some historical accounts of the places we are visiting?

More about Tagudin for the upcoming posts in this series. Please keep posted!

Map of Tagudin, Ilocos Sur
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You are reading the Part 1 of the Tagudin town series of the #Town Explorer

Prelude | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
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Stories of town explorations.
"Yes, some unexplained encounters happen but my conviction is that one should not be afraid if you have the Words of God in your heart."

They are there. They are really there. They exist and that is Biblical. But you should not be afraid if God is with you because they won't harm you. So you love traveling or immersing yourself to adventure while being watched by ghosts or supernatural beings? Hey! Look at your back, no one is there but someone is actually watching you. You just can't see them. For this post, I will be featuring some popular and not-so popular travel and adventure destinations tainted with ghosts stories from urband legends, stories from town folks and even actual encounters of mine. Yes, I experienced "them."
Pindangan

For the first stop, this is an actual encounter of mine. It was a hot afternoon (but it is about to go dark) when I reached a creepy place called Pindangan Ruins in the city of San Fernando, La Union. I was riding on a tricycle and I was alone. I entered a narrow road that connects to the main highway. A huge acacia tree was very notable that time. The air moves, mmm... it was cold that made me doubt if it was really a hot afternoon.

All I know that time is that I was enjoying that city tour. There were no ghost things inside my head because it was a bright sunny day and those things never came to my mind at all. At first I didn't enter the ruin and I was just enjoying the dilapidated structure since it is again a new destination for me with historical value. I finally decided to enter the ruin and I suddenly felt uneasy. I didn't know why.

Inside the ruin seemed like it was a different dimension. It feels like it is not a part of the place where I was standing. The feeling was strange. It was hard to explain. I set my camera  into self-timer mode and I removed the flash since I don't want the outcome of the photo if there is too much light. For my first shoot, the camera flashed. I rechecked the camera if I really removed the flash. It was set on a flash mode. For the second time, I removed the flash but after the 10-second timer, it produced light again.

That time I was not thinking about any ghosts because it really didn't come in my mind and I was thinking that I may have mistakenly set the camera. But for the third time, I removed the flash and I made myself sure that I really removed the flash but the camera still produced a light.

After I took my own photo inside that "new dimension," the tricycle driver who drove me there told me that people around the area are seeing a priest inside that ruin without a head (pugot) and a lady dressed in white with a face that is hard to recognize. My body hairs got stiff and I told the driver, "Kuya please paki-bilisan, umalis na tayo rito." I didn't tell the driver about my experience there but the moment he told me about those ghost stories, I knew by myself that the glitches of my camera were not of human error.

Cape Bojeador Lighthouse of Ilocos Norte


The next creepy destination is the Cape Bojeador Lighthouse of the town of Burgos in Ilocos Norte. It is an old lighthouse that has turned to be a national treasure and heritage. It is situated atop the hill. There are no other houses near the lighthouse. As you approach it, it looks very vintage.

Reaching the lighthouse was not easy. If you have no rides, you need to climb the hill. After that climb, the lighthouse seemed like to be reluctant to visitors because there are more steps to take before reaching the lighthouse itself.

I went up, some metals from the windows and other parts are rusty. It was very silent. But it gives you a marvelous view of the West Philippine sea and the mountains of Ilocos Norte and a different feeling that you are in a different world @.@.

There a lot of old stuff and you don't know if the persons who made those are already dead now that their ghosts are taking care of them. Some locals tell that a white lady is residing in that lighthouse.

The Antique Sta. Maria Colonial Cemetery Ruins

For some reasons, I visited a Spanish-era cemetery in the town of Santa Maria with two awesome bloggers Estan Cabigas (Langyaw.com) and Eric Cabalda (HReric.com).

Maybe you would ask me. Why you bother to visit a cemetery? Well, that is an interesting question. I wanted to visit the place because of its historical value. It is as old as the World Heritage Church of Sta. Maria which is also made up of bricks and few is known about it. Going there would at least give me an idea about how beautiful the cemetery chapel in that cemetery was. It has intricate designs with evident European influence. You can see the designs in some of the remaining structures.

The cemetery ruins are now filled with a lot of trees, vines, shrubs and other plants. Inside is like a mini-forest that will transport you to another realm within the walls of that antique cemetery chapel.

Burgos Ancestral House and Museum

It is one of the famous museums in Vigan being the birth house of Padre Jose Burgos of the famed GOMBURZA. The house is now a National Museum.

The ghost story started when a visitor of the Provincial Capitol visited the museum. The government officials toured that man. Unknown to those officials, their visitor has a third eye. Let's just give him a pseudo name "Mark." As other tourists are enjoying the old stuff they see inside, Mark felt uneasy. Being a person with a third eye, he was seeing "many" other tourists inside the museum that it was only he who can see them. They are dressed in an old-fashioned way in barong and old gowns just going around. They ascend and descend the stairs and they are everywhere the house. The story has spread in Vigan and employees of the provincial capitol may have known about the incident.

Mystery and Ritual-Filled Burayok-Pinsal Falls of Nagbukel Mountain Town

Actually, I will have another set of posts that will tackle my experiences in this mystical waterfall but I want to include it now for this post. However, this will only serve as a teaser. The whole story will be written in a series since it covers a huge realm of different stories that require thorough analyses for each event and encounters.

What made this waterfall mysterious and creepy is the fact that of all the waterfalls cascading in the mountains of the town of Nagbukel, this one "kills" visitors if you will not submit to the "requirement" of the unseen spirits.

The most common requirement is to offer a blood on which our group just did (I will talk more about that blood-offering ritual for my upcoming series for this waterfall). Our guide told me that people who come here without blood-offering to the unseen spirits will die. Several deaths have happened here and the residents and town folks have learned that those are the visitors who did not offer a blood. From that time on, every first  time visitor who goes there is already advised to offer a blood.

The waterfall itself is an image of a white lady. Notice the photo. At the rocks are different symbols like lions and a huge image of soldier who seems to be taking care of the waterfalls (I will show the images soon).

Final Words

Note that these are just ghost stories and it depends upon your conviction. Personally, I believe in ghosts, I believe in hell and I believe that this world will be ruled by the evil and by the Anti-Christ. But the rule will be temporary because Jesus will come the second time around to save the believers (as stated in the Bible).

About the rituals I discussed above, I personally don't believe it but my guide still did it because it was their belief. But I am not bothered should there have been no  blood-offering rituals that happened.

So we should not be afraid. Yes, some unexplained encounters happen but my conviction is that one should not be afraid if you have the Words of God in your heart. That will be your protection. Ghosts won't harm, they will just give fear. Real humans both give harm and fear.
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Stories of town explorations.
Photos are important materials for the success of a travel blog because they give the readers a glimpse of the places we are featuring as travel bloggers. I am making this post because I have been a victim of content grabbers lately and if you are a regular reader of this blog, you will notice some changes of the photo watermarks and I will be discussing that later.

Well, I am not an authority in travel blogging and photography because I am just the mere "usual" blogger that can be found everywhere. I don't have a background about photography and/or travel blogging so I am not talking here as if I have a good or a successful blog or superb blogging skills. The fact is I am just an ordinary one.

But, now I just want to share my personal take about protecting your travel photos. Take note that these things you are going to read are not the standard rules in travel blogging. It is just my personal take but I hope it would help.

Lungog, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur
My new photo watermark as protection from content grabbers | Learn about this watermark with the discussion below.

As I have said, I have been a victim of content grabbers and one of the favorite things these people love copying in my blog are my photos. Well, they are not superb photos but they find them helpful in illustrating their own blogs too.

Putting Your Logo as Watermark

As you notice my blog, most of my photos have logos. Here I will be discussing the importance of logo for your brand as a travel blog.

Some may say that, "I don't need branding because I blog from the heart, with passion and sincerity." Yes, that might be the case for some but creating your own logo to intensify your brand would help.

Although some blogs succeed without having their own logo, it would have been nicer if they have at least made their own. Your blog logo represents your brand or your blog. Logo is like the flag of every nation and one look at it you know it is owned by this country and that country. (Note: Be consistent with your blog logo all throughout your blog and social media networks.)

For example, if you can see an embassy in other states with the Philippine flag, you'll know at first glance that the embassy is owned by the Philippines without asking for the staff inside.

A good example of photos with logo as a watermark is Flip Nomad. Looking at the photo with the Flip-logo you know it is owned  by Flip Nomad.

Photo courtesy of Flip Nomad | No copyright infringement intended, used only for illustration.

So that is the role of logo and putting it on your photo as one of the watermarks can help intensify your brand. The moment the content grabber uploads it, your regular readers will know it is yours that moment they encounter one. They could report it to you.

Take note, don't use a logo that is already very common. Use a logo that is easy to remember, with a maximum of two-color combination that retains easily in human's memory.

Putting Watermark at a Safe Place

Putting watermarks could be very annoying to some readers so it is impotant to place it in a proper way. Mostly, watermarks are placed at the corners to give emphasis at the photo itself and not the watermark.

But putting your watermarks at the corner has downside because a content grabber can still make a strategy to call your photo his own. I have this experience about a blogger and a known radio broadcaster who copied my photos. He pasted my photos in his blog without asking for permission and/or putting the right credits. Worse, he "cropped" the watermark placed at the corner thereby making the photo to appear as if owned by him. Check out the example below.

Above: The copied photo of mine 
(original form, with the watermark at the corner)
My cropped and copied photo as posted on that blog without any credits.

So the problem here is that although my photo was watermarked, it was not placed on the right section. So a content grabber can still make a way to call this photo his own. It was an insult that he did not even placed a credit, worse the watermark was cropped, Uhh!

So what to do? Notice the next photo below. I have intentionally occupied the top portion of the photo in a more extensive manner so that if someone copies and then crop it, it would no longer be substantial since a big portion of the photo is already removed so as a way, the copying party may ask you for the original copy or just paste it and retain the watermark. In that way, your ownership on that photo will be upheld.

How to protect your blog photos
Removing the huge portion of the watermark can make the photo to lose it's essence. But of course make sure that your watermark is not annoying making it to stand out leaving the real essence of the photo unnoticed.

If that would be the case, I would suggest Mervin's photos of Pinoy Adventurista. Mervin has placed the watermark at the middle of his photos in a lighter degree. 

how to protect your blog photos
Photo courtesy of Pinoy Adventurista | No copyright infringement intended, used only for illustration.

So for those who will grab his photos, there is no other way but to retain it or if they want the original file, they have to contact the owner which is Pinoy Adventurista.

Disabling Right-Click Button, is it Helpful?

Some travel bloggers disable the right click functionality for the pages of their blogs. That could be a clever idea especially if your audience is not well-versed with the use of computer. 

Then these computer geeks come and read. They can still make a remedy. So how? Taking a screenshot is a possibility. From that screenshot, they can simply crop it and only take the photo they want to grab and that is easy to do.

So I have to say that disabling the right-click functionality in your blog can not save your photos. Sometimes it can cause more problems since internet readers are impatient. If they are looking for the right information in your blog, they would use the right click functionality to open another link from your blog without leaving the current page they are reading for easier navigation. Disabling the right click functionality can interfere some readers in navigating and reading your blog making them unable to retain another page that can be read later on. 

Allowing readers to open another page via the right click functionality is like several YouTube Videos opened on various tabs while waiting for others to load which in the long run, all those videos will be watched later on.

Putting your Blog URL

I find putting your Blog URL a thing as important as putting your name and address in your ID. If you are lost and suddenly you had an accident and had an amnesia (for example), your ID can help the people around to send you where should you go.

Your blog URL serves as your ID. Although you might have a logo to represent your brand, it is equally important to send your readers in the proper destination and gather them in one virtual community that could be your blog, your facebook page or your YouTube Channel. Place the URL where you want to gather them and at the same time to receive traffic.

Look at Journeying Pinay's photo below. She places both her name and her blog URL as watermark. So if someone grabs that photo or is uploaded by any content grabber somewhere else, everyone will see the watermark and you might send them to your blog, Facebook page or YouTube Channel.

Photo by Journeying Pinay | No copyright infringement intended, used only for illustration.
So for the fans of your photos, you can just gather them in one place.

So there you have it. Protect your photos from content grabbers who call your photos as their own. These are some tactics we may apply to keep our ownership attached to those photos without driving your readers away from our blog.

So these are some tips I was thinking when I saw my photos to appear to some blogs without prior notice, credits and the crop & paste modus.

Remember that these are not absolute rules. You can still impose your own way in your blog because what is applicable to Pedro may not be applicable to Juan.

And take note that copying the contents of our blog is INEVITABLE. Whatever method or tweak we apply, they can still copy our photos. As bloggers, we can not prevent our photos to be copied, but we can be resilient from them. These methods will surely place a travel blog photo where it should belong.

So how about you, what is your take? Can you share some tips to protect your travel blog photos? (end)

This opinion-ated blog post is a personal interpretation of the author of this blog and does not mean that these are the new standards in travel blogging. The author is not a well-experienced or a veteran travel blogger. In fact, he only started to learn what blogging is all about last year so it depends on you if you believe in what he is talking about :p Rest assured, he writes this article from the heart after he found out that someone (I mean, a lot of them) is copying his blog contents without any credit that made him feel angered and inspired to write a post like this that he doesn't usually do.
NAGUSTUAM DIAY NABASAM/NAKITAM? MABALIN MO MET I-LIKE.
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Stories of town explorations.
"I am now here, personally encountering one of the footprints face to face and it feels good to see in person what is used to be a story that I only hear."

It was a very spontaneous adventure. Being unfamiliar with the town of Sudipen in La Union, the things I discovered are surprising. The quiet town has no exceptional tourist attractions to offer but it offers a big cut of history and folklore. Sudipen is the home for the historical Intake Dam which was built by the Japanese during World War II and one of the footprints of Angalo, a mythical giant.

Namaltugan, Sudipen, La Union
Trekking the Amburayan River in Search for the Giant Footprint of Angalo.

First, let's get familiar with Angalo. Angalo is a mythical giant hunter, and considered as a hero to some locals. The elders of the Ilocos Region believe that this giant once existed.

As told by the Ilocano myth, Angalo was continually searching for his wife Aran thereby roaming around the whole Ilocos Region leaving giant footprints.

In the Ilocano mythology, Angalo and Aran are believed to be the first couple to exist on Earth as in the case of Adam and Eve.

For some, especially for those who are not familiar with Angalo, this adventure won't capture their taste. But as of me, I was very excited when I learned that one of the footprints of Angalo is located here when I went at the Town Hall of Sudipen to visit their tourism office.

From different towns and different provinces up north, there are giant footprints and I promised myself to visit all these footprints and share it in this blog. To note, this is the first Angalo footprint I have discovered and I wonder how many footprints are there in all. Well, I think I have to explore more towns to document them.

The trail for trekking has given me some refreshment. It was a good forest with springs at some rocks. Some of the giant rocks along the way emit cold fresh spring water.

Thanks to a local resident who served as my guide. He was a tricycle driver and he unselfishly accompanied me to this area. The deal was 120 pesos as my fare. Not that bad.

The trek is about 15-20 minutes and at some parts, it will offer you a view of the Amburayan River, a mighty river originating from Kapangan, Benguet that streams down to La Union and Ilocos Sur.

Amburayan
Finally I have reached this part of the Amburayan River. It was a calm river, flowing in serenity with verdant mountains and hills nearby.

A part of this river is a big rock which is believed by the locals to be one of the footprints of Angalo scattered to several towns up north.

Angalo
Notice the photo above. The huge stone is shaped like a footprint. The toes of the giant are also marked at the stone. I never thought that I will be able to see this in the town of Sudipen. It makes me love the Ilocano mythology more because now it is more than just hearing the stories from the elders. I am now here investigating about this mythology.

Now I am not just learning about this myth through the stories passed from generation to generation because I am now here, personally encountering one of the footprints face to face and it feels good to see in person what is used to be a story that I only hear.

More footprints to see and I am loving chasing after these landmarks of the Ilocano myth.

Map of  Sudipen, La Union courtesy of Wikipedia.

Check out the other Footprint (Related Posts)

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