I was born and raised in northern Ilocos. Occasionally, I post about my visits to southern Ilocos. I am hankering to visit more often to learn more of the other half of the Ilocos equation — its history, culture and the ancient traditions that always fail to be buried with the past.
The old adage holds true: You reap what you sow. The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recently awarded Vigan, the quintessence of Ilocos Sur, the “Best practice in World Heritage Site Management” in the 40th World Heritage Convention held in Japan. The convention centered around “World Heritage and Sustainable Development: the Role of Local Communities” which gives the award more meat and texture for it manifests the fruition of the local community’s unified struggle in preserving their heritage and defining their identity.
UNESCO describes Vigan as “Established in the 16th century, Vigan is the best-preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia. Its architecture reflects the coming together of cultural elements from elsewhere in the Philippines, from China and from Europe, resulting in a culture and townscape that have no parallel anywhere in East and South-East Asia.”
Here are some of the things that are uniquely Ilocos Sur’s.
Tricycles that don’t look like either space ships or lowered sports cars:) Notice the embossed nikelado adornment in both the exteriors of the tricycles and calesa.
The salamagi (tamarind) wine.
The Southern Ilocos cuisine is worth exploring. Among the indigenous fare is sinanglao, a soothing soup of beef innards flavored and tenderized in bile and pias (kamias).
Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2013
