South East Asian Airlines (SEAIR) recently announced that it will launch its first domestic jet services from Manila to Cebu on July 1, 2011 and Manila to Davao on July 2 as part of the SEAIR-Tiger Airways Partner Airline Programme.

Special starting fare offers will be for as low as 499 PHP one-way to/from Cebu for travel on July 1 to October 29, 2011, and 999 PHP one-way to/from Davao for travel on July 2 to October 29, 2011. Passengers can now buy tickets online at FlySeair.com and tigerairways.com, or call +63 2 849 0100, the SEAIR Hotline for domestic and international flights.

SEAIR will have up to 10 daily flights to and from Cebu and up to six daily flights to and from Davao from its jet operations base at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) domestic terminal.

Cebu and Davao are the major tourist gateways in the Philippines for Visayas and Mindanao, respectively. Cebu, the “Queen City of the South”, also known locally as Sugbo, is the capital city of the island of Cebu and the oldest city in the country. Its popular tourist attractions include the Magellan’s Cross Shrine, an important historical landmark that signalled the beginning of the Spanish occupation in the Philippines, and the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño (Minor Basilica of the Santo Niño), which houses the Santo Niño de Cebú (Holy Child of Cebu), the oldest Catholic relic in the Philippines.

Apart from exploring the Spanish side of Cebu, nature-loving travellers can discover rich marine life at scuba diving spots in Moalbal, Malapascua, and Pescador Island, or hop on a ferry to its island neighbors, Bohol and Negros, for dive safaris in Cabilao and Apo Island.

The largest city in the country and the premier hub of Mindanao, Davao is home to some of the country’s top beach and mountain resorts, most notably the Pearl Farm in the secluded island of Samal, just 45 minutes off the coast of the city. Adventure-seekers can sign up for a two-day climb at Mount Apo, the Philippines’ tallest mountain at 9,692 ft located just 40 km northeast of Davao, or sample durian, “the king of fruits”, which, due to its unusual flavor and odor, have aroused intense passion in some and dislike in others. The annual week-long Kadayawan Festival in August, the biggest of its kind in Mindanao, is celebrated during the peak season of durian and mangosteen (another fruit) as a thanksgiving celebration for the bountiful harvest of flowers and fruits that Davao is known for.

The Cebu and Davao flights are the first domestic flights under the SEAIR-Tiger Airways Partner Airline Programme, which allows SEAIR to distribute its seats through the established online booking system, www.tigerairways.com. SEAIR is the first Tiger Airways Partner Airline in the Asia Pacific region.

“SEAIR’s great value fares and this expanded network will offer travellers even more value-for-money destinations to choose from, together with worry-free bookings. The introduction of high frequency domestic jet routes will also drive the creation of new jobs as well boost tourism across the Philippines,” said SEAIR President and CEO Avelino Zapanta.

SEAIR is the second oldest airline in the country. It has the reputation of having pioneered commercial flights to the country’s fastest growing tourist destinations including Boracay, Batanes, and northern Palawan. Now on its 16th year of operation, it has expanded its reach regionally with jet services to Singapore, Hong Kong, and Macau.

Philippine Airlines (PAL) is running a new “No-Frills” to all PAL domestic flights and selected Asian destinations. Promo ticket prices are only available for purchase through the PAL website. Below are the applicable routes and fares.

International Round Trip Fares (excluding taxes, surcharges and airport terminal fee). Valid for selling, ticketing and traveling until March 29, 2010 only.

* For as low as USD $48 (with PBWEB Fare Basis) / minimum 2 days and maximum 8 days of stay (between Manila to Ho Chi Minh* / Hong Kong / Jakarta, Indonesia / Singapore). * Not available for Ho Chi Minh to Manila.

* For as low as USD $58 (with PBWEB Fare Basis) / minimum 2 days and maximum 8 days of stay (between Manila and Bangkok, Thailand / Macau)

* For as low as USD 68 (with PBWEB Fare Basis) / minimum 2 days and maximum 8 days of stay ( between Manila and Taipei, Taiwan)

* For as low as USD 98 (with PBWEB Fare Basis) / minimum 2 days and maximum of 8 days stay ( between Manila and Shanghai, China)

* For as low as USD 188 (with PBWEB Fare Basis) / minimum 2 days and maximum of 8 days stay (between Manila and Beijing, China)

Note: International fares will be quoted in the currency of the country of departure except for Philippines and Indonesia where fares are quoted in USD$.

* For as low as USD $78 (PWEBSGN) / minimum 2 days and maximum of 8 days stay (from Saigon, China to Manila)

Domestic one-way All-In Fares valid for sale, ticketing and travel until further notice (excluding Aviation Security Fee (ASF) and airport terminal fee ).

* For as low as Php 488, between Manila and Laoag

* For as low as Php988, between Manila and Legazpi, Albay/ Cebu / Iloilo

* For as low as Php1,088, between Manila and Bacolod / Dumaguete / Kalibo, Aklan /
Puerto Princesa, Palawan / Roxas, Capiz / Tacloban, Leyte / Tagbilaran, Bohol

* For as low as Php2,088, between Manila and Butuan / Cagayan de Oro / Cotabato /
Davao / Dipolog / General Santos / Zamboanga

Cebu Pacific is moving its entire operation to NAIA Terminal 3 starting August 1, 2008 and will mark the event with a system- wide seat sale.

Fly from Manila – Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Bangkok, Jakarta, Taipei, Kaohsiung, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Macau and Saigon or from Cebu to Hong Kong and Singapore for as low as P888!

Fly Manila to Laoag, Legaspi, Naga, San Jose, Tuguegarao or Cebu to Bacolod, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro and Iloilo for only P699 – ALL IN!

Fly from Manila to Bacolod, Caticlan, Cebu, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Kalibo, Puerto Princesa, Roxas, Tacloban, Tagbilaran or from Cebu to Caticlan, Clark, Davao, General Santos, Puerto Princesa and Zamboanga, or Davao to Iloilo, Zamboanga for as low as P999 – ALL IN!

Travel from Manila to Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Cotabato, Davao, Dipolog, General Santos, and Zamboanga for only P1499 – ALL IN!

Seat Sale starts now until 05 August 2008 and is valid for travel beginning 01 September to 17 December 2008. This promo is non-refundable.

Pasig River has so much importance in the history of Manila. It was the EDSA during the pre-colonial era, a main water thoroughfare used by our ancestors for trade and travel. It has also become an advantage as a natural harbour for ships. The Spaniards came and constructed the walled city and several pueblos along the river. But just after World War II, as roads plough the streets, the river’s importance declined and was notorious to be “the largest poso negro in Metro Manila.”

Now the efforts have paved the way for its improvement, one of them is the revival of the Pasig River ferry system, which is part of the ways that the government can alleviate transportation woes in the metro. Equiped with air-conditioned catamarans and modern terminals, ferries ply from Pasig City to Intramuros in Manila in an hour less the traffic…

From Guadalupe, Makati to Intramuros, Manila, it will cost you PhP45 for regular fare, P20 for students. You don’t need to worry about traffic, the river’s stench. Instead, just sit back and relax and enjoy the cruise and the river scenery. You may even go out at the bow to breathe fresh air (and most of the time I took the ferry, the obnoxious stench is not available). Go out and take pictures of the surroundings but as you approach Pureza and Pandacan, security people would request you to get inside. Unfortunatelty, hanggang beinte pesos na lang ang Malacañang as the crew would not allow the people taking pictures of the Palace due to security reasons.

Pasig River may have been the reflection of the Philippine urban society. The soaring skyscrapers of Makati and Ortigas are contrasted by the slums beside the river. The oil depots that bring life to infrastructure to the city and a Palace that is the seat of power of the Republic. Unseen Manila can be seen here, if you want to reminisce the old days when Bapor Tabo of El Fili once cruised the waters of this historic river. The river that brought life to Manila.

The oldest among the rail transits in the metro, it was constructed in early 1980′s by the Marcos Administration to drastically reduce the travel time from Paranaque City to Caloocan City, passing through the heart of downtown Manila. The said line runs from Baclaran to Monumento. Light Railway Transit was inspired by the tramvias of pre-war Manila (similar to cable cars of San Francisco) but on an elevated railway and with specific stations. It runs 15 kilometers with 18 stations north to south, traversing the roads of Taft Avenue, Avenida Rizal and Arroceros Street. So, here we start our joyride from south to north and get to know the destinations.

The station guides at the next page

• Baclaran Station – It is the southern terminal of LRT-1. Famous for being a crowd and traffic drawer pilgrimage site every Wednesday which is at the Redemptorist Church. The area is also known as a giant marketplace of everything affordable, from apparel to cellphones to television. It is Divisioria’s competitor in the south.
• EDSA (Pasay Rotunda) Station – It is simply the big hub of passengers who are either going to QC, Pasig or Makati or Manila and Caloocan. It is where you disembark if you want to travel the Metro by EDSA either by bus (which will take you, heaven knows when hours before you reach the area) or by MRT, the blue line. The Taft Avenue Station of MRT is just a walking distance away. Also, the place is a large transit area for provincial buses mostly bound south of Manila.
• Libertad Station – This is where you disembark if you want to go to Pasay City’s market or watch a basketball game at the Cuneta Astrodome.
• Buendia Station – The station in which you can either infiltrate the Central Business District of Makati or the expanse of the World Trade Centre or even knock your doors at the Senate of the Philippines.
• Vito Cruz Station – Animo La Salle! The station where the De La Salle schools are within its reaches. Also, this is the most convenient disembarking location for those bound for CCP, Aliw Theatre and the Rizal Stadium. And oh, Harisson Plaza Shopping Centre.
• Quirino Avenue Station – Sightseeing at Manila Zoo or having a courtesy call with Malacanang? Or bound to Santa Mesa? It’s the place to drop yourself off to these destinations.
• Pedro Gil Station – Sick and needs check-up, PGH (Philippine General Hospital) is near, and same with the first UP (University of the Philippines) campus. You may also want to shop or go bar hopping at nearby Malate or have your judicial cases be solved at the Supreme Court.
• United Nations Avenue – The gateway to the most famous landmark in Manila, Luneta or Rizal Park. Also for those who wanted to have the American Dream, the US Embassy is just at the western end of UN Avenue. NBI clearances and wanting for investigation? NBI is here. And to our fellow mariners seeking for a job, this is where TM Kalaw is.
• Central Terminal – At the heart of the Capital is the Central Terminal or known as Lawton. SM City Manila is nearby and so is the the old walled city of Intramuros, a standing reminder of Manila living with Spain for three centuries. Fort Santiago and the UNESCO World Heritage Site San Agustin Church is here and so are the schools of Mapua, PLM, Lyceum and Letran and the seat of the Archdiocese of Manila.
• Carriedo Station – This is the gateway to the old soul commercial hub of Manila. The famed Avenida Rizal and the old commercial strip of Escolta, the Church of Santa Cruz and of course Chinatown Binondo where those Chinese delicacies, restaurants and that imposing church is located. Pilgrims of the Black Nazarene can disembark here as Quiapo Church is just several blocks away. This is also another bargain hunter’s paradise.
• Doroteo Jose Station – Going to Divisoria, the famed “THE BARGAIN PLACE” of Manila? Or going to Sampaloc and head yourself to the University Belt or have a rally staged at Mendiola? Heading for Cubao QC and Marikina, it is the transit station for the Purple Line or LRT-2.
• Bambang Station – Going north Luzon? Some terminals are located here or searching for bargain goods.
• Blumentritt Station – The street is named after one of Rizal’s supporters. This is the transit station for those who want to ride the old PNR (Philippine National Railways) for Alabang or its main station at Tutuban.
• Tayuman Station – Once the gateway to the world of jockeys and horse racing of San Lazaro, it is now the station for those who want to go to Tondo or Sampaloc or shop at SM City.
• Abad Santos Station – Visiting some departed loved ones at the Chinese Cemetery or bound again for Divisioria, it is here where you disembark.
• R.Papa Station – One of the gateways to Manila’s largest cemeteries, the North Cemetery and Chinese Cemetery. Also within the vicinity is the lechon district of La Loma in Quezon City.
• 5^th Avenue Station – Station for the residents and people bound to the residential areas of Grace Park and also Dagat-Dagatan of CAMANAVA (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas & Valenzuela).
• Monumento Station – The last station up north. So called because of the monument done by the National Artist Guillermo Tolentino dedicated to Andres Bonifacio, a Philippine revolucionario and a hero. This is where you transit for Navotas’ fish port, the zoo and antique places of Malabon, the industrial Valenzuela and all the way to Bulacan and beyond. It is also where Yellow Line meets EDSA once more, bound for Balintawak Interchange and Munoz market, the “bagsakan” of Benguet vegetables.

On our third day in Laoag, we took a trip south to Vigan City, the capital of Ilocos Sur. We only planned to visit Calle Crisologo and Baluarte to save time.

After a quick breakfast at Balay da Blas, we took a trike and left for the Bus Terminal going to Vigan. I forgot the name of the bus but it’s only an ordinary one (non-airconditioned) and the fare was Php100 each. The ride lasted for 2 and 1/2 hours with some short stops picking up passengers by the road.

TIP: If you could spare Php20 more for your fare, I would suggest riding an air-conditioned bus like PARTAS. The seats are more comfy, they don’t stop to wait for passengers, and you don’t have to take in the scent of burning leaves by the roadside every few minutes.

We got off at the Vigan City Hall and asked directions from the traffic cops on how to get to Calle Crisologo. From the city hall, Calle Crisologo is about 3 blocks away so we just traveled there by foot.

First thing we saw is Plaza Burgos which is some sort of mini Rizal Park complete with a little statue of Jose Rizal in the middle. You can also see a lot of calesas for hire parked here. We did not hire one since we don’t plan on seeing the whole of Vigan and the ride is expensive for our budget.

Plaza Burgos

Beside the park is St. Paul’s Cathedral or what is commonly known as Vigan Cathedral. Just like St. William’s Cathedral in Laoag, this church is old but you wouldn’t recognize it since it is regularly maintained giving it a freshly painted look.

Vigan Cathedral with locals included

On one side of Plaza Burgos is the street leading to Calle Crisologo. You could easily see the statue of Leona Florentino, the famous Ilocana poet, satirist and playright during the Spanish Period, in front of the first Max’s Restaurant.

Tourist info center on the left, Cafe Leona on the right

TIP: If you are new to Vigan, you could head straight to the Ilocos Sur Tourist Information center and ask for a brochure as well as directions and other things. It is situated at the start of Crisologo St. besides Cafe Leona.

You can also see the Ilocos Sur Tourist Information center near the statue. We went there first to grab a brochure of Ilocos Sur and ask questions regarding other places to visit and transportation fares as well. The information guy is friendly and very helpful. Besides the information center is Cafe Leona which is a very nice place to eat. They serve huge servings of Filipino and Italian food at a decent price. Make sure to try their iced tea!

CALLE CRISOLOGO

Calle Crisologo or Crisologo St. is a 4-block street with cobblestone pavement lined with souvenirs and antique shops. No vehicles are allowed (only calesas) on the street except for the intersections. So if you’re going to take a nice photo of the street, make sure there are no cars, scooters, motorcycles passing through the intersections. We spent a great deal of time here to buy souvenirs for our friends and family.

Afterwards, it’s time to go to Baluarte, the home and mini zoo of Chavit Singson. We took a trike for Php40 after haggling it down from Php60 and it took us around 20 minutes to get there and there’s no entrance fee.

Calle Crisologo

BALUARTE

When you first step into Baluarte, you could see ostriches around the lobby and information area. Yup, they’re not fenced! There are also little horses with small carriages on them that you can ride for free to tour you around the place. I won’t be writing about what I saw at the zoo since that will sound like an elementary school paper but one thing’s for sure, the little ponies have huge dongs. Hehehe.

TIP: Do not stay late at Baluarte if you don’t plan on bringing your own vehicle. I don’t think the tricycle drivers waits there all day long.

We finished at around 3pm and luckily there are still lots of tricycles outside Baluarte to take us back to the city. Price is still Php40 but originally the driver’s asking for Php50. Anyway, we asked the driver to drop us off at the PARTAS bus terminal going toback to Laoag.

The bus is air-conditioned and Php20 more expensive but it’s more spacious and the seats are well-cushioned. We arrived at Laoag at around 5 PM and went back to our suite.

FARE BREAKDOWN

• Ordinary Bus from Laoag to Vigan – Php 100
• Tricycle travelling to and from Baluarte – Php 40-50
• Air-conditioned Bus from Vigan to Laoag (PARTAS) – Php 121.00

For dinner, we ate at C&E Pizzeria and tried their Bagnet Pizza. Mmmm. I strongly suggest that you try it yourself. We just packed our things and pasalubongs in the evening for our flight tomorrow noon.

The day after, we arrived at the airport 1 hour before our flight which is 12 noon but found out that it was delayed for 3 hours. Hayyy Cebu Pacific talaga.

This concludes the series of our Ilocos Tour. I hope you find it helpful in planning your trip to Ilocos. It’s a must-visit place here in the Philippines!

Part 1: From Manila to Laoag
Part 2: Going to Pagudpud
Part 3: Pagudpud
Part 4: City of Laoag
Part 5: South of Laoag
Part 6: Going to Vigan from Laoag

If you have any questions/suggestions/corrections, please feel free to leave a comment. Thanks!

We decided to visit places south of Laoag on our 3rd day there. This includes the Mausoleum of Marcos in Batac, Paoay Church, Malacañang of the North and Paoay Lake.

We departed at around 9 AM after having breakfast at Balay da Blas. We boarded a jeep at the Paoay Jeep Terminal in Laoag and asked to be dropped at the Batac intersection. Fare going to Batac is Php 21.00 each and takes around 15 minutes.

MAUSOLEUM OF MARCOS

When you get off the jeep, you have to walk for about two blocks going to the mausoleum. It is on the left side past Chowking (which is on the opposite side) and just before the wide bridge.

First you will see an old house where the parents of the late Pres. Marcos lived. You can see their family tree posted there. You can also see the house/mansion where the Pres. Marcos lived just ahead of his parent’s house.

House of Marcos’ parents near his mausoleum

Near the place is a mini-museum where you will see news clippings, photos, articles related to Marcos and a presidential desk as well.

In front of the museum, is the mausoleum itself where you can see the preserved body of Marcos. No picture taking is allowed inside.

After spending around 20 minutes taking pictures, we went back to the road where the Paoay jeeps are passing. We boarded a jeep and head to Paoay Church. Fare is Php 7.00 each and takes around 10 minutes to get there.

PAOAY CHURCH

This is a very beautiful and impressive church with a bell tower right beside it. The areas around it are well-kept with no modern establishments obstructing the view. You just have to time it right so that there would be no tourists looming in your photo. There’s a man here who we think is the caretaker who would approach and can assist you in taking pictures. You can also ask him questions on other places to visit in Paoay.

Paoay Church is already in UNESCO’s World Heritage List

In front of the church, don’t forget to eat at Herencia Cafe and try their interestingly flavored pizza (Dinuguan, Pinakbet, etc.). This resto is co-owned by Sammy of Balay da Blas and has already been featured in various travel tv programs such as Trip na Trip.

MALACAÑANG OF THE NORTH & PAOAY LAKE

We asked the friendly waitress of Herencia Cafe to help us look for a nice tricycle driver to take us to the Malacañang of the North and back to Laoag Jeep Terminal in Paoay. The agreed fare is Php 160 which is about right according to the friendly church caretaker.

TIP: Our officemate went there a few weeks after us and they said they hired a tricycle for Php 200 from Paoay to Malacañang of the North then back to Laoag. So you can use that as an option to save time and money.

After having an early lunch in Herencia Cafe and a few more picture taking, we went on our way. The trip from Paoay Church going to Malacañang of the North takes around 15-20 minutes.

Tia posing in front of Malacañang of the North

We arrived at around 12:30 PM and found out that the place takes a break at 11 AM – 1 PM so we just hanged around outside along with other would-be visitors. There is an entrance fee of Php20.00 to go inside the place. It is quite big with lots of rooms and also has a very nice view of Paoay Lake on its veranda.

A view of the lake from the terrace

After spending around 30 minutes taking pictures, we decided to head back to Paoay and boarded a jeep going back to Laoag.

We arrived back at Laoag at around 4 PM so we spent the rest of the afternoon touring the marketplace looking for souvenir items. In the evening, we had dinner at La Preciosa which is a very cozy and romantic place to eat and surprisingly, not so expensive as well.

FARE BREAKDOWN

• Jeep to Batac – Php 21.00 per head
• Jeep from Batac to Paoay – Php 7.00 per head
• Trike from Paoay to Paoay Lake and back – Php 160 – 200
• Jeep from Paoay to Laoag – Php 26.00 per head

Next day will be our Vigan tour and will be covered on the next part of this series.

Part 1: From Manila to Laoag
Part 2: Going to Pagudpud
Part 3: Pagudpud
Part 4: City of Laoag
Part 5: South of Laoag
Part 6: Going to Vigan from Laoag

If you have any questions/suggestions/corrections, please feel free to leave a comment. Thanks!

We left Kapuluan Vista Resort at around 9:30 AM and we arrived at Laoag at around lunch time. We took a trike for Php 40 going to the highway where we waited for around 10 minutes for a bus going to Laoag.

Roughly 2 hours later, we finally arrived at Laoag. From the bus terminal, we took a trike going to the place where we stayed for 3 nights, Balay da Blas. I strongly recommend this place for people visiting Laoag. The rent is not that expensive for the quality of the rooms they offer.

BALAY DA BLAS

Sammy Blas, the owner of the place was our gracious host. We booked for a Junior Suite (Php 1,350 per night) but he upgraded it to Deluxe Suite at no extra charge. The suite includes a living room with cable tv, kitchen with ref and stove, bedroom with queen size bed and bathroom with hot and cold water.

After checking the room and freshening up, we went down and had a chat with Sammy. He helped us plan our itinerary and suggested places where we can eat.

CITY OF LAOAG

Laoag is a small city where all the scenic spots are within walking distance of each other. You can tour everything within 30 minutes depending on how long you stay at one place. Main mode of transportation is via tricycle. The fare is Php7.00 per head, or is it Php14.00 per trike?

We had lunch at Saramsam Cafe (Sammy’s the owner) near Texicano Hotel. Try their Pinakbet Pizza and Dinuguan Pizza if you wanna experience something local. Afterwards, we went back at Balay de Blas to rest before starting our city tour.

Places to see in Laoag City

Here are the places we visited within the city:

• Museum of Ilocos Norte
• Tobacco Monopoly Monument
• Sinking Bell Tower
• St. William’s Cathedral

Outside Laoag, here are the places we visited:

• Sta. Monica Church in Sarrat
• La Paz Sand Dunes
• Mausoleum of Marcos in Batac
• Paoay Church
• Malacañang of the North and Paoay Lake

We started our city tour by going to the Museum of Ilocos Norte. There is an entrance fee of Php20 and the place has many interesting old stuff on display and it also has a souvenir shop inside. You’re allowed to take photos inside.

A crummy shot of the museum

Afterwards, just behind the museum you can see the Tobacco Monopoly Monument. It is a monument symbolizing King Alfonso’s lifting of the tobacco monopoly. It was erected in 1881 so it’s really really old!

Don’t take a picture of the Tobacco Monopoly Monument at high noon

Near the monument, you can already see the upper part of the Sinking Bell Tower. Walk towards it and take some pictures. It’s hard to take a decent photo since there are already establishments at the bottom and electrical wires obstructing your view. The tower was built in 1612!! Older than the tobacco monument.

The Sinking Bell Tower. Bottom part is full of establishments.

After taking some photos of the bell tower, we headed to St. William’s Cathedral which was also built in 1612. However, I saw that it was already restored since the facade doesn’t look old at all.

St. William’s Cathedral. Not so old-looking.

TIP: If you’re wondering where the cathedral is, just look up and around till you see the golden arches of Mc Donald’s. The Cathedral is at the back.

Our next stop is Sta. Monica Church in Sarrat just outside east of Laoag. We took a trike going to the Sarat jeepney terminal. The jeepney ride took only around 15 minutes and the fare is Php11.00 each. Just tell the driver to drop you off near the church. Sarat is also the birthplace of the late President Marcos. Ask the locals where he was born if you want to visit the place.

Shot behind Sta. Monica Church

We went back to Laoag and asked our host Sammy to look for a tricycle driver to take us to La Paz Sand Dunes just outside west of Laoag. The driver met us at the Sarat jeepney terminal and off we went to the sand dunes which took us around 20 minutes. You need to hire a tricycle driver to go there and wait for you while you take pictures and enjoy the sight. Our agreement was Php100.

Plenty of sand in this place!

TIP: If you’re planning to go to La Paz Sand Dunes, the best time would be late in the afternoon when it’s not too hot and the sun is not too high.

After La Paz, we headed back to our inn and decided to call it a day. Since we were already tired we just had Greenwich Pizza delivered to our place for dinner.

FARE BREAKDOWN:

• Trike around Laoag – Php 7.00 per head
• Jeep going to Sarrat – Php 11.00 per head
• Rent trike to La Paz – Php 100 for the trip

Our plan for the following day is to tour the southern part of Ilocos Norte (Batac and Paoay) which will be the next part of this series.

Part 1: From Manila to Laoag
Part 2: Going to Pagudpud
Part 3: Pagudpud
Part 4: City of Laoag
Part 5: South of Laoag
Part 6: Going to Vigan from Laoag

If you have any questions/suggestions/corrections, please feel free to leave a comment. Thanks!

This is Part 2 of Touring Ilocos Without a Car series

GOING TO PAGUDPUD

Pagudpud lies on the north of Laoag. It’s pretty cold out there during the “ber” months pretty much like Baguio. From Laoag, it is a 2 hour bus ride. There are two good beaches in Pagudpud, one is Saud and the other is Blue Lagoon or what they call “Maira-ira“.

The airport is located in a town outside Laoag so when you leave the terminal, you will see some jeeps, tricycles and the Fort Ilocandia bus waiting at the parking lot. It’s up to you if you want to ride the jeep or the small tricycles (I mean really small compared to Manila trikes) going to Laoag since the fare is the same, Php40 – Php50 per head depending on how good you are at haggling.

TIP: Take the trike if you wanna go directly to your hotel. Take the jeep if you’re headed for the bus terminals at Laoag.

So after some haggling with the jeepney driver, we agreed to the Php 40 fare. If you’re accommodation is in Saud, buses going to Pagudpud will do, but if you’re staying at Kapuluan Vista Resort (like we did) which is nearer Blue Lagoon, ask the driver to drop you off the bus terminal with buses going to Cagayan or Claveria.

We took the St. Joseph bus, but there are other nicer buses out there. The fare for ordinary bus going to Pagupud is Php60 each. We didn’t mind riding an ordinary bus since the weather is already cool. Keep in mind that the last bus leaves at 6 PM. The ride going to Pagudpud takes around 2 hours, but it seems like 4 hours to me because I forgot to pee before we left. Since our flight was delayed, we didn’t have time to eat lunch so all I had was some peanuts that we bought inside the bus.

TIP: There’s a Jollibee within walking distance from the bus terminal where you can relieve yourself and grab something to eat.

Whether you’re headed for Saud beach resorts or Kapuluan Vista Resort, the bus will drop you off the highway and you have to take a 10-15 minutes tricycle ride going to your destination. The fare is around Php 40 per tricycle (not per head).

Finally, at around 5 PM we arrived at Kapuluan Vista Resort hungry and weary. Mike, the owner, was there to greet us. It’s getting dark outside so we just grab an early dinner of their fine bagnet and headed straight to our room to get some rest.

FARE BREAKDOWN:

• Jeep/Trike going to Laoag – Php40-50 per head
• Ordinary bus going to Pagudpud – Php60 per head
• Trike going to resort – Php40 per group

I’ll talk more about the place on the next part.

Part 1: From Manila to Laoag
Part 2: Going to Pagudpud
Part 3: Pagudpud
Part 4: City of Laoag
Part 5: South of Laoag
Part 6: Going to Vigan from Laoag

If you have any questions/suggestions/corrections, please feel free to leave a comment. Thanks!

On December 2007, my wife and I went on a 6-day Ilocos tour. We visited places in Laoag, Pagudpud and Vigan. We don’t know anybody there so it was a great adventure for us. I’m writing our experience to help others out there who want to visit the place but don’t know where to start, what to visit, how to get where, etc.

Our plan is to go to Pagudpud first and stay there for 2 nights then go back to Laoag for 3 more nights. It was raining pretty bad the week before we’re supposed to leave and since it’s already December, we decided not to go swimming anymore on the nice beaches of Pagudpud.

We travelled by plane (Cebu Pacific) to Laoag instead of the cheaper but 12 hour bus ride from Manila to Laoag. As many of you may experience riding Cebu Pacific, always expect that the flight would be delayed. Anyhow, we were greeted with a nice sunny weather landing in Laoag Airport.

TIP: Call your airline before you leave for the airport for schedule changes. It sucks to be stuck on the terminal for hours.

Our next order of business upon landing is to head straight to Pagudpud which is covered on the next part.

Part 1: From Manila to Laoag
Part 2: Going to Pagudpud
Part 3: Pagudpud
Part 4: City of Laoag
Part 5: South of Laoag
Part 6: Going to Vigan from Laoag

If you have any questions/suggestions/corrections, please feel free to leave a comment. Thanks!