The most popular spiritual destination in the Philippines is Manaog Church. Last week my mother ask me to drive for her because she want to visit the said church and pray. Actually my second time to visit the said church.

According to devotees of our lady of Manaoag is miraculous , there are so many stories how miraculous the our lady of Manaog. This is the reason why there are many devotees from different part of the Philippines going to Manaog church.

How to get there (Our Lady of Manaoag)?

If you’re from Metro Manila or south part of Luzon there is two entry point if you will take the national highway. First you can take the Urdaneta - Manaog road or Binalonan to Manaoag road. If you’re from north luzon you can take the Puzorobio - Manaoag road.

If you’re from south and plan to commute, you can ride any bus that bound to Urdaneta, Baguio city, Ilocos, Abra, Laog, and Vigan all these buses will pass the entry point I have mentioned. I suggest you will take the Binalonan entry point. Tell to the bus conductor that you’re going to Manaog church. Most of them knew the best place for you. From the bus at Binalonan you will ride jeep or tri-cycle bound to Our Lady of Manaog church.

Here are some pictures I got when we visit the church

I was amaze with this scalpture which was found in the  dead acasia tree.

Buy your religious materials and souvenir from the stores around the church.

One of the best place to watch sunset is Fort Ilocandia’s beach resort. If you love watching the sun while slowly hiding, then this is the best place to do the sunset watching.

Here are some pictures I got while watching the sunset at Fort Ilocandia Hotel and resort.

Some pictures I have got during the sunset viewing at the fort ilocandia beach.

The beach resort of Fort Ilocandia Hotel

More pictures that I have taken from Fort Ilocandia Hotel and resort. So that you can see how the place look like. My apology because some of the pictures are dark because I am not prepared during the visit to the place I don’t have with me my digital cam.

This is the boating place of Fort Ilocandia, your kids will enjoy it.

The billiard room of fort ilocandia hotel and resort.

The shopping arcade of Fort Ilocandia Hotel and resort. You can enjoy shopping inside the resort.

If you decided to stay at Fort Ilocandia Hotel and resort, I am sure you will enjoy it. No one paid me to write a review or entry of the said resort to my blog. I just want to share to everyone my experience to the hotel.

If you’re inside the resort, you don’t wish to go out and find other recreation because they are all inside the resort.

If you want to go to casino, they have Casino Filipino. You love shopping? No problem because they have their own duty free mall. Feel hungry , that is not a problem because they have restaurant serving nice foods. Mini zoo is also available inside the resort, check their collection of wild animals.

Billiard room is also available for those who love to play billiard.  You love night life no problem because they have all that also.

You want outdoor sports? Then try their Gulf course, shooting range, horse back riding,  AVG riding at the mountain desert like sand of the resort. Boating is also available for children, lovers , or family.

Well to many to mentioned, also big swimming pools are available for all hotel guess. If you like swimming at the beach then it’s also available.

Here are some more pictures.

These are pictures of the beautiful and big swimming pool of the hotel. They have 3 size of swimming pool for kids, Olympics size swimming pool, and deep pool.

While staying at the hotel, try to play golf at the resort golf course.

I have been in many places in different part of the Philippines but Fort Ilocandia is the best place I have seen so far.

The funny thing is that I have reached Fort Ilocandia with out any plan to visit the place. It so happened that when I and my wife take our vacation at Cabugao beach resort, my sister SMS me and told me why not try to visit Fort Ilocandia in Laoag which take 30 minutes drive from the the resort of cabugao.

I came from Ilocos region where Fort Ilocandia is located but I have never heard it before. I never new that there is a hidden heaven in the North. According to the story I heard during our visit to the place, Fort Ilocandia was build during the late President Ferdinand Marcos regime. And mainly owned by Marcos and Fariñas family, I am not 100% sure with this information, but after seeing all the picture frames in the wall of the pavilion I guess the place is mostly owned by Marcoses.

Here are some pictures I have taken during our visit…

The Fort Ilocandia Hotel have very big garden where their guess can stay during night to smell fresh air.  I am sure you will enjoy staying in this place no doubt.

While you’re in the pavilion of the hotel you can watch fish that are freely swimming at the clean water of the hotel pavilion.

During night time, you will enjoy this fountain of the hotel. The fountain is very colorful and it’s really beautiful, your kids will love it when they see it.

One of the famous destination of local tourist in the Baguio is the strawberry farm located at La Trinidad Benguet. When you go to Baguio you must not forgot to visit the strawberry farm. There you can see actual plantation of strawberries, experience how to harvest this fruit.

If you don’t have your own car, you can ride a taxi at ask the driver to bring you to the strawberry farm at La Trinidad. If no traffic it will take only 20 - 30 minutes.

Here are some pictures I got during our visit last April 8.

Fresh strawberry fruit direct from the strawberry farm of La Trinidad Beguet.

You can even experience harvesting strawberry fruits from the farm.

This is the plantation of strawberry of La Trinidad Benguet.

Paoay Church of Paoay Ilocos Norte is been famous in the Philippines. When visiting Ilocos Norte Paoay church must be part of your itinerary or destination.

Visit the Paoay church and  see why UNESCO listed it as one of Philippines Heritage site.

Construction of the church started in 1704 and was completed in 1894 by the Augustinian friars led by Fr. Antonio Estavillo.

It is probably the best-known “earthquake Baroque” church in the Philippines. Large coral stones were used for the lower level while bricks were used for the upper levels of the church. The walls are 1.67 meters thick and are supported by 24 carved and massive buttresses.

 Most recent Picture I have taken while visiting the place on April 9, 2008

I would like to these picture collection I have got from Vigan City at heritage village for my blog visitors to see how the vigan city heritage site look like.

By the way Vigan City is located at Northern Luzon. The capital town of Ilocos Sur. If you’re from Manila you will pass the following provinces Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Pangasinan, and La Union.

UNESCO Vigan City Heritage Site

The heritage village of Vigan City Ilocos Sur, a place a must visit.

My wife and my sister in law at Vigan city heritage site

Calesa is the best transportation you will get when touring the city. All this calesa drivers knew the best places in the city.

My favorite place to stop and take some rest when visiting the my home province abra, and other beaches and tourist spots in Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte. There is a sea side place in the national high way Sta. Maria where you can take some rest for the long drive from Manila or nearby provinces. There is an space beside the national highwaywhere you can park your car.
If you want to swim to refresh, you can do it here for free and enjoy the clear and cold sea water at this part of Ilocos Sur.

If you plan to stay longer I guess there are cottages available for guess.

This picture was taken while we are watching the fisherman riding on his balsa.

At the national highway the beach side is rocky but still you can swim because there are places of the beach where you can swim.

If you want to rest and stay at the beach for the day for better beach swimming.

Pictures of cottages at Sta. Maria beach resort. Available for local and foreign tourist.

The only SM branch in the Philippines that don’t need Air condition. SM baguio is one of the favorite place of local residence and tourist to standby. The location of the mall is really great, it situated at the top of session road the most popular road in the city.

There is a view in every floor of the mall for you to view the entire city. Don’t forget to bring your camera when visiting the mall because you can get some souvenir picture at each view with different background, like the city cathedral, burnhum , and mountains.

This SM Baguio City at city view look.

This is Baguio at night. It’s beautiful isn’t? This picture was taken at SM view deck. At night viewing the city at SM baguio is a must not forget when you visit the city.

This is SM Baguio city  look like at nigh…

This is the front view of Baguio City SM. This is the main gate of the mall from Session Road.

This is the Baguio City Cathedral which was taken from SM Baguio City third floor view deck.

This is the famous burnhum park of Baguio City taken from SM baguio, the picture is little bit foggy because the time I took the picture is foggy. At SM you can see the entire burnhum park.

Picture taking at the view deck of the SM baguio city is great also with nice background.