Region I - Laoag, Bangui, Batac, Vigan

Finally our much awaited trip was successful. That's 7 piso fare tickets for Laoag from Cebu Pacific which costed us barely php3k. It was last June 14, 2011, boarding time is at 1040AM, traffic in C5 from Libis was unbearable and we have arrived there at around 10AM. All those ticket verifications and security check ate up our time, and at 1030AM our group is not yet complete as my father returned an umbrella, deodorant and insect repellent to our driver because it's all prohibited. The boarding time was pushed back earlier at 1030AM, it's our first time on these airport so we're worried. We made it and rode a coaster to the plane. It was an airbus not a fokker, thank God.

Makati Central Business District

Mount Arayat and Pampanga River

At takeoff, the Makati Skyline can be seen, and the coast line of Manila Bay as well as populated Metro Manila. I saw the great plains of Central Luzon as well as Mt. Arayat. We haven't seen the areas of La Union or Baguio, I suspect this is the highest elevation of the plane. By the time the plane lowered down from the clouds, we're in Ilocos Sur already. The plane went past the Laoag airport and u-turned back to land. It was barely an hour trip, the traffic at C5 was longer.

The Laoag Sign just like Hollywood

A rented van from La Union was waiting for us at the airport. We took a drive-thru at Mcdonald's in Laoag and off to Bangui. Some roads are under construction and that was the only hindrance we had, the ride was barely 2 hours, our driver was fast. The road to Bangui was nice, you'll be passing by the mountains before Bangui Bay and the windmills can be seen along the way.

The Bangui Windmill Project

The windmills are so huge in real life. The weather was unpredictable, it was either so cloudy or sunny every minute that we're there. Summer will be the best time to go there for a perfect weather for better pictures. In barely 30 minutes of picture taking we went to Batac to visit the Mausoleum of Marcos. We arrived at 3:30pm, but the attendant got off work early. The Mausoleum viewing was until 4pm. Then we went to Vigan.

The famous Crisologo Street in Vigan

It was our second time in Vigan. Crisologo St, has always been vintagedly beautiful, even more dramatic on sunset. It was drizzling so it's uncomfortable to expose my camera. There's this service from Island Souvenir to print your name above the "♥ Vigan" print, they have sizes for men and women, I spent around php360. Then we ate at Max's at the corner of Crisologo Street.

As long as you can do it, never drive back to Manila in the night because you will miss the beautiful coast line of Ilocos Sur. The Bantay bridge crossing over the Abra river is breathtaking, the old metal bridge was replaced by the new concrete bridge, the former is still there. Unfortunately we drove back in the night. I'll definite go back if I have a chance. Trabajo. Ipon. Travel. Enjoy. TITE.