Northwest Luzon
EAST OF LAOAG
Sarrat Noted as the birthplace of President Marcos. The name of the town is supposed to be from the first rulers, the chief Rangat and his wife Sarrah. You can tell who wore the pants in the family from the position of the letters. The Marcos Museum houses the family's memorabilia including the four poster bed where Ferdinand was born and an old clock set at the exact hour of his birth. The Sarrat Church and Convent was built by the Augustinians in 1779 and connected by a massive bridge stairs.
Dingras 20 km southeast of Laoag and located on the west edge of the flood plain of the Laoag river. The ruins of the Church of Dingras are impressive and it with the other ruins indicate a past glory.
NORTH OF LAOAG
Bacarra 10km northwest of Laoag. The church of Sts. Andrew and Joseph have been restored to midnineteenth century style. The columns and stuccoed front are topped with Corinthian capitals ornamented with rosettes and aranther leaves. The pediment is curvilinear with a bare interior. On view is a nice collection of pewter and silver with several volumes of church records dating from 1702.
Cape Bojeador Lighthouse about 45 km north of Laoag. Great view of the coastline.
Banaua Beach btw Bangued and Pagudpud (at the northern tip of Luzon); from Laoag 2 hrs by minibus through a nice landscape along the rocky coast; beautiful lonely light colored sand beach; no accommodations available; if going there from Laoag, it is advisable to start early in the morning and return at the latest at 15:00
BANGUED
Capital of the Abra province, 409km (254mi) from Manila.
Acc: Marysol Pension Taft St; P 50150
Bangued Inn Taft St, P 75100
Tingguian Lodge P 50120
FESTIVALS
Feb 811: Feast of St. William, a town festival in San Fernando, La Union; and Laoag, Ilocos Norte
Feb (movable) Chinese New Year in Baguio, Benguet
Holy Week: Via Crucis / Semana Santa in Agoo, La Union; and Vigan, Ilocos Sur
Easter Sunday Salubong in Batac, Ilocos Norte
AprMay Baguio Summer Festival
concerts and cultural events in Benguet
May 1 Pistay Dayat along the whole Lingayen Gulf, Pangasinan
May 13 Imbayah in Baguio, Benguet
May 8: Senora de Manaoag in Pangasinan province
TRANSPORTATION
For bus routes see chapter 'Travel"
Manila Dagupan, Lingayen and Alaminos
(45 hrs) bus route 3
Manila Agoo San Fernando (5 hrs)
bus route 5
Manila Vigan Laoag: bus route 5
Manila Bangued (9 hrs): bus route 5a
Manila Baguio (5 hrs): bus route 4
Dagupan Lingayen Alaminos Bolinao
Pantranco North buses every 2 hrs btw 3:45 and 15:45; Dagupan Bus Co. buses hourly btw 6:30 and 19:00
Dagupan Baguio
Pantranco North buses every 30 min btw 2:30 and 17:30; Dagupan Bus Co. buses daily at 6:00 and 9:00
Dagupan San Fernando: several minibuses from early morning to late afternoon, leaving at Del Pilar St in Dagupan
Dagupan Cagayan Valley: Pantranco North buses hourly btw 2:00 and 14:00
Dagupan Manila (45 hrs): Pantranco North buses every 20 min btw 1:00 and 23:00; Dagupan Bus Co. buses every 30 min btw 2:00 and 19:00
Alaminos Bolinao (45 min): hourly Pantranco and Dagupan Bus Co. buses
Alaminos Lucap: tricycles (P 5)
San Fernando Baguio (2 hrs): several Marcitas Liner buses daily
Bolinao Manila: Pantranco North buses hourly btw 1:00 and 15:00;
Dagupan Bus Co. 4 trips daily btw 2:00 and 19:00
Baguio San Fernando (L.U.): Marcitas Liner
Baguio Dagupan Alaminos: Pantranco North
Baguio Vigan Laoag: Philippine Rabbit and Times Transit
Baguio Olongapo Manila: Victory Liner
Baguio Tuguegarao (via Santiago): Pantranco buses early in the morning
More on Northwest Luzon:
This page: http://www.cockatoo.com/english/philippines/philippines_islands_northwest_luzon15.htm
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