Comments on: Help! Nueva Vizcaya, Cagayan, Ilocos, etc. – Any bright ideas???

By: ca

ca — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 01:50:18 +0000

When you get to Vigan, stay at Gordion Inn! They have clean reasonably priced rooms (with complimentary breakfast) , very accomodating staff who can assist you with your trip to the most visited places in the province (they are affiliated with Gordion Travel and Tours who make great Ilocos adventure packages). You should try their fruit shakes and european sausages…no other shakes and sausages in Vigan can be better than what they have!! And one of my most favorites at Gordion Inn is the Ruins where we had our breakfasts… Around us were their pots of basil, chilli, lemongrass, calamansi, etc. The scent of the sampaguita, the unrestored exposed brick walls, just makes the place so perfect and very VIGAN! Telling you about this makes me want to go back there again. The owners are very accomodating as well, I got to meet most of them who are managing the hotel. I have their number just in case you would want to reserve now– 246-1502 (that’s a manila line, so if you’re in manila you can just dial that number) or if you prefer to contact them through text, 0917-5680840. How i got to know about the place? I read this write up about Gordion Inn in Philippine Airlines Mabuhay Magazine and that moment I knew i just had to book my family right away. Of course we got to visit other hotels too but hey, no regrets! I hope this helps, have fun!!
If you are fond of buying stuff, try…/
1. Bibingka, Chichacorn- Tongson’s (take note, there a a lot of other bibingkas who seem to have a bigger market but Tongson’s, being the first, is still the best)
2. Longaniza, Gourmet Tuyo, Alamang- Gordion Inn
3. Bagnet- at the market

By: Joey

Joey — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 14:54:10 +0000

Hi! I”m based in Angeles and cover North Luzon for work, so this is my backyard. Pretty much everything is covered but would just like to add that the the best empanada is from Batac, Ilocos Norte. It puts Vigan and Laoag’s to shame. Their longanisa are also especially tasty. As you drive down through Urdaneta, pass by Matutina’s for the seafood (this is a branch of the original in Dagupan). On the eastern side of Luzon in nueva vizcaya (Solano), try their buko pie – not your usual colette’s pie as its more creamy- sort of like a buko creme brulee.

My hometown of Angeles is a completely different beast altogether. DO drop by Zapata’s for the best Mexican food in the country. Cottage Kitchen Cafe has exquisite ribs. C Italian Reso has this dish called a Panizza which is definitely a must try (paper thin herbed crust, great toppings, – trick is to roll up strips of the panizza with fresh arugula). Yat’s Wine Club in Clark is the most pretentious resto with a P1.0mio bottle of wine on offer but the food is yummy and you can actually ask the chef for a tasting menu.

For local fare do drop by Susie’s Cuisine for everything and the desserts. Mila’s on McArthur Highway tops the sisig race but Aling Lucing’s should be had just for the experience. The karinderia in Nepo Mart should be had for the hard core Kapampangan food and Everybody’s Cafe in Angeles and San Fernando remains an institution. Speaking of San Fernando, drop by JayJay’s for the pork barbeque, similar to Ineng’s in manila – but have bias for JayJay’s since its been around for decades.

have a great trip!

By: Lei

Lei — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 02:10:54 +0000

I hope you get to pass thru the windmills in Bangui town. We once went all the way up to Pagudpud, but at that time, the windmills were not yet there. I saw them in many articles and I think it may be worth the picture. Also, if you have time, do drop by the lighthouses in Ilocos, there are many websites referring to these lighthouses, especially the one in Cape Bojeador Lighthouse.

By: Jean

Jean — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 09:17:57 +0000

Hi Marketman, I hail from Vigan. Do stop by our small town. The well-preserved old spanish houses are worth visiting. Don’t miss to eat empanada and okoy at the plaza. Visit the market to buy bagnet, longganiza and other stuff. Try also my dinuguan we call in ilocano ‘dinar-daraan’. so yumyum. Yah, the Vigan Plaza Hotel is where I always book my guests.

By: pete

pete — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 04:38:53 +0000

Definately try the Bagnet and local Langonisa in vigan! The langonisa is so nice garlicy and vinegary. You can buy it at a rest stop right before you aproach the city. Bagnet is sold at the local markets.

My mother’s side of the family is Ilocano and they take great pride in Bagnet and the Langonisang Illoco.

By: danney league

danney league — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 14:27:53 +0000

Thanks Marketman, I thought you are organizing a tour for us bloggers of yours and since I’m leaving Los Angeles today 06/08/07 and will be arriving in Sta. Rosa, Laguna on the 10th, I thought I could join the tour. Well then I will have a taste of the rural food and local dishes again. Enjoy the tour.

By: ragamuffin girl

ragamuffin girl — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 10:06:02 +0000

my hubby’s dad is from la union, and whenever we’re there we are served kilawing kambing which is the crisp ears and other parts of a goat charcoal grilled then tossed in vinegar. YUM! I also tasted these tiny fingernail-sized clams thatt were a joy to eat. I forget what they’re called though but they are similar to the clams in miso soups served in Japan.

By: Marketman

Marketman — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 09:01:36 +0000

Hi Everyone, THANK YOU SO MUCH for all of these tips so far… hmmm, I don’t know, we may re-think this and just go up the Ilocos coast all the way to Pagudpud instead of the Nueva Vizcaya, Cagayan side… And I wonder what fraction of all the food I will get a chance to try! Oh, and Danney, sorry, this is a private family trip… THANK YOU AGAIN!

By: Marichu

Marichu — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 08:38:11 +0000

In Vigan be wary of buying stuff from the heritage area. There are some finds there like the Abel but you have to know your price. Speaking of price, I saw this gorgeous capiz tray set with napkins and shells as napkin holders. It was by itself (or maybe they were just hiding the rest) and the owner said I could have it for P750. I almost bought it but I remembered I was going to check out Greenhills in San Juan. I saw the same thing at Greenhills for half the price. You might also wanna check out the “antique” furniture shops for sightseeing. As numerous tipsters have pointed out do try out the empanada. There’s this one stall where they mix everything, shape, and fry in front of you. Anyway have fun!

By: harris

harris — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 07:13:26 +0000

Ilocos is not a popular tourist destination compared to other sites, and let’s leave it that way. This way it remains bucolic and unhurried. By car, have some snacks/drinks ready to stop by anytime under a camachile or acacia tree in any of the side roads and catch farmers harvest their garlic,onions, vegetables etc. Good way to make tawad too! Don’t forget to share your merienda hehe.

By bus from Manila, get the window seat behind the driver and get the 10 pm trip. You will get a great sunrise morning somewhere just before Vigan. Galing sunrise and sea together.The bus stops over soon at a carinderia after this for breakfast. The coffee and sinangag are worth the long night’s travel. The bus i took was Partas. The driver was a kind manong who answered all my questions ( free tour guide hehe), the bus clean and comfortable.