Archive for the 'La Union' Category
October 13th, 2008 -- Posted in Freeports, La Union, Tourists Spots |
Approximately 5 hours away from Manila by car and more than an hour from Baguio City, Poro Point a former US military base and home to both an airport and seaport that is located at the northwestern tip of North Luzon, west of the City of San Fernando in the province of La Union.
Strategic in its location at the upper side of the Lingayen Gulf, Poro Point is along the Southeast Asian sea lane, less than an hour by plane from Taiwan, China and Hongkong, and within three hours from Singapore, Japan and South Korea.
October 11th, 2008 -- Posted in La Union, Nature, Sanctuaries, Tourists Spots, Travel |
The 30 hectares of Kasay MPA- area is designated in Barangays San Vicente and Canaoay for the rehabilitation and replenishment of fishery and other coastal resources. About 100 out of 400 coral species in the Philippines are found in the Kasay MPA. There are 70-100 years old coral growth. The estimated 50 years old giant clam (Tridacna gigas) was found in the MPA.
October 6th, 2008 -- Posted in Beaches, La Union, Tourists Spots, Travel |
The stretch of white and gray sand beaches along the towns of La Union is the main attraction to tourists. In the province tourist belts are located along the shores of San Juan, San Fernando City, Bauang and Agoo. Its calm crystal water is ideal for water skiing, snorkeling, swimming, scuba diving, wind surfing and boating. Its gifted multitude scenic landscape is a tourism haven as well, and eco-tourism development. The stable peace and order situation and the tourism areas in La Union are the main attractions to local foreign tourists.
Bauang Beach
Line along the fine grayish sand of Bauang Beach are establishments providing accommodation and other amenities from Baccuit to Pagdalagan. The beach is 6 kilometers south of San Fernando City.
San Francisco-Canaoay-Pagudpud Beach
Tourism-related establishments dot the beach area in San Fernando City.
San Juan Beach
Approximately 8 kilometers north of San Fernando City, the beach stretching from urbiztondo to Ili Norte is dotted with tourism-related establishments. The surf in the area is ideal for surfing during the months of November to February.
Agoo Beach
It was the stretch of beach fronting the Agoo Playa Hotel and which is a part of Agoo – Damortis National Park was where the Japanese traded with the native during the pre – Spanish time earning for Agoo the name “Puerto de Japon”.
Caba Beach
San Carlos and Santiago Norte beaches are becoming to be the favorite sites fro private beach houses and resorts. The snd is nearly black beach house resort. The sand is nearly black beach because of the metallic deposit of iron. When not using a private vehicle, stop at the town proper of Caba then take a tricycle to the beach.
City Beach
Splendid beaches adorn the City’s coastline, supplementing these are resorts and a wide raw picnic sheds. One can skin or cuba dive, snorkel, surf and swim or just soak in the water offshore.
October 5th, 2008 -- Posted in Hills, La Union, Monuments |
The statue of Christ the Redeemer is located in Barangay I (Reservoir Hill). In grateful thanksgiving to the City of San Fernando and Province of La Union of Congressman Victor F. Ortega and Former Mayor Mary Jane C. Ortega and their family who personally commissioned the 25 foot statue of Christ the Redeemer at Reservoir Hill, overlooking the city proper and San Fernando Bay.
This was inspired by statue of Christ the Redeemer of former Undersecretary Jose “Peping” Mabanta whose wife Belle, that he put up in his retirement home in Pililla, Rizal, similar to that in Brazil. The Ortega family thought it would be good to have similar statue at Bacsil Ridge but Mr. Mabanta suggested that it is better to put up the statue near the city proper. When Mr. Juan Go heard about this, he offered his lot for free. Mr. Juan Go and family donated the 100 sq. meter area on which the statue stands. Having a common dream, a dream of leaving a landmark that would express their gratitude for the love and support from our community.
October 4th, 2008 -- Posted in Botanical Gardens, La Union, Tourists Spots, Travel |
The La Union Botanical Garden is situated on a hilly twenty-hectare land, eight kilometers east form the city proper of San Fernando, La Union, with fully maintained concrete roads. The first of its kind in the Philippines, a scientific garden and the center for laboratory research in Northern Luzon was inaugurated on March 2, 1996.
The Garden as main tourist destination is meant to give an accurate impression of the various plant worlds, which grow in tropical, sub-tropical and desert climates. All plants are labeled in their local and scientific names with their origin. It is a country-style garden where plant life and wildlife, ornaments and oddments go hand in hand. The resulting harmony, together with the solitude and peace naturally give the Garden a great therapeutic effect.
- Shade Garden : displays the shade-loving plants
- Sunken Garden : which has natural terrain of the area
- Fragrance Garden : especially for the blind
- Children’s Garden : which has natural playground
- Medicinal Garden : where dozens of herbs and medicinal plants are cultivated and neatly arrange serves also as a butterfly sanctuary that can surely catch a visitor’s eye.
- Chinese Garden : with a complete scenery of ornamental plants which leads the way up to the White Garden and a View Deck.
- Banana Area and the Garden of Native species which all could be reached through the Mabolo Avenue, lined with opposite rows of Mabolo or Kamagong, (Diospyros philippinesis), a tree specie native to the Philippines.
- Japanese Garden : which gives fitting honor to the Japanese Peace Corp Volunteers, whom planted about 1,500 mango trees in the area about twenty eight years ago.
- Arid Paradise : where several species of cacti and succulents are found.
- Friendship Garden : located just above the Picnic Ground.
- Evergreen Garden
- Palmery
- Arid Collection
- Heliconia Collection
- Small Mulbery and Pineapple Plantations
- Mango Avenue and the Bambusetum : has at least 18 bamboo specieMango Avenue and the Bambusetum : has at least 18 bamboo specie.
- Aviary : where exotic birds like talking mynah, monkeys, eagles, iguana and other friendly animals were displayed.
- Doña Corazon Ortega Orchidarium : a place of different orchid specie.
October 2nd, 2008 -- Posted in Hills, Historical Sites, La Union, Tourists Spots, Travel |
Heroes Hill & Freedom Park Stairway
Situated at the eastern portion of the Capitol Hill. To be found are Nine (9) statues of our National Heroes, signifying the people’s reverence to their works and sacrifices in attaining the freedom of our nation. There are a total of 153 steps located in Barangay II (Poblacion).
Capitol Hill
Located in Barangay II (Poblacion) and serves as site of the Provincial Capitol.
Pagoda Hill
It is where the Chinese-Filipino Pagoda stands, commanding a panoramic view of the city and the San Fernando City Bay located in Barangay II (Poblacion).
Bethany Hill
Location of Bethany Hospital that was built by Protestant Missionaries in the early 1920’s and located in Barangay II (Poblacion).
Mirador Hill
The highest point of the city where the capitol water reservoir stands located in Barangay II (Poblacion).
Miracle Hill
The home of the New Miracle Mission chapel, atop a cliff facing the sea located in Barangay Pagdaraoan.
Mariner’s Hill
Located in Barangay Catbangen, San Fernando City that served as a navigational reference point to guide ships and seafarers sailing the San Fernando City Harbor
October 1st, 2008 -- Posted in La Union, Museums, Technology |
La Union Science Centrum and Museum (LUSCM), the first-ever interactive hands-on discovery museum in the North, provides a practical and exciting alternative to formal education through interactive exhibits and its portable Planetarium. LUSCM is a learning center for everyone. It is an environment where science is portrayed as a dynamic and active process more than just a collection of facts and figures. It encourages children and adults alike to explore, interact and appreciate science and technology, culture and environment.
A museum, collections coming from the formerly the Museo de La Union, was also instituted to augment the science interactive exhibits aiming to preserve the rich local history of La Union.
October 1st, 2008 -- Posted in La Union, Religious Shrines, Shrines, Temples |
This Chinese temple believed to be the only one built with five gates sits on a promontory north of the town proper of San Fernando and overlooks the San Fernando Bay. The temple enshrines the image of the Virgin of Caysasay, the patroness of the Filipino-Chinese residents.
Many Filipino-Chinese venerate the image of Ma-zeun shrine at the Macho Temple at the City. The image believed to have a Christian counterpart known as Virgin of Caysasay, which is found in St. Martin in Taal, Batangas.
The Macho Temple main edifice adorned with detailed Chinese ancient decors. The building was constructed by skilled workers direct from Taiwan and was designed by Architect Diokno.
September 29th, 2008 -- Posted in Apparitions, La Union |
The Agoo Apparition Site is the much publicized divine visitations of the Virgin Mary in San Antonio that established Agoo as a destination for Marian devotees.
Apparition Story:
An estimated one million people gathered in a small Philippine town north of Manila on 6 March to witness a visitation of the Virgin Mary. Many people in the crowd, including top Philippine government officials, journalists, and the local Catholic bishop - acting as a representative of the Pope - attested to seeing a silhouette resembling the Virgin Mary appear above a guava tree for approximately five seconds. This was followed several minutes later by flashes of red, yellow and blue lights moving towards a “dancing sun”.
The events took place at Apparition Hill in the small town of Agoo, in La Union province. A visionary boy, 16-year-old Judiel Nieva, says that the Virgin Mary has been appearing to him, and giving him messages, on the first Saturday of every month and on special religious feasts since 1989. The pilgrims gathered in Agoo on 6 March because the boy said the Virgin would appear at that particular place and time.
continue reading »
September 28th, 2008 -- Posted in Ilocos, La Union, Patron Saints, Philippines, Religious Shrines, Religious observances, Travel |
The century-old church of St. Catherine in Luna, formerly called Namacpacan, houses the miraculous image of Our Lady of Namacpacan, patroness of Ilocano travellers. The shrine is located at the town proper of Luna, approximately 40 kilometers northwest of San Fernando.
The year 1690 saw the birth of a new town as idyllic in its formation as its name implies. Situated along the fringes of Northern La Union coasting the China Sea, it was named NAMACPACAN to glorify the native trait of hospitality which residents showed towards the people of neighboring towns who retreated to its thick forests when they were persecuted by the colonizers.
It was in the year 1871, when an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary was brought along its shores by a lucky stroke of fate, which eventually became venerated as the Image of Our Lady of Namacpacan. The image was ordered from Spain by a certain Augustinian Priest then assigned to the Immaculate Conception Seminary in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. Brought to the Philippines in a ship, it was heading for the province of Ilocos Sur when a storm forced the crew to seek shelter at Darigayos, a barrio of the town then named Namacpacan. When the storm abated, they tried to resume their journey, but strong winds forced them back to the port; several attempts were made to sail, but each time they did, their progress was impeded by the winds. Finally, the captain of the ship decided to carry the statue to the port and have it carried overland to its destination. Again, the natives met difficulties when the box containing the image could not be budged an inch, so that after several unsuccessful attempts, they concluded that Our Blessed Lady must have chosen the town of Namacpacan as her sanctuary. Rev. Fr. Marcelino Ceballos, the Parish Priest of Namacpacan then, negotiated with the Augustinian Friars who came to claim the statue, and the sacred Image was carried in procession to the Church of Namacpacan. A big feast marked the arrival of Our Lady in town. The townspeople came out in their best to meet the parish church and which came to be known as Our Lady of Namacpacan. An altar at the northern portion side of the church was constructed to house the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Namacpacan. By virtue of Philippine Commission Act No. 1543, the town’s name was changed to Luna in 1906 to honor the Luna brothers, Antonio, the General and Juan, the Painter, whose mother, Doña Laureana Novicio Luna hails from the place; however, the townspeople became so attached to Our Lady that the name, Our Lady of Namacpacan, remained despite the change of the name of the town.
continue reading »
September 26th, 2008 -- Posted in Ilocos, La Union, Patron Saints, Philippines, Religious Shrines, Religious observances, Travel |
Basilica of Our Lady of Charity
The renowned organ situated at the left area of the altar.
The Agoo Basilica enshrines the miraculous image of Our Lady of Charity. This imposing structure of Mexican-Baroque architecture is the venue of religious rites, foremost of which is the Semana Santa.
It is situated at the center of the aged town of Agoo, the Basilica of Our Lady of Charity has stood for scores of centuries now as one of the long venerated configurations of the Virgin in the Philippines.
It was founded in 1578 when two zealous Franciscan priests, Fray John Baptist Lucarelli of Pesaro, Italy and Fray Sebastian de San Francisco of Baesa, Spain on the time they got in the country for their evangelical mission. The settlement of the Franciscan Order opened the doors to Agoo’s embrace to God’s supremacy over mankind, making the town the first point of contact with Christianity for the Southern Ilocos region.
At present, the Basilica of Our Lady of Charity commemorates its Patronal Fiesta every 4th of May as a tribute to its myriad of help that will live forever in the hearts of its thousands of devotees far and wide.
September 24th, 2008 -- Posted in Festivals, Ilocos, La Union, Philippines, Street Dancing, Travel |
Pindangan Festival is a celebration every March 20 commemorating the Founding Anniversary of San Fernando City as a City. Authored by then Gov. Victor F. Ortega, it was ratified on March 20, 1998 subsequent to Republic Act 8509 converting the municipality into a component city of La Union on February 13 of the same year. The original name of San Fernando, Pindangan in the Ilocano dialect means a place where meat is sun dried with salt for preservation. Because of the place’s abundant dried meat, the place was called Pindangan.
The festival features the annual street dancing competition among students and residents from various schools and barangays in the City of San Fernando that marks the first day of the five-day celebration. Students from the elementary, secondary and tertiary levels including the different barangays and civic organizations in the city set foot their best street dance steps and displayed their colorful costumes. Residents, local and foreign tourists alike trooped to the streets during the festival to witness the street dancing by the participants in a stunning display of mastery, gaiety, coordination and energy.
September 22nd, 2008 -- Posted in Battles, Ilocos, La Union |
Bacsil Ridge is located 9 kilometers of San Fernando town proper through the San Fernando-Bagulin Road. It was the last bastion of the retreating Japanese Imperial Army in the province. Later, the Ridge constituted the East Flank of the 121st Infantry of the United States of Armed Forces in the Philippines, Northern Luzon (USAFIP, NL) during the Liberation in 1945.
The Bacsil Ridge celebration, held every March, commemorates the bravery of the Filipinos during the Battle in Bacsil Ridge in the year 1945 that led to the complete liberation of the town.
September 18th, 2008 -- Posted in Fiestas, Ilocos, La Union, Patron Saints, Travel |
The Feast of Our Lady of Caysasay is an annual activity in La Union held every December. Sports activities, beauty contest, and painting contest are among the featured events visitors enjoy. It is also a time to give importance to Filipino balikbayans through free tours and a balikbayan night.
The Filipino-Chinese community in San Fernando celebrates the Feast of Our Lady by bringing the original statue from Taal, Batangas to the temple for the weeklong activities held on the second week of September which is the 5th day of August in the Lunar calendar.
September 16th, 2008 -- Posted in Festivals, Holy Week, La Union, Religious observances |
In the oldest town of La Union, observances of Holy Week are being held like in most part of the Philippines. The life-size statues depicting the Stations of the Cross are pulled by devotees along the processional roads and there is a Penitential Procession of women during the Good Friday procession. There are other religious activities being held during Holy Week in the town of Agoo to make the occasion more meaningful and sacred.
Next »
