Friday, November 11, 2016

FALLING IN LOVE WITH THE HISTORIC CITY OF VIGAN - ARCHITECTURE AND TRAVEL

October 31, 2000
MABUHAY!

Traveling to Vigan City gives you the flavor of the old Spanish era in the Philippines. Old stone houses, cobblestone streets with old model lamp posts, horse-drawn carriages locally known as "Calesa," and other ancestral stuff give you the feeling you are frozen back in time. The historic city of Vigan is the best-preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia and is included in the UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE COLLECTION

THE VIGAN CATHEDRAL
Vigan Cathedral, known in modern times as the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle, was originally built in 1574. The Cathedral is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site.

The front facade of the Majestic Vigan Cathedral

Some points of interest around Vigan Cathedral

In front of Vigan Cathedral

At Plaza Salcedo

At Vigan's Cathedral Museum

At Plaza Burgos

Architect/builder: No single named architect is recorded in standard sources — the cathedral was erected by Spanish colonial church authorities (the Augustinian order and local colonial craftsmen/masons) rather than a single documented “architect.” Scribdvigan.ph

Brief construction summary

Origins & timeline: A simple chapel (wood & thatch) was first established on the site by order of Juan de Salcedo in 1574. The church was rebuilt several times after damage by earthquakes and fire; the cornerstone for the present masonry building was laid on 31 January 1790, and the current Earthquake-Baroque structure was completed around 1800. vigan.phOrganographia Philipiniana
Builder/management: Construction and rebuilding were carried out under the supervision of Spanish friars (Augustinians/other religious orders) using local craftsmen and masons — typical for major colonial churches in the Philippines — rather than a recorded individual “architect.” Scribdoarhistory.blogspot.com
Methodology & materials: The cathedral is an example of Earthquake-Baroque (Spanish colonial) church construction: thick load-bearing masonry walls, large buttresses at the sides, a separate bell tower, heavy timber roof framing, and local stone/brick and lime mortar. These design choices (massive walls, buttresses, low profile) were intentional to resist seismic activity common in the Philippines. The façade also shows Chinese decorative influences (e.g., carved fu dogs) reflecting Vigan’s multicultural trade history. Guide to the PhilippinesFabulous Philippines
Cost: I could not find any reliable historical record of the original construction cost in the standard references and heritage documents consulted. Older Spanish-era projects rarely have surviving, easily accessible monetary accounts published online. UNESCO World Heritage CentreScribd

Souvenir photo at the detached bell tower of Vigan Cathedral

CLICK the LINK to READ the related article: Travelling As It Is! A Walk Along Manila City's Historical Path

THE CITY HALL AND PLAZA
Vigan City is in Ilocos Sur province, north of Luzon Island, Philippines.

Ilocos Sur provincial capitol building in the background

The town people busy preparing the Nativity manger

The townspeople are busy preparing the Nativity manger in preparation for the Christmas season.

Relaxing at the Calesa-inspired bench

At Plaza Salcedo in front of the Provincial Capitol building

Relaxing at the Calesa-inspired bench

snack time

The marker monument of Dr. P. J. Burgos

THE MARKET
Travel to Vigan City will never be complete without the taste of local street and market food.

Buying food from the market

The famous Vigan Empanada

At the vegetable market

savoring the taste of Vigan Empanada

THE PRESERVED ARCHITECTURE OF VIGAN CITY
Vigan has maintained its authenticity in its grid street pattern, historic urban layout, and use of open spaces. The historic buildings have maintained their traditional uses for commerce on the lower floors and as a residence for the owners on the upper floors. However, very few houses remain untouched. Changes introduced to the better-conserved houses have been to the interior: subdividing the large living quarters into smaller apartments, and adjusting of ground floor to provide spaces to let out for commercial use. After having been completely altered to allow new uses, many structures have lost their authenticity. A few structures have been abandoned, neglected, and left to decay. The original building materials, such as bricks, wood, kapis shells, and lime for mortar and plaster, were all obtained from surrounding areas. The lack of traditional building materials such as wood and lime for plaster and mortar has resulted in the use of modern materials such as cement and galvanized iron sheets for roofing. The awareness of the need to preserve authenticity has dramatically increased since the site was inscribed. Conservation practices that have developed organically over the last three centuries are now being reintroduced, making use of a considerable reserve of traditional building crafts that have survived”.

(Excerpt from UNESCO World Heritage Center website http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/502 )

A nostalgic remembrance of our well-preserved, prosperous heritage

A typical house with a commercial shop at the bottom and a residence on top

Some houses are already abandoned

CLICK the LINK to READ the related article: A Walk Around Intramuros - The Walled City of Manila

A horse drawn carriage locally known as Calesa

A horse-drawn carriage is locally known as a Calesa

A house with stone at the bottom and wood on top is known as Spanish Meztiso

A house with stone at the bottom and wood on top is known as a Spanish Mestizo

Another Meztiso house

Some building lies already in ruins

Relaxing at the Calesa-inspired bench

CLICK the LINK to READ the related article: Company Outing in Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

the cobblestone street

THE CITY OUTSKIRTS

A souvenir photo with some tourism officers

THE BURNAY CLAY POTTERY FACTORY
Pottery factories in Vigan City are among the city’s famous tourist attractions. Many tricycle drivers and other local public transport operators will often invite visitors to stop by these workshops. Burnay clay, a traditional pottery material of the Ilocos Region, is made from a mixture of clay and sand—both of which are abundant in the area.

Finished clay pot products

souvenir photo inside the pottery shop

A potter is busy molding a clay

CLICK the LINK to READ the related article: Visit Clay to Pottery in San Matias, Sto. Tomas, Pampanga

WANDERING AT NIGHT

THE CRISOLOGO ANCESTRAL HOUSE MUSEUM

On a Sunday, October 1970, while still inside Saint Paul's Cathedral, Congressman Floro S. Crisologo was shot in the head by the still unidentified gunman.