Meet More Chances

The sand dunes popularly known as the Desert of the North is about 40
sq km stretch of sand and covers about 85 sq km. The sand dunes
spreads in the towns of Currimao and Paoay including Laoag City and
extends a part in Pasuquin. The sand can reach 10-30 meters high. But
in some sheltered areas it can reach up to 90 meters.

Due to its unique environment and its scientific and educational
importance, the National Committee on Geological Sciences recognized
the Ilocos Norte Sand Dunes as one of the National Geological
Monuments in 1993. A marker was then erected in Calayab, Laoag City.

Sand dunes are large hills of sand formed by different wind patterns
or pushed ashore by waves. The dunes varies in size due to some
factors including the nature of winds, the amount of sediment and
weather conditions.


Extreme Adventures

The La Paz Sand Dunes and Paoay Sand Dunes are the most popular part
of the dunes. The desert is barren but the Ilocos Norte Sand Dunes
offers adrenaline pumping adventure.


4 X 4 Wheel Drive Adventure

A 4x4 ride is the most exciting adventure the sand dunes can offer.
The ride is best done early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
You can enjoy the majestic beauty of the desert and feel the
invigorating seabreeze from the Suba Beach which is a part of the
South China Sea.

4-wheel-drive can be rented for an hour starting from 2,500 Php. It
would cost about 500 Php per pax since a truck can accommodate up to 5
passengers.

Remember to apply sunblock lotion and a bring a scarf because the heat
and the winds are harsh sometimes. And wear your most comfortable
clothes for an extreme sport is up next.


Sand Boarding

It is a thrilling and nerve wrecking sports adventure, one must try. A
skimboard is used to ride down the sandy hill from different slopes. A
beginner can try a 10-ft high drop point slope. But those who have an
experience on boarding may try the 20-ft jump off point for the double
adrenaline surge.


Should you bound up north, the Ilocos Norte Sand Dunes is a must stop.

For your travel assistance in going to Ilocos Norte, you may want to
read our article, Ilocos Norte :  Travel Up North.

The Sunshine City of the North, derived from the Iloko word Laoag
which means light. It is located about 484 km north of Manila. It is
the capital of Ilocos Norte making it the commercial and industrial
hub of the province. It's where the only commercial airport, in the
region, is located.

Laoag is a home of buildings that witnessed the centuries-old history
of the province.


Tobacco Monopoly Monument

It stands at the northern foot of the Gilbert Bridge making it the
first thing to see when you are travelling from Manila. It stands tall
on the southern part of the Aurora Park.

Tobacco Monopoly started in 1782 when the Spaniards found out  that
the climate of Ilocos is good for tobacco cultivation. They aimed to
bring profit to the government and to make the Philippines the leading
producer of tobacco in the world. Thus forced the Ilocanos to plant
tobacco. But it was abolished in 1881 and the monument was constructed
in its commemoration. Up to this day, tobacco is still one of the
major crops of Ilocos.


Ilocos Norte Provincial Capitol

Adjacent to the Aurora Park is the Provincial Capitol.  It was built
originally in 1917 but was remodeled in 1957.


Museo Ilocos Norte

On the left side of the capitol, is located the museum of Ilocos Norte
which is the Tabacalera Building. Originally, it was built to be the
Tobacco Monopoly center.

In 1999, it was rehabilitated by the local government. It's one of the
best tourist destination since it houses the culture and the heritage
of the Ilocano people.


Marcos Hall of Justice

A two storey building located on the west side of the Aurora Park. It
was where the late Pres. Ferdinand Marcos was detained when he was
accused on the death of Nalundasan.


Laoag City Hall

Adjacent to the Marcos Hall of Justice is the city hall. The two
storey building is a Spanish influence made of red bricks.


Cathedral of St. William the Hermit and The Sinking Bell Tower

The cathedral is located at the right of the Gilbert Bridge while the
belfry is 85m away. The church and the tower was built in 1612 by the
Augustinian Friars. They used molasses, lime, rocks, gravel and sand
for the building. Cogon grass was used for the roof while wood for its
trusses. The church survived a hurricane in 1640 and a fire in 1843.
It was later on restored in 1880.

Both the church and the belfry was built on earthquake baroque
architecture. The facade of the church has an Italian Renaissance
design.

The Sinking Bell Tower is popular because it's literally sinking into
the ground at an average of an inch a year. Half of the ground floor
has already sunk. Before, a man riding on a horse back can even pass
through its main door. But nowadays, a person with an average height
need to bent down to pass. And it is as well observed that it leans a
bit to the north.

It is located near a river, along with the church. The tower was built
on a sandy foundation the reason why it might be sinking. It is one of
the tallest belfry in the Philippines, measuring 45m (150f) high.

Despite of its sinking condition it still serves its purpose, ringing
its bells to call the Catholic believers.

If you are on a roadtrip up north, you won't surely miss the tower,
since it stands tall on the right side of the Gilbert bridge. Capture
its fascinating beauty just before dusk.


Interestingly, all the buildings mentioned above can be seen if you
stand beside the Tobacco Monopoly Monument. And don't forget to ride
the Calesa to tour around the city proper.

You don't need to worry where to stay in Laoag because it has numerous
hotels and resorts. It's packed with budget inns and hotels and also
offer the only 5 star hotel in the region.


The Fort Ilocandia Resort and Casino

It's located outside the city proper, about 15 minutes drive. It was
built in 1983 with a Spanish inspired architecture. The two-storey
buildings are made of red bricks.It was then constructed by the
Marcoses for the wedding reception of the late President's daughter.

The rooms are provided with romantic terrace. It has a fountain at the
center of a well-manicured garden. The resort has an Olympic size
swimming pool, a golf course and a mini zoo for kids.

It is a tourist destination for Chinese and an attraction for
Taiwanese gamblers. It is a must-see treasure of Ilocos Norte.


For your travel assistance in going to Ilocos Norte, you may want to
read our article, Ilocos Norte :  Travel Up North.

If you are planning to host a cocktail party, here are some do it
yourself finger foods.


Popcorn Chicken

Ingredients :

2 boneless chicken breast, cut into small chunks
1 cup white flour
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 tsp seasoning
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp minced garlic
3-4 cups vegetable oil for frying

Procedure :

Sift the flour and add the seasoning, salt, pepper and garlic. Mix well.

Dip the chicken chunks in the egg. Coat with the flour mixture generously.

Heat the oil in a pan. To check if it's ready, drop a few of the
batter into the oil wait until it sizzles.

Add just enough chunks in the pan. Deep fry it until golden, make sure
the meat is cooked evenly.

Remove and dry on paper towel. Let it drain for a few minutes.
Sprinkle salt to taste.


Chicken Sate With Peanut Sauce

Ingredients :

1/2 k skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into an inch strips
1/2 cup coconut milk
1/2 cup chicken stock
3 tbsp soy sauce
1/2 tsp lime zest
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp minced ginger
1 tbsp minced garlic

Procedure :

In a bowl, mix all the ingredients together. Marinate for an hour.

Thread chicken into skewers, about 4-5 strips each.

Preheat a grill pan over medium to high heat, spray with cooking oil.

Grill the chicken about 3minutes here side, or until meat is cooked evenly.

Serve the chicken skewers with the dipping sauce.


Peanut Dipping Sauce

Ingredients :

1/2 cup peanut butter
1 1/2 tbsp brown sugar
3 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp lime juice
1/4 cup chicken broth
1 1/2 tbsp minced ginger
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tbsp minced onion
1/2 tsp pepper

Procedure :

Mix all ingredients and put it in a blender. Blend until smooth.

Sauce can be prepared a day before your party. And you may keep it for
3 days in the refrigerator.


Cheese Canapes

Ingredients :

10 slices bread
20 2-inch thin slices of ham
250g cheese, 2-inch thin slices
40 1-inch strips red bell pepper
20 slices picked cucumber, drained
5 tbsp butter, softened
4 tbsp mayonnaise

Procedure :

Spread the bread with the softened butter.

Arrange the ham, cheese and bell pepper on the the bread.

Spread mayonnaise into the canapes.

Press pickled cucumber.

This recipe can be prepared half an hour before your party. Keep
covered and chilled.

Cape Bojeador or Burgos Lighthouse

It's a cultural heritage, established under the Spanish government in
1892. The octagonal stone tower is located on top of a high hill. It
overlooks Cape Bojeador wherein galleons usually pass by during the
Spanish era.

The Cape Bojeador lighthouse is the highest elevated lighthouse in the
country. It is 65 feet (20m) high, making it the best location to
guide ships. It is continuously run by solar panels and is operated
with new lenses.

If you travelled on your own car, the lighthouse is not hard to find
since it is located on the north side of the Maharlika Highway, near a
bridge. There is a cemented road that winds up the hill. A caretaker
is there to assist the visitors. The lighthouse offers a scenic view
of the rocky coast of the town and the South China Sea. It can be seen
from the neighboring towns on a clear day.


Kapurpurawan or White Rock Formation

Kapurpurawan in Iloco, from its root word Puraw, means white. It's
like a giant white sphinx rising up the blue skies. It's one of the
most visited tourist destination in the country.

It has a smooth wavy patterns on the surface. This unique rock
formation is created through sedimentation and erosion. It's through
the surrounding forces in the area, the sea, the strong wind and the
land. With this reason as well, the landscape constantly changes.

The dust road going to the site is about 3 km. Then there is a
cemented trail in a wide open field. The short hike is worth it. The
area is surrounded by bonsai trees naturally dwarfed by the condition
in the area. And finally, the site of the rock formation up close is
really stunning.

The administrators of the area are now requesting visitors to register
and pay a minimal conservation fee. The only concern is, the daily
pack of tourists visiting the place can somewhat speed up the erosion
process that affects the formation. The management should as early as
now plan strategies to preserve the area.


Gamet, The Black Gold of Ilocos

Gamet is made from dried marine red alga called Porphyra. It's an
edible seaweed extensively cultivated in many Asian countries. In
Japan, it is used to wrap the rice and fish for the sushi. And
popularly used in the Korean food called gimbap. In the Philippines,
its used in Ilocos for salad, omelet and soup.

Gamet is abundant between November to December in the coastal waters
of Burgos. The weeds grows on rocks which are directly exposed to
where the waves crash. They live in the narrow openings of rock
formations.

In the municipality of Burgos, most families earn a living from
gathering and processing gamet. Collecting the weeds are not easy
since they are gathered slippery rocks. They need to be extra careful.
They need to be aware of the waves otherwise they might crash onto the
rocks.

In picking the weeds, they need to use gloves for protection. They
commonly use the thumb and forefinger in gathering the weeds stuck up
on the rocks crevices.

They use a fish net to wash the weeds in the sea water to reveal its
natural sheen. Then the weeds are spread out on bamboo mats and dried
under the sun for a few days.

Gamet is actually a high priced food. And the price is basically
dependent on the quality. The darker gamet has a higher price.

Gamet has a growing demand in the local market as well as in the
export market. The reason why the local government and concerned
agencies continuously assisted the residents with the proper training.
The agencies provided the necessary technology to preserve the quality
of the product, for them to be more competitive in the market.

Gamet is now being sold in the local market nationwide. You may try
tasting these black seaweeds and find it out yourself that it's worth
the golden price.


If you want to check out all these fun stuff in Burgos, it's only
located 538 km north of Manila. And it's 49 km away from Laoag.

For your travel assistance in going to Ilocos Norte, you may want to
read our article, Ilocos Norte :  Travel Up North.

Sukang Iloko is a cane vinegar known of its sour taste. Its mild sharp
taste is great for pickling and making sweet and sour sauces. It is
believe to have a property to tenderize meat, thus it's often used as
a part of marinade.

Sukang Iloko is produced in the northern region of Ilocos, where sugar
cane is widely grown and harvested. Cane vinegar is also produced in
the US like in Hawaii and California.

In Laoag City, a manufacturer is trying to revive the pure sugar cane
vinegar. Sugar cane is fermented in traditional jars. And the process
takes more than a year to get the perfect sharp taste.

The company received assistance from the government to improve the
quality  of production as well as for better packaging. Technical
assistance provided like filling machine, pasteurizer and bottle
cleaner. Trainings were provided for proper labeling and packaging.
Financial management assistance was given like simple bookkeeping.

Using the technology, the company has tried to come up with other
tropical fruit wine and soon experimented on fruit vinegar. And the
more effective label and more efficient packaging gave them the
opportunity to penetrate not just the national market but as well as
the export market.

Sukang Iloko are now sold in leading supermarkets nationwide. And it's
been exported mainly in Guam, Hawaii, California as well as South
Korea.

If you're planning a vacation in Ilocos and want to taste sour vinegar
of the region, you'd easily find a shop or store along its highways.
These shops also sell salt and fermented fish sauce.

To some conservative-minded people it may sound like a party to get
drunk and tipsy. But contrary to that thinking, cocktail parties are
great for socializing with business associates or entertaining
friends. It can be glamorous yet inexpensive. Besides the simplicity
and complexity  of the party depends on you.

So why not try throwing a cocktail party instead on your birthday.


Important Things To Remember:

*How many will attend and how much to spend?

It's important for you to figure out even just a rough estimate on how
many, of all the people you have invited are going to attend. Remember
that about 70 percent will attend. Decide ahead of time how much are
you willing to spend. If attendees are more than twenty then it's
going to be a big party.


*Invitation.

Be creative. Use a party theme to fabricate the look of your
invitation. If you want a dress code, better include it on the
invitation as well as including the time to start and end is fine. But
if you don't have much time doing it, you may simply call them.


*Setting The Place.

Consider the theme or season when choosing the location. During rainy
season, you may want the party in a room, while during summer you may
choose your garden.

Arrange the furnitures according to the number of your attendees. For
large room with a small crowd, add small food tables. But if you need
more space, use just one table for food station.

Set up the area you have chosen a day before the event. In a room,
hide unnecessary items. And don't worry too much, the rooms are going
to be dimly lit.

Lighting and decoration. Avoid too bright lights, use candles to
enhance the place. Cluster about three candles, wrap it up with
decorative paper.

Music should be played the entire event. This will help relax your
guests. This will avoid awkward silence as well. Create a playlist
ahead of time.

Napkins/Glasses/Ice. Make all these things available.

Prepare the bathroom, since all of the guests may use it. Decorate it
with candles and flowers.


*Planning The Menu.

Remember that the most important part of the party are the drinks and food.

Drinks should be ready upon the arrival of the first guest. There are
different options in preparing the bar.

Open Bar. This option offers a wide variety of liquors and mixes. It
will give your guests the chance to opt for their favorite drink. It's
a great option if you're willing to buy all the needed spirits to fill
in the bar. You might as well need to ask a friend to attend the bar.
Or if it's a bigger party, you may want to hire a bartender.

Themed Bar. To make your party more interesting try to have a theme
flavor. This option offers different mixes using only  a single type
of liquor.

On-The-Menu. You just have to choose a list of drinks to prepare, at
least three mixed drinks will do.

Themed bar and on-the-menu will make you save a lot since you don't
need to full stock the bar.

Prepare at least two glasses of drinks for every hour for each person.
Include enough wine and beer, and plenty of water.

You need to consider preparing non-alcoholic drink, your guest may not
all be alcoholic drinkers. You may prepare iced tea or juice.

Food. In planning the menu to be served, you should consider the time
of the party. If it's during lunch or dinner time, you may prepare a
regular meal but it's not necessary. You may serve enough food to
cover up the meal.

The good thing about cocktail parties is that you may serve simple
foods like finger foods and hors d'oeuvres. Hors d'oeuvres means
outside meal food.

You may prepare cold appetizers followed by hot dishes if you're going
to prepare a regular meal. And you may prepare desserts as well.

If you decide to go for simple food, prepare about five choices if the
party time is outside meal. But at least ten choices if during meal
time.

Consider using food that are in season, they are the freshest option.
Stock back ups like nuts and chips, cheese trays with jams, crackers
and bread, popcorn and french fries.

Be creative in serving the food, you may serve soup using shot glass.
Make decorative cones in serving french fries.

Consider preparing at least one or two meatless dish.

If it's going to be a big party, choose food that may be stored in
cold or room temperature.

Prepare at least 80 percent of your menu in advance.


Check out simple recipes online that you may prepare like hors
d'oeuvres recipes and finger foods. Prepare canapes, salads and
appetizers. Truffles can be a great sweet treat.

Paoay has a rich culture, an interesting history and a world heritage
beauty left by the Spanish Colonial period. It is a must see town if
you're planning for an Ilocos trip.

Located 462km north of Manila. From Laoag City you may ride a public
utility jeepney going to Paoay town proper.


The Church of St. Augustine.

Otherwise known as Paoay Church, is a part of the UNESCO World
Heritage list. Its architectural design is a unique mix of Gothic,
Baroque and Oriental designs. Every little detail of the church, gives
emphasis to different artistic influences, from the facade to the
gables. The artistic design of the church makes it one of the most
romantic churches.

The church was carefully built to withstand the areas natural
challenges like earthquake. The bell tower as well stands away from
the sanctuary for safety reasons, in case it would collapse.
It is a historical church, built by the Augustinian friars in 1694,
that witnessed the cries of the oppressed and the scream of the
revolution.


The Paoay Lake.

One of the most remarkable feature of the town. According to legend,
the lake was once a site of a prosperous barangay or village. But
their wealth drove the people to become greedy and made them cling on
to material things. This angered God and He shattered the village by
sending an earthquake that sunk the entire village, drowning all the
villagers aside from a couple. God has found kindness from them that
He let them escape the tragedy by warning them before hand.
Unfortunately, the woman didn't follow God's instruction, not to look
back on their way out of the village. So the woman became a rock,
which is now located on top of a hill over looking the lake.

The Malacanan Palace of the North lies on the northern part of the
lake, showing a nice view of it.

For a long time, it had been used as fish cage sanctuary. But the
wastes, not just from the cages but as well as from the surrounding
community, contaminate the lake with e. coli bacteria.

But now, the government finally was able to pull out all the cages and
developed the tourism potential of the lake. This year, the lake
became the venue for international rowing competition.


Inabel, a loom woven fabric.

It is a centuries old industry that started during the Spanish
Colonial period. The fabric was once a popular sail cloth. And it's
now becoming famous in the international fashion industry as a high
couture material.

The Inabel industry has remained to be the principal livelihood in
town. It has been passed on to generations. Cooperatives were formed
by the loom weavers to sustain the industry.