The Philippines, being a tropical country, is famous for its numerous beaches with grains of sand that come in different colors- white, brown, black, and even pink. However, if one wishes to learn about the country’s rich history, the perfect place that flaunts how life in the Philippines looked like many centuries ago is the city of Vigan.
An old city with a history dating back to the 16th century, Ilocos Sur’s capital and treasured landmark was originally a settlement of Chinese traders long before the Spanish colonizers arrived. The city is elegant by itself, but it’s best known for its cobblestoned, romantic gas-lit streets. Among the different streets that lead to beautiful destinations around the area, the most famous one is Calle Crisologo, a half-kilometer long stretch of road.
If you are wondering how the street got its name, Calle Crisologo was named after Mena Pecson Crisologo, a respectable and well-loved politician in the region. He wrote Don Calixtofaro de la Kota Caballero de la Luna, an Ilocano translation of Don Quixote, and a novel entitled Mining wenno Ayat ti Kararwa, which people compared to Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere.
This narrow charmer takes you back to a different era. Its well-preserved ancestral homes with Capiz shell sliding windows and huge wooden doors seem to recreate the marvelous scenes of the past. The place is stunningly beautiful at any time of the day. At daybreak when the birds are singing and the day has just started, the road ahead is all quiet and steady. Around 7am you start to hear the horses’ pounding hooves on the pavement, pulling a small calash behind them. What makes Calle Crisologo less busy-looking is that there are no cars that will ruin the old-world atmosphere. Kalesas and bicycles are the only vehicles allowed to roam the street. The colonial-style restaurants, souvenirs and antique shops, and other establishments then open and both the locals and tourists fill the place. At sundown, lamps of old-fashioned style start to illuminate the road and every corner becomes extra magical. Everything starts to look golden and ready for picture-perfect shots. Looking around the place, you can see families, friends, and couples having a great time. And it’s almost as if you can imagine Jose Rizal dining with his beautiful sweetheart, laughing and enjoying each other’s company.
How did Vigan manage to preserve its cultural heritage? The class’ tour guide said that the city of Vigan was saved from total destruction during World War II. While some towns in the Philippines were bombed by the Japanese troops so that the Americans could no longer make use of them, a general named Nariok gave his word that Vigan would be spared only if the Dominican priest would also promise to take care of his family after he and his troops left the town. General Nariok’s love for his Ilokana wife and child saved this beautiful place we call Vigan.