Sta. Maria Asunta Church | Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur

The Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion in Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur is among the four Baroque churches that are recognized as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Philippines.

Why we rode on a jeepney to see the Bangui Windmills

So to answer the question: we rode a jeepney from Laoag to Bangui because we brought balloons in this trip. Most backpackers would usually take the trike in getting around Burgos, Bangui and Pagudpud.

Our quick Laoag City tour

But we only got to roam around Laoag city during our final day in Ilocos. When we arrived from Pagudpud in Day 4, we had extra 2 hours before our afternoon flight leaves for Manila. So what happened next was a spontaneous walking tour.

Paoay: Malacañang Ti Amianan and Paoay Lake

Paoay in Ilocos Norte has an earthquake baroque church, sand dunes and a famous restaurant. But there are two more sites in this municipality that is also worth mentioning - a presidential mansion and the serene lake that it overlooks.

Batac: Marcos Mausoleum

The Ozymandias sonnet crossed my mind while I was watching the body from a distance. I thought to myself that inside the glass coffin was an intelligent man who wielded power, reshaped society and sparked an infrastructure boom that is yet unrivalled by any successor.