ILOCOS NORTE

MIGRANTS IL C S
MONUMENT
With the immense contribution of the Ilocano N RTE
FINE
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to the
development of the province, the Provincial
Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) unveiled the
Ilocano Migrant’s Monument along the Airport

ARTS
Road in Laoag City today, December 18, 2015. The
sculptures were created by Renato Ong, an artist
from Dingras, Ilocos Norte, who revealed that the
project portrays the 15 Sakadas (first wave of
Ilocanos migrants to Hawaii in the 1900s) who

CLAY POT pioneered the success and Ilocano greatness across

the globe.“The tallest of the sculpture is 8-foot

(SAN NICOLAS) anatomically and is made out of resin and

fiberglass..
A "banga," or earthen pot, for a real Ilocano
"pinakbet," down south to San Nicolas, where
"damili," or pottery, is a long-standing cottage
industry. I learned a lot about this culture and
custom while chasing down potters in the
bustling town that used to be a territory of Laoag
before its reconstitution on the first of January
in 1909, and it may be as old as the arrival of the
Spanish conquistadors in the region of the
Ilocanos.Unglazed clay goods, which are more
eco-friendly, exist in a variety of shapes and
sizes. Only one ceramic shop, discovered in
Barangay Sta. Plant pots, tiles, "dalikan", "banga",
"liso", jars, novelty items, and miniatures were
among the final terracotta products on exhibit,
all expertly crafted by the skilled potters.
 ST. WILLIAM
CATHEDRAL
The Italian Renaissance architecture of St. William's
PAOAY CHURCH
Cathedral is well-known. The two-story façade of St.
William's Cathedral is supported by two pairs of
PAINTING
columns on each side of the arched entryway. It is
recognized for its elaborate design incorporating
local flair, apparent in its capiz windows and
wrought iron screens. The Greek words Alpha and
Omega are carved on the wooden door. A niche
atop the façade houses the picture of San Guillermo
el Ermitao, the city's patron saint. The Sinking Bell
Tower, which was apparently built after 1707 and is

MALACAÑANG a witness to Ilocos culture and religion, lies less than

a hundred meters from the cathedral. It has

OF THE NORTH withstood a number of mild tremors. The bell tower

descends one inch per year into the ground, hence
One of the most important landmarks of the the moniker "sinking" bell tower
whole province that we did not miss visiting is
the Malacañang of the North locally called
“Malacañang ti Amianan”.In Paoay, Ilocos Norte,
Philippines, there is a presidential museum
known as the Malacanang of the North. It was
the family home of Ferdinand Marcos when he
was President of the Philippines, and it was
subsequently returned to Ilocos Norte's
jurisdiction. The Governor of the region began This is the church of Saint Augustine,
restorations and repairs, and the property and commonly known as the Paoay Church.
gardens were opened to the public as a museum
It is located in the municipality of
in 2011. The entire building is awe-inspiring.
Paoay, Ilocos Norte, in the Philippines.
Everything is a piece of art, from the
magnificent living room to the beautiful dining TAhis baroque style church was
rooms, attractive guestrooms to the grand completed in 1710 and is now designated
master's bedroom. It also boasts an equally
as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
exquisite grand staircase that complements the
mansion's grandeur.