After a week-long visit to Ilocos Norte many years ago, I have to say that I am impressed by what the Marcos Family did there. Driving around its thoroughfares made me feel like I was in the U.S. because the roads are clean and smooth, nary a bump nor a pothole.
Even when I drove to the outskirts of Laoag, I could see that the houses along the road were all nicely preserved and painted, none of those shanties in a state of dishabille that one sees by the roadside in many other provinces.
I promised myself I would go back to this beautiful province, especially because I enjoyed de-stressing in the calming ambience of the picturesque Windmill Farm in Bangui, after screaming my lungs out at the extremely exciting and fun “roller coaster” ride on the Sand Dunes of Paoay. Of course, my culinary cravings were continuously taken care of by its popular delicacies–Bagnet, Empanada, Poqui Poqui, and Dinengdeng.
Not too long ago, the 18th century heritage house owned by the Valdes and Lardizabal families in the town of San Nicolas, a 12-minute drive from Laoag, was renovated and restored to its old glory and is now called Balay San Nicolas. The restoration of this vintage residence, declared an Important Cultural Property (ICP) by the National Museum, was a joint project of the local government, the San Nicolas Bin-I Foundation and Dr. Joven Cuanang, a local art patron.
Town Mayor Alfredo Valdes, Jr. declared Balay San Nicolas, known by the local townsfolk as “kabite” (Ilocano for big, strong rock), as the most important among his town’s many heritage houses because it preserves and encapsulates the residents’ cultural identity for the appreciation of future generations.
It is now, officially, a cultural tourism “gem” of the province because it features the very impressive, interesting, and valuable Valdes-Lardizabal Family Memorabilia. The restored residence now has a souvenir shop, a restaurant, an events venue, and an exhibition space where local artists could display their masterpieces. It now also houses the local office of the Department of Tourism.
Balay San Nicolas’ inauguration was attended by Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc, Vice-Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos, Congressman Angelo Marcos Barba, Mayor Valdes Jr., Vice Mayor Marlow Valdes, Consul Annette Ablan, and National Museum representative Paolo Mar Chan.
A cultural show staged by the Bin-I Foundation followed the opening ceremonies and featured a fashion show of attractive Abel Ilocos classic pieces designed by Edgar Madamba, Vic Barba, and Nina Corpuz.
With the opening of Balay San Nicolas to tourists and to MICE events, the town has become an important tourism hub in the province, especially because there are many other ICPs that it can be proud of–the San Nicolas Tolentino Church, the Via Crucis structures, the San Nicolas Central School building, the Municipio, and the Nagrebcan Archeological Site.
Another visit to beautiful Ilocos Norte is definitely on the horizon.
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YOUR MONDAY CHUCKLE:
Doesn’t it scare you that the person entrusted to invest all your money is called a “broke-r?”
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(Images by JC Dacuycuy)
