CONGRATULATIONS TO VIGAN, ILOCOS SUR! They've won the "Best Practice in World Heritage Site Management" in the 40th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention.
BUSY STREETS
This is the prime street Vigan's Heritage Village. It's a long street, stretching a few blocks with souvenir shops all lined up for your shopping pleasure.
This street is paved with cobble stones, a part of the town's effort to preserve the Spanish-era part of Vigan.
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BEST WAY TO TRAVEL
You can hop on a kalesa for P50 to go around the Heritage Village.
And, for a special rate of P150, the kalesa will take you around prime spots: zoo, garden, etc.
Most coachmen are well-verse with the needs of tourists.
Most coachmen are well-verse with the needs of tourists.
A friend who lives in Vigan, however, laments that kalesas used to charge only as much tricycle rides (around P20). But since they are now mainly used for tourists purposes, they have hiked up their rates.
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OLD STONE HOUSES
Even outside of the main street, on to modernly paved roads, you will be surrounded by prime examples of Spanish architecture.
These houses are called "Bahay na Bato" (stone house). It is based on the stilt houses (think: bahay kubo), but the ground floor is reinforced with stone walling.
The main house is the upper floors, while the lower floor holds utility rooms (laundry, kitchen, garage, storage, and sometimes a private water well).
The main house is the upper floors, while the lower floor holds utility rooms (laundry, kitchen, garage, storage, and sometimes a private water well).
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WINDOW TREATMENT
Original windows can look like the lower picture. But, of course, home-owners had modified it according to their needs.
Notice that all windows are really huge. They are ached at the top as well.
Making these windows needs experienced craftsmen/masons. Only well to do citizens are able to afford a Bahay na Bato.
So, in the past, these are pretty wealthy people. And, with the amount of Bahay na Bato in Vigan, it must have been a prosperous town.
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PROGRESS
See that fastfood chain above? Vigan is pretty progressive. And, by that, I mean, they do have Jollibee if anyone is wondering.
I wish someone would take care of those electric wires. They can look scary, especially since most of these house have ALL WOOD upper floors.
The roof of most houses are corrugated iron now. Originally, they should have been made of red roofing tiles. This would be easier for Vigan as they have been producing pottery since pre-Spanish times.
I wish someone would take care of those electric wires. They can look scary, especially since most of these house have ALL WOOD upper floors.
The roof of most houses are corrugated iron now. Originally, they should have been made of red roofing tiles. This would be easier for Vigan as they have been producing pottery since pre-Spanish times.
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BUILDING BLOCKS
Most Bahay na Bato are made of adobe blocks. But this house is unique as it is made of red brick tiles.
The mortar seems original enough, as I'm unsure if they've made renovations.
If you take out one of these red bricks, you could see the manufacturer's stamp on them. Otherwise, if there's no stamp, they would have been made on site by hand, without standard molds. Mass manufacturing of bricks happened pretty late. And they are very standardized (same sizes).
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ACCENTS
There's nothing more adorable than fine craftmanship to show the uniqueness of each individual house.
It's exciting to spot these dainty accents on the posts, walls, even the ceilings!
The craftsmen took care to finish the houses, by putting in their own touch of art.
Like today, there would be a foreman who would oversee the construction. The rest of the crew can be hired hands. Some of these men can come from far away places, who stumbled upon Vigan looking for work.
The foreman, on the other hand, is a highly payed and highly skillful mason.
He would supervise the mixing of mortar and the laying of adobe blocks, or bricks.
There would be other craftsmen involved, like wood carvers.
The capiz windows were made in workshops them delivered to the construction site.
It takes a long time, stretching years at times.
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I look at these houses with full on envy. You can't always fine craftsmanship as these nowadays.
These houses need to be preserved in honor of the toils of these fine craftsmen.
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These pictures were taken around June of 2011.
It's exciting to spot these dainty accents on the posts, walls, even the ceilings!
The craftsmen took care to finish the houses, by putting in their own touch of art.
Like today, there would be a foreman who would oversee the construction. The rest of the crew can be hired hands. Some of these men can come from far away places, who stumbled upon Vigan looking for work.
The foreman, on the other hand, is a highly payed and highly skillful mason.
He would supervise the mixing of mortar and the laying of adobe blocks, or bricks.
There would be other craftsmen involved, like wood carvers.
The capiz windows were made in workshops them delivered to the construction site.
It takes a long time, stretching years at times.
♛
I look at these houses with full on envy. You can't always fine craftsmanship as these nowadays.
These houses need to be preserved in honor of the toils of these fine craftsmen.
♛
These pictures were taken around June of 2011.
All pictures are either mine or my friend's.
It was part of our tour of Vigan, when we were with the Ilocos Sur Archaeological Project, headed by Prof. M. Canilao.
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x, Pau
x, Pau
TAGS: HERITAGE, Ilocos Sur, Vigan Ilocos Sur, Vigan, Philippines, Northern Luzon, Heritage street, Spanish architecture, Spanish, Spanish Philippines, Colonial Philippines, kalesa, kalesa Philippines, Philippine horse carriage, bookshelves and vanities,
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