Exactly a year ago, the Roños were with some talented photographers and PinoyNomads for our prenup shoot starting from the Cagayan Valley and ending up in Ilocos Norte via Claveria.
In this year’s trip to Ilocos, I took the opposite and ‘normal’ route from Manila and Pampanga towards Ilocos Norte. I’m not a big fan of long hours of travel by land (especially going back home to Manila) but there’s always this excitement in doing a road trip to north of Luzon simply because something interesting always turns up on the road to Ilocos. Here are some of my personal must-haves for pasalubong during stopovers.
Pangasinan has some of the best bagoong and dried fish around. Tarlac has fresh and cheap vegetables. La Union has the comfortable and inexpensive ‘inabel’ or Iloko weave. Ilocos Sur has, of course, the Vigan Heritage Site…
with the yummy empanada and Vigan longanisa…
There’s even an area called ‘The Vigan Empanadaan’ within the Vigan Heritage Site showcasing empanadas, a personal favorite. A sign there says: ‘The Empanada is a vintage merienda of the Bigueños. It is a delicious snack, similar to the Mexican Taco, of sauteed cabbage or papaya with egg of Vigan Longanisa stuffed in a crispy shell made from ground rice. It is a sentimental favorite of Bigueños, young and old alike.’ Amen to that.
And finally, Ilocos Norte has the historic Paoay Church, the man-made Paoay Lake and feast of bagnet (deep-fried pork), sukang iloko (cane vinegar), dinuguan, sarabasag (grilled pork soaked in vinegar) and pinakbet in any of the restaurants along the way.
Let’s not forget to bring home some chichacorn and kalamay from Candon City…
Oh and did i mention, the view of the beach from the highway is a beauty as well?
