The Mestizo District offers a wonderful glimpse into the Philippines’ colonial past. The ancestral houses were mostly built by Chinese traders using a mixture of local, Asian and Spanish architectural styles. The Mestizo district is some of the visible tourist spots in the city of Vigan, Philippines. It offers a wonderful glimpse into the Philippines’ colonial past. A majestic place [...]

St. Paul‘s Metropolitan Cathedral  was built by Augustinians around 1790 and features a unique design intended to minimize earthquake damage; a style that came to be known as “earthquake baroque”. Look out for the brass communion handrails forged in China, complete with Chinese characters scrawled by its ancient installers (if you look closely). The eight-sided bell tower is just south [...]

It is an ancestral house turned into a museum that offers a peek into local life a century ago.  This unassuming structure may be passed off as a drab old building but inside lies a treasure trove that would float the boat of any archaeological and ethnological geek. This is the Burgos/Ayala Museum a 19th century structure that used to [...]

The Syquia Mansion which houses President Qurino’s extensive memorabilia is actually owned by his wife, Dona Alicia Quirino. Her ancestor was a Chinese who made his fortune in the robust trading in Vigan. Sy Kia’s pride in his Asian heritage can be seen by visitors to the Syquia mansion where they can view a portrait of him with his braided [...]

Baluarte, the only one of its kind in the country. Not just a zoo, Baluarte is an interactive wildlife sanctuary and facility, with the breathtaking view of its dominating scenic boulders amidst trees and greens. They are dedicated to facilitating education, conservation and protection of endangered species and wildlife. Children and those who are young at heart will rediscover life [...]