This Week in Vigan (January 23 to 29, 2017)

A part of the Vigan City Fiesta, the Longganisa Festival is also a must-awaited event by locals and tourists alike. Activities include a longganisa-themed parade, cookfest, street dancing, and an LGBT night, among others. The aim of the festival is to celebrate the centuries-old tradition of making the Vigan Longganisa, a native sausage that has a distinct garlicky taste.

The Agri-Float parade is an annual event during the Longganisa festival. It is participated by the different barangays and establishments in Vigan City. Materials used in the floats are local agricultural products of Vigan. This year, the parade will be on January 27 and will go around Vigan City.

The Metro Vigan Dancesport Club Night/ Balik Vigan Night is a showcase of the performers’ dancing style and prowess. Whether the performers are children or adults, the audience can expect to be amazed by the show. The night starts at 7:00 PM on January 24, 2017 at Plaza Burgos.

To be found in Calle Crisologo, Vigan, is Café Leona. The restaurant got its name from Leona Florentino, an Ilocana poet and playwright whose statue is placed in front of the cafe. Café Leona has a wide array of viands and meals from Ilocano favorites to Japanese cuisine and grilled dishes. The interior has an old European vibe to it and diners can opt to eat indoors or outside while enjoying the view of Calle Crisologo.

As of January 16, there are still available rooms in hotels near the downtown Vigan such as Ciudad Fernandina, Vigan Plaza Hotel, Hotel Felicidad, and Hotel Luna.

With the street paved in cobblestone and ancestral houses with capiz windows lining both its sides, Calle Crisologo is a must-see tourist spot while in Vigan City. Even before the Spanish arrived in the city, Calle Crisologo was already the center of trading in the region. The ancestral houses were originally owned by rich Chinese merchants as Vigan was known as the “place of the Chinese” before Spanish Captain Juan de Salcedo arrived in Vigan and established Villa Fernandina de Vigan during the Spanish period. An interesting fact about Calle Crisologo is that the cobblestones were only put there during the term of former President Fidel Ramos and not preserved in time as many speculate.

The Dancing Fountain show at Plaza Salcedo in front of St. Paul Cathedral is a display of lights and water synchronized to popular songs. The proximity of the audience to the show makes it an awesome experience for anyone. For those who are not satisfied with just watching the lights and water dance, they can join in the fun by going on the other side where the fountain water literally comes out of the ground.

Vigan offers a wide range of local products such as bagnet, longganisa, vinegar, chichacorn, and chichapop. To be found in National Highway, Bantay is Marsha’s Delicacies which sells Vigan these popular local products. They also offer their own products such as the bibingka which is a pastry-like food made of ground glutinous rice, eggs, margarine, milk, and sugar, topped with cheese and oven-baked.

The weather will be alternately sunny and cloudy throughout the week. Tourists are advised to bring an umbrella and bottled water while touring around the city during daytime.