BALUARTE OF VIGAN CITY (PHILIPPINES)

Location: Brgy. Salindeg, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, Philippines

Updated:  November 2019

Note:  The original post of this blog has been pushed down with the recent ones on top pages

The vast zoological park of Baluarte

A tourist who toured Vigan and was not able to visit Baluaarte has not actually gone to Vigan City for reason of trip incompleteness. Besides, this attraction is just a 10-minute drive away from the city’s center from Calle Crisologo. This vast 20-hectare property turned into a zoological park is owned by former Governor Luis “Chavit” Singson located in Barangay Salindeg of Vigan City. It has his monumental mansion with resort complex lying in hectares of land that stretches from the rolling plain towards the hills. On top of his mansion is a rewarding view of Vigan City and the tranquil South China Sea. Most of the animals housed in this zoo are imported from the Middle East, Africa and in some parts of Asia. It offers a free pony ride drawn in a carriage.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How much is the entrance fee:  Free

What is the operating hours?

               8:00 A.M. (Opening Time), 4:30 P.M. (Last Entry), 5:00 P.M. (Closing Time)

What is the schedule of the Animal Shows:

               There are three schedules:  10:00 A.M., 2:00 P.M. and 4:00 P.M.

A P50 per person ride  thru golf cart shuttle

There is so much to do and enjoy when you are inside Baluarte.  A half day will not be enough to visit and enjoy all its attractions.  Snacks and refreshments are available inside from their food stalls and stores.  I assume that this golf cart shuttle ride is just new, because the first I visit this park, I only saw some ponies where kids are allowed to ride with it.

An intimate union with the roaming animals inside the park

Guests have the option to go near the animals with caution.  I have seen a couple of ostriches roaming freely in one part of the park. There were few species of animals like donkeys, antelopes and the chital or spotted deer which were freely roaming around the park and kids can even touch them if they are accompanied by adults.

Caged animal species

Zebras are the species being caged inside the park.  Other animals being caged here are: 8 Bengal tigers, 2 leopards, 6 white lions, snakes, pythons, crocodiles, monitor lizards, iguanas, eagles, peacocks and owls. I remember that during my first visit, there were camels whom the guests can take pictures touching them with the presence of park rangers.

Animal mascots at the entrance (Models: Russel A. Po and daughter Cheska Marie)

Not all animals are live and real.  To entertain the kids, there are animal mascots at the entrance where kids can play with. Some of these mascots would even voluntarily play with infants while being carried by their adult companions.

Park rangers assist the kids who are riding the ponies

Aside from riding from the ponies, a father-and-daughter or a mother-and-son, can also have a tiburin ride being carried by a pony.  A tiburin ride is a light carriage with two wheels pulled by a ap pony resembling to a chariot in form, though a chariot is not a light carriage.

Animal feeding

Guests are not allowed to feed the animals with any kind of food or leftover.  You need to buy it in a store with the kind of feed the animal eat like the monitor lizard on the picture above.

The souvenir and pasalubong store

Filipino tourists are fond of buying souvenir items and pasalubong items whenever they are on travel and Chavit Singzon has that in mind, too.  This is the reason why he also welcomed concessionaires to sell items like souvenir t-shirts, accessories and other local delicacies.

The Catholic chapel inside the park

Conveniently,  guests can also visit the chapel inside this safari park.  Maybe, aside from masses to be held, booking  for weddings can also be accommodated here.  I am sure, but this just came to me as an idea.  Prenup pictorials would also be perfect with the backdrop of roaming animals.

The interior of the park's chapel

The tall golden building on the right is Chavit's private mansion

The Baluarte where animals show is hosted

The following pictures were taken from the free animals show.   The hosts ask the audience to participate on the show by holding the animals being used for the show.  If not, they are allowed to touched while the hosts are carrying it live.

There is also the Safari Gallery.   In the gallery room, it accommodates Chavit'z hunting trophy collection, the head of the animals he hunted in various parts of the world, since hunting is his hobby.  As this collection is growing too big, he decided to put up this Safari Gallery.  His intention is for people to see exotic animals without going to other countries just to these animals.

You might  also refresh yourself by visiting their ice cream store.  Remember, it is very hot in the park and one needs to cool himself.

The ice cream parlor

Below is the original blog post:

The vast acres of Baluarte Zoological Park

Aside from sprawling zoological park setting, most of its part have landscaped garden complete with nature pools. Visiting the place is quite engaging as there are a lot of attractions to make all guests busy like experiencing the butterfly farm like a butterfly aviary, a skeet shooting range, feeding animals like flamingos, Albino Burmese python (Scientific name: Python molorus bivittatus), monkeys, swans, ostriches, spotted deer and the one-hump camel where I found it very tamable. These animals are fenced only.

The butterfly garden contains thousands of kinds of butterflies which according to the assisting staff, are endemic to the Philippines.

Free pony ride at Baluarte Zoological Park

Like Manila Zoo, we also saw caged animals like Indian rock python (Scientific name: Geochelone elegans), Indian Star tortoise (Scientific name: Python molorus), reptiles, birds, green iguanas (Scientific name: Iguana iguana), palm civet cats (Scientific name: Paradoxurus hermaphrodites), peacocks, lions, Bengal tigers and the Philippine cloud rat which is endemic to the Philippine Cordillera region.

One of the one-hump camels in Baluarte

I remember when I had a Safari Tour in Bangkok, where the park personnel would normally have scheduled show when to introduce the animals to the guests which we experienced also in Baluarte.

Taming a one-hump camel

Near the entrance, I saw parrots, Nicobar pigeon (Scientific name: Caloenas nicobarica) and Luzon hornbill (Scientific name: Penelopides manillae) where guests can have a closer look and take pictures with. What screwed my attention was when I heard a voice saying “Pangit ka! Pangit Ka!” where when I turned my head, I was amused to find out that it was a parrot saying those words which means in English, “You are ugly! You are ugly!”

For Catholic guests, this tourist spot has a pink chapel and another added attraction is a lighthouse. Indeed, visiting this park will give a guest a complete experience.

Touring around the park through free pony ride

Guests are assured of signs posted at some points of the park that all these amenities are for free as long as Mr. Chavit Singzon can afford its maintenance. As a form of help from the tourists, they buy pet food sold inside the park. With this, the guests are helping to maintain the park for its operation.

Enjoying the cool park amenities

HOW TO GET THERE

Take a bus from Manila via Partas, Dominion, Philippine Rabbit by 9 – 10 hours to Vigan City for a distance of 404 kilometers and another 10 minutes drive from the heart of Vigan City to Baluarte. Partas Transportation Company offers the best and comfortable ride with its air-conditioned buses equipped with only three seats across and have better reclining positions. You may check this link for Partas bus operation schedule

Alternatively, through by air which is flying from Manila to Laoag International Airport for three times a week for 70 minutes either by Cebu Pacific or Philippine Airlines. Laoag City is 2 and a half hours or 82 kilometers away from Vigan City.

BANTAY TOWER AND BANTAY CHURCH (SAINT AUGUSTINE PARISH CHURCH)

Location: Barangay I, Bantay, Ilocos Sur

Updated: November 2019

The pictures below are part of my November 2019 visit:

This "Bantay Belltower" marker was not there during my first visit

Indeed, my second visit was far more better as you see, the place was well-maintained and got even better for panoramic sense.

Climbing up the concrete stairs to the belltower

This belfry nestles on top of Calvario Hill overlooking a lush pastureland and the mountain view of the province of Abra.  This belltower has a historic significance as this was used as a watchtower for invading enemy forces during World Wars 1 and II and invading pirates. Indeed, this helped our heroic Filipinos partly in their fight to protect Bantay town from aggressors.

On top of the belltower

As the belltower is centuries-old, we have been advised to watch for our footsteps. The floor  and the stairs are no longer that stable,  thus, guests were advised to go up one by one.  In fact, by the time of my visit, only two were allowed on top, and other two would only go up as we  completely descended.

The centuries-old bells on top of the belltower

If  these belltowers were not replaced yet during its original installation, they might have been 429 years old already as of November 2019.

This has been installed with roof already during my second visit

After ample time of scaling up the Bantay tower, I rested down in this Virgin Mary where shades of trees protected me from intense heat.

The facade of Saint Augustine Parish Church

Then, I decided not say short prayer inside Sain Augustine Parish Church, where it is considered as one of  the oldest churches of Ilocos Sur being built in 1590 by the Augustinian friars, a congregation formed by St. Augustine.  Its first installed parish priest then was Fr. Juan Bautista de Montoya.

The interior of Saint Augustine Parish Church

Below is the original blog post during my first visit:

The famous Bantay Church in the Municipality of Bantay is actually the Saint Augustine Parish Church which is a part of Ilocos Sur province. This church is also known as the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity or Nuestra Señora de La Caridad housing the miraculous image of Virgin Mary as Our Lady of Charity who is crowned as the patroness of Ilocandia on January 12, 1956. The church was named after its patron saint, St. Augustine of Hippo.

The historical Bantay Church Belfry

During my visit, I was more stunned with its belfry which is approximately 100 meters away from the church, a belfry-church main structure distance, almost the same with the Saint William Cathedral of Laoag City. Dating back on its history, this church’s belfry known as the Bantay Tower during the Spanish colonial era, has served as a watchtower for invading pirates who usually attack the town. It was established in 1590 for that purpose making it one of the oldest in the Ilocos Region.

Climbing through the concrete stairs of Bantay Bell Tower

Our group found it very inviting to climb the tower and accompanied by our guide, we did it. We encountered no problem till we reached its second level. However, going up to the third level may require guts since even if the wooden stairs are new, there was the rickety sound that we heard and the tall, open windows may trigger vertigo among the faint-hearted. In our group of 15, only three of us, boys dared to make it to highest level. And alas!!!! The bell tower really provided us the best overlooking scenery of the houses and town cemetery below, the underlying hills within the horizon and the mountains on the side of Abra.

The Shrine of Our Lady of Charity and the Bell Tower at the background

In addition, our guide, told us that the church bell tower did not undergo any renovation except for the repair of the stairs inside the tower. Its original building construction materials are still intact consisting of bricks, rocks, and a mixture of seashells and sugar cane where the guide called it as “apog”. Furthermore, the guide also said that the Ilocano word “bantay” means “mountain” and “guard” as the tower was built on the highest point of the town.

Bantay Bell Tower (Left) and the facade of Saint Augustine Parish Church (Right)

It is highly recommended to visit this spot late in the afternoon as photographers can get the best postcard perfect picture since the blue sky can serve as the backdrop of the tower.

The altar of Saint Augustine Parish Church

How far is Bantay from Vigan City? The answer would vary from which route you will choose coming from Vigan. If you had it Vigan City via Quirino Boulevard, it is just 2.4 kilometers for 3 minutes only. If you opt to take Vigan City via Quezon Avenue, then it would be 2.1 kilometers for 4 minutes drive and via Rizal Avenue, the same distance of 2.1 kilometers for 4 minutes drive also.