Enjoy the experience of immersing yourself in a new culture and a new time as you travel through the streets of Vigan.
Mabuhay and welcome to Vigan City!
Take a step into Vigan, and you take a step back in time. Vigan is the largest city in the Philippines that preserves the architecture and history of the 16th century Spanish colonial period and is one of the Seven Wonder Cities of the World. There are many adventures to have in this city, including Baluarte Zoo, Hidden Garden, a river cruise, and the Bantay Church Bell Tower. However, two destinations can’t be skipped: Calle Crisologo and Plaza Salcedo. Read on for a glimpse of these two lively locations and tips for communicating on your trip.
Calle Crisologo
It may be less than half a mile long, but Calle Crisologo is the gem of Vigan. This street preserves architecture from the Spanish colonial period and is bursting with shops and local restaurants. Tour this street first by kalesa, a horse-drawn carriage, to soak in the rich history and beauty, and then explore it on foot to visit the shops and sample the food. Be sure to try an Ilocos empanada, some Vigan longganisa (a garlicky local sausage), and a refreshing mango graham shake. Take advantage of photo opportunities with the horses and the hand-carved wooden benches.
Plaza Salcedo
The Plaza Salcedo is famous for its nightly dancing-lights show. When the sky gets dark, a large fountain is illuminated with colored lights that flash and move with the spraying water and lively music. Sample some street food from the surrounding vendors and enjoy the free show—it's the perfect way to end a day in Vigan.
Communicating with Locals
The local language is Ilocano, but vendors, shopkeepers, and kalesa drivers will likely also speak Tagalog (the national language of the Philippines) and English. Even if you aren’t fluent in Ilocano or Tagalog, the Filipinos you interact with will be delighted to see you try out a few phrases in their language. Don’t worry if you don’t say something perfectly—it's the effort that counts! Here are a few phrases to try:
Thank you
Tagalog: Salamat po
Ilocano: Agyamanak
Good evening
Tagalog: Magandang gabi
Ilocano: Naimbag nga rabi-i
How much does this cost?
Tagalog: Magkano po ito?
Ilocano: Manu atoy?
Enjoy the experience of immersing yourself in a new culture and a new time as you travel through the streets of Vigan.
Sources
http://vigancity.gov.ph/
https://guidetothephilippines.ph/destinations-and-attractions/calle-crisologo