(By Rae Dawn Balagot Maestrado)
IT BEGAN with a phone call – a call excitedly telling me about an “all-expense-paid” trip to Vigan City! With nothing going on, I knew better than to turn down a tempting offer, so I said yes.
First off, I was tasked with the hotel, airline, and land transportation bookings – which scared me slightly since I have never really done any of that before. But I knew I was in good hands, so it was not as overwhelming.
I must say, I liked that my well-traveled company allowed me to be involved in what they do, developing my sense of industry in areas I have yet to explore because admittedly, I do not get handed roles like this usually. So, when the responsibility landed on my shoulders, a part of me wanted to see how I would perform.
Anyways, when all was finally done, and we were packed and ready to go, I found the travel quite relaxed and even slower than what I was used to. Perhaps because I was with people who traveled in style. A delightful experience I must say.
Until the storm.
Of all the days, the sky chose to welcome us with rain and wind as we were about to land at Laoag International Airport. We strutted through the rain after landing and took our pictures. We were tourists and clearly milking the experience from the get-go. What is amazing about doing touristy things is that you do not get shy because nobody knows you. Ha!
Anyways, when we got there, it was quite late so we could not see much of what was around. But the morning after, our road trip to Vigan graced us with yards and yards of rice fields on both sides of the road. We also stopped by some iconic landmarks such as the Paoay church and even had a glimpse of Marcos’ huge house.
When we reached our lovely hotel, we were impressed by how picturesque it was. Even more so when we got a room with the Calle Crisologo view. Imagine seeing calesas every single day from your window as if you were from the 1800s ready to do something proper or naughty!
The place felt different from the Philippines I know of. I am truly blessed to have experienced strolling along Calle Crisologo with its well-preserved glory of the olden days, to have heard the click-clack of the calesas, and to have inhaled so much knowledge and culture from one place.
The whole experience honestly opened my eyes to traveling. The trip easily widened my world and my perspective of it. I mean, imagine being stuck at home and then suddenly finding yourself on a week-long trip exploring places never before seen! That is a fast shift of pace for anyone! I am extremely impressed as well with the warm welcome from the city government of Vigan because not everybody gets an extra special personalized tour from them.
We simply reached out to them while we were planning our trip, but I did not expect they would give us a premium tourist experience. Not only did they personally escort us, but they also gave us in-depth guided museum tours that stretched to an entire day’s worth. We even had a short spin on pottery making and loom weaving! It is remarkable that aside from the tour being informative, it was also a very interactive one.
I think our Vigan trip would also be perfect for couples. I can see them promenading along Calle Crisologo at night with the romantic streetlights, vintage-inspired cafes, as well as antique shops.
Picture this, having dinner at Café Leona, inspired by the feminist Filipina poet Leona Florentino. The place is small and cozy; enveloped in warm light. The tables layered with plain and gingham tablecloths – adding to its already vintage western feel. Had I fancied some wine, I would have imagined that I was dining somewhere in Europe.
It was just my luck that I got to explore Vigan. I even had the pleasure of being rained on as we were returning to our hotel one night after having dinner from the same café! It was silly but it felt like a movie scene – with the glistening cobblestones and the people taking shelter on the roadside as if making way for the heroines to pass by.
Vigan truly transported me in time. It is funny because when we got home, I could not believe that we were already back in Bohol – the post-travel blues were hitting me that night. I wonder if that busy cobblestone street also gets the blues as people come and go. Perhaps I could write an article about it!
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The writer hosts Woman Talk with Belinda Sales at 91.1 Balita FM Tagbilaran City every Saturday, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. She can be reached at belindabelsales@gmail.com. Twitter @ShilohRuthie./PN
