Out of mere curiosity and in an effort to mingle with the locals, Toto asked the man in the registration booth a simple question: "Kelan po nagawa 'tong simbahan?" (When was the church built?).
"Sir, everything you need to know, as in every detail about the Church, is already written in this paper -- for only P50."
Whuuuut.The.Heck. It was a simple question answered with a rehearsed line aimed for tourists. Inside the grounds of the church. On Easter Sunday. While the priest was sharing the word of God.
But regardless of this shameful incident, our visit to the St. Augustine Church was, for me, the highlight of our Vigan trip (although technically, it's not part of Vigan).
"Sir, everything you need to know, as in every detail about the Church, is already written in this paper -- for only P50."
Whuuuut.The.Heck. It was a simple question answered with a rehearsed line aimed for tourists. Inside the grounds of the church. On Easter Sunday. While the priest was sharing the word of God.
But regardless of this shameful incident, our visit to the St. Augustine Church was, for me, the highlight of our Vigan trip (although technically, it's not part of Vigan).
Toto and I took the Partas bus from La Union to Vigan at 6:30AM. We arrived at Petron Station in Bantay before 9:00AM. We thought we were already in Vigan because our fellow passengers were already alighting from the bus so we followed them. Tatay also instructed me to drop off at the gasoline station along the highway and wait for them. So when I saw Petron, I told Toto that this must be Vigan. But the road signs "This way to Vigan Heritage Village" and "Welcome to Bantay, Ilocos Sur" said otherwise. After 15 minutes of waiting, Toto and I decided to walk around the area while waiting for Tatay, Nanay, Kert and Ate Pong. And poof! We saw St. Augustine Church. Ecstatic about this discovery, I called Tatay and told them that our itinerary has been changed. We initially wanted to start our day trip in the heritage village but realized that it was much more convenient for us to start in St. Augustine Church.
St. Augustine church was built in 1691-1692. For more historical information about the church, click here, here, here or here.
I love old structures so visiting the St. Augustine Church and bell tower was a pleasure for me. It was a classic sight -- the bell tower, in its aged but still majestic form, standing tall atop a grassy hill and under the clear, blue skies. Oh God, that last sentence sounded like a line straight from a romantic book :))
Anyway, entrance to the bell tower is free. You just have to register your name in their logbook and donate if you like to. If you intend to visit Vigan by car, I suggest that you drop by St. Augustine Church first before heading out to the heritage village or to somewhere else. It is the first place that you'll pass by if you're coming from La Union.
Anyway, entrance to the bell tower is free. You just have to register your name in their logbook and donate if you like to. If you intend to visit Vigan by car, I suggest that you drop by St. Augustine Church first before heading out to the heritage village or to somewhere else. It is the first place that you'll pass by if you're coming from La Union.