History 101 at Crisologo Museum

     After our tour in Baluarte we headed back to the city and our first stop is Crisologo Museum. The Crisologo Museum is found on De Los Reyes Street in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, the street after Crisologo Street coming from the Vigan Cathedral. Actually, we never planned to go here but since it's still early and we really don't know where to go next, so we just decided to enter the old house converted into museum in memory of Floro Crisologo. There is no entrance fee here but there is a donation box that will help in maintaining the museum and a very sweet old lady will be your tour guide (I forgot her name). She will explain to you everything about the house and the history behind it and the family who once lived here.

... so who is Floro Crisologo?!?!?!

      Floro Crisologo was a congressman who worked towards the ratification of the Tobacco Law and the establishment of Social Security System (SSS). He also authored the laws behind the creation of the North’s first state university, the University of Northern Philippines. In October 18, 1970, Floro Crisologo was standing in the communion line in Vigan Cathedral when a lone gunman entered the church and shot him in the head. The gunman escaped during the panic and the case is still unsolved up to now. It is believed that it’s politically motivated.

     At the entrance of the museum I noticed a small plant and then a signage explaining what it is and where the word Vigan came from.

 The Bigaa plant that was common on the banks of Vigan when Spanish came.

     The Crisologo mansion is consists of a large, old, solidly-built 2-storey structure with a ground floor made of brick. The walls of the ground floor are thick and the windows have iron and steel grills. On the other hand, the upper floor is made of concrete and hardwood and has colintipay windows.

     This lady is the caretaker of the house and will serves as your tour guide. She will answers all your questions regarding the house and the family very eagerly.

>>>FIRST FLOOR<<<     

     The first floor of the house contains a collection of antiques, heirloom furnishings, family memorabilia, vehicles used by the family, book collection, numerous news clipping about Crisologo's assassination.

some of the old vehicles used by the family; different kind or types of carriage;

Cong. Crisologo and his certificate of recognition & awards; old maps; news clipping;

The Library....

Book Collection; Pictures of the Past Presidents of the RP and of some National Heroes;

    The Museum....

        

     The central display of the museum focuses on the patriarch’s 1970 assassination. It includes the unwashed pants and shoes that Crisologo had been wearing when he was shot, with his bloodstains still visible. Black-and-white photographs of the incident are displayed above the clothes. There are also scrapbooks of clippings about the members of the Crisologo family starting from the 1950s.

Some equipments for farming and fishing...

The Office...

the desk used by Crisologo during his term as congressman

>>>SECOND FLOOR<<<

the grand staircase

The receiving area ("Bulwagan" am I right?!?!)

       maybe numerous party, celebrations, meetings and/or gatherings were already held here......

well ventilated because of the numerous big windows around the room

The Bedrooms....

antique beds

collection of perfumes

     One may enter the master’s bedroom and open the cabinets and view the family's clothing, shoes and other private possessions. It is kinda creepy looking at them, I'm imaging old horror films so I just glanced at them and not really intruded, I felt that the family was watching us that time.

The Kitchen....

Old Refrigerator and other old tools used in cooking

The Dining Area.....

Long Dining Table

Porcelain Display and Statue of an Igorot Lady

The other corner of the house.......

I guess this is there entertainment area; An old piano and stereo...

Family Memorabilia

they love table and chairs

some of the antiques

     Don't forget not to include in your itinerary the Crisologo Museum because you will learn a lot about our history and the house will be your time machine to time travel into the past. It is also good to be knowledgeable about the places we visited.






part of the Biyahilo sa Norte - Escaped in Region 1

-----  Au revoir MJ 
 

Baluarte - An Afternoon with the Animals

     After our lavish lunch we headed to Baluarte, it is an 80 hectares Zoological Park owned by Gov. Chavit Singson and 10 minutes away from Vigan City proper. It’s open everyday to the public for FREE from 7am to 6pm. You can also take ride (a mini kalesa pulled by small horse) and use the picnic area for FREE. Baluarte is the most famous zoo in the northern.

from afar

zoom version

     That is a BIG signage of  BALUARTE that is very visible at the entrance and located at the heart of the park. Because this was the first thing that caught our eyes, we did not waste anytime to have some photo opp......

     After this photo opp we went around the area and we noticed that this is not a usual zoo park where we usually see cages, pens and fences to protect the animals or the guests from the animals. A lot of animals (except for the wild ones of course) actually roam free within the walk areas as the guests. 

     Actually one of the ostrich blocked our way so we had a chance to see it up-close and personal. A first time for all of us so we had some tricks to have a photo opp with this ostrich.

where she really belong...

up-close and personal

     Other animals you will see around are Fish, Tigers, Monkeys, Camels, Deer, Different kinds of birds (Ostriches, Parrots, Peacocks, Eagles and more), Snakes (Pythons, and others), Iguanas and there is also a Butterfly  Garden and more.....

     There is also a Live Animal Shows and it's for FREE again. Not only do you get to learn about the animals, also animal care, science and conservation. They also ask some volunteers from the audiences to participate in the show and had a chance to touch and see up-close the animals.

the brave volunteers

     After the Live Animal Show they let the guests have some photo opp with the tiger this time its not free. Since it was not free, a long line of guests are waiting and some of my friends are afraid to go near we didn't bother to line up instead we had our own photo opp for free.

we are good in camera tricks, ayt?!?!

Here are some of the animals that we inside the zoo.......

Fishes swimming with the "V"

birds....birds....birds.....

The small horse that pull small carriage that can ride around Baluarte and its for FREE....

and there are DINOSAURS...of course not alive.... hehehe

and there is also a YELLOW SUBMARINE on the way to exit

That ends our BALUARTE tour....

For more info about Baluarte you can visit their website here: http://www.chavitsingson.net/baluarte/baluarte-zoo.html

part of the Biyahilo sa Norte - Escaped in Region 1

-----  Au revoir MJ 
 

Free Lunch sa Bahay ni Lola

     I already mentioned in my post about our Food Trip  in the Vigan City plaza that a friend's friend/ colleague offered to help us to go around the city by letting his cousin to be our tour guide/ driver and have a free lunch in their ancestor's home. So, of course we say YES to the free lunch that's why you can noticed in my previous post that we only ordered halo-halo in Hidden Garden because we already know that there was a good lunch waiting for us.

     So after our tour in Hidden Garden, Kuya brought us to their home and introduce us to Lola and show us around their home.

     This is not the house but the school next to their front yard....(we don't have a picture of the whole house...too busy thinking of our lunch...)

    and there is a tree that look like a cactus or whatever it is in the center of their front yard......

   and on the backyard is a mini farm with different fruit bearing tress, vegetables garden, poultry, piggery,  and a wide space for playing, for running.....

           and inside the house.... of course we had our crazy poses as always

     That is Lola the one in gray dress with her shades and her english tounge... "nose bleed" ....and you see the little fella in the green motorcycle?!?! yeah, he really look amused or amazed or confused with us....maybe the this little kid was thinking if we are aliens.....hahahaha

        and when the lunch is ready....look what they prepared for us :)

       There were fish, bagnet, vigan longganisa, veggies, fruits for dessert and everything were FREE and YUMMY!!! We really enjoyed our lunch here while Lola telling us stories of her adventures and giving us advices where to go and what to do next.

     After the yummy lunch we didn't stop.... we invaded there backyard, we picked some mangoes and kaimito or star apple.

      and I don't know how many kilos we had here....

.... the backyard...

   ....the front yard.... hahahaha

     We surely had a great afternoon here. We filled their yard with laughter and craziness. After we re-charged time for our next destination - "Baluarte".

part of the Biyahilo sa Norte - Escaped in Region 1

-----  Au revoir MJ