DIY Ilocos Tour Part VI: Sarrat Church, Malacanang of the North and Sand Dunes

ILOCOS NORTE, Philippines - And here we are cramming everything til the very end like the design students that we are.  We woke up ready for the day but heavy with the thought of going home.  Ilocos had been good to us.

We went back to the Sarrat church and found it closed!  It was slammed in our faces, almost literally, and we were so frustrated.  Nikki had the splendid idea to take a peak from under the doors.  

 Well there.  At least we had a picture of the longest aisle in the Philippines, we thought.

 Once again, we found ourselves taking pictures of the belltower, because what else could we do?  At this point we found out that Anna had been using her dSLR on automatic!  So we tried explaining the basics.

 And well, she gave us this look.

We found a couple of goats huddled by the side of the belfry.  They were begging to be shot.  By our cameras, I mean.  

 (I really love bricks.)

 Once again giving up on Sarrat church, we opted to just walk along the idle streets of the town. We passed by the Sarrat Presedencia which was built by the Marcos's for the wedding (see previous post).

We also went to the Marcos Museum.  After all, we are in Marcosland!

 We revisited Paoay after Sarrat and went to the infamous Malacanang of the North.



Being inside, I can just imagine all the society gatherings that were held here.  The house -- or shall I say, mansion -- is impressive and spacious.  It sits grandly by the Paoay lake.

Impeccable ceiling detail

The Sand Dunes were a quick tricycle ride from the Malacanang.  It was... sandy.  And mostly an activity-centered spot which we did not have money for (being the last day and all). 

So they just took a jump shot and we left. 

Our ride

Or not.

We were finally, finally able to see Sarrat church open!  (See our desperation)

Inside it was simple and eerie.

See that 'off limits' sign?  Yeah.

They say that the bride has the time to think twice while walking down this aisle.  

A couple of church caretakers ushered us into the museum just beside it.  Cameras weren't allowed inside though.  For safety, they say.  The museums exits to the convent ruins.  I read somewhere that it also used to be a torture chamber, but I guess the Church wouldn't exactly advertise that.

The reason for my laziness (in picture-taking).  These two have it covered.

There's something wistful about ruins -- the stories they tell, the past it protects.

It kind of feels like there's an alternate dimension there on the other side. 

I felt like I was in an actual Assassin's Creed game.

Sexism.

Our last stop was the whisper wall.  It was really interesting!  A person stands in one corner and whispers, and the other person on the opposite corner will hear it.  

After finally being able to enter Sarrat church, we considered it a wrap!   We went back home to Laoag and relaxed before our 10 hour journey back to the Metro.  I hope this isn't the last.

TOTAL SPENT (6 Days, all in): ~Php5500 

Ilocos Tour Part I: Churches and Empanadas - A tour of Batac, Paoay and Naic
Ilocos Tour Part II: And Everything was Yellow - Beautiful, beautiful Vigan
Ilocos Tour Part III: Here and Back Again - More of Vigan and its neighbor, Bantay
Ilocos Tour Part IV: Here Comes The Sun - Pagudpud, Bangui Windmills, Cape Bojeador Lighthouse
Ilocos Tour Part V: When The Day Met The Night - Laoag, Vintar and our last hurrah!
Ilocos Part VI: It's All Gonna End - Sarrat and Paoay Again