Ilocos Virgins: A 3-Day Travel Itinerary

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Recently, I have been getting a lot of inquiries about traveling to Ilocos. I don't know if this has something to do with the launch of the Paoay Kumakaway tourism ad or that music video for a telenovela which features Ilocos region's scenery. Perhaps, it's simply because it's summer in the Philippines.

Laoag City is the gateway to Ilocos Norte.

Not Borobudur. It's Paoay...

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The imposing buttresses of Paoay Church

....Or to be more specific, the buttresses of the St. Augustine Catholic Church in Paoay, Ilocos Norte. Also known as the Paoay Church, its design is a fusion of Baroque, Gothic and Oriental elements. Paoay Church's massive buttresses, which appear like the Borobudor's stupas up-close, were made to help the church withstand quakes. Thus, the church's architectural design is referred to as Earthquake Baroque. However, the use of coral blocks and stucco-plastered bricks in its construction makes Paoay Church standout from other Baroque churches.