Philippine Travel Notes

After lunch back in Laoag, I thought it was time to move on so I could maximize the roaming. Next on my list was the town of Batac. Been there time and again, but there was no conscious effort for me to ogle at everything I saw as I was busier bantering with friends or family. This time, being alone, I wouldn’t have any choice but get to know more about the place. Imagine my notes on ‘what to see’ for Batac. It said ‘whatever’ hehe, and that’s it! Now here is even another place ‘unlisted’ on my itinerary. Took a bus from Laoag and in about 4 minutes, we were already in front of 365 Plaza (mall) in the town of San Nicolas. Well that’s only about 3kms from Laoag City center, so the conductor told me. Why did I not have any interest in the town of San Nicolas, anyway? Well, blame the world wide web hehe! I did not see anything worth visiting in this town that is actually a suburb of Laoag. Fact is, there are some establishments in this town that identify themselves as a ‘Laoag Branch’ of ...

This topic started with this article This is St. Nick, right?! Ah there are three in this country! Our first town named San Nicolas is way up in Ilocos Norte. I call that town a “suburb at a crossroad” and I wonder why it is not a city yet. It soon will be, I predict! A very progressive town, every time I pass by it, something new seems to have sprung open! Going down to the southern province of Ilocos is another town named San Nicolas, in the province of Pangasinan. It is a town of waterfalls and soldier history as it is in a mountainous area leading up to the Caraballos and that big dam over at San Roque. Lastly, there is another town named San Nicolas down in the province of Batangas. Ah this town is divided in two – one part is on mainland, just below Tagaytay, while the other part is actually the southwestern half of Taal Volcano! Simply, this town is the least known way to cross and go up the crater ridge or crater lake of Taal Volcano. Everyone passes via Talisay but from here, ...