VIGAN CITY

2021
Vigan was an important coastal trading post in pre-colonial times. Long before the Spanish
galleons came, Chinese junks sailed from the South China Sea to Isla de Bigan through the
Mestizo River. Sea-faring merchants came to barter exotic goods from Asian kingdoms in
exchange for gold, beeswax and other mountain products from the Cordilleras.
Immigrants, mostly Chinese, settled in Vigan, intermarried with the natives and started the
multi-cultural bloodline of the Bigueños.

In 1572,King Philip II sent Captain Juan de Salcedo with about 80 soldiers to explore the
coast of Los Ilocano that sailed from Manila on May 20, 1572 and arrived in Vigan on June
12, 1572.

Thus, after the successful expedition and exploration of the North, Don Juan de Salcedo
founded “Villa Fernandina de Vigan” in honor of King Philip II’s son, Prince Ferdinand who
died at the tender age of four.

As a reward for his services to the King, Salcedo was awarded the old province of Ylocos
which then composed of the Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, La Union and some parts of the
Mountain Province as his Encomienda and was accorded the title as Justicia Mayor de esta
Provincia de Ylocos.

In January 1574, Salcedo returned to the capital of his Encomienda, Vigan, bringing with
him some Augustinian Missionaries to pioneer the evangelization of Ylocos and
established a Spanish city, for the purpose of controlling the neighboring countries.

It was believed that when Juan de Salcedo asked a native what the name of the place is, (as
Salcedo spoke in Spanish), the native could not understand a word he was saying. Salcedo
however was pointing on the ground and the native thought that he was actually asking
for the name of the vegetation planted on the ground. He thereupon said “bigaa apo,
bigaa apo referring to a tuber plant from the “gabi” or taro family. From then on
”,

the Spaniards named the place Bigan. I shall promote vigan because of the
history on it.

OCTOBER 7

HERITAGE CITY OF VIGAN

Authored by: Ale Cris Dengaey

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 TOURIST DESTINATIONS AND RELAXING HISTORIES

Calle crisologo- the famous Mena Crisologo Street traversing the Spanish

ancestral houses at the world’s well-known heritage village in Vigan City is
rich in history. From century to century, the more than 500-meter long
Crisologo Street visited by tourists today was established even before the
time of the Galleon Trade or even the before the coming of Spanish explorers
to the country in the 15th century Calle Crisologo de Vigan today appears
like a blast from the past. (Jojo Riñoza)[/caption] Place of the Chinese Upon
the discovery of Vigan by Juan de Salcedo in 1572, the attractive street was
called Calle Escolta de Vigan and served as the commercial hub in the entire
Northern Luzon. It was also called “Kasanglayan” or “place of the Chinese,”
which was the business center of the migratory traders not only Chinese but
also Spanish, Mexican, Japanese and other European businessmen, says
Bigueño historian Mel Andino. “Before the coming of the Spaniards, the
Galleon Trade already found its way to this street as it served as the drop
point of all goods brought by the traders from the western and mid-eastern
countries,” Andino said. Washington Street However, Andino said that when
American rule was in the country in the late 1890s, the Calle de Escolta De
Vigan was renamed to Washington Street. “According to my ancestors, one
of the most popular businesses in the street during the American time was
the “Washington Soup Factory” owned by the ancestry of Steve King – now
the owner of the Standard Lumber and Hardware in Vigan,” says Andino. The
Americans had established a civil government in Ilocos Sur on September 1,
1901 with Don Mena Crisologo, a delegate to the Malolos Congress, as the
first provincial governor. Mena Crisologo After retiring from government

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service, Gov. Crisologo, highly revered by Ilocanos as a writer and politician,
died on July 5, 1927 at the age of 82. Following his death, Washington Street
was renamed again to Mena Crisologo Street in honor to the late governor.
“However, I’m not sure when the exact date that the former Washington
Street was changedto Mena Crisologo Street,” Andino says. Heritage
street Through the years, Calle De Crisologo or Mena Crisologo Street
became famous as it served as the center of well-preserved Vigan houses.
“Few decades after the World War II or during the 1970’s when then
President Ferdinand E. Marcos declared the Vigan heritage village as
national treasure to protect and preserve its existence,” recalls Andino.
During the time of Tourism Secretary Mina Gabor in the administration of
former President Fidel V. Ramos work was done to turn Crisologo Street’s
flooring into cobblestone. It was also closed to motor vehicles. “It was
during the time of Secretary Gabor when the site of the Spanish ancestral
houses was called Vigan Heritage Village,” adds Andino. Now, Calle
Crisologo de Vigan is on the road to becoming probably the main attraction
in the quest of Vigan to be one of the New Seven Wonder Cities of the World.

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 Bantay bell tower
A ten-minute ride away from Vigan is the historic Bantay Belfry, which sits on a hill. This
towering structure is one of the sights that should be visited by travelers not only because of its
historical and cultural significance but also because of its commanding view of Vigan from the
highest portion of it that can be climbed. Some may even claim that they can see most of Ilocos
Sur from this bell tower. It is called the Bantay Belfry because it is located in the Bantay district
of Vigan along the national highway. It was said to be the people’s watchtower, part of the city’s
defense that helps in alerting it against possible enemies. It was built in 1591.

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 Vigan cathedral
Also called the Saint Paul Metropolitan Cathedral, the Vigan Cathedral is
another important landmark in Ilocos Sur’s capital city. 
It stands in a prominent spot just in front of Plaza Salcedo, which is why
you might find many tourists having their pictures taken between these
notable structures.
The cathedral pays homage to Baroque architecture as seen in the ornate
details outside and inside the church, although the cathedral has had its
share of renovations too to make it sturdier.

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 Crisologo museum
Meanwhile, the Crisologo Museum offers a glimpse of the life led by another
Ilocano statesman, Congressman Floro S. Crisologo who was assassinated
while attending church services at St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Since then, the late congressman’s wife turned their house into a museum
that’s open and free for public viewing, including the blood-stained pair of
trousers that the late congressman was wearing during that fateful day.
While in Vigan, make sure to check some interesting immersions in Crisologo
Museum.

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 Pagburnayan
One good thing about touring Vigan is that you get to learn a lot about its
history, culture, and way of life through the town’s homegrown
establishments. 
Take for example Pagburnayan Jar Factory, one of the very few remaining jar
factories around Vigan. It’s a popular must-try cultural activity in Vigan. In
order to help people appreciate the industry of jar-making, the factory is open
for tourists who want to see and experience pottery making first hand, from
simple, basic designs to more artistic earthen jars.
The staff will also tell you an interesting background about the origins of
pagburnayan, the art of producing jars, which was inspired by Chinese traders
who came to settle in Vigan and then later intermarried with Ilocanos and
Ilocanas.

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