Ambot ah! Travel Blog

Basilica of Our Lady of Piat in Cagayan Valley

The Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Piat is one of 12 minor basilicas in the Philippines. It is distinguished as the home to the venerated Black Virgin Mary.

The Basilica of Our Lady of Piat is located in the town of Piat, which is 30 minutes away by land from Tuguegarao City, Cagayan Province.

This pilgrimage site attracts a large number of devotees especially on July 1 and 2 when the feast of Nuestra Señora de Piat is celebrated.

The first thing I noticed that was different about the Basilica of Our Lady of Piat was its entrance arch. It was located at the back of the church. You’d have to go around from the entrance to see the the church facade.

Basilica of Our Lady entrance arch

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Tuguegarao, Cagayan Province and My First Taste of Pancit Batil Patong

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Visiting Tuguegarao City and Cagayan Province wasn’t originally part of my Northern Luzon DIY tour. Good thing Eric told me about his plan to visit Tuguegarao.

I fired up Google Maps and included it in what would be longest road trip ever spanning at least 700 kilometers along the national highway.

I planned to encircle the northern cape of Luzon Island. Starting from Tuguegarao … then continuing my journey northwards to Pagudpud, westwards to Laoag, southwards to Vigan, and finally taking a stop in Baguio before returning to Manila.

Tuguegarao Metropolitan Cathedral

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Ilocos Norte Itinerary – My 4 Day DIY Tour of Pagudpud, Laoag, Paoay

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Here is the itinerary during my do-it-yourself (DIY) tour of Ilocos Norte for 4 days. My major destinations in Ilocos Norte were Pagudpud, Laoag City, and Paoay.

My first stop was Pagudpud, located at the northernmost tip of Luzon Island. To get there, I took the long bus commute from Tuguegarao City in Cagayan Province.

I arrived at around mid-morning and spent the rest of the day going to a couple of spots in town like the Patapat Viaduct, Kabigan Falls, Blue Lagoon, and Saud Beach.

On the second day, I decided to do a commuting tour of the Bangui Windmills, Kapurpurawan White Rock, and Cape Bojeador Lighthouse on my way down to Laoag, the capital city of Ilocos Norte. I spent two nights in Laoag while taking day trips to the beautiful churches of Paoay, Sarrat, and Bacarra.

I made sure to visit the Malacanang of the North at Paoay Lake before moving further south to the heritage city of Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

Ilocos Norte Itinerary Map

My Ilocos Norte Itinerary, a Day DIY Tour of Pagudpud, Laoag, and Paoay

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Cagayan Valley and Tuguegarao DIY Tour Itinerary for 3 Days

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Here’s the do-it-yourself (DIY) itinerary I took during a three day trip to Cagayan Valley. I flew from Manila to Tuguegarao, the capital city of Cagayan Province. I spent three nights in Tuguegarao City while making day trips to a number of tourist spots around Cagayan. First up was a quick tour of Tuguegarao’s “centro” and commute to the Basilica of our Lady of Piat. On the second day, me and my travel buddy, Eric, went to the Tumauini Church in Isabela Province, which was followed by a memorable visit to the Callao Cave in Penablanca. The Callao Cave is probably one of most photographed attractions this side of Luzon. We went on a church hopping tour of Northern Cagayan on our third day starting at Calamaniugan. We worked our way back to Tuguegarao passing by the historic towns of La-lo, Gattaran, Alcala, and Iguig.

6191393586 c8a83b2d5f Cagayan Valley and Tuguegarao DIY Tour Itinerary for 3 Days My Tuguegarao and Cagayan Province 3 Day Itinerary

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Kapurpurawan White Rock and the Long Walk

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I first saw the Kapupurawan White Rock in a photo posted along Saud Beach, Pagudpud. I knew I just had to visit this interesting rock formation located at the coast of Burgos town. I took a jeepney from Bojeador Lighthouse entrance and dropped off at the highway intersection leading to the Kapurpurawan White Rock. The intersection was easy to spot since there was a poster put up just beside the highway junction. The locals I talked to earlier advised me to take a tricycle going to the actual site. The coast was still another four kilometers from the highway. I waited for fifteen minutes but did not encounter any passing tricycles. Not even tourists or locals. The sun was already starting to set. I had to make a decision.

Deserted dirt road going to the Kapurpurawan White Rock Formation

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Bangui Windmills and Cape Bojeador Lighthouse in Ilocos Norte

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It was time to leave my homestay in Saud Beach and move on with a do-it-yourself (DIY) tour to the Bangui Windmills and Cape Bojeador Lighthouse. I had a very sublime experience touring around Pagudpud the day before. I was surprised to be greeted yet again with the most amazing deep blue skies and sunny weather. I didn’t expect to be so lucky since I was traveling in October, which is usually typhoon season in the Philippines. It was the already the 5th day on my plan to encircle the northernmost cape of Luzon.

My arrival at Bangui, Ilocos Norte

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Cruise to Malaysia aboard SuperStar Virgo

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Who says traveling on a cruise is designed only for the more “seasoned” tourist? Disney’s Zack and Cody would certainly disagree. Having seen my fair share of “The Suite Life on Deck,” I’ve always been curious about the experience traveling on a cruise. When I found out I was going to do it for the first time, I did have my reservations. I found out later on though that “cruising” did have its many upsides.

Superstar Virgo by StarCruises docked at the Harbourfront Centre in Singapore

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Pagudpud Tricycle Tour: around Pagudpud Tourist Spots

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From Saud Beach, I approached a tricycle driver and asked how much it would cost to visit the a few spots in Pagudpud. Turns out, most (if not all of the) tricycle drivers come prepared with a set rate of P600 for the day tours. I had to choose between two itineraries. The driver showed me a laminated pamphlet showing photos of Pagudpud tourist spots. I decided to go with the tour around the tourist spots within Pagudpud town. The other was an excursion to Bangui and Burgos towns, which I planned to visit (do-it-yourself style) on my way to Laoag. I’d been looking forward to explore the northernmost cape of Luzon Island for the longest time. It was exciting to finally start my afternoon tour of Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte.

On my way to the first stop during my tricycle tour of Pagudpud

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Saud Beach Homestay in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte

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A six hour early morning bus took me to Saud Beach in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte from Tuguegarao City. Pagudpud is the northernmost town of mainland Luzon. What compelled me to travel all the way up north was the promise of capturing its rugged coastal landscapes in photos. As soon as I got off the bus, I was greeted with the deep blue sky and sunny tropical scenery. It was the perfect weather to spend the day touring coastal town of Pagudpud.

5288930896 f757f1119a Saud Beach Homestay in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte
Tropical themed welcome sign at Saud Beach in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte

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An afternoon in Sentosa Island

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Spending the afternoon in Sentosa Island was a great way to end our 4-day trip to Singapore and Malaysia. Despite being at the border of “tourist trapdom,” I liked Sentosa because it caters to many types of travelers/tourists. Last time, I hated not being able to spend much time in Sentosa. My battery ran empty after shutter-frenzy sessions at Universal Studios. I had to make a retreat to my hostel for a quick charge. Great to be back in Singapore and try out some of the other attractions in Sentosa. From the Harbourfront Centre, our bus dropped us off at one of the coach shuttle stops in Sentosa.

Back in Sentosa Island, Singapore :D