Ilocos Norte📍Paoay a Touch of Antiquity

Welcome to Paoay, Ilocos Norte the hometown of the Marcos

The real adventure did come, and yes at last I was able to visit Ilocos Norte after many attempts of visiting this historical place in the northern part of Philippines.

Paoay is the second town I visited after I got mesmerized by the giants wind mill in Bagui, Ilocos Norte. Paoay is famous as the hometown of Philippine former president Ferdinand Marcos and also the home of the historical St. Augustine Church, which was declared during year 1993 as UNESCO World Heritage Site.

What we commonly see in many structures now a day is a building merely made of steel or solid concrete with reinforcement, but St. Augustine Church’s trusses were made from solid wood which walls and columns were made of coral stones but still standing still in the heart of Paoay. The Church was actually designed in “Earthquake Baroque Style” on year 1710.

As the hometown of Philippine famous and controversial president Ferdinand Marcos, Malacañang of the North can also be found in Paoay, Ilocos Norte. How I got there? I took a motorcycle from St. Augustine Church and with a Php 30.00 entrance fee I was able to explore the mansion.

The well visited Malacañang of the North became the house of Philippine former president Ferdinand Marcos but today Marcos family no longer lives in the mansion but antique properties like beds, chairs, vases, tables, chandeliers and even some of Ferdinand Marcos last baggage and personal things are been preserved inside the mansion.

At the second floor of the mansion, there found a huge painting of St. Augustine Church placed in front of the dining area. Also found inside is the office of the president where books and civil engineering plans of the president were kept. 

San Juanico Bridge miniature in Leyte and the structural building proposed and was built during the presidency of the former president is also being displayed inside the office.

Paoay lake is the view at the rear portion of the mansion. The mansion became as well as one of the nice view to conduct events in the town. When I visited the place, there were busy event organizers arranging decors, tables and chairs for an special event.

Some of Emilda Marcos gowns, gifts and belongings are visible in the mansion. Emilda is the first lady of Ferdinand Marcos.

If you’re a history lover, visiting Malacañang of the North would be your place. You will get filled with historical features inside especially about the Marcos.

Additional to the history of Marcos, it is best to visit the Ferdinand E. Marcos Presidential Center or the Marcos Museum, it is used to be the home place of the preserved dead body of the former president Marcos. The museum reveals the life story of Ferdinand Marcos from teenager up to his path to Presidency. Entrance fee is Php 50.00. But recently the dead body of the former president was already buried to the “Libingan ng mga Bayani”, so it’s no longer there.

When it comes to food trip, Herencia Restaurant was the first restaurant I came to visit. Ilocano delicacies are good with this restaurant which is also proud of their pizza pinakbet. This restaurant is not hard to find because it is just in front of St. Augustine Church.

Paoay’s Sand Dunes is also famous in the town. The sand dunes adventure is quite expensive. In order to experience the dunes in the sand, about Php 2, 500 per person is the entrance fee inclusions are the four by four ride and sand surfing.

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 So these are the nice places to experience in Paoay, so historical right? I personally enjoyed our journey in the place and I am sure, you as well will love Ilocos Norte more.

I would love to hear any comments from you regarding the place, kindly share that in the comment section below. :)