Happy to be back in the blog and to share photos of the latest museum in Ilocos. To be formally launched on the 24th of October is the Museo de Bacarra, created by the Local Government Unit of Bacarra through the financial assistance of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. It is located at the St. Andrew Parish Church Compound, a stone’s throw from the Bacarra Leaning Bell Tower.

It was Joy, our Bacarreño friend, who ushered Marianne, Joan and me to the museum. A wonderful discovery: “The Balikbayan Town” of Bacarra  is also heralded as The Vatican Town of the Philippines after having produced the most number of priests in the country following the introduction of Roman Catholicism in the Philippines.

Amidst all the antiquities from the past, the tour was pleasant, with soothing, happy Ilocano piano music in the background. We have to thank Vicky Bonoan and Armando Pasion, who acted as our educational tour guides. According to Armand, it took the initiators only two months to put together the entire collection.

Hahah, a karison!

We call that dulang.

Well-preserved 19th century documents.

It’s a century-old bilog (boat).

There’s Vicky Bonaoan with us — shot by  Armando Pasion.

La Residencia is the ancestral home of the Peraltas, used as location for the Richard  Gomez-Dawn Zulueta-starrer Hihintayin Kita sa Langit. The house is not far from the museum.

The leaning Bacarra Bell Tower, built during the Spanish Colonization Period.

We had a brief stopover at Ella’s for Ilocos empanadas before heading back home to Laoag. Empanadas are sort of Ilocos’ banner food product.

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2012