The best years of my life were spent on the block. I was baptized in this church. The St. William Cathedral. It looks quite different now. The saints are still there, but the beautiful ceiling murals that I used to stare at as we heard mass when I was a child up to my teens are gone. My dad donated some money for the renovation of the roof and ceiling, so I blame him a little for giving only enough to buy one color paint.
This was my school from elementary to third year high. It used to be an all-girl school. Naughtiness is the first thing that comes to my mind when I see this antique school building. Slightly and slightly not. The school principal summoned my parents only twice, hahah, omg! Once for teasing Maristela for her kitschy sweater and one last time for a disappearing act. LOL A very complicated story so let me segue into the next paragraph.
The Laoag Sinking Belltower was witness to all the drama of the Holy Spirit girls and the old Divine Word High School boys. Yay!
Cotton Candy Love
Slingshots are called palsiit in Ilocano and they’re handmade. I used to see them at Rolly’s, an arts and crafts store where I bought materials for school projects. I miss that store! I pass by the store at least three times a day til my last day at the Holy Spirit Academy of Laoag.
There’s another superstore being built. I live on the next block, so my neighborhood is imaginably the next big traffic fright.
Fish catch of the day — fresh — what you don’t get to see at the big superstores! There’s nothing like bukto et alia!
Laoag is getting citified very rapidly. I’m not sure if people are ready to suck in the new lifestyle. I used to love the maaliwalas-feel of my neighborhood even though it is tucked within the commercial area. There are mornings when I wake up to blasting baduy jingle that plays repeatedly the whole day. Really annoying especially to someone who has found home in a city that’s unique now fast losing its character and soul.
Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2012
BlauEarth 
I was just there in March to bring around some friends from Cebu and we did stop by the church because she loves old churches. To tell you the truth I couldn’t stand the traffic and it was a very hot day too. But whenever I am home, I love those fish vendors who ply their catch from house-to-house. I got homesick just looking at your pictures – the bunog and bennek! Oh my!
I’ve been following your blog here and there and just wanted to say thank you for sharing Laoag. I visited when I was 7 (1984), Feb 2006 and Oct/Nov 2009. I’m planning on another trip for Feb 2013 (for about 18 days but planning on visiting other cities/islands during that time). I’m using your blog as a guide on places to visit and re-visit in Ilocos Norte.
Oh, I am so planning on doing the Sandboarding & 4×4.
Fiesta time in Laoag. Keep posted for a sand adventure event. Thanks a lot Ana!