Vigan Heritage Homestay

This summer we spent one weekend driving further north.  We are all excited to experience Ilocos and so our day 1 of this summer joy ride started with Vigan as our first stop.  We drove from Malolos to Ilocos through the LEX's with Betsy, our Kia Sportage.  From the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), we went straight and entered the Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) until we reached connection to Tarlac Pangasinan La Union Expressway (TPLEX).  TPLEX is still under construction, during that time the last toll exit on service is the Paniqui exit in Tarlac.  This highway stretch is supposed to reach La Union and will surely make our next north escapade faster. 

Believe it or not we relied on the directions from DistancesFrom.com in our navigation. It was later in our Ilocos Sur to Ilocos Norte leg that I discovered Waze is actually a better navigator.  Nevertheless with the distance and Betsy's odometer we safely reached Vigan, Villa Angela Heritage Home our destination. 

I read a lot of good reviews on Villa Angela from TripAdvisor.  Considering the location, price, experience and review, I decided to book one of the few rooms of this villa.  Originally, I booked Cuarto delos Hijos but was later on given the Cuarto delas Hijas as it has its own bathroom.  For Php 2800 a night (off peak rate), our stay at Villa Angela was worth every centavo.  

The room is so big.  The 6 of us (4 adults and 2 kids) easily fit in the bed and we got so much space to move around.  The room is equipped with air-condition, TV and bathroom with hot water.  It's everyone's first time to sleep in vintage canopy beds.  Surprising the bed is sturdy and not as fragile as i thought it would be.  I was afraid it would make that creaking sound whenever the kids are throwing themselves on the bed.

The room comes with a free breakfast for four.  It was a treat to get a taste of original Vigan longganisa in the grand dining table of Villa Angela.  With the fried rice, egg and Vigan vinegar the longganisa was perfect for breakfast.  What makes it more special is the warm Ilocano service.

Villa Angela is strategically located, the back entrance of the house is a short cut to the famous Calle Crisologo.  The Villa allows guests to use this entrance.  Calle Crisologo is a perfect destination to experience Vigan.  Souvenir shops, traditional Ilocano delicacies and restaurants are lined up on this street. 

Despite all these stores we ended up buying our longganisa and basi (Ilocano wine) from Villa Angela. Their prices were quite competitive, it was likewise convenient for us to pick up the goodies the following day on our way back to Malolos.  True to the reviews from TripAdvisor, Villa Angela stay is truly a memorable experience not just for the heritage house but for the warm service that their staff provide.

Big Bang is Coming to Manila

Finally after all those K-POP boy and girl groups who came, the biggest is coming over in Manila this October 24, 2012.  Big Bang (빅뱅) is performing here in the Philippines for the very first time and I am so excited about it! Not to mention it will be at the Arena in MOA.  They are the only group (aside from 2NE1) that I am continuously following since I discovered their music.

Big Bang is really going global this time.  Most of the time  before or after launching an album they do stage concerts but usually just in Korea and Japan but I guess after winning the 2011 MTV Europe's best world wide act for their song 'Tonight', they are ready to face their international fans and I am so glad they have included Philippines in their Alive World Tour itinerary.

I started to listen to Korean music way back 2007 with songs from Se7en and Wheesung.  Big Bang is the first boy group that I have ever truly liked amongst the bunch of Korean Pop (KPOP) idol groups and it all started when I saw a video clip of their performance of Fool's Only Tears at the SBS Inkigayo.  Up until now, it's one of my most favorites from Big Bang they never fail to sing it during their concerts like the one below:





Since then I started collecting their album, watching their performances online and 2010 I got to watch them live from the Olympic Theater in Seoul for the YG Family Concert.  It was totally a very new experience in watching concerts with all the lights and LED display.   The theater was full of energy, I must say the Koreans are great viewers and fans.

I like that they have a flavor of R&B and Hip Hop in their music.  While initially they are being criticized from not looking the typical 'pretty boys' as the other boy groups seem to be, I thought they all looked cool and they were so different from the rest of the KPOP boy groups. 




Their two most recent albums are showing a different side of their music and I am super loving it.  Their single 'Tonight' from their Big Bang Special Edition mini album in 2011 sealed the international recognition for their existence and their last album Alive instantly made the 3 released singles certified hits.

I can't wait for October to come.  I would really go for that front seat this time.  I can't thank YG enough for bringing Big Bang here in the Philippines.  빅뱅 너무 좋아요!

Note:  Videos are not mine, credit goes to those who own it.