VIGAN: A Time Machine City

Located in the Northern part of the Philippines, Vigan is slightly over 400 kilometers northwest of Manila. It is the oldest surviving Spanish colonial city in the country. Unlike its sister cities, Manila and Cebu, it has auspiciously escaped the bombs of World War II. Its uniqueness lies in its historic townscape which is an architectural blend of Asian, European and Latin American influences. Vigan was earlier known as "Villa Fernandina" (Town of Ferdinand) from 1758 to late 19th century, named after Prince Ferdinand, the first born son of King Philip II of Spain. As the city grew, and the seat of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia transferred to the place, it was later named Ciudad Fernandina de Vigan, (Ferdinands City of Vigan) in honor of the Spanish Prince. During the Spanish conquest in the 16th century, the conquistador Juan de Salcedo explored the Ilocos region and established a military base in present-day Vigan. The name came from the Ilocano word "kabiga-an" pertaining to the plant "biga" abounds. Biga is a tuberous plant (alocadia indica) that once grew along the banks of its rivers. When the Spaniards first arrived in the area, at the place of present-day barrio Pagpartian (butchering place), through the Mestizo River, Salcedo noticed the lush, green plants growing along the riverbanks. He asked a native about the name of the place. The native, not understanding Spanish, thought he was asking the name of the plant, told him that they were "biga'a". So Salcedo derived the city's name, Vigan, from the plant. Vigan was once a thriving center for trade and commerce among the people of Ilocandia and the Cordilleras. It is situated at the delta of the Abra River (now the Mestizo and Govantes Rivers) going to the South China Sea. This position at the mouth of the river most probably aforded its existence as it was a fluvial harbor connected to the China Sea, making trade possible with other islands and with China. Today, Vigan retains much of the patina of 18th century Castillan architecture as seen in some 150 stone houses which stand in the town's Mestizo District, notably Mena Crisologo Street. Many of these ancestral homes are still in good condition and some have been turned into cozy inns, museums, and souvenir shops. Along with the homes are other vestiges of the town's colonial past: The majestic St. Paul's Cathedral which was built by the Augustinian friars along the distinct "Earthquake Baroque" style of the Ilocos region and features Neo-Gothic and pseudo Romanesque motifs. Standing on an elevation west of the cathedral is Plaza Salcedo, the oldest monument in Northern Luzon. The Archbishop's Palace is a rich repository of religious artifacts from the Ilocos region. Plaza Burgos was built in honor of Fr. Jose Burgos, one of three Filipino priests who were garroted by the Spaniards for espousing church reforms. Vigan was recently included in the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List in December 1999 and converted into a component city last January 21, 2001. (sly)