Barong Kris Play

THE BARONG & KRIS DANCE
The Barong Play represents an eternal fight between good and evil spirit. Barong (a mythological animal) represents a good spirit and Rangda (a mythological monster) represents an evil one.

The dances start with music overtone:

Followed by his friend the monkey, the tiger comes up. Three masked dancers appear, representing men making palmwine in the forest, whose child are how killed by the tiger. The three men get angry and attack the tiger. The tiger is helped by the monkey. During the fight the nose of one of the three men is bitten of.


Act I
Two girl-dancers appear, representing the servants of the Rangda, looking for the servants of Dewi Kunti, who are on their way to meet their Patih (Prime Minister).

Act II
Two servants of Dewi Kunti appear. One of the servants of the Rangda changes into a witch and enters both servants to make them angry. They meet their Patih and go together to Dewi Kunti.

Act III
Dewi Kunti and her son Sadewa come up. Dewi Kunti has promished the Rangda to sacrifice Sadewa. A witch appears and enters Dewi Kunti. She becomes angry and orders the Patih to bring Sadewa into the forest. The Patih is also entered by a witch so he does not have pity on Sadewa. Sadewa is then taken into a forest and tied up to a tree.

Act IV
Unknown to Rangda, God Siwa, appears and gives Sadewa immortality. The Rangda appears, ready to kill Sadewa and eat him up but Sadewa is still alive. Rangda then surrenders and asks Sadewa to redeem her. Sadewa gets angry and kills the Rangda. The Rangda goes to heaven.

Act V
One of the servants of the Rangda called Kalika comes up before Sadewa and asks him to redeem her too. Sadewa refuses. Kalika gets angry, and changes herself into a boar and fights Sadewa. The boar is defeated. She then changes herself into a bird but is defeated again. At last she changes into a Rangda. Sadewa meditates and then changes himself into a Barong. Still the Rangda seems to be too powerful and the fight is unending. Followers of the Barong appear and help him fight the Rangda.

Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bHZYTy4Bw4

Tagudin & La Union Folks

Simple living. Easy living.

Folks from Tagudin and La Union video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6fWzS4D1mU

Baluarte Ilocos Sur

Free Zoo Park - By Governor Chavit Singson for the folks of Ilocandia and other provincial visitors.

British cannons - decorated not plain

 Did I see any elephant? No, but I got to hold a parrot.

Baluarte video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GB-tU7k_4kU

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BALUARTE 2015

Crisologo Museum

The Crisologos (Congressman Floro and his wife Governor Mena, both deceased) are one of the most prominent political families in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. Their Spanish-era home was converted into a museum after their death. Visitors will see real old, interesting antique pieces - refrigerator made of wood (I'm curious how it works), iron, typewriter and some kitchen "gadgets" made of cement, clay pots and stoves.

What's this?

Rice grinder for making puto (rice cake)

Family Dining Room

 

Life-size statue of a Filipina maiden

Antique TV

Clothe Making

Library Books

Hat Collection

Antique Car

My grandmother used to have an iron like this

OMG! As a secretary, imagine typing in this typewriter



This toilet, 3 seats, made of wood (no longer in use) reminds me of Roman-made toilet at Ephesus. At least this is private or semi-private.

Crisologo Museum video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVLQrHngwgg

Historic Vigan

VIGAN - A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE

The historic place, then known as Villa Fernandina, was formally established in 1574 by Spanish explorer Juan de Salcedo. It was the seat of the cultural, religious and political life of the province at that time and of the present time.

Baroque-style Vigan Cathedral

Cathedral of Vigan - Built in 1641, the church became a cathedral when the seat of the Diocese of Nueva Segovia was transferred from Lal-Lo, Cagayan, to Vigan in 1758.  It was occupied by the Revolutionists under Col. Juan Villamor in 1896 and by the American Forces under Lt. Col. James Parker in 1899.  A chapel of wood and thatch was erected on the site in 1574, by the order of Juan de Salcedo, the conquistador and founder of Villa Fernandina, after which Vigan was first called was damaged by earthquake in 1619 and 1627 and by fire in 1739.

The sanctuary home of one of the three martyred priests, Padre Jose Burgos.

Okoy sooo good!

Ubiquitous MacD - for children of Filipinos who grew up in the United States and not used to eating tapsilog

For overnight stay

A karetela (Kalesa) rider having a hard time going up! Not for old folks even if you have strong legs! For a price of PhP 165.00 ($3.75), you get to go around and about to see and stop at the major sites.

A trip to Vigan's Heritage Village is incomplete without walking down the cobblestone streets and rows of Spanish period homes built by the affluent middle class.

Historic Vigan Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vhmm2M5rGTw