Paoay Church (San Agustin Church), Paoay, Ilocos Norte

WHERE: Paoay Church (San Agustin Church), Paoay, Ilocos Norte
DATE OF TRAVEL: September 21-23, 2007
WHY YOU SHOULD GO:
1) It is one of the four churches included in the Unesco World Heritage list
2) It is beautiful and impressive, you can get a great photo especially in front of the church

FEES: Free

DESCRIPTION:
Paoay Church or also known as San Agustin Church took 90 years (from 1704) to build and is made from lumber, coral stones, baked brick and limestone mortar with sugar cane juice. It is an architectural marvel influenced by gothic, baroque and oriental styles. It is the best known "earthquake baroque" church in the Philippines with 24 immense side buttresses to support the structure and 1.67 meter thick walls. It is said that this is the most photographed church in the Philippines.

The Paoay Church is also a historical site since its bell tower (built 1793) served as an observation post for Filipinos during the wars against the Spaniards and the Japanese.

HOW WE GOT THERE:
By private bus: From Manila, we joined a field trip and headed up north via a hired bus.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:
There are airconditioned buses that leave from Manila to Laoag. For a list of buses, click this.

You can also fly for an hour from Manila to Laoag City via Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines or Zest Airways.

Once in Laoag, just hail a tricycle and ask the driver to take you to the Paoay Church.