La Union Destination: Biyahe na!
By Lawrence Carbonell

Being the narrowest point of the Ilocos Region, mountains literally meet the sea here, allowing an exciting variety of activities and terrains in one place.

From Agoo, stretching northward to Bacnotan, the coastline is dotted with numerous hotels and resorts offering amenities and facilities ranging from economy to deluxe. The restaurants, whether by the beach or in downtown San Fernando, boast fresh sea food and a variety of local and international cuisine.

Water sport lovers would find La Union a most beautiful and refreshingly convenient place to surf, scuba dive or swim.

Bacnotan (Cabarsican, Pandan, Baroro) and Paringao, Bauang is known for its wide, gray-sand beaches and calm waters while Urbiztondo, San Juan and Tammucalao and Quirino, Bacnotan is internationally famous for its friendly surfing waves all year round. Holcim Philippines, Bacnotan are good spots for snorkeling and diving, relaxing while looking the wide view of South China Sea, lessons which can be arranged at some resorts.

Lawn bowling, duckpins, darts and indoor games can be played in most of the finer resorts found in the metropolis. Fine dining, music, dancing, and stargazing along the beach make for unforgettable evenings.

San Fernando has a nine-hole golf courses at Poro Point, over-looking the San Fernando Bay, and at Camp Oscar Florendo. The Poro Point site will soon be developed into a world class golf course.

Bagulin, where La Union’s highest peak is found at 1,113 m. asl., is frequented by trekkers and mountain bikers. Nestled atop a mountain, about light kilometers from San Fernando City proper, is the famous La Union Botanical Garden.

Here, nature lovers would enjoy walking through the lush gardens inspired by different countries and climate zones, as well as the mini-zoo, natural museum, and picnic grounds.

La Union’s best product can offer is specially coming from Bacnotan with their original basi and rice wine, sukang ilocano, clay products, fabric made from sutla, tobacco, hand woven cloth, yellow corn, livestock, poultry, assorted fruits and vegetables, sea foods and cement from the leading company of Holcim Philippines.

A pilgrimage tour in La Union should begin with a visit to the Pindangan Ruins, original site of the Parish Church of San Fernando built around 1759, beside which now stands the new Pindangan Church and the Carmelite Monastery.

Other places of worship are the St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Bacnotan, Basilica of our Lady of Charity in Agoo, which also houses a museum, and the shrine of the miraculous Lady of Namacpacan in Luna.

Many Filipino-Chinese also venerate the image of Ma-zuen shrined at the Macho Temple in San Fernando City. The image id believed to have a Christian counterpart known as the Virgin of Caysasay, which is found at the Basilica of St. Martin in Taal, Batangas.

The Cathedral of St. William the Hermit in San Fernando City, aside from being the biggest in La Union, also houses archaeological artifacts and historical documents.

La Union’s many Catholic churches come to life as Easter Sunday draws near. On Good Friday, a procession of flower-bedecked floats carrying ornately dressed statues of Jesus Christ, the Blessed Mother, and other saints is a spectacular sight on the main road of nearly every town.

In Bacnotan, Agoo and San Fernando City, some centuries-old statues, often heirloom items, are brought out by their owners especially for this annual procession, as a custom in Black Saturday many people run out at the beaches for a swim.

La Union is also proximal to the tourist hubs in Luzon such as Laoag, Baguio and Vigan. The City of San Fernando lies 270 km. from Manila, which is about 5 hours by land or 30 minutes by air, and is about an hour’s drive away from the Summer Capital of the Philippines, Baguio City. Biyahe na!