A Glimpse Into the Past: 10 Historical Landmarks to Visit in Ilocos Sur

February 25, 2025

The Province of Ilocos Sur

Ilocos Sur is a province located within Ilocos Region in Luzon. Ilocos Sur may be famous for it's unique delicacies that pique tourist's palate but the province of Ilocos Sur is also rich in history. This humble province carries historic events preserved in some of its famous landmarks. Let us dive together to the rich history embarked on the landmarks of Ilocos Sur.

HISTORICAL LANDMARKS

1. Tirad Pass

Tirad Pass, also known as Pasong Tirad is well known because this is where Philippine General Gregorio Del Pilar fought his last battle. During the Philippine-American war, the Battle of Tirad Pass occurred which is in the year 1899. Tirad Pass is not only popular for it's historical value but also for it's breath-taking views. Tirad Pass which is located at Cervantes, Ilocos Sur is perfect for adventures as it is ranked 5 out of 10 in trail difficulty and is the 3rd highest peak in the province.

2. Sta. Maria Church

Sta. Maria Church is also known as The Church of Our Lady of the Assumption (Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion). On December 11, 1993, Sta. Maria Church was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a part of of the Baroque Churches of the Philippines. The church is a reminiscent of the 333 years colonization of Spaniards in the Philippines and and it has a unique structure with a diversified architectural design of bricks and mortar that takes the attention of many tourists.

3. Bessang Pass

The victory in Bessang Pass is considered as one of the greatest victories in Philippine History. The battle was fought together by the Filipino soldiers (guerillas) and the United States Army Forces in the Philippines, North Luzon (USAFIP,NL) against the Japanese Imperial Army. The battle lasted from the 9th of January to 15th of June, 1945. Bessang Pass was a part of the triangular defense of Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashito (also knows as Tiger of Malaya) guarding the Ifugao-Benguet-Vizcaya borders. When Bessang Pass fell at the hands of USAFIP,NL, Yamashita's forces entrapment happened in the Cordillera until the general surrendered in September 1945.

4. Plaza Salcedo

Plaza Salcedo is named after the Spanish conqueror, Juan de Salcedo who took down the early native settlements in Vigan established Villa Fernandina for the monarch of Spain in 1572 which paved the way for Juan de Salcedo to found the third Hispanic settlements in the Philippines. A monument was made to in the middle of the city square surrounded by all the important edifices to honor this conquistador. Visitors will find the Salcedo Obelisk that is placed in the elevated plaza in the 17th century as the plaza's focal point.

5. Moro Watchtower

Moro Watchtower is located at San Esteban, Ilocos Sur and is considered as the oldest landmark of San Esteban. It is declared as an accredited tourism site by the Philippine Tourism Authority and is also registered as an authentic historical structure by the National Historical Institute. The old folks says that this watchtower served as a vanguard against pirates during the Spanish times.

6. Sulvec Watchtower

Sulvec Watchtower is located at Narvacan, Ilocos Sur that the Spanish Government established to serve as a "parola" of Spanish ships, merchants, and traders . It is considered as a legendary site due to its purpose before which is to observe any approaches of galleons, sampans, and pirates during it's establishment on the 16th century.

7. Sundials

The very first sundials created in the Philippines is found in the town of Tagudin, Ilocos Sur. Father Juan Sorolla erected two sundials within the town in 1841, one is inside the San Augustine Church and another Infront of the old town hall. These sundials served as clocks in the olden times where clocks are rare to be found.

8. Plaza Burgos

Plaza Burgos is located just right beside Plaza Salcedo and is built to remember the martyrdom of Father Jose P. Burgos, one of Vigan's distinguished and loved son killed by the Spaniards. He fought for Filipino priests who suffered inequality in priestly reforms. He was killed at bagumbayan alongside with other two clergy reformists and is widely known together as GomBurZa.

9. Lapog Bay

The fleet of 34 Japanese warships which had anchored at Lapog Bay included Saoang which is situated close to San Juan, Ilocos Sur. Most of the battleships left the Bay around October 17 in the year of 1944. The remaining four warships- off Saoang, off Sabangan, off Camindoroan and the Japanese landing barges at Solotsolot Beach were all sunk by bombers on the morning of the next day. The entire Lapog bay was set ablaze due to the hours-long bombardment and a severe raging fire was seen rest of the night. For the next few days the people collected the remains of dead Japanese soldiers that had drifted on the shores.

10. St. John the Baptist

St. John the Baptist Church is located at San Juan, Ilocos Sur. This church is under the administration of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Fernando de La Union. It's one of the most historical landmarks of the province due to it being more than 300 years old. Rev. Fr. Mariano Gaerlan, one of the "NINE CLERICS" who fought for the liberation of the Philippines is it's first Filipino parish priest.

References:

https://images.app.goo.gl/dg1HLb3Bn6T9BKe96

https://www.trailadventours.com/philippine-mountains/tirad-pass-with-g-del-pilar#:~:text=Overview,combination%20of%20adventure%20and%20history.

https://www.filcatholic.org/santa-maria-church/

https://www.ilovecervantes.com/bessang-pass-history

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https://www.vigan.ph/heritage/plaza-salcedo.html

https://images.app.goo.gl/bU5Y35NDB3QWi3se8

https://localphilippines.com/attractions/moro-watchtower

https://www.facebook.com/share/18LDbbB1Hq/

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https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fblogger.googleusercontent.com%2Fimg%2Fb%2FR29vZ2xl%2FAVvXsEhmh0ofNACTG3kBYmeNI2IfU6gud4iE_N0PKWy7m3-9WuzHSvU795Qw6s_SypOeMTeOi95ONw1NLP-p2NJL1tcBnFKdoKEO8t8_Tm8g_1Djkc2VmVPL6565m8ZjDczssBJhmkUIBdvLZP4%2Fs1600%2F004W.jpg&tbnid=2_GjOw3hZEAQaM&vet=1&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fglesfuerte.blogspot.com%2F2013%2F11%2Fexploring-tagudin-church-ilocos-sur_16.html&docid=8n_F4C8uGJ4BLM&w=1067&h=1600&hl=en-US&source=sh%2Fx%2Fim%2Fm1%2F4&kgs=b5d083ec2da67d05

https://www.vigan.ph/heritage/plaza-burgos.html

https://www.facebook.com/share/1HhGiurTyF/

https://www.localphilippines.com/attractions/lapog-bay

https://philippinecatholicchurches.blogspot.com/2017/02/saint-john-baptist-parish-church-san.html?m=1

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