Bantay: The Gateway to Vigan City
Blog, Update, News
The first thing that comes to mind when we say Ilocos Sur is Vigan City. However, there’s also a hidden gem in Ilocandia that also gives a heritage vibe which is also known as the ‘Gateway to Vigan City.’ Do you know what this town is?
This gateway town has several heritage destinations sites that people can visit whenever they are planning to visit Vigan city. The town is just along the way, and it can give you the Spanish-era feels when visiting the famous St. Augustine church or also known as the Bantay Church. Yes, you got it right! The gateway to Vigan City is none other than the municipality of Bantay in Ilocos Sur.
Bantay is 137 kms north of San Fernando City, La Union, the Regional Capital of Ilocos Region, 406 kms from Metro Manila, and just 1 km from Vigan City, the provincial capital. This town is literally the gateway to Vigan because you will pass by this town every time you are going to the capital of Ilocos Sur. Therefore, whenever you pass by Bantay, you should make time to explore it.
This town has reserved forests and farms that are home to a diverse range of plants, animals, and river creatures. As mentioned earlier, you can also visit some heritage tourist spots in Bantay. The most famous destination in Bantay is the Bantay Church or the Saint Augustine Parish Church, which is one of the oldest churches of Ilocos Sur, was built in 1590 with Fr. Juan Bautista de Montoya, as the first parish priest.
Fun fact about Bantay church, according to some stories, St. Augustine church is the favorite dating spot of Diego and Gabriella Silang (revolutionary couple). Just beside the church is also the famous Bantay Belfry (Bell Tower).
The picturesque, rustic, and durable Bantay bell tower sits on a hilltop of the Calvario Hill. It overlooks a vivid green vast of pastureland and the mountain view of the Province of Abra. It was used as a watchtower for invading enemy forces during World Wars I (during the invasion of Zambals) and II.
As mentioned earlier, Bantay does not only offer heritage sites, but it also has some ecotourism sites as well. One of their famous destinations is Victoria Park. This park has waterfalls, a crystal-clear natural spring water source (supplying our town and adjacent Vigan), an herbarium, and a botanical nursery.
Victoria Park is part of the so-called Caniao Reforestation Project and Wildlife Sanctuary that preserves gigantic varieties of mountain trees and various species of flora and fauna could be found and waiting to be discovered.
Sadly, some tourists do not know about the beauty of Bantay. They are just passing by the gateway of Vigan City and they do not explore it because they are not aware of it. Therefore, the municipality of Bantay decided to join the revolution of Digital Tourism in the Philippines. They have partnered with us, Visitour PH, to help them rethink how they do tourism.
With the help of our Visitour PH app, people will now be aware of this gateway and will spend more time visiting their tourist destinations. Together, we will digitalize the tourism in the country and invite more people to VISIT OUR PHILIPPINES and see the beauty of it inside and out.