Calle Crisologo

Vigan is undoubtedly one of the most popular cities in the Philippines, treasured for its rich cultural and historical heritage, and often called as the “Intramuros of Ilocandia.” Of the five Philippine properties listed under the World Heritage List, Vigan is the only city declared as a World Heritage Site. There are tons of beautiful snapshots of Vigan available online, but it will take a personal experience to fully see and understand what charmed UNESCO into embracing the historical city.

Knowing this, I have long included Vigan in my list of must-visit places in the country, as all Filipinos should. When the time finally came for a much needed R&R (Rest and Relaxation) and my birthday drew near, I took the chance to finally visit Vigan with some great friends.

I have written a lengthy travelogue that will hopefully be of use to those who wish to go on an adventure in Vigan. Enjoy!

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Calle Crisologo, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur (via allanbarredo on Flickr)

In a few hours, I will age another year. I will be 24, still young, carefree, and full of dreams. I will not blow my candles in Manila, but in the beautiful and historic city of Vigan, in the province of Ilocos Sur.

In about 4 hours, I will be leaving for Vigan with some good friends (and boyfriend), and in about 7 hours, they will probably be singing happy birthday to me while on the road. XD

I have only dreamed of going on a trip to celebrate occasions like this in the past, but now, here I am, hours away from taking off to a lovely place that I’ll be seeing for the first time. I know I should have done something like this years ago, but it’s better late than never, right?

So, what are our plans? Walk along Calle Crisologo, try out authentic Ilocano dishes (like bagnet, longganisa, and empanada), take lovely photos, bring home pretty souvenirs, and write a nice travelogue, to name some. XD

I’m hoping that this is just the start, and that once I blow the candles, I’ll also be saying goodbye to sad and uneventful birthdays. ^.^

Vigan, it’s many hundred miles, but it won’t be long…

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How is everyone? I’ve done some last minute shopping for some stuff I need for the upcoming trip to Vigan, and I’m nearly done packing too. It’s going to be the first time I’ll celebrate my birthday this way, so I’m really excited! I’m crossing my fingers that everything will go well for us during the trip. I’ll be back either on Monday or Tuesday, so hopefully, my TILT post for next week will be all about Vigan!

For the mean time, here’s my TILT list for this week:

♥ Japanese Craft Magazines
Last week, I went out with a good friend for dinner, and while waiting for her, I looked around the bookstore where we usually meet. I found these Japanese Craft magazines called Cotton Friend, along with a sewing magazine for kids. I was expecting them to be a bit expensive, but I was surprised to see them priced Php. 85 (around $1.20)! I could download issues, but I’d rather buy them (they’re inexpensive anyway) so I can look at them anytime without having to open my PC. I’ll be writing about and sharing pictures of these magazines in a separate post. I love the outfits featured in both issues of Cotton Friend, especially the last one pictured below.

♥ Meiji Black Chocolates
I’m not really a fan of dark/black chocolates. I usually find them too bitter. But since there’s said to be an exception to every rule, there’s only one brand that I can tolerate (so far): Meiji Black Chocolates. They’re like black coffee for chocolate lovers. The bitterness is just right, and there’s a hint of sweetness as an aftertaste. Since they’re a lot healthier than milk chocolates, there’s lesser guilt in every bite. I can actually finish one big bar in one sitting…that’s how much I can tolerate it!

via zomgcandy on Flickr

via annalyn on Flickr

♥ Twinings Earl Grey Tea
The first time I tried Earl Grey Tea (I forgot the brand), I found the flavor too strong for me. I could barely finish a cup, even after diluting it with water. So, I was a bit hesitant to try it out again, but since it was Twinings that I saw, I gave in. I trusted Twinings when it said light flavor on the box, because the brand hasn’t disappointed me yet. And true enough, its flavor is mild, but not too washed out even if I added a bit more water than needed. I actually enjoyed it, I consumed nearly a pot of Earl Grey Tea!

♥ Q-pot Mobile Phone by Docomo in collaboration with Sharp and Q-pot
This mobile phone is just so adorable! I love the details, they look so real! I’m pretty certain that they would capture the hearts of every dessert lover out there. I’m not sure about the features, but I guess, coming from Japan, they’re pretty standard yet useful. Too bad it seems it’s only available in Japan.

via kirin. on Flickr

♥ Rilakkuma Store
Since I first saw photos of Rilakkuma all over Japan at Shibuya 246 (there’s Rilakkuma merchandise even in convenience stores), I’ve been wishing to someday get to visit Rilakkuma shops. I don’t know what’s with this San-X bear, but he’s just so adorable! Look at all the awesome merchandise, I’d probably get so broke if I do get there! LOL ^.^’

via kirin. on Flickr

Have an awesome week, everyone! I’ll try my best to make an interesting TILT post for next week!

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I apologize for the super duper late TILT post… I finally moved to a slightly bigger room last week, and I’ve been having trouble with Internet access here at home. Thank goodness it’s finally fixed.

♥ Cocktail Rings
I love cocktail rings! They can be bold fashion statements, but they often don’t look overdone, so they’re among my favorite accessories. There’s bound to be a nice one fit for every occasion, style, budget, and size preference. I have a few in my stash, but I’m always on the lookout for unique ones. Here are some I’ve found, along with a favorite in my collection.

Shabby Chic Rose Fabric Cocktail Ring

Cameo Ring

Turtle Cocktail Ring

My favorite cocktail ring

♥ Gypsy Earrings
Gypsy earrings are among my staple fashion accessories. I find that like cocktail rings, they can easily add oomph to any outfit, even plain shirts and jeans. They are also very versatile, available in various styles, colors, and sizes. Here are some nice ones I found, with something from my collection as well.

Gold Tassel Gypsy Earrings @ Nutmeg's Jewellery

Gypsy Gold Chandelier Earrings from Juicy Couture

Rainbow Chandelier Earrings

Promod Gypsy Earrings

♥ Classic Lolita

My interest in Classic Lolita fashion is most likely sparked by my love for everything Victorian at present. And it’s just right for my tastes, not too sweet, not too plain. If I’m going to be forced to wear lolita one time, I’d definitely dig these.

♥ Beirut
I discovered this awesome band through a mixtape, and I’ve been hooked ever since. Beirut’s music is a fusion of Balkan folk music, Western Pop, Eastern European music indie rock elements, and it has something I haven’t heard from other genres. It’s very refreshing, inspiring, and very artistic, clearly very different from the mainstream music I’ve been used to hearing all these years. I’ve been listening to their music for a week now, and realized that the world needs more of superb music from musicians like Beirut. Zach Condon, the band’s frontman and main composer, was gifted with a beautiful voice and an ear for great music. I find it unbelievable that like me, he’ll be 24 soon…he’s just 24! Makes you wonder what you’re doing in your early twenties, eh?

Here are my favorites, Nantes and Cherbourg (it’s amazing how lines from Nantes were effortlessly incorporated in Cherboug), in awesome filmed live performances:

I hope you had a great week!

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Here’s a mixtape I made for my upcoming trip to Vigan. Photos for the cover were taken by me using my old Cybershot W1 camera, during a trip up north (to Pangasinan) a few years ago.

Thanks to my sources: Head Underwater, Mixtape Madness, and my friends for the wonderful music they’ve shared with me.

Download Here

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