About Vigan

Getting There

BY AIR - Domestic flights leave manila daily for Laoag City
in Ilocos Norte, which is an hour and a half away by land to Vigan.
The City can be reached from Laoag City via local bus companies.

BY LAND - The 408 km stretch from Manila to Vigan City
is a comfortable eight-hour ride along the scenic Manila-Ilocos Highway.
Many air-conditioned buses ply the Manila-Vigan route regularly.

GETTING AROUND - The best way to explore Vigan is on foot; the city
center is small and compact, yet full of excitement.Experience a kalesa ride
around Vigan at a reasonable expense.

History

Even before the Spaniards came, Vigan was already a trading port. Chinese
traiders sailing from the South China Sea usually came to Isla de Vigan
(Island of Vigan) by the Mestizo River that surrounded the island. They
used to trade with the local settlers golds, beeswax, and other mountain products.

Between 1645 to 1660, Vigan was divided into 21 “Cabezas de Barrio” (Town Mayors)
as mentioned in the Libro de Casamiento (Book of Marriage); from the records of
the parish house of Vigan found in its Archives. Separated from the indigenous population,
the Chinese migrants were residents in a neighbourhood called El Pariancillo, los Sangleyes
del parian (The Sangleyes of the Parian); and the Spanish settlers were residents in a town
called Los Españoles de la Villa (The Town´ Spaniards).

During the Philippine Revolution of 1896 to 1898, Philippine Revolutionary forces,
supported by the Ilocano rebels, attacked and defeated the Spanish
Colonial forces and captured the city in the Siege of Vigan. Starting from the
Philippine-American War from 1899 to 1901, American Colonial troops occupied the city.
Forces led by Col. James Parker occupied the Cathedral.