Ilocos Sur: Pagsanaan beach

Just few minutes away from Magsingal's public market lies their pride -- Magsingal's Pagsanaan. Although it's not as breathtaking as the fame Philippine beaches, it still is something to look forward to in case you want a short ride and an affordable place. Since Magsingal is small town (not saying this with conviction), one can stroll around it without worrying of lacking the time. It's pretty obvious reality though, that this town is no popular to you, or to many, but Magsingal has beauty which will surprise you. It has three beaches namely Bantay Boneng, Pagsanaan, and Miramar; and I've come across a site saying there's also a batis or a stream in the town. Surely, these are the benefit of being an island country, and the benefit of being near South China Sea. Two of which I've seen: Pagsanaan and Bantay Boneng. Now I'll bombard you with photos I took.

Magsingal, Ilocos Sur

Since my cousins celebrated their Thanksgiving in Magsingal, I grabbed the chance of taking photos of my Father's hometown. Back in Manila, I've already "arranged" my itinerary for the coming days in Ilocos (I planned to stay longer than 3 days) so I  can go over the town more and do a little history taking. Unluckily, my family didn't allow me to stay so I'll just give credits to Google for taking over what I should have known there.

Magsingal gets its word from an Ilocano term Managsinggal, which surprisingly, means "wanderer". The term was a nature of Itnegs or Tingguians, who migrated in the place some time 200 to 300 years before Spanish Era. In time, it underwent some changes, thus the current name is. Source: IlocandiaRealtor 

However, according to Wikipedia, the municipality's name was originated from Mayisingal an Ilocano term as well, which means "to be moved". Whichever of the two is the real one, I get that feeling that these two words imply the same.

Magsingal Town Hall

Bantay Belfry and St. Augustine Parish Church

My childhood summer(s) were always almost revolves in Magsingal; Vigan; or Santo Domingo, Ilocos Sur. Why not just in one area? The perks of having a family scattered in one province. Since this post is about Bantay's Church, which is a town adjacent to Vigan, the church should not be new to me. It was.

When I said I spent my summer in Ilocos, particuarly in Vigan, I meant it to be long vacations. The longest I could stay was weeks to a month and a half. Basically, I spent my almost entire (2 months) of elementary and high school vacation there. I can even ditch having Christmas and New Year's Eve with my family in Manila for my relatives in Ilocos. But this only happened twice if my memory serves me right. Perhaps that's how I learned to speak their languange despite someone teaching me, despite not being brought up there. 

So okay, have I seen this Bantay's tower then? Not yet. I've just noticed it in my late HS or early college days. Maybe because we, my cousins, only stroll around the premise of Vigan. Or maybe because I was not so into with historical landmarks yet then. More so, I am happy to say finally.