A Vigan reprise

Calesas in front of the Quirino house

 It was really to Laoag and Pagudpod where I wanted to go. But due to limited time and just thinking of the long hours of going there and back, I ended up just going to Vigan.

This is my second time to go there but I was happy to be back and find that none of its old world charm was lost on me.

This time however, instead of doing the tourist thing, I went to the public market to look for unusual items that may not be common to those not from there.

The food section of the Vigan City market is situated on the second floor of the market building unlike most markets in the country I know.

Two uncommon things I found there were the 'balicutia' which is a kind of candy made from sugarcane but which is also used as a sweetener. I am sure there are other ways of using it as a cooking ingredient. It is also sold as a souvenir food item and  I was planning to buy some but at the last minute, I forgot to do so.

the balicutia- sugar candies cum sweetener

The other item that I saw for the first time is the sea weed called 'gamet' which to me looked similar to the Japanese 'nori' but less well preserved and presented. I wanted to try it but I do not know what to do with it. I was told to steep it in hot water and add it as a salad ingredient. But at P90  per sheet smaller than a bond paper, I decided that I will just try to sample it in a restaurant that serves it. That opportunity has not come yet.

Gamet - a food item from the sea

Vigan is as beautiful in the morning as it is at night. But actually it is the relative calm and quiet that draws me to it. I hope the influx of motor vehicles and wanton development will not change it.

What I noticed about Vigan though is that there is no memorably pleasant aroma that will stay in my mind and remind me of my visit there. How nice it would have been if Vigan has more odoriferous flora adorning its streets to match its old world ambience. What permeates the air in a part of the city is the greasy smell of Jollibee fried chicken cooking.

I hope the city people will realize that hiring a professional and top caliber gardener and cityscaper can only make their place more beautiful and tourist worthy.

two vendors selling kakanins, mostly rice based