Welcomed with extraordinary ‘calesa’ rides, the delegates of the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) Philippine Experience Program (PEP) were in for a delightful treat as they experienced the rich cultural heritage and values of the people of Ilocos Sur.
 
The PEP delegation, led by Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, along with diplomats from Thailand and Malaysia, officials from the DOT, travel and tour operators, media personnel, and social media influencers from across the country, visited this city recently.

The Vigan City Museum
 
What could be a more fun and exciting way to start an adventure in the Heritage City of Vigan than with an educational tour?
 
The delegates were able to explore and discover all the amazing sights and sounds that make Vigan such a special and unique place.
 
Located in Barangay San Julian Sur, the museum opened in 2022 and now serves as a venue for tourists to learn about the city’s rich history and cultural heritage.
 
It also houses the city library, a skills training center for livelihood and productivity, and a home depot.

Hands-on Experience in Pottery Making
 
The Vigan City experience will never be complete without being able to experience first-hand how the famous 'burnay' jar is made.
 
The skilled artisans showcased the process of creating a 'burnay', a type of jar made from grade-A clay sourced from the western area of Vigan.
 
It involves using their skilled hands to shape the clay on a pottery wheel, carefully molding it into the desired shape.
 
Once the jar is formed, it is then placed in a kiln to be fired, allowing it to harden and become durable.
 
One of the delegates described the experience as "a dream come true!"

“It has been a dream of mine to experience this – to create a clay jar on my own. Thank you so much to the DOT for this opportunity, and the local artisans for guiding me in creating a ‘burnay’. I am so happy!” said Aileen of the “Angelica & Aileen Wanders” duo on social media.
 
His Excellency Tull Traisorat, ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to the Philippines, also tried making a small clay jar while Secretary Frasco carved the DOT slogan “Love the Philippines” and her name on a medium-sized ‘burnay’.

A Gastronomic Experience at Calle Crisologo
 
The delegates were lucky to enjoy the night with gastronomic food and the magical sight of the famous Calle Crisologo, which is considered the centerpiece of the Heritage City.
 
Calle Crisologo is a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site that is home to ancestral houses dating back to the 18th or 19th century.
 
These houses feature ancient tile roofs, massive hardwood flooring, balustrades, and azoteas, all designed in varying Spanish-Mexican-Chinese architectural styles.

Apart from imagining themselves back in the colonial past of the Philippines, delegates enjoyed gastronomic dishes and pastries representing various cities and municipalities in the province.
 
“We will not only satisfy your cravings for our ancestral past but feed your stomach with our heritage dishes like the ‘pipian’ (chicken-and-rice stew) wherein we use this particular herb, the ‘epazote’ (locally known as ‘pasotes’), that was imported from Mexico and it is only in Vigan where this dish is popularly prepared,” Vigan City Mayor Jose Singson, Jr. said as he welcomed the delegates.
 
They tasted the famous ‘sinanglao’ of the city made of tender beef and offal soup seasoned with fresh aromatics and fish sauce; the ‘sapsapuriket’ made of free-ranged native chicken simmered and flavored with garlic, chilis, local vinegar, and chicken blood; the ‘pinakbet’ made of braised fresh vegetables simmered with ‘bagoong’ broth, a Filipino fish sauce; and the ‘bagnet’ – a delicious deep fried crispy pork belly.

Secretary Frasco said PEP is a caravan that highlights not only the physical features of Philippine destinations but also the living cultural traditions, local artisans' work, the taste of Filipino food, and unique sounds and music, showcasing the heart and soul of the Filipino people.
 
In her message, Frasco was impressed by the exceptional efforts that are already being done by the city government of Vigan, and the province of Ilocos Sur in prioritizing tourism and assured that these are given the right development assistance from the national government as well as promotion from the DOT.
 
“We brought them (the PEP delegation) here so that subsequent to this wonderful ‘Philippine Experience’ they can work with our national and regional officials to ensure that we continue to support your local programs for tourism by coming up with sellable tourism packages that will bring in even more tourists from various jurisdictions all over the world and other areas in the Philippines,” Frasco said.
 

“This effort endeavors to fulfill President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s vision of equalizing tourism development and promotion all over the country where we leave no destination behind in the development of the tourism industry not only towards recovering what was lost during the pandemic but rather towards the journey of transformation for Philippine tourism,” Frasco added. (JCR/AMB/JMCQ, PIA Ilocos Sur)