[Vigan] ► Huwebes Santo (Maundy Thursday) 2015 Frenzy

VIGAN CITY ▬ Holy Week in Vigan, like anywhere else in the Philippines, is one whole big reunion for every Bigueño. Due to the fame that this little city is gaining, bakasyonistas and the balikbayans bring their friends or group in tow (those wanting to tag along).

On a Huwebes Santo or Maundy Thursday, I visited the popular tourist destinations in Vigan to see what's going around. The city instantly became populous like a megalopolis. All restaurants of the tourist zones are fully-packed. The narrow historic streets are traffic-jammed. The main artery to Vigan has a long queue of SUVs, tour buses, tour vans and buses filled with eager travelers.

Quezon Avenue

Quezon Avenue is the Central Business District of Vigan lined with major banking and commercial institutions. A traveler's agony starts upon entry of the Vigan-Bantay Road that eventually connects to Quezon Avenue.

QUEZON AVENUE SCENE IN FRONT OF THE ILOCOS SUR CAPITOL

CALESA WITH TOURISTS ON BOARD SQUEEZING IN CRISSCROSSING MOTORBIKES AND CARS

In front of the provincial capitol of Ilocos Sur is the Tianggehan sa Vigan, a perennial shopping mecca in Vigan. The big volume of shoppers contributes to Vigan's infamous holiday traffic stress. Use this part of Quezon Avenue on your way out of Vigan. Don't use this route when going to Calle Crisologo or the Vigan Cathedral because all streets are occupied by shopping stalls. Turn eastward to Florentino Street instead.

Plaza Salcedo

As always, Plaza Salcedo is a crowd-drawer due to the musical dancing fountain and LASER show. But for a Maundy Thursday, all the bleachers and benches around the man-made lagoon are already filled-up 1-2 hours before the show started. The present crowd will double or triple upon the start of the fountain show.

LOCALS AND TOURISTS GATHER AROUND THE PLAZA'S LAGOON
 

SPECTATORS PATIENTLY WAITING FOR THE FOUNTAIN SHOW 1 HOUR BEFORE ITS OPENING

PEOPLE ON BLEACHERS WAITING FOR THE START OF THE SHOW

Significant rise of crowd around this area is very evident too. Below the elevated elliptical plaza are street food carts enjoying the ripe tourist market.

Vigan Cathedral

Compared with the situation last MARTES SANTO, the Vigan Cathedral now is densely visited by devotees. Tourists are flocking around while some are just having a solemn moment inside the church.

IN FRONT OF THE CATHEDRAL

INSIDE THE CATHEDRAL

A CROWD OF CHURCH-GOERS

A FAMILY DOING THE STATION OF THE CROSS

VIGAN CATHEDRAL ON ITS IMPOSING BEAUTY

A BAY OF PARKED SUVs AND TOURIST VEHICLES

While most of the time the Vigan Cathedral is quiet after dusk on weekdays, the Holy Week is one of the exceptions wherein devotees are unstoppable.

Calle Crisologo

Calle Crisologo is expected to be the core of the tourist crowd. Owners of shops, cafes and restaurants are enjoying the fat market and rich pool of potential buyers. Restaurants like the Mang Inasal located along the historic Calle Crisologo is receiving countless customers ▬ significantly greater in number than usual.

CALLE CRISOLOGO FRENZY

MANG INASAL'S AL FRESCO DINING

TOURISTS CAN'T BE TAMED IN CALLE CRISOLOGO

You may join the crowd to experience the Calle Crisologo frenzy: imagine a narrow street flocked by a thousand tourists.

TRAFFIC JAM AT DEL PILAR ST COR FLORENTINO ST

COUNTLESS VEHICLES PASS IN FRONT OF THIS ANCESTRAL HOUSE ALONG FLORENTINO ST

 MAUNDY THURSDAY SELFIE AT CALLE CRISOLOGO

The foregoing are my commentaries and observations for the Maundy Thursday in Vigan. Have a blessed week everyone!