When in Laoag: Sights to See in Batac and Paoay

{For Sunset Goddess Manila’s TRAVEL GUIDE TO ILOCOS, click here}

When in Laoag, another sight to see is the Marcos Mausoleum, where one can see the body of the late dictator, President Marcos, on display. It’s located in Batac, Ilocos Norte, one of the strongholds of the Marcoses and the birthplace of President Marcos’ father. When we got there, the mausoleum was still closed for lunch break so we had time to look around the museum right next to the mausoleum, which focused on his career and presidency.

Then we had to do more waiting. So we amused ourselves and got some dirty ice cream 🙂

Finally, the mausoleum opened. And all I will be able to tell you (because we weren’t allowed to take pictures inside) was that it was somewhat creepy. It was so dark when you enter the mausoleum and you will be greeted by a very very cold blast of air from the airconditioning. The only lights are the spotlights directed on the body of the deposed President, which was enclosed in glass. And adding to the atmosphere, there’s Gregorian chant music playing. One word to describe the displayed body of the President: waxy. It doesn’t look like it’s a real corpse but just a wax figure. (Maybe it is?) Or it’s the real corpse but overlaid with wax to make the body look youthful. If you’ve seen footage of Marcos as Imelda was singing to him on his deathbed, the body before you doesn’t look anything like that guy.

Following Catholic tradition, we Filipinos place a great importance on being able to bury our dead. It gives peace not just to the dead but also to those who are left behind, to have real closure when we see our departed ones buried. Looking at the body on display (if that is indeed the real body), then I really wonder how Marcos’ soul or his family could find peace and closure.

Leaving that behind, we then went to the town of Paoay, Ilocos Norte, where the Paoay Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located. Being a product of the Augustinian education system myself, it was nice to discover that the church is actually St. Augustine Church named after our patron saint since the parish was founded by Augustinian missionaries. The church is majestic and is probably the most famous landmark of Ilocos Norte.

It is also in Paoay where you will find the Malacanang of the North. Unfortunately, it was only when we got there when we learned that it was closed on Mondays for maintenance. And no amount of sweet talk and bribery from us made the guard open it to us 🙁 He said it was by order of the Governor! For those of you who don’t know, the Governor of Ilocos Norte is the daughter of the late President Marcos, Imee Marcos. But more on her later! 🙂

The closest we got to Malacanang of the North was from the back. It’s overlooking Paoay Lake and so we just consoled ourselves with a few pictures there.