“Discover how beautiful our country is and how wonderful our people are. Time to fall in love with the Philippines.” – Tony Meloto

Ilocos is a province in the northwest portion of the Philippines. It is known for its historic sites, its beaches and the well-preserved Spanish houses in Vigan. Here you will also find four towers which I am featuring for Frank’s Tuesday Photo Challenge – Tower

This is the Bantay Church Bell Tower in Ilocos Sur. This belfry is made of brick and mud and was established in 1590, the church is one of the oldest in the Ilocos Region. This serves as the watchtower for invading enemies during the Spanish era as it sits on a hilltop overlooking the province of Abra, hence the name. (Bantay meaning to guard ).

This Sinking Bell Tower of Saint William Cathedral is a famous landmark in Laoag City and one of the top tourist attraction in Ilocos Norte. It is located right in the heart of the city. The cathedral is often mistaken as separate from the tower because it is located far from each other and in present times some structures were built in between them so the more they look separate.

According to stories of the past, a man in a horseback can pass through the entrance of the bell tower, but now a person of average height has to bend in order to pass through it. This may be due to the tower being built in sandy land and its heavy massive structure makes people believed that the tower is sinking at a rate of 1 inch every year.

The Saint Augustine Church or commonly known as the Paoay Church is a Roman Catholic Church in Paoay, Ilocos Norte.

Beside the church is a 3-storey coral Paoay Church Bell Tower. This stands at some distance to the church as protection against earthquakes (as the Philippines is prone to this). It served as an observation post for Filipino revolutionaries against the Spaniards in 1898 and for Filipino guerrillas against the Japanese in WWII.

*It is declared as a National Cultural Treasure by the Philippine government in 1973 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the collective group of Baroque Churches of the Philippines in 1993.

The Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, also known as the Burgos Lighthouse, is located in Burgos, Ilocos Norte. It was established during the Spanish colonization period in the Philippines and it was first lit on 1892. It is set high on top of the hill overlooking the scenic Cape Bojeador.

*Wikipedia