VIP TOUR 2025 PARTICIPANTS DISCOVER CULTURAL HERITAGE OF ILOCOS SUR
Consul Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil shares a calesa ride with Mrs. Bernadette Roco, a Filipino community leader from San Francisco, around the Vigan Heritage Village on 9 July 2025, as part of the VIP Tour 2025 activities in Ilocos Sur. (San Francisco PCG photo)
Vigan City, Ilocos Sur — Participants of the Very Important Pinoy (VIP) Tour 2025 spent 9 July 2025 immersing themselves in the cultural and artisanal heritage of Ilocos Sur during a day trip to the historic province, home to one of the best-preserved Spanish colonial towns in Asia.
The visit began at Rowilda’s Handloom Weaving Center where participants observed the traditional craft of Abel Iloko weaving. Local artisans demonstrated the process of handweaving colorful, durable fabrics using wooden looms, showcasing the region’s rich textile traditions passed down through generations.
The group then proceeded to a traditional pottery-making demonstration in Vigan. Skilled potters shared how clay is molded into earthenware using time-honored techniques, and participants had the opportunity to try shaping their own pieces at the potter’s wheel.
A visit to the National Museum of Ilocos Sur provided a deeper look into the province’s cultural and historical development. The museum, housed in a former prison during Spanish colonization, featured exhibits on the “Cultural World of Basi”, “Basi Trade and its Social Networks” and “Basi Revolt Paintings” during the group’s visit.
To experience the charm of Vigan’s historic center, participants enjoyed a calesa ride—a traditional horse-drawn carriage—through the cobblestone streets of the Vigan Heritage Village. The day concluded with sightseeing and shopping at Calle Crisologo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its preserved Spanish-era architecture, antique shops, and local crafts and delicacies.
The Ilocos Sur day trip offered participants a vivid and hands-on encounter with the region’s artisanal and colonial past, enriching their connection with Philippine heritage.
The VIP Tour 2025, held from 6 to 15 July, is a flagship tourism and cultural program of the Philippine Foreign Service Posts in the United States, led by the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. It aims to strengthen the bonds between Filipino Americans and their homeland through travel, heritage education, and community engagement. END
A weaver at Rowilda’s Handloom Weaving Center in Vigan demonstrates the traditional process of creating Abel Iloko fabric. (San Francisco PCG photo)
A young VIP Tour 2025 participant tries traditional pottery-making during a cultural stop in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. (Photo courtesy of Flomy Diza and Louella Sugui)
A tour guide shares information on the exhibition “Basi Trade and its Social Networks” at at the National Museum of the Philippines – Ilocos. (San Francisco PCG photo)
VIP Tour 2025 participants listen attentively as a tour guide explains the Basi Revolt paintings on exhibit at the National Museum of the Philippines – Ilocos. (San Francisco PCG Photo)