In every province here in the Philippines, there are places that are meant for progress. There are also places that slowly but surely inching their way to reach the same status. One of them is San Nicolas, a town in Ilocos Norte which is the neighbor of the more progressive Laoag City.
It is town that will never be missed because every vehicle passes through San Nicolas before reaching the capital city via land trip. It is oftentimes mistaken that the town is part of Laoag City because of its proximity to the latter.
As in any other town or city in Ilocos Norte, San Nicolas Church stands majestic among the structures in the town. The Ilocanos' reverence to the catholic faith is proof that they are devout in their chosen religion and they strictly follow church traditions to the T.
Beside the church is the Museo San Nicoleno which houses artifacts and history pieces of the town. The edifice of the said museum was a big water tank of years past. It is now a chronicle storage of what was San Nicolas in the past preserved through time.
The town celebrates the Damili Festival which aims to promote the centuries-old tradition of pottery. The festival is a way of thanksgiving for all the bountiful harvest and blessings that the town has received.
San Nicolas hosts to the biggest mall in the province - the Robinsons Ilocos Norte. It has shops that cater to the needs of the malling generation. It sits on a vast land area which has other amenities that makes it a one-stop-shop of sorts.
But despite the modern-day convenience of a shopping mall, the San Nicolas Public Market is still a place to go to especially for those who would like to buy fresh produce and local favorite fares such the longganisang Laoag and bagnet.
One nice observation about the town is the way they preserved old buildings and how they were turned into good use despite the passing of time. Schools such as the San Nicolas Elementary School and St. Anne's Academy still utilizes the old structures.
But San Nicolas is a town which is not trapped in time. Modern facilities such as hotels and condominium for rent are available for those who want to visit and experience what it has to offer to visitors. It is accessible by bus and by plane via Laoag City.
But whether one goes for the old world or for modernity, San Nicolas is open to everyone who wants to enjoy the hospitality of San Nicolenos. It is dubbed as the next important town in Ilocos Norte. They want everyone to go and visit their place.
Credit to the owners of some of the photos.
