Calle Crisologo in Ilocos Sur

 

Calle Crisologo in Ilocos Sur

Calle Crisologo is a historic street in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, that showcases the colonial architecture and culture of the Philippines. 

The street is part of the Vigan Heritage Village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. It is one of the few places in the country that preserves the Spanish colonial town planning and buildings from the 16th to 19th centuries.

Calle Crisologo at Night

The very well known Calle Crisologo or also known as Mena Crisologo street in Vigan looks majestically peaceful at night. Sitting pretty outside a close antique shop in Vigan. Yes, a good night walk with friends and family in this historical street because of the old Spanish houses of Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

The most beautiful street in the Philippines can be found in Vigan - Calle Crisologo. Calle Crisologo in Vigan is a World Heritage Site preserving the architecture of the Spanish colonial era.

It was restored to its pre-war beauty with its cobbled streets and old Spanish houses. It is the only town during World War II that was saved from destruction because of a love story. Legend has it that a Japanese General, who married a Filipina in Vigan, promised the parish priest that he would save the town from destruction from the retreating Japanese if he would agree to take care of his family.

Before world war II, Japanese reaches the Philippines and some settled in Vigan. One of them is Japanese General Maj. Sakae Narioka who fell in love with a local woman named Belen Castillo. The Japanese General won the heart of Belen and they got married and had a child named Emiko Narioka. Couple of years then after signing the treaty of Paris which transfers the fate of the Philippines from Spanish to Americans the battle set in the Northern Part of the Philippines.

While the battle is fast approaching north and further, the Japanese General had sensed news that the Americans are soon to arrive in Vigan. To spare his wife and child, he commanded the Japanese settlers and soldiers to depart going to north. He left his wife and son in one of the church in Vigan under the care of a Dominican priest. All signs of Japanese inhabitant were burnt in Vigan right after the General and his atroops left the place. American flags were hung on each and every window of the houses signing the Americans that this place has fully turned to their side. By this, Vigan was spared from bombing.

American troops kept going north and soon attacked Laoag City. Nothing was told about what happen to the brave general now an image of loving father and husband and his troops who they believe headed to Laoag too.