Batac is a city of over 55,000 in Ilocos Norte.
Understand
[edit]Batac is a relatively young city, which have only gained its cityhood in 2007. It is about 17 km (11 mi) from the provincial capital, Laoag
The city does have its share on Philippine history. Founded by the Augustinians as a town in 1587, Batac is home to historical figures, from the revolutionary general Artemio Ricarte to the infamous Marcos family.
Batac is the birthplace of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (Philippine Independent Church), better known as the Aglipayan church. It was founded by Gregorio Aglipay, who was excommunicated by the Roman Catholic Church for refusing to cut support to the revolutionary forces under Emilio Aguinaldo.
Get in
[edit]The city is along Route 2 (Manila North Road), which bypasses the town to the west. Buses also ply this highway.
The nearest airport is in Laoag, from which travelers pass through Route 2 via San Nicolas. To avoid traffic, an alternate and picturesque option is the Laoag-Paoay-Batac Road further west, although the sights of Paoay may divert time from awestruck motorists.
Get around
[edit]Tricycles are the main form of transportation in town.
See
[edit]- 1 Marcos Museum and Mausoleum (Ferdinand E. Marcos Presidential Center), Marcos Avenue. A museum dedicated to President Marcos. It also used to house the president's preserved remains inside an airconditioned separate mausoleum building, although doubts persisted on whether the wax-looking cadaver on display was the real thing until he was reburied in Metro Manila in 2016, revealing the displayed corpse to be a fake. The dummy remains on display in Batac.
- 2 Immaculate Conception Parish, Washington Street. The city's main Roman Catholic church, built in the Romanesque style.
- 3 Aglipay Mausoleum (Aglipay National Shrine), Marcos Avenue. Gregorio Aglipay, the founder of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, is interred here, at the back of the Aglipayan Cathedral of Saint Mary.
Do
[edit]Buy
[edit]- 1 Batac Public Market, Washington Street, Barangay Bil-loca.
Eat
[edit]- 1 Batac Riverside Empanadaan, Washington Street, Barangay Simeon Valdez (Beside Quiaoit Bridge and Immaculate Conception Parish Church). A covered food hall hosting multiple stalls selling the signature Batac empanada.
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]Connect
[edit]Respect
[edit]Batac is a bastion of dedicated Marcos loyalists, and any criticism of his regime or mention of abuses will be received positively by only a few residents.
Go next
[edit]- Paoay, a historic Spanish-era town, known not only for its heritage downtown, but also for its sand dunes
| Routes through Batac |
| Laoag ← San Nicolas ← | N  S
|
→ Currimao → Vigan |