TINGE OF CHINESE at San Fernando City, La Union

"I was awakened by some familiar array of sound blast last night. I looked outside my window and saw lights bursting high into the night sky. Those fireworks marks the start of the Chinese New Year!"

-pagnapagna

Come and let us visit the two most popular "Chinese" Tourist spot here at the City for this is just the right time, i mean, because it's Chinese New Year.. you know "KUNG HEI FAT CHOI" ... as they say it - strike while it is hot. 

These are the Ma-cho Temple and Filipino-Chinese Friendship Pagoda.

MA-CHO TEMPLE

(Text from the Stone marker at the temple)

Nestled atop a hill overlooking the beautiful San Fernando bay of the town of San Fernando, La Union, the MA-CHO Temple was constructed in honor of Ma-cho hailed from the scenic island of Moichow, province of Fukien in Southeastern China. In the Philippines among christians Ma-Cho is known as the virgin of Caysasay. The image of the Virgin of Caysasay first appeared in Taal, Batangas in 1603. Presently it is enshrined in the town's Basilica of St. Martin. The image of Ma-Cho in this temple was a parting gift of love in 1968 of taiwanese fishermen to devotees of Ma-Cho in La Union. The distinctive features of the temple were inspirations of Ma-Cho. Spearheaded by Dy Keh Hio, supported by Minister Jose D. Aspiras of the Ministry of Tourism. Representative Liu Tsung Han of the Pacific Economic & cultural Center of the Republic of China for his successful efforts in the solicitation of imported decorative materials and many other devotees from all walks of life belonging to various nationalities residing in the Philippines and abroad.

Architect Thomas S. Diokno executed the design of the Temple Complex and engineer Victor B. H. Dy assisted in the execution of Electrical designs.

Ground breaking took place September 11, 1975 and actual construction work commenced on December 2, 1976; the image of Ma-Cho was enshrined in the temple on July 3, 1978 and the temple was inaugurated on December 6, 1978 with Minister Jose D. Aspiras and Mrs. Amparo M. Aspiras as guest of Honor and principal sponsors. 

(Text from the Stone marker at the temple)

Subject   : MA-CHO Temple
Location : San Fernando City
                 Province of La Union

How to get there:
From Manila take a bus going north (Laoag, Vigan, Candon, Abra and La union) get down at San Fernando Town plaza and take a tricycle ride going to the temple or you can ask the bus driver to drop you at Ma-cho Temple because the temple's archway is along the main highway (bear in mind that the Temple is open only from 6 am til 5 pm). From San Fernando plaza you can also walk for about 10 minutes to the temple.

FILIPINO-CHINESE FRIENDSHIP PAGODA

Also Constructed on top of a hill overlooking the western, northern and eastern part of San Fernando City, La Union. The Filipino-Chinese Friendship Pagoda was constructed July 24, 1970 under the Officers of the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce with Mr. Antonio Lim as their president. And perhaps inaugurated March 21, 1971.

Filipino-Chinese Friendship Pagoda

Subject   : FIL-CHINESE FRIENDSHIP PAGODA

Location :  Capitol Grounds

                 City of San Fernando

                 Province of La Union

How to get there:
From Manila take a bus going north (Laoag, Vigan, Candon, Abra and La union) get down at San Fernando Town plaza and take a tricycle ride going up to the pagoda (it is near the provincial capitol).
 From San Fernando plaza you can also walk for about 10 minutes going up.

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