"Majestically located on top of a hill in Burgos, Ilocos Norte"-pagnapagna
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-my pagnapagna-
March 15, 2014
After 51 minutes ride on a public passenger van from Laoag City, i started walking (7:33 am) on another road going up to the lighthouse. There were tricycles available at the corner by the highway but i was determined to just walk my way up.
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| I took this photo at a dirt road that branches from the main road going to the Lighthouse |
I arrived at the parking area near the Lighthouse complex at 7:48 am. There were some 3 to 5 vehicles parked in the area and some tourists were already crowding the place.
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| The main gate to the Lighthouse complex (i had to wait for some tourist to vacate the area just to take this photo) |
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From there, i went up the concreted steps that lead to the lighthouse complex and went inside near the base of the lighthouse tower. I just sat there and did a sketch of the lighthouse tower while more tourists arrived taking their best shots of the tower afterwards i went to talk to the light keeper.
.From there, i went up the concreted steps that lead to the lighthouse complex and went inside near the base of the lighthouse tower. I just sat there and did a sketch of the lighthouse tower while more tourists arrived taking their best shots of the tower afterwards i went to talk to the light keeper.
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| Me with the Tower. I did my sketch in this area |
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| Local tourist having their photos taken |
He was standing beside a table filled with items like key chains and other souvenir stuff along the corridor between the rooms of the lighthouse complex. He noticed me and said "Nalpas mo met lang diay drowing mo?" (Did you finished your drawing?). "Wen" (Yes), i answered back and showed him my drawing.
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| The corridor |
He is "Vicente", 12 years now in service as the light keeper (LK-1) but been with the lighthouse since December 29, 1986 with his father as the former Light keeper.
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| Meet the light keeper |
"Narigat gamin ti agisang-at ti gamit ditoy ta nangato ken han nga kayat ni baket ko ta awan mut ti kakarruba nu kailangan ti tulong" (It is very hard to get things up here because of the elevation and my wife doesn't want us to stay here because there are no neighbors in case we need help) Vicente said explaining why he and his family do not reside at the lighthouse complex.
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| Unfortunately, the sign says the tower is not available! |
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| Inside the lantern room of the lighthouse tower (Photo taken more than 3 years ago). Back then, the Lighthouse tower is open to the public. |
Our conversation went on (I learned so many things about the lighthouse as well as the life of being a light keeper), i thanked him, went out of the complex and down to the parking area (11:05 am).
At the parking area, the distant sea can be seen with its big waves bursting into white spray as it pounded the rocky cliffs. I did what i got to do. I walked my way back to the highway and went to the seaside to see the pounding waves.
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| The seacoast along Cape Bojeador |
Below is a video of the Sea, west of the lighthouse
Under the heat of the high sun, i went back to the highway and contemplated of either going to the Kapurpurawan Rock Formation, Kaangrian Falls or go directly to Burgos town proper.
-end of pagnapagna-
Cape Bojeador Lighthouse
- under the Philippine Coast Guard
- the tower is approximately 20 meters high
- located at an elevation of 146 meters above sea level
- used reflector first-order Fresnel Lens
- flashes 3 white lights every 5 seconds
- light visibility emitted is 18 nautical miles
- solar powered
.JPG)
A BRIEF HISTORY
(text taken from the tarpaulin placed at the entrance gate of the Lighthouse complex)
"Cape Bojeador Lighthouse also known as Burgos Lighthouse, is a Cultural Heritage Structure in Burgos, Ilocos Norte, that was established during the Spanish Colonial period in the Philippines. It was first lit on March 30, 1892 and is set high on Vigia de Nagparitan Hill overlooking the scenic Cape Bojeador where galleons used to sail by. After over 100 years, it still functrions as a welcoming beacon to the international ships that enter the Philippine archipelago from the north and guide them safely away from the rocky coast of the town.
The light marks the northwestern-most point of Luzon.The 65-feet-tall (20 meters) octagonal stone tower, the most prominent structure in the vicinity, can be seen as far away as Pasuquin in the south and Bangui on the east on a clear day.
The Cape Bojeador Lighthouse was part of the Spanish government's plan of illuminating the Philippine archipelago. The project commenced with the execution of the lighthouses in the northern and western part of the Philippines and those around Iloilo and Cebu.
The lighthouse was first designed by Magin Pers and Pers in 1887 and was finished by the Lighthouse Service under Guillermo Brockman. It is typical of the Spanish Colonial lighthouses which is all masonry made with bricks that are widely used and produced in the area. The octagonal tower is topped with a bronze cupola and the viewing gallery is surrounded by decorative iron grill works.The lighthouse was originaly fitted with first-order Fresnel. The intense earthquake of 1990 that hit most of Luzon damaged the lenses and displaced the mechanism alignment of the original first-order apparatus making it inoperable.
The beam comes now from a modern electric lamp that is powered by solar panels. The light before was provided by pressurized kerosene lamps very much like "Coleman Lamps". In 2005 the old pressure vessels and wicks for the light can still be found in the shed.
Cape Bojeador Lighthouse was declared a National Historical Landmark on August 13, 2004 and a National Cultural Treasure on June 20, 2005 by the Philippine Government."
Subject : Cape Bojeador Lighthouse (Burgos Lighthouse)
Location : Municipality of Burgos
Province of Ilocos Norte
How to get there:
From Manila, ride a bus bound for Laoag City (Ilocos Norte).
Then at Laoag City, ride a tricycle going to the Mini-bus terminal bound for Cagayan where there are also vans bound for Pagudpud or go to the terminal of jeeps bound for Dumalneg. All of which passes by the town of Burgos. Just tell the driver to get you down at the Lighthouse area (located few kilometers before the Burgos town proper). You get down at an intersection where another road leads to the lighthouse. Now, walk on this road going up to the lighthouse or ride a tricycle.
Location : Municipality of Burgos
Province of Ilocos Norte
How to get there:
From Manila, ride a bus bound for Laoag City (Ilocos Norte).
Then at Laoag City, ride a tricycle going to the Mini-bus terminal bound for Cagayan where there are also vans bound for Pagudpud or go to the terminal of jeeps bound for Dumalneg. All of which passes by the town of Burgos. Just tell the driver to get you down at the Lighthouse area (located few kilometers before the Burgos town proper). You get down at an intersection where another road leads to the lighthouse. Now, walk on this road going up to the lighthouse or ride a tricycle.
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