Vigan City is a known tourist spot that many people love to visit. It is declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a world heritage site, with all the beautiful places to visit and delicious delicacies to savor. The city was able to preserve its historical features, which make it even more lovely and gorgeous. According to tourism investment promotion officer Edgar de la Cruz, Vigan City attracts an average of a million visitors a year, both in terms of day visitors and tourists who stay overnight. With this, the city continues to improve for further development.
Originally, Vigan was called Kabigbigaan, which comes from the word biga, a plant that grows on riverbanks. Its name was then changed to Villa Fernandina in honor of King Ferdinand II of Aragon when the Spaniards colonized the Philippines. According to History Timelines, Vigan was founded in 1572 by Juan de Salcedo, a Spanish conquistador. It became a center for Spanish political, religious, and commercial activities in the northern part of the Philippines. Furthermore, it was utilized as a trading hub between the indigenous peoples of the Philippines and Chinese merchants frequenting the region.
Vigan earned its title as a city in 1858, declared by Queen Isabella II. The city was known for its beautiful Spanish colonial architecture and was a major center for trade and commerce. As a result, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. It is widely known for its cobblestone streets, ancestral houses, and historic landmarks such as the St. Paul's Metropolitan Cathedral. Today, Vigan is a popular tourist destination in the Philippines and a symbol of the country's rich cultural heritage.
To commemorate Vigan's cityhood, the Republic Act No. 9411 was passed to the Congress of the Philippines, declaring that every January 22 of each year is a nonworking holiday in the city of Vigan. As time passes, Vigan's economy continues to grow even more. There are more tourists that come and visit the city every year. To conclude, Vigan's cityhood is a very important part of its history and culture because it reminds us Bigueños of the hardships our ancestors have done in the past. It is one of the things that we are proud of as Bigueños.
References:
Flores, J., Dela Cruz, M. (n.d.). Vigan: A Thriving Heritage City. League Magazine. https://www.league.ph/items-8/vigan%3A-a-thriving-heritage-city#:~:text=Mayor%20Eva%2C%20mother%20of%20incumbent,a%20million%20visitors%20a%20year.
Kim, D. (n.d.). Historic City of Vigan Encapsulates Inclusiveness of Philippine Culture. Korea Foundation. https://www.ach.or.kr/achNewsletter/mgzinSubViewPage.do?mgzinSn=15301&mgzinSubSn=25270&langTy=ENG
Republic of the Philippines. (2006, July 24). Republic Act No. 9411. Senate of the Philippines. https://web.senate.gov.ph/republic_acts/ra%209411.pdf
Thank you for sharing the beauty of Vigan. Continue doing great;>
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