Badoc Tourist Spots
Places to go to there are the Juan Luna Shrine, the Luna Park, and the Roman Catholic Church wherein the statue or image of the miraculous La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc, all of them are within the Poblacion.
La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc
Juan Luna Shrine
The ancestral house of Luna |
The Wishing Well, one part of Luna's House. |
The main entrance of the Juan Luna Shrine opens into the alcove just before the family gallery. Photographs on the walls show the damaged original house and how teams of construction workers rebuilt it. In the family gallery are vintage photographs of the Luna clan, including Juan Luna’s son, Andres. The museum also uses the family gallery to display household artifacts from Luna’s time. Another section of the lower floor holds reproductions of Luna’s two large works – “Spolarium” and “El Pacto de Sangre.” There are also portraits of his wife, Paz Pardo de Tavera, and national hero Jose Rizal.
Saud Sand Dunes
Another surprising discovery, unknown to the tourism circuit, are the Saud Sand Dunes, similar to the touristy ones found in Paoay, where sandboarding and 4X4 rides are popular activities. Exploring the sand dunes is best done in the late afternoon, when the dunes cast dramatic shadows across the landscape. Besides the sand dunes, there's more to discover for the intrepid visitor. Not far away, there are the coral rock formations, tidal flats and gray-sand beaches of Pagsanahan; and offshore, the uninhabited island of Badoc, which offers a nice place for swimming and snorkeling.
HOW TO GET THERE: From Manila, ride a Partas or Florida bus bound for Laoag, and alight at the "Badoc Detachment" bus stop (9 hours). From here, tricycles can take you around town.