WikiPilipinas: Marvellous Cape Bojeador
This is a continuation of my pending blog series on WikiPilipinas Northern Adventure and I'm so happy that I have managed to squeeze a bit of my time to make this post...
As WikiPilipinas team drove its way to Burgos, we find time to drop by to another historic landmark in Ilocos Norte. Famously called as Faro Cabo Cape Bojeador, this lighthouse was already a century old and it set majestically on a hill overlooking the South China Sea.
It is located approximately 35 kilometres north of the City of Laoag and it is the most accessible of all lighthouses in the north of the Island of Luzon. It was built in 1892 and mind you, it is still functioning up to now, serving ships passing by the northern part of South China Sea. This is one of the famous historical landmark that you should not missed when visiting Ilocandia. It is the highest lighthouse in the Philippines above sea level on top of a hill named Vigia de Nagparitan with an estimated total height of around 160 meters high ( tower height = 17 meters approximate) .
We climb the stairs and see for ourselves the old remnants of locally made bricks. The Lighthouse at present, assists ships heading towards the ports of Salomangue in Ilocos Sur which is 87 kilometres south from the lighthouse, and Curmimao, which is 60 kilometres away in Ilocos Norte. According to local folks here, the light flash once in every minute. How I wish to see that in the evening :)
As we reach the entrance, I saw this little museum, which has collections of published articles about this place and some historical artifact. Directing your eyes to the physique of the tower, you can recognized its octagonal-shape which has an inner dimension of two meters and an exterior dimension of three and half meters. I just can't imagine that this light house was a product of a pre-hispanic era. I just can't imagine the structures of othe famous lighthouses in the country such as that of Capones and Cape Enga.
I see a photo of the caretaker in the musuem and I am trying to find out how he manage to maintain the mechanical parts of the light house. For sure, it's all manually configured specially the continuous rotation of the lens throughout the night.
This lighthouse is the most visited among other lighthouses in the country because of its accessibility. It has already a concrete roads and well maintained by the local government. Today, its pavilion although so old, was already converted into a mini-museum. The adjacent quarters is said to be lodging for people seeking basic accommodation. Its tower is quite accessible but our visit is not timely for the light keeper was not around at that time and the door that leads to it was locked. May be if fortunate enough, next time I would be able to have access to its lantern and feel the winds from the perch of its overhanging balcony.
This place becomes a major tourist attraction in a politically powerful province, the lighthouse of Cape Bojeador should be ensured by its local government and pass a policy for its preservation and protection for years to come.
Getting There:
From Laoag/Baguio/Vigan or La union : Follow the northwestern coastal national highway that is commonly used going to Ilocos provinces until you've reached some dramatic and exhilirating view of the sea and upon reaching the town of Burgos in Ilocos Norte. There is a sign board at the right side of the highway indicating the entrance to the winding road leading to the base of cape Bojeador Lighthouse.
