"BASSIT NGA SIMBAHAN” - VIGAN CITY
The horse-drawn carriage,
serving as our mode of transportation on one afternoon, passed by alleys and
Spanish-inspired colonial houses sans the cobble-stoned pavements as the
obstructed view of a small church painted in yellow with white linings came into
sight.
The electrical wirings from
lamp posts erected on each corner of a busy intersection relatively hides the
panoramic view of “Bassit nga Simbahan”
of Vigan, City.
“Bassit” in the native dialect of Vigan City literally means “small”. As the name suggests, “Simbaan a bassit” is a small church as compared to one of Vigan
City’s icon, the Saint Paul Cathedral of Vigan City but equally grand and
“photo-worthy” on its own.
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| electrical wires part of the church facade |
 |
| parked! |
As our cochero parked the kalesa (horse-drawn
carriage) in front of the church, we begin to wander in the vicinity. The door of the church was closed and nowhere
can we find a caretaker to allow us to inspect the interiors. Thus, to content
ourselves with what is given.
Adjacent to the small church
is a cemetery. One thing that caught my
attention of the grave marks is the fact that one of the buried died before and
another after my birth date. What’s with
the month of September anyway? Either
they die or most are born in this month.
In fact, majority of the circle of friends I have are born in said
month. Why? I hate to speculate and this is off-topic so
pardon the hanging question and the segue. Now, let’s go back to the church.
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| images of Santo Nino |
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| take a look at the grave markers - September it is. |
Varied images of Senor Santo
Nino are likewise displayed near the entrance of the cemetery, adding charm and
creepiness to the small cemetery.
A small cemetery in a small
church – this is one of Vigan City’s iconic landmarks, less known yet can be
mandatorily part of a kalesa tour as
the church stands noticeable to every passer-by of the province of Ilocos Sur.
x------------------x
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1 comments
wow! a trip to vigan seems like stepping into a time machine. really cool place.
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