Burgos-Bangui: The Road to Pagudpud

FROM LAOAG ON, the road winds to Pagudpud, passing through towns with outstanding coastline. Burgos, in particular has a couple of sites that have made the town a usual stopover on many road trips to the northernmost town of mainland Luzon.

Standing atop the Nagpartian Hill, the Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, or the Burgos Lighthouse, overlooks the surrounding landscape and waters.
Left, a porch on the lighthouse looks across the ocean. Right, a flight of stairs lead to the tower entrance.

Surrounded by picturesque views and perched on the Nagpatian Hill, the Burgos Lighthouse is one of Ilocos Norte’s most photographed structures. It’s also known by another name – the Cape Bojeador Lighthouse.

Jutting out to the South China Sea, the Cape Bojeador was an integral part of the galleon trade, as it was the first land sighted by ships sailing from the north. The lighthouse functioned as a beacon for those ships, and, in fact, continues to be active today. Standing at 66 feet, the octagonal tower of the lighthouse can be seen as far as the neighboring towns of Pasuquin and Bangui.

The creamy white limestone Kapurpurawan Rock Formation stands atop a rocky shore in Burgos.
Wind turbines in the distance add a modern touch to the bucolic scenery around the Kapurpurawan Rock.
A statue near the rock formation bears the image of Ilocano folk hero Lam-Ang battling a crocodile.
The towering rock formation evokes images of the desert.
The features of the rock formation make it an interesting place for children to explore and let loose their imagination.

Going further east, we find an isolated rock outcrop along the town’s shores. The Kapurpurawan rock has been a favorite subject among photographers for its white and streamlined limestone formations. Its appearance is the result of millions of years of sculpting by oceanic and weather forces. The front part of the rock is cordoned off due to recent vandalism, but visitors can go around the back and still get up close to what seems to be a scene in the Middle East.

Pressing on towards Pagudpud, we see a row of wind turbines stand beside the shore, their slender body and large blades towering above us. These gigantic structures were built by the NorthWind Power Development Corporation after a study discovered various places in the Philippines that were suitable for generating wind power.

Fifteen turbines were erected by 2005 as part of the first phase, and five more were added in 2008 as part of the second phase.

A row of wind turbines along the shoreline of Bangui Bay.
Left, each wind turbine is 70 meters tall with a blade of measuring 41 meters long. Right, the turbines are supported by steel towers.
Uninhabited and without trees and vegetation nearby, the 9-kilometer Bangui Bay is an ideal site for the wind turbines.
Left, souvenir items bearing the wind turbines’ likeness are sold near the beach. Right, a young girl watches over her mother’s store.

Other than the wind farm, there’s not much to see in Bangui, whose beaches are deep and have currents too strong to be conducive to swimming

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