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Batac is a city of over 55,000 in Ilocos Norte. It is known for being the home of the Aglipayan Church, a nationalist splinter sect from the Roman Catholic Church, and the Marcos political family, which has produced two Philippine presidents.
Understand
[edit | edit source]Batac is a relatively young city, which only gained its cityhood in 2007. It is about 17 km (11 mi) from the provincial capital, Laoag.
The city does have its share on Philippine history. Founded by the Augustinians as a town in 1587, Batac is home to historical figures, from the revolutionary general Artemio Ricarte to the infamous Marcos family.
Batac is the birthplace of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (Philippine Independent Church), better known as the Aglipayan (or simply Aglipay) church. It was founded by Gregorio Aglipay, a priest who was excommunicated by the Roman Catholic Church for refusing to cut support to the revolutionary forces under Emilio Aguinaldo during the wars of independence against Spain and the United States and being a Freemason. The church retains many Catholic rituals, but also recognizes Filipino national heroes as venerated figures.
It is home to about 57,000 people (census, 1 July 2024) 
. Its downtown is bisected by the Quiaoit River.
Get in
[edit | edit source]The city is along Route 2 (Manila North Road), which bypasses the town to the west. Buses also ply this highway. GV Florida has direct bus connections from Metro Manila.
The nearest airport is in Laoag, from which travelers pass through Route 2 via San Nicolas. To avoid traffic, an alternate and picturesque option is the Laoag-Paoay-Batac Road further west, although the sights of Paoay may divert time from awestruck motorists.
The nearest cruise ship terminal is in the neighboring town of Currimao, 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) to the south. It is often served by prearranged excursions that also include trips to Paoay and Laoag.
- 1 Florida Bus Terminal, Marcos Avenue (near the junction with Manila North Road).
Get around
[edit | edit source]Tricycles are the main form of transportation in town.
See
[edit | edit source]- 1 Marcos Museum and Mausoleum (Ferdinand E. Marcos Presidential Center), Marcos Avenue. A museum dedicated to President Marcos and his achievements, but avoids its excesses. It also used to house the president's preserved remains inside an airconditioned separate mausoleum building, although doubts persisted on whether the wax-looking cadaver on display was the real thing until he was reburied in Metro Manila in 2016, revealing the displayed corpse to be a fake. The dummy remains on display in Batac.
- 2 Immaculate Conception Parish (Batac Church), Marcelino Street, Simeon Valdez, ☏ +63 917 320 3820, immaculateconception_bataccity@yahoo.com. The city's main Roman Catholic church, built in the Romanesque style.
- 3 Aglipay Mausoleum (Aglipay National Shrine), Marcos Avenue. Gregorio Aglipay, the founder of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, is interred here, at the back of the Aglipayan Cathedral of Saint Mary.
- 4 General Artemio Ricarte National Shrine & Museum, Washington corner Dewey Streets. A small shrine with a park and museum dedicated to General Artemio Ricarte, a Filipino revolutionary who is acknowledged as the father of the Philippine Army.
Do
[edit | edit source]Buy
[edit | edit source]- 1 Batac Public Market, Washington Street, Barangay Bil-loca. The building burned down following a fire in July 2026. Vendors have been temporarily relocated to the nearby Bagsakan Center.
Eat
[edit | edit source]- 1 Batac Riverside Empanadaan, Washington Street, Barangay Simeon Valdez (Beside Quiaoit Bridge and Immaculate Conception Parish Church). A covered food hall along the Quiaoit River hosting multiple stalls selling the signature Batac empanada.
Drink
[edit | edit source]Sleep
[edit | edit source]- 1 Casa Familya, Asuncion corner Sabas Streets, Ben-agan, ☏ +63 968 584 8389, casafamilya.batac@gmail.com.
- 2 North Stellar Hotel And Events Place, Manila North Road, Tabug, ☏ +63 955 380 0386, northstellarhotel@yahoo.com.
- 3 Sikatel Hotel, Marcos Avenue, ☏ +63 917 543 9898, sikatelhotel@gmail.com.
- 4 Treasure Trove Resort, Manila North Road, Magnuang, ☏ +63 997 882 7572, info@treasuretroveph.com.
Connect
[edit | edit source]Respect
[edit | edit source]Batac is a bastion of dedicated Marcos loyalists, and any criticism of his regime or mention of abuses will be received positively by only a few residents.
Go next
[edit | edit source]- Paoay, a historic Spanish-era town, known not only for its heritage downtown, but also for its sand dunes
| Routes through Batac |
| Laoag ← San Nicolas ← | N  S | → Currimao → Vigan |