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Paoay is a town in Ilocos Norte. One of the most visited places in the Ilocos region, it contains the summer residence of former Philippine president and dictator Ferdinand Marcos, a lake, a desert-like stretch of sand dunes, and a UNESCO World Heritage Roman Catholic Church.
Understand
[edit | edit source]Paoay was founded in 1701. Its main draw is its massive Roman Catholic parish church that was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. During the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos in the 1970s, his summer residence, Malacañang of the North, was built at a promontory overlooking Paoay Lake. Construction later followed on a golf course on the other side of the lake. Despite these developments, Paoay still feels retains its provincial feel, and the place can sometimes resemble a ghost town in the afternoon.
It is home to about 24,000 people (census, 1 July 2024) 
Get in
[edit | edit source]The nearest airport is at Laoag, from which the Laoag-Paoay Road leads to Malacañang of the North, the Sand Dunes and then downtown Paoay with its church. Afterwards, the road becomes known as Marcos Avenue and joins the Manila North Road in neighboring Batac. Roadtrippers from Manila usually enter through this junction.
Jeepneys service the Laoag-Paoay-Batac route. GV Florida buses heading to Laoag from Metro Manila sometimes pass through Paoay.
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 Batac and Laoag.
Get around
[edit | edit source]Tricycles are the main form of transportation in town.
See
[edit | edit source]- 1 Paoay Church (Saint Augustine Parish Church), Marcos Avenue, Veronica. A monumental church built in a mix of Baroque and Javanese architecture that took three centuries to complete. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993
- 2 Malacañang of the North (Malacañang ti Amianan), Suba. President Marcos' official residence in Ilocos Norte, with a veranda overlooking Paoay Lake. Sequestered by the government following his overthrow in 1986, it was turned into a museum about him and his living conditions, although the exhibits mention nothing about his regime's abuses. PHP70.
- 3 Paoay Sand Dunes, Suba. A stretch of sand dunes on the arid coastal plain stretching to Laoag that has also been used as a shooting location for desert scenes in domestic movies.
- 4 Paoay Lake, Suba. A natural lake with no connecting rivers said by folklore to be the site of a sunken community. It has been a national park since 1969.
Do
[edit | edit source]Sand-surfing and buggy-driving along the Paoay Sand Dunes.
Buy
[edit | edit source]- 1 Paseo de Paoay, McArthur Street (in front of Paoay Church). A Baroque-themed two-story commercial building containing souvenir stores and restaurants, with a colonnaded arcade for those seeking shelter from the scorching Ilocos sun.
Eat
[edit | edit source]- 1 Kusina Valentin (Herencia), McArthur Street (in front of Paoay Church), ☏ +63 917 587 4628, kusinavalentin@gmail.com. 11AM–8PM, 7-11AM Sun buffet. Serves Ilocano and Filipino fare. Its main specialty is Pinakbet Pizza, which was invented by the restaurant and features pizza topped by the ingredients of the signature Ilocano vegetable stew, including fermented fish paste (bagoong). Also has a Sunday breakfast buffet. P385 Sunday buffet.
Drink
[edit | edit source]Sleep
[edit | edit source]- 1 Trirenz Arcade, Marcos Avenue, Pannaratan, ☏ +63 907 709 5933, trirenzarcade@yahoo.com.
- 2 Bellagio Hills Hotel and Restaurant, Nagbacalan, ☏ +63 956 395 7676, belagiohillshotel@gmail.com.
- 3 EHR Transient House, ☏ +63 918 227 3316, ehrtransient@gmail.com.
- 4 Paoay Lake JLP Resort, Suba, ☏ +63 927 228 9110, jlp_constn@yahoo.com, inquire.paoaylakejlpresort@gmail.comMULTIPLE EMAIL.
- 5 Saint Bill Transient House, ☏ +63 916 754 1832, vasambo24@gmail.com.
- 6 Veranda Suites and Restaurant, Laoag-Paoay Road, Nagbacalan, ☏ +63 906 527 6038, paoayldc@gmail.com.
Respect
[edit | edit source]Like Batac, Paoay is a bastion of die-hard Marcos loyalists, and any criticism of his regime or mention of abuses will be received positively by only a few residents.