By Eleanor A. Leyco
TRAVELERS from here and abroad claim that there are several reasons one must visit the historical city of Vigan in Ilocos Sur—food, culture, architecture and its people.
Approximately nine hours away from Manila by land, Vigan is famous for its well-preserved towns, architectures, traditions and cultures that have existed even before the Spanish Occupation in the early 1500s.
The province epitomizes the distinctive union of Asian architecture with European designs of the colonial period. A visit to the city is almost like going back in time, as the dwellers have successfully preserved its lure and antiquity.
Obviously, people all over the world go to Vigan to relive the distant past through the Unesco Heritage City and, at the same time be lured by the splendor of the entire province.
Among the things that one cannot afford to miss when in Vigan are the ancestral houses that have been transformed to museum, which include the Quirino and Crisologo museums; the culinary traditions of the city, cookery of the natives that are simple but flavorful, in fact, they have been copied by artisans from other parts of the world; the centuries-old church; the Heritage City, of course; and, lately, just a few blocks away from the Heritage City which is also fast-becoming a byword among backpackers, motorists who sojourn the city and tourists who purposely visit Vigan, the Fiesta Garden Hotel.
Located in the heart of Metro Vigan, Fiesta Garden Hotel and Resort is a 53-room, three-star hotel that offers premier and world-class services and accommodations.
Your home away from home
The hotel started out as a medium-size restaurant in 2007 called Fiesta Garden Restaurant. It offers, of course, the all-time Ilocano favorites, bagnet, empanada, poque-poque, sinanglao, you name it, they have it.
Since its service is highly personalized and hands-on, it has noticed the common objection of every tourist and traveler entering its premises. Most tourists complain about the commercial rates they have to endure when staying in Vigan. Because the city receives millions of visitors every year, enterprising businesses within and around the city have found a way to dictate prices and rates.
This inspired the owners of Fiesta Garden Hotel to offer world-class accommodation at a reasonable price.
“Considering that most of our visitors are families, some are just students from Manila or elsewhere, we also want to cater to them by giving them a kingly accommodations for a reasonable price. In that way we our helping the tourism industry and the tourists, as well,” says Leo Animas, resident manager of Fiesta Garden Hotel.
“The fact of the matter is we even have double-deck rooms for backpackers, and students who are on a tight budget.”
What makes Fiesta Garden unique and special is that it has a touch of modernity from the outside but antiquity from the inside. The exterior designs of the hotel are a little modern, in the sense that the materials used are concrete and they are also colorful. However, the exteriors are truly reflective of the city’s roots, with all the cultural elements of Vigan visible inside.
“We have 25 deluxe rooms, 18 superior rooms, five premier rooms, two deluxe with six persons capacity, three double decks mini and then two to six double decks with 12 person capcity,” Animas says.
The hotel also boasts of ballroom that can house a total of 200 persons, and soon to rise is its bigger ballroom, can accommodate at least 600 pax for bigger functions. Patrons who want to stay away from the bustle of the busy streets of the town can soothe themselves at the lounge bar and fusion bar, where they can surf the Web, cool off with its refreshing drinks or sing their hearts out in the videoke.
Vigan is also devastatingly hot during summer, so for visitors who want to go for a swim without burning their skin, Fiesta Garden Hotel also boast of its especially designed swimming pool, which, according to customers, is the biggest in the City.
Parking is a common problem when in Vigan. Because of the influx of tourists from the metropolitan cities, it is normally crowded with pedestrians and vehicles. At Fiesta Garden Hotel, the visitor is assured of a safe and ample parking space, something which other business establishments fail to offer.
Most of all, the hotel is known for its personalized service. The staff-members are always available to assist the customers, as other customers say “the staff-members are at your beck and call.”
Festive dining
Fiesta Garden Hotel started as a restaurant and, ever since, it has been serving dishes that gained a strong following, not only from its local guests but also from tourists who pass by the hotel.
The hotel’s dining area, which is a few meters away from the main hotel building, is not too trendy but it certainly exudes warmth and elegance with its glass windows that surround the whole restaurant.
The simple setting of the restaurant’s intimate space is perfect for romantic meals for couples, friends and even families who want to satisfy their palates with dishes that are Ilocano and yet with a modern twist.
Because the hotel’s restaurant mainly caters to locals, it also serves different cuisines, like Chinese, a bit of Spanish, American and other Filipino dishes. The restaurant is also known for its shabu-shabu. The Garden Fiesta might be the only dining place in Vigan that offers shabu-shabu.
The gastronomy at Fiesta Garden is of exceptional standard, with dishes like crispy pata, pinakbet, sisig, patatim, stir-fry beef, various mouthwatering seafood dishes, and its signature fried chicken. It also offers fresh fruit juices and concoctions and various desserts.
So, the next time you visit Vigan and really want to experience the whole city, stay at Garden Fiesta Hotel.
• For more information visit https://www.fiestagardenmetrovigan.com.ph/.