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It’s not very hard to get around town. It
is a cozy place. From my hotel near the
center of the city, I could easily stroll
down to its most famous
landmark, the Laoag Cathedral,
also known as St William Cathedral.
Built in the 1600s by Agustinian
friars, one of the cathedral’s most
striking features is the neat row of
Roman columns and pilasters. Some
research on the structure revealed
that the cathedral was designed
according to architectural style of the
time, that of the Italian Renaissance,
emphasizing proportion and symmetry.
It was humbling to be standing beside
something that has been around for
390
years before I was born.
Not far from the main cathedral is the
Bell Tower, a massive belfry that’s been
reportedly sinking at a rate of 2.5cm
a year since 1953, when a massive
earthquake shook its foundations.
Locals are quick to offer proof: where
once a man on horseback could easily
ride through the main archway, you
now have to stoop to get in. It was
cordoned off with tape and
signs telling people that it
was private property, to stay
out, and not to park near it. I
thought it was a clear sign that
people were really protective of
such a unique sight.
