Place: Vigan Public Market (City of Vigan, Ilocos Sur)
Date: 25 May 2008

All of us wanted to buy longganisa (sausage), so it was a must that we pass by Vigan Market. Aunt Julie and I were hoping we could buy longganisa in Laoag (we were told that although they look quite similar, the sausages from two places are actually different), but since we weren’t had the chance to buy the Laoag version, might as well just move on with life. =)

It’s basically just a stop over the market because it was already 5pm or something and we still have to travel 3 hours before we could reach home. I wasn’t actually planning to take pictures here in Vigan because I was actually about to visit the place in three days, but since most of them were going out of the van, might as well come with them.

From what I know of, public markets aren’t really “alive” if it’s not market day. On this day, being a non-market day and late afternoon at that, the place is a little bit deserted, that’s why I only took four pictures. These pictures aren’t really that good, I know, but I do hope you would understand that it was really a point and shoot thing because I didn’t want the vendors to think I was taking their picture. I was discreetly taking the pictures in such a way that it would look as if I was just writing a text message (yes, I did use my cell phone for these pictures).

They bought longganisa at a certain Irene’s stall. I was surprised that the longganisa are now being sold per dozen — before I think it was sold per kilo. I still haven’t tried buying longganisa from Vigan (the ones I eat are those sold in Manila) because I am afraid that the traveling time might make the meat stale or something. And besides, I wouldn’t dare taking Vigan longganisa inside an airconditioned bus, we all might end up smelling like longganisa! Hahahaha.

Anyway, aside from buying longganisa, they also bought bagnet. Now, that’s one food I could never really buy and eat because not only was it really expensive (350 pesos per kilo), it’s packed with cholesterol, too! Just smelling it would spike up your blood pressure, I tell you. =) One of our companions bought a lot of it, and I whispered to Aunt Julie that I wanted to taste it even just one bite size on the meat part so that I would know how it taste like. Aunt Julie voiced it out and Tita Beth allowed Aunt Julie to pinch some. Because Aunt Julie was also concerned about our health (she’s my food conscience), she just gave me a real small one on the meat area. Upon tasting it, I realized why people are so hooked with this food. It was super duper delicious! If you would look at it, you would think that it would be rubbery and so dry, but the thing is, it’s very soft, kinda like melts in your mouth! Too bad I can’t eat it really, but I am happy just to taste it. At least I am not clueless about how it taste like.

After the market, we stopped by Plaza Burgos because I bought some empanadas. Everytime I am here, I always have to eat this food, but while I was eating it on the van, I all of a sudden got tired eating it. I guess maybe because it was just three months ago when I got to eat my last empanada, the taste was still in my mouth. Or maybe because I prefer the grated young papaya compared to the shredded cabbage that was used in the kiosks in Plaza Burgos? Hmmm…. still, I guess it would take a while before I will eat empanada again.

{pictures in this post, clockwise: bagnet, vigan longganisa, tinapa (smoked fish), vegetable vendors}

*** Jenn ***