Kapurpurawan Rock Formation: Your DIY Guide

Posted on by Loneprowler

The Kapurpurawan Rock Formation is just a small portion of a major sedimentary basin in the country. This small portion had been mostly carved by winds and wave for centuries. This process revealed and smoothed the ivory part of the limestone boulder.

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Disclaimer: The content of this article is based on personal experience as well as references to the date of publication. Changes may occur on contact details, transportation, fees, etc. With this, please do comment at the end of the article any updates as well as corrections on the content, anything amiss, or any information that you think is crucial to the readers. Thank you!

Location

Address: Burgos, Ilocos Norte, Philippines

Coordinates: 18.53865764475781, 120.65346890147609

Map:

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Business Hours
  • Daytime business hours. Curfew may be imposed at some point and circumstance.

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Fees
  • Entrance Fee: None

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Contact Person/Group/Website/Page

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Kapurpurawan Rock Formation

Ilocos Norte is known to be a tourism magnet for its natural and man-made wonders. Aside from pristine beaches, the province also boasts some rock formations. Within the last decade, the Kapurpurawan Rock Formation became viral on social media.

The Kapurpurawan Rock Formation is located in the rocky coast of Burgos, around a kilometer and a half from Laoag, Ilocos Norte. In fact, it is only around a ten-minute drive from the historical Cape Bojeador Lighthouse and within the Burgos Wind Farm grid. Going further north along the coastline, the famous Bangui Bay and its Windmills can also be seen. The fifth class municipality is on the northwestern tip of Luzon.

The Kapurpurawan Rock Formation is just a small portion of a major sedimentary basin in the country. This small portion had been mostly carved by winds and wave for centuries. This process revealed and smoothed the ivory part of the limestone boulder. The bared color of the limestone hence gave birth to its name Kapurpurawan from the local term “puraw”, meaning white.

A study on 2017 also suggested that this rock formation is a part of Burgos Formation, a sedimentary basin that is formed even earlier than its nearby counterparts like Laoag Formation and Pasuquin Limestone [1]. They arrived at this conclusion by dating the calcarenites in the area.

When you plan to visit the area, make sure to bring sun and eye protection as the ivory limestone is very bright under the sun. Also, make sure to bring a bottle of water.

From the Pan-Philippine Highway, follow the Kapurpurawan Rock Formation access road. At some point, you will pass by a cluster of solar panels to the left of the road and wind turbines strategically scattered. At the end of the access road, there is a parking space and some food and trinket shops. Follow the cemented path going down to the coastal area. A portion of this path is canopied by some local foliage.
Once you are out under the foliaged pathway, you will be greeted by a clearing on the coast with horses grazing on the grasses.
I find the contrasting dark limestone, green grasses, horses, and the blue West Philippine Sea more worth the trip than the rock formation itself.
On the way to the rock formation, this piece of art catches your attention in the center of a small marsh area.
Kapurpurawan Rock Formation is actually just a small portion of the Burgos Formation.
The limestone has been carved mostly by wind and waves, giving the dazzling ivory color.
The norther side of the formation is also a delight to the eyes.

In conclusion, Kapurpurawan Rock Formation is a good place to include in your Ilocos Norte itinerary. This gives break to the history-laden list of places in this province.

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How to Get To Kapurpurawan Rock Formation

By land. Take any bus heading to Laoag City.

  • Manila buses bound to Laoag City are Partas, Dominion Bus, Aniceto Bus, Viron Transit, Florida Bus Line, Fariñas Trans, Maria De Leon Bus Lines, RCJ Bus Lines and F. Franco Transit. Make sure it is bound to Laoag, though most of these buses also have Vigan to Laoag trips. There are tricycles and vans for hire which usually covers a group of tourist destinations in the province.
  • From Baguio City, you can take a Partas bus near SM City Baguio or the ordinary mini-buses in Bayanihan. Make sure it is bound to Laoag, though most of these buses also have Vigan to Laoag trips. There are tricycles and vans for hire which usually covers a group of tourist destinations in the province.
  • GMW Liner and Florida Liner have buses plying a vice versa Abra and Tuguegarao with a stop in Laoag City route. There are tricycles and vans for hire which usually covers a group of tourist destinations in the province.

By air. Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines flies from Manila to Laoag International Airport.

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Helpful Local Phrases
  • Good morning: Naimbag a bigat; Good afternoon: Naimbag a malem; Good day: Naimbag nga aldaw; Good evening: Naimbag a rabii
  • How are you?: Kumusta
  • Thank you: Agyamanak
  • What is your name?: Ania ti nagan mo?
  • I don’t understand: Diak maawatan
  • How do I get to…?: Kasantnu ak a makapan sadiay…?
  • One: maysa, two: duwa, three: tallo, four: uppat, five: lima, six: ennem, seven: pito, eight: walo, nine: siyam, ten: sangapulo
  • How much is this?: Sagmamano daytoy?
  • Help!: Arayat!
  • Sorry: Pakawanennak

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Other Notable Nearby Places

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References

[1] Callejo, G., Fernando, A. G., & Silva, L. 2017. New Age Assignment of the Kapurpurawan Rock Formation Calcarenite in Burgos Ilocos Norte Based on Planktonic Foraminiferal Assemblage [online]. Journal of Geological Society of the Philippines, pp. 27-41. Available at <https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322976452_New_Age_Assignment_of_the_Kapurpurawan_Rock_Formation_Calcarenite_in_Burgos_Ilocos_Norte_Based_on_Planktonic_Foraminiferal_Assemblage&gt; [Accessed 22 March 2021].

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Advertisement

Cape Bojeador Lighthouse: Your DIY Guide

Posted on by Loneprowler

Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, also known as Burgos Lighthouse and Faro Cabo Cape Bojeador, is located in the town of Burgos in the politically powerful province of Ilocos Norte. This hundred-year-old structure is not just a working lighthouse but also now a must-see historical tourist site.

Contents

Disclaimer: The content of this article is based on personal experience as well as references to the date of publication. Changes may occur on contact details, transportation, fees, etc. With this, please do comment at the end of the article any updates as well as corrections on the content, anything amiss, or any information that you think is crucial to the readers. Thank you!

Location

Address: Burgos, Ilocos Norte, Philippines

Coordinates: 18.5122° N, 120.5977° E

Map:

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Business Hours
  • Open anytime. Curfew may be imposed at some point and circumstance.

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Fees
  • Entrance Fee: Php20.00

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Contact Person/Group/Website/Page

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Under the Piercing Lights of the Tallest and Oldest Lighthouse in the Philippines

Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, also known as Burgos Lighthouse and Faro Cabo Cape Bojeador, is located in the town of Burgos in the politically powerful province of Ilocos Norte. This hundred-year-old structure is not just a working lighthouse but also now a must-see historical tourist site.

The Cape Bojeador Lighthouse is located atop a Vigia de Nagpartian Hill overlooking Cape Bojeador along the northern part of the West Philippine Sea. It is considered as the highest-elevated lighthouse in the Philippines and the northwesternmost in location (the northeasternmost being Cape Engaņo Lighthouse in Palaui Island, Santa Ana, Cagayan) [1].

The lighthouse was erected over a hundred years ago as part of galleon navigation. It still functions and serves ships that enter the Philippine Archipelago from the north and guide them safely away from the rocky coast of the town.

The lighthouse had been commissioned to Eng. Magin Pers Y Pers and completed the design on 1887. After a reconfiguration by the head of Lighthouse Service Eng. Guillermo Brockman, Faro de Cabo Bojeador became operational April 1890. However, it was only on 1892 that the structure was lighted. The original lighthouse lens and mechanism had been operational until damaged during the 1990 earthquake.

The whole complex is composed of three levels. The courtyard serves as the lowest level. Approximately three meters above the courtyard is the service building, the second level. This pavilion has three apartment and two offices. The walls are a combination of wood and bricks. About five meters above the pavilion is the tower, the highest level. The octagonal stone tower, being the most prominent structure in the light complex, is 65 feet (20 meters) high. The tower is built from locally-made bricks.

The road winding up to the lighthouse concludes in front of this brick structure.
From the end of the road, you can see portions of the three levels of the lighthouse complex. You need to climb these stairs dotted with plants on its sides.
From the courtyard (lowest level), you can have a glimpse of the tower and the front side of the pavilion.
Images above show the lighthouse marker, excerpts of the history of the structure, and some original equipment on display.
A pair of windows in one of the apartments in the pavilion level.
Stairs leading to the base of stone tower, the third level.
The stone tower of cape Bojeador Lighthouse, the highest elevated lighthouse in the country.
View of the West Philippine Sea from the deck on the base of the tower.

In conclusion, the operation of Cape Bojeador Lighthouse will outlast generations as it is a historical site and a tourism magnet. This is a place to go to when you love history in a beautiful landscape.

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How to Get To Cape Bojeador Lighthouse

By land. Take any bus heading to Laoag City.

  • Manila buses bound to Laoag City are Partas, Dominion Bus, Aniceto Bus, Viron Transit, Florida Bus Line, Fariñas Trans, Maria De Leon Bus Lines, RCJ Bus Lines and F. Franco Transit. Make sure it is bound to Laoag, though most of these buses also have Vigan to Laoag trips. Tell the driver/conductor to drop you at the junction to Cape Bojeador Lighthouse.
  • From Baguio City, you can take a Partas bus near SM City Baguio or the ordinary mini-buses in Bayanihan. Make sure it is bound to Laoag, though most of these buses also have Vigan to Laoag trips. Tell the driver/conductor to drop you at the junction to Cape Bojeador Lighthouse.
  • GMW Liner and Florida Liner have buses plying a vice versa Abra and Tuguegarao with a stop in Laoag City route. Tell the driver/conductor to drop you at the junction to Cape Bojeador Lighthouse.

By air. Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines flies from Manila to Laoag International Airport.

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Helpful Local Phrases
  • Good morning: Naimbag a bigat; Good afternoon: Naimbag a malem; Good day: Naimbag nga aldaw; Good evening: Naimbag a rabii
  • How are you?: Kumusta
  • Thank you: Agyamanak
  • What is your name?: Ania ti nagan mo?
  • I don’t understand: Diak maawatan
  • How do I get to…?: Kasantnu ak a makapan sadiay…?
  • One: maysa, two: duwa, three: tallo, four: uppat, five: lima, six: ennem, seven: pito, eight: walo, nine: siyam, ten: sangapulo
  • How much is this?: Sagmamano daytoy?
  • Help!: Arayat!
  • Sorry: Pakawanennak

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Other Notable Nearby Places

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References

[1] Web.archive.org. n.d. Burgos Ilocos Norte Philippines Online. [online] Available at: <https://web.archive.org/web/20101016095733/http://www.pasyalan.net/ilocos_norte/burgos/> [Accessed 5 March 2021].

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