Travel Blog #1: Exploring San Fernando City, La Union (Philippines)

La Union is one of the northern provinces in the Philippines known for its beaches and surfing spots. It's popularity is due, in part, to its relative nearness to the capital, Manila. Though many of its neighboring towns have extensive beach front areas, San Fernando City isn't known for its beaches. However, since it is the provincial capital, many tourists drop by here either before going to their vacation destination or before going back home, since it is more convenient to board in the bus terminals than flag them down as they run through the highway. Unless you have you're own ride. The unique establishments operating within its vicinity and its history, San Fernando City is a tourist place in its own right.

Perhaps the most known diner in San Fernando City is the Halo-Halo de Iloko place, which serves different kinds of the Filipino dessert (or snack, depending on the region it is served), the halo-halo. But they also serve other traditional and local dishes as well. Pro-tip: you eat the halo-halo by mixing all the ingredients together, ice and all! After all, "halo-halo" roughly translates to "mix-mix" in English. I like the letters in the strings they got going on when I was able to visit:

Before heading to San Juan, me and my travel buddies drop by the St. William The Hermit Cathedral.

And the busy city plaza in its front.

Two days after, after our vacation over at San Juan, we also made a quick stop in another well-known diner in town, the Midway Grill, before finally travelling all the way to Manila.

Have you been to La Union? How was your experience? Do you like to visit a place in the Philippines? Reply below! :)