"A Famous Historical Town Left Behind" as Arnel Barangan said .
Sarrat is the 4th
class municipality of the province of Ilocos Norte. Located at the southeast of
Laoag City , the capital of the province surrounded by the municipalities and
the cities of Batac , San Nicolas , Laoag , Piddig , Dingras , Marcos and a
small proportion of Banna.
The town where Ferdinand Edralin Marcos , 10th President of the Philippines born and also known as a Marcos country . Sarrat was established in 1586 as an Agustinian Visita of Laoag and an annexed to San Nicolas on May 7,1740 . In 1818 , Sarrat was designated as the capital of Ilocos Norte until it transfer to Laoag within the year.
Sarrat`s former names was
Cabayugan which means place of “bayug” ( a kind of a bamboo ) , San Miguel de
Cunning which means “saffron” (used to harvest abundantly in the region) , and
San Miguel de Sarrat. As the year passed by Santiago Fonacier and Isabelo delos
Reyes , two senators , created the bill that the towns name San Miguel is
changed to Sarrat in 1916.
One of the most treasured establishment
in Sarrat , Ilocos Norte is the “Santa Monica Church” This church is originally
known as San Miguel Church but now it is know as Sarrat Church Santa Monica
Church is located in Brgy. San Leonardo Poblacion and most visited place in the
town . In 1779 , the church was built by the Augustinian friars . The church
was also declared as Important Cultural Property of the Philippines on
September 27,2009 . San Miguel church or Santa Monica church is the largest
church in the province of Ilocos Norte and it is the last Spanish Church built
in Ilocos . The church was unique , massive , 3 level and has an attractive
brick staircase connecting to the convent . On one side of the church is the
eight foot high Image of St. Monica the church was built in the Baroque and
Neoclassical styles so there is no wonder why Irene Marcos choose this church
to her wedding . With Greggy Araneta in June 1983 Irene Marcos is the youngest
daughter of Ferdinand Marcos . A few months after the wedding , a 7.8
earthquake tested the church and suddenly damage the church`s main altar and
upper exterior. A few meter from the hurch there is a massive , square tower .
But on March 19,192 earthquake severly damaged the belfry . Casa del Placia
Real is another visited area for the tourist . It is the place where the
artifacts and memorabilias of the town placed.
Padsan River is another tourist
attraction in the town . The nipa hut cottages along the banks of the river .
These nipa huts are seasonal , it is build around December until summer season
and dismantled in rainy seasons . The nipa huts is not only a shade for the
visitors but it is also a equipped with videoke system as an entertainment to
the visitors.
The beauty of Sarrat is classic
that`s why the visitors feels more old because of the old fashioned vibe of the
town where in you can see antiquated things. Sarrat made us to recognize that
the old things are still valuable even though we are already in the modern
generation.
