The Heritage Midst Of Sarrat

"A Famous Historical Town Left Behind" as Arnel Barangan said .

Sarrat is the 4^th 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 , 10^th 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.