I was in Lallo, Cagayan

I was with the Vigan delegation on a pilgrimage trip to Lallo, Cagayan, the ancient seat of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia, 250 years ago.

The pilgrimage was the kick-off of the celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the Transfer of the Seat of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia and the Establishment of Ciudad Fernandina.

Lallo, or formerly Nueva Segovia, is a sleepy town, a 2nd class municipality led by its lady mayor, Maria Olivia Pascual.

Having left Vigan at 1:30 am of Tuesday, September 2,2008 the delegation arrived at the mayor's home at 8:30 where we had a hearty breakfast of beef tapa, scrambled eggs, rice and coffee. There were also "miniature patupat," complete with coco-fiber strings to hold it so as not to soil our fingers when you hold them.

A welcome program was held in front of the municipal hall where Mayor Pascual recalled the history of the transfer of the seat.

... when the statue of Our Lady of Piat arrived, we were asked to follow on its way to the church.

The historic church of Lallo was facing west, fronting the Rio Grande de Cagayan.. It beats me why the church didnt face eastward to greet the rising sun, like most structures do. Of course, if the church was built first, it would have been anathema to build the presidencia facing east. It would have lain its back to the church which would have rendered the plaza an awkward angle which was built in between. The own gymnasium was beside the church, facing east fronting the modern police station that faced west. It didnt look right to my sense of perspective. Maybe because I have been used to seeing the land uses of most Spanish cities with its institutional structures strategically located . Comparatively, Vigan has a more centralized blocking. The central plaza, Plaza Salcedo is centrifugal to the church and the municipal hall. Similarly though, the Vigan Cathedral faces west too, like its sister church of Lallo.
...
..to be continued