Chavit's Baluarte

31 DEC. — We know Chavit Singson as the governor of Ilocos Sur for four terms, the last one ending in 2007. He was also the Erap gambling crony whose whistle-blowing led to Erap's ouster. But to most tourists in Vigan, especially the kids, Chavit is the man who built Baluarte, a private zoo that is open all day, all night, free.

Here visitors get to pet the animals that range the vast grounds, excepting the caged snakes and tigers naturally.

We went to Baluarte, which is on the boundary between Vigan and Caoayan, twice: at sunset of the 30th, aboard a calesa, and a bit after sun-up on New Year's Eve before the drive back to Manila.