Batac is a town in Ilocos Norte right after Currimao if you are coming from Manila. The name Batac was derived from the Ilocano word “bataquennak” (also spelled as batakennak) which means “to help”. I guess this is because people are hospitable to both tourists and local residents. The population are mostly of Spanish and Chinese descent. Situated at the town center is the Immaculate Conception Parish Church which was built in the 1500’s. Earthquakes and fire has destroyed the church several times but it still stands majestically as you enter the town proper. Most of the residents are Catholics, although Batac has been the epicenter of Aglipayanism (a religion founded by the late priest Gregorio Aglipay) conversion to the Catholic faith increased in the early 1990’s. To the right of the Catholic church is the Imelda Cultural Center (where plays, basketball games, etc. are held) and the municipal hall where the present mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta together with the other municipal officers held their offices. On the left side of church is the Immaculate Conception Academy, a school run by the SSpS sisters. This is where I studied since gradeschool. Behind the school is the Parish rectory and convent where the parish priests (Fr. Manuel “BOng” Lamprea and Fr. Ericson Josue) resides. Batac, on the other hand numerous grade schools and high schools. It also has a state university (Mariano Marcos State University) that offers several programs from Agriculture, Engineering, Nursing, Tourism, Accounting and Pharmacy among others. Most of their students other than the ones that live in Batac, come from the nearby towns of Badoc, Laoag and Pinili. Some are also from the nearby provinces of Cagayan and Ilocos Sur. The Marcos Museum is just infront of the Catholic Church. This is a popular tourist destination and probably where Batac got its “tagline” -HOME OF GREAT LEADERS because of the country’s famous leaders like Ferdinant Marcos, Gen. Artemio Ricarte, Gregorio Aglipay and the present senators Rodolfo Biazon and Aquilino Pimentel are born and lived here. The town also has a several hospitals (Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center, Bumanglag Lying-In Clinic and Gaoat General Hospital) to cater to the health needs of the people. A public market (one of the biggest I’ve seen) is also situated just a few minutes away from the town proper.Like many other towns in the Ilocos Region, its vast agrarian plains and hills are its primary source of income. Common agricultural products that can be bought are garlic, onions, sili (pepper), eggplants, rootcrops, grains and tomatoes among many others.Livestock is also prominent in the more secluded barangays. Banks, fast food chains, boutiques and other establishments are also in the heart of the town to cater to the townspeople.
What is travel without tasting the food? Batac is well-known for their empanada. It’s the Ilocano version of tortillas with the Ilocano filling (egg, longganisa (sausage), raw papaya, munggo (a specie of beans). It costs 30 pesos for the special empanada and you can have it either with ketchup or the spicy Ilocano vinegar. Longganisa is made of ground pork and is stuffed in a pig’s instestine. It is dried for days under the heat of the sun and cooked by frying. It is good to serve it with kamatis (tomatoes) and fish sauce (bagoong). It is a common breakfast for the Ilocano community. Another popular delicacy is the bagnet. Bagnet or more popularly known as “chicharon” is a deep fried pork ala crispy pata also eaten with tomatoes. Tourists love to buy these “pasalubongs”.
