Bangui Windmills And The Strange Absurdity Of Taking Life Too Seriously

What if none of this really matters? What if everything we stress about doesn’t mean as much as we think it does? And what if that’s the best news you’ve heard all week? As I stood before the massive Bangui Windmills, I couldn’t help but laugh a little. Here I was, surrounded by giants that survived everything nature threw at them, while I’ve spent the past week battling storms that only existed in my head.

All week long, I thought about canceling my trip to Bangui Windmills and Ilocos Norte. I kept thinking about the recent earthquakes and aftershocks. I kept thinking about my recent performance at work. And I kept thinking about trying to please everyone around me.

I worried about everything, from deadlines to tremors , as if the world would collapse if I didn’t have control. But standing there, living in the moment and watching those windmills slice through the northern wind like it was nothing, I felt foolish for giving so much power to fear.

So, what did the Bangui Windmills in Bangui, Ilocos Norte teach me? What they taught me had nothing to do with travel, and everything to do with how we live.

My Bangui Windmills adventure

Life in the Philippines isn’t for the faint-hearted. 

Here, you learn to live between disasters like earthquakes, typhoons, and volcanic eruptions that feel as common as jeepneys. 

And if nature doesn’t test you, the system will with corruption, traffic, and the pressure to be someone you’re not.

All that chaos gave me doubts and anxiety throughout the week. Even at the airport, just before boarding, I thought about canceling my weekend trip.

I asked the Universe for signs, but it stayed quiet. So I had to decide for myself.

As the plane began to take off, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

Then I remembered one of my favorite mottos in life: Que Sera, Sera. Whatever will be, will be.

And somehow, that simple thought brought me peace in a world that never stops shaking.

Day 1: Ilocos Norte Welcome Arch

I woke up to a beautiful sunrise as we made our way to Ilocos Norte. 

Less than 24 hours earlier, there were reports of an earthquake in Pagudpud and a storm headed our way. 

So far, there were no traces of those calamities. 

The day was calm, peaceful, and filled with the promise of adventure.

Soon, we arrived at the first stop of our Ilocos weekend trip: the Ilocos Norte Welcome Arch.

It was another unforgettable moment. 

Years ago, when I was broke and penniless, getting to Ilocos felt like a distant dream. 

I used to daydream about the Bangui Windmills, Vigan, and the Paoay Sand Dunes, convinced they were places I’d never see.

Standing there with my camera, I remembered how far I’d come. And how grit, persistence, and simply showing up had rewritten my story.

I finally had the chance to live. 

So, I wasn’t letting any storm inside my head keep me from enjoying the moment, or the tiny time we get on this planet.

Day 1: Poay Sand Dunes 

I had an absolute blast at the Paoay Sand Dunes. 

The exhilarating 4×4 ride, the rush of wind, and the endless stretch of golden sand slowly melted my stress away.

Somewhere between the bumps and laughter, I realized that maybe we all need a little dirt, sun, and open space to feel alive again. 

We forget that what we really need is sunlight, fresh air, and real conversations. We don’t need more filters or AI chats to feel alive. 

Our world is one big, beautiful playground, yet we choose to play online and talk to people who might not even be real.

And let’s be honest. 

Social media is making a lot of people anxious. 

Every scroll feels like an avalanche of bad news, from earthquakes and floods to wars and tragedies. 

Sure, awareness matters, but too much of it can twist how we see the world.

And the worst part is, once you start watching those reels or following those pages, the algorithm traps you in a cycle of fear. 

Before you know it, you start believing the world is falling apart, when in reality, the sun is still shining, the sea is still calm, and life quietly goes on.

As Seneca once said, “We suffer more in imagination than in reality.”

Day 1: A glimpse of the Bangui Windmills

Our tour organizer said we’d be exploring the most popular attractions in Ilocos on the next day.

So, we wouldn’t be seeing the Bangui Windmills, Calle Crisologo, Patapat Viaduct, or Paoay Church just yet.

Still, as we explored the Kapurpurawan Rock Formation, I already felt satisfied with the trip. 

Day one was packed with stops at Paoay Sand Dunes, the Malacañang of the North, and Cape Bojeador Lighthouse.

And each place felt like a quiet reminder that the world isn’t as bad as it seems.

The Kapurpurawan Rock Formation, in particular, made me realize that life can still be beautiful amid chaos and storms.

Take those rocks, for instance. 

They look flawless and surreal, as if an artist had sculpted them by hand.

But the truth is, they were shaped by wind, waves, and time.

They were sculpted to perfection by erosion and endless storms.

And perhaps that’s how we should live, too. 

We should let life shape us through its chaos.

We should all endure the rough edges, and find beauty in the process.

And as I admired the giant windmills and rock formations, a question suddenly popped into mind.

If the world ends tomorrow, will I be proud of how much time I spent worrying?

No.

But I’d be proud of the time I spent chasing dreams, exploring the world, and finding light amid all the storms I’ve survived.

After exploring the Kapurpurawan Rock Formation, we headed back to the van to make our way to our accommodations.

I looked out the window and caught one last glimpse of the enormous windmills turning slowly in the distance.

I wondered if the Bangui Windmills were bigger, or maybe more breathtaking than these giants.

But deep down, I knew it didn’t matter. What mattered was that I was finally here, alive, and learning to be at peace with the things I can’t control.

Day 2: The Journey to the Bangui Windmills

I sometimes wake up late and start working late.

But when it comes to exploring new places like the Bangui Windmills, I’m always the first one up.

Excited, I jumped out of bed, had breakfast, and took a slow walk along the beach.

The wind was strong, but it carried a kind of peace I hadn’t felt in a while.

The waves roared, the air was cool, and for a brief moment, it felt like time had slowed down just for me. 

It reminded me of the good old days, when mornings were slower, quieter, and people actually had time to breathe.

And I guess that’s what travel does best. 

It brings you back to yourself. 

It forces you to slow down, to look around, and realize that peace was never gone. you just forgot where to find it.

Then, we made final preparations for our journey from Pagudpud to the Bangui Windmills.

On our way to the Bangui Windmills, we made a quick stop to Patapat Viaduct, the 4th longest bridge in the Philippines.

Even under gray skies, the bridge looked stunning. 

Some might say it wasn’t perfect because the light wasn’t right, but perfection is an illusion.

Perfection is the enemy of good.

If we wait for the perfect time or perfect moment to do something, we might never do it at all.

And that’s why I was here this weekend, eager to explore the Bangui Windmills and the rest of the Ilocos region, gray skies and all.

From Patapat Viaduct, we made our way to the Bangui Wind Farm to finally meet the iconic giants of Ilocos Norte.

Soon, we took a right turn on a rough road that led to the gigantic Bangui Windmills.

My heart raced, as we got closer to the windmills.

I was, once again, getting closer to a place that I thought I’d only see in postcards, special media and textbooks.

Then, our van stopped.

This was it.

We stepped off our van, and were immediately mesmerized by the beauty and sheer size of the Bangui Windmills.

Day 2: Seeing the Bangui Windmills

I’d seen the Bangui Windmills in photos for years, but being there was something else. 

They weren’t just landmarks. They were living poetry.

Each slow, steady turn felt like a heartbeat reminding me that life, despite everything, keeps moving.

The wind was relentless, but it didn’t feel harsh. 

It felt cleansing, like it was trying to strip away everything I’d been carrying. 

I stood there, hair in my face, camera in hand, completely still. For once, I wasn’t thinking about work, deadlines, or the noise waiting for me back home.

All I could hear was the wind and the rhythm of the waves. It was simple, almost sacred.

And perhaps that’s what the Bangui Windmills are really about.

They are not just renewable energy or tourism, but an unexpected reminder that even in a world full of chaos, we can still find movement that’s calm, steady, and full of grace.

And guess what?

Every worry I’ve ever had felt small under those towering blades.

Then something hit me as I stared at the windmills.

I have changed.

I lost the fearless side of me that kept me sane throughout the years.

And when I say fearless, I don’t mean the version of me who climbed towering mountains, like Mount Purgatory and Mount Kabunian.

I mean the one who wasn’t afraid to make mistakes, and the one who didn’t spend days overthinking or trying too hard to look flawless in front of others.

Standing beneath the Bangui Windmills reminded me of how small my problems were.

It reminded me that we’re just specks of dust in an infinite, expanding universe.

So, if we’re all just dust, why do we treat every mistake like it’s the end of the world? 

And what’s the point of overthinking when even the Milky Way doesn’t know your name?

Day 2: Exploring the Bangui Windmills

We spent a lot of time wandering around the Bangui Windmills.

We breathed in the salt air and tried, for once, to simply exist.

As I stood beside one of those giants, I realized something I should have understood long ago.

In recent years, I’ve pushed myself to the limits, chasing milestones I once thought were impossible.

I got promotions, earned bonuses, even wrote a novel.

But standing there, all of that felt so small and meaningless.

Because in the end, we’re all just visitors here.

We’re borrowing time, chasing meaning, and leaving fingerprints on a planet that will forget our names in a hundred years.

The Earth has been spinning for about 4.5 billion years, and one day it, too, will vanish.

When that time comes, it will take every name, every title, and every ego with it.

So why not live like we were never meant to stay?

Why not love harder, laugh louder, and care a little less about life?

Because the absurd thing about life is how seriously we take it, knowing how temporary it is.

The dream home or car you stress over, the job title you cling to—they won’t follow you to your grave.

A century from now, someone else will sit where you’re sitting now.

Your name will be just another line in a family tree no one even bothers to look at.

Your fingerprints, name and achievements will be buried under new memories.

And yet, we lose sleep over someone else’s opinions, chasing validation from people who are just as lost as we are.

So, from now on, I’m going to do something I should’ve done a long time ago.

I’ll stop living for applause.

I’ll stop waiting for the perfect moment.

I’ll take the trip, even when everything feels uncertain.

I’ll eat the cake, even if it packs a thousand calories.

I’ll say “I love you,” and actually mean it.

Because if we’re all just passing through, I might as well dance while I’m here.

How much is the Bangui Windmills entrance fee?

There’s no entrance fee to visit the Bangui Windmills in Ilocos Norte. It’s completely free to enter and explore. However, if you want to do extra activities like horse rides or souvenir photo ops, those may come with small additional costs (around ₱100 or so)

How to go to the Bangui Windmills?

The easiest and most convenient way to get to the Bangui Windmills is to join a guided tour. It’s surprisingly affordable, comfortable, and includes stops to many places, like Vigan, Baluarte, and Paoay Sand Dunes. If you prefer to take this option, I recommend Vanlakwatsero.

What are the activities available in the Bangui Windmills?

Visitors can walk along the beach, take photos, and admire the massive wind turbines up close. You’ll also find souvenir stalls where you can buy snacks and local crafts.

For a bit of fun, locals sometimes offer horseback rides or ATV rides for a small fee. Most people come here to relax, enjoy the sea breeze, and take in the stunning views of the windmills against the sea.