After researching the Internet and asking several friends on what place they would want to visit with me this time, it ended up with a place called Baler, located in the province of Aurora.
According to Wikipedia, it was identified by Google, Inc. in 2009 as topping the list of beach destinations in the Philippines. It was described by Yahoo! Southeast Asia in March 2013 as one of the "top surf spots" in the Philippines. Nine-feet waves serve as its main tourist asset, attracting hundreds of surfers during the surfing season from September to February.
Now those are facts worth checking out, and the journey began on the evening of August 23, 2013.
DAY 0: August 23, 2013 (Friday)
After departing our Pasig-based office towards SM North EDSA, all we did was just trudge around the mall just killing time, waiting for our rented van to pick us up at around 9:00 PM, since travel time going to Baler would entail 5-6 hours.
We were picked up at 9:30 PM at the SM North EDSA Annex area, plied along EDSA, ate dinner at the Shell Oasis gas station in NLEX, and laughed inside the van until we dropped.
DAY 1: August 24, 2013 (Saturday)
When we arrived at our temporary “residence”, the AMCO Beach Resort, at 4:00 AM, after quickly freshening up a bit since there are no rooms available yet to check-in, we started searching for an available joint to eat breakfast, and eventually decided to eat at the Yellow Fin Bar and Grill along Buton street. Their breakfast meals (excluding drinks) cost around Php 65.00, wherein I ordered a Bangsilog meal.
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| Arrival at AMCO Beach Resort |
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| Breakfast at Yellow Fin Bar and Grill |
When I saw that the dark skies were lightening up a bit, I rushed towards Sabang Beach, which was just a stone’s throw from our breakfast place, and prepared my digicam as I await for the Baler sunrise to show its magnificence before my very eyes, and it opened its curtains at 5:45 AM.
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| Baler Sunrise |
A few walks from where I took sunrise shots, we saw a Tsunami Marker situated in a corner, barely seen by tourists. This marker was constructed by PHIVOLCS in order to remind the folks around that Tsunamis can never be stopped, but with proper safety measures and preparations, casualties can be avoided.
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| PHIVOLCS Tsunami Marker |
We then proceeded near the Baler town hall and saw the “Baler 400 Years Monument”, which was dedicated to the people of Baler on the occasion of the 400th Anniversary of Baler's township, and inaugurated on August 19, 2011.
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| "Baler 400 Years" Monument |
Designed by Luis Lee Jr., he explained that the Baler structure consists of four symbolic pillars, each representing 100 years of the town, which – from the base to the tip – are interconnected by 100 stainless horizontal bars. The four pillars represent the continuous rise of the town from its humble beginnings into one rich in history and culture and an emerging model for rural development.
Lee said that the bars, which glow and glitter during daytime, are like candles to the town’s quadricentennial cake. The platform of the monument is made of Vigan tiles symbolizing the town’s kayumanggi race enriched by its Spanish heritage.
Our next stop was the Doña Aurora Aragon Quezon House, which was located at Rizal St. corner San Luis St. This house was rebuilt in honor of the wife of the late Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon. Doña Aurora who was known for her untiring efforts in providing social welfare services especially to the people of Aurora Province. Unfortunately, on this day, they did not allow visitors to enter the house, kaya sa stairs na lang kami, but we saw "The Manuel L. Quezon Presidential Car - 1936 Chrysler Airflow Limousine, which was the official car of the President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines.
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| Doña Aurora Quezon House |
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| 1936 Chrysler Airflow Limousine |
A few steps from the Aurora Quezon House was the Quezon Memorial Park, a quiet park of trees and lawns was developed in honor and in memory of the late president Manuel L. Quezon. A marker fenced by concrete and set on a circular cement platform serves as a landmark of Baler, the birthplace of Quezon.
In here, you would chance upon a Philippine Historical Committee marker, a statue of Quezon, and a 1995 World War II Aurora Veterans monument and memorial. At this point in time, the Museo de Baler was still closed since it opens at 8:00 AM, so in order to kill time, we just visited the Baler Public Market.
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| Philippine Historical Committee marker |
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| Manuel L. Quezon statue |
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| World War II Aurora Veterans Monument and Memorial |
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| Museo de Baler |
After more than an hour, we went back to the Quezon Memorial Park and saw the General Douglas MacArthur car, a 1937 Cadillac Cabriolet. This car was especially built by General Motors of America for the late President Manuel L. Quezon. It arrived in the Philippines on November 4, 1937. In 1938, it was turned over to Gen. Douglas MacArthur who used it all throughout his tour of duty in the Philippines
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| 1937 Cadillac Cabriolet |
We now entered the Museo de Baler, which houses several historical artifacts that link it closely to the Philippines’ first and longest colonizer, Spain.
When you enter the museum, you will be asked to register and to pay any amount for donation, and then you are free to roam around.
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| Registration Form |
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| 1871 Bell |
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| To whom do you pledge allegiance? |
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| Photowall Wackiness! |
Since we ate in the early morning, it would be but natural that our precious stomachs would now be grumbling, so we zipped straight to the Sabang Beach area and ate our lunch at the “Hungry Surfer”, the restaurant of Bay’s Inn. We spent a mere total of only Php 1,500.00 for a full set meal, inclusive of Crab and Corn Soup, Buttered Chicken, Sweet and Sour Pork, Crispy Canton, Steamed Rice, Fresh Fruit Plate, and a 1.5 liter Coca-Cola, and we were seven individuals. Most of the food served was very delicious and I recommend this resto for Baler visitors.
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| Lunch @ The Hungry Surfer |
We went back to the AMCO Beach Resort in order to finally check-in and fix ourselves for the second half of this day’s adventure. Room rate was only Php 950.00, which can accommodate 2-3 persons.
At 2:00 PM, we were now at the PAGASA Baler Radar Station, located at Sitio Diguisit, Barangay Zabali, with an elevation of 178.2 meters above sea level. Before arriving at the site, you will be passing by a very steep one-way road, which means that your vehicle should be really that powerful or else you will be relegated to walk uphill.
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| PAGASA Baler Radar Station |
This station is only one of the weather stations around the Philippines which collects data to be processed by PAGASA to be useful information, but to be sent and to process a lot of data from several weather stations actually takes time. It actually has a tie up with the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Baler so that they could give real time reports on the weather of Baler and to give warning to the residents if there’s a danger on the coming storm.
At the top of the station, there is a Doppler Radar, which protects the dish transceiver, because when winds are strong (especially on storms) the dish acts as like a sail and would literally be blown away if it was not for the dome. The dome is made of fiber because metal blocks the radiowaves. You can also view the Pacific Ocean and the Dicasalarin Bay from here.
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| Doppler Radar |
Next chapter was visiting the Aniao Islets. With two of them standing side by side together, looking like twins battling the mighty waves of the Philippine Sea in unity, this is one of the iconic locations in Baler. A great spot for nature photography buffs!
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| Aniao Islets |
Already covered with wooden slabs, the Ancient Escape Tunnel was used by the people of Baler in the olden days to escape from raiding Moros.
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| Ancient Escape Tunnel |
A watchtower stands at the back of the tunnel. This is connected to the Santa Isabel Church, a Spanish structure used by the townsfolk to alert them during Moro pirate invasions. The tunnel, by the way, leads up to Ermita Hill where the chapel now stands.
In December of 1735, a huge tidal wave washed away the entire town of Baler. Thousands of lives were lost except for 7 families who climbed to the top of Ermita Hill and were saved from the wrath of the tsunami. Now these statues serve as a symbol of those who have survived the tragic disaster, and is located at the bottom of the hill.
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| Bottom Part of Ermita Hill |
Trudging 110 steps to the top, you will be able to view the Pacific Ocean at a viewdeck. You will also see the exit point of the Ancient Escape Tunnel, as well as the Dicasalarin Bay at another viewdeck within the area.
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| A view of the Pacific Ocean |
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| Exit Point of the Ancient Escape Tunnel |
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| A view of the Dicasalarin Bay |
After feeling a bit exhausted from all the walking, we went to La Cez Food House to savor their Halo-Halo Special for only Php 45.00, and also took photos near an old lighthouse at the Sabang Beach area.
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| Facade of La Cez Food House |
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| Halo-Halo Special at Php 45.00 |
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| All smiles after the Halo-Halo experience. |
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| Old Lighthouse |
Arriving at AMCO Beach Resort before 6:00 PM, most of us slept after a tiring Day 1, and after a few hours, a heavy downpour ensued since there was a Low Pressure Area arriving at that time in Eastern Visayas.
Waking up at 9:30 PM, we rode our van, since it was still raining hard, and went for dinner at the Aliya Surf Resort, which was just near AMCO.
We ordered Ensaladang Pako (Php 80.00), Pinakbet (Php 120.00), Pork Sisig (Php 160.00), and Mushroom Soup (Php 120.00), all of which amounted to only Php 960.00 for two sets.
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| Dinner @ Aliya Surf Resort |
You missed to post our picture of the old lighthouse hehe..
ReplyDeletethanks at napansin mo hehehe...old lighthouse pic uploaded. :)
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