Baler, Aurora has been known for it's great waves for surfers and just recently, I visit the place with a group. It was actually a planned trip and apparently, there was a package purchased for this tour.
I only thought that we will just go there, arrive and be on the shore over the weekend however, the package had a line up of places to go during the whole stay. So as early as 2:00 am we all met in the meeting place and took the van that will take us to Baler.
After a couple of stop overs and almost 6 hours on the road from BGC, we arrived in the first stop. The Balete tree where they say is one of the biggest one in the country and by the looks of it, it does actually intimidating and very very huge. It's certainly a big tree. I bet some paranormal researches will also be interested in seeing that Balete tower. There's an "entrance fee" of 15 pesos and I'm just thinking that it's a donation in preserving the tourist spot.
Just a few minutes stop 2 was the Zabali hanging bridge. We'll it's a long bridge and you can drop any amount on a donation box just before you take your step in to the actual bridge.
I wasn't feeling well that time and with our tummy rumbling, we went to a place they call "rolling store". Its a street with food stores. They have a variety of cooked meals and grills for an affordable price.
A few walks after the breakfast we went to Museo De Baler. It houses many artifacts and paintings. They also have antique stuff and portraits of Donya Aurora. You will also see a large portrait of the late president Manuel Luis Quezon. There's an entrance fee of 30php and it's already good for wandering inside the museum and for the house replica of Donya Aurora.
The structure is actually located near the Museum. It does actually give you a feel of being at home during the early years. Wooden chairs, dining set up and an old iron plus a life size painting of the prominent family.
Sabang beach was our next destination and our temporal home over the weekend was the Smart beach house. It's a beach front hotel that has rooms that can accommodate 2 to 6 persons but can be arranged if you go over the count. Their prices ranges from 2000 pesos (room with hot shower and cable) and 1600 (for the one which doesn't have those two amenities). It's all airconed rooms and rates may vary on the season.
Roaring beach waves will entice you to take a dip and the strong current are inviting to those who wish to surf or learn. You can just pick a tutor for a fee and experience water power over a surf board.
Bummer, fever came and I wasn't able to join them on their trips from then on. I was left to take a rest and after a while, I was able to manage to walk from our end point to the other of the Sabang beach shores. There's a lot of beautiful hotels and some surfing tutorials along the way. There's also some bars and restaurants you can try. Pretty long walk, my feet got a little tired so I went back to the hotel to have a rest.
Growling tummy hidden hunger, I had to get up and look for a place to eat. I asked the front desk for some places I can try and they suggested for me to try the restaurants in the town plaza. They reminded me that tricyle fare from the shore is 15php and from the highway (which was only a few walks) will save me 3 pesos. Bored, I just tried walking and to my surprise, I'm back to the Museum. Along the way I passed by a chapel and also I visited the one near the Ancestral home. The Baler Church.
After I prayed for my birthday wish, I walked again and look for a place to pee and luckily there's a public toilet nearby. Did I mention I was hungry? lol. When I was about to go back to the food strip I came across the tourist information office. I went to ask where's the best place to eat but out of curiosity I asked for places I can go on that afternoon.
Ms. Riza of the Department of Tourism of Baler gave me a map and a tour booklet to give me more information about their town. She also asked their registered tour guides to help me tour around. With a slight negotiation, I was able to get a ride on a tricycle and head off to some of the best spots.
My first stop was the Ermita Hill. (not like the Ermita that we know in Manila), as kuya Joseph has mentioned, it was the highest point where you can see the entire Sabang shore and he actually mentioned a story about the white cross in the top of the mountain. He said there was a lady who was born in Baler but went to Canada during her younger years, She was diagnosed with cancer and she had a dream about a white cross and a vast sea. He also said that the woman was asked to visit her relatives that she hasn't met before she have her chemo. She was taken to the mountain and she said that it was one on her dream. She went back to Canada and to their surprise, the tumor was gone and what had happen was a miracle. Unfortunately, I was also told that she passed away just recently but not with that illness at the age of 95. I actually saw the tall white cross but since I wasn't feeling well, I didn't dare to walk the approximately 800 steps (ascend and descend combined). This is also the place where they usually held their senaculo.
There's also an altar of a patron of the seafarers which is actually facing the Pacific Ocean. They believe that She blesses the sea with abundance and it protects it from intense calamities as it welcomes the breeze form the Pacific.
There are ground holes near by the altar and I was told that those holes were connected to the church. Long time ago, there were pirates who go to their island and kidnap first born males to be sold as peasants and some were trained to be pirates too. There was a priest who decided to help them out and used those passages to keep them safe. A watcher will sound a horn to alarm the people from the shore to evacuate. Due to a high magnitude earthquake, the walls below the mountain crashed and the tunnel became inaccessible.
Tromba Marina Sculpture rest below Ermita Hill. Its a sculpture of the 6 men and the only lady who survived a great big tsunami centuries ago. The locals believe that their roots are from those 7 survivors and mostly in the area have some blood relation at some point.
We passed by Baler Fish port, Cemento BEach and Dimalangat islet but unfortunately I wasnt able to take photos. Along the high way, we passed a small falls called Digisit Falls. Kuya Jo said that the water is clean and you can drink from it. No residents are allowed in the top most area to prevent contamination of the water. He said that there are also volunteers who drop by the falls and clean.
A few minutes from the water formation, we arrived in some rock lime stones. Aniao Islets. There's a 20 php entrance fee and it's all worth it. You can actually swim in the great beach and you can also snorkle and finally find nemo (we'll there's alot of them there lol) near the shore.
Expect sudden rain showers every now and then in Baler so always bring an umbrella when you tour around. Oh yeah I was still hungry during this time so I decided to go back to the town and look for a place to eat. It also capped my Baler experience but will definitely come back for more.
Travel time form Manila is approximately 6 -8 hours. There are Genesis buses going back and forth on a schedule. It's like they leave Baler at 1pm and 4 pm. But there are vans also for 650 php per way.
Tourism Office of Baler
09178059444
and look for Ms. Riza Del Rosario
