Saturday, January 28, 2012

Part2: Baler, Aurora Day 1 - Places to Visit or See / Touring Baler

Touring Baler is possible just by riding a tricycle.  After breakfast, and a bunch of rest, we started our tour at 10:30am but I highly suggest to start earlier than what we did to enjoy the spots more. Aliya Surf called two tricycles for us then I told the driver what I wanted to see and the tour is on!


TIP1: Make sure to ask how much will it cost you to tour the spots you wanted to see.  Our drivers didn't said any rate saying "Bahala na po kayo", which is hard for me because I'm generous so I think we gave a lot of tip hehe.

TIP2:  Eat heavy breakfast and bring some foods and water so you wont get hungry on the road. 

1st Stop - Quezon Memorial Park and Museo De Baler

We went first to Quezon Memorial Park and Museo De Baler.  The Park was established in honor of Manuel L. Quezon and the museum is also about the culture and heritage of the earliest civilization.  A huge statue (in sitting position) of the late president Manuel L. Quezon and his presidential car will greet you before entering the museum.  Even if it seems that the museum is somehow neglected because we were the only tourist there, I highly appreciate the place and I think it is worth visiting.

Fees: donation only

beautiful Mural at Baler Mueum's facade

Manuel L. Quezon's presidential car.

MMFF trophies for the movie Baler

wearable during spaniard colonization

we've got a rich history to appreciate!

2nd Stop - Aurora-Aragon Quezon's House and Baler Church

Just few blocks away from Baler museum is Aurora Aragon-Quezon's house. Aurora Aragon-Quezon was the wife of Manuel L. Quezon's wife.  Not just a president's first lady but her compassion to help was very clear as she once  became a chairperson of Philippine National Red Cross during her time. We didn't manage to go inside the house due to lack of time (wish we started early).

Fees: donation only


Just infront of Aurora Aragon-Quezon's house is a very historical landmark in Baler - the Church of  Baler.  Baler Church is a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Institute.  It was reconstructed by Aurora-Aragon Quezon.

Have you guys watched Baler movie?   Or are you familiar with the famous "Siege of Baler"?


Baler Church is the site of the Siege of Baler.  The story was there were more or less 50 military Spaniards based in the town during Spanish colonization under Captain Enrique de las Morenas y Fossí.   Morenas heard of a possible attack by the Filipino troops for independence, so he and his men used to store food supply in the church planning it to be their headquarters in case of war.  When the Filipino troops came in, the Spanish soldiers went to Baler Church surrounded by the troops outside.  Filipino troops made several attempts to make the the soldiers surrender, but to no avail.  It took them almost a year being held up inside the church before they surrender! Imagine, they were trapped in a small space with only limited food supply, they had to kill and eat carabao, dogs, etc just to survive.  Some died of disease like beri-beri and dysentery.  After being held up for so long, only 33 Spaniards survived.




3rd Stop - Ermita Hill Park

It's almost lunchtime when we reached our third stop - Ermita Hill Park.  The story behind the statues was a tsunami came into the town last December 1735 when only few families survived by going up hill.

Fees: none

photo ops muna

Go up the hill for just 10 minutes and you'll be able to see the stunning view of Baler's coastline.

Jump shot before going down

4th Stop - Lukso-lukso Islets

We're totally hungry but it seems there's no place to eat lunch anywhere.  That's exactly what I'm talking about when I say bring a lot of food hehe.  Anyway, we hurriedly went to two more spots before going back to the town to eat some loving lunch. 

Lukso-lukso islet is part of Baler's coastline with beautiful rock formations and small stones to jump, hence it is called Lukso-lukso.  Did some photoshoot, then we're off to Diguisit Beach.

Fees: none

hungry na guys?

5th Stop - Diguisit Beach

Picnic time!  Diguisit beach seems a famous to unwind and bond with family and friends. Saw some families staying here for lunch so if you've got some time, stay here and eat your packed lunch.  Numerous rock formations comprises diguisit beach.  Not sure if this place is good for swimming, haven't seen anyone swim the beach. 

Fees: none



We went back to town to eat in a small scale carenderia.  Then we're off to our first day's highlight - Ditumabo falls or so called Mother falls. :)

My Baler Trip
Part1: Baler, Aurora Day 1 - Baler Transportation and Aliya Surf Resort Hotel
Part2: Baler, Aurora Day 1 - Places to Visit or See / Touring Baler
Part3: Baler, Aurora Day 1 - Ditumabo Falls in San Luis, Aurora and Dinner at Bay's Inn
Part4: Baler, Aurora Day 2 - Surfing Time in Sabang Beach, Baler
Part5: Baler, Aurora Day 2 - Rolling Store and Balete Tree
2Days/1Night Itinerary and Expenses in Baler, Aurora
List of Baler Beach Resorts | Baler Accomodation

15 comments:

Chyng said...

so, magkano binayad nyo sa tricycle? =)
malayo ba yung falls?

adventurousfeet said...

feeling ko tricycle for a day dapat siguro mga 600 lang (pattern ko lang sa pagudpud di rin ako sure) pero i paid almost 1k naawa kasi ko sa trike driver nahirapan sya dun sa papuntang ditumabo.. nasiraan pa. sinamahan din nya kami papunta dun. yup malayo mga 40-45minutes from the town via trike. then 15-30minutes walk(depende sa paglalakad) sabi nung iba baka kayang tawaran ng 500 pesos lang for a day :)

Pinoy Adventurista said...

malayo ang Ditumabo sa Baler at mahirap i-navigate ang daan papunta dun sa power plant from the hi-way... buti kinaya ng tricycle... :)

chino said...

KAMI nga 800 pesos ang per trike eh pero ok na yun . share share naman kami

Elal Lasola said...

kami rin mga 800. tinawaran nmin noon ng 600 pero nabalik rin sa 800 dahil nga malayo at mahirap ang daan.

adventurousfeet said...

ok lang madami naman kayo. :)

adventurousfeet said...

true kaawa lang din kaya tulong na din sa kanila mababait naman sila

Unknown said...

..grabe ang adventure papunta sa Dimatabo falls or Mother falls, galing ng mga tricycle driver at ang lakas ng makina ng mga motor nila at kinaya ang paakyat ng bundok sa mabatong (malalaking bato) daan.

Ian | GoingRoamingWandering said...

adventurous feet, hindi kaya ba ng tryke tour for a day ang ditumabo falls plus yung islets or out of the way sila kaya kelangan separate?

adventurousfeet said...

tanda ko parang out of the way yata pero depende naman sa inyo basta maaga lang magstart and watch your time lang din kung madami pa kayong ibang puntahan :) one day lang naman kami sa falls and yung mga islets. kinabukasan yung surfing and balete tree kinulang na kasi kami sa time nung 1st day :)

Ian | GoingRoamingWandering said...

ah okey, so na-split din ang tour nyo? Pano yun seperate payment from the rate package kasi di ba usually 800php ang tour nila? Please do reply.

adventurousfeet said...

uu separate payment pero since di naman whole day syempre mas maliit bayad haha. kung halfday lang eh di ok na yung 300-400 siguro depende nalang sa napagusapan. :) wala naman silang package na fixed basta kung ano nalang agreement. wala kaming contact na driver kung sino lang available sa pilahan yun lang ni hire namin :)

Ian | GoingRoamingWandering said...

@adventurous feet - so kung separate almost same din pala ng whole day tour. Mapapagkatiwalaan naman kung sino sa pila ng trycycle ang i-hire?
Gusto sana namin is half day then the next yung part 2. Ano ba ang tandem na pupuntahan A. Balete Tree and Ditumabo. tapos B. Diguisit/Ermita Hill/Museo and other cultural sights ganyan ba yung hati base din sa pagkakakalapit ng place.
Next week kasi balak na namin pumunta kaya pasensya na kung matanong. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

tinign mo po kung dalawa kame ng Gf ko from cubao and 3days 2nights magkano magagsatos naming dalawa?
pls do reply po kase i dont have any idea dun sa lugar e :)

steph said...

kaya po ba ng van papunta ng falls? :)

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