It's More Fun In The Philippines 2021: Beloved Baler

Hey yow, Super Folks! People of Earth, after more than a month hiatus, I'm back and so ready to blog again. It's another day and another story to tell. What's up? How are you? How are you feeling today? You know, it's 2021, and regretfully the pandemic is still here. I just hope that everyone is well, because indeed, health is wealth. My take on this, talk to God, don't forget to exercise, take your vitamins, get your daily dose of sunshine, eat fruits and veggies, be kind to yourself, laugh more, worry less, and try to always look on the optimistic side of life.

Take care of ourselves, because I guess it's not correct to say, we only live once. We live everyday and it's better to say, we only die once. Let's make it a point to practice self-care and love ourselves more, like I always say. By the way, speaking of self-care, allow me to share an inspirational quote from Roy T. Bennett, author of The Light in the Heart.

"You never change your life until you step out of your comfort zone; change begins at the end of your comfort zone."

Stepping out of your comfort zone, when was that time? What did you feel after and what did you learn from it? I guess, one memorable event I could share, related to this topic was when I decided to join small group tour.

Just like everybody else, whenever I'm not at work or busy, I often check my News Feed and I remember, that was early 2019 when my college classmate posted about traveling with strangers. That was pretty interesting, so, I asked her right away where would be the tour and how much would it cost.

Weekend travelers, DIY travelers, or simply, travel lovers call it "Joiners Tour". According to primer.com.ph, "Joiners Travel Tour is basically a coordinated group of people who share the same goal of traveling to a specific place-typically strangers in one group. The joiner has to pay the worth of the tour, show up at the rendezvous, and enjoy."

On one hand, normal feeling, I was doubtful and unready to join, but on the other hand, I was excited. I was somewhat thirsty to do something new and be a brave wanderer, to experience traveling with strangers.

DITUMABO FALLS (MOTHER FALLS)

Lo and behold, I finally plucked up my courage to join, after more than a week of decision making. It really helped that my college classmate was the host. Somehow I felt safe, secure and at ease, plus the fact that the tour package was invitingly cheap. All in all, I only paid PHP 1,799 or roughly USD 38.00, better price than traveling solo.

In 3, 2, 1, Go! Hello Baler! Guess what? It's always been a dream of mine to visit this place, like since I was in college. Thank God that the tour package was available when I needed it most. Yes, it was serendipity, during that time I felt like I had job burnout and I thought the only way to refresh my mind was a short vacation outside Metro Manila, go somewhere warm with a beach and natural attractions.

BALETE TREE (MILLENNIUM TREE)

    Sharing the tour inclusions

• Tour Coordinator
• Roundtrip Van Transfer (Manila-Baler-Manila)
• Driver's Fee and Meal 
• Fuel Charge
• Toll and Parking Fee
• Air-conditioned Accommodation (Lodge, Inn or Private House)

and the places to visit

• Aurora Quezon Ancestral House
• Baler Church
• Museo de Baler
• Old Balete Tree
• Ermita Hill
• Tromba Marina
• Sabang Beach
• Diguisit Beach & Rock Formations
• Mother Falls (Ditumabo Falls)
• Hanging Bridge

I had to file one-day leave for the tour because I felt I would need enough time to be super ready. I would need to sleep, pack my things, and be mentally prepared. Meet-up time was 12:10 a.m. Manila Time at Starmall EDSA-Shaw, a famous place or pick-up point for tour joiners and hikers. So, I had to ride a taxi early, like more than an hour before. The schedule was usual, the same when we had our Sagada DIY travel. It's a perfect time especially if you'd like to experience comfy van or bus ride, fewer vehicles on the roads means fewer traffic jams.

We were roughly 18 passengers inside the van, excluding our driver. It was a diverse population, there was a couple, small group of colleagues, friends of my friend, and me, alone. At first, I was really shy and afraid to make small talk.

And you know, since everything seemed awkward for me, I let it pass and just slept for more than four hours. It was a nice morning though, our estimated time of arrival was 7:00 a.m., and we were on time. The travel time from Manila to Baler is roughly five to six hours, so it's best to bring neck pillow, travel snacks and enough drinking water. On our itinerary, the first tourist spot was the giant Balete Tree, but as far as I can remember, we had to change it and went to the Mother Falls instead.

SABANG BEACH

Anyhow, before we go further, let's take a deep dive, where and what is the history of Baler?

From Wikipedia, Baler, officially the Municipality of Baler, is a 3rd class municipality and capital of the province of Aurora, Philippines. It is located 244 kilometers (152 miles) northeast of Manila via mountain pass accessible by bus and private vehicle. It is host to spectacular geographic formations and is situated on a vast plain at the south end of Baler Bay, a contiguous segment of the Philippine Sea. It became the capital of Aurora on June 14, 1951 under Republic Act No.648 signed by President Elpidio Quirino. It remained the seat of government of Aurora on November 21, 1978 under Batas Pambansa Blg. 7 signed by President Ferdinand Marcos.

According to National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), the name Baler originated  from the term "balod", which is indigenous name for mountain doves or palomas montes that abound in the area. It was founded as a mission by Franciscan missionaries headed by Fr. Blas Palomino in 1609. The early inhabitants were Dumagat and Ilongot natives. In 1611, Fr. Francisco de San Antonio built its first church made of bamboo and nipa. In 1658, the ecclesiastical administration of Baler was turned-over to the Augustinian Recollects. In 1703 Baler was returned to the Franciscans.

On December 27, 1935, a big tidal wave or "tromba marina" wiped out the town, then located at Barrio Sabang. An undetermined number of inhabitants were drowned and only 14 families survived. Among the survivors were the Angaras, Bijasas, Bitongs, Lumasacs, Carrascos and Pobletes. The Muslim raiders attacked Baler, Casiguran and Palanan in 1798.

aurora.gov.ph- There are several stories attributed to the origin of the name Baler. Legend has it that the name of the place was originated from Lakan Balid, a chieftain of a prosperous and thriving village, when the Spanish soldiers came upon, in their exploration of the northeastern coast of Luzon. The Spanish soldiers found it hard to utter the native word Balid that they called him instead as Lakan Baler. A story told of a certain Fray Valeriano, a priest who was once stationed in the village. He was very kind and people loved him so much. The villagers commonly knew him as Padre Valer. When he died, the village was named in his honor, later became Baler.

Another legend said that it is derived from a native word Balid, the dialect of the Aetas/Dumagats. To them, it meant "a place to come home to" or pinagbalikan. Aetas' tribes are known for their nomadic character, but no matter where they roam or their nomadic instinct took them, they always come back to a place along the coast which they called Balid. Another story told was that of a Spanish Priest asking a native woman the name of the place. The woman answered the Vale for she mistook him asking for her name. Later, the Spaniards called the place "Baler" for they found it hard to utter Vale. -aurora.gov.ph

"Baler is a town on the Philippine island of Luzon. In its center, Museo de Baler chronicles colonial history. On the coast, Cemento Beach is known for powerful surf, and Sabang Beach is lined with resorts. Nearby, Ermita Hill offers panoramic views. Inland, Baler Hanging Bridge crosses the mouth of Tibag-Sabang River. To the east, the distinctive, angular Baler Lighthouse overlooks Dicasalarin Cove." -Google

After feeding our mind and now that we already know its story, let's go back to my story. So, we went first to Ditumabo Falls, aka Mother Falls of San Luis. Whether you like walkathon, trekking or hiking, as long as you have strong feet and patience, the walking activity for you, to get to this natural attraction, no doubt, you can call it "piece of cake". From vigattintourism.com, Ditumabo Falls has been remarked as the Mother Falls in the town of San Luis, Aurora. The exotic charm of the falls will surely leave an impression on every visitor as well as positive mark to the environment. The crystal clear water of Ditumabo Falls gushes endlessly, flows and twists among countless rocks and boulders downstream. This 140-foot falls is nothing short spectacular. The waterfall is surrounded by huge cliffs, green shrubbery and vines making the place a perfect venue for family picnics and nature tripping.

ERMITA HILL

Everyone was hungry, after that long van ride. Before the activity, we went first to the nearby eatery where we bought and ate our breakfast. It's cool that there are roughly 10 eateries and shops around, inside and outside the entrance of the tourist spot. Buying coconut there is worth it, compare to Manila, the price is cheaper, it also has more meat and juice inside. The entrance fee we paid was PHP 30 (USD 0.60) each. Of course, we had to change clothes and I had to wear sandals and short. According also to the website vigattintourism.com, located within Ditumabo-Diteki Watershed Reservation, the falls can be reached on foot from jump-off point for less than an hour. This natural is set against towering hardwood trees and exotic flora, and is adjacent to the rich ecosystem of Mount Danayag. As part of the renewable energy program of the Municipality of San Luis, a 1.2 megawatt hydroelectric power generation system was constructed in the area to provide sustainable power to neighboring villages. Daily tour is supervised by the Kalalakihang Katuwang sa Kaunlaran ng Ditumabo (KKKD), a local organization advocating environmental conservation and awareness.

THRILLING VIEW FROM ERMITA HILL

Pretty much, it took us more than an hour to reach the waterfalls. The trail going there is winding and challenging, furthermore, there are rocky and slippery areas, so, it's important to be extra cautious, relax and don't rush. An impressive Ditumabo Falls, it was sincerely satisfying to see that after a long walk. That time we knew the place would be touristy because it was weekend, but we didn't care, we still enjoyed the natural cold water and its relaxing sound.

I'll tell you now, with Baler, it was love at first sight, I really fell in love with the tourist spots there, the good vibes and because I missed them badly, I decided to join the tour again the following month. It was more fun, like our experience when we visited the balete tree, the second time was better because we went there in the morning, it's not dark and we were able to see what's inside. It's like an enchanted small chamber, made out of big fat roots, and you'll also feel it when you go outside. According to Wikipedia, this balete tree is locally called "Millennium Tree" in Barangay Quirino, Maria Aurora, Aurora province in the Philippines.

In addition, it is claimed to be the largest of its kind in Asia. It is estimated to be about 600 plus years old and 60 meters (20 ft) tall with its roots about 10 meters (33 ft) to 15 meters (49 ft) in diameter. It is possible for adult people to squeeze into the center of its root network.

"In some areas of the country, some people believe that balete trees are dwelling places for supernatural beings (anito) like diwata, kapre or tikbalang. In some places, sorcery rituals are known performed inside the chambers formed by the tree. Also among others, some superstitious folks suggest not bringing in balete as decorative plants inside a house as they allegedly invite ghosts."-Wikipedia

DIGUISIT ROCK FORMATIONS

It's not only about the amazing places in Baler, no doubt, another reason why I went back was because of surfing. Not all, but I guess many would love to learn this water sport including me. On our first tour, we stayed quite far from the main beach and we had to ride a tricycle just to do our first surfing session, which was time-consuming. Thankfully, on our second tour, it was just few steps from Sabang Beach.

"The eastern portion of Luzon is known for its mighty waves, thus attracting wave chasers and sun chasers alike to its coastal areas. One of those destinations is the town of Baler in the province of Aurora, and Sabang Beach is Baler's most notable surfing spot. Coming from Manila, the long but very scenic drive will further fuel your excitement and will make the journey as enjoyable as your destination." - philippinebeaches.org

"Like Siargao and La Union, the province of Aurora is a paradise for surfers with its towering waves and long stretch of coastline facing the Pacific Ocean. Because of this, Baler surfing has become a favorite long weekend activity of city dwellers. Dubbed as the "Birthplace of Philippine Surfing". Baler caters to all surfers from beginners to professionals thanks to its versatile surfing spots. Sabang Beach is the most frequented and popular Baler surfing spot because of its soft sand and thrilling waves that could reach up to 14 ft during peak Baler surfing season. There are many resorts, bars, restaurants lined in the two-kilometer stretch of beach." - zenrooms.com

BALER HANGING BRIDGE (ZABALI HANGING BRIDGE)

I remember, we paid PHP 300 (USD 6) each, for an hour of surfing with instructor. Tell you, it's worth a try, the waves are beginners-friendly, surfers too. It's really cool to try again and again those basic surfing maneuvers, never miss those when you go to Sabang. Hope you'll also see the purple sky before sunrise we witnessed the next morning, we didn't expect that to be breathtaking, good thing we woke up early. Second day and sadly, our last day in Baler too, we knew it would be very busy, like non-stop tour.

Aside from beach and waterfalls, we also visited other famous tourist spots, we went first to Ermita Hill where we had seen the bird's eye view of the municipality, the beautiful view of the beach, first and second tour, we also went up to the Ermita Hill Cross or White Cross and that huge brown rock where we had a quick photoshoot, for our Instagram accounts, the view of the beach is also magnificent in that area. Furthermore, I honestly don't know how many steps we had to climb just to get to the top, all I know, it made us sweat a lot, like we had a worthy cardio exercise.

From baler.gov.ph - Ermita Hill, located at Brgy. Zabali, this plateau covers an area of about two hectares overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It is approximately six kilometers from the town of Baler via Kinalapan-Cemento road. It can also be reached by traversing the river of Tibag and is more or less 20 minutes walk from Castillo. Sometime in 1735, at two o'clock in the morning a phenomenal tidal wave washed away the old town of Baler. A tidal rose at such a velocity that within a few hours even the terrain where the town existed had also disappeared. Fray Jose de San Rafael, OFM, the parish priest of Casiguran was on vacation in Baler when the event took place. He was among the survivors who made their way up the hill of Point Baja (Ermita) by swimming. He narrated that at about two o'clock in the morning of December 27, 1735, the sacristan major of the convent called his attention to the rising tidal wave engulfing the town. It was weird occurrence for there was no sign or manifestation of impending bad weather. The previous night was clear and starry. Neither were the towns of Casiguran, the mission of Dipaculao and the hamlet of Dingalan affected regardless of the fact that these places were located along the same shorelines. The records on Tromba Marina mentioned a number of families who survived foremost of which were the Angara, Bihasa, Bitong, Carrasco, Ferreras, Lumasac and Poblete. The old folks referred to the devastated town as the KINAGUNASAN.

MUSEO DE BALER

Moving on, talking about picturesque place in Baler, that's the Diguisit Rock Formations. We just stayed there for less than an hour to take pictures and post its striking beauty on major social media sites like Facebook and Instagram. It was low tide when we went there and I really didn't know that it's a beach. Thanks to vigattintourism.com, according to this site, it's the main attraction of the Diguisit Beach. It is the evidence of the million of years of wave pounding that mold its form. The Diguisit rock formations just lie beside the famous Cobra Reef, it is the ultimate surfing paradise for surfers in Baler who want to take a pounding. The three special things that you would get from this destination are the rock formation which is thirty meters high and perfect for rock climbing, beyond it are a surfing paradise that surfers will certainly enjoy and lastly, the white sand beach which is a delicate location for beach-goers.

"White sand, seashells and crushed corals are found along the stretch of Diguisit Beach. The place is ideal for diving and snorkeling. 96 hectares of the area was declared as marine protected area and 16 hectares as buffer zone. The diguisit falls was the source of water of the residents during the American regime." - baler.gov.ph

The next attraction we visited was the pretty but scary Hanging Bridge. My bad, I was really scared to cross it because I felt it was unsafe, it was too shaky, so we ended up going to the nearby souvenir shops. From the site pieceandescapades.weebly.com, "located in Zabali Rd, Baler, Aurora. The bridge was built not really intended for tourist attraction yet it's more for locals use, but the distinctive view of the river from a different perspective is what makes the hanging bridge became popular. The bridge connects the two sides which are the Barangay Tibang-Barangay Sabang. It is located at the endpoint of Zabali road."

Manuel L. Quezon, 2nd President of the Philippines (1935-1944)

Are you an art enthusiast or history buff? Do you love museums? Make sure to visit Museo de Baler, from sites.google.com, this museum displays artifacts and paintings about the history of Aurora, exhibits on the ethnic groups Dumagat and Ilongot, and photos and memorabilia of native son Manuel L. Quezon, second Philippine president. There is a section regarding the Siege of Baler, with some film props from the local film "Baler". Baler was the Spaniards' last stand during the Philippine Revolution of 1898. Some 50-odd Spanish troops held out in Baler Church during a year-long siege and refused to surrender, not knowing (or believing) that the war has ended. The Spanish government hailed the soldiers as heroes, while Philippine president Emilio Aguinaldo commended them for their valor and granted them safe passage to repatriate. The Filipinos hailed Aguinaldo for this honorable action.

BALER TOWN PLAZA

"Its local museum, Museo de Baler, houses several historical artifacts that link it closely to the Philippines' first and longest colonizer, Spain. Inaugurated in 2002, the museum's historical mural, a cold cast that covers the façade, was created by sculptor Toym Imao, son of National Artist for the Visual Arts Abdulmari Imao. The work was commissioned by Sen. Edgardo Angara and the Baler Historical Committee. Ilovita Mesina, Baler's local historian, said the museum was put up to commemorate the Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day and relive the Siege of Baler." - lifestyle.inquirer.net

"Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time." I just saw this online and I agree, we were like preoccupied and we almost forgot that we had to go back to Manila. It was our last day but we couldn't let go of the untroubled Sunday vibe in Baler. After Museo de Baler, we continued strolling around. We went to other tourist spots, we went inside Baler Church aka "San Luis Obispo Parish Church" to pray. From baler.gov.ph site, the first church of Baler was constructed in 1611 (Sabang) at the initiative of Fray Juan Francisco de San Antonio OFM, the first parish priest. It was twelve by six shacks made of bamboo and nipa. In 1700 the building was improved and made from stones and rocks plastered together by lime and honey. In 1735 this church was destroyed by the phenomenal Tromba Marina. They moved the town in-land about eight meters above, sea level and built their church at the highest point they could locate. It is where the church is now today.

Also, according to baler.gov.ph, in 1939 the church underwent a major renovation through the initiative of the late President Quezon's wife Dona Aurora Aragon Quezon, their family and friends with the cooperative effort of the townspeople. The church was proclaimed as one of the historical landmarks of the Philippines by the National Historical Institute on February 29, 2000. Baler Town Plaza is just nearby, don't forget to stop by and pose in front of the signage. It's very popular, we had to stand in a long queue when we were there.

DONA AURORA HOUSE

Baler 400 Years Monument. This monument is dedicated to all people of Baler on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of Baler's Township. The pure, clean lines of this elegant structure by foremost installation artist Jaynee are deeply symbolic. His design is composed of four pillars-representing Baler's 400 years of history interconnected by 100 horizontal Bars. The four pillars represent the continues rise of the town, its humble beginnings to what it is now: a rich in history and an emerging model for rural development. Each pillar represents a hundred years, thus a total of 400 years. - baler.gov.ph

Dona Aurora Aragon Quezon

From the base to the tip, the four pillars are interconnected by 100 stainless bars, representing the unbroken history of Baler, the town that gave birth to the first president of the Philippines and two senate presidents. The 100 stainless bars which glow 2 glitter daylight, are like candles to Baler's quadricentennial cake. The platform of this 40-foot monument is made of vigan tiles symbolizing Baler's Kayumanggi race enriched by Spanish heritage. Altogether, the beautiful monochromatic while of the structure is a testament to Baler's triumph from adversely. This solid upward-facing monument is a symbol of the towns inner strength and its bright future. This work was commissioned and funded by one of Baler's favorite sons, Senator Edgardo J. Angara. - baler.gov.ph

Another best part was when we visited the Dona Aurora Aragon-Quezon House, modest, historic house museum owned by the family of Aurora Quezon, First Lady from 1935-1944.

"If you want to experience extraordinary things to do in Baler, Aurora, travel back in time by visiting Dona Aurora's House. She is the wife of late President Manuel L. Quezon and is a pillar in Aurora's history, so much so that the province was named after her. Locals admired her for her commitment to goodwill and humanitarian efforts. Dona Aurora was the first ever chairman of the Red Cross and helped build learning centers. To remember her great contributions, her ancestral home has been turned into a heritage site." - zenrooms.com

PACITA'S PASALUBONG

Definitely, we didn't miss the food trip, in Baler, I had a chance to eat Pako Salad aka Fern Salad (Ensaladang Pako), it's refreshing, it has this clean and light taste. I'm not sure if that was my first time, but that was so good. According to lutongpinoyrecipe.com, Pako or Fern is widely distributed in the Philippines, it is common on gravel bars and banks of streams and rivers. The young fronds of fern or commonly spoken as "fiddle heads" are eaten as a leafy vegetable, raw or cooked and it is also used as an ingredient in salads or stews. In province of Aurora (in the eastern part of Central Luzon) Pako is an ordinary ingredient in their culinary dishes, they used it as the substitute to other vegetables that are not available in their province.

We're with Nanay Pacing, owner of Pacita's Pasalubong (Souvenir Shop)

When we travel or go on tour, it's not unusual to buy souvenirs, undoubtedly, it's already part of our tradition. We either buy ref magnet or key chain. If you're going to visit Baler, never miss Nanay Pacing sweet and creamy peanut butter, because that's beyond the usual, don't go back to Manila without buying that.

Beloved Baler, if there's no pandemic, I would want to go back. You're so nice.

"Coming out of your comfort zone is tough in the beginning, chaotic in the middle, and awesome in the end...because in the end, it shows you a whole new world." - Manoj Arora

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