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Things You Want to Check Out When You’re in Baler, Aurora

Baler is not just known for having big waves, it is filled with history as well.

Aurora is a province named after the wife of President Manuel Quezon. Talk about having something named after you — how romantic! While Baler is known by surfers for its big waves, the town is filled with history as well.

Baler, Aurora is around 200 kilometers northeast of Manila; we left Quezon City at 4:30am and arrived at around 11am. The trip includes a number of zigzag roads through terrains.

What better way to experience the best of Baler than to stay at Costa Pacifica which has over a hundred rooms and suites. Its facilities include an outdoor pool, gym, kids' nook and gift shop. Plus points for friendly staff!

We had the chance to visit a few of the historical landmarks and also a pristine beach that looked divine.

Museo de Baler features rich Hispanic history with old letters, reports and drawing from Franciscan missionaries who settled in the region. Aside from old stonewares, the exhibit features a Franciscan breviary, a book of Latin liturgical rites of the Catholic Church, a registry of the Aeta population and academic records. The second floor showcases more modern art works by the locals.

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Series of painting by Maria Mari Murga

Sabang Beach is popular with surf shops and schools that cater to beginners and surfer-gods. The best season to surf is between September and March. It is also a beautiful sight in the morning where people are walking by the beach and just looking how serene the waters are.

 

Can we wake up to this kind of view every day?

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Dicasalarin Cove is where the Baler lighthouse and Dicasalarin Beach is. It is 30-40 minutes from Costa Pacifica where you can get passes to enter. It is also where we went crazy on how picture-perfect the view is. The trip on the way is very steep and narrow which can only accommodate one vehicle; we don't recommend going there when it's rainy for safety reasons. The trip was somewhat scary but was totally worth it, as you can see.

 

#baler #itsmorefuninthephilippines #VisitPhilippines2015

A photo posted by ClickTheCity (@clickthecity) on

Doña Aurora Aragon House is still standing on the same average-size corner lot. A noticeable wooden house wrapped with nipa roofs. The house looks like the traditional Filipino homes back then. There is an open area connecting to a garden at the back. Manuel Quezon's old books and photographs are preserved upstairs and believe it or not, it is open to public.

Baler 400 Years Monument represents the continuous rise of the town from its humble beginnings to what it is now: a town rich in history and culture and an emerging model for rural development. Each pillar represents a hundred years, thus a total of 400 years. The platform of the 40-foot monument is made of vigan tiles symbolizing Baler's kayumanggi race enriched by its Spanish heritage.

Lt. Commander James Gilmore Marker lies at the left side of Baler Church, it is a marker built in memory of Lt. Gilmore, the commander of US Gunboat "Yorktown," who was captured along with all his men when he went to Baler in 1899 to relieve the Spanish soldiers besieged.

San Luis Obispo Parish (Baler Church) was declared a National Historical Marker in 1939. If you have seen the movie 'Baler,' you might recognize this church as it is in one of the scenes. Around 54 men were besieged in 1898; the siege ended a year after that left many Spanish soldiers dead of starvation, disease, wounds and execution.

Tip: If you plan on attending mass, wear something conservative as the priest officiating wouldn't allow you to go in the Church.

Since Pako is one of their specialites, we had to try this Baler Longanisa, Pako and Bell Pepper Pizza at the Beach House in Costa Pacifica.

And for pasalubongs, their sweet suman and Nanay Pacing's creamy peanut butter which has zero trans fat and has no preservatives would be what everyone would recommend to bring home.

 

Who wants Suman de Baler?

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Baler's famous Nanay Pacing homemade peanut butter

A photo posted by ClickTheCity (@clickthecity) on

 

To get to Baler, you can take the Genesis Transport Services, P700 for deluxe (12:30am, 1:00am, 1:30am, 2:30am and 5:30am) and P450 for ordinary with air conditioning (first trip is 12mn and last trip is 5:00am). So whether you're with your barkada who wants to surf or with your family who just wants to relax looking at majestic views, Baler is a must-visit place.

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