Edwin and rheA Sindayen: Welcome back to Baler (2014)

Going to Baler is one of our much-awaited plans each year. We miss the people we love, place, food and fun. This year, primary reason we went to Baler is to attend the 70th thanksgiving birthday celebration of Rhea's uncle. Thank God for he allowed us to go and celebrate with the family and have our vacation as well.

Lots have changed since we were here two years ago.
Tourism played a major role in the success of their local economy, especially when Baler was featured in some TV shows.
Truly, Baler is transformed to a one of the best beach spot in the Philippines.

More hotels, resorts and transient houses are now ready to accommodate tourists, while other are still under construction.
More bars and restaurants are now available with different style and taste to choose from; nevertheless, Mely's restaurant (the first restaurant in Baler) was able maintain its quality, tasty and affordable products over the years.
My favorites are (the best) fried and lechon manok, liempo, sisig and the special halo halo.

Baler Surfer Grill

One of the most commercialized diner in Baler due to its unique style of grilling.

We are fortunate enough to know that the owner of the Baler Surfer Grill is a family friend.

The service is good, and the taste is even better. =)

In placing orders, the order taker will inform you the estimated cooking time before it is served. You should be patiently enough to wait since they are serving fresh from the grill products.

They are still in the process of expanding for better services.

Dicasalarin (Angara Beach)

Revisiting Dicasalarin was a bonus thing in our vacation since we've already been here two years ago.

Nothing much changed in the beach. However, more cottages are now available. You need to go through to the cliffy road before you reach the beach.

There's also a spa house but it's not yet open.

Admission Fee : P300 Adult / P100 if you're staying in Costa PacificaParking : P50

As I know, two years ago, there was no fee yet since Dicasalarin beach was under development and not yet opened for public.

Balete Tree

One of the tourists attractions in Baler is the Balate tree.
It is actually located in Brgy. Aquino, Ma. Aurora, few kilometers away from Baler. Admission Fee : P10.
More than a hundred years old tree and one of the oldest known in the Philippines.

I took to opportunity to go inside the tree having thought what if I could never get out. =)

The Baler Church (Then and Now)

UNANG IPINATAYO SA NIPA AT KAYAWAN NG MGA PARING PRANSISKANO SA TIBAG (NGAYO'Y SABANG) SA PAGTATANGKILIK NI SAN LUIS OBISPO DE TOLOSA, 1611. INILIPAT SA PAMAMAHALA NG MGA REKOLETOS 1658 MULING IBINALIK SA MGA PRANSISKANO 1703 NAWASAK NG DALUYONG. DISYEMBRE 27,1735 INILIPAT SA KASALUKUYANG KINATATAYUAN AT ISANG BAGONG SIMBAHANG YARI SA BATO ANG NAITAYO DITO. SI MANUEL LUIS QUEZON UNANG PANGULO NG KOMONWELT NG PILIPINAS AY BINIYAGAN. 1878 ISANG MAY 54 KATAONG GARISON NG MGA KASTILA ANG KINUBKOB NG MGA PILIPINONG REBOLUSYONARYO. HUNYO 27, 1898 HANGGANG HUNYO 2, 1899 NAPASAILALIM NG PAMAMAHALA NG MGA SEKULAR. 1899 MULING IPINAGAWA NG PANGULO AT GINANG QUEZON. 1939 INILIPAT SA KARMELITAS. 1947 AT MULING IBINALIK SA MGA SAKULAR 1983.

SIEGE OF THE CHURCH OF BALER

A SPANISH GARRISON OF FOUR OFFICIERS AND FIFTY MEN WAS BESIEGED IN THIS CHURCH BY FILIPINO INSURGENTS FROM JUNE 27, 1898 TO JUNE 2, 1899. OFFICERS OF PEACE AND DEMANDS FOR SURRENDER WHERE REFUSED ON FIVE OCCASIONS. FROM NEWSPAPERS DROPPED INTO THE COURT BY AN EMISSARY OF GENERAL RIOS ON MAY 29. THE GARRISON LEARNED FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT THE PHILIPPINES HAD BEEN LOST TO SPAIN AND THAT FOR MANY MONTHS THERE HAD NO SPANISH FLAG IN LUZON, EXCEPT THE ONE WAVING OVER BALER CHURCH. BROKEN BY STARVATION AND TROPICAL DISEASES, THE DEPLETED COMMONAND ARRANGED
A TRUCE WITH THE INSURGENTS AND MARCHED OUT OF THIS CHURCH ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS TO MANILA ON JUNE 2, 1899. OF THE ORIGINAL GARRISON TWO OFFICERS, THE PRIEST AND TWELVE MEN HAD DIED FROM DESEASE: TWO MEN HAD BEEN KILLED BY THE INSURGENTS BULLE; TWO MEN HAD BEEN EXECUTED; TWO OFFICERS AND FOURTEEN MEN HAD BEEN WOUNDED; SIX MEN HAD DESERTED. THE FORTITUDE OF THE GARRISON WAS PRAISED BY GENERAL AGUINALDO IN A PUBLIC DOCUMENT ISSUED AT TARLAC ON JUNE 20, 1899. UPON THEIR RETURN TO SPAIN THE SURVIVORS WERE REWARDED BY THE QUEEN REGENT IN THE NAME OF ALFONSO XIII AND THE SPANISH NATION.

Baler Museum

Located at Poblaction, Baler, Aurora.

All people who are visiting the museum are asked to log his name and place origin. I guess this is their way to count the number of tourists visiting Baler.

The admission is free; however, this is a donation box beside the log sheet.

Thankfully, the place we're staying was just a couple of walks away from the Museum. =)