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. =)

Quezon House

Located at Poblaction, Baler, Aurora
Admission Fee : Free

Diteki River

Located at Diteki, San Luis, Aurora.
Admission Fee : P20
Cottage: P200 

Best for simple family bonding.

All pictures were taken from Note2 and S5.

Special Thanks to Laroza and Imperial family for being so hospitable to us.

Baler Trip 2012 : Day 3 - Dicasalarin Beach

Dicasalarin Beach / Cove. Some call it Angara's Beach Resort.

The first time I heard about this resort was when Ate Dia told us about our vacation itinerary  and they were not really sure if this is open to public. Thanks to Tito Rudy for coming with us when we went there. :)

No other visitors were there when we arrived, which seems that the place was exclusively for us. :)) 

It was really fun experienced traveling with my whole family, especially in this kind of resort which not most people can visit (until now, I don't know if this is open to public, but I do know that it is owned by no other than Sen. Edgardo Angara).

I can only wish that Kiel can remember all of these and tell himself that when he grew-up, he'll visit all the place he had been when he was still a cute baby boy. :)) 

We didn't go for swim, only take some pictures and leaving our footprints. 

I'm really not sure what that huge tower was (marked circle in the below left picture) on the top of one of the islands but when had an opportunity to go there, we found a warning sign saying that it is for rain water treatment. 

  

Thank God, they already provided flight steps, which make going to the tower easier. 

View from the top:

The're so many photos I'd like to share but there might slowness in loading of page. 

Anyway, this place is not an ordinary private resort, I never thought that Baler has this, attractively clean and solemn. I think, this is one of the best places for couples planning for their future.. :))

Lastly, We'd like to thank Laroza and Imperial family for their hospitality, accommodating us in our Baler vacation. We really enjoyed it. Next year again. :))

God bless and hope to see you soon....