What to Expect in Ermita Hill in Baler Aurora?

So since we already finished Surfing, Biking around Baler Town Proper and our outdoor boodle fight lunch, we separated from the group and we started to trek going to the hill. It can also be reached by traversing the river of Tibag and is more or less twenty minutes’ walk from Castillo.


We walk the long beach line to reach the river, when we got there, we asked a local inhabitant if how deep is the river if we are going to cross it through. The local told us that it’s too deep so we need to swim. But the thing here is, we had cameras and gadgets therefore there’s no way for us to swim.



Fortunately, a small banca is available to bring us towards the other side of the river. We just need to pay PHP5.00 each. It was a motorboat to be specific and it takes five minutes for us to reach to the other side.



When we reached on the other side, we don’t know where to go (we don’t have a tour guide). So what we did was, we just asked and asked to the locals that we met on the road.

What to Expect?

The Tidal Wave Replica- It’s a statue located at the foot part of the said hill.During the Tromba Marina, a phenomenal tidal wave in 1735, which swept the town of Baler, it was used by the old folks as their get-away. The place became their temporary resettlement, which they called “Kinagunasan”, meaning “devastated”.



Erimita Park –A 35 minutes' walk to the foot of the hill and 15 minutes' trek uphill. This shrub-covered area provides an excellent view of the town of Baler, Sabang Beach, Cemento and Dimadimalangat islet. It is a short, steep trek from the foot of the hill, through small trees and cogon grass, to the top. It is a wide area on the fill perfect for picnic.


Man Made Forest/ Philippine Civil Service Centennial Forest. - The highland refuges proximity of about two hectares facing Pacific Ocean. It is roughly six kilometers from the town of Baler via Kinalapan-Road. Hidden beneath a clump of trees are the almost unrecognizable remains of a bell tower. Owing to its excellent vantage point, the bell tower was formerly used to warn people of Baler of raiding pirates. During sunny days the place is swelteringly hot.


The Large Cross and Grotto- Aside from its magnificent landscape, Ermita Hill is known as a sacred haven for religious activities by devotees of the Miraculous Mother Mary, of whom a life-size statue is situated in a grotto on top of the hill. Under the Spanish rule, a Watchtower was built to guard the town against possible attackers. Governor Bella Angara-Castillo (then a Congresswoman) appropriated funding for the prevention of erosion of the hillside and its beautification.



The four of us were very satisfied on climbing up the hill. After we reached the summit of the hill, we decided to go back in Sabang Beach. It was not just a simple trek but a time to bond each other who loves pictures and picturesque views.

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First Meal in Baler: Hot and Spicy Chicksilog.

 I admit that because of the cold temperature inside the Bus, I really had a deep sleep within the span of the travel therefore I was totally full of energy when we reached in Baler. However, I had a headache, luckily “Journeying James tour” provides a free first aid/medication, and I grabbed a pain reliever.


We get off in the Bus for our breakfast. The said breakfast was not included on the tour package, so that was individual’s expense. Everyone chooses their preferred eateries. There are a lot of eateries besides Museo de Baler to choose with. So no worries with regards to food availability, in fact foods in Baler are quite affordable compared in Metro Manila. So if you are on tight budget, I can recommend you to choose eateries.

Advertisement by Google: I ordered Chicksilog for an amount of PHP35.00, free soup, free water, and if you are going to add an extra rice, that was only amounting to PHP6.00. I was surprised when they served my order, fried egg, fried rice, a cup of soup and a 2pc of chicken or simply Chicksilog. But the different is the chicken is not fried, it is cooked with hot and spicy sauce. I tasted it and it was mouthwatering. The spicy taste eliminates the smell of the chicken so it was more appetizing than the ordinary. The hot spirit of the food made me totally energized despite from a long travel.

Truly,first Meal in Baler is a start of the adventure; it is the start of getting to know more friends with same interest, starting a conversation, a start of bonding that will surely last up until we are going home.

Sabang Beach in Baler, Aurora: A Surfer’s playground.

Sabang Beach is a long stretch of gray sand beach which is famous surfing point among local surfers. It is also a tourist destination because of its moderate to extreme waves which is also perfect for beginners like me for regular practice.

Situated within the proximity of the beach are resorts wherein you can stay. Angara's Beach House, Bay's Inn Resort, MIA Surf and Sports Resort and Baler Guesthouse and Restaurant, which, offer accommodations near the beachfront and provide food, relaxation, and respite for swimmers and surfers.

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Meanwhile, From March through June, the waves are relatively placid providing a good beachfront for swimmers and an excellent challenge for expert windsurfers. But from the months of October to February is the span of time that great waves exist. Since I visit this beach November, the waves are really large. Click here to read more. Just a safety precaution, the beach is sandy-bottomed so you have to be careful from scratchy. Undertows, which are helpful to surfers and dangerous for non-swimmers, do occur in certain areas.

How to get to Sabang Beach?

Sabang Beach is located in Barangay Sabang, Baler. From Manila take a bus going to Aurora and drop off in Baler Town Proper. Take a tricycle from Baler town proper and ask to be taken to the site. It takes approximately 5 minutes travel time.

What is Post Travel Syndrome and How to Manage on it ?

Having Post Travel Blues is normal to all travelers who spent long time roving and enjoying outdoor adventures. It always take effect from the time that you are packing up your belongings, during your travel going back home up until you will reach into your home.

The feeling is strange; you will feel emptiness, incomplete, and sadness. This rapid change of feeling will leads anyone to act different. The symptoms mostly show like losing appetite, tiredness, intense feelings of nostalgia and you will keep looking at the infinity. It has been said the longer a trip lasts, the more intense the post vacation blues may be. This is because the person would be longing for their travel experiences

Medically, this type of mood hasn't been scientifically studied.  In fact this problem will wear off after time. In some cases, it takes few days but statistically, it can take up to 1.5 times the length of your entire trip.

How to Manage?

When I was about to go home, It was very worst feeling

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Since, it hasn't been scientifically studied therefore no specific treatment is claimed. There are many blogs and articles tackled to avoid it. But personally speaking, there’s no way for us to avoid it. All travelers experienced this unconsciously; it’s just happened that some are intense and extreme. Some symptoms will not show on the behavior on the patient and some will reflect on the gesture. That’s why we normally think that others don’t experience it.

Managing ones mood needs medium so that it wears off right away. Here is my personal advice based on my experience.

1. Always remember that your family is waiting for you. Always be excited to go back home (Your Dog is waiting for your hug). Buy Pasalubong for them; by this method you will divert your feeling from depression to excitement.

2. You can always talk your experience with your family, go online and check your twitter or facebook. By this method you will get busy yourself.

3.  Plan now ahead for your next vacation/travel. By doing this, you will forget those moments in the past and you will always look forward the fun waiting ahead.

4.  Write your story, narrate your experience and post your pictures or simply blog it. Truly, blogging is very therapeutic due to the fact that your readers are waiting and excited for your post. By this method, productivity is the main goal and not to focus on depression.

Balete Park & Millennium Tree: Largest Balete in Asia.

After we went to Jabuyo Falls, we go directly to Maria Aurora where the Tree is located. It was raining and all of us are already wet and tired. Ten minutes ride and there we go, we reached at the area.  When I stepped out from the BUS, I was amazed of how stunning the tree is. It was very huge compared to the Balete Trees that I’ve seen when I grew up in Bohol. In fact, it would take 60 grown men, holding one another at arm's length, to encircle its gigantic trunk.

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So I was excited to see it closer. I took first a picture in front of it and due to the largeness of the tree I am having hard time capture the right angle.

From the word itself “Millennium Tree”, no wonder and it shows on its appearance. Because its age, the tree's thick roots have grown above ground, such that caves have formed under various sections of the trunk. This unique tree has generated national media attention and is now the most visited tourist spot in Aurora.

Moreover, I went to the core of the tree. It was truly amazing creation made by time. Inside, is like a cave. Imagine, it was raining outside but inside it was dry. The atmosphere inside is majestic, quite freaking due to its darkness. I climbed… When I reached on the top, you will see the entire location in a different point of view. Very glorifying and I almost forgot that I’m tired from trekking.

The Park is maintained by Local Government Unit. There is also a booth wherein you can give a donation for the maintenance of the park. If you are going to climb the tree, make sure you are capable of doing it because there is no safety gadgets offered to those visitors who wants to climb. Just a heads up, climbing is too easy but going down is very difficult but don’t worry there are local guides on the area that will rescue you on the top.

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Official Philippine Holidays for 2014 ; Let us Plan Ahead

Hello Pinoy Travelers, today i will be posting an information that surely you will love it. I know most of you guys are working and travelling at the same time. and I am also aware that you are suffering from getting your vacation leaves approval ,am I right? Don't worry , I know where you are coming from. Im also having hard time to plan my travel due to my work.

But today, let us plan ahead so that your travel on 2014 is smooth and easy to manage.  As early as September of last year (2013) , the Malacanang through the Proclamation Number 655 series of 2013, the Philippine holidays for 2014 had been announced and this Holidays will help a lot in planning your vacation leaves.

 Regular Holidays

New Year’s Day – January 1 (Wednesday)
Araw ng Kagitingan – April 9 (Wednesday)
Maundy Thursday – April 17
Good Friday – April 18
Labor Day – May 1 (Thursday)
Independence Day – June 12 (Thursday)
National Heroes Day – August 25 (Last Monday of August)
Bonifacio Day – November 30 (Sunday)
Christmas Day – December 25 (Thursday)
Rizal Day – December 30 (Tuesday)

B. Special (Non-Working) Days

Chinese New Year – January 31 (Friday)
Black Saturday – April 19
Ninoy Aquino Day – August 21 (Thursday)
All Saints Day – November 1 (Saturday)
Additional special (non-working) days) – December 24 (Wednesday), December 26 (Friday) and December 31 (Wednesday)

C. Special Holiday (for all schools)

EDSA Revolution Anniversary – February 25 (Tuesday)

 Go and Plan ahead of time

🦅 Soar High Baler, Aurora ; Discovering its History and Beauty.

Baler at glance
Land area: 9,255 has
Population 34,492
Type of Municipality: 3rd class
Predominant Language: Tagalog, English, Ilocano, Visayas, Bicolano

On the other hand, mention Baler and one conjures up visions oh lush forests, cool mountain, cool river waters, cool summer sea breeze and probably one of the finest destination in the country Baler, in fact, all these and much more. It is 232 km way from manila with an estimated travel time of 6-7 hours. Baler serves as the business center of the province wherein most government and private entities are located

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Its climate is characteristic of the tropics with evenly distributed rainfalls all-year-round.

People

Baler is a unique place with unique people. A warm welcome awaits visitors arriving in the place.
Balerianos are generous and friendly and its characteristics were proven a century ago when the 33 Spaniards soldier Spaniards soldiers survived in the Siege of Baler who did not suffer even the slightest scratch upon their surrender. In fact, they were treated as friends and were given foods and clothing and even protecting them despite that these people harmed them during their reign.

As time passed, Baler turned into a melting pot various cultures, but still, their spirit of compassion and understanding lives on for true Balerianos.

Brief History 

Long before the arrival of the Spaniard, Baler was already an established community, the people’s source of livelihood were fishing, hunting, and farming. These settlers were the Aetas, the Dumagats, and the Ilongots. They have their own tribal boundaries and political jurisdictions. Trespassing is punishable by death and sometimes results in tribal wars.

The most feared tribe is the Ilongots who are the head hunters. On some events and special occasions, they roamed and snatched people to behead. According to their beliefs, the flowering Sablang tree (mentrosideros tomendosa) signifies the season of headhunting. During that time, these people were pagans until the lights of Christianity reached them in 1578 through the courage of Fray Esteban Ortiz, the first Franciscan missionary to reach Baler. Many were baptized and embraced Christian Faith changing their lives and the course of history.

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Moreover, the name Baler attributed to fascinating legends and folktale. One story says that it is originated from native word BALID, the dialect of Aetas, which meant “ A Place to Come Home To”.Aetas are very nomadic people but no matter where they roam, they always come back to the horseshoe valley shaped, nestling in the Caraballo Range of the Sierra Madre mountains along the Pacific coast which is now known as the town of Baler.

History, however, signifies that the name Baler was given and defined in Vocabulario de la Lengua Tagala published in 1754, that the Baler originated from the word BALOD, a large mountain dove of the Paloma Montes that are abundant in the area.

The Town of Baler is most remembered in the annals of Philippines’ history as the last bastion of the Spanish empire in the country concluded in the long and bloody epic of the Siege Baler.

Baler also claims historic significance as the birthplace of President Manuel L. Quezon; as the father of Filipino Language, Social Justice and the President of the Philippines Commonwealth.

For more information contact 
Office of the Municipal Mayor
Municipal mayor office
Municipal Building, Baler, Aurora 
Mobile No. 09289837668
Email Add: delrosario_rizza@yahoo.com
Fb Account: Municipal_Tourism_Baler@yahoo.com

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📅 Original Dates Uploaded : November 24 ,2013
👨‍💻 By: Jonathan Orbuda - Digital Media Content Creator