Philippine Travel Notes

Still in Balanga and the group of bird watchers (that includes me hehe) set out to lunch at some place along the highway. Just the way going there, away from the usual bustling central district already told me we were going to eat at some special kind of place. I was not mistaken. This is a native hut with native everything – very “barriotic” in fact. Consistently, the food they serve is also “barriotic”, some even exotic, but/and, THAT is exactly what many of folks like in this restaurant! Its a turo-turo alright, but I might qualify that as the “turo-turo extra ordinaire”! Everything is laid out in a counter and you point what you like so the assistants can scoop a serving for you. Uniquely too, each dish is labeled with cut pieces of yellow paper where the name is written with a pentel pen. Why? Because many of them viands look the same when cooked. So you better read and understand well what each dish is. Examle, I was about to point at something that looked like CPA (Chicken Por...

As if to follow through on my intrigue at bird watching, my friends decided to pass by this little aviary with a twist, still in the Balanga area before heading out to lunch at an equally intriguing place (but that's my next topic). Casper and Friends is not your usual aviary put up or sponsored by rich folks who can buy this and that bird to wow us. This one is some kind of a hospital or rescue center for birds that may have otherwise been left to oblivion. Owner of the house (and the aviary, of course) Dannie Brimmer, is a retired US Marine married to a Filipina who hails from the area. Quite a story and he never tires retelling them to visitors many times a day. The good thing about their little yard is it shows genuine love and care for wild birds. They voraciously want folks to come by, not to earn from them, but in the hope that we the visitors will in some way some time spread the word that we need to take care of our wildlife. There is a story in each of the animals to be f...

And it had to be on the fringes of Balanga Bataan Philippines! As said in the previous story , I went with a group of birders just to get a feel on what it is they do and how. Their itinerary this time was in the Bataan-Zambales corridor, and being in the area, I took the opportunity. Hmm, what a different kind of activity! It starts with some briefing on the itinerary. Maps, terrains and many other things about the area are discussed. Then its a go! The group convoys to the place until the “guide” declares where everyone should stop and park their vehicles. I did wonder why everyone seemed to be sporting wide-brimmed hats but easily realized why. Most of the time, they have to sit it out in the open and under the scorching rays of the sun. And of the about 25 of us, only me, myself and I was wearing a white tee! Most were browns and dark greens, so I asked if they have some kind of a uniform for identity being bird watchers. Aruuu! I got educated that the shirt-color is for them to av...

The morning after my memorable Dambana Ng Kagitingan visit, I arranged to go with some friends who call themselves “birders”. I am not a birder but I know that is how they call themselves, being bird watchers. I must add – avid and serious bird watchers. I went with them just for the experience on what they do as bird watchers, and the assigned meeting place was this fastfood chain branch at city center. Most of them would have come driving from Manila that early morning so the fastfood meeting must have also been a most desired breakfast. I was out quickly at the agreed time and txtd I would just roam around the church, plaza and city hall areas while they had breakfast. The reply was a serious “NO u hv 2b here n listen 2d briefng, bsides sum1 here can tell u all about Balanga”. Gosh! So I heeded! And did get quite a story from one of the friends about the city's central district. The church for which I only caught a distant photo from the plaza, is generally referred to as the Ba...

Still in Balanga, this had been my default dinner area for two nights. I just easily liked it – especially that it sits just across my Crown Royale Hotel! What attracted me at first was the name – I thought wow, they're here too – thinking this was/is a branch of those famous Dayrit's restaurants in Magallanes, The Fort and Tomas Morato. The giant burger immeidately came to mind hehe. I did not ask, but it looks like they're not of one and the same progeny! From the font used in their restaurant name, I did guess, this one is related to that branch in Olongapo! This Dayrit’s is nothing less anyway. In fact, I mused at the choices of real food that are on the menu. Too many choices and all in affordable prices. I liked the gambas plus liempo one night, and the delectable (seafood) kare-kare plus tuna belly the next! Smorgas-rice in this place even comes in a bucket! Ah, gluttony place!

My home for the weekend visit. A good one. Well, better than many hotels in the usual urban centers that I have seen around this country. How did I get into this hotel? Well, fortunately, for lack of information on any other choice that anyone would recommend. I asked friends. No one could tell me what a good accommodation in Balanga would be – since none of them have had any need to stay overnight in said city. Those who, at times, had to be in the area for business always opted for Subic which is just near anyway. As one friend said “who needs to sleep in Balanga anyway”. But I did! And, judging from what I have seen on the web, it looked like Crown Royale was the only choice. When I called up their city hall to ask about things, I mentioned this hotel, and the lady I talked to said this was a good choice. Done! A no-frills hotel. No other thing aside from your room and the breakfast area. Just what I have always wanted. Somewhere to sleep without distractions like shops or disco bar...

As said in the previous article , I was not yet quite happy even if I was done roaming the Dambana Ng Kagitingan where I could already have the rightful claim to say “been there, done that”. Something was missing. I needed to know more of the how and why about this enormous place. So I chanced upon someone,,, i knew she would have been a good resource, even if briefly! She is a teacher and I caught up with her at the garden by the base of the cross. She was telling her students something like “remember what I told you in the bus? Those murals were made by National Artist Napoleon Abueva…”. I was actually already listening-in to that informative jackpot but shortly she said “okay, you can now go up to the top of the cross, make a single line in front of the elevator, and behave children”, that while another teacher started getting busy lining them students at the entrance. I went into action… “Good afternoon ma’am, may I ask you a question” ”Ay, good afternoon, yes, of course, how c...

Okay folks, after the long story on how I reached this place , there I was entering the gate. What a big place to roam! I realize now, you should have, or should reserve more energy for roaming the whole facility. Its a big compound with many things to see and discover! But first the name… gate signage says Mt. Samat Shrine. But officially, more formally. its name is the Shrine of Valor or the Dambana Ng Kagitingan at Mt. Samat! Entering the gate btw, does not mean you are really there! The big cross that is a tall building is still a hill to climb from the gate! Kah kah kah hehehe Your car can only go up a certain level past the gate of the facility, so don't rely on that too much! There has to be some walking that everyone needs to muster. Actually, its climbing stairs or rampways! You can of course pretend to be an invalid or PWD so your vehicle may be allowed to go up to the big cross – though it won’t be as exciting at baka matuluyan ka pa hehe! But lets do this blow by blow...

In English, that is called the Shrine of Valor, but for Filipinos especially in Bataan, the place is commonly called by its Tagalog translation Dambana Ng Kagitingan. It is even usually shortened further to just dambana – meaning shrine. So, there I was at the Balanga City bus/jeep terminal, fresh from a long bus ride from Manila , now trying to find a ride to Pilar – the town where Mt. Samat is and where the dambana stands at its peak. The helpful drivers and dispatchers in the area showed me the jeeps going to Morong and/or other places on the western side of the Bataan peninsula as they all pass by Pilar. But it was taking so long as each jeep must first be filled to the rafters to depart! I was almost tempted to hop into a trike. But I stayed on since there was no hurry. The dambana was supposedly my only destination for the day in this place anyway, so I told myself I could take the whole day if need be hehe! It was only somewhere half past 9AM and I learned that the bulk of trans...

Its a peninsular province somewhere on the mid-western fringes of Luzon. What is there to see? Well, supposedly many. This is one of the most historic provinces in the country that fared well in history books during the war years. Remember the death march? Yeah, it started in this place. There are also famed beach resorts in the area. In one of those we just had a team-building a fortnight ago. But this time, I wanted to just roam around the various places, starting with the Dambana Ng Kagitingan or Shrine of Valor, then hop and skip to everywhere else my feet would take me! How? Ehem, I researched well on this, for about three days prior to the intended weekend of visit. Easiest would have been to take a fast craft from Roxas Blvd. that crosses the Manila Bay. Quick! But good that I called up to ask, because, I discovered, those are not operational at this/these time/s! Even called up the mayor's office of/at Orion, and learned that the main issue these crafts are not anymore runn...

This topic started with this article Whoa! There are 7 towns! First is the town in Bataan (Region 3) sandwiched between Orion (on the south where you arrive via fast crafts from Manila Bay), and Balanga City (on the north). This Pilar town is of course where you find the famed and towering Dambana Ng Kagitingan – the cross-shaped building with a narrow and cranky elevator for you to get to the top! But oh my what an experience being up there! Next is a town on the northern part of the province of Sorsogon (Region 5) in its boundary with the province of Albay. Have you heard about the “astilleros” during the Spanish era? There is one in this town called Panlatuan. Then again, this town is right beside Donsol and you guessed it right – the whale shark interaction is your great find in this place! Third is another town named Pilar and that is in the easternmost tip of province of Capiz (Region 6) just bordering with the province of Iloilo. Not to be outshone by the two previous towns of t...

This topic started with this article Take note there’s a letter G at the end of the word, you Morong hehe! But the towns' name is pronounced in a fast manner with the stress on the second syllable – quite much like in the speed and stress when pronouncing “berate” or “amass”. Clear? Okay now... The first town is that famous place in the province of Bataan (Region 3) facing the south china sea. And yes, this is that town just by the border with Subic – the ex-Naval Base. And yes, if coming from Subic you pass through the “Morong Gate”. The sunset sights up on the highway is spectacular. Don’t miss it. Of course we all know this is a beach town and there are resorts. But if you can social-climb your way (like I did) to Anvaya Cove, grab the opportunity! Having experienced nature in the luxurious comforts and amenities at that exclusive resort estate was really grand. But I don’t dream of buying a property there. I just don’t think it’s worth it as a long term spend! OMG, social-climb...

This is a little barrio along the west coast of Bataan, forgettable to many people but one of the most memorable places I have ever been in my life. No, I don't mean to say I roamed the whole barrio and liked it - I do not even know where it starts, where the center is and where it ends. I have just been to the Bantay Pawikan's Turtle Conservation Center located at the little fishing village of Nagbalayong in the town of Morong, Bataan. Going there After the hefty truly "native" lunch at the famous ‘Arcee’s Restaurant’ in Balanga, my group took off in a convoy of three vehicles headed westwards via Pilar and Bagac then northwards along the coast to find Nagbalayong. We actually did not know the name of this barrio. We just knew that there was a sea-turtle conservation center somewhere in the outskirts of Morong and that if we reached Anvaya Cove, we'd have been beyond our destination. The drive was all the way along great sceneries of the province that made me say...