BEAUTIFUL BALER

My trip in Luzon last June was all unexpected. My boss had a client visit and meetings in Luzon and at the same time a  family vacation for them since their son is still up for a school vacation due to August classes plus her sister-in-law is about to leave the country. So, when my boss asked me to come with them for a week or more, at first I was a bit hesitant to go for some reasons that I have to leave my commitments in the community like meetings, stuffs to do at the office and of course my family. But then, I am believing that God will handle and arrange my schedules. So, I said yes to come with them. 

 Wesleyan University-Philippines(WUP) is one of our client. And it was the main reason of coming there. It is located at Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija. Basically, we spent our two weeks there since it was a free of accommodation. The WUP has also a campus in Aurora province and fortunately the staffs of the main campus will go their for a campus visit in line of their work. And, since Baler is in the Aurora province, it is our privilege to visit their beautiful beach commonly known for surfing as well.

You can pass this beautiful view going to Aurora Province.

WUP Aurora Campus

 We stop-over at WUP Aurora Campus for our lunch. Aurora were rich of seafood's especially fish. The cook of the campus is really good as well, just like cebuanos taste of cooking.

After Lunch, we headed straight to Baler preferably the ALIYA SURF CAMP AND BEACH RESORT. It is around 15-20 minutes drive from the WUP Aurora Campus. My Boss chose Aliya since it is cheaper but has a standard accommodation.

On our first day, we tried their surfing since it is also their main activity and been one of a good surfing place in the country. We rented a surfing board and got an instructor since it is our first time to try the activity. The surf board cost 250php and the instructors fee is 100php per hour.

To end our first day, we had a dinner with the bosses by the bay. The resort has a good taste of cooking as well.

On our second day in Baler, we first visit their very well-known oldest tree in Asia. The BALETE TREE. It is 600 years already standing at the area.

Above is how we walked going to the falls.

view below before going up to falls

to welcome the first stop

And finally for 20 minutes walk we reached THE MOTHER FALLS. My first reaction when I saw the falls was "overwhelmed" and "amazed" simply because we walked for so long and its kinda "worth the walk" to achieve the falls. The water was very cold, our body got refreshed and the good thing was the water was not so deep.

The food that Baler have.

On our last day at the hotel. We spent some morning walk by the bay.

For the last day-seize-the-day day. We tour around the top destinations of Baler like: Diguisit Beach and Rock Formation- good thing its a low-tide when we passed by, so we had some walk and pictures with their beautiful rock formations. Then we go up to Pag-asa Weather station where we over-looked the Dicasalarin Cove, then we stop-over to Ermita Hill where we can see the replica of the 7 surviving people from the tidal waves, then tried to enter the MUSEO DE BALER where the replica of former President Manuel L. Quezon and the stories of baler can be found, and the last stop since it can be pass along the road was the word BALER STANDEE.
Been a great experience to me since it is all unexpected for me this year, so by this I would like to shout-out my hashtags #Blessed and #Thankful for the surprises coming.

ILOCOS SUR- CALLE CRISOLOGO, BANTAY BELL TOWER, BALUARTE ZOO

  Exactly on our last day tour in Ilocos was also a Valentine's day. Everyone was on a dressed-up coz it is also a sunday (church day).

 Picture first, before leaving the accommodation. Sad thing, only for some who had experienced the pool at the back. Our accommodation by the way was in CENTURY GARDEN located at Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte, which is around 4hours drive down to Vigan. So we make sure to leave the place as early as possible like 7am-8am.

Its our first stop after a long drive going down. THE BANTAY BELL TOWER- it is open to public bell tower that separate the BANTAY CHURCH.

After lunch, they gave us 2 hours to tour the famous Calle Crisologo in Vigan. It amazed us simply because all establishments/stores were design in a very historic buildings. Somehow, very rare nowadays but still Vigan successfully preserved the place as a pre-historic. 

 

Last Tourist spot around Vigan is the BALUARTE. It is under Chavit Singson's place. Personally, I haven't tour the whole place due to feeling tired and dizzy.

And finally we are done to our Tour but we were so late already to drive down to the Metro. But for the last time, the driver gave us a free stop to the bridge named (Santa Bridge) to at least experience and witness how beautiful the environment and cold the air was. The feeling was so different, I felt like I was like on a San Francisco Bridge(nyahahaha, I'm dreaming). While driving back to Manila, I looked back and realized how long and far we've traveled, and how beautiful and amazing ILOCOS REGION was. My experienced was definitely a story to tell worthy.