PH, Bataan: Where to Stay (and Eat)

T and I are not familiar with the geography of Bataan so we opted to look for our accommodation via Airbnb. We chose this listing from Tita Rose (https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/16801373) and we absolutely loved our stay. But it is with a heavy heart as I write this because back in mid-July, Tita Rose informed me that his husband, Tito Rod, passed away.

With a mix of nostalgia and sadness as I recall our stay in their lovely home, below are the reasons why we had a great time there. Currently uncertain if Tita Rose is opening again their home for Airbnb but still check it.

• Lively hosts – we enjoyed exchanging stories and they check our itinerary per day to ensure our day is sulit
• Clean bedroom (with air-con) and bathroom
• Accessible by bus as the place is located along the road
• Easy to go to highlight spots in Bataan such as Five Fingers and Dambana ng Kagitingan, which are located in opposite areas
• Delicious food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (note that this is NOT free; request this in advance)
• Big, private pool that is regularly cleaned
• Good Wi-Fi connection

Highly recommend their place if you are looking for an accommodation in Bataan. 🙂 As for where to eat, we were supposed to go to Orion and Balanga for food trip but we just got really lazy to go out during our last day.

We only dined out during our first day and we enjoyed the food in the two places we went to:

IMA FLORA’S PAMANGAN (07:00 to 22:00)

Gov. J.J. Linao AlaUli, Pilar, Bataan (0998 564 0275)

Buffet carinderia-style for only Php 200. They have a separate ala carte menu in case you find buffet to be too much for you. Most of the food choices are Kapampangan dishes and everything we ate there tasted good. Perfect meal after our full day of touring Bataan (from Dambana ng Kagitingan to Pawikan Conservation Center).

Ima Flora’s Pamangan is located near the intersection of the main highway, along the road going to Mt. Samat / Dambana ng Kagitingan.

CHOCO-LATÉ DE BATIROL (07:00 to 23:00)

Gov. J.J. Linao AlaUli, Pilar, Bataan (0943 488 9382)

Just a walking distance from Ima Flora’s Pamangan! Quite easy to miss but this place is located within the area of the only gas station in the intersection of Bataan Provincial Highway and Gov. J.J. Linao road. This is the same Choco-laté de Batirol as the one in Baguio.

T and I had our dessert here after the buffet in Ima Flora’s Pamangan. Best decision ever because their hot chocolate drink was just too good! We felt guilty though because we did not get to finish our orders of turon and suman – stomach was already too full from the buffet.

---

We absolutely had a great time in Bataan and we’ll be back for sure to try more food places in the area. Also curious with Camaya Coast because our Airbnb hosts recommended this place.

PH, Bataan (Day 2): Five Fingers Tour

NOVEMBER 16, 2017

We started our 2^nd day in Bataan early because we joined a group tour for Five Fingers. Our Airbnb host offers breakfast for a certain fee and we availed that since we were not sure if there was any food establishment near the meet-up point for the tour.

From our Airbnb, we took a jeep bound for Mariveles since no bus was passing by. Upon arriving at the port, we met with the tour guides from Bataan Weather Page (BWP). They were responsive to our messages, especially when we got lost trying to find the meet-up location.

T and I availed the Economy Tour, which costs Php 999 and already includes the following: boat ride, tour proper, packed lunch, and snacks. Aside from this good deal, what convinced us to book this tour is their assurance that their group is authorized by LGU Mariveles and Bataan Tourism as well as being featured in travel pages and TV shows. Click here to find their page dedicated for the FIVE FINGERS TOUR.

I wasn’t paying attention to the names of each spot we visited but I’ll mention the various activities we did during the tour.

Our first stop was where we would do trekking. The guides told us that it would only be a “pabebe trek” but most of us concluded that it was not. We were lucky that it was a sunny day so we didn’t have to worry about muddy paths or accidentally slipping up while climbing or going down.

Still, despite having a bit of difficulty, the scenery at the top was worth every sweat!

 

After this, we hopped to different areas around Five Fingers where one of the highlights was cliff diving. The first cliff diving spot had a height of 25 feet while the second one was about 40 feet.

Snorkeling was an activity mentioned in their page but we didn’t visit any place to do this. Quite a bummer because T and I brought our own snorkelling gear. 😦 We went to a spot though with lots of sea urchin and rocky places for pictures so that compensated it na?

Our last stop during this tour was a beach with fine sand. We were the only people there so we had the place to ourselves. BWP provided us free lunch so none in the group had to cook anymore, yay! After lunch, we spent another hour swimming in this area… we even found a starfish!

We went home around 3PM and spent the remaining hours in our Airbnb, relaxing and chatting with our hosts. I’ll be sharing more details on our Airbnb hosts and their place in the next post!

PH, Bataan (Day 1): Pawikan Conservation Center

NOVEMBER 15, 2017

After our visit in Las Casas, we went to PAWIKAN CONSERVATION CENTER in Morong, Bataan. We read in a lot of online articles that Pawikan Festival is celebrated here annually – during the last Sunday of November. We thought that since the festival was just 2 weeks away, we could already see some baby pawikans.

Lo and behold, we only saw two adult pawikan swimming in a small aquarium-like area. There was also one small pawikan swimming in a water-filled styro container.

We asked around and they informed us that we were a week or two earlier before the peak season of hatching. It was still an interesting visit because we got to see the hatchery, where they safeguard the eggs of pawikan.

As the area is a breeding ground for pawikan, we knew the sea was just nearby and strolled along the shore. It was already late afternoon so the sun was starting to set…

Oh well, this gives us another reason to go back to Bataan, right? 🙂

PH, Bataan (Day 1): Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

NOVEMBER 15, 2017

We visited LAS CASAS FILIPINAS DE ACUZAR as our 2^nd stop and this site is located in Bagac, Bataan. The literal translation for the name of the place is “Acuzar’s Filipino/Philippines Houses”, which is accurate as the restored Spanish-Filipino houses found in this area are Jose Acuzar’s property. It is amazing to learn that the houses here were carefully dismantled and meticulously re-assembled to preserve everything.

For the admission fee, we paid Php 1,500 which includes access to the site, free guided tours, and towel + refreshments at the end of the tour.

Jeepneys inside the site are free of charge so it is easy to go from one place to another. The houses though are quite near to each other so we just walked. We only rode the jeepney to and from the entrance building.

Since we were there at past 12NN and the next walking tour would only start at 1:30PM, T and I decided to roam around the area first.

 

We went inside the open building near the walking tour area. We saw religious relics inside as well as exhibits with photos of historical churches and accompanying information about them.

 

Found a few nice spots to take own portrait pictures before the free tour started…

T and I took turns taking pictures in this vintage-looking vehicle. We initially thought it was a resting area because it was situated under a lot of trees, providing cool shade for tired visitors.

 

But one of the staff approached us and told us if we would be going to the beach area… Apparently this vehicle actually moves but follows a schedule, which is every 30 minutes. Since the free walking tour was about to start, we politely declined.

The free walking tour started on time so yay. It was really hot and humid during our visit but our tour guide, despite wearing long sleeves top and long skirt, carried on with the whole tour with a big smile. It was as if the scorching heat didn’t affect her! She told us the stories, origin, and controversies related to each casa we visited.

 

Aside from the informative tour, another advantage of joining is gaining access to casas that are not open to the public such as Casa Biñan and Casa Baliuag.

 

 

 

[Fun fact on the last two pictures: Shooting location for Gen. Luna’s Spoliarium-like death scene in “Heneral Luna” movie]

We were also lucky to chance upon a wedding that day. We only saw it from a distance though… Their wedding reception was already set up earlier that afternoon.

If we weren’t in a hurry to visit the next location, we would have done other activities in this area such as strolling along the beach area, doing the river cruise or kalesa ride, and visiting Hotel de Oriente.

 

All in all, I’d say this is one of the must visits in Bataan. T and I enjoyed our short trip here. 😊

 

 

PH, Bataan (Day 1): Dambana ng Kagitingan

NOVEMBER 15, 2017

Because of the ASEAN holidays back in Nov 2017, T and I spontaneously thought of going out of town for the long weekend. She suggested Bataan and since I haven’t been there, I agreed to go there.

From Cubao, we rode an air-conditioned Genesis bus bound for Mariveles. We overestimated our travel time and reached the area of our Airbnb at 5AM. There were no street lights and we hopped off the bus at the wrong drop off… Good thing we were already near the Airbnb and I was able to contact the host before our phone’s signal turned to nil.

After catching some sleep, T and I went to DAMBANA NG KAGITINGAN (Shrine of Valor), a historical shrine built on Mount Samat to honor the Filipinos and Americans who fought during World War II.

Before seeing the iconic 92-meter cross, we encountered the colonnade which houses sculptures made by National Artist Napoleon Abueva and stained glass murals designed by Cenon Rivera.

 

 

Near the colonnade is the entrance to the underground museum, where war memorabilia are displayed – weaponry, uniforms, photos from the war, path of the Death March, and miniature display of mountains and their use during the war.

 

 

Our final stop was the cross but to get there, we had to climb hundreds of steps that zigzagged the area.

Upon reaching the cross, I was in awe of how huge it was. The sculptures found at the base of the cross were also works of Abueva.

 

 

 

The staff said that we would have a better panoramic view of Bataan if we go to the viewing gallery inside the cross. Unfortunately, during our visit, the elevator was under maintenance so we didn’t get to see it.

Still, there are other spots around the area where you can get a scenic view of Bataan. Our tricycle driver showed us one location and it was just breath-taking.

Next location we visited was Las Casas – stay tuned for the next post under Bataan 2017 trip.