Miyerkules, Pebrero 22, 2012
mysweetmusings: Baler Aurora Experience Day 2
mysweetmusings: Baler Aurora Experience Day 2: Woke up at around 4AM, a little bit anxious cause to the rain, but thank God, the rain is over around that time. So I started knocking on ...
Philippine 2012 Holidays
If you are planning some trip, here's the list of Philippine Holidays and Long weekends. This also serves as a reminder to myself :)
GOVERNMENT DECLARED PHILIPPINE HOLIDAYS
January 1 (Sunday) – New Year’s Day
January 23 (Monday) – Chinese New Year
February 25 (Saturday) – EDSA Revolution Anniversary
April 5 (Thursday) – Maundy Thursday
April 6 (Friday) – Good Friday
April 9 (Monday) – Araw ng Kagitingan
May 1 (Tuesday) – Labor Day
June 12 (Tuesday) – Independence Day
August 19 (Sunday) – Eid’l Fitr
August 21 (Tuesday) – Ninoy Aquino Day
August 27 (Monday) – National Heroes Day
October 26 (Friday) – Eid’l Adha
November 1 (Thursday) – All Saints Day
November 2 (Friday) – Special (non-working) Day
November 30 (Friday) – Bonifacio Day
December 25 (Tuesday) – Christmas Day
December 30 (Sunday) – Rizal Day
December 31 (Monday) – Last Day of the Year
January 23 (Monday) – Chinese New Year
February 25 (Saturday) – EDSA Revolution Anniversary
April 5 (Thursday) – Maundy Thursday
April 6 (Friday) – Good Friday
April 9 (Monday) – Araw ng Kagitingan
May 1 (Tuesday) – Labor Day
June 12 (Tuesday) – Independence Day
August 19 (Sunday) – Eid’l Fitr
August 21 (Tuesday) – Ninoy Aquino Day
August 27 (Monday) – National Heroes Day
October 26 (Friday) – Eid’l Adha
November 1 (Thursday) – All Saints Day
November 2 (Friday) – Special (non-working) Day
November 30 (Friday) – Bonifacio Day
December 25 (Tuesday) – Christmas Day
December 30 (Sunday) – Rizal Day
December 31 (Monday) – Last Day of the Year
LONG WEEKENDS FOR 2012
January 21-23 — Chinese New Year
April 5-9 — Holy Week and Araw ng Kagitingan
April 28 – May 1 — Labor Day
August 18-21 — Eid-al-Fitr and Ninoy Aquino Day
August 25-27 — National Heroes Day
October 26-28 — Eid-al-Adha
November 1-4 — All Saints’ Day
November 30-Dec 2 — Bonifacio Day
December 29-Jan 1 — New Year
April 5-9 — Holy Week and Araw ng Kagitingan
April 28 – May 1 — Labor Day
August 18-21 — Eid-al-Fitr and Ninoy Aquino Day
August 25-27 — National Heroes Day
October 26-28 — Eid-al-Adha
November 1-4 — All Saints’ Day
November 30-Dec 2 — Bonifacio Day
December 29-Jan 1 — New Year
Martes, Pebrero 21, 2012
Baler Aurora Experience Day 2
Woke up at around 4AM, a little bit anxious cause to the rain, but
thank God, the rain is over around that time. So I started knocking on
the door of my friends so they prepare for the sunrise shoot. We decided
not to proceed to Ampere Beach in Dipaculao that morning in
anticipation that it might rain again. Rather, we set and waited by the bay
outside our hotel.
At around 7:00AM, we headed to Bahia De Baler, Cafe Rosa Restaurant for breakfast and went straight away to Ampere Beach after.
Ampere beach, Dipaculao is about 7kms. away from Baler, so it took us around 30 mins or less to reach the place.... Lo & Behold.... we saw the big and beautiful rock formations that I've seen in pictures. We were all thrilled to go down and set up our tripods. It's a perfect day even if it is not sunrise or sunset time..but the important thing is the sun is up and we are all ready to roll!
We were at Ampere beach for almost an hour and 30
minutes and then we head back to our hotel to check out so we can
continue our Tour around the town of Poblacion, which is about 10 mins
away from where we were staying.
By lunch, we tried that famous chinese restaurant in town. No wonder why it's packed with costumers, cause of their P150 per head buffet promo. Eat-all-you-can with bottomless Iced tea... and mind you, the food is delicious! It is indeed a good deal at P150, we can't find that here in Manila!
We had a good meal and we are all ready to explore the town. Among those we visited are ; The Church of Baler. It is quite disappointing cause all along I am imagining an Old style church, but it has been renovated. For me, the pastel colors applied to the Church was not appropriate. Hope they can restore it to the nearest original look.
Just across the church is the House of Maria Aurora where the Chrysler Car of the late President Manuel L. Quezon was displayed. We also passed by the Municipal Hall and several markers in Town.
Then we cross the street again to to visit the Museo De Baler and the house of Manuel L. Quezon.
We left Baler at around 330PM and decided to pass by Maria Aurora's Sunken Church and Balete Park.
30 minutes after, we found ourselves driving inside a small town where you will find the Sunken church. We just stayed for few minutes and went to Balete Park, where you can find the 500 years old Balete tree which is the biggest Balete Tree in Asia.
At exactly, 430PM, we hit the road back to Manila. As usual, long trips makes me sleepy. Going out of Maria Aurora seems to be forever, it's a very laid back town and yet very big geographically. We were hoping that we can settle somewhere else for the sunset..We stopped when we passed the Canili-Daiyo Dam in Maria Aurora . It's one of the most beautiful spot I've ever seen plus with the wind brushing through our skin, it made the experience once in a lifetime and a perfect ending to our trip.
I had a wonderful time exploring the place with some
good friends and special someone who shared the same passion. Indeed, it
made our first trip a very memorable one! Will definitely go back...
more prepared to explore more of Aurora's best kept places!
At around 7:00AM, we headed to Bahia De Baler, Cafe Rosa Restaurant for breakfast and went straight away to Ampere Beach after.
Ampere beach, Dipaculao is about 7kms. away from Baler, so it took us around 30 mins or less to reach the place.... Lo & Behold.... we saw the big and beautiful rock formations that I've seen in pictures. We were all thrilled to go down and set up our tripods. It's a perfect day even if it is not sunrise or sunset time..but the important thing is the sun is up and we are all ready to roll!
 |
| I've never seen big waves upclose! |
 |
| When I come back here, I will make sure that I have good filters :D |
By lunch, we tried that famous chinese restaurant in town. No wonder why it's packed with costumers, cause of their P150 per head buffet promo. Eat-all-you-can with bottomless Iced tea... and mind you, the food is delicious! It is indeed a good deal at P150, we can't find that here in Manila!
We had a good meal and we are all ready to explore the town. Among those we visited are ; The Church of Baler. It is quite disappointing cause all along I am imagining an Old style church, but it has been renovated. For me, the pastel colors applied to the Church was not appropriate. Hope they can restore it to the nearest original look.
Just across the church is the House of Maria Aurora where the Chrysler Car of the late President Manuel L. Quezon was displayed. We also passed by the Municipal Hall and several markers in Town.
 |
| Inside the house of Maria Aurora Photo by : Lily |
Then we cross the street again to to visit the Museo De Baler and the house of Manuel L. Quezon.
30 minutes after, we found ourselves driving inside a small town where you will find the Sunken church. We just stayed for few minutes and went to Balete Park, where you can find the 500 years old Balete tree which is the biggest Balete Tree in Asia.
 |
| The Sunken Church at Maria Aurora |
At exactly, 430PM, we hit the road back to Manila. As usual, long trips makes me sleepy. Going out of Maria Aurora seems to be forever, it's a very laid back town and yet very big geographically. We were hoping that we can settle somewhere else for the sunset..We stopped when we passed the Canili-Daiyo Dam in Maria Aurora . It's one of the most beautiful spot I've ever seen plus with the wind brushing through our skin, it made the experience once in a lifetime and a perfect ending to our trip.
 |
| Indeed! It's more fun in Aurora |
Lunes, Pebrero 20, 2012
My Baler Experience Day 1
Baler is one of those places that I thought I could only see in pictures. Because of its distance, hardship in transportation and as one of the gateway of typhoons, I never really consider going there.
But thanks to some friends who invited us to experience this journey.
From Manilla, we had our first stop over at Angeles, Pampanga to meet a couple who will join us for this trip. We had a midnight snack at McDonalds, Angeles and left at around 230AM. Most are awake until we reached Pantabangan Nueva Ecija, since all of us are first timers everyone is alive and awake, but I was asleep the entire trip despite of the zigzags and rough roads, I remain asleep..lol and only woke up when we reached Maria Aurora and was able to see the beautiful sunrise, but we did not stop to take a photo of it since the road is very narrow and there is no way we can park even for few minutes.
And finally, we reached Baler and we decided to take a photo of our first group hug!
It's a cold morning and everyone is tired and sleepy so we decided to check in right away at Isla Virginia located at Sabang, Baler Aurora.
Isla Virginia is among the 3 resorts that is secluded from the other beach resorts in Sabang, it is located near the Governor's House. Overall it was a good hotel resort despite the not so good road. But it is one of the best spots in Baler, so serene, not so crowded (esp. we went during the Aurora Day so they hotels are all fully booked) and it seems like that you are in a private island. Plus the staff are all very warm and very accommodating, esp. Jinky who manages the resort.
After breakfast, everyone decided to rest, and have agreed to leave at around 12nn to have lunch outside the resort. We tried the "Carenderia" lined up at the street of Poblacion. Surprisingly for P45 pesos, their food is deliciously and properly proportioned. We tried the Suman and Palitaw in which the province is also known for.
On to our journey, our first stop was Ermita Hill. In there, you would see the coastline of Baler & The Cross.
Next stop is the Baler Fishport, less that 15 minutes away from Ermita Hill. There was a Taiwanese fishing vessel that was impounded at the time that we arrived there.
The next stop was the Lukso Lukso Islets, in Brgy. Zibali. We were mesmerized by the rock formations. It started to drizzle when we are setting up but good thing that it was just a quick one we continued taking photos of the islets. Few people were there, again ,we felt like that we have bought the island...lol.
It was such a beautiful resort but I know the best is yet to come! After spending like an hour in Lukso Lukso Islets, we went to Digisit, and along the road, we made our stop since there is an ongoing wedding. We were able to take a photo of that big rock.
Digisit was our last major stop and we all decided to go back to the city to go to the Market and find a good restaurant where we can eat. But before going to the market we made one last stop at an old bridge in Sabang. The locals said that the bridge was destroyed by a typhoon and it was not restored anymore. So the only means of transportation is a Bangka ride if you need to go to the other side for P3.00.
At around 6pm ,we went to the market, bought some fruits and some food for midnight snacks, then we proceeded again to the "Carenderia" where we had our lunch.
At 7:00pm, we were back to the hotel and agreed to grab a beer for some bonding time, but since everyone is tired no one stepped out of their rooms, and eventually, all of us went to bed as soon as we enter the room.
It was indeed a tiring whole day but it was worth it. Everyone is excited to see the break of dawn the next day .. and see what lies ahead.
But thanks to some friends who invited us to experience this journey.
From Manilla, we had our first stop over at Angeles, Pampanga to meet a couple who will join us for this trip. We had a midnight snack at McDonalds, Angeles and left at around 230AM. Most are awake until we reached Pantabangan Nueva Ecija, since all of us are first timers everyone is alive and awake, but I was asleep the entire trip despite of the zigzags and rough roads, I remain asleep..lol and only woke up when we reached Maria Aurora and was able to see the beautiful sunrise, but we did not stop to take a photo of it since the road is very narrow and there is no way we can park even for few minutes.
And finally, we reached Baler and we decided to take a photo of our first group hug!
 |
| Me, Jovy, Lenny, Manny, Lily & Kurtz |
 |
| Isla Virginia |
Isla Virginia is among the 3 resorts that is secluded from the other beach resorts in Sabang, it is located near the Governor's House. Overall it was a good hotel resort despite the not so good road. But it is one of the best spots in Baler, so serene, not so crowded (esp. we went during the Aurora Day so they hotels are all fully booked) and it seems like that you are in a private island. Plus the staff are all very warm and very accommodating, esp. Jinky who manages the resort.
 |
| The famous chain of carenderia |
After breakfast, everyone decided to rest, and have agreed to leave at around 12nn to have lunch outside the resort. We tried the "Carenderia" lined up at the street of Poblacion. Surprisingly for P45 pesos, their food is deliciously and properly proportioned. We tried the Suman and Palitaw in which the province is also known for.
On to our journey, our first stop was Ermita Hill. In there, you would see the coastline of Baler & The Cross.
 | ||
| Group hug at Ermita Hills |
Next stop is the Baler Fishport, less that 15 minutes away from Ermita Hill. There was a Taiwanese fishing vessel that was impounded at the time that we arrived there.
The next stop was the Lukso Lukso Islets, in Brgy. Zibali. We were mesmerized by the rock formations. It started to drizzle when we are setting up but good thing that it was just a quick one we continued taking photos of the islets. Few people were there, again ,we felt like that we have bought the island...lol.
 |
| Photo by : Lily |
 |
| Photo by : Lily |
At around 6pm ,we went to the market, bought some fruits and some food for midnight snacks, then we proceeded again to the "Carenderia" where we had our lunch.
 |
| Photo by : Lily |
At 7:00pm, we were back to the hotel and agreed to grab a beer for some bonding time, but since everyone is tired no one stepped out of their rooms, and eventually, all of us went to bed as soon as we enter the room.
It was indeed a tiring whole day but it was worth it. Everyone is excited to see the break of dawn the next day .. and see what lies ahead.
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