By Jonalyn Fortuno | Photos by Normarei Villamater, Camille Noceda
When Baler transformed from a sleepy fishing village town into a major surfing oasis, it has become a staple on every surfer’s travel bucket list.
It’s the birthplace of the country’s surfing culture, after all, and anyone who gets acquainted with its swells and breaks is bound to return here again and again. But beyond the waves, there are a multitude of activities and attractions that one will surely enjoy while in town. To give you a head-start, we listed down some of them:
Catch waves
There are several spots around this coastal town that are worth checking out. One of which is Lindy’s Point, located just north of Sabang Beach. It’s the perfect spot to learn how to surf, as the waves here are friendlier compared to other surfing points. It is also less crowded with a quieter environment, thus an ideal spot for first-time surfers.
For surfing lessons, Freedom Surf School offers sessions at a very affordable price. And that’s not the only catch; its instructors are also very skilled and they can get you hooked with surfing in just an hour! Each one-hour session costs about P350, which is just a small price to pay compared to the exhilarating experience you’d feel once you successfully ride your first wave.
Visit landmarks
Of course, breaks and swells are not all there is in this charming capital of Aurora. It’s also the best place to learn about historical events that chronicle the country’s colonial past. After all, you can’t be in the water all the time, so might as well follow the footsteps engraved in the town’s streets. They’d lead you to some of the historical landmarks that make Baler more than just the birthplace of our country’s surfing culture.
Your tour should begin at the footsteps starting right in front of Baler Church’s doorway. This church played a significant role during the Siege of Baler, as it was where Spanish officers and their men hid when Filipino revolutionaries attacked them during the Philippine revolution.
This church was originally made of nipa and wood, but was reconstructed right after a tsunami completely wiped out the structure on December 27, 1735. It was rebuilt with stones during the term of then-Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon.
From the church, cross the street and swing by the Doña Aurora House, the wife of President Quezon who was ambushed in 1949 while in a convoy to Baler. The house is designed like a traditional bahay-kubo and inside there are a variety of things to be seen: photographs and images of Doña Aurora and President Quezon, antique household items, such as a sewing machine, bags and a charcoal iron. The presidential car is also on display in the garage underneath the house.
Next stop is the Quezon Park, which boasts of lavish surroundings with its abundance of trees and plants. The atmosphere is so green and calm that you’d want to spend the rest of the day here, taking in the cool surrounding and fresh air. Adjoining the park is Museo de Baler, a repository of all things Baler, as well as testaments to the enduring relationship between the Philippines and Spain.
Among the significant memorabilia that can be found here include old photographs and illustrations that detail Aurora’s history; documents from the Franciscan missionaries who founded a settlement in Baler and conducted the first census on the locals; and a number of murals detailing the municipality’s important events since its founding in 1609.
Food trip
While Baler may not be as popular as Pampanga when it comes to culinary delights, still it has a number of restaurants that would surely sit well with a foodie’s palate.
La Cez Bamboo Grill and Restaurant offers Filipino favorites with a twist. One of its best-sellers, the chicken binakol, is a must-try, as it guarantees a 100-percent satisfaction. It is a chicken soup that uses coconut water and meat for a sweetish flavor. Unlike chicken binakol served in other restaurants, it is served here in a coconut shell.
Another must-visit local restaurant is Thelma’s Kitchenette, known to serve the best halo-halo in town. As pastillas is used as main ingredient, it gives a syrupy taste that completes the whole confection. Aside from this summer sweet, other dishes worth trying include pako salad, fried frog (which tastes just like fried chicken!), sinigang na baboy sa ube, crispy kare-kare, binagoongang liempo and calderetang suso.
When it comes to having a full breakfast or a heavy meal, drop by Trenchers Kitchenette on Quezon Street. It may look like an ordinary roadside eatery, but once you sit down at one of its tables, you would be amazed at the variety of offerings which include value sizzling meals, unlimited lugaw and soup, rice meals, and all kinds of cold desserts, which are perfect summer treats.
Nature’s best
Some of nature’s finest creations are actually found in this charming coastal town. There’s Daguisit Falls, which is one of the town’s most photographed spots, not because it is located in the roadside of Barangay Zabali but because it readily welcomes passersby with its splashes and sprays. A few minutes away from the falls is Diguisit Beach, which boasts of creamy-white sand, perfect waves and deep-blue waters. Diguisit Beach is the place to be if you want a moment of complete solitude. Except for sea urchins and occasional beach bums, only the gigantic rock formation on the shore accompanies you as you watch daylight fades into night.
There’s also Dima-dimalangit Islet that looks just like another huge rock formation from afar. But once you get closer, you’d realize that it’s really a small island, blanketed with lush trees, shrubs and greens. This place is a must-visit for seasoned divers, as it offers reefs that raise the ante when it comes to diving adventures.
Now if you want to see the most ravishing vista of the Pacific Ocean and the whole town of Baler, a climb to Ermita Hill is a must. As the highest point in Baler, it serves up unforgettable views, plus interesting stories for travelers. Locals say this hill was responsible for saving the lives of seven families when a powerful tsunami crashed into the whole town in the 1730s. To commemorate the tragic incident, the locals built life-sized sculptures at the foot of the hill. The sculptures depict how those seven families climbed to safety.
For those who have been in constant search of a perfect tropical paradise, Dicasalarin Cove is where one should head to. Largely left untouched, Dicasalarin Cove is one of those rare spots that you don’t want others to discover lest they spoil the endless stretch of pristine white-sand beach, or the emerald green and blue waters that look impossibly clear and clean. Indeed, it’s one of those last paradises on earth that, perhaps, is not meant to be discovered given the ordeal that one has to go through before reaching it.
Hidden amid the thick and lush forest, Dicasalarin Cove can only be reached after traversing the steep and narrow one-way zig-zag road leading to it. Only four-wheel vehicles are allowed to pass, because going uphill is really no easy drive. But those are small prices to pay since what awaits you is a scenery that transcends beauty. To fully appreciate the scenic splendor that is Dicasalarin Cove, a climb up to its lighthouse is in order. Just make sure that you have enough strength to go up the 175 steps leading to the top.