West Wind Resort, Morong, Bataan

Baranggay Nagbalayong of Morong, Bataan has a number of beach resorts.  Via JJ Linao Highway, Nagbalayong is less than 30 minutes away from Bagac, Bataan so that was where we decided to camp for the night after our visit to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar.    

Ten days before our trip, I have booked us a room in a resort called West Wind Beach Resort. I have read the reviews to most of the hotels in the said area and West Wind got good reviews.

Westwind is a relatively new resort, but it has a number of plus points.  One is that it is situated some distance away from the other resorts.   Which we liked.  That means, the beach was not crowded. Another is the clean beach with powdery sand (not white sand, tho)

The price of the room is good enough. A junior suite room , good for 5 persons with en suite T and B, costs Php3,600 or around USD80.

The owners and staffs are very polite and hospitable.  They allow guests to bring their own food and provided facilities to cook. They would willingly go to the market if the food you ordered is not available. 

Although they do not have wi-fi, they provide guests with some things to do. There was a photo booth, complete with hawaiian costumes:

At night they set up a projector for some concert shows.  And of course, guests can camp and setup tent at the beach, or play volleyball (net was provided).

And, of course, guests can always catch the sunset in the late afternoons.

Bataan: Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

Another must-visit in Bataan is the Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar. Las Casas is a theme park /resort showcasing 27 houses (and counting) from the 1600s-1800s or the Spanish era. It has been developed like the "Old Philippines", with its plazas and cobblestone pavement roads.

 

Plaza Atienza and Plaza Belmonte

Plaza Mayor de Tobias

Replica of the Paseo de Escolta

The featured houses are from all over the country and were named from the places they were originally bought.  They dismantle the old houses, and relocate and restore them at Las Casas, using whatever materials they were able to salvage and following the original design of the house. 

Visitors can stay overnight at Las Casas, as some of the houses are used as hotel rooms.  It is likewise possible to do a day tour.  The day tour entrance fee of Php685 includes the tour, tour guide and use of pool and beach until 6pm.

Our guide, Dexter and Chinto and Ahyan during our tour.

We joined the  1:30 pm tour and got to know a few of the houses. The tour runs for about 1.5 hours, after which the guests are free to roam the resort on their own or go swimming at the pool or the beach.

Here are a few of the houses:

Casa Quiapo

Casa Jaen (from Jaen Nueva Ecija), where the tour starts

Casa Byzantina

 Las Casas Filipinas is in Bagac, Bataan and is an hour drive from Mt. Samat via JJ Linao National Road. 

Bataan : Shrine of Valor at Mount Samat

Bataan was a nice surprise: interesting history, mountains to climb and beaches to relax and recharge.

One should not miss to visit the Shrine of Valor (or Dambana ng Kagitingan) at the top of Mount Samat for a piece of history. The Shrine of Valor, which is marked by a 95 meter cross, honours the Filipinos and Americans who fought side by side during the Battle of Bataan during the World War 2 against the invading Japanese. A visit to the small museum should not be missed. The museum displays (gruesome) pictures during the WW2 as well as old military uniforms and artillery used by both Japanese and the Filipinos and Americans. History, literally written on the walls of the shrine, also tells of the infamous death march where around 72,000 Filipino and American prisones of war were forced to march 63 miles from Bataan, enduring lack of food and water and harsh treatment from the Japanese and resulting to an estimated death of around 10,000. 

Mt. Samat is located at Pilar Bataan. Entrance fee to the shrine is Php 20 and there is a parking space with parking fee of Php 20.

While in Bataan, you should also visit Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, a heritage park in Bagac, Bataan, showcasing restored old, historical mansions, from all over the country. The beaches in Morong, Bataan are likewise recommended. 

Travel time is around 2.5-3 hours from Quezon City, through the following routes (less travel time if via SCTEX):

1. Via San Fernando Exit 

    - NLEX

    - Take San Fernando Exit ( toll fee from Balintawak or Mindanao Avenue:  Php 157)

    - Follow the road going to Layak

    - At Dinalupihan, take the main highway

    - Will pass by Orani, Abucay, Balanga

    - At the Pilar junction, turn right

    - After 2-3 kilometers, turn left and drive up the shrine

2. Via SCTEX

    - NLEX

    - SCTEX

    - Take Dinalupihan Exit

    - Take Roman Highway and drive to Balanga City

     - At the Pilar junction, turn right

    - After 2-3 kilometers, turn left and drive up the shrine

3.To commute

     - Take Balanga-bound or Mariveles-bound bus

    - Alight in Balanga City or Pilar town

    - Hire tricycle to Mt. Samat (one website says cost is around Php 200, one way)

Sunflower Power

Sunflowers are in bloom again along the long stretch of University Avenue at the University of the Philippines-Diliman!  What a joy to see people getting off their cars and happily taking pictures of and with the flowers (yep-that includes me--of course).

Along University Avenue-UP Diliman

My pink bike amidst the yellow flowers :)

The sunflower has become a tradition in UP-Diliman which is reported to have started sometime in the late 70s or early 80s.  The sunflowers are planted every summer and is timed to bloom for the annual graduation ceremony.

For non-UP alumni like me, it has become the symbol of summertime.  For years, I have never missed visiting UP to get a glimpse and a few shots of these beautiful flowers.

I do hope they keep it that way. :) (And yeah, shame on those who steal those flowers/plants).

Ancient Art: The Angono-Binangonan Petrogplyphs

Ok...this can be confusing.  The Angono petroglyphs is not actually situated in Angono (one of the towns in Rizal province)- rather, it in is Binangonan (another town in Rizal province).

Say what...?

The explanation from the very helpful National Museum staff assigned in the location, was that that this was discovered in 1965 by Botong Francisco, a National Artist of the Philippines, who hails from Angono.  Aside from the fact, that it is by the border of Binangonan and Angono. It was therefore better known as the Angono Petroglyps, despite it being technically a part of Binangonan.  There are some attempts to show this "shared ownership" , as seen in this signage.

An attempt to be "inclusive"

The Angono Petroglyps is considered a cultural heritage site with the etchings on the rock wall dating back to 3000 B.C. or during the stone age, as per our guide.  Engraved in the rocks are various animal and human figures.  The National Museum website reports about 127 drawings of such. Our guide says that these drawings could very well be related to some spiritual rituals, as some drawings appear to be in prayer. However, this, and the actual date of the drawings, needs more study and we do not have the money nor the technology for this. 

Some of the drawings

No..the drawings are not in a cave , contrary to the popular notion (I was also expecting a cave).  It is in a rock shelter. But yes, there is a tunnel leading to this open area where the rock shelter is.

The Petroglyphs is in a 63 meter wide rock shelter.

The rock shelter with the petroglyphs

  

The Angono-Binangonan Petroglyps "has been included in the World Inventory of Rock Art" and "was nominated as one of the 100 Most Endangered Sites of the World under the world Monument Watch List."  Sadly, it is in danger of disappearing due to natural causes (wind, rain, plant roots, and erosion) and due to vandalism.  

Our guide shared that the government has allotted a 5 million peso budget for the site.  From what he shared however, it will mostly be used, to develop the surroundings of the petroglyph (e.g. construction of picnic benches and tables) but nothing for the preservation (I hope I heard him wrong). I do hope these would be preserved- this gives us a glimpse of the Filipino culture dating back from the stone age.

It sure is a place which is worth exploring, while it is still here.

How to get there, from Antipolo:

Driving from Shopwise, Antipolo: Turn right at MLQ extension.  You will pass by SM Hypermart, and just go straight ahead until you reach the gate leading to Thunderbird resort.  Inform the guard you are visiting the petroglyphs and they will show you the direction.

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=200030074610864277559.0004c070cd14033680b3b&msa=0&dg=feature

Public transportation:  From the Antipolo church, take a tricycle to the gate of the property leading to the Thunderbird Casino Resort and tell the guard you are visiting the Petroglyphs and you may hike to the location.

Day 9- Shukrya Pakistan!

Finally, we presented the review findings to the management team of our Pakistan office, along with our recommendations.  After some discussions, arguments, clarifications, we came to some agreements. 

And! Hospitable as they are, we were given some gifts: lovely Pakistani jars.

And our review was finally concluded.

Since our flight is not until almost midnight, we had time to do a few more shopping. I went back to the nuts shop and got half kilo walnut and half kilo raisins  (Yep- I am nuts with nuts!) and a few more wood decors. We had quick dinner then we went back to the guest house to pack- which, as you could guess, turned out to be very challenging.

The office driver came for us at 8 and dropped us at the airport. It was not very pleasant at the airport- with a police officer’s failed attempt to con us and tried to get our passports (he had to return it when we did not budge and we told him we had our visas).

Aside from that not so pleasant experience at the airport, it turned out to be a nice trip. It was a good learning and sharing experience.  The people I met were very friendly and hospitable. And I loved the places I have been to.

Shukrya, Pakistan, for the good experience. 

Day 8- Pakistan Visit: At Margalla Hills. Yay!

13 April 2014. On Sunday, we were back in the office to do the reports and presentation for Monday.  We were slave-driven, and allowed to take our lunch only at 4! Unlike! L

Shazia, however, saved the day.  She came at 3:30 , picked us up, brought us to lunch and took us to some shopping, again, at Jinna market.  13I got 1.5 kilos almonds and half kilo pistachio nuts, a Pakistani shawl and some Pakistani wood decors. Too bad the carpets are heavy! I wanted one.

Shopping time...finally.

After the quick shopping, we went to Margalla Hills.  It is a 20 to 30 minutes drive from Jinna market. On our way to the top, we passed by a memorial for the victims of an airplane that crashed in that site some years back.

At the top is the very nice Monat Restaurant, which gives a good view of the entire Islamabad City.  We got there just in time for the sunset. We had a nice Pakistani dinner (mutton and chicken barbecue, nan bread, salad) and then we called it a day.

At the Monat Restaurant

Top of Margalla Hills

Moon at Margalla

Memories of Margalla Hills

Day 7- Pakistan Visit: All work and no play…..

It was a Saturday, yet we had to do our reports.  All the members of the review team came and the whole day was spent analyzing data from the review. 

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Tired.

Day 6- Pakistan Visit: Fulfilled

April 11, 2014. Our police escorts were again with us the next day when we went to the other community.  The second community was closer to our Chakwal office than the one we went to the day before- we reached the place in 45 minutes. Another convoy joined us- the local police.

In this other village, we met with the members of the community based organization (CBO) and the beneficiaries of the Girls Power Project.

After 15 years of working in this community, the CBO is finally ready to mobilize their own community, and  have learned how to link with other institutions to generate funds to continue their projects and start new projects. They have learned how to come together to discuss their and also to listen to the voices of children and to get them involved. This just shows that we are indeed ready to phase out in 2 years and move on to other communities who would need Plan assistance.

Listening to the presentation of the community leaders

Me during the meeting with the leaders

Given the context of Pakistan, especially in a remote area such as the village we visited, the Girls Power Project is a breakthrough. The Girls Power Project, a Plan-supported project, is for the girls who are unable to continue to high school because of extreme poverty or because the parents only allow the boys to go to school or because the school is far from the village. Through the Girls Power Project,  a teacher comes to the village to teach them high school subjects.  After they completed the modules, they will be able to apply to colleges and universities.

At present, 30 girls are in participating in the Girls Power project. I particularly liked the discussion with the beneficiaries of said projects.  The young girls were very eager to share their experiences.  They shared with us what they are learning and how their lives have been changed because of the project.  One of the girls the girls shared that initially, her father did not want her to be part of Girls Power.  The other girls shared that they even had to go to her house to convince the father.  It was, however, when she asked for her brother’s help and her brother helped convinced her father, that he allowed her to attend the classes (which also show how much influence the boys have in the household, as compared to the girls). Now, her father wants her to go to college after she completes the modules.  The other girls confirmed that one of the changes brought about by the project is that the parents are now aware of the importance and now value girls’ education. All the girls want to be able to go to college. Hurray to Girls Power!

During the meeting with Girls Power Project beneficiaries.

Photo ops with the girls after the meeting

It is stories like these that keeps me going. This is all worth it. Yes!

Photo session with the village leaders after the visit.

Day 5- Pakistan Visit: Chakwal Mountains

April 10, 2014. Day 5. One of the rules for visiting Chakwal province is to get a military permit a month prior to the visit, which was what our security officer, a former military officer, did. The reason for that is so that they could coordinate the police escort wherever we go in Chakwal. For the same reason, we also needed to give them our itinerary. 

Garbed in our Pakistani costume (we were advised to wear one), we started early for Chakwal, where another of our Program Office is situated. 

Me in Pakistani clothes

After 1.5 hours of travel, we reached the toll gate at Chakwal, and our police escort showed up.  We were in a convoy with the police car, with its blinkers and siren and four policemen with long high powered guns.  Yay!

Our police escorts

We reached the office, had meeting, workshop, document and system review and some snacks.  By now, I have realized that Pakistani cuisine is mostly of chicken. Even the snacks. Everything seems to come with chicken- unless you specify something else.

After lunch, we headed to one of the villages, which was another good 1.5 hours of travel.  And travel up and deeper in the mountains we did.  And those were beautiful stone mountains.

Chakwal mountains

And wheat fields

We were again welcomed with rose petals when we reached the community.  We had our meetings, and visits of families with our police escorts tailing us.

Me and Neeta with the 2 kids

The houses in Chakwal are different than those in Islamabad.  They looked like from the olden times described in the bible. Their houses are compounds, with several separate rooms.  In one part of the compound are their goats and cattle.

One of the houses/compounds

While making my way back to the car, I also saw a girl carrying water jar.

Just like the olden times

Time travel. That’s what it felt like- the remoteness of the place, the dresses, the houses, and that water jar.

By 4 pm, we were so hungry, we rushed back to the "real world".

Happy after the late, late lunch.

Day 4- Pakistan Visit: Saidpur Village

9 April 2014. Day 4 did not quite start right. We were supposed to go to another slum community at 9AM.  Earlier, however, there was a bomb blast in one of the markets close to that community. The Security Officer called up and asked us to wait at the office for another hour, and then he will give us another advice.

We decided to just continue with our system and document review.  After an hour or so, we were given the clearance to go.

On the way to the community...beautiful park turned into clothes drying area :)

We went to another Christian community and had the meetings in another small church. It felt good to be able to talk to some project beneficiaries- it does validate the work that we do. We talked with some youth volunteer health educators  and I was amazed to find out how much they are learning and how their involvement are helping them develop themselves.

Meeting with children and community

 After the meeting, we headed to Saidpur Village for lunch. On the way, I cannot help but notice the lovely roses lining the major streets. Wish we have this too in Manila- but then that might not be possible due to the terrible air pollution.

Aren't they lovely

 Situated at the foot of a hill, Saidpur Village is a heritage place.  It is an old village and the government are taking pains to maintain it and they are not anymore allowed to build more houses there.  The hill, flowers, blue skies and good weather all together made it the lovely place that it is.  

We enjoyed  a good Pakistani lunch and then headed back to the Program Unit office for a quick presentation of our findings and recommendations.