We've been planning to visit this historical province for quite some time now and although we have other options to take, we can't travel really far due to the condition of my pregnant wife. By the way, it's our third baby!
We were told about the history on how Japanese forces overwhelmed the joined forces of American and Filipino soldiers. I must admit, I'm not a fan of classroom history discussion and there's something personal about visiting the place...you'll see traces of the past!
We left Quezon City around 10am and just along the road to Bataan you'll see landmarks of its history starting from Layac Junction.
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| Layac Junction Death March Monument |
We arrived in Balanga Bataan and checked in at The Plaza Hotel just in time for lunch. So right after unloading our things, we headed to a nearby restaurant.
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| Stregato Gelateria |
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| Pick one! |
We really felt the heat of the summer here since it is actually a peninsula. Rested a bit then off to our first destination...Bataan WWII Museum.
The place can be found behind Balanga Elementary School and just when you thought it's just a quick view, then you're in for an actual time travel with people that had the real experience. If you can see ghost then you should check the torture chamber and finally the revelation here wasn't the death march but the UP Oblation statue. Go check it out!
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| Torture chamber |
We tried to check what's available information we can get from Bataan Tourism Center after the WWII museum but the building had to close early since it's holy week. So the next time you are planning to visit Bataan, head first here and make sure to check if they will actually open to public on that schedule.
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| Bataan Tourism Center |
We had dinner in Tetak's Grill and just before we end the day, we were able to witness some of the Lenten shows just outside the hotel including the colorful water feature in Balanga Plaza de Mayor.
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| Dinner in Tetak's Grill |
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| Balanga Plaza de Mayor |
Early the next day, we went to Church of Balanga just a few steps away and whispered a prayer. Our kids then after enjoyed the cool breeze of the morning and got busy with the city playpen. When the kids got tired we got ourselves a light breakfast in Plaza Brew then after packed our bags and onto our next destination.
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| Church of Balanga |
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| Say a little prayer for you... |
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| The new Barangay Chief of Balanga |
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| Breakfast in Plaza Brew |
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| mini bike |
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| Our room in The Plaza Hotel |
We visited the Flaming Sword monument, another Death March marker, Mt. Samat and Japanese Frienship Tower along our way to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar which is by the way located in Bagac Bataan.
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| Flaming Sword |
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| Death March marker |
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| Singkamas Break! |
Mount Samat Cross was really massive since we were having some trouble fitting it in our camera.
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| Groufie |
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| Mount Samat Cross |
We weren't able to get a photo of the Japanese frienship tower... Oh well! we finally arrived in Las Casas and we just lately found out that there were two (2) entrances here. One for the employees which is in Aguinaldo St. and the rough road access for guests which is located along Gov. JJ Linao National Road. We still forgot to take a photo of the Friendship Tower although we crossed it twice!
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| Checked-in Las Casas |
Since we wanted to aid you on your visit, please check Las Casas Map below and enjoy! http://www.lascasasfilipinas.com/
If I were to describe this place in one word then it's "RUSTIC" and if I were going to market this on public I would use the word "RUSTIC PINOY-SPANISH ALL IN ONE PLACE". Let me break it into pieces. Las Casas has an accommodation (you can actually use all exhibited houses). It has various restaurants and offers a variety of food. It has a river canal, a pool, a beach, a shoreline with fine sand and they always have tissue available inside their common toilet (the details man!). It has historical and cultural shows and a lot more! I really recommend you set a time to visit this wonderful place.
The moment we unloaded our things we immediately went to get something to eat but wait... there's a train here?
It took long before our food was served because it's almost 2pm when we got here. Nevertheless, it was really good but pricey!
Kalabaw race? I dunno if we just got lucky or this kind of event was held annually. So right after we had lunch we headed on the shorelines of Las Casas to witness this event. There were jeepneys which regularly roam around the place so transportation isn't a problem.
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| Pambansang ride - Jeepney |
It's getting dark and the coast guard only allows swimming on the beach until 6pm. We've been told that there will be a cultural show around 7pm so that's definitely next on our list.
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| Cultural show over dinner |
Besides the cultural show, there were several restaurants here and we chose La Bella Teodora which offers authentic Italian cuisine over live music performers. This was the perfect place to celebrate my wife's birthday!
Here are some of the photos at night in Las Casas...
Next morning although we planned to just enjoy the beach, a boatman told me there are still places we can reach a few minutes from Las Casas... a cave and another cove he said. The moment he told me the price rate, I'm in!
I suggest you visit the cave before 8am if you wanted to enjoy it yourself. You can also do cliff jump here just don't dive head first.
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| The Sugong Cave |
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| Cliff Jump |
The next destination was Playa La Caleta. This place is really good for campers and back-packers. This part of the island is connected to a river which kids will love.
Right after the short Island hop we went back to Las Casas for breakfast and we were scheduled for a historical tour before lunch so time is of the essence.
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| river connecting to beach |
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| on our way back to Las Casas |
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| Buffet breakfast |
The historical tour will cover most of the footprint of Las Casas and this is usually done by walking. So ready your towels and hankies! But wait, you can rent a cart by the way!
The tour will showcase live performances of actors depicting scenes from the past and if you watched Heneral Luna movie, you'll find this place familiar. You will travel from house to house while the guide will provide you information on where was the house transported from.
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| Ironing clothes the old way |
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| free cold towels at the end of the tour... refreshing! |
We did a short break, took some pictures and went back to the hotel.
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| Ice candy break |
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| Main Lobby of building 2 |
We left Las Casas late in the afternoon and our next destination was Subic. Along the way, we brought the kids to check the Pawikan Conservation Center and again they were lucky to see hatchlings. We also showed them flock of bats in an area just beside the old airport in Subic and finally got ourselves lunch in Xtremely Xpresso Cafe.
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| Pawikan Conservation Center |
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| Hatchlings |
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| Bats! |
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| Lunch @ xtremely xpresso |
We were so exhausted that we decided to just spend the whole evening inside the hotel we checked-in. For tomorrow will be another great day!
On our last day in Subic, we tried the newly opened Inflatable Island. Kids will really love this place but they will have a hard time competing with the adults who were transported back to their childhood hahaha!
Again, never forget to visit Meatplus before you leave this place!
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| Inflatable Island |
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| Lunch @ meatplus |
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| banana split! |
It really was a long weekend indeed and to top it all off, we went to Razon's restaurant in Guagua Pampanga where it began...
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| Famous Razon's halo-halo |
This concludes our vacation... Bataan, you really stand out and we're hoping you will keep the memories intact for future generations to witness and behold!
