Inside Museo de Baler

Museo de Baler is found right behind the Quezon Park in Baler, Aurora. On the façade of this two-story red brick structure are relief sculptures depicting the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, the history and development of Baler. Toym Imao was commissioned to do the sculptures. 

A skylight spanning the middle of the museum provides natural illumination in the predominantly earth tone hues of the interior.

Sightseeing Baler (Part 1)

From Aragon House we went back to Quezon Park where we had lunch at an eatery across Aurora Memorial Hospital in Barangay Reserva, Baler, Aurora.

Squid Adobo

Tanigue Steak

Baler Surfers

Hundreds of people trooped to Baler for the Surf & Music Festival 2011. During the 3-day event Labasin Beach in Sabang, Baler was filled with surfers from beginners to pro.

How to Surf

Steps in Surfing

1. Paddle

Historical Tour of Baler

After having breakfast, we hopped on a trike to the booking office of Genesis Bus to reserve seats for our trip back to Manila the following day. From the booking office, Labasin Beach in Sabang is merely walking distance.

Since we didn’t have any room reservations, we checked all resorts and inns we passed along the way in Sabang. All of them were fully booked since Baler is hosting the Surf & Music Festival.

Our campsite before a deluge of campers came 

Baler Bound

Baler, capital of Aurora Province, is roughly 230 kilometers north of Manila. Today, Baler is known as a surfing destination although the town is steeped in history.

In 1979, Apocalypse Now, an American war film was shot in Baler. Is it said the surfboards left by the production crew gave birth to the surfing culture that is now prevalent in Baler.

Our trip to Baler was initially set on May of this year. It was postponed indefinitely after Typhoon Bebeng hit Aurora just days before our scheduled departure.

Waking Up in Mahabang Buhangin

I woke up at 4:30 a.m. lying on the beach. I was stargazing the previous night and was too lazy and tired to get to the hut. It’s not often I get to sleep on a beach on a starry night.

I went to the hut, got my camera and set it up for the sunrise. It looked like I had luck in capturing the sunrise here than in Puraran, Catanduanes or Caramoan, Camarines Sur.

Calaguas: Mahabang Buhangin in Pictures

Mahabang Buhangin - the gem of Tinago Island, Calaguas Group of Islands.

Part 2: Sailing and Trekking to Calaguas

At the breakwater by the mouth of the river, we found a boat going to Mangcawayan in Tinaga Island, one of the two main islands of Calaguas Group. As soon as they started loading the boat I approached the boatman and inquired if they could take us to Mangcawayan. His response that was we can ride with them if there’s space left after the locals and all the supplies were loaded.

The boat was laden with bags of cement, boards of plywood and whatnots. Looks like our chance of riding this boat to Tinaga Island seemed bleak. Despite that we lingered by the breakwater.

Part 1: Going to Calaguas

We checked out of the EcoVillage at 5 a.m. Good thing a service shuttle dropped us off at the highway just in time to catch a passing bus bound for Naga. A Daet-bound van left just as we were approaching the terminal.

Naga bound!

A Night in CamSur Watersports Complex

From Sabang, we took the van to Naga City. It was a bit late to proceed to Daet, Camarines Norte when we arrived in Naga.

In Naga we went to SM City, which is conveniently located across the bus, jeepney and van terminals. We went around the mall to kill some time and bought some foodstuffs at the supermarket for our trip to Calaguas the next day.

We weren’t so keen of spending the night in Naga so we hopped on a jeep to CamSur Watersports Complex (CWC) in Pili.

Leaving Caramoan

The sunrise was still elusive even in Caramoan,. I took a peek outside the tent at five in the morning and the horizon was blanketed with clouds. Knowing that I won’t be seeing the sunrise I went back to sleep.

An overcast morning in Caramoan

Around 7:00 a.m. we woke up, had breakfast and then started to pack our stuffs away. By 9:00 a.m. we were ready to go. A motorbike was our ride to Guijalo Port passing through Centro, the town proper of Caramoan.

Island Hopping in Caramoan

One and a half hours later after leaving Codon Port in San Andres, Catanduanes, Mang Rey, our boatman, docked in Matukad Island. I marveled at the karst  rock formation and explored the beachfront. We didn't go to the top of the rocks to see the lagoon and have a glimpse of a panoramic view of the island since we are short of time.

Approaching Matukad Island

Baler Adventures Coming Soon!

Follow the adventures of oboi laboy in Baler, Aurora. Soon!

Crossing Maqueda Channel to Caramoan

Most visitors to Caramoan in Camarines Sur normally take the pumpboat from Sabang Port in San Jose to Guijalo Port in Caramoan then to Barangay Paniman via motor bike or tricycle. Paniman is the jump off point to the majestic karst islands and cliffs of Caramoan.

Codon Port (San Andres)

Alternately, one can take the route to Paniman via Codon Port in San Andres, Catanduanes. I love adventure and I am always up for the unexpected and my cousin shares the same outlook on traveling. And so we took chances in taking this route to Caramoan instead of going through the circuitous way via Tabaco City to Sabang Port in San Jose or Nato Port in Sagñay, Camarines Sur.

Caramoan Bound

From Baras we took a bus to Virac. The road back to Virac is scenic and it snakes along the coast, around the mountains and crosses Bato River. Travel time was roughly one hour to Virac.