Month: October 2020

Anilao in Batangas

One of the best diving spots in the Philippine archipelago is located 3 hours away from Manila in the coastal barangay of Mabini, Batangas. It is surrounded by the Balayan Bay and Batangas Bay and overlooking the nearby islands Marikaban and Caban Island. It is known as the birthplace of scuba diving in the Philippines.

Anilao was the first beach I visited during my early teenage years when I went to a University-wide field trip for employees in my aunt’s workplace.

There are so many resorts and diving center in the whole of Mabini. Here are the different resorts I visited.

Vistamar Beach Resort and Hotel

Vistamar Beach Resort and Hotel is one of the firsts resorts in San Jose, Mabini. The resort is ideal for large groups. It is in the coastal area of Balayan Bay overlooking the town of Calatagan. They have an indoor pool, restaurants, and a lounge area. The beach area is a little bit rocky in the resort. The nearest diving center is the Anilao Scuba Dive Center if you want to experience budget diving.

Bontoc Seaview Guesthouse

The second time I visited Anialo was for a Christmas party. I crashed a Christmas party with my former colleague. It is also known as Bontoc in Batangas Bed and Breakfast and it located in Balagbag Bagalangit. There’s a 5-minute walk to the nearby resort if you want to enjoy the shore. The accommodation includes buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner. And they really serve sumptuous dishes. We were the only guests during our stay. The rooms have a vibe of the Bontoc province and I love the veranda overlooking the sea with the karaoke machine for us.

It is also nearby the trekking site of Mt. Gulugod Baboy where you need to get to Mt. Gulugod Baboy Tourist Assistance Center before the trek.

Vista Aplaya Beach & Dive Resort

It is also located in Balagbag Bagalangit, overlooking the beautiful islands of Marikaban and Caban Island. It is a family-owned beachfront resort and perfect for intimate gatherings of companies and families.

They have a pool and a rocky shoreline. They also serve buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner with an available karaoke machine in the dining area. We also avail of their scuba diving lessons.

Padre Pio Shrine in Batangas

The Parish and National Shrine of St. Padre Pio is a catholic church administered by the Roman Catholic Church of Lipa. It is consecrated to St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, an Italian priest and a saint for exhibiting stigmata for most of his life. It is a pilgrimage site at Brgy San Pedro, in the Santo Tomas – Lipa Road in Santo Tomas, Batangas.


The Shrine became a famous tourist destination because of the different structures around like Mother of Mercy Belfry, St. John and Mary Vianney Chapel of Reconciliation, The Sanctuary of the True Cross of Christ
and Holy Water Sanctuary.

 

Other structures built within the National Shrine include the parish rectory, office and religious store, the Fountain of Hope, the Stations of the Cross, and recently the Divine Mercy Sanctuary for Pilgrims.


A first-class relic was entrusted to the proposed church in 2003. The Parish of St. Padre Pio was erected some months after the canonization of St. Padre Pio in 2002.

The Historical Balanga City

Bataan is a very famous historical place for the Philippines. Going to Bataan, you will a mark in the called the Bataan Death March Marker which is seen in the town of Orani.

The capital city of Bataan is Balanga.  What are the famous places to see in the capital? In the center of the city are the following:

Diocesan Shrine and Cathedral – Parish of Saint Joseph

Balanga Cathedral, formally known as Diocesan Shrine and Cathedral Parish of St. Joseph was declared as a diocesan-shrine and is the seat of the Diocese of Balanga. The cathedral was formally declared as a Diocesan Shrine on March 19, 2015.

Plaza Mayor de Ciudad de Balanga

Across the street from the façade of the cathedral is The Plaza Mayor.  The plaza mayor is a plaza of the famous Plaza Hotel Blanaga City with a statue of Jose Rizal. Plaza Mayor de Ciudad de Balanga is an old hotel in the middle of Balanga City. It is a 3.5 hotel with 34 guest rooms.

The hotel also has the mall in the adjacent building. On the right side of the hotel is the town hall.

Bataan World War II Museum

The museum houses inside the compound of the Balanga City Elementary School. It is near the surrender site and located at Jose Basa Street. The museum is dedicated to the Filipino and American war soldiers and war veterans. The World War II museum has different artifacts and dioramas about the events that took place during World War 2.

It consists of two floors where you can see some original memorabilia used during WWII even some parts of the plane that crashed in the Tarak Ridge.

Right across the museum is the Surrender Site. Other landmarks to see are Dona Francisca Park, Bataan Tourism Center and the Zero Kilometer Death March Marker.

Samal, Bataan

Samal is a coastal town in Bataan. It was known for sea gypsies migrated in Luzon in the early 14th century and settled in Bataan. They introduced the pearl and capiz culture.
The Parish Church of Saint Catherine of Siena was founded in the municipality on April 20, 1641. Saint Catherine of Siena became the patron saint of the municipality and a feast on her name was celebrated every 30th of April.

Historically, the church and the convent were burned by the Katipuneros in 1896 and as rebuilt in 1903.

Kamana Sanctuary Resort and Spa

My grandiose Subic Trip was for our Kick-Off Meeting with the same company where we stayed in Kamana Sanctuary Resort and Spa. It is an exclusive resort and one of the best resorts in Subic. It is located at West Ilanin Forest. It is also near Ocean Adventure which is also in Morong, Bataan.
Amenities include an infinity pool, conference rooms, a big garden, separate rooms on the coast of Subic Bay. A hidden rock formation on the side of the beachfront.

There are different types of rooms to choose from like the Casitas, Deluxe Single, Deluxe Twin, Hotel Suite, Deluxe Twin with Loft and Standard Twin. Their restaurants serve luscious and delectable dishes that will suit your palette.

The view of mountaintops and lush rainforests surrounds the resort. The sunset is also a beautiful site in Kamana. It is along the coastline of Nabasan Beach and Nabasan Wharf.