Aurora

Land Area & Location

Land AreaAurora Province has a total land area of 323,954 hectares, representing about one percent of the country's total land area.

LocationAurora Province is located on the East-Central side of Luzon Island. It is the north-eastern most province of Central Luzon (Region III). It is bordered on the north by the provinces of Isabela and Qurino, on the west by Nueva Ecija and Nueva Viscaya, on the south by Bulacan and Quezon, and on the east by the Pacific Ocean. The province's main link to the rest of Luzon is through a narrow mountain gravel road that twists through the Sierra Madre Mountain Range. The road is located between Baler and Bongabon, Nueva Ecija.

Topography

The province of Aurora covers the eastern portion of the Sierra Madre Mountains, hence it is generally mountainous. There are flat lands unevenly distributed throughout the province. Its coastline spans 332 kilometers in length. The municipality of Dingalan, in the south, has the most irregular topography.

The main drainage systems of Aurora consist of six rivers:

Aguang River, Baler Calabgan River, Casiguran Ditale River, Dipaculao Dibatuan River, Dipaculao Ibuna River, Dingalan Sinagnuan River, Dingalan

Climate

RainfallAurora's climate is characterized by rainfall that is evenly distributed throughout the year, since Aurora faces the Pacific Ocean and has no barriers to shield it from typhoons coming from the east. Tropical cyclones are also a seasonal occurrence.

The average monthly rainfall is 273.9 millimeters. Rainfall is heaviest during the months of January, February, April, October, and November, while August is the driest month.

Wind CurrentThe province experiences two main wind currents. From November to April, the trade wind generally reaches the province from an easterly direction. The wind then moves in a southwesterly direction for the rest of the year. In Casiguran, the wind comes from the north from October to March and the South from April to September. The average annual wind speed is four knots.

TemperatureThe mean monthly temperature of Aurora is 25.3 degrees Celsius. The coldest months are January and February, with a temperature ranging from 19.3 to 20.4 degrees Celsius. The warmest months are from June to July, with temperature from 30 to 33 degrees Celsius.

HISTORY RELATED ARTICLES excerpts from Sen. Ed Angara's book - Baler, Aurora Baler For All Time Geography Baler and Its People Prehistory Agta / Dumagat Spanish Occupation Baler Revolt Start of Baler Siege Baler Siege (Part 1) Baler Siege (Part 2) Baler Siege Versions and Contradictions During The American Period

The Province of Aurora, with Baler as its capital, was founded by President Ferdinand E. Marcos in August 13, 1979 by virtue of Batas Bambansa Blg. 7. This act was the fulfillment of the prayers of the people of the former Municipalities of Baler and Casiguran to be truly independent from the Province of Quezon for the first time since the Spanish occupation.

Early History

In 1572, the Spanish explorer Juan de Salcedo became the first European to visit the region that would be known as Aurora while he

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was exploring the northern coast of Luzon. Salcedo reportedly visited the towns of Casiguran, Baler and Infanta.

In the early days of the Spanish colonial period, Aurora was ecclesiastically linked to Infanta, which today rests further south in the Province of Quezon. The earliest missionaries in the province were the Franciscans, who had established missions in Baler and Casiguran in 1609. Due to lack of available personnel, the region was given to the jurisdiction of the Agustinians and Recollects in 1658, but was returned to the Friars Minor in 1703. Other early missions included Dipaculao, established in 1719, and Casiguran, in 1753.

The early history of Aurora is linked to Quezon Province, of which it originally formed a part, and Nueva Ecija. In 1591, Quezon (then named Kalilaya) was organized into a district that included a good portion of what now constitutes the Provinces of Laguna and Nueva Ecija.

The original capital of Quezon was Kalilaya, now known as Unisan. In 1701, Nueva Ecija was split from Kalilaya Province. Around 1749, the provincial capital was transferred from Kalilaya to the town of Tayabas. The entire province then took on the name of Tayabas as well.

1800s to American Occupation

In 1818, Nueva Ecija annexed the towns of Palanan from the Province of Isabela, as well as Baler, Casiguran, Infanta and Polillo Island, from Tayabas. Between 1855 and 1885, Aurora (then named El Principe) was declared a comandancia politico-militar, with its capital at Baler. During the Philippine Revolution of 1898, a provincial revolutionary government was instituted briefly in El Principe. During this period, Bondo, formerly under the municipal jurisdiction of Mulanay, was made a separate municipality.

With the arrival of the Americans in the 1890s, a short-lived military government was established, followed by a civil government for this "district", established on June 12, 1902. In concert with the installation of the latter civil provincial government, the district of El Principe was transferred from the administrative jurisdiction of Nueva Ecija, which had controlled it since 1818, and placed under the jurisdiction of Tayabas.

The Birth of a Province

It wasn't until after World War II, however, that this part of Quezon Province languished in extreme isolation from neighboring provinces and cities. It was Mayor Pedro V. Guerrero, with the prodding of Do�a Aurora Aragon Quezon, who sought the creation of a Sub-Province of Aurora, named in honor of Do�a Aurora, as a stop-gap measure to pave the way for the eventual creation of an independent province when the required number of

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municipalities was attained. Guerrero was appointed Lieutenant Governor in recognition of his accomplishment.

In 1951 the municipalities of Baler, Casiguran, Dilasag, Dipaculao, Dinalongan, Dingalan, Maria Aurora and San Luis were officially formed into the Sub-Province of Aurora by virtue of Republic Act 646.

The dream of converting the Sub-Province into a regular province was indefatigably pursued by Atty. Luis S. Etcuba�ez, who has the distinction of being the last Lieutenant Governor of the Sub-Province of Aurora. Etcuba�ez was appointed as the first Governor of Aurora when it became the 73rd province of the country in 1979. Etcuba�ez issued an Executive Order declaring February 19 of each year Aurora Foundation Day in honor of the late Do�a Aurora Quezon.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROFILE

Population

Population SizeAurora Province has a population of approximately 173,797 based on the May 2000 national census. It has a density of 54 persons per square kilometer, the fifith lowest in the country. The province's growth rate has slowed down to an annual rate of 1.84%.

DemographicsAurora has a predominantly rural population. Approximately 75.85% percent of the total populace lives in rural areas, while the remaining 24.15% lives in urban areas.

Aurora has a large youth demographic, with 43.16 percent of the total population younger than 15 years of age. The largest age group, however, is the 15 to 64 range, which comprises 50.68 percent of the population. Those aged 65 years and older represent the remaining 2.56 percent.

The sex ratio is 106 males for every 100 females.

Education

Aurora's educational needs are met by public institutions consisting of 128 primary and elementary schools, 25 secondary schools, and one state college. This is augmented by 25 private elementary and secondary schools as well as three private colleges. Public schools dominate the educational system of the province.

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Forty-seven percent of the total household population aged five years and older have attended or completed elementary education while 29.74% have attended or completed secondary studies. Only 7.89% of the population attended or completed college. The rest had either vocational background or had not gone to school. While there were more males who attended or finished elementary and secondary studies, females holding academic degrees and post baccalaureate courses outnumbered males.

According to the country's Department of Education (DepEd), Aurora's population showed a literacy rate of 94.54% in 2000.

Healthcare

The province has four government hospitals located in the municipalities of Baler, Casiguran, Maria Aurora, and Dingalan. It has 44 barangay health stations, mainly located in the central municipalities. Each municipality has a health center to support the hospitals in bringing medical assistance to the barangays.

Health manpower under the Department of Health Provincial Health Office include 19 physicians, 24 nurses, 52 midwives, 9 dentists, 9 sanitary inspectors, 4 medical technologists, 2 pharmacists, 2 health inspectors, a nutritionist/dietician and a sanitary engineer.

Recreation

Recreational facilities totaled 246 in 1988. The majority of facilities, or 41.9 percent of the provincial total, are located in the municipalities of Maria Aurora and Dingalan.

The most common types of recreational facilities are basketball and volleyball courts, which can be found in virtually every municipality and many barangays. Pool halls are also popular.

Cockfighting is the most popular form of recreation for men. Most of the cockfighting enthusiasts from the central zone and northern towns still go to Baler and San Luis to enjoy the sport.

Only three movie houses were operating in Aurora as of 1988. They are located in the municipalities of Baler, Dipaculao and Maria Aurora, respectively.

Security & Safety

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Three Philippine National Police (PNP) forces maintain peace and order in Aurora. They are stationed in Baler, Casiguran and Maria Aurora, respectively. There are also a number of PNP detachments in other areas of the province. In addition, each municipality has its own police headquarters.

Manila-Baler FlightsSEAir's planes are flying between Manila and Baler once again.

Flight Schedule

Route Flight No. Days Departure ArrivalManila - Baler DG295 Monday / Friday 1:50 pm 2:40 pmBaler - Manila DG296 Monday / Friday 3:00 pm 3:50 pm

Rates

Manila - Baler: Php 3,314.08 Baler - Manila: Php 3,330.88 Roundtip: Php 6,644.96

For ticket reservations, please contact +63(2) 709-0545 or 44 and look for Patty or Rio.

HOTELS & RESORTSMost of the resorts are located in Baler town where most tourists stay overnight. Dingalan has some beach resorts but no information is available as of now. Tourists who trek to the rest of the province either go back to Baler for the evening or stay with relatives and hospitable strangers nearby. Camping is also an option. Not much information exists on accommodations in Aurora but we will update this section, as facts are made available to us.

AMCO Beach Resort

AMCO Beach Resort is a low-rise colonial style building with halls overlooking the driveway. Although the property is not beach front, facilities/amenities include private bathrooms and different types of bedrooms. As one of the biggest resorts around, AMCO is ideal for

conferences and conventions. Rates range from PhP400 to PhP500 per night. For reservations, call + 63 (44) 552-4209.

Angara's Beach House

The Baler Guesthouse is located in Barangay Sabang, conveniently by Sabang Beach. It has seven regular rooms. There are also two public bathrooms and a public comfort room. The restaurant can seat as many as 50 diners. The resort is personally managed by its owner, Karen. It is situated right behind Bay's Inn and although it does not have a beach view, it offers its guests a private, well-landscaped garden ideal for meditation. Rates range from PhP300 to PhP500 per night. For reservations, call +63 (42) 209-422.

Bay's Inn

Arguably the most popular resort in Sabang, Bay's Inn boasts panoramic views of Baler Bay, the Pacific Ocean and surrounding cliffs and beaches. It remains a favorite among foreign guests and out-of-town surfers.

Formerly known as Ocean View, this resort located in Barangay Sabang, Baler, has a booking office in Metro Manila. The booking office is at 20 Lanutan Street, Project 7 in Quezon City. The resort has accommodations for up to 32 guests and a restaurant that serves a maximum of 70 people. Rates range from PhP400 to PhP500 per night. They also rent surfboards for PhP150/day and boogie boards for PhP75/day. For reservations, call +63 (2) 410-0643.

MIA (Make It Aurora) Surf & Sports Resort

Located along Sabang Beach in Barangay Sabang, Baler, the MIA Surf & Sports Resort offers various accommodations. Five VIP rooms have their own flush toilets, showers and electric fans. There are also seven single rooms and four double rooms. There is a restaurant with a seating capacity of 100. The resort offers facilities for horseback riding and rental of equipment for surfing, windsurfing and snorkeling.

FAST FACTSGeographical Location Mid-eastern coast of

LuzonRegion 4

Boundaries

NorthNorthwestWestSouthwestSouthEast

Isabela & Quirino ProvinceNueva Vizcaya ProvinceNueve Ecija ProvinceBulacan ProvinceQuezon ProvincePacific Ocean

Legal Basis of Creation

Batas Pambansa Blg. 7August 13, 1979

Number of Municipalities

8 (Baler as capital)August 13, 1979

Number of Barangays 152 Dominant Population Tagalog and Ilocano Population

159,621(NSO, Sept. 1, 1995)

Population Growth Rate 2.6% Total No. of Households 31,340 Ave. Household Size 5.1 Population Density 51.5 persons per sq. km Topography

Generally mountainous with30% coastal flatlands

Forest Cover 70% Total Land Area 323,954 hectares Forest Land 230,000 hectares Virgin dipterocarp rainforest

39,000 hectares

Climate

Type IV under corona's classification

Average Rainfall

273.9 mm. (monthly ave.)

Road Network

1.507,682 kms. (1993) a) 1,468,061 km - gravel b) 7,736 km - asphalt c) 31,885 km - concrete

Literacy Rate 86% (DECS, 1995) Schools (DECS, 1999) Elementary 125Secondary 31Tertiary 2 Employment(NSO, Sept. 1, 1995)

Agriculture/Fishing ForestryServicesTradeManufacturingConstructionOil

53.5%21.8%11.5%8.8%3.8%0%

Major Crops Produced

CoconutRiceBanana

Area Production

21, 618 ha42,000 T/year

8,945 ha 24,000 T/year

1,443 3,900 T/year Length of Shoreline 328 kilometers Total Area for Agricultural Expansion

58,692 has. (19.59 %)

Present Land Use Build Up ResidentialInstitutional

2,388 ha272 ha

CommercialRecreationalIndustrialRoads

64 ha24 ha14 ha103 ha (Poblacion only)

Agricultural Land RicelandCocolandOther CropsFishpondDiversified Crops

14,084.82 ha17,817.39 ha1,493.60 ha77.65 ha128.50 ha

Forestland Watershed Forest ReservationTimberland w/o legal ProclamationCB-FM AgreementCert. Of Ancestral Domain CertificateIntegrated Social ForestryLowland ForestBeach ForestsMangrove ForestsSocial Industrial Forest Mgt.AgreementNational ParkIFMA

43,324.642 ha150,879.86 ha

8,091.51 ha

22,559.0 ha2,757.0 ha1,112.04 ha405.07 ha537.83 ha3,157.20 ha

1,745.59 ha6,760.86 ha

Riverwash 2,709.8 haWetland 679.47 haGrassland 10,995.93 haReforestation 306.62 haShrubland 6,968 haTLA 7,107.65 haMilitary Reservation 3,904.37 haNon-Christian Reservation

62.69 ha

Kaingin 1,408 haWater Reservoir 28 ha Miscellaneous Land Use SwampBeach Sand

45.10 ha852.41 ha

HISTORICAL SIGHTSAurora is a province blessed with an abundance of tourist attractions. It has its share of historical sights such as the home and resthouse of former Philippine President Manuel L. Quezon. The province also has a beautiful Catholic church and several historical markers. Its natural attractions include picturesque waterfalls, lush greenery on mountainsides, and panoramic beaches. Surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, mountain climbing and trekking are only some of the activities a tourist can enjoy in Aurora.

Doña Aurora Memorial Shrine

to follow

Aurora Quezon Marker

Location: Poblacion, Baler

Getting There: From the bus station at the Baler market, take a tricycle and ask to be taken to the site.

Travel Time: 3-5 minutes

Not far from the Lt. Gilmore Marker and the Baler Catholic Church is the historic marker built in honor of Doña Aurora Aragon Quezon, the wife of Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon. Aurora Quezon was known for her untiring efforts in social welfare, especially for the benefit of the people of Aurora province. Like her husband, she was born in the town of Baler. She died in an ambush on the mountain roads of Nueva Ecija leading to the province that now bears her name.

Baler Catholic Church


Getting There: From the bus station at the Baler market, take a tricycle and ask to be taken to the church.


http://www.aurora.ph/tourist-info.html


The structure is an old church with a simple facade. Here, the last Spanish garrison of four officers and 50 men was besieged by Filipino insurgents from June 27, 1898 to July 2, 1899. This was the last pocket of resistance of the Spanish Armed Forces to surrender to American troops. This is also where the La Campana de Baler, an ancient bell, was used and later stored as a relic.

Lt. Commander James Gilmore Marker


Getting There: From the bus station at the Baler market, take a tricycle and ask to be taken to the site.

Travelling Time: 3-5 minutes

From the left wall of the Baler Catholic Church stands a simple marker for Lt. Commander James Gilmore, who commanded the U.S. gunboat Yorktown and was captured with all his men when he came to Baler, Aurora in April 1899 to relieve the Spanish soldiers besieged in the church of Baler.

Quezon House

Location: Barangay Cemento, Baler

Getting There:The best means to go there is by private vehicle as there is no regular public transport going to Barangay Cemento from the Baler town proper. It is also possible to take a tricycle from Baler to Barangay Sabang and take a 45-minute walk to Barangay Cemento, but one would have to wade through the river that cuts between the two barangays.

Travel Time: Approximately an hour's drive

Once the vacation home of President Manuel L. Quezon, the house is a short walk from Cemento Beach. Today, only the foundation and a cement staircase remain; the house was destroyed by a typhoon.

Quezon Memorial Park




Getting There: From the bus station at the Baler market, one can walk to the site.


This quiet park of trees and lawns was developed in honor and in memory of the late president Manuel L. Quezon. A marker fenced by concrete and set on a circular cement platform serves as a landmark of Baler, the birthplace of Quezon.

CULTURAL & RELIGIOUS EVENTS & SIGHTS

Moro-Moro Zarsuela

Location: Baler

Presented on February 19 (Aurora Day) in Baler, Aurora, the "Zarsuela" is an interplay of drama and dance. Taking three days to complete (although it could be shortened to a day), the "Zarsuela" performed here is composed of several acts that revolve around the main theme of Moro-Moro or Moslem-Christian conflict. The "Zarsuela" presents slightly different variations for the Moro-Moro theme year after year. The roles of princes and princesses, warriors and laymen for both the Christian and Moslem sides are performed in dance, while a narrator accompanies the pantomime act. What makes this particular performance more dramatic is that real knives and bolos are used. Often in the heat of the presentation, miscalculations result in knife and bolo gashes. Both actors and actresses participate in this particularly sensitive and dangerous sword-play. Only beautiful, graceful ladies and handsome men are chosen and trained for the theater. Indeed, this is a cultural theater that demands talent, beauty, skills and courage from the actors, and highly skilled and experienced trainers are needed to create this unique style of "Zarsuela".

Santo Entierro

Location: Baler

A glass coffin encasing a statue of Jesus Christ is displayed in a makeshift wooden chapel in Baler. The name of the sculptor is lost; however, locals claim that this icon possesses miraculous powers and grants miracles to those who believe. During Holy Week

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albularyos (spiritual doctors) and amulet holders flock to this revered statue to insert their anting-anting (amulets) into the niches of the coffin. After Good Friday, they retrieve their respective amulets now "recharged with power." It is also said that the amulets in the niches are visible only to their owners.

Ermita Hill

Location: Casiguran

Located in the Poblacion of Casiguran town, Ermita Hill provides an enchanting view of the entire Poblacion, the dark blue coast of Casiguran Bay and the barrios nearby. Aside from its magnificent landscape, Ermita Hill is known as a sacred haven for religious activities by devotees of the Miraculous Mother Mary, of whom a life-size statue is situated in a grotto on top of the hill. Under the Spanish rule, a Watchtower was built to guard the town against possible attackers. Governor Bella Angara-Castillo (then a Congresswoman) appropriated funding for the prevention of erosion of the hillside and its beautification.

NATURE AREAS & BEACHES

Ampere Beach

Location: Ampere, Dipaculao

Getting There: From Baler town proper, take a tricycle going to Sabang Beach. From there, hire a motorized banca and ask to be taken to the site.

Travel Time: One hour

This beach is covered with smooth rocks of various sizes and darker color. This beach is an area called Bunga Point or Ampere Point, where local residents flock to Okotan Cave, a time-honored locale for forecasting the weather. The Pacific waves, upon hitting the shoreline cave, produce an explosion, the intensity of which, according to local lore, determines the intensity of the incoming weather.


http://www.aurora.ph/tourist-beaches.html

Aniao Islets

Location: Off the coast of Barangay Zabali, Baler

Getting There: Take a tricycle from Baler town proper to the river outlet south of Sabang Beach. From there, hire a motorized banca which can take you to the area.

Travel Time: Five minutes by tricycle and 20 minutes by boat

Two small but imposing islands lie south of the islet of Dimadimalangat. These islets jut straight from the sea like bullets, with shrubs, small trees and other greenery growing on top surfaces. Kingfishers, gulls and hawks use these islets as lookout points for fish. Towering waves relentlessly pound the base of the formations, challenging even the most intrepid of rock climbers.

Balete Park & Millennium Tree

Location: Maria Aurora

This park contains a 600-year-old balete tree that was designated the official "Millennium Tree" of The Philippines. It is the largest tree of its kind in Asia, and it would take 60 grown men, holding one another at arm's length, to encircle its gigantic trunk.

Due to its age, the tree's thick roots have grown above ground, such that caves have formed under various sections of the trunk. This unique tree has generated national media attention and is now the most visited tourist spot in Aurora.

Banju Springs

Location: Barangay Real, San Luis

Getting There:Take a private vehicle or hire a jeep from Baler town proper to Barangay Real in San Luis. Another kilometer-and-a-half walk on a rough road passing through a rice field will take you to this site.

Travel Time: Approximately an hour's drive




Natural terraced steps overflowing with spring water best describe the Banyu Springs. A mass of ferns surrounds the springs, which stretch up to a hundred meters toward the source of the spring, hidden amidst shrubbery. Because a cement quarry located under the spring flow was exposed and weathered due to the constant flow of water, the cement settled into a terraced formation.

Borlongan Beach

Location: Barangay Borlongan, Dipaculao

Getting There: From Baler town proper, take a tricycle going to Sabang Beach. From there, hire a motorized banca that can take you to the site.

Travel Time: About two hours

Borlongan Beach, like Ampere Beach, is covered for several kilometers with gray pebbles and smooth, fist-size stones. This makes Borlongan beachfront different from most other beaches.

Casiguran Sound

Location: Casiguran

Getting There: Hire a motorized banca from Baler town proper and head north.

Travel Time: Approximately 5.5 hours

Casiguran Sound is a bay nearly enclosed by the Casiguran landmass and the cape of San Ildefonso. Only a kilometer-wide inlet serves to connect the sound to the sea. Its very location provides protection from the typhoons that seasonally ravage most of the province. Casiguran Sound is also unaffected by the monsoon winds that blow from October through February, making it an ideal spot for windsurfing, should facilities be available. For the time being, bring your own windsurfing equipment.

The area has its share of white beaches and numerous places for relaxation. Many foreigners have taken advantage of the natural placidity, having built vacation homes along the coast.

Cemento Beach & Reef

Location: Barangay Cemento, Baler



Getting There: Take a tricycle from Baler town proper to the river outlet south of Sabang Beach. From there, you can either hire a motorized banca for a 10-minute ride to the reef, or take a 40-minute walk.

White sand, seashells, and crushed corals carpet the stretch of Cemento Beach. From October to February, waves tower up to 14 feet high, making for excellent and challenging surfing, as experts from Europe, Japan and Australia can attest. The area is recommended for expert or professional surfers as the waves break at the reef and are of the right-hand break type. The surfer is advised to wear wetsuits for protection.

The area is also suitable for snorkeling and wall diving during the calm season from April to June. Finally, Cemento Beach is a popular haven for lobsters and other marine species.

Cunayan Falls

Location: Barangay Pimentel, San Luis

Getting There: Hire a jeep or take a private vehicle from Baler town proper to Barangay Real in San Luis, where a short walk from the end of the road near the river will take you to the falls.

Travel Time: Two hours

Barely a hundred meters away from a dirt road passable to most vehicles, Cunayan Falls is one of the more accessible falls of Aurora. The falls strongly sprays from a cliff where greenery and even some flowers grow, creating a great contrast against the white and light gray gravel sand area washed out by intermittent floods. The falls flow into a crystal clear stream tinged only by the blue reflection of the sky and its mild temperature makes it ideal for baths. The gravel bank of the stream is a sandy area suitable for picnics.

Dibut Bay

Location: Off Barangay Dibut, San Luis

Getting There: From Baler, hire a motorized banca and ask to be taken to the area.

The wide Dibut Bay coast affords numerous sights-island formations, peninsulas, short stretches of beaches, and imposing cliffs. One formation, appropriately named "Birhen" (meaning "virgin"), resembles the Virgin Mary praying amidst the waves. Since Dibut Bay is not a favored spot for the fishing industry,



tourists may catch a glimpse of the magnificent Hammerhead shark and Mako shark. For diving enthusiasts, moreover, Dibut Bay is the perfect place to test out your latest flip.

Dicasalarin Bay

Location: Dicasalarin, San Luis


Travel Time: Five minutes by tricycle and approximately 45 minutes by boat.

With beaches, hills, a peninsula, a Grotto of the Blessed Virgin, coves, caves, a cave-pool and reefs; Dicasalarin Bay; while small in area, offers hours of recreation and relaxation for the entire family.

Digisit Beach

Location: Barangay Zabali, Baler


Travel Time: Five minutes by tricycle and 30 minutes by boat.

From the islands collectively known as Lukso-Lukso, one can hike to the white coral beach of Barangay Zabali. Digisit Beach stretches to about a kilometer in length. The upper landward shore is mostly sand, while the water shores are barricades of corals forming a protective reef that prevents strong waves of the Pacific from smashing onto the shore. The area is good for diving and, during calmer months, snorkeling.

Dilasag Coast

Location: Dilasag

Dilasag, a municipality at the northernmost area of Aurora, offers a coast with kilometer upon kilometer of white sand beach alternating occasionally with forests, hills, and cliffs. Its



undeveloped features and natural attractions offer tourists the sensation of discovering something new and unspoiled. Inaccessible to most transportation, Dilasag Coast is a true getaway.

Dimadimalangat Islet

Location: Off the coast of Barangay Cemento, Baler



This rock formation is actually a small island just a few meters away from the reef shore of Barangay Cemento and serves as a point identifying the southernmost tip of Baler Bay. During low tide, this islet becomes a peninsula, of sorts, where one could walk and wade from the reef shore to this natural rock formation. Around this island are reefs for the more daring divers.

Dinadiawan Beach

Location: Along the Dicadi Highway

Getting There: Take a private vehicle from Baler town proper and use the Dicadi highway to drive north.

Travel Time: Four hours

Dinadiawan Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Aurora, with a fabulous view of the Pacific Ocean, the lush, diverse forests of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range, and the rock formation along the shoreline. And, Dinadiawan Beach is resort-free.

Dingalan Bay View Site

Location: Barangay Tanawan, Dingalan

Getting There: From Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, take a bus bound for Tanawan

Travel Time: Two hours and 10 minutes


http://www.aurora.ph/tourist-nature.html

"Tanawan," as the place is called, means "viewsite." Upon approaching the border of Dingalan and Nueva Ecija, one passes through an area sloping upwards. At its peak is Dingalan Bay View Site. Undeveloped, except for a solitary nipa hut and several electric poles, the area provides fantastic view of the town and the blue bay, as well as the green mountains and the igneous rock formations. Dingalan Bay is a total contrast from the hot, dry and brown environment of Nueva Ecija. One would be amazed by the almost sudden emergence of greenery that overlooks Dingalan upon reaching the Bay View Site. Dingalan Bay View Site is a perfect place for photography and picnicking.

Ditumabo Falls

Location: Barangay Ditumabo, San Luis

Getting There: Hire a jeep or take a private vehicle from Baler town proper going to Bgy. Ditumabo passing through Poblacion San Luis. From there, it is a 4-km hike over rough terrain and river trail. It is advisable to hire guides who are knowledgeable of the area.

Travel Time: Two hours and 15 minutes' drive and another 3-hour hike.

The crystal clear water of Ditumabo Falls gushes endlessly, flowing and twisting among countless rocks and boulders. The trek to the falls traverses several kilometers through the river and over a few steep mountain trails surrounding the falls on both banks. Occasionally, the trekker will unavoidably come upon fallen or cut logs that serve as either natural bridges or obstacles. Approximately 140 feet high, the falls are surrounded by huge cliffs-an unforgettable sight for nature lovers!

Hillsite of Proposed Ermita Park

Location: Barangay Zabali, Baler

Getting There: Take a tricycle from Baler town proper to the river outlet south of Sabang Beach. From there, one can walk to the site.

Travel Time: Five minutes by tricycle, approximately 35 minutes' walk to the foot of the hill and 15 minutes' trek uphill.

This shrub-covered area provides an excellent view of the town of Baler, Sabang Beach, Cemento and Dimadimalangat islet. It is a short, steep trek from the foot of the hill, through small trees and cogon grass, to the top. Hidden beneath a clump of trees are the almost unrecognizable remains of a bell tower. Owing to its excellent vantage point, the bell tower was



formerly used to warn people of Baler of raiding pirates. During sunny days the place is swelteringly hot.

Paltic Falls [Inter-Pacific Forest Resource Corporation (IFRC) Nursery & Falls]

Location: Paltic, Dingalan

Getting There: From the town proper, it is possible to reach the site on foot or by any private vehicle.

Travel Time: Approximately 15 minutes' drive.

The nursery is used to raise hardwood for replanting logged areas. Trees such as narra, kamagong, mahogany, kapok, yantoc and others are planted in small plastic bags and lined up underneath larger trees that provide shade and moisture to the young trees. Not far from this nursery is a stream that leads to two falls, one about 15 feet high and the other about 20 feet high. The falls, approximately 50 meters apart, form pools that are perfect for swimming or relaxing after a poolside picnic.

Lamao Caves


Getting There: Take a boat from the Dingalan fishing port located north of the town proper.

Travel Time: 35 minutes

A dozen caves along the seaside cliff of Paltic, Dingalan, are constantly pounded by Pacific Ocean waves. A few mini-beaches serve as docking points for bancas and during the calmer months of April to June, one can maneuver a small banca inside the caves. Aside from a small waterfall that trickles outside one of the caves, the site would seem deceptively ordinary. A close inspection inside one of the caves, however, reveals a delightful natural waterfall gushing from an underground stream. Another cave showers water, giving the impression of an indoor rainstorm. The shore facing the cave steeply descends and is immediately immersed in the deep sea. Rare marine life such as giant turtles and some sharks patrol the area. Local fishermen have spotted more interesting undersea life along the coral reefs a few hundred meters southeast of the caves. The hills that encompass the north and south of the cliff show well-groomed grassland continually caressed by the sea breeze.

Lukso-Lukso Islets

Location: Off the coast of Barangay Zabali, Baler



At least three islets comprise the rock formations known to the locals as "Lukso-Lukso." One of these small islands is connected to the mainland and at low tide you can see white grainy sands, crushed corals and numerous seashells, some inhabited by hermit crabs. This island formation is the southernmost point and is accessible to vehicles coming from Baler. The sea bottom and undersea reefs around these islets are reportedly good areas for diving, and during calm months, snorkeling.

Motyong

Location: Motyong, Casiguran

Getting There: From Baler town proper, you can either hire a motorized banca and head north or take a private vehicle and drive along the Dicadi highway, passing through Dinadiawan and Dinalungan municipality.

Travel Time: Six hours

Motyong is a popular beach filled with fine white sand. There are no resorts in this area. However, there are few private resthouses. There is a private airstrip located nearby, however, and plans are underway to make it into a full-sized airport, making Motyong ideal for possible resort investment.

Pimentel Falls [National Irrigation Authority (NIA) Watershed]

Location: San Luis

Getting There: From Baler town proper take a private vehicle or hire a jeep to Poblacion San Luis. From there, the NIA Watershed is just




a few kilometers away, easily accessible along the main road leading to Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija.

Travel Time: One hour and 15 minutes

The NIA watershed is a small dam built beside a picnic area in San Luis. The water below the dam is clear, with a greenish reflection of the vegetation surrounding the pond. The place is a coconut plantation covered with short carabao grass and some shrubbery, making the place ideal not only for swimming but for picnicking as well.

Rocks of Dingalan

Location: Barangay Tanawan, Dingalan

Getting There: From Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, take a bus bound for Tanawan.

Travel Time: Two hours and 10 minutes

Large boulders of black igneous rock litter the mountainside all the way from the borders of the province, despite the absence of volcanoes in the area. Some local residents suggest that the rocks must date back to prehistoric times, since they've been there as long as the residents' ancestors could remember.

Sabang Beach

Location: Barangay Sabang, Baler

Getting There: Take a tricycle from Baler town proper and ask to be taken to the site.

Travel Time: Approximately 5 minutes

Located on this long stretch of gray sand beach are several resorts namely: Angara's Beach House, Bay's Inn Resort, MIA Surf and Sports Resort and Baler Guesthouse and Restaurant, which, offer accommodations near the beachfront and provide food, relaxation, and respite for swimmers and surfers.

From March through June, the waves are relatively calm providing a good beachfront for swimmers and an excellent challenge for expert windsurfers. The months from October to February bring in the large waves for beginner surfers to learn the basics with relative safety from scratches, since most of the beach is sandy- bottomed. Undertows, which are helpful to surfers and dangerous for non-swimmers, do occur in certain areas.


The most popular surfing point is found right in front of Bay's Inn, where beginners brave the moderate waves and regular surfers practice.

Lindy's Point, found further north along Sabang Beach, is a highly-prized secret spot among local surfers.

Sierra Madre Mountain

Location: Parts of Aurora Province

Getting There: The best jump-off point is Barangay Ditumabo.

Travel Time: Two hours' drive to reach Barangay Ditumabo.

This mountain range covers a large part of the province of Aurora. In fact, apart from the Aurora coastline, the mountain range is where the flora and fauna of the province is concentrated. Waterfalls, rivers and crystal-clear streams of varying sizes are located within, if not adjacent to, the Sierra Madre Mountain Range. Activities such as mountain climbing, photo safaris, birdwatching, ecological studies, or simply picnicking could be rolled into one by taking trails recommended by local nature trekkers.

White Beach (Dingalan)


Getting There: Take a boat from Dingalan town proper. One can also hike from the town to the beach.

Travel Time: This two-kilometer long beach has numerous shells and corals scattered along the entire length of its southern half, which is approximately one kilometer long. The shore is made up of coral reefs that gradually slope into the sea, and a bit farther from the shore is a sudden drop into the sea bottom. This area has a variety of undersea flora and fauna for divers to observe. Brain corals, sea urchins, hermit crabs and even an occasional lobster may be seen in the reef site. The northern half of the beach is of brownish white sand and is an excellent place for swimming. The whole White Beach area is bordered on the landward side by a long hillcrest with bushes and trees scattered from the foot to the top of the hill. Off-shore coral reef formations provide interesting spots for diving.


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Aurora