Baler, Aurora

I had the chance to visit Baler, Aurora March 15 and 16, 2012.  The town is small but it has it's own charms.  It has a long beach ideal for aspiring surfers.  It's a historical town being the birthplace of Pres. Manuel L. Quezon and his first lady Doña Aurora Aragon Quezon, and the siege by Filipino insurgents on the Spanish soldier that took refuge inside the church during the spanish occupation of the Philippines.

The road going to Baler is not all paved there are short portions that has not yet been paved, between Talavera in Nueva Ecija and Aurora Province.  Although, as of this writing, the roads are being paved.   It can be reached by an ordinary car but an SUV would be a better vehicle to tread the long zig-zag road, longer than the zig-zag roads leading to Baguio.

You will pass by the Pantabangan reservoir and two small dams the Canili and Diayo along the way.  The trip is about 8 hrs drive from Manila.  A little trivia.  The province is named after the First Lady Doña Aurora Aragon Quezon.

                                The beach fronting Bay-ler View Hotel.  Ideal for Surfing beginners.

 The hotel where we stayed

 Obelisk near the Town Hall

 The new Baler town hall

 Birthplace marker of Pres. Manuel L. Quezon

 President Manuel Luis Quezon Monument at the center of the plaza

 Baler Museum

 Replica of the house of Pres. Manuel L. Quezon

 The church where the siege of Baler took place.

 Commemorative Marker of the Church Siege

 Replica of the house of Doña Aurora Aragon Quezon

  The Monument of the First Lady Doña Aurora at the Provincial Capitol of Aurora

Kamay ni Hesus (Hand of Jesus) Lucban, Quezon

Summer vacation is here.  Road trip! road trip! road trip!.....

First stop, KAMAY NI HESUS to implore God for blessings and safe travel.  The religious site is a place of healing a place to 'pass your burdens specially, for those who are heavily laden' as the song goes.  You will feel the presence of God at the top of the hill once you reach the foot of the 50 footer Ascending Christ.

The religious site is a tableau that tells the story of the Bible from the time of Creation to Noah's Ark, from the young Jesus to his Passion, Crucificion and ascension.  It also showcases the different saints of the Catholic faith and it has a collection of Marian images.

Non practicing Catholic will be moved by it's surroundings.  Even the non believers will have second thoughts.

The Chapel at the Center is where the healing priest Fr. Faller celebrates healing masses. 

KAMAY NI HESUS

 

                                                                                              Marian Images

 Fr. Faller celebrating Healing Mass

 Pieta

 Mary and Jesus

 Noah's Ark

 Adam and Eve (being driven by the Angel out of Paradise)

 The Last Supper

 Garden of Eden

 The Chapel

 the 50Ft Ascending Christ

 Candle offering

 The way up

 Inside the Chapel

the Passion of Christ

HOW TO GET THERE

If you have a car it is about 3 1/2 hrs. to 4 hrs. drive from Manila depending on the traffic and stopovers.  From EDSA to SLEX  to Turbina in Calamba then Sto Tomas, Batangas, Alaminos, San Pablo, Tiaong, Candelaria, Sariaya then FINALLY LUCBAN, QUEZON

NOTE:  

Never miss the chance to CLIMB you will know what i mean when you are already at the foot of the Ascending Christ.  Never miss the chance.