By this time, I should be blogging about our Holy Week trip but you know I have a lot of backlogs (as usual). So, for now let's forget about that annual Holy Week thing and get it on with one of my backlogs.
Last March, my side of the fambam went to Bataan to celebrate my Tito's birthday. Yup, it was one of those libre trips from my Tito. One of those times also that I'm so thankful that my Tito and his wife are so generous.
Ok, so a little side kwento. I was the one who planned this trip. The requirements my Tito gave me were (1) It should be just for a day trip (2) He wants us to go to church as a family (3) A nice lunch (4) He wants to sight-see.
My suggestions were:
(1) Mass at Caleruega, Lunch and Sight-see at Tagaytay
(2) Roadtrip to Laguna de Bay (Pakil, Liliw, San Pablo). Mass in one of the old churches
(3) Kamay ni Jesus, Silangang Nayon Quezon Province
(4) Mass at Manaoag, Isdaan Gerona Tarlac
(5) Taal Basilica, Taal Heritage Town
(6) Mt. Samat Cross Bataan, Mass at Balanga
They chose Bataan since none of them have been there. Nice!
At around 5 in the morning, we left Taytay, Rizal. We stopped by NLEX first for a quick breakfast then went straight to Balanga Cathedral. We reached Balanga past 8 in the morning. The church was actually in front of a park but we had a hard time finding parking slots. We circled around the plaza area twice but we cannot see one. Our drivers decided to drop the group off at the park so we can enjoy while they were looking for parking. The next mass hasn't started either so the kids (and the kids at heart) get to enjoy the giant I heart Balanga sign and the playground.
We attended the 9:30 am mass at Balanga Cathedral aka Saint Joseph Cathedral.
The church was cold, by the way. No need for hand fans. See those gigantic ceiling fans below? It was so windy I almost slept.
After the mass, we went to Bataan Tourism Center. No entrance fee for this establishment. You just need to sign their logbook. It was some sort of like a museum where you can read about the History of Bataan. There's a lot of old pictures and some statues. They also have a gift shop where you can buy souvenir items and specialty food.
Next stop was for satisfying our hungry stomachs. Yay! We dropped by Ima's Pamangan which was on the way to our next destination. It was like a carinderia, only upscale. I've read a lot of reviews about it online but we didn't get to try what was suggested since we didn't order ala carte. My Tita decided we try the Lunch Buffet. For 250 pesos per head, you get to eat everything on the Buffet table. Nice deal eh? Not for me. I didn't like everything I ate. My family didn't like it either but they like that they get to eat a lot. Haha!
Last stop for us was Mt.Samat cross. Since we brought our own transportation, we need not do the 7kms hike to get to the cross. Whew!
We just paid 30 pesos per head upon reaching the gate. The guards said we can just park our car near the gate, or park near the museum, or park straight up to the cross. The fambam was so excited to reach the cross since I told them that we can go up to the actual cross so we decided to go straight to the cross first. While traversing up, I was reminded why I was so scared of this place. The roads were so steep especially for vehicles! All of us in the car was screaming when D was making his way up. My God how did we do it riding a motorcycle before?! My Lola got so scared that she hit Darwin once we alighted. She said D should have slow down. To which D answered, If I slow down titirik tayo. Hahaha! Anyhoo, the sight up there was worth the scare.
The scare we experience going up was the same going down. My Lola said she kept her eyes close during the descend. D jokingly said, he did too. He was the one driving! So my Lola hit her again. Hahahaha!
Next stop was the museum. I didn't get to see this museum during my first visit so I went down with the group. It was nice! There's a lot of old things. Museum nga e diba? Haha
There's also a lot of opportunity for photoshoot.
Last March, my side of the fambam went to Bataan to celebrate my Tito's birthday. Yup, it was one of those libre trips from my Tito. One of those times also that I'm so thankful that my Tito and his wife are so generous.
Ok, so a little side kwento. I was the one who planned this trip. The requirements my Tito gave me were (1) It should be just for a day trip (2) He wants us to go to church as a family (3) A nice lunch (4) He wants to sight-see.
My suggestions were:
(1) Mass at Caleruega, Lunch and Sight-see at Tagaytay
(2) Roadtrip to Laguna de Bay (Pakil, Liliw, San Pablo). Mass in one of the old churches
(3) Kamay ni Jesus, Silangang Nayon Quezon Province
(4) Mass at Manaoag, Isdaan Gerona Tarlac
(5) Taal Basilica, Taal Heritage Town
(6) Mt. Samat Cross Bataan, Mass at Balanga
They chose Bataan since none of them have been there. Nice!
At around 5 in the morning, we left Taytay, Rizal. We stopped by NLEX first for a quick breakfast then went straight to Balanga Cathedral. We reached Balanga past 8 in the morning. The church was actually in front of a park but we had a hard time finding parking slots. We circled around the plaza area twice but we cannot see one. Our drivers decided to drop the group off at the park so we can enjoy while they were looking for parking. The next mass hasn't started either so the kids (and the kids at heart) get to enjoy the giant I heart Balanga sign and the playground.
We attended the 9:30 am mass at Balanga Cathedral aka Saint Joseph Cathedral.
The church was cold, by the way. No need for hand fans. See those gigantic ceiling fans below? It was so windy I almost slept.
After the mass, we went to Bataan Tourism Center. No entrance fee for this establishment. You just need to sign their logbook. It was some sort of like a museum where you can read about the History of Bataan. There's a lot of old pictures and some statues. They also have a gift shop where you can buy souvenir items and specialty food.
Next stop was for satisfying our hungry stomachs. Yay! We dropped by Ima's Pamangan which was on the way to our next destination. It was like a carinderia, only upscale. I've read a lot of reviews about it online but we didn't get to try what was suggested since we didn't order ala carte. My Tita decided we try the Lunch Buffet. For 250 pesos per head, you get to eat everything on the Buffet table. Nice deal eh? Not for me. I didn't like everything I ate. My family didn't like it either but they like that they get to eat a lot. Haha!
Last stop for us was Mt.Samat cross. Since we brought our own transportation, we need not do the 7kms hike to get to the cross. Whew!
We just paid 30 pesos per head upon reaching the gate. The guards said we can just park our car near the gate, or park near the museum, or park straight up to the cross. The fambam was so excited to reach the cross since I told them that we can go up to the actual cross so we decided to go straight to the cross first. While traversing up, I was reminded why I was so scared of this place. The roads were so steep especially for vehicles! All of us in the car was screaming when D was making his way up. My God how did we do it riding a motorcycle before?! My Lola got so scared that she hit Darwin once we alighted. She said D should have slow down. To which D answered, If I slow down titirik tayo. Hahaha! Anyhoo, the sight up there was worth the scare.
But unfortunately for us, the elevator that is supposed to take us to the cross was broken. Damn! We just spent our time in one of the cottages there and watch the monkeys. This one in particular was very charming because she brought her baby with her! They didn't hurt people naman. They just ask for food.
The scare we experience going up was the same going down. My Lola said she kept her eyes close during the descend. D jokingly said, he did too. He was the one driving! So my Lola hit her again. Hahahaha!
Next stop was the museum. I didn't get to see this museum during my first visit so I went down with the group. It was nice! There's a lot of old things. Museum nga e diba? Haha
There's also a lot of opportunity for photoshoot.
We went home na after this. Oh wait, we dropped by Razon's for Halo-halo then that's it. Trip ended. I really wish we can get to travel a lot as a family. Well, it is a nice year for us. It's just March but we get to see Ilocos and Bataan already.
Wishing for more trip to come,
Yosh
