LIFE IN A COASTAL TOWN
Baler, Aurora Province
December 2006


Aurora Province lies on the eastern coast of Luzon. Facing the Pacific Ocean, it is bounded by Isabela and Quirino to the north, Nueva Ecija and Nueva Vizcaya to the West and Northwest, and Quezon and Bulacan Province to the West and Sourtwest.

Named after the wife of the former President Manuel Quezon, it is a young province declared only in the August of 1979 with Baler as its capital. Baler itself though, is as old as most towns in Luzon. Dating back to the Spanish Friars, Baler is rich in history. The Baler church in the poblacion was where Filipino insurgents besieged the last Spanish garrison of four officers and 50 men from June 27, 1898 to July 2, 1899. This was the last pocket of resistance of the Spanish Armed Forces before surrendering to American troops.

Mostly mountainous and boasting of 328kms of coastline, Aurora offers various activities for the adventurous traveler. There are trails to blaze, caves to explore, islands to hop, beaches to bask in, and of course, waves to surf.

Just 5 minutes from Baler town proper is Sabang beach, an enchanting paradise of natural beauty. There are several resorts that line this stretch of sand. Feeding out into the sea at the southern end is a river where fishermen moor their bancas (outriggers) for protection from the weather.

The seven-hour trip from Manila through the plains of Nueva Ecija and cutting through the winding and sometimes narrow roads of the majestic Sierra Madres mountains make for a challenging trip. Besides the foreign and local surfing and backpacking communities, Baler is not your usual tourist destination. This lends to an un-crowded beach and laid-back lifestyle. If you want to get away and get off the beaten track, pack your bags and head east.


One of the houses that line Sabang Beach.


Residents rely on bancas (outriggers) to ferry them across a river.


Fisherfolk lend a helping hand docking a banca in a riverbank for safety.


At the end of the day, a fisherman packs-up his net.


Wood from the mountains carried down by the river washes up on the shores of Sabang beach in the aftermath of Typhoon Reming.


Due to the high costs of kerosene, residents gather wood from the beach to be dried and used as charcoal for cooking.






Even huge trunks are not spared from the power of the monsoon.


A resident carries his pole on his shoulder. This log is good for a week's cooking.


To save on cooking fuel costs, a man weilds a machete to chop a whole log before carrying it off to be dried.


Driftwood and debris line Sabang beach in the aftermath of a storm as a woman looks back at her house.


Without a care in the world, mga Batang Baler (children of Baler) play in the sea and sand.


After her husband's day out in the sea, a woman sells the catch of the day.


As in all coastal towns, residents depend on fishing for their livelihood.


A woman and her dog take time out as the last gusts of typhoon Reming blow past Baler.


To-bats, assistant boatman.


Lito, the boatman.


Mga Batang Baler








The child is just beginning his walk, while grandma is on her way home.


Grandma and grandchild take a stroll along the beach looking out for driftwood that they can decorate and use as a christmas tree.


Lola


Local surfers bravely head to the sea unmindful of the debris in the beach.




Roy takes a break from the waves.