Beautiful Bataan!

BALANGA CITY, Bataan – “No need to go to as far as Boracay and Palawan if you want to visit, swim and tour a place with crystal clear waters and beautiful beaches and centuries-old churches”. This was the statement of Mrs. Vicky Sandejas- Garcia, chair of the Bataan Tourism Council, during Tuesday’s “Press Forum on Bataan Tourism,” held at the Bataan Tourism Center here.

Says Mrs. Garcia:“We have beautiful beaches in Morong and Bagac towns, we have seven centuries-old churches and declared as pilgrimage sites, unique waterfalls, the world-class Las Casas, among other tourists sites that are all accessible from Metro Manila.”

With four-lane roads aside from the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway passing through Northern Bataan, Manila to Bataan is only two hours by land while by ferry boat, will take only 30 to 45 minutes. Clark and Angeles City are only 25 minutes away, passing through SCTEx, while SBMA to Bataan is only 15 minutes away. Gov. Abet S. Garcia and Rep. Tet Garcia, have been working for the resumption of the ferry boat services, enticing shipping companies to ply the Bataan-Manila route via Manila Bay.

“Ang daming magagandang beaches ditto sa Bataan, kakaiba at magagandang tanawin para sa mga turista at ang lapit pa sa Manila. Di mo na kailangan pang mag eroplano pa dahil very accessible nga ang Bataan sa Manila, Clark at Subic,” pointed out Mrs. Garcia.

Mrs. Garcia cited the seven old churches that were built 214 to 427 years ago and declared as pilgrimage sites as these were constructed way back during the administration of the Spanish time. These centuries-old churches are located in the towns of Hermosa, Orani, Samal, Abucay, Pilar and Orion and the City of Balanga. Balanga’s St. Joseph shrine was just declared as a Shrine last week.

Mrs. Lorelly del Rosario, chair of Bagac Tourism Council and wife of Mayor Ramil del Rosario, said that aside from their beaches and Las Casas Resort, they also have the unique Limutan Falls in barangay Binukawan that is accessible to motorcycles and four-wheel drive vehicles.

“We call it Limutan because once you go there you cannot forget the area anymore due to its unique environment, breath-taking site and fresh air,” pointed out Mrs. Del Rosario. Bagac’s church that some claim is the house of St. Catalina is also being visited by the faithful due to its mysterious curing of of illnesses.

“Ang ganda ng Bataan, maraming tanawing kakaiba ngunit hindi lang masyadong nababalita, kulang lang tayo sa promotion,” said Balanga Bishop Ruperto C. Santos.

Also present during the forum were PSWDO Head, Mrs. Marilyn Tigas, Mr. Herbert Vianzon and Ms. Annie Tuazon.