Baler Historical Trails

Well, if the shoe fits",
We did try stepping in our shoes to these foot trails and wondered whose could these be??... 

“Ahh, now I know” ---- the words that came out my mouth as we marvelled into the different historical spots of Aurora province.

Not bad at all, for months of stay in Baler, it was just recently that I got to know the place even better.

And indeed, Baler is indubitably very rich in culture.

Starting off with these footsteps – which we never minded when walking down the street going to our favorite lunch cafeteria - are actually foot trails circling from the Baler museum to Manuel Quezon's house going to Dona Aurora's and then to the Church of Baler.

Here - in this statue of the late President Manuel L. Quezon  is the very spot where his home stood. Proximate to this area is a replica of the president's old nipa house. 

   

The General Douglas MacArthur car- this car was especially built by General Motors of America for the late President Manuel L. Quezon. It was turned over to Gen. Douglas MacArthur who use it all throughout his tour of duty in the Philippines. 

Museo de Baler

It was believed that the dead needed food and material possessions as he journeyed from the land of the living to the land of the dead.

 Beside me is the Julio's site -It is the only archaeological site ever recorded in the province of Aurora. This is a primary burial site associated with personal belongings and grave goods - a tradition among  prehistoric Filipinos where they buried their dead with grave goods or funerary offerings such as earthenware, stoneware, porcelain etc.

Mural painting depicting the history of Baler.

Awards received by of the film "Baler" featuring Anne Curtis and Jericho Rosales.

The traditional clothes worn in the movie.

   

Outside view of Donya Teodora's house.

The Historical Church of Baler

Tromba Marina Sculpture as the locals call it, lies at the foot of Ermita Hill. This remind the Balerianos of the tsunami that washed out the province way back year 1735 wherein only 7 seven families - as represented by the statues - survived the said catastrophic event including the Angaras.

Ermita Hill Chapel and the ancient viewing point and tunnel.
The spot on which the chapel stand is the location of the viewing point from which the community of Baler receive advance warnings of incoming threats from raids by the moros.
In ancient times, the inhabitants of Baler devised an escape tunnel from the town leading up to this spot to elude raiders and hide here at the Ermita Hill.

Overlooking Ermita Hill - here you can see the whole of Baler.

Up, up...

and up the hill...

stands the cross built because of a promise...
A man sick from cancer (believed to be a locale) made an oath to God that he will build a cross at the top of the hill if he will be cured from his sickness. 
Now, there it stood, visited by locals and tourists especially during Holy week, the cross that symbolizes not just the healing of a man as well as God's fulfilled promise.