I've been wanting to go to Bataan for a very long time. Some of my childhood friends were hailed from this province and they have been saying good things about it. So, I researched for places that I can visit there. I found a few like Mt. Samat, Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar and the City of Balanga.

I originally planned a 3-day stay but I cut it short to a day trip to minimize my expenses. The itinerary included Las Casas and Balanga.

After a 2-hour ride from Cubao we were dropped off at Balanga. Then we rode a tricycle which supposedly would take us to The Plaza Hotel but we got lost and we were dropped off at some other place we didn't know. Good. We have a day to spend and so far we are spending it by finding our way to the hotel. We're off to a good start. Not.

Our tricycle driver was so courteous. I couldn't badmouth him because he's kind, but he kind of dropped us at the backside of the plaza. Not that I hated it, but I was waiting for my mouth to drop as soon as I lay my eyes on the plaza.

We headed directly to our hotel. The Plaza Hotel's so fancy. I was overwhelmed with the exterior design. It's like I'm visiting some European Metropolitan City. Kudos to everyone who designed this hotel.



Just outside the hotel lies Balanga City Hall and Galeria Victoria which are equally stunning. These three buildings will make you proud that you're a Filipino, kidding aside. The place is clean. Yes, its not as colorful as other buildings I have seen but it's still something special. The way they're strategically placed together and they way they stood out amongst everything that's been going on around the plaza just made me fall in love with it.

Quick Trivia: Galeria Victoria is a shopping mall. How cool, right? 

Across the City Plaza is St. Joseph Cathedral or Balanga Cathedral. Its deep brown paint matched with ivory-colored pillars makes it a standout, as well.


After going round and about Balanga City, we took another tricycle ride to the terminal that will bring us to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar. As we went on our way, picturesque views caught my eyes and it's hard not to take photos when they're just right there in front of you. So, even though I was in a moving bus, I held my camera tight and took endless photos of the scenery.



We passed by a road that gives a peak of Mount Samat. It looked so steep from afar. I wanted to make a detour and visit it quickly but my time is limited so I just added it to the places I would visit the next time I'm in Bataan.



We also passed by a "Death March" marking. It was one of the darkest parts of the Philippine History. Soldiers were forced to walk from Mariveles, Bataan to San Fernando, Pampanga.










 I couldn't believe that the plaza looked even more beautiful at night. The lights, the fountain, and the air seemed to conspire to create this magical view. Even the people who was watching a movie publicly shown in the front of the City Hall participated in this unbelievable sight. I wish I could stay longer but again, time is ticking against my favor and I must take the bus ride back to Manila.

I left Balanga with a heavy heart. How could a day of sightseeing made me fall in love so hard? I was craving to see more of it. I wanted to stay longer. I wanted to see more. But maybe these will be my motivation to visit this classic beauty again in the soonest time possible.