Looking for an escape from Manila during the 2019 year-end season, we found (online) a resort in Anilao, Mabini in Batangas province, south of Manila. The pictures on the website look appealing and the location is unique; on the slope of a mountain rig. Unfortunately we can stay only one night and have to be back in Manila early morning next day.
Mabini is a first class municipality in the Province of Batangas, Philippines. It is located on the Calumpang Peninisula between Batangas Bay to the east and Balayan Bay to the west. According to the latest census, Mabini has a population of 40,629 people in 7,025 households. It is named after Apolinario Mabini, a Filipino revolutionary hero. Mabini is known for its Anilao diving spot and snorkeling sites.
History Legend states that the first Malay settlers to inhabit the vast fertile land bordering the two bodies of water now known as the Anilao Batangas Bay and the Balayan Bay, first found anchor along the shores of the land protruding down Southwest ward known geographically as the Calumpan Peninsula.
These Malay settlers found the land fertile and agriculturally appropriate and the sea rich in marine resources. They established their settlement in this once vast unknown land. As more Malay settlers arrived from distant lands, more settlements were founded until even the upland regions of the peninsula were settled. The inhabitants had their own form of village government. They were ruled by a headman, a datu, or a sultan, in case of big encampments. Malay civilization began to take roots. Rapid increase of population brought about the settlements of all the neighboring regions, that it did not take long before eastward, northward, and southward of these known regions were inhabited to comprised later on the whole province of Kumintang, better known later as Batangas.
It was also mentioned among the folklore of this community that a Chinese explorer and geographer whose name could no longer be recalled, first landed on the shores of this peninsula in one of his trips to the island of Mai which is now known as Mindoro. Chinese, Indonesians and other races found haven for their trade along the shores of this peninsula during the pre-Spanish era. During the Spanish times, a certain galleon of the Spanish government, plying between this country and Mexico, was attacked, plundered and sunk by the Moro pirates riding in glittering vintas along the shores of this peninsula. It can also be said in passing that the Malay settlers were subjected to the uttermost cruelty and vandalism done by the Moro pirates who wantonly attacked the villagers along the coasts. These Moro forages caused hardships and other difficulties to the inhabitants, resulting in their formation of stronger measures to counteract the Moro depredations. This menace to the lives and properties during the pre-Spanish era continued during the Spanish times, and for purposes of administrative expediency, there were created political subdivisions-the insular territories to provinces, the provinces to municipalities or “pueblos”, the “pueblos” or municipalities to barrios and lastly to sitio.
It came to pass then that the Calumpan Peninsula was made a part and parcel of the pueblo or municipality of Bauan, in the province of Kumintang, now Batangas .The same peninsula territory of Bauan was subdivided into barrios, namely: Mainaga, Pulong-Niogan, Pulong-Balibaguhan, Anilao, Solo, Pulong-Anahao, Bagalangit, Nag-Iba, Malimatoc, Saguing and Talaga. For more than three hundred years, while the Archipelago was under Spanish domination, this peninsula remained a part of the “pueblo” of Bauan and even in the early part of the American occupation. The people of this peninsula, like other people of other regions, suffered untold hardships under the Spanish rule. The yoke of the Spanish tyranny was thrown off after the gallant uprising of 1896. The revolution emancipated the people from the tyrants of Spain. In that revolutions, the people of this peninsula were not found wanting in courage, as the cream of the youths of the community joined the revolutionary forces, and even during the fight against the American forces they did not withdraw their support of the insurgents’ cause. Foremost of the heroic young men was Don Francisco Castillo, known as Apian Kiko, who led the fight for freedom in this peninsula. In this glorious revolution, many valiant heroes, hailing from the different places of the peninsula, offered their lives to the altar of the motherland.
The present generation of this community failed not to reciprocate the great deeds of those who fell in the dark of the night, when under popular subscriptions, headed by no less than Dr. Laureano Castillo, son of the famed leader, Kapitan Kiko and the then Municipal President Julian Bautista, Chairman and Vice-Chairman, respectively, of the drive, they honor to the men who died for their country with a monument constructed in front of the old presidencia building. Although it was built primarily to erect the image of the Great Sublime Paralytic, Apolinario Mabini, it now also serves as a repository for the bones of the thirteen martyrs of this place who died in the memorable battle of Mahabang-Dahilig, during the Philippine–American War namely: Tirso Sumadsad, Juan del Espiritu Santo, Ramon Ilagan, Julian Matulin, Bernardo de los Reyes, Enrique Castillo, Zacarias Castillo, Francisco de Claro, Moises Maramot, Nicolas Adalia, Pantaleon Panopio, Serapio Aspi and Gavino Garcia upon the advent of the American rule, the same peninsular territory of Bauan remained with the mother municipality, until, after great efforts had been exerted by the proponents of establishing a new municipality, independent of the town of Bauan, fortunately for this peninsula, such men as Don Regino Marasigan, then Municipal President of Bauan, and such illustrious sons of this community, namely: Don Francisco Castillo whose gallantry had been mentioned above; Ignacio Leynes, who later on became the father-in-law of the famed revolutionary leader, Tomas Castillo, Indalecio Calangi, Anselmo Sandoval, Marcelino Castillo, Epifanio Abrigonda, Andres Castillo, Nicomedes Guia, Venancio Castillo, Esteban Castillo, Juan Dolor, Pedro Manalo, Bartolome Jusi, Agaton Axalan and many many others that cannot be mentioned for lack of space, left no stones unturned, and in the end, found the good graces of the then Governor General Leonard Wood and the great leader of our country, then Senate President Manuel L. Quezon, resulting in the declaration of the new municipality, comprising the eleven (11) barrios of the Calumpan Peninsula and the whole of the Maricaban Island, as an independent municipality, with the name of MABINI, derived from the great name of that Sublime Paralytic, Brain of the Revolution and Premier Adviser to the president of the erstwhile Philippine Republic, Gat Apolinario Mabini.
The new-born municipality of Mabini province of Batangas, was inaugurated on January 1, 1918, with Captain Francisco Castillo, known as the founder of the town, as the first appointive Municipal President. With him to form the local officials of the newly inaugurated town were: Marcelino Castillo as Municipal Vice-President; Esteban de Joya as Municipal Secretary; Jose Generoso as Municipal Treasurer and Tomas Cuevas as Justice of the Peace. Appointed Municipal Councilors were Tomas Castillo, Pedro Manalo, Epifanio Abrigonda, Valeriano de Chavez, Tranquilino Buenviaje, Nicomedes Guia, Fermin Buenviaje and Juan Castillo. To form the local police force, Esteban Castillo was appointed Acting Chief of Police, and Messrs. Julian Bautista, Nicomedes Aguila, Policarpio Axalan, Marcos Panopio, Marcelo Reyes and Nazario Manalo, as policemen.
To avoid the heavy morning trafic, we leave before 6 in the morning, Thursday December 26, 2019. The route takes us over the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and continues over the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (Star) Expressway up to Batangas city. As the sun rises some spectacular views of the sky as the cloads turn red. Driving around Batangas city using the Diversion road direction Bauan where we have our first stop.
Elisa Will join us from Bauan to Eagle Point Resort. The trip continues over Bauan-Mabini road and on the Mabini Circumferential road to our destination.
Looking out for the sign of the resort we passed a road sign indicating 1KM with an arrow to the right. Assuming the resort should be 1KM ahead to the right! After more than 1 KM we realised having passed the resort entry already by far. Turning back and looking for the road sign we are puzzled where we should turn as there is no clear indication where the access road is. Asking around the locals pointed us to a narrow path just next to a house. This narrow broken-up concrete path takes us thru the woods to a parking area of the resort at the top of the ridge. A van drives us from the parking area to the reception somewhat half way of the steep slope. It feels like a rollercoaster ride as the van makes several hairpin turns downwards. Finally arrived at the reception. Since we arrive early no cabañas are ready yet. Because the next morning we leave very early, the reception agrees to have our (included) breakfast now instead of the next morning. It's around 8 o'clock and everyone is HUNGRY!
Elisa Will join us from Bauan to Eagle Point Resort. The trip continues over Bauan-Mabini road and on the Mabini Circumferential road to our destination.
Looking out for the sign of the resort we passed a road sign indicating 1KM with an arrow to the right. Assuming the resort should be 1KM ahead to the right! After more than 1 KM we realised having passed the resort entry already by far. Turning back and looking for the road sign we are puzzled where we should turn as there is no clear indication where the access road is. Asking around the locals pointed us to a narrow path just next to a house. This narrow broken-up concrete path takes us thru the woods to a parking area of the resort at the top of the ridge. A van drives us from the parking area to the reception somewhat half way of the steep slope. It feels like a rollercoaster ride as the van makes several hairpin turns downwards. Finally arrived at the reception. Since we arrive early no cabañas are ready yet. Because the next morning we leave very early, the reception agrees to have our (included) breakfast now instead of the next morning. It's around 8 o'clock and everyone is HUNGRY!
History of Bauan
The Augustinian church of Bauan was founded as a visita (small chapel without a resident priest) in 1590 on the slopes of Mount Macolod, along Taal Lake's southern shore. The resident priest of Taal, Father Diego de Avila would visit periodically and attend to the spiritual needs of the settlement.
Five years after the establishment of the ecclesiastical mission of Bauan, a giant cross made of anubing was found in a Diñgin (a place of worship) near the town of Alitagtag. In 1790, Castro y Amoedo found a Tagalog document in the Bauan Cathedral Archives, signed by 25 Indio elders, stating the cross was made around 1595, as protection from ghosts surrounding the Tolo fountain. Subsequent miracles were associated with this cross. On 3 May, the 2.5 m tall cross was brought to the Chapel of Alitagtag. A golden sun, with a human face, and radiating rays was added, while the devout would cut away pieces of the cross to make talisman replicas. The elders also thought the cross protected the town from pestilence, locusts, drought, volcanic eruptions, and Moro pirates.
Today, the traditional folk dance of Bauan, subli, is a religious homage to the Cross of Alitagtag. The dance is performed at a sambahan (place of worship), two of which are natural grottos along the shore of Taal Lake, and one of which is called Diñgin.
Bauan became an independent parish on 12 May 1596, but was re-annexed to Taal, its matriz (mother town), because of too few tributos (taxpayers). Due to Taal Volcano eruptions, the town moved to Durungao (lookout point), led by Father Jose Rodriguez, in 1662. The town moved again in 1671 to Loual, along Taal's Seno de Bauan. An earthquake struck the town in 1677. In 1689, Father Nicolas de Rivera helped the town build its third church. In 1690, Father Rivera, with the help of the Taal parish priest Father Simon Martinez, moved the town to the seaside, its present location. However, a typhoon destroyed the church in 1692.
A fourth stone church was built from 1695 to 1710. The current church was built in 1762 by Father Jose Victoria and Don Juan Bandino. A fort was built in 1775 to protect the town from Moro raids.
Fr. Jose Vitoria introduced the cultivation of indigo in Bauan while building the present church. This was continued until 1856 during the administrations of Fr. Jose Trevino and Fr. Hipolito Huerta. It was completed under the supervision of Fr. Felipe Bravo in 1881. From there until 1894, final decorations were supervised by Fr. Moises Santos and Fr. Felipe Garcia. The church is said to be the most artistically built in the province of Batangas during that time. Father Bravo was also an imminent botanist who put up a museum of natural history and collected rare books that were lost when the church was razed by fire during the Philippine revolution against Spain in 1898. The church was probably rebuilt and again destroyed by fire in 1938. It has been restored since then.
Bauan's main Catholic Church In March 2019, the Black Nazarene visited the church to help funds for rebuilding after the church was damaged in the 2017 Batangas earthquakes.
The town of Bauan used to encompass a much more extensive area. However, throughout history, chunks of Bauan have been converted into municipalities; San Jose in 1765, San Luis in 1861, Alitagtag in 1901, Mabini in 1918, and San Pascual in 1969.
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After breakfast, checked with reception and one of the three cabañas was ready; the one for Luc & Jas. Decided to use this Cabaña for all and change into a more confortable attire. Time to explore the grounds. The Cabaña is located at the southren tip of the resort. The most south end is, what looks like, a (kiddy?) pool and a platform overlooking the Balayan Bay. Strolling to the north part of the resort along the rocky beach front. Lush vegitation and a cool seabreeze makes it a pleasant experience.
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It's close to lunch time. The Christmas leftovers we brought along comes to good use. Jas and the girlz want to go snorkeling. The dive center rents the equipment for 200PHP per day. Luc feels tired from the early rise and driving and is going to take a nap. After a couple of hours, Jas joins the room and also feels tired. In the meantime all cabañas are available and everybody can take an afternoon rest.
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The evening sets in and we hope for a nice sunset but the cloudy skies obscure the last rays of the sun. We gather at the pool area and have a beer. The cool breeze makes it relaxing. Dinner time presents itself. There is only one restaurant and dinner is served ala carte. There is a good selection on the menu. The table is full with something for everybody. With the stomachs satisfied, we move back to the pool area. Chat the night away with a few more beers while the girls take another swim in the pool.
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It's getting late, we need to get up early. To avoid problems in the morning we settle the bill before going to sleep. All seem to checkout fine and we are off to a good night rest.
4 O'clock rise & shine! A cold shower wakes you up instantly (hot water is out of order) As we are ready to leave, the hotel staff is already at the cabañas to help carry the bags. Everybody gathers at the recepion area and we jump in the van that takes us to the parking area. It's 5 O'clock and on the way out of the now pitch dark woods. The roads are still very quiet in Mabini. On the Bauan-Mabini road, truck traffic slows us down a bit. Say goodbye to Elisa in Bauan and move on to Batangas. The trucks are on the road but we make good progress. The STAR expressway is very quiet, but the trafic picks up when we get to the SLEX. Arrived in San Lorenzo at 6:45 Friday morning December 27, 2019! Just in time before the coding takes effect. Our car plate ends with number 9.
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