For History and for Pleasure

Bataan is a province in the Philippines known for its dramatic participation in local history.

You will notice Death March markers along the main roads of Bataan. These markers remember the brave Filipino soldiers who treaded that route when Bataan fell onto the hands of the Japanese in World War II.

The Memorial Cross at the Dambana ng Kagitingan (Shrine of Valor) stands mightily on top of Mt. Samat. This 92m structure can be seen on the main road on your way to the beaches in Bataan. It was built in 1966 in memory of the soldiers of World War II.

Those memories of bravery are matched by the timeless beauty of the beaches in Bataan. Fine sands and sparkling seas are cradled by the various towns of this vast province.

One of the wonderful resorts managing Bataan's beaches is Montemar Beach Club, which also advocates the brilliant Pawikan (Philippine Sea Turtle) Conservation project. People are invited to sponsor a "pawikan" hatchling which is then taken care of until it is ready to be freed into the clear waters of Montemar Beach Club.

Indeed, the province of Bataan is a destination that I’d recommend for those who want not only some beach fun, but also really to know more about the country and even help the environment.

Quick Tips:

Particularly when going to the more remote areas of Bataan, such as Bagac, be sure to have cash in your wallet. When I went to Montemar Beach Club in Bagac, we were surprised that the establishment was not accepting credit cards and that there were no ATMs nearby. Good thing we had with us a friend who was known in the resort and could sign off bills easily.

Best Way To Get Around:

Bringing your own vehicle to get to and to go around Bataan, particularly if you are going to the beaches, is highly recommended. Public transportation in the towns of Bataan, specially the remote ones, are not that much.

In November 2006, my husband and I went off to Montemar Beach Club in Bagac, Bataan. More than just a leisure trip, this outing was primarily to attend the Grand Pawikan Fest, a special project to relate the importance of the “pawikan” (Philippine sea turtle), not only to the locals of Bataan, but to everyone in the Philippines.

My husband and I learned about this Pawikan Conservation Project from colleagues in his Rotary Club District. As Rotarians, they have been constantly searching for worthwhile activities that they can participate in to help the society progress in any way possible.

According to the management of Montemar, this project started when they noticed turtle hatchlings wandering on the beach of the resort in 2003. They then reported this to the involved bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Meetings and observations were conducted regarding this discovery. Training of locals who were going to manage the proposed turtle hatchery program was also done.

All these led to this Grand Pawikan Fest, which was highlighted by the ceremony of releasing our sponsored “pawikan” hatchling into the clear waters of Montemar.

After a whole day of basking in the sun and swimming in the sea, the program started right before dusk with the awarding of certificates to all sponsors of the “pawikan” hatchlings. All of the sponsors, were then given a hatchling each. We all proceeded to the shore and released the hatchlings all at the same time, as the sun was setting. It was truly a touching moment. It was so inspiriting to see that there are still many people, families, in fact, who care for the environment.

The Grand Pawikan Fest is now an annual event to continuously help this Pawikan Conservation Project. We only needed to donate 800 pesos to sponsor a pawikan hatchling and help conserve this endangered creature. For me, it was truly an inexpensive, simple and exciting way of helping our biological environment.