If you come to visit the new chief government lawyer, he’ll welcome you to the “Office of the Surfer General.”
Festivals and fruits. Fresh seafood as in sinigang na lapu-lapu and succulent crabs. Heritage homes and historical churches.
It’s been two years since the Batungbacal farm in Zambales has had enough fruits to sell. That is why when Maricris Batungbacal Encarnacion’s invitation to pick mangoes came, I accepted it as excitedly as the first time many years ago.
Masinloc residents take pride in taking care of their backyard.
Many tourist destinations have capitalized on the ecotourism hype, but the rustic coastal town of Masinloc in Zambales province is clinging on to its own winning formula—nature tourism and the community’s sense of self-reliance.
Fourteen Stations of the Cross in stained glass done by Bicol artist Pancho Piano have been installed in Isla Pequeña in Subic Bay, Zambales. To be built on top of the island will be the Memorial of the Triumphant Ascension of Jesus Christ.
The drive to San Antonio, Zambales, to visit artist Elmer Borlongan took a little over three hours. This was five hours shorter than when he first made the trip as the first artist-in-residence at Casa San Miguel in the early 1990s.
They say travel gives you perspective. Surely you’ll get some, even if you’re not the outdoorsy type, but have gone anyway on a 10-hour boat ride to and from a remote island-town, twice crossed a 500-meter hanging bridge, and hiked and navigated tracks of land with armed military escort.
The best-known product of Zambales—whose coastal towns are named after saints and alluring islands facing the West Philippine Sea—is the mango. The Guinness Book of World Records has declared the Sweet Elena mango from this province the sweetest in the world (though not recommended for diabetics).
It was a lively evening of music, art and history as the Pundaquit Festival recently kicked off its 20th season at Casa San Miguel in San Antonio, Zambales. In addition to musical performances and an art exhibit, the event also served as the grand opening of the Museum of Community Heritage, celebrating the history of the town of San Antonio and barrio San Miguel.
