Aurora – Sanctuary of Nature's Splendor
Named after former First Lady Aurora Quezon, the wife of Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon, this province is filled with natural wonders waiting to be explored. Aurora boasts of several unique beaches, falls, and reefs. These attractions offer tourist a multitude of water-related activities such as swimming, snorkeling, and surfing.
Demographics
1. Population - 187,802
(as of 2007 Census)
2. Land Area - 3,239.5 sq. km
3. Capital - Baler
4.Language/Dialect - Ilocano, Tagalog, English, and
Filipino
5. Divisions
Municipalities (8)
President
Quezon Memorial Park
The park was made in honor of Commonwealth President
Manuel L. Quezon, who was also a native of Aurora.
Baler Catholic
Church
Once a subject of an award winning movie, the church
was used as a garrison of the Spanish soldiers during
the attacks of the Filipino Katipuneros during the war.
Caves, Beaches,
Falls
Aurora has an array of beautiful and unique beaches,
caves, and falls which allows tourists to temporarily
escape their busy lifestyle and commune with nature.
Historical
Baler Catholic
Church
Location: Poblacion, Baler, Aurora
The church served as the last Spanish garrison of four
officers and 50 men who were besieged by Filipino insurgents
from June 27, 1898 to July 2, 1899. The Spanish soldiers
later surrendered to the American troops.
President
Quezon Memorial Park
Location: Poblacion, Baler, Aurora
The park was developed in honor and in memory of former
President Manuel L. Quezon. A marker commemorating his
contributions to the country was built at the center
of the plaza, fenced by concrete and set on a circular
cement platform. It also serves as the landmark of Baler,
the birthplace of Pres. Quezon.
Lt. Commander
James Gilmore Marker
Location: Baler Catholic Church, Poblacion, Aurora
The marker, found at the left wall of the church is
in remembrance of Lt. Commander James Gilmore and his
men who were captured when they came to Baler in April
1899 to relieve the Spanish soldiers besieged in the
church of Baler.
Aurora Quezon
Marker
Location: Poblacion, Baler, Aurora
This historic marker was built in honor of Doña
Aurora Aragon Quezon, the wife of Commonwealth President
Manuel L. Quezon, in recognition of her efforts to uplift
the lives of the people of Aurora Province.
President
Quezon’s Resthouse
Location: Poblacion, Baler, Aurora
Found just across the Baler Church and the Baler Municipal
Hall, it was where the Quezon couple, their family,
and relatives stayed during their vacations in Baler.
Natural
Sierra Madre
Mountains
Location: Brgy Ditumabo, Dingalan, Aurora (jump off
point)
The mountain range covers a large part of the province.
Mountain climbing, safari, bird watching, ecological
studies, and picnics are some of the well loved activities
done here.
Ampere Beach
Location: Brgy. Ampere, Dipaculao, Aurora
The beach is covered with smooth, dark colored rocks
of various sizes. Locals use a certain part of the beach,
called the Bunga Point or Ampere Point, to determine
to forecast weather.
Aniao Islets
Location: Off the coast of Barangay Zabali, Baler, Aurora
Locals and tourists visit these two bullet-like islets
for snorkeling and scuba diving. The place is a notable
spot where Kingfishers, gulls, and hawks stay while
they look out for fish.
Banju Springs
Location: Brgy. Real, San Luis, Aurora
A mass of ferns surrounds the springs, which stretch
up to a hundred meters toward the source of the spring.
The spring itself is bound by natural terraced steps.
Borlongan
Beach
Location: Brgy. Borlongan, Dipaculao, Aurora
Gray pebbles and smooth, fist-size stones cover the
whole stretch of the beach.
Cemento Beach
& Reef
Location: Brgy. Cemento, Baler, Aurora
White sand, seashells, and crushed corals fill up the
stretch of Cemento Beach. It is a surfer’s haven
from October to February, when waves tower up to 14
feet high. Snorkeling and wall diving is recommender
here during summer season.
Ditumabo
Falls
Location: San Luis, Aurora
Approximately 140 ft. high, the falls is surrounded
by huge cliffs, covered with green shrubbery and vines.
The water from the falls twists among rock and boulders.
Dimadimalangat
Islet
Location: Off the coast of Barangay Cemento, Baler,
Aurora
This serves as the point identifying the southernmost
tip of Baler Bay. During low tide, this islet becomes
a peninsula, of sorts, where one could walk and wade
from the reef shore to this natural rock formation.
Digisit Beach
Location: Brgy. Zabali, Baler, Aurora
The upper landward shore is mostly sand, while the water
shores are barricades of corals forming a protective
reef that prevents strong waves of the Pacific from
smashing onto the shore.
Religious
Santo Entierro
Location: Baler, Aurora
It is a statue of dead Jesus Christ encased in a glass
casket. In a makeshift wooden chapel. Locals believe
that the statue is a channel of Christ’s miraculous
powers.
Ermita Hall
Location: Poblacion, Casiguran, Aurora
Ermita Hill is known as a sacred haven for religious
activities by devotees of the Miraculous Mother Mary,
of whom a life-size statue is situated in a grotto on
top of the hill.
Aurora Day
/ Suman Festival
Place: Baler, Aurora
Date: February 14 - 19
The weeklong celebration commemorating the birth of
Aurora Quezon is highlighted by the Moro-moro Zarzuela,
a combined presentation of drama and dance, called the
Zarzuela, with the Moro-Moro or Moslem-Christian conflict
as the main storyline. During the festival, main streets
and homes are decked with suman (sweetened rice concoction).
By Land
From Manila, enter the North Expressway at Balintawak
and exit at Sta. Rita Bulacan. From there, follow
the highway leading to Cabanatuan City, Nueva
Ecija. From Cabanatuan City Proper, follow signs
leading to the Baler-Bongabon highway which leads
to Aurora.
For commuters, provincial buses are available, with routes Manila to Baler or Manila to Cabanatuan, and then change busses bound for Baler.
By Air
There are direct flights from Manila to Baler
but will actually land on San Luis airfield. Travel
time is about 45 minutes.