Best Times at Bataan for KEM05

Good old college friends and I left Manila for Bataan to attend our friend's wedding. Being the adventurous, explorer we all are, we arranged for side trips. We did not consider in the equation on making our itinerary how titos and titas we are all now compared to college days. We tried keeping up with our plan, but we just stick to what we can do for the 2 days trip in Bataan.

We traveled Friday  night and reached Balanga around 11PM already, we did not have energy to go out any more as the wedding is early morning next day. We just washed up and had a good night sleep at our hotel.

The following morning, we attended the church ceremony followed by the reception at noon. We did not bother to change to a different clothing and head straight to Mt. Samat with our semi-formal attires. 

It was my first time to see the shrine dedicated to the fallen Filipinos and Americans during World War II. It was only in books that I read about that iconic place. I did not anticipated that it was indeed a massive structure. To reach the top, an elevator will bring the visitors up. (I think the building needs some rehabilitation already especially for the reliability of the elevator).

The view from top is breath taking. Greens always calm me. It always reminds me that we still have hope for sustainable living. 

The background I believe was actually an altar. I never thought I would appreciate those glass arts. It's so cultured.

We might had been too tired laughing out loud and had a great time kidding around so we just had an early dinner at The Beanery (where we now consider our fav go to place in Bataan) then checked in at La Vista Resort. We had an initial plan of using the pool for more bonding time and have a drinking session after but I guess we're all so titos and titas already. Upon taking a shower, we dozed off to sleep. 

The following morning, we randomly decided to visit Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar. I was more than excited to have that trip because I know that I can finally see in person those beautifully preserved ancestral homes.

The place is located in Bagac, Bataan where Spanish Mansions are being rebuilt. The weather was really scorching hot but I still manage to appreciate the beauty of those homes.

Entrance only cost us 800php because we have a friend who's already a member of the place and he was with us during our visit. The place was indeed very beautiful. I could imagine it to be more beautiful at night. I appreciate the influences of the Spanish colonial days in terms of enhancing our culture and heritage.

I am indeed a one happy kiddo posing around at one of the majestic door entrance of the mansion. 

We went back at the Beanery before we called it a day and headed back to Manila.