Bataan's Silver Lining

Though I have barely slept for a couple of hours the night before, the promise of uninterrupted ocean views and profound sense of stillness prompted me to wake-up and go to a bus station heading to Bataan.

Good thing I always have my day pack and tent ready so I just grabbed a couple of dry-fit clothes and having a quick check on my gears, put them all in my trusty back-pack and off I go.

An hour before noon, I was in the bus terminal of Balanga where a couple of friends are already waiting. Then, after a quick lunch at a popular fast food in front of the Cathedral, we rode a jeepney for about an hour ride to Bagac. A thirty-minute boat ride then brought us to Paitan Cove where we will pitch our tent and stay for the night.

To maximize our limited stay in the cove, we rode again on the banca that fetched us there and visited the nearby coves of Caragman and Playa de Caleta. The sky was very clear that day and as the sun fades, there was lack of color in the sky but a blistering silver that seem to bounce-off the grayish waters of the sea. This probably was one of the few times that I have seen a silver sunset - just really awesome.

Although I must say that the coves of Bataan lack the fineness and whiteness of sand that made other beaches of the Philippines more popular, these coves nevertheless have their own beauty and attraction to offer. For one, on most days, you can have the beaches here all to yourselves.

For the pros and cons. Pros - unspoilt serenity, barely four hours (all-in-all) away from Manila, beautiful seascape, friendly folks and cheap backpacking adventure. Cons - jelly fish, rocky shores, no electricity ( I don't know if this is a bad thing thou), limited resources and accommodation (so you have to bring everything you need) and constant raining may ruin your trip.

As I look back, it has been almost two years since I have set foot on this cove and nothing has changed much. Honestly, I preferred it that way. The place is still unspoilt and the people are still very welcoming. That is basically what I like about this place for other than the peace and quite that the place offers, the people here are very welcoming and warm. No pot of gold here but just a silver lining.