Bataan is a province at the Central Luzon region of Luzon. A peninsula surrounded by Manila Bay to the east and the West Philippine Sea (or South China Sea) to the west, it is known in history as the last stronghold of the Americans in the Philippines when the Japanese invaded it during World War II.
Cities
[edit]
Municipalities
[edit]- 2 Mariveles - the largest town with more than 100,000 residents, it is where the infamous Death March began.
- 3 Bagac - Has the Philippine-Japanese Friendship Tower and Las Casas de Acuzar.
- 4 Dinalupihan - Border town at the boundary with Pampanga
- Morong - Where the controversial Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, which remains closed (as of 2026), is located.
- 5 Orion - Known for Cayetano Arellano Memorial Shrine
- 6 Pilar - Houses the Shrine of Valor atop Mount Samat.
Other destinations
[edit]Understand
[edit]Bataan is one of the majority Tagalog provinces of Central Luzon, but it also has a Kapampangan minority, on the towns of Dinalupihan, Hermosa and Abucay. The Mariveleño people or the Ayta Magbeken, a subgroup of the Aeta (Negritos), were the indigenous inhabitants of the area; they were displaced by the Tagalogs from Cavite by the 16th century. Descendants of Ilocano settlers live in southeastern areas of the province, on the towns of Orion, Limay, and Mariveles.
Bataan is a mostly mountainous province, occupying the entirety of the namesake Bataan Peninsula. Much of the population is concentrated on the east coast facing Manila Bay, much of which being plains; this includes most of the province's municipalities and the capital Balanga. The western coast facing the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) is mostly sparsely populated; this includes the rural municipalities of Morong and Bagac.
History
[edit]Bataan was founded as province in 1757; it included some towns of Pampanga, and the military district of Mariveles, which included also Maragondon in Cavite.
After Japan invaded the Philippines in December 1941, the combined US and Filipino forces were being gradually overrun and General Douglas MacArthur moved his troops to the Bataan Peninsula in an attempt to hold out until a relief force could be sent from the U.S. Japanese forces started a siege of the peninsula on January 7, 1942, and launched an all-out assault on April 3, a few months after the Battle of the Points. The majority of the American and Filipino forces surrendered on April 9 and were forced to march more than 102 km (63 mi) from Bataan to Tarlac, which became known as the Bataan Death March.
After the war, Bataan rapidly industrialized, resulting in a string of factories and fuel refineries and terminals in the southern part of the peninsula. It was also during this time that Morong Nuclear Power Plant was built, although environmental and seismological hazards have prevented it from operating. The expansion in neighboring Zambales of the Subic Naval Base, later converted into the Subic Bay Freeport, has turned Morong and Dinalupihan into satellite towns of Olongapo.
Get in
[edit]By car
[edit]Bataan is over two hours away from Metro Manila by car. From Manila, you can take the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and exit at San Fernando, and from there, follow the Olongapo-Gapan Road/Jose Abad Santos Avenue straight to Bataan. A longer alternative is to exit at Angeles, connect with the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and exit at Dinalupihan. While longer, this bypasses frequent traffic jams and bad infrastructure conditions along the Pampanga section of the Olongapo-Gapan Road.
A bridge is being proposed to link Bataan from Cavite, but this fixed link is still on the planning stages. An expressway from Metro Manila via the coastline of Bulacan is also being planned.
By bus
[edit]Getting to Bataan by bus takes around three hours. There are bus lines, specifically Genesis and Bataan Transit, in Cubao, Pasay and Manila that offers daily trips to Balanga City and Mariveles, Bataan. The fare going to Balanga costs ₱240 as of April 2016 from Avenida, Manila terminal. Victory Liner have buses to/from Olongapo City (2 hours, ₱100).
By ferry
[edit]As of May 2018, the ferry boat going from Manila to Bataan is operational through the FAB Town Terminal in Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB), Mariveles, Bataan, which has a direct ferry service from FAB to Esplanade Seaside Terminal at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City, Metro Manila. The Port of Capinpin in Orion, Bataan is another ferry terminal in the province, having a route from Orion to Manila.
Get around
[edit]Driving is the best way to explore Bataan. Major highways traversing the province are the Jose Abad Santos Avenue or Olongapo-Gapan Road (Rte 3) serving Dinalupihan and Hermosa, Roman Superhighway (Rte 301) from Dinalupihan to Mariveles with a route bypassing the old town centers from Hermosa to Pilar and some portions of Orion, Limay and Mariveles through the Old National Road, Mariveles-Bagac Road from Mariveles to Bagac, and Gov. J.J. Linao National Rd. from Pilar to Morong. Jose Abad Santos Avenue and Gov. J.J. Linao National Rd. serve the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ) having juridictions on the provinces of Bataan (Hermosa and Morong) and Zambales (Subic and Olongapo City) therefore both roads also serve the province of Zambales, and the latter serves Mt. Samat. With this, Bataan highway networks form the provincial loop.
Buses connect the major towns on the east coast. There is limited bus service to the western coast from Balanga.
See
[edit]- 1 Abucay Church (St. Dominic de Guzman Parish Church), National Road corner Laon Proper, Barangay Laon, Abucay. One of the oldest churches in Bataan. Built during the Spanish era, it is one of seven heritage churches in eastern Bataan (the others being in Hermosa, Orani, Samal, Balanga Cathedral, Pilar and Orion, that are visited by pilgrims during Holy Week as part of the visita iglesia ritual.
- 2 Mount Samat, Governor J.J. Linao Hghway corner Mount Samat Road, Barangay Diwa, Pilar. Hosts the Mount Samal National Shrine, containing the cross-shaped Dambana ng Kagitingan (Shrine of Valor) built to honor Filipinos and Americans who died during their last stand at Bataan daring World War II. Parts of the shrine, including the museum and the Dambana, are closed for renovation until 2027 to 2028. P20.
- 3 Bataan National Park. A 23,000 hectares (57,000 acres) protected forest area covering Mount Natib, a dormant volcano with a wide caldera encompassing most of northern and central Bataan.
- 4 Dunsulan Falls, Barangay Liyang, Pilar. A waterfall located at the foot of Mount Samat, northeast of the National Shrine.
- 5 Zero Kilometer Death March Marker, Avenue of the Philippines, Barangay Poblacion, Mariveles (Between Jollibee and McDonald's and directly beside the Mariveles Public Library). The Bataan Death March began in Mariveles and stretched for 102 km (63 mi). A similar marker for those garrisoned in Bagac exists in the latter town, while markers tracing the route of the Death March are scattered along Governor J.J. Linao Highway and the old National Road leading to Dinalupihan and the boundary with Pampanga. They are distinguished with their white color and pyramidal appearance.
- 6 Mariveles Volcano (Mount Mariveles), Mariveles (Between Jollibee and McDonald's and directly beside the Mariveles Public Library). A dormant volcano with a wide caldera that comprises the southern part of Bataan.
- 7 Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, Governor J.J. Linao National Highway, Barangay Banawang, Bagac (Turn right past Bagac town proper in the direction of Morong and find the junction leading to the resort, which is marked by a dirt road composed of compact white sand.). A living museum housing a collection of Spanish-era buildings, which are either reconstructions, replicas or houses dismantled and reassembled from across various towns in the Philippines.
- 8 Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, Governor J.J. Linao National Highway, Barangay Nagbalayong, Morong (Head for the forested uplands and find a clearing with a shed the tarpaulin bearing the plant's name.). The Philippines first and only nuclear power plant, which never operated (though plans to reactivate it remain). Can be visited by guided tour.
- 9 Pawikan Conservation Center, Barangay Nagbalayong, Morong (Turn left at the junction leading from Governor J.J. Linao National Highway into a small rotunda where there are watchmen who will lead you to the area in exchange for an environmental fee. At the end of the road past the rotunda, turn right into a narrow road and drive for a kilometer. The complex, which has low blue-colored walls is at the left side shortly before the road ends at another junction.). Closed outside the sea turtle breeding season. Unlike eastern Bataan, west Bataan's coastline has not been industrialized, enabling sea turtles (pawikan) to lay eggs and hatch on Morong's shores with minimal disturbance. The center secures the eggs from laying until hatching and release, with visitors allowed to explore and participate in the activities. There is no on-site accommodation, but the complex is surrounded by resort-hotels.
Do
[edit]Eat
[edit]Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]- D'Samat Hotel. Camacho Street. phone +63 47 2373869. AC single/double rooms with own bathroom from ₱600.
- 10 Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, Governor J.J. Linao National Highway, Barangay Banawang, Bagac (Turn right past Bagac town proper in the direction of Morong and find the junction leading to the resort, which is marked by a dirt road composed of compact white sand.), ☏ +63 9178729361. The most upscale accommodation in all of Bataan. Expect to sleep in a 19th century house (or at least a replica) and wonder if the previous long-dead owners stop by. There are ordinarily three restaurants, but not all may be operational depending on the number of guests and the season.
Stay safe
[edit]The Roman Superhighway is a notorious accident prone area due to its wide multiple lanes, lack of dividers and speeding vehicles. Exercise caution when crossing or driving along the road.
Due to the presence of refineries and loading terminals for gas and petroleum in Limay, Orion and Mariveles, Bataan’s highways can be swarmed by rows of fuel tankers. Do not mess with such vehicles to avoid fiery mishaps.
Stay healthy
[edit]- Bataan General Hospital. Balanga City. +63 47-237-1274. (DOH Hospital)