DiscoverAngat
Discover the natural beauty, culture and heritage of Angat.
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Top 10 Reasons to Visit Angat
Reason 01
A Sneak Peak into Angat
- A new holiday spot is the Angat (Bulacan) Village, where a cool breeze off the river and the silent hills remind of a much simpler life.
- The municipality is on the inner core of central-eastern Bulacan, which appears to be a landlocked region and a billion miles distant than the coastal blizzard. The rugged mountains and fertile valleys of Angat give the impression of an ancient and living landscape that encourages people to explore its rich history during their holidays to Angat.
- A brisk walk on the banks of the Angat River will show the beat of the town, a river which formerly turned the mills and now lisps softly washing the shore, and mirroring the sky overhead.
- Capital: Angat looks after itself in Bulacan
- International airport: Manila airport roughly 2 hours distance
- Currency: Philippine Peso (PHP)
- Time zone: UTC+8 (Philippine Standard Time)
- Driving side: Right-hand side
- Main electricity: 220 volts, 60 Hz
- Official languages: Filipino and English; Tagalog talked here
- Major religion: Catholic
Reason 02
Highlights
- The Angat River is also a natural treasure and its clear water cuts through the hills and offers life to people and wildlife.
- St. Monica Parish Church is a monument of faith and its Baroque front reminds of the majesty of colonial Manila.
- The surrounding hills are covered with limestone quarries as a reminder of the early industrial air about the town and the iron ore that has made the country grow.
- A consistent noise of quarrying activities can be seen through a lot of perspectives thus providing visitors with a unique insight into the economic foundation of the region.
Reason 03
Seasons to Travel
- Holidays to Angat November-May is the dry season when it is pleasant to take walks along the river and visit churches as the sky is clear and the ancient buildings are surrounded by it.
- The coolest months are between December and February, and this is the time of the year that one would enjoy the natural beauty of the town without feeling too cold.
- Rainy season, which is also known as wet season, June to October, may fill up the river and render some of paths along the riverbank more inaccessible, but provides another, greener landscape.
- March or October are considered shoulder months and therefore should be looked into by the traveller who wants to avoid the rush and would like their visit to be during a time when the weather is not too much while the scenery is very lively.
Reason 04
Worth A Visit
St. Monica Parish Church
- The spires of the church are so tall that they stand out of town attracting the attention to a history of both religion and artistry.
- The carved wooden alter and elaborate murals found inside tell centuries old tales of devotion.
- The stone walls of this church speak of a fading away of the town where people would come together around the rites that gave meaning to them.
- When the visitor walks into the same pews used by generations of prayers, he/she may sense the heavy burden of the history.
- The plaza around is a quiet place to ponder and is surrounded by the faint rustle of the surrounding villagers.
- The light coming in the evening illuminates the facade with a golden light making the church a living canvas of history and colour.
Angat River
- It is a pleasant stroll on the river banks, and makes you hear the uniform current that has kept the town alive since time immemorial.
- A series of small wooden-built bridges allows crossing the water providing an opportunity to make a photo and a glimpse of the life in the countryside.
- Kids usually play in the shallows where their laughter is heard amid the hills which protect the water.
- It is a good display of hues of pink and orange as the sky is filled with the colour of angels of sunrise over the river.
- Traditional fishermen can be observed fishing with a net and their methods are also a part of the living heritage of the river.
- The surface of the river at night looks like the sky at dusk, which is straddled with stars giving it a peaceful evening walk.
Local Quarry Areas
- On a safe side one can see the rhythmic exercises that have cut these hills decades long.
- The choked roads and the heaps of stones are telling a storey of the industry that promoted the development of a country.
- Hard hat workers are moving in a methodical manner their movement a witness to the hard-driving spirit of the town.
- The sounds of machinery are faintly hoisted against the natural choir of birds and form a unique soundscape.
- To ensure the visitors remember how to respect the powerful natural resources, there are safety barriers and signs that remind them of the importance of respect.
- The end products of the quarry, limestone blocks, are later witnessed in the buildings all over the Philippines, as a silent Angel mannerism of the contribution of Angat.
Historical Detail and Factory Pasture
- Within the streets of the town, one can see the traces of architecture that trace back to the colonial, revolutionary and modern times.
- Rails that were dug out of the ground by old iron are still reminiscent of an early mining venture which ran the infrastructure development of earlier times.
- Exhibits are available at community centres documenting the transformation of the town since it was a mining town to a peaceful municipality.
- The locals narrate to the visitors the tales of heroic men who work in the mines during the Spanish colonial invasion.
- The pride in the industrial history of the town can be felt through the murals that cover the buildings of the town.
- Tourists are able to connect themselves to the past and how every stone and riverbed influenced the present during their holidays to Angat.
Reason 05
Discover More
Former Iron Mine Site
- The point of entry into the abandoned mine is surrounded by antique iron rails which used to transport ore to the distant metropoles.
- Close by, there is a small interpretive sign that describes the use of the mine in the construction of early railroads.
- The hills around have the marks of mining, and this provides a record of the industrious past of the town.
- Local guides tell about miners, which lived in cottages, and their family life was closely connected with the earth.
- The only sounds that disturb the silence of the site are the sound of the rustling leaves and it is a reminder to the humans that nature is gradually reclaiming its spaces.
- Closing down the mine is a change of direction in shifting the town towards a more peaceful, river-oriented character.
Angat Dam Watershed Area
- The Angat watershed is a very important source of fresh water to millions of people in Metro Manila.
- The winding trails through the hills on the upstream provide an overall view of the immense reservoir of the dam.
- The wetlands also provide the home of birds of diverse species and a paradise to nature lovers who come to take photographs.
- A brief stroll to the observation deck of the dam indicates the magnitude of the engineering work to protect a big city.
- The peaceful water bodies mirror the sky where the beautiful green trees are engulfed.
- Another theme that is being brought out in conservation in the region is protection of water sources to the future generations.
Historical Garrison Site
- The old military base has enjoyed a noble role as a key military platform; but currently it is a silent reminder of the Filipino-American war.
- There are stone walls and ancient cannons, which remind of the bloody battles of the independence.
- There are also nearby plaques that give the names of local soldiers that defied the town in turbulent times.
- The location of the site has a good commanding view of the surrounding hills which help in defence as well as observation.
- Frequently local historians take visitors around, related anecdotes making the past colourful to the interested.
- The architecture that was preserved by the garrison demonstrates the strength of the community in dealing with conflict.
Traditional Stone Workshops Stone Carving
- Stone carvings, elaborate in design, are produced in artisan workshops spread all over the hills and bear a cultural meaning.
- The visitors are able to see the careful making, including the carving of raw stone up to the finesse of patterns.
- The odour of new stone dust is mixed with the air, which gives an impression of concentrated creativity.
- Both works narrate tales, occasionally of the local flora, fauna, or historical events.
- Experienced craftsmen describe the process which is given by the generations, maintaining the heritage by the hands.
- The completed works are sold in the houses and churches and it is a continuation of stone craft in Angat.
Reason 06
Culture Traditions
- Catholicism is the religion of the town, and the old church and the splendid processions supplementary to the streets annually attest this fact.
- Tagalog is the main language which recalls the identity that was shared among the villages of Central Luzon.
- The people there take pride in their iron-mining history and usually tell the storeys about hardiness and hardworking.
- There are community meetings in and around the church making people feel like a family, and prayers, songs, and laughter are interwoven.
- Fiesta dances are traditional dances that depict artistic flair and sociability of the area.
Reason 07
Food Fun Fashion
Food
- Fresh animals and aromatic herbs which were cultivated on local farms are the basis of daily meals.
- Sweet kakanin (rice cakes) and pastillas, prepared using local milk and sugar recreate the flavours of a celebration in Bulacan.
- River fish when sourced in a responsible manner are cooked in a very simple way, which lets the natural flavours come through.
- Stalls in the streets around the church offer aromatic grilled food by inviting people to taste home cooked food.
- There are also seasonal fruits like mangoes and papayas that contribute to the flavour of the food palette with a touch of sweetness.
Fun
- Visit one of the oldest churches in the Philippines, St. Monica Parish Church, and hear its storey in the events of Filipino-American War.
- Take a break on the peaceful Angat River and have the flowing river and greenery calming down the mind.
- Go to the local market that is lively, where farmers sell their produce and artists sell off their handmade work.
- Meet courteous locals who tell about the stone-carving tradition and mining history of the town.
- Take striking photos of the Baroque entrance of the church and the hills around it in the morning during your holidays to Angat.
Fashion
- Sporty, loose-fitting dresses will be perfect to sightsee the hot and humid inland weather of the town.
- Coming to the church of the past, one will respect the holy place and its rituals with a modest dress.
- Walking on uneven tracks around quarries, riverbanks, etc. is best supported by light shoes.
- Basic jewellery and accessories will make the appearance look natural, but will have a local touch.
- Seasonal layers allow the visitors to be able to adjust to cooler seasons without having to lose comfort.
Reason 08
Nature Safari
- Its clear waters support the rich ecosystem of the Angat River that is home to fish, birds, and amphibians that live in its riparian areas.
- Limestone hills provide a rocky adventure to hikers and the trails expose geological formations and concealed caves to visitors.
- The agricultural lands within the municipality are surrounded by rice paddies and other cultivated areas that give the area a green blanket.
- The river valleys have splashes of colour and sound caused by seasonal migrations of birds.
- The hills offer a sort of protective backdrop which keeps the town out of the fierce winds and creates a micro-climate which is conducive to agriculture.
Reason 09
Events Fiestas
- The May 4 town fiesta marks St. Monica yearly with processions, music and shared feasts.
- Semana Santa or Holy Week is characterised by solemn processions and reenactments and a pilgrimage of the city which reinforce faith.
- The provincial festivals in holidays to Angat, Bulacan unite the surrounding towns together, where the dance, music, and food specialties are presented.
- The river has community events during dry season to celebrate the river bounty and the strength of the town.
- Local folklore is usually used in seasonal celebrations, reviving myths and legends that proved the Angat.