Anawangin Cove is a crescent shaped cove with a pristine white sand beach. What makes the place unique is the unusual of riddle of tall pine trees flourishing round its vicinity.

Anawangin is surrounded by mountains of rocks theoretically known to be formed by ages of volcanic activities in the past. But the most surprising phenomenon which has occurred in the past years was the growth of the pine trees just behind the banks of the cove. The seeds were brought there by the memorable eruption of Mount Pinatubo together with ash fall. There are no roads leading to Anawangin. It is only accessible by a 30 minute boat ride from Pundaquit, San Antonio, and Zambales or by a six-hour trek through hot, open trails thru the Pundaquit range.

Just behind the beach are the pine forest and a marsh, where one can find natural springs feeding to the sea. The area is the home to a number of bird species.

 

 

 

Set amidst a mango orchard, facilities include an artist’s residence consisting of 7 bedrooms, a sunken terraced garden designed to offer visitors meditative retreat while waiting for the beginning of the performance. Zambales own version of center for culture and the arts and the venue for the annual Pundaquit Arts Festival. The center is committed to the continued development and support of the Filipino artist and to the development of the new artist and audiences for the next generation.

San Miguel has every reason to earn the title of “CCP of Zambales”. It is the sole house of art in the province, with no less than an internationally-lauded violinist as master, and a group of young and talented musicians and artists who have graced the stage with canons in the world of art as students.

Located in San Antonio, Zambales, and CASA San Miguel stands at a family retreat property by the sea built in 1921. When the old house burned, acclaimed violinist Alfonso “Coke” Bolipata established an art center after returning from his studies at the Julliard School of Music in New York and the University of Indiana. This art center was to become CASA San Miguel, the playground of music, theater and visual art prodigies of Zambales.

 

To start up an art center is no small feat and Bolipata certainly had his share of difficulties. But his desire to expose the community to different cultural forms, particularly classical music, was simply overpowering. This brought him to offer workshops designed to identify and develop potential talents in classical music, theater, shadow play and visual arts. He even taught the children of farmers and fisher folk for free.

 

Located in the midst of a mango orchard, in a town surrounded by the mountains and the sea, the center encourages and inspires artists to hone their skills freely as they play harmoniously with the sounds of the surrounding scenery. The heart of the mango orchard is a grand three- story brick building that serves as the home of the Bolipata’s protégés. On its first floor is the Ramon Corpus Concert Hall, which has housed several chamber orchestra concerts, theater plays, operettas, and ballet productions.     Even outstanding pianist Cecil Licad has graced the halls of the building during a recent concert. He hall can uncomfortably accommodate 300 persons and has full air-conditioning, a seven foot grand piano, and crisp, clear acoustics; quite impressive for a foundation’s concert hall. The hall also offers a view through tall panels of the mango trees in the orchard that surrounds the hall.

 

Upstairs are separate concert halls’ for intimate performances and music less0ns. Further up, at the third floor, are seven bedrooms with views of Mt. Pundakit and Mt. Maubanban on one side and the South China Sea on their other, all for CASA San Miguel’s visiting artists who are given free accommodation in exchange for teaching the children. The artists can also hold exhibits at the Anita Gallery, whose wide spaces and translucent walls are a blank canvas for creativity and have displayed the works of brilliant artists like Carlo Gacubo, Don Sanlubayba and Borlongan.

The artistry, of course, doesn’t end inside the walls of the bricks house. CASA San Miguel has a 1,000-seateee circular outdoor theater that serves as an alternative venue for productions. The theater was built as such to incorporate and utilize the natural surroundings in the creative process. That means when it comes to inspiration, sky is certainly the limit. Perhaps even just starting at the colorful mosaic artworks by the gate (and reflecting on how much work and time went into making them) would give one enough inspiration to work on a masterpiece.

If you visit CASA San Miguel at the right time of the year, you might chance upon children in session.

According to caretaker Lucy Pabunan, CASA San Miguel regularly holds classes for violin, cello, viola, visual arts, theater production and shadow play every three months. Students attend classes every weekend. A class is given one-on-one training by Bolipata and assistant teachers. As of this writing, CASA San Miguel has about 3500 scholars who are fortunate to have had the opportunity to discover one’s creativity and be exposed to various art forms. Classes culminate with a performance or exhibit held at CASA San Miguel.

 

Some of the graduates of CASA San Miguel’s programs make up what is known as the Pundaquit Virtuosi, CASA San Miguel’s homegrown talents. The group is divided into two: those skilled in arts are known by the name Quadros, and those in music, Cuedras.

The Pundaquit Virtuosi has had the honor to perform with the famed New York sextet of Juilliard School, violinist William Harvey with violinist Frank Shaw, and cellist Jeremiah Shaw, last June 6, 2007 in Makati City.

 

CASA San Miguel also makes it a point to participate in festivals to fulfill its part in linking the multi-sectored communities of artist, educators, children, farmers. And fisher folk, Its resident ensemble, Pundaquit Chamber Players, performers at the Pundaquit Festival which is held every year between October and April, as collaboration with various organizations and the community.

 

If you long to bring home some of CASA San Miguel’s artistry, drop by CASA General Store and choose from the available books, postcards, community crafts and souvenirs. Purchasing any item from the store is a noble act of remembrance, because aside from indulging on a personal whim, a visitor also supports the CASA San Miguel students and selfless people who work hard to let children learn music, theater production and visual arts for free.

 

Fourteen years after its establishment, CASA San Miguel has grown from a playground for the Zambales young talents and the center of the arts in the province. It shall continue to grow, in size and in influence, as the center maintains an active role in the society, making CASA San Miguel, truly, a haven of art.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capone’s is known as Faro de Punta Capone’s that brings visitors back in time. The romantic lighthouse guides ships entering or leaving the Port of Manila as well as the Military station at Subic Bay. The lighthouse similarly warns navigators of the rocky shores surrounding the island of the Capone’s. The lighthouse emits a series of warning to the shores within a navigational area that is very treacherous for amateur navigators. Thus, the lighthouse functions as the main navigation guide for ships heading towards the China Sea, a very busy and important shipping route.

 

 

 

 

 

An island with a figure of a man’s face on its side, white sand and green clear waters compose one of the hidden beauties of the Paradise Philippines…the Capone’s Island! It is also known for an old lighthouse built during the Spanish era which will bring you back in time for sure. With a 5 hours drive from Manila to San Antonio, Zambales… going to Capone’s Island is a bit tiring but one of as kind adventure. It is located exactly as part of Barangay Pundaquit in San Antonio, Zambales. From the shore of Pundaquit, it’s a 15 minute boat ride before reaching the island’s beachfront. 

Further south in the town of San Antonio is a bigger paradise called Capones Island. Located in Barangay Pundakit, this place is legendary for its lighthouse built during the Spanish era around the year 1890 by Filipino hands. It raises high over the cliffs like a cinematic picture right from the movies and lures people to marvel both at the structure and the enchanting panorama of the sea and the sky.

Unlike Potipot Island, Capones Island is larger, with cliffs and rocky shores on one part and white, sandy beaches on the other. But once again, you’ll find yourself spellbound by the sheer beauty of its shores and the turquoise waters surrounding it.

It is quite impressive how nature can sculpt and make lovely island destinations such as Capones. The island’s raw and even rustic simplicity is a sight in itself to take pleasure in. going deeper into the island, I find myself heading out to the lighthouse. However, the path is not always easy so if you want to visit this architectural and historical monument, ask the boatman if they’d be kind enough to show you the way. Be sure to bring some drinking water with you since going to the lighthouse requires a quick hike. The heat can turn up too and it’s best if you have plenty of provisions to replenish your thirst.

Similar to Potipot Island, Capones Island is immaculate. There are neither resorts nor inhabitants on the island, so tourists can enjoy it for themselves. Boats can be arranged to take you to the island from the mainland resorts of Pundakit. Tourists are permitted to stay overnight provided that you bring all your gear and a boat ride have been pre-arranged to fetch you back.

Be sure to come at the right time, too. Capons Island has a moving beach which means that the white sand is present at one particular side for a few months and then moves on to a different part of the island the next. But once the right season sets in, Capones Island serves up a different attraction to look forward to. Capones Island, between the months of June to December, is a surfer’s destination. It provides surfers with the right swells or waves to catch, all in the backdrop of an island all to your own.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The PMMA is the premier maritime institution of the Philippines located at San Narciso, Zambales. It is globally known for quality and good performance with standards of management and training comparable only with the best. Experience the World Class Ship Simulator, fire fighting drill and the other facilities in the PMMA compound.

                                                                   

The Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) is reputed to be the best marine teaching institution not only from its military – style leadership training. But also from its stringent application process which cuts down thousand of application cants to just 250 students every school year.

The school screens the applicants thoroughly for a good reason - it needs to select the fittest and the brightest to enjoy academic privileges such as subsidized tuition of P50 plus miscellaneous fees. State to them art equipment for training and year along apprenticeship with the top shipping companies. But this incoming school year, PMMA has good news – it will admit more students to answer the increased international demand for competent merchant marines.

 

Fully Equipped

Even before the students step on a commercial ship, they get to experience how to actually operate a ship with the academy’s full- mission Bridge quipment developed in Germany, students get to steer their own “ships” to safety at the bridge, the area where the ship controls are, in virtual weather conditions programmed at he next-door control room and projected at the 210 LCD screen. The floor even shakes with every engine roar! Next to it are down-sized cubicle Bridge Simulators which use the same technology minus the giant LCD display.

 

What’s more amusing is hat students can take synchronized exams at the Full mission Bridge Simulator and Engine Simulator simultaneously. The academy also owns Ship Safety Training Course and Cargo-handler Simulator systems, where students are assigned to computers to works together to accomplish missions as officers and personal in a virtual ship environment. Not far from the advanced train9ng center, by the Malasig River, is the laboratory ship RPLS Juan Luna. Named after the painter hero and PMMA alumnus, RPLS Juan Luna sports the rate freefall lifeboat for training.

 

The available technologies may seem too costly and unlikely for a government subsidized academy, but since PMMA graduates are among the world’s best, various shipping companies did not think twice about investing in the school’s training facilities and provide the latest in nautical education for their soon-to-be crew. After all, they wouldn’t settle for anything less than the best – the graduates of PMMA.

 

 .

 

            A collection of crocodiles with audio-visual presentation on the need to preserve and nurture the Philippine crocodile called Crocodilus Mindorensis, a fresh water crocodile found only in the Philippines. It is a critically endangered species of crocodiles as there are no more than 40 Mindorensis in their natural habitat.

 

 

 

The faith flourished in the region until the troubled days of the Revolution of 1896. Leaving ruined churches and convents in its wake the revolution, rendered the region practically unattended; only some time later did secular priests took over the some of the vacated parishes. In this state of things the territory became a fertile ground for the Aglipayan schism to gain a foothold and prosper, so much so that almost the whole length and breadth of the province came under Aglipayan influence.

 

Upon the invitation of the Archbishop of Manila, Michael J. O’Dohery, the divine Would Fathers took over the spiritual care of Zambales sometime in 1928. Starting their missionary activities in Iba and San Narciso, they gradually took over towns and localities, concentrating their work in rebuilding ruined churches, building new ones, establishing more parishes, erecting schools and conducting catechism centers whereby they hoped to regain much lost group through the young.

 

The administration of the faith in the province changed hand when the territory was transferred to the care of the Columban Fathers in 1951. The prelature of Iba was erected on October 18, 1955 as suffrage of the Archdiocese of Manila. The Most Rev. Henry Byre, see was appointed the first prelate ordinary and he took ecumenical possession of concentrating on their work. On November 15, 1982, iba was elevated to diocese upon the death of Bishop Byre, the most Rev. Paciano B. Aniceto, then auxiliary bishop of Tuguegarao, was appointed second bishop of iba. On January 31, 1989, he was appointed Archbishop of San Fernando, Pampanga. The most Rev. Deogracias S. Yniguez, Jr. succeeded him on December 27, 1989.

 

 

 

 

 

               Located at Paluig Zambales, standing at the height of 6,683 feet (2,037m) above sea level with temperature cooler than Baguio at 12-16 Celsius (53.660.8 Fahrenheit), is veritably a garden of nature abundant with century old as Tapulao, hence, the name of the mountain.

 

 

 

San Salvador is an island barangay under the jurisdiction of the municipality of Masinloc, Zambales, in the northwestern Luzon. The reefs in the northeastern part of the island are fringing, characterized by a vast reef flat with sudden drop-offs in the crest. Spur and groove formation is common along the reef crest, particularly in the area facing the South China Sea. A 127-hectares fish sanctuary and a nearby Taklobo or Giant Clam Farm is the usual attraction to diving enthusiasts.

It is located in the western side of MAsinloc, a municipality on the northern most part of Zambales. The island is about 2.5 kilometer away from the mainland, or a 20-30 minutes pump boat ride from the municipal hall’s coast. Its abundance in marine resources has made it most famous as a scuba divers paradise. Divers would certainly love feasting their eyes on seeing the largest Manta Rays in the country, each measuring about 10 feet in diameter. The island is rich in fruit- bearing trees like mangoes. Clear water, smooth beaches coupled with powdery white sand and cool sea breeze.

White pristine beaches…clear blue waters…mysterious caves…mountainous trails…abundant terrestrial and marine life… These and more complete the picturesque San Salvador, an island located on the western side of the municipality of Masinloc. A scuba diver’s paradise, San Salvador enjoys an unspoiled marine setting and offers sanctuary to all aquatic life forms. Diver’s have a feast in swimming with the largest manta rays, and exploring the giant clams (taklobo). That’s not all; exotic birds and wild animals have also made this island their home. On the top of this, San Salvador possesses the sweetest mangoes in the world as judged by the Guinness book of the World Records for five straight years. Definitely, a prime natural resource is worth discovering.

 

 

 

 

 

It is one of the cultural heritage churches in the Philippines because of a polychrome portal leading to the choir loft. It was built with coral stones by Augustinian Recollects in the 18th century and is approximately 400 years old. It is the oldest church in the Diocese of Iba and it has a stood intact until it was damage by an earthquake in the early 1990’s.

***San Andres Church***

Being the first town founded by the Spaniards in Zambales in1607, the town got its name from jinlocs - plant that was abundant to the place when the settlers came times, included certain parts of Pangasinan and Bolinao. In the heart if the town is a rare 17th century majestic’s structure, the Church of San Andres, a little – visited gem that just happens to be the oldest parish church in the province.

 

As all baroque churches, San Andres Church is characterized by magnificence, grandeur and richness in design. The size of the church is compelling. Though more than four centuries old, the structure still possesses a beauty that will make an experience worthy of journal entry. Perhaps all these years made the church even more beautiful and breathtaking; it goes to prove that there really is beauty in age. The façade of the church, which is believed to be an architectural breakthrough the era it was built, equals the eminence of its size. In the early times niches at the façade were placed and images of San Agustin, San Andres and San Nicholas were installed.

 

The façade is highlighted by a bell tower located at its right hand side, finished in 1883. Bell towers are distinct features of colonial churches as they both aesthetic and functional. For practical purposes, bell towers were used to communicate to the townspeople by means of telling time. Mostly to pray, or making occasions such as weddings or funerals.

 

A step inside the church reveals a quiet landscape of multicolored slabs of light, coming from the huge stained glass church windows. The windows let natural light and ventilation in; an instant peace fix. Walking along the central aisle, the 17th-century statues of different saints and a more contemporary statue of the risen Jesus begin to grow with every step. Earlier church accounts tell that more interesting pieces adored the interiors of the church; epistle side altars, iron grill pulpits, white marble tabernacle, and beautiful crystal chandelier – all donated by the church’s faithful benefactors. Restoration attempts for some of those pieces that have withstood time are ongoing. The interior of the church is a wonderful contrast, from the newly painted off white walls and dark, hardwood of the pews and centuries old altar adored with gold. Overhead, six antique iron- wrought chandeliers hang from the ceiling on chains, providing the light needed light during the evening.

 

But the real gem of the church is found at the choir loft – an ornately carved polychrome wall. Made from coral stones, the wall features images of a papal hat and scepter decked with carved leaves and flowers. Though the carvings may not be exactly distinct, it’s the technology behind the wall that makes it unique; the wall was built at a time when putting pigments on coral walls was not yet the practice. Back then, the polychrome wall was an innovation, making San Andres Church ahead of the times.

 

Over the centuries, the building has miraculously escaped major damage – not until 1999 in 6.8 magnitude earthquake. Restoration was aided by Masinloqueños in town and from around the world. In 2002, the government, through the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA), began restoration works on 26 churches considered as National Cultural Treasures for their cultural significance and distinctive architecture, including San Andres Church.

 

Until today, restoration has somewhat become a perpetual pledge of the parish, construction is on going to this minute. So step inside and you’ll never guess that the church has withstood several turns of centuries.

 

 

 

 

Gentle breeze and warm placid waters of the South China Sea welcome travelers to this charming and peaceful little tropical island off coast of the town of Candelaria in the northern part of Zambales. Literally meaning “small white island”, Potipot Island boasts of lush array of coconut, mango, kamachile and talisay trees, coral shells, hermits’ crabs, starfishes, and the most spectacular sunsets ever witnessed in this side of town. And if the weather is just right, dolphins will honor you with their presence. This untamed and untouched island makes an ideal camping and picnic spot.

One such place is suited with Candelaria and is called Potipot Island. It’s the nearest island from mainland Zambales where tourists or travelers can simply rent a boat from any of the resorts.

After a 15 minute boat ride from the shore, I found myself on a small and uninhabited Potipot Island, an unspoiled haven that is completely surrounded with cream sand beaches and filled with trees. Many have enjoyed spending a day here, basking around the sun, enjoying its waters and solitude it brings.

Touring the entire island only took me 30 minutes where every inch of the shore is covered by the same scream-sand beach. Taking a closer look, I marveled at the distinct, pink-tainted shoreline that I haven’t seen anywhere else before. Potipot Island owes this to the rose-tinted corals shed and washed along its shores, adding charm that makes Potipot Island unique from other islands.

As there are only trees and sand in Potipot Island, tourists who want to experience its grandeur can stay at resorts in mainland Zambales and rent a boat to take them to the island. Tourists can claim the island for a day and reflect on Potipot island’s waters. Commune with nature and take in all the beauty of what an unspoiled island brings, for it offers a rare experience one would not normally find or afford.