Morong, Bataan | Pawikan festival | The Trip, The Beach, A few Turtles and a lot of Politicking

The two-day festival this year was scheduled from Nov.30-Dec.1. Brgy. Nagbalayong in Morong, Bataan played host to the main event because it is where the Pawikan Conservation Center can be found. Morong's beaches are used as nesting grounds by the endangered sea turtles. People who used to be poachers turned into protectors of these sea creatures through the Pawikan Conservation Center.

The stokedtraveler has always been amazed by these gentle sea creatures. Not only are they graceful swimmers but they are also one of the oldest living reptiles in the planet. One of his goals this year was to finally have a face to face encounter with one. He was also looking forward to witnessing the the majestic event when hundreds of pawikan hatchlings are released into the sea.

Day 1. Waterfront Beach Resort | A day at the beach.

With his trusty car, "Marley", he and his family went for a 3-hour drive from Pampanga to Waterfront beach resort in Morong. This included a lunch stopover in McDonald's Subic, Olongapo.

Getting to the resort included driving along a lot of up and downhill curves on narrow mountainous terrain. The entrance to the resort was not much to look at.

Rough roads in the middle of a marsh/rice field leads to this eerie looking arch welcoming resort guests

There is a real difference between what's on their website to what can be seen once you get there. For the price, it does seem alright. The rooms can do a bit more tidying but the sheets are clean and the air conditioning unit seems new. 

There's no hotel like luxury to be found here. Just plain basic necessities

There's a cockroach and insect problem too. Good thing that this wasn't as much of an issue with the group (It was still a let down though). Ask for the closest room to the beach so you can hear the waves sing you an ocean lullaby. Try bringing a hammock if you can because you can set one up near your room.

The resort grounds is HUGE. They have several room types and so much space for kids to run around

There weren't many guests that day so the stokedtraveler and his family had a private resort experience

The sand and beach was fine. The sand is not white but it was clean and soft. 

The water was clear but the waves can be a little overpowering for small kids. This reminded the stokedtraveler of his surfing days. The waves weren't too high but it surely shows some potential for beginners. The water was shallow and can be walked on up to the buoys without getting chest level.

Their in house restaurant serves food from 6am to 10pm. The food was ok but nothing special. For its price, the stokedtraveler expected better. Try the calamares if it suits your taste buds. If you want to be sure, just bring in food. That will be cheaper.

There will be some local kids that may approach and ask for some food. If you brought some food then it should be ok to share some. Atleast they don't ask for money. The resort isn't very strict with bringing in food but everything must be in moderation.

Day 2. Pawikan Festival | Of sea turtles and politicians

It should take only a few minutes to drive to the pawikan conservation center. It would've been that way if the group didn't take a right turn too early. The signs to the pawikan center wasn't properly spaced for a tourist visiting the area.

They arrived at the center around 630 A.M. The parking area was reserved for the politicians while tourists had to bear the rough, grassy and uneven terrain as their parking space.

Upon arrival to the pawikan center, they found three sea turtles on a pawikan shaped pool.

Two of the three sea turtles swimming in the Pawikan shaped pool

Further inside where some works showing the lifecycle of a sea turtle. 

There were lots of local volunteers already flocking the area near the beach where the program proper was to take place. There were actually more locals than tourists that day.

Volunteers doing morning exercises to kill time

A marching band came early to start the festivities

The program seemed to be delayed. The politicians arrived very late around 9:45am. The sun was already scorching hot and the air was very humid. Instead of proceeding with the festivities, they decided to take their own turns to deliver speeches trying to impress the electorate with their "so called" love for nature and the pawikans. There were more than 10 of them and at least 6 politicians took the stage that morning. 

Koro Bangkal Bigkin, an Aeta Children's choir performing some songs for the guests. They really do sing well!

When everyone was done with their political gobbledygook, the program immediately moved to the releasing of the hatchlings into the sea. Of course this was done by none other than the "highly esteemed" politicos. It was a photo session for each one of them. The organizers seem to have forgotten about tourists who really wanted to see the releasing of the hatchlings event for themselves.

There are barriers separating tourists from the designated photographers of local newspapers. Notice how umbrellas are out there to protect the dear politicians from getting their skin darkened by the sun?

At around 10am, the street dancers were asked to get ready. These young ones have been in their costumes and make up since 7A.M. It would have been a great display of colors and dances had it not been turned into tasteless politicking.

Performers patiently or impatiently waiting for the speeches to finish

These children waited under the sun for hours while those politicians needed umbrellas when they had to go out in the sun for only a few minutes

Disappointed and disgusted by the political display during the festivities, the stokedtraveler decided to head back to the resort and just spend the last few hours of their stay in Bataan on the beach and by the resort's swimming pool.

Waterfront Beach Resort had a nice pool free for use by their guests

A basketball court with a nearby kiddie playground offers more options for guests to enjoy their stay

 Pawikan festival will no longer be on the stokedtraveler's recommended festivities for now. It is better to just visit the conservation center outside of the festival during the months of December to February for a better chance of having a first hand experience with releasing baby pawikans to the sea.

On the way back they passed by the Filipino-Japanese Friendship Bell. There weren't a lot of people in the area so they decided to take a quick stop and snap some photos.

This looks so much bigger in reality

This Buddhist bell hangs in the center of the monument.
More importantly, notice how that football  got stuck high above up there?

Beam me up Scotty! :)