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Bagac is a town in Bataan, Central Luzon, the Philippines. It is a resort town famous for its beaches and Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, a collection of colonial-era residences and buildings from the Spanish era.
Understand
[edit | edit source]Situated at the rugged western coast of the Bataan peninsula, Bagac was mostly a quiet provincial town until World War II, when it became a battleground in the Battle of Bataan as it contained a key junction in the formed the western sector of the primary Allied defensive line against approaching Japanese forces, which culminated in the Allied surrender on April 9, 1942. It was one of two starting points of the Bataan Death March, the other being Mariveles.
After the war, Bagac slowly prospered as it became a stopover for employees heading to the refugee processing center and the nuclear power plant in neighboring Morong, while since 2010, construction magnate Jerry Acuzar, a native of Bagac, built Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, a seaside luxury resort featuring transplanted colonial-era residences and buildings from the Spanish era.
It is home to about 33,000 people (census, 1 July 2024) 
Get in
[edit | edit source]From eastern Bataan, Governor J.J. Linao Highway leads west from Pilar and involves a passage through a mountain pass between Mounts Mariveles and Natib. At the Japan-Philippines Friendship Tower, which marks Bagac Junction, visitors heading to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar and Morong turn right, while those heading to downtown Bagac and Mariveles turn left.
An alternate route is from Olongapo via Morong, but also involves going through a secluded, two-lane road passing through rugged terrain and jungle and is mostly unlit at night.
Bagac is connected by minibuses to the provincial capital Balanga. The main drop-off is at the Japan-Philippines Friendship Tower.
- 1 Bagac-Balanga Transport Terminal, Gov. JJ Linao Highway, Atilano L. Ricardo.
Get around
[edit | edit source]Tricycles are the main form of transportation between barangays. There is a tricycle terminal at Bagac Junction.
See
[edit | edit source]By municipal law, all non-resident tourists to Bagac are required to pay an environmental fee of PHP40 when entering resorts and most tourist destinations.
- 1 Zero Kilometer Death March Marker, T. Camacho Street corner Bagac-Mariveles Road, Barangay Poblacion, Mariveles (Between Jollibee and McDonald's and directly beside the Mariveles Public Library). A marker commemorating the starting point of the Bataan Death March for Allied soldiers who were garrisoned in Bagac, with markers continuing to trace their route along present-day Linao Highway until Pilar in eastern Bataan, where they merged with the main body of POWs coming in from Mariveles. These markers are distinguished with their white color and pyramidal appearance.
- 2 Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, Governor J.J. Linao National Highway, Barangay Ibaba (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.), ☏ +63 917 158 8132, +63 917 523 2054, +63 919 056 7789, toll-free: +63 2-8860-5961, reservations@lascasasfilipinas.com, finance@lascasasfilipinas.comMULTIPLE EMAIL. A living museum housing a growing collection of Spanish-era buildings, which are either reconstructions, replicas or houses dismantled and reassembled from across various towns in the Philippines. The site’s replica of Balanga Cathedral is a favorite wedding venue for those willing to splurge.
- 3 Japan-Philippines Friendship Tower, Gov. JJ Linao Highway corner Bagac-Mariveles Road, Atilano L. Ricardo. A memorial to Japanese-Filipino reconciliation after World War II featuring a Japanese peace bell.
- 4 Bagac Church (Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Saint Catherine of Alexandria), J.P. Rizal St., Poblacion (facing Bagac Plaza), ☏ +63 908 585 4078, stcatherineofalexandria1873@gmail.com. Bagac's main Roman Catholic church, built partially from coral stone.
Do
[edit | edit source]Buy
[edit | edit source]- 1 Bagac Public Market, J.P. Rizal corner A. Mabini Streets, Ibaba.
- 2 7-11, Gov. JJ Linao Highway, Atilano L. Ricardo (beside Petron gas station).
Eat
[edit | edit source]- 1 Brother's Hideout Cafe (Hideout), Sitio Salapao, Barangay Banawang, ☏ +63 960 690 5688, hideout012021@gmail.com. 9AM-10PM. A secluded cafe serving chicken wings, pasta and burgers.
- 2 Chills n' Pepper, J. Noriega Street, Ibaba.
- 3 Viktoria's Samgy, J.P. Rizal Street, Atilano Ricardo.
- 4 Bar.B.Que 89 Grill and Resto Bar, Gov. JJ Linao Highway, Atilano L. Ricardo (in front of 7/11), ☏ +63 961 596 3211, barbque89@yahoo.com. 11AM-9PM Mon-Sat.
- 5 Denzio's Food Hub, Gov. JJ Linao Highway, Atilano L. Ricardo, ☏ +63 927 239 5344, homeofdenzios@gmail.com. 10AM–9PM Mon-Thu, 10AM-10PM Fri-Sun.
- 6 Triple M Food Hub, Gov. JJ Linao Highway, Atilano L. Ricardo (in front of Bagac Junction tricycle terminal).
- 7 3DM's Kitchenette, Gov. JJ Linao Highway, Atilano L. Ricardo (in front of Bagac Medical Health Center).
Drink
[edit | edit source]- 1 Krossroads Restobar/Inn, Gov. JJ Linao Highway, Atilano L. Ricardo, ☏ +63 927 485 4676, chloegamefarm@yahoo.com. An open-air restobar with KTV and accommodation.
Sleep
[edit | edit source]- 1 Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, Governor J.J. Linao National Highway, Ibaba (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.), ☏ +63 917 158 8132, +63 917 523 2054, +63 919 056 7789, toll-free: +63 2-8860-5961, finance@lascasasfilipinas.com, reservations@lascasasfilipinas.comMULTIPLE EMAIL. Some of the complex's buildings have been converted to accommodations for varying prices. Standard accommodations can be found in the reconstructed apartment complexes facing the beach, while more luxurious options include renting out entire colonial houses. Even the accommodation for hired drivers is at a colonial house. There is also a spa and three restaurants serving Filipino, Spanish and Italian cuisine, but not all of them may be open at the same time depending on the number of guests.
- 2 La Jolla Luxury Beach Resort, Governor J.J. Linao National Highway, Sitio Looc, Banawang, ☏ +63 977 318 6071, reservation@lajollaph.com.
- 3 Montemar Beach Club, Bagac-Mariveles Road, Sitio Pasinay, Pag-asa, ☏ +63 908 898 0045, +63 917 587 7488, reservations.mbci@gmail.com, dpt.mbci@gmail.comMULTIPLE EMAIL.
- 4 Rancho Bernardo Luxury Villas and Resort, Sitio Kakiputan, Ibis, ☏ +63 917 626 3695, +63 917 624 0888, +63 917 628 2340, goldenluckcorporation@gmail.com, reservations@ranchobernardo.ph, info@ranchobernardo.ph, sales@ranchobernardo.phMULTIPLE EMAIL.
- 5 Lumiere Beachfront Resort, Lot 611-B, Saysain, ☏ +63 917 103 4263.
- 6 Princes TRF Beach & Hotel, Saysain, ☏ +63 923 341 4472, trflaviano@yahoo.com.
- 7 PSALM Hotel, Conference and Training center, Aguinaldo Street, Bagumbayan (near Bagac Junction), ☏ +63 977 631 2489, +63 992 686 4585, rroira@psalm.gov.ph, psalmbphg@gmail.comMULTIPLE EMAIL.
- 8 Casa de Simone, Lot 806, Sitio Tukok, Ibis, ☏ +63 917 103 4263, +63 917 889 5203, casadesimone.bagac@gmail.com.
Connect
[edit | edit source]Go next
[edit | edit source]| Routes through Bagac |
| Olongapo ← Morong ← | W  E | → Pilar |