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Balanga is the provincial capital and the only city in Bataan.
Understand
[edit | edit source]Formerly a barrio of nearby Abucay, Balanga was created as a Franciscan mission in 1739. When Bataan became a province in 1757 out of territories belonging to Pampanga, it was made the provincial capital.
Balanga has been a city since 2000, but it still has a large town feel. The city remains reliant on agriculture, most areas in town are residential, and the city proper is much typical of many small Philippine cities. Balanga is also the educational center of Bataan, and houses the main campus of the Bataan Peninsula State University. It is home to about 110,000 people (census, 1 July 2024) 
Get in
[edit | edit source]By bus
[edit | edit source]Balanga is directly connected to Metro Manila and San Fernando, Pampanga by bus. Most buses arrive at a common terminal at 1 Balanga Transport Mall, Calero Street. along the highway, but the large bus companies like Bataan Transit, Genesis Transport, and Victory Liner arrive at their own terminals not far away from the downtown.
By car
[edit | edit source]Balanga is along the Roman Superhighway, as well as an older route which passes directly through the downtown.
Get around
[edit | edit source]
Balanga has a small downtown area, and is easily explored on foot. Sights within downtown are not far apart. To get into the wetland park, you can take a tricycle.
See and do
[edit | edit source]- 1 Balanga Cathedral (Diocesan Shrine and Cathedral of St. Joseph), Calero Street (in front of Plaza Mayor), ☏ +63 932 781 7596. The headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church in Bataan and seat of the Diocese of Balanga. Built in 1793, this church was used as an artillery embattlement by the Filipinos during the Battle of Bataan. The cathedral was declared a National Historical Site in 1940.
- 2 Balanga City Hall, Saint Joseph Street. 8AM–5PM. A Neoclassical building which houses the city government offices. Beside the main building is a preserved water tower, and at nighttime, it is flooded with light.
- 3 Balanga Wetlands (Balanga Nature and Wetland Park), M. delos Reyes Street. 5:30AM–5PM. A wetland area along Manila Bay which sees migratory birds annually. Free.
- 4 Bataan Provincial Capitol, Capitol Drive. 8AM–5PM. Rebuilt from an older building destroyed during World War II, it has a historical marker commemorating the fall of Bataan in 1942, and the struggles of Filipinos and Americans to defend democracy.
- 5 Bataan World War II Museum, Jose Basa Street (at the back of Balanga Elementary School). 8AM–4PM. Housed in a former school building where the US field commander, Major General Edward King signed the instrument of surrender of Allied forces in Bataan to the Japanese, it contains artifacts and dioramas of World War II events such as subsequent death march and surrender monument. ₱50.
- 6 The Fall of Bataan Historical Marker, Capitol Drive. Open 24 hours. Free.
- 7 Plaza Mayor de Ciudad de Balanga, Banzon Street. Open 24 hours. This plaza is a spectacular representation of how it is to live during that era. The Gothic architecture, peaceful surroundings. Free.
- 8 Bataan Tourism Park, Bataan Provincial Highway. 5AM–9PM. an extraordinary place, a park where you can be relieved from stress. best photography place. Free.
- 9 Doña Francisca Park, Cuaderno Street. Open 24 hours. A nice place for families and kids to enjoy. Free.
- Death March markers. The Bataan Death March passed through the center of Balanga, as marked by the life-size white obelisks lining the original route along Bataan National Road.
Buy
[edit | edit source]- 1 Balanga City Public (Wet & Dry) Market, #706 Market Road. Open 24 hours.
- 2 Capitol Square Balanga, Capitol Drive, Capaning. 10AM–8PM. Shopping mall.
- 3 SM City Bataan, Lerma Street, Ibayo, customercare@smsupermalls.com. 10AM–9PM.
- 4 Newstar Shopping Mart - Balanga, #734 Fiscal Camacho Street. 7:30AM–7:30PM. Great place to find cheap priced items, from clothing, shoes, and house tools to appliances. It has huge parking space.
- 5 WalterMart Balanga, Roman Superhighway, Tenejero, ☏ +63 949 883 1356, wms.operations.balanga@waltermart.com.ph. 9AM-8PM.
- 6 Recar Commercial Complex, Capitol Driver corner Zulueta Street, Poblacion (beside Balanga Cathedral and Raquiza Bridge).
Eat
[edit | edit source]- 1 Denbell's Fastfood and Snackhouse, Bonifacio Street, ☏ +63 472375183. 7AM–10PM. Filipino restaurant. Delicious, home-style cooking that has survived the test of time.
- 2 Han'Ei Ramen, #230 Dahlia Street. 11AM–9PM. Japanese restaurant. Mostly recommended.
- 3 Susie's Cuisine Bataan, Don Manuel Banzon Avenue. 8AM–7PM. Filipino restaurant, Nice traditional Filipino snacks.
- 4 Cheenok's, Don Manuel Banzon Avenue (located in Fourlane Commercial). Barbecue restaurant. One of a kind! The best BBQ place in Bataan.
- 5 Sampalukan Restaurant, General Kapinpin Street. 10AM–10PM. Delicious Pinoy food, prepared just like a hearty homecooked meal. Staff are welcoming and helpful.
- 6 Joyous Tangway Restaurant, #101 Capitol Drive. 10AM–9PM. They have good Filipino dishes with good serving portions. Great place to stay also if you want to have beer and hang out at night. The location is accessible and can be reached easily even when commuting.
- 7 Popot's Diner, Magnolia Street. 11AM-9PM. American restaurant. Buffet. ₱649.
- 8 Wooden Leaf Cafe, Fourlane Commercial, Capitol Drive. 11AM–8PM. Health food restaurant, The best place to eat healthy veges salads, healthy sandwiches and healthy fruit shakes or fruits smoothies the best world class food.
- 9 Mike's Shawarma - Tenejero, Manahan Street. 11AM–9PM. ₱₱.
- 10 Shinobi Izakaya, Manahan Street. noon–9 PM. Japanese restaurant. ₱₱₱.
- 11 Jeepney Restaurant, Dr. F. Anacleto Avenue. 11AM–9PM. It's a nice concept to be able to dine inside a jeepney. They serve Filipino food like kare-kare, sisig, okoy, inihaw etc. ₱₱₱.
- 12 The Yard, Capitol Drive, theyardbalanga@gmail.com. 10AM-1PM Mon, 10AM-10PM Tue-Thu and Sun, 10AM-12MN Fri-Sat. Serves Pizza, pasta, western, Asian and fusion dishes. A highlight is the panizza. PHP200-400.
- 13 Lou-is Resort and Restaurant, Capitol Drive, San Jose, toll-free: +63 47 237-3517, louisresort_restaurant@yahoo.com.
Drink
[edit | edit source]- 1 Appetino, Banzon Street. 10AM–9PM. Bubble tea store. ₱₱.
- 2 The Beanery, Capitol Drive corner Kinatawan Road, Tenejero, toll-free: +63 47 6336192, HRDbeanery@gmail.com. 8AM–10PM. ₱₱.
- 3 BKDR Resto Bar, Capitol Drive. 6PM-3AM. ₱₱₱.
Sleep
[edit | edit source]- 1 Elison Hotel, Aguirre Street, Poblacion. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. Located off National Road, this straightforward hotel is a 3-minute walk from Balanga Cathedral, an 11-minute walk from the Bataan World War II Museum and 17 km from Mount Samat.
- 2 The Plaza Hotel Balanga City, 80 J. P. Rizal Street, Poblacion, ☏ +63 927 781 4070, admin@theplazahotelbalanga.com. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. Set in a stately Spanish Colonial building on Plaza Mayor de Ciudad de Balanga, this upmarket hotel opposite Balanga Cathedral is a 20-minute walk from a bus terminal. ₱.
- 3 The Grand Peninsula Suites, Duhat Street. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon.
- 4 Gap Plaza Hotel, Capitol Drive corner Sampaguita Street. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon.
- 5 Crown Royale Hotel, Capitol Drive, San Jose, ☏ +63 917 862 6493, rooms@crownroyalehotel.com. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon.
- 6 The Garden Galleries Boutique Hotel Bataan, Governor J. J. Linao Road, ☏ +63 9777117135. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon.
- 7 La Vista Balanga Inland Resort, Barangay Central, Roman Superhighway, ☏ +63 917 327 7250, toll-free: +63 477913380, sherrie_banzon@yahoo.com. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM.
- 8 Anton's Inn, Roman Superhighway, Cupang Proper, ☏ +63 926 674 6644.
- 9 BTH Traveller's Home, 594 Waling-waling Street, San Jose, ☏ +63 922 858 1056, bthtravellershome@gmail.com.
Stay safe
[edit | edit source]The lowland areas of Balanga are prone to flooding during the rainy season.
Connect
[edit | edit source]- 1 Bataan Tourism Center, ☏ +63 47 237 4785. 8AM–5PM. A government tourism center that has its own park and amphitheatre, an audiovisual room for functions and meetings, and galleries for images of Bataan's famous landmarks and lifesize tableaus of its World War II history.
Go next
[edit | edit source]| Routes through Balanga |
| Olongapo/San Fernando via Dinalupihan ← Abucay ← | N  S | → Pilar → Mariveles |