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Montemar: Beach resort that puts Bataan in tourism map
Source: Manila Bulletin
Author: Cornelio Reyes De Guzman
Date: 2002-05-03
 
I have always known Bataan as a historical province and never as a tourist destination until last Lenten Holidays when I visited Montemar Beach Club in Bagac town.







To every Filipino, Bataan is a symbol of democracy and freedom having been the last bulwark of Filipino and American soldiers against invading Japanese forces until it fell captive on April 9, 1942. It is for this reason markers and monuments are scattered around the province to immortalize the places and events in our history. Perhaps it is for this reason that I have always associated the province with recent history and never as a holiday or weekend hideaway.





The place that puts Bataan in our country’s tourism map is located at Barangay Pasinay, Bagac, Bataan. To its members, it is called Montemar Beach Club, Inc. but to a non-member of the club like me it is known simply as Montemar Beach Resort. The resort sits on a 12hectare cove nestling between the hills of Bagac and the pristine waters of South China Sea. It boasts of a clean stretch of 500-meter white sand beach and has unpolluted and calm waters that are free from underwater rocks and corals making it ideal for swimming and other aqua activities.





Montemar is rated “AAA” by the Department of Tourism. The resort has Mediterranean-inspired inns with 87 well-appointed rooms, broken down into the following: four premier suites, two 2-bedroom executive suites, 18 gallery rooms, 59 deluxe rooms, four garden rooms. Montemar has also two swimming pools, a restaurant, a conference building which can accommodate groups of up to 300 persons (in comfort and style), tennis courts, and aqua sports facilities.





How to get there?





By ferry: Mt. Samat Ferry has several trips from Manila to Orion, Bataan, docking at the Cultural Center of the Phils. (CCP Complex)





By land: Visitors can make land arrangements for their group from Orion to Montemar and vice-versa.





Entertainment Center





Movie marathon, billiards and ping-pong area; souvenir shop; leisure and recreation facilities and activities; tree house, kayak, pony ride, etc.; El Meson Restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner; Talisay Terrace – outdoor outlet; Balconaje – roof deck outlet; El Nautico – day-tour venue; El Jardin – specialty restaurant, pasta bar & buffet venue.





Other facilities and services are a souvenir shop and Sunday Mass.





Leisure, recreation facilities and activities include: 9-hole “Pitch n Putt” Executive Course, kayak/aquacycle, two shell surface tennis courts, conference, seminar, meeting and banquet facilities, complete audio-visual equipment, air-conditioned function rooms that can accommodate groups of 10-300 persons, conference building ideal for seminars, business meetings and banquets.





Theater style: 300 persons; cocktail receptions: 150 persons; banquet: 150 persons; classroom: 144 persons maximum.





Available upon request





Ballroom dancing, beach bonfire, beach concert, bingo, folk singer, karaoke/videoke.





Montemar Beach Club, Inc. has recently inaugurated a new building with 15 deluxe rooms and 2 premier suites to accommodate its growing list of corporate clients.





The new building called Inn 5 had its soft opening last Holy Week. The deluxe rooms are currently being offered at an introductory rate of R3,600 per night and the Premiere Suites at R5,500 per night. Promo rates are valid until May 30. Each room can accommodate up to 4 persons.





Montemar Beach Club, Inc. was incorporated in October 1978 and started operations in June of the following year. It is a non-stock, nonprofit corporation. Montemar has active club members, and in 1996 opened its doors to non-members as well.





Most of the famous historical landmarks and places in Bataan are accessible from Montemar and most notable among them are:





* The Zero Kilometer marker in Bagac town where the resort is located. It is where the infamous Death March started. It also marks the beginning of Japanese control over the nation.





* Surrender Site Marker. Found at the compound of the Balanga Elementary School in Balanga City where the formal surrender of Bataan and Corregidor was made.





* Catholic Church Belfry. This was used as a site for Japanese artillery bombardment of Mt. Samat where Filipino and American forces gave their last stand.





* Dambana ng Kagitingan (Shrine of Valor), a national shrine atop Mt. Samat, 14 kms. from Pilar junction in Bataan and 30 minute-ride from Montemar. It is one of the major historical landmarks that consecrate the memory of the dead soldiers during World War II.





The huge cross is 311 feet high or equivalent of a 30-story building. Made of steel and concrete, it is half as tall as its model, the freat cross of the Valle de las Caridas in Spain. When lighted it can be seen at night as far as the seawall of Manila. There is an elevator service up to the arms of the cross where the viewing gallery is found.


[ Dambana ng Kagitingan Wiki ]
 

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