Destination: Pangasinan Part 5- Bolinao

Besides the beaches of Bolinao, we also toured the other main attractions. Bolinao is also a base for marine research. People enjoy beaches but it also comes with responsibility in taking care of underwater habitat. University of the Philippines’ Marine Science Institute Bolinao Marine Laboratory is dedicated to this cause. We were shown around the compound by Research Assistant Tin Edullantes.  

Giant clam

We were shown the largest clam I’ve ever seen. Too bad I can’t get closer to touch it. They are also breeding sea cucumbers because they are near extinctions due to demand of buyers from Japanese restaurants.

Sea Cucumber

 In their building entrance, I noticed how they serious they are with their concern for marine research that during our visit; we noticed a scratch paper with a warning written:

This reminds me of the adventures of my fictional hero of the Clive Cussler paper backs novels that concerns marine research.

Bolinao Lighthouse

The next tourist attraction in Bolinao is their lighthouse that is the tallest in the country. It doesn’t work like it used to because the storm damaged its solar panels and the residence for its engineers. It is over a century old and was built by the Filipinos, Americans, and British in 1905.

Underground river cave

One of the alternatives beside the beaches is the underground cave with a river. We went to one of the known underground caves called Enchanted Cave operated by a family. There’s a stairs that leads down a lighted area. It was never measured how long the river extends but I was told a foreign explorer reached just below the parking area. The river is naturally clean probably because of the minerals the cave has.

Destination: Pangasinan Part 4 - Beaches and Resorts of Bolinao

El Pescador swimming pool

Bolinao is known for its strip line of beach resorts. The beaches are located along the east of Lingayen Gulf and west of South China Sea. Coming from the church in Bolinao, our first stop was El Pescador Resort. It was a former fishing village until fishermen notices their catches getting smaller so fishing business owner Jesus Celeste transformed the village into a resort. The resort has a hotel, couple of swimming pools, cottages, restaurant, conference area and coffee bar. You can also rent kayaks.

Public beach

After El Pescador, we went to the Lighthouse and Bolinao Marine Laboratory of University of the Philippines which I will feature in my next blog post; we proceeded with the public beach resort of Bolinao. The beach has beautiful golden brown sand and clear waters that made me wish I brought something to wear for swimming. They also have cottages for dining purposes and shed from the sun and souvenir shops.

Solomon's Paradise

If you prefer a more scenic place with privacy, I suggest Solomon's Paradise which was the last beach we visited. The beach shore of Solomon's Paradise is secured between two cliffs that makes it more private than the first two beaches. What makes it unique was that each cliff has a makeshift shed for eating and has a great elevated view of the shore line and you can see the direction of the waves. There is also a cottage for larger capacity, a bar, and rooms. Solomon's Paradise was named after the owner Rick Solomon. If you wish to go to these beaches, I suggest you have a private vehicle but you can hire a tricycle from town proper for an arranged ride there.

Photo taken from a cliff in Solomon's Paradise

Destination: Pangasinan Part 3-Bolinao Church

St. Joseph Cathedral

On our second day, which happens to be my natal day, we went to Bolinao. On our way, we made a stop in a diocese of Alaminos named St.Joseph Cathedral Parish upon demand of Mr. Benjamin Layug, who wrote a book about Philippine churches. In Bani, one of the towns we passed, we stop again to for Benjamin so we could take pictures of old houses.

One of the old houses in the town of Bani

Upon reaching Bolinao finally, we came to take pictures of the oldest church in Bolinao. Not only it is one of the oldest In Pangasinan, it is where the first mass in Bolinao was held. It also had a marker for it. I saw Benjamin was overwhelmed with emotion after seeing the interior of the church because it was affected by a recent typhoon that left the church damaged. 

The church in Bolinao

Bolinao is also celebrating its fiesta. Bolinao also has the sites for beach resorts. Our next stop is El Pescador Resort.

Marker of the first mass in Bolinao