Crown Point Hotel in Balanga City is located on Capitol St.,
where Starbucks is only a three-minute walk from the hotel, and Dunkin’ Donuts
is just across the street. The road is lined with decades-old narra trees. And
because it was the last week of April when we were there, we saw them shed
their blossoms onto the heated pavement of summer. Behind the hotel are shops,
stores, and restaurants that serve and sell local food. Nearby is the public
market. It is the cleanest public market I have seen in a while. So, on our
last day there, we did what any well-meaning tourist would do—mamalengke!
Jars of uraro, taro chips, tinapa, and a tub of Geno’s ice
cream filled my pasalubong bag. I was away for almost a week, and the loaded
pasalubong bag showed how much I missed home, family, and my school community.
I enjoyed the company of friends in PASLI, and I learned something new from the
conference, but wherever I go, thoughts of loved ones and friends in Biñan
remain close to me.
As for Bataan, it was my first time in Balanga. Needless to
say, it made an impression, not only because of the food, but also because of
the city’s tourism program for visitors and guests. It seems to offer more than
the facts we read in history books; there are stories, folktales, and urban
lore waiting to be unearthed and explored.
#PASLICon2026 #BalangaCityBataan
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