I was looking for a quick overnight trip to the beach and was asking friends on where I could go, but here’s the catch, I only had 1,000 Pesos for my budget inclusive of transportation, food and lodging. I asked the fun and bubbly Maui of The Travelure about my dilemma and she was challenged. So I formally challenged her to join me on my 1,000 Peso overnight challenge which she valiantly accepted.
Maui of TheTravelure.com at the beach in Bagac, Bataan
The problem now was where to go. When I was planning for the January leg of my 12 for 2012 Travel Project, I moved the location from Bataan to Bolinao and Alaminos, Pangasinan because I found Bataan too expensive. With my dilemma I went back at my Bataan notes and tried to roughly plan again, removing the expensive must-see places in Bataan. It was then conclusive that it was possible to do an overnight backpacking trip to Bataan for a thousand Pesos.
On the early morning of June 10, 2012 we embarked on a journey that I called Bataan 1,000 Peso 2-Day Challenge. See below the list of what we did and how much our expenses were on the trip.
| P200.00 | Bus from Cubao to Balanga, Bataan |
| P45.00 | Breakfast (P35 Pork Sinigang, P10 Rice) |
| P17.00 | Jeep from Balanga to Diwa |
| P0.00 | Mount Samat Entrance Fee; We were treated by the ladies we hitchhiked with; Hooray! |
| P10.00 | Shrine of Valor Elevator Fee |
| P25.00 | Bus from Diwa to Bagac |
| P10.00 | Lunch (Kakanin) |
| P45.00 | Drinking Water |
| P50.00 | Tricycle from Bagac to Stella Mariz stopping by Deathmarch 0 km Marker, Japan-Philippine Friendship Tower |
| P70.00 | Stella Mariz Beach Resort Overnight Entrance Fee |
| P8.00 | 3-in-1 Coffee |
| P0.00 | National Road to Pawikan Conservation Center of Bagac, Bataan; We met someone who was going there and offered to let us visit there. So we hitchhiked again. Hooray! |
| P50.00 | Tricycle from Montemar Beach Resort to Bagac Terminal |
| P35.00 | Jeep from Bagac to Balanga |
| P55.00 | Lunch at Balanga (P35 Daing na Bangus, P10 Rice, P10 Softdrink) |
| P200.00 | Bus from Balanga to Cubao |
| P820.00 | TOTAL EXPENSES per person |
If you’re thinking how we got our food budget down that’s because we took some food from our houses (i.e. coffee, snacks, canned goods and bigas)
If you’re thinking why our lodging at my favorite beach resort is a bit low, that’s because we camped there.
Spicy Pork Sinigang for 35 Pesos
We succesfully did our Bataan 1,000 Peso 2-Day Challenge! The question now is was it worth it?
Here’s a list of things that happened when we went to Bataan with our budget
- Discovered a karinderya that offers really good Spicy Pork Sinigang for only 35 Pesos. Good size of serving too.
- We visited the Balanga Church.
- Went up to Mount Samat and went up to the Dambana ng Kagitingan.
- Got to know how to get to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar by commute. Unfortunately, our budget cannot cover visiting the place.
- Visited the Deathmarch Kilometer 0 Marker and Japan-Philippine Friendship Tower in Bagac, Bataan.
- Got to know how to visit and tour Bataan Nuclear Power Plant the backpacker’s way. (Watch out for this.)
- Got to visit my favorite beach resort, Stella Mariz Beach Resort. Walked on the side of the beach and camped under the pine trees.
- Got to visit the Pawikan Conservation Area in Bagac, Bataan. I wanted to visit this because I’ve never met someone who visited here but I saw it on one of the maps of Bataan. Unfortunately, this place is not backpacker friendly.
- We met kind travellers who let us hitch a ride even when we were strangers walking on the road to the top of Mount Samat. It’s always heartwarming to meet kindness on the road. Thank you very much!
With the list above I could now conclude that our 1,000 Peso budget was definitely worth it but there is still more.
Last time I was in Bataan, I had the impression that Bataan was dangerous due to the tight security of the event. I never knew that the people there were soft spoken, very kind and easy to get along with. When I was asking details on transportations and lodgings they were quick to answer my questions directly. When I asked about where we should go they were not pointing us to resorts but they were pointing us to their beaches, rivers and historical monuments.
I also had the impression that Bataan is a major tourist destination that the way the people socialize with tourists and travellers had already changed due to greed but I was wrong.
I’m sorry Bataan for judging you, but I’m glad we got to talk to each other and you showed me by example what you really are. You are epic, historical and kind. I wish you would always be that way.
I was looking for a quick overnight trip to the beach, but Bataan gave me more than what I was looking for.
P.S. To those who may not get as lucky as us, I will be posting our supposed to be itinerary with updated prices and details. Don’t worry the budget would still be 1,000 Pesos All-In. 
As promised, you can find the 1,000 Pesos All-In overnight trip to Bataan here.
This post is part of my Bataan 1,000 Peso 2-Day Challenge. A series break from my 12 for 2012 Travel Project.
Follow my Bataan 1,000 Peso 2-Day Challenge
- How much did I spend on our overnight trip to Bataan
- Bataan 1,000 Peso Overnight Budget and Itinerary (Helpful)
- Dambana ng Kagitingan (Shrine of Valor) in Mount Samat, Pilar, Bataan
- Stella Mariz Beach Resort in Bagac, Bataan
- How to get to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bagac, Bataan
- Death March Km 00 Marker and Japan-Philippine Friendship Tower in Bagac, Bataan
- Church of Balanga, Bataan
- Pawikan Conservation Area of Bagac, Bataan
This is my entry to Pinoy Travel Bloggers’ Blog Carnival themed WHERE WOULD YOU TRAVEL GIVEN A P1,000 BUDGET? this month of August 2012.
Cris Reyes aka Pinay Thrillseeker of Love Conquers All hosts this month’s blog carnival.
Click on the logo on the left to see the archive of previous Pinoy Travel Blogger’s Blog Carnival.
A travel blog by Josiah Sicad that aims to make Filipinos Travel Responsibly and observe the unique culture of the Philippines. 
Cutieee
I absolutely love on the road freebies.
hint: i try to bring food/ souvenir/ cutie mementos i can leave to the people who’ve been especially kind to me
i think my best freebie on the road experience would be the all expense paid trip in tawi-tawi
hahaha!!
not really interested in Bataan, been there before on numerous field trips in elementary and high school
but the pawikan conservation seems interesting!!
sana di masyado mahal
Good idea on the souvenir/mementos to leave people who’ve been especially kind. Magawa nga yan.
You should rediscover Bataan other than your usual school field trips. You’ll learn more and at your own pace.
1000 pesos for an overnight trip is almost impossible but you’ve made it! I’ll wait for your updated prices and details… Galing!
Thanks Untiedescape! I’ll try to put as much detail as I can so you could do it too.
Kuya, very well written.
Been to bataan for free but did not have the chance to go to Mt. Samat 
Yay, more travels to you! 
I’m curious about the Pawikan churva too! hehe
Thanks Laiza! Sayang at hindi kayo nakarating ng Mt. Samat. Isa pa man din yung sa mga must-visit places ng Bataan. I’ll post about the Pawikan churva soon. More travels to you too.
Been in bataan twice, I saw their beautiful beaches and the deathmarch mark the dambana and the shrine of valor, but i did not know that there is a pawikan conservatory in the place…
Now I wanted to go back just to see the pawikans…
Also…nakaka intriga ang 1,000 peso budget nyo ha…magaya nga…
Kami rin gusto namin bumalik para sa mga pawikans.
go go go! kaya mo rin yung 1,000 Peso Budget for an overnight trip to Bataan. 
kailan balik nyo…pasabay…
hehe
No idea pa kung kailan kami makakabalik e.
I’ve been to Bataan once pa lang (balanga and bagac) medyo nakatipid din sa accomodation sa and yatch sa Las Casas Filipinas de Acuza dahil libre. Anyhoo didn’t know may Pawikan Conservation Area pala sa Bagac. Gudjan on the 1000 pesos 2-day challenge
Swerte! Nakalibre sa accommodation sa Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar!
Mukhang maganda sa Bataan! Hmm.
Nagulat ako sa ganda ng Bataan. Iba ang ganda niya kapag nagcocommute ka.
Ang galing nito.. thanks sa tips!
You’re welcome Riz! More travels to you!
Nice…at nagawang free yung entrance fee sa Mt. Samat. Sa kakatipid namin dati nilakad namin mula pagbaba ng jeep hanggang Mt. Samat. Hehe. Pati pagpunta sa Pawikan Conservation Area nakalibre.:D Nag-rent pa kami ng bangka papunta dun at sa Power Plant dati. Ang galing 1k overnight na!:D
yey! exciting naman.. best thing about Bataan- Zambales we have so many public beaches kaya lesser cost. I am from Olongapo, I don’t even need P1,000 P100 is ok with me and I can travel to so many beaches for free!
sana sipagin ako to join this Blog carnival..
The kindness of strangers and our ability to trust them, that’s what usually allows us to spend less and enjoy more. Nice post, Josiah!
The Bataan born Filipinos are really
goodhearted. Ate Lumen Banzon Alonzo,
a retired Teacher from Balanga, told me that the Women witnessing along the road saved the lives of some fallen Soldiers during the “Death March” by covering them with their long Skirts because once the Japanese saw a fallen one, they eliminated by striking with their Bayonets.
I find this heroic on their
part because if the Japanese discovered this, they will surely kill the women. Remember that these
Bataan women did not know personally the Soldiers. Then they cared for
them until they were healthy enough
to leave. I wish that this “Kagitingan”in us Filipinos will continue and be passed on to the
coming generations. This is why I am
imparting this. Keep on sharing!!!!
been to Bataan a number of times but it’s good to check it out again with the help of this post and the detailed expense!
Oi, so cheap nga! Hope I can join you in your other trip challenges soon, di ako magaling mag-challenge sa sarili ko eh hehe
I live here in Bataan and I find it hard to budget 1,000 pesos for traveling here in other parts of Bataan. I want to try this too!