One of the more progressive provinces in our beloved Philippines, in my book, is Sorsogon. The things happening in the southernmost Bicol province are both inspiring and promising.
This new tourism initiative is a collaboration between the province and municipal and city governments and it will showcase all destinations in all 14 towns and 1 city in Sorsogon.
One of the 14 towns in Sorsogon is Barcelona. Since years ago and now, Barcelona is branded as a Historico-Cultural Town. And why not? Just its name "Barcelona" has an international element and it evoke echoes of the past resonating in the present. It is knowing the past that we discover how this coastal town got its name. The town was originally known as Danlog, taken from the name of a local river. The change of name happened in the 1800s during its colonization by Spaniards who saw similarities between the settlement and Barcelona, Spain, the capital of Catalonia and the 2nd largest city in Spain. Googled what Barcelona in Catalonia is famous for and an article listed seven things and one of those 7, I believe, is the picturesque coastline that both Barcelonas have in common.
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| Info on Barcelona tourism. Source: Municipal Tourism Office c/o Daryle Gacosta |
Given its Historico-Cultural Town brand, the main tourist attraction of Barcelona PH is the olden yet very beautiful Barcelona Church. I saw a photo of the Barcelona Church in my visit to the Museo Sorsogon in downtown Sorsogon City in the late morning of May 24. In one of the 10 galleries in the provincial museum, the photos featured are the old historical churches that abound in Sorsogon. Most imposing and impressive of these churches is the one in Barcelona. It was at that point that I decided that the town to be visited on that afternoon is Barcelona, not Donsol nor Magallanes.
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| Visiting the Museo Sorsogon in Sorsogon City on a drizzling Friday morning. |
The distance between Sorsogon City and Barcelona is 32 kilometers. Using my pick up truck, going to Barcelona is a smooth ride of less than half an hour. The province of Sorsogon has advanced in infrastructure development having the best road network in all of the Bicol region. Good governance is real and lady luck of good fortune must have smiled on Sorsogon. The very good roads in the province are a testament to such development. Driving from Sorsogon City to Barcelona, I have experienced up close this very good road network. The Maharlika Highway from Sorsogon City to the Abuyog Junction is wide (4 to 6 lanes) with many appropriate road safety signs nary a bump or rough portion on the road. Turning left to the Junction Abuyog-Gubat-Ariman Road, the road is not as wide as the Maharlika highway but the same zero-bump or zero-rough road portion quality remains the same. And turning right to the Gubat-Barcelona coastal road the pleasant drive continues on the well-maintained asphalt road. The beauty of the ride experience boosted by the fact that along the asphalt road leading to Barcelona are a number of comely beach resorts and multi-awarded surfing havens like Lola Sayong Eco-SurFarm, Siama Surf , and Kendi's Beach Garden which dot the picturesque eastern coastline.
The drive to Barcelona took less than 30 minutes. The heart of the town is the Barcelona Ruins Park. Whereas, the muscle, per accounts, is the iconic European-inspired Barcelona Town Hall, the seat of the municipal government which started and later popluarized the eye-catching bougainvillea blooms.
The Barcelona Ruins Park is a cluster of heritage sites comprised of two Spanish ruins namely, the Presidencia Building and the Escuela Pia, and the well-preserved and restored Barceloan Chuch.
In 1874, Spanish friars of the Fransiscan Order had the Barcelona Church built. The patron saint is St. Joseph. As with many churches built during the time of Spanish colonial rule, the natives provided the labor. The church was dominantly made of coral and limes. No concrete and steel bars, were used then.
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| Info on the Barcelona Ruins. Source: Municipal Tourism Office c/o Daryle Gacosta |
That was roughly 150 years ago when the Barcelona Church was built and yet, viewing it now, it does not look dilapidated. It looks well-maintained. For that, we have to thank the local government of Barcelona (LGU), the parish and parishioners. According to the Barcelona LGU website , two officials are the leading lights of the Barcelona Church restoration project: then Municipal Mayor Atty. Manuel "Wowo" Fortes and NHCP Chairman Dr. Rene Escalante. Restoration works were started in 2018 and by September 2020, the NHCP officially turned over to the Diocese of Sorsogon.
Gazing at the facade of Barcelona Church, I get the impression that this church is structurally sound and even looks sturdy, able to withstand the onslaught from the howling winds of tropical cyclones which regularly visit this part of Luzon. Venturing inside, I am astonished by the magnificent artistry of the hand-painted ceilings that was done on-site during the Covid-19 pandemic time. Of special note are the ceiling paintings depicting scenes of biblical significance in the redemption story of mankind.
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| The imposing facade of the Barcelona Church. |
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| The impressive altar of the St. Joseph Parish Church (Barcelona Church). One cannot help but be reverential. |
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| Artistry in full display above. Ceiling paintings depicting key scenes in the redemption story. |
Definitely, the Barcelona Church is a must visit for us tourists who love religiosity and/or history. More to love are other parts of the Barcelona Ruins Park. The Presidencia and the Escuela Pia structures have that Intramuros kind of vibe. It even has a Souvenir shop that looks historic in itself.
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| Strolling at the Barcelona Ruins Park. Relaxing and refreshing. It has a much better smell than Roxas Blvd or Luneta Park in the metropolis. |
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| A welcome sight for the weary traveler. The shop of souvenirs in downtown Barcelona. |
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| Beautiful items bought at the Barcelona souvenirs shop. All made in Barcelona from mostly local materials. |
There at the Souvenir Shop I purchase a handful of items first making sure that none of those items are imported from China or other countries. Important for us Filipinos to buy local and support local businesses. True enough, the items are made from sea shells and other indigenous materials in the Barcelona area. While paying for the souvenir items, the mangrove loving penguin (MLP) in me got to inquire from the helpful staff if there are any mangrove eco-parks in the area. I got a negative answer but this did not deter me from asking another question:
Is there a resort in Barcelona that one could do kayaking?
To this question, I got an emphatic answer of Yes from the souvenir shop staff. They blurted with pride that in Barcelona, they have the Vintage Bridge where residents or visitors alike can engage in water sports adventure like kayaking. Seeing the elation in my eyes, the staff excitedly pointed to me the direction to reach this park which was along the road connecting Barcelona and the neighboring town of Gubat.
This was already mid-afternoon so I hurriedly drove back on the road to Gubat and just before leaving the municipal limits of Barcelona, I reached the Vintage Bridge 1939 9reads, I was coached, One Nine Three Nine) . The name refers to ruins (yes, yet another Barcelona ruins) of an olden bridge (circa 1939).
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| Google map of the Vintage Bridge 1939 and surrounding mangrove forest. |
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| The Mangrove Loving Penguin at the Vintage Bridge 1939 marker. |
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| Info on Vintage Bridge 1939 with Water Sports. Source: Municipal Tourism Office c/o Daryle Gacosta |
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| Poster listing the water sports activities (and their corresponding fees) at the Vintage Bridge 1939 |
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| Photo of Mayor Cynthia Fortes and Congressman Wowo Fortes during the launch of the Vintage Bridge 1939 w/ Water Sports in May 9, 2024. Source: The Premiere Press facebook page |
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| MLP with lifeguards Dwendil Selga and Dan Rey Enraca. The two made sure we are safe in our kayaking adventure in Vintage Bridge 1939. |
Here in the vicinity of the bridge, tourists and locals can try a number of water sports adventure like banana boating, crystal kayaking, recreational kayaking, stand up paddling and water bicycling. Surveying the vicinity of the bridge, I instantly spied the presence of mangrove forest on both sides of the river - the historic Danlog river, the progenitor of the name Barcelona. As a mangrove loving penguin, this got me tubularly excited. There was no doubt in MLP's mind that I will be going for the recreational kayaking so that I can explore the mangroves up close.
There was no time to waste. I immediately told the courteous tourism staff manning the Vintage Bridge 1939 that kayaking is the activity that I will be doing. With thrill in my heart, the MLP boarded the kayak, ably assisted by the lifeguards, and paddled in earnest towards the mangroves. Words cannot do justice to the exhiliration of the moment.
Good thing we now have the video camera in our smart phones that can capture life's experiences in video color. Here is the link to the video of the kayaking in Barcelona among the mangroves. This was recently posted in the Mangrove Loving Penguin YouTube channel.
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| "Hola! Buenas tardes. Welcome to Barcelona. No! Not Barcelona, Spain but Barcelona, Sorsogon." Video of MLP's kayaking in Barcelona. Here is the link to MLP's YouTube channel. |
The mangrove species I saw while kayaking in the Vintage Bridge vicinity included Pagatpat (Sonneratia alba), Bungalon (Avicennia marina), and Nipa Nypa fruticans . With these mangrove species in abundance at the mangrove forest in Barcelona, we can be confidenty say that the local community covered by this ecosystem is well-protected from storm surges.
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| Cartoon depicting one of the benefits of mangroves: Protecting coastal communities from storm surge and flooding. |
The kayaking in Barcelona gave me also an added bonus. It was my first time to be face to face with another mangrove species. Here is the link to the YouTube video of my encounter in Barceloa with this new mangrove species for me.
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| "Kayaking here in Barcelona has its surprises." Video of MLP face to face with a mangrove species unknown to the penguin. Here is the link link to the YouTube video. |
Unlike the Pagatpat, the Bungalon, the Nipa or even the Bakawan (Rhizophora mucronata), this mangrove species had a round fruit with a size ranging from a star apple to a pomelo. The MLP was not familiar with this particular mangrove species. I had to consult 2 mangroves experts in the country: Dr. Jurgenne Primavera and Leganes (Iloilo) MENRO Wilson Batislaon . Both of them, generous in sharing their priceless knowledge, suspected it to be a Tabigi or Puzzlenut tree.
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| The fruit of the Tabigi mangrove seen in the vicinity Vintage Bridge 1939 . It is the size of a star apple. There was another Tabigi fruit that is the size of a pomelo. |
The Tabigi's scientific name is Xylocarpus granatum. The genus name Xylocarpus derives from the Latin meaning woody, referring to the large and distinctly woody fruit and seeds of the genus. The specific epithet granatum refers to the fruit that is packed with seeds. It is a tree up to 15 to 20 meters tall, with long buttresses that snake laterally. Its smooth bark is light brown, yellowish or greenish, and flaky. The common name "puzzlenut tree" derives from the irregular shape of the seeds: a puzzle can be made of shuffling the seeds and attempting to reassemble them into the original arrangement. The tree is utilised locally for timber, tannins and medicinal properties.
I googled about what are these medicinal properties of the Tabigi. The Useful Tropical Plants Database website gave an impressive list:
1. The fruit is used to treat swellings of the breast and elephantiasis.
2. A decoction of the crushed fruits is drunk as an aphrodisiac.
3. The dried fruit peel is used as an appetizer.
4. The astringent bark has some medicinal uses. It is reported to cure dysentery, diarrhoea and other abdominial troubles, and is also used as a febrifuge.
5. The seeds have been burned, then mixed with sulphur and coconut oil to make a remedy against itchy skin.
Such are the medicinal uses of the Tabigi mangrove. Just goes to show that mangroves in general provide numerous benefits to the people. And in these challenging times, where the Philippines is one of the most vulnerable countries to the adverse effects of climate change, the adaptation and mitigation benefits of the mangrove ecosystem are heigthened in importance. We therefore need to protect and propagate the mangroves. Love the mangroves.
Speaking of love, I sooo very much enjoyed the experience at the Vintage Bridge 1939 that I decided to know more about this Barcelona LGU project by communicating with John Mark D. France , one of the LGU staff on the bridge. He was kind enough to introduce me to Daryle Gacosta, the Municipal Tourism Officer. This allowed me to interview him online and here are the answer to the questions:
1. When did the Vintage Bridge 1939 w/ Water Sports started its operations?
The Vintage Bridge 1939 w/ Water Sports began its official operation as the newest tourism attraction in Barcelona on 9th May 2024. This transformation included baluster, heritage lamps, park benches, cobblestone walkway, picnic grass, including water sports and outdoor self-service vending machines, making it a unique and exciting tourism offering of the town for both locals and visitors.
2. I read somewhere, it is the brainchild of Mayor Fortes?
Yes, the enhancement and transformation of the vintage bridge ruins into a tourism attraction was solely the brainchild of our dynamic and innovative Mayor Atty. Cynthia G. Falcotelo-Fortes. This project is now an actualization of Mayor Cynthia's mission in heightening tourism and esteeming heritage.
3. What is the rationale behind the Vintage Bridge 1939 w/ Water Sports adventure initiative?
I believe, the rationale for enhancing the vintage bridge into a new tourism offering of Barcelona encompasses esteeming our heritage, pursuing economic growth, diversifying attraction, heightening livelihood, promoting sustainable tourism, and enhancing visitors experience. This multifaceted approach ensures that the project benefits both local community and the visitors, creating vibrant and sustainable tourism offering in the historico-cultural town of Barcelona.
4. Noticed there are mangroves in the area. What is the program of the LGU to manage and protect the mangroves?
As stewards of our environment, the LGU Barcelona has embarked on a series of regular and proactive programs and initiatives aimed at managing and protecting the coastal haven of Barcelona.
Central to the LGU's conservation strategy is the comprehensive mangrove reforestation and rehabilitation. In order to safeguard mangroves, the LGU has implemented stringent zoning regulations and environmental ordinances.
Moreover, the LGU requested an assessment of the mangrove area in the vintage bridge and its surroundings for its effective management and protection. The assessment data will serve as our critical starting point for informed decision making, targeted interventions, effective conservation efforts that will support sustainable development practices, and ensures the resilience of mangrove ecosystems in the face of environmental challenges.
As we navigate the rapidly changing world, a leader like our Mayor Atty. Cynthia G. Falcotelo-Fortes speak to us the power of visionary leadership and collective action in building a sustainable future. By prioritizing the protection of our environment and natural resources, she demonstrated that economic prosperity and environmental preservation can indeed go hand in hand.
Wow! Happy to read the genuinely well-thought answers. Almost clinical in its focus. It is a manifestation of the admirable level of professionalism that the public servants of Barcelona strive for. There is leadership by example. Reading and reflecting on it, the Mangrove Loving Penguin, along with the good people of the municipality, have a good deal of reason to be confident about the present and the future of tourism in general, and mangroves in particular, of Barcelona in the beautiful province of Sorsogon. In a sense #MaogmaNaTawo.
Serendipity, or "serendipia" in Catalan, is a word I often use when the Bicolano Penguin or the Mangrove Loving Penguin, gets to discover a pleasant adventure by accident and sagacity. Such is the case last May 24 in Barcelona.
Indeed, serendipity in Barcelona. Dios mabalos.
POR FAVOR SENORES Y SENORAS: If you like this blog article, please follow me at X page (@MangroveLovinP). Also, kindly visit and subscribe to my YouTube channel (@mangrovelovingpenguin). Thank you very mucho. Dios mabalos.
1 comment:
I really enjoyed reading this blog... I am a bicolana but I have never been to Sorsogon. My heads up to the LGU Barcelona - for their relentless pursuit of progress, efficiency and innovation and the much noted commitment to environmental conservation and sustainable development.. I love their innovative ways of trying to attract more tourists - the rebranding! Way to go!
Lots to explore! Barcelona here I come!
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