Located near the coast of Western Pangasinan, the town of Bolinao has pristine white-sand beaches, and has plenty more to offer to visitors.
Tourists can explore Bolinao’s caves and coral beds, learn about its history and culture, or enjoy a cruise with lunch on Balingasay River.
Facing the West Philippine Sea, Bolinao can be reached after a 41/2 hour drive from Metro Manila. Buses take tourists to the town on runs that take five and a half hours.
Although the Pangasinan and Ilocano dialects are widely spoken in Bolinao, the town has its own language, Bolinao or Binu-Bolinao.
“The Bolinao culture is still very [much] alive, especially on Santiago Island,” said Myrna Aguila, the town’s tourism officer. The island, located off the northern tip of Pangasinan, has six of Bolinao’s 30 villages.
“People still practice bayanihan. If somebody gets married, everybody helps in the preparation. During fiestas, homes are open and visitors can just go in to eat,” Aguila said.
Margaret Celeste, chair of the Movement of Bolinao Concerned Citizens Inc., said residents were fierce defenders of the environment, always ready to stand up to any threat.
In the 1990s, the residents opposed the construction of a P13-billion cement plant in the town, prompting the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to reject the proponent’s application for an environmental compliance certificate.
A day tour always starts with the rich history of Bolinao.