Bataan is a province at the Central Luzon region of Luzon. A peninsula surrounded by Manila Bay to the east and the West Philippine Sea (or South China Sea) to the west, it is known in history as the last stronghold of the Americans in the Philippines when the Japanese invaded it during World War II.

Cities and municipalities

• 1 Balanga - Provincial capital and the only city
• 2 Mariveles - the largest town with more than 100,000 residents, it is where the infamous Death March began.
• Bagac - Has the Philippine-Japanese Friendship Tower and Las Casas de Acuzar.
• Dinalupihan - Border town at the boundary with Pampanga
• Morong - Where the controversial Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, which remains closed (as of 2018), is located.
• Orion - Known for Cayetano Arellano Memorial Shrine
• 3 Pilar - Houses the Shrine of Valor atop Mount Samat.

Understand

After Japan invaded the Philippines in December 1941, the combined US and Filipino forces were being gradually overrun and General Douglas MacArthur moved his troops to the Bataan Peninsula in an attempt to hold out until a relief force could be sent from the U.S. Japanese forces started a siege of the peninsula on January 7, 1942, and launched an all-out assault on April 3, a few months after the Battle of the Points. The majority of the American and Filipino forces surrendered on April 9 and were forced to march more than 100 km (62 mi) from Bataan to Tarlac, which became known as the Bataan Death March.

Get in

By car

Bataan is over two hours away from Metro Manila by car. From Manila, you can take the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and exit at San Fernando, and from there, follow the Olongapo-Gapan Road/Jose Abad Santos Avenue straight to Bataan. A longer alternative is to exit at Angeles, connect with the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and exit at Dinalupihan.

A bridge is being proposed to link Bataan from Cavite, but this fixed link is still on the planning stages. An expressway from Metro Manila via the coastline of Bulacan is also being planned.

By bus

Getting to Bataan by bus takes around three hours. There are bus lines, specifically Genesis and Bataan Transit, in Cubao, Pasay and Manila that offers daily trips to Balanga City and Mariveles, Bataan. The fare going to Balanga costs ₱240 as of April 2016 from Avenida, Manila terminal. Victory Liner have buses to/from Olongapo City (2 hours, ₱100).

By ferry

As of May 2018, the ferry boat going from Manila to Bataan is operational through the FAB Town Terminal in Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB), Mariveles, Bataan, which has a direct ferry service from FAB to Esplanade Seaside Terminal at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City, Metro Manila. The Port of Capinpin in Orion, Bataan is another ferry terminal in the province, having a route from Orion to Manila.

See

File:Mount Samat Memorial Complex, Pilar, Bataan.JPG

Mount Samat National Shrine

• First Abucay Catholic Church
• Mount Samat
• Bataan Death March Marker
• Bataan National Park
• Zero Kilometer Death March Marker
• Mariveles Volcano
• Bataan Death March Marker
• Mt. Natib
• Dunsulan Falls

Sleep

• D'Samat Hotel. Camacho Street. phone +63 47 2373869. AC single/double rooms with own bathroom from ₱600.

Stay healthy

• Bataan General Hospital. Balanga City. +63 47-237-1274. (DOH Hospital)