Cultural and Religious Events

Moro-Moro Zarsuela
Location: Baler

Presented on February 19 (Aurora Day) in Baler, Aurora, the "Zarsuela"

is an interplay of drama and dance. Taking three days to complete
(although it could be shortened to a day), the "Zarsuela" performed here
is composed of several acts that revolve around the main theme of
Moro-Moro or Moslem-Christian conflict. The "Zarsuela" presents slightly
different variations for the Moro-Moro theme year after year. The roles
of princes and princesses, warriors and laymen for both the Christian
and Moslem sides are performed in dance, while a narrator accompanies the pantomime act. What
makes this particular performance more dramatic is that real knives and bolos are used. Often in the
heat of the presentation, miscalculations result in knife and bolo gashes. Both actors and actresses
participate in this particularly sensitive and dangerous sword-play. Only beautiful, graceful ladies and
handsome men are chosen and trained for the theater. Indeed, this is a cultural theater that demands
talent, beauty, skills and courage from the actors, and highly skilled and experienced trainers are
needed to create this unique style of "Zarsuela".

Santo Entierro
Location: Baler

A glass coffin encasing a statue of Jesus Christ is displayed in a

makeshift wooden chapel in Baler. The name of the sculptor is lost;
however, locals claim that this icon possesses miraculous powers and
grants miracles to those who believe. During Holy Week albularyos
(spiritual doctors) and amulet holders flock to this revered statue to
insert their anting-anting (amulets) into the niches of the coffin. After
Good Friday, they retrieve their respective amulets now "recharged with
power." It is also said that the amulets in the niches are visible only to their owners.

Ermita Hill
Location: Casiguran

Located in the Poblacion of Casiguran town, Ermita Hill provides an

enchanting view of the entire Poblacion, the dark blue coast of Casiguran
Bay and the barrios nearby. Aside from its magnificent landscape, Ermita
Hill is known as a sacred haven for religious activities by devotees of the
Miraculous Mother Mary, of whom a life-size statue is situated in a grotto
on top of the hill. Under the Spanish rule, a Watchtower was built to
guard the town against possible attackers. Governor Bella Angara-
Castillo (then a Congresswoman) appropriated funding for the prevention of erosion of the hillside and
its beautification.
Land Area & Location
Land Area
Aurora Province has a total land area of 323,954 hectares, representing about one percent of the
country's total land area.

Location
Aurora Province is located on the East-Central side of Luzon Island. It is the north-eastern most
province of Central Luzon (Region III). It is bordered on the north by the provinces of Isabela and
Qurino, on the west by Nueva Ecija and Nueva Viscaya, on the south by Bulacan and Quezon, and on
the east by the Pacific Ocean. The province's main link to the rest of Luzon is through a narrow
mountain gravel road that twists through the Sierra Madre Mountain Range. The road is located
between Baler and Bongabon, Nueva Ecija.

Topography
The province of Aurora covers the eastern portion of the Sierra Madre Mountains, hence it is generally
mountainous. There are flat lands unevenly distributed throughout the province. Its coastline spans
332 kilometers in length. The municipality of Dingalan, in the south, has the most irregular
topography.

The main drainage systems of Aurora consist of six rivers:

 Aguang River, Baler

 Calabgan River, Casiguran
 Ditale River, Dipaculao
 Dibatuan River, Dipaculao
 Ibuna River, Dingalan
 Sinagnuan River, Dingalan

HISTORY
The Province of Aurora, with Baler as its capital, was founded by President Ferdinand E. Marcos in
August 13, 1979 by virtue of Batas Bambansa Blg. 7. This act was the fulfillment of the prayers of the
people of the former Municipalities of Baler and Casiguran to be truly independent from the Province of
Quezon for the first time since the Spanish occupation.

Early History
In 1572, the Spanish explorer Juan de Salcedo became the first European to visit the region that would
be known as Aurora while he was exploring the northern coast of Luzon. Salcedo reportedly visited the
towns of Casiguran, Baler and Infanta.

In the early days of the Spanish colonial period, Aurora was ecclesiastically linked to Infanta, which today
rests further south in the Province of Quezon. The earliest missionaries in the province were the
Franciscans, who had established missions in Baler and Casiguran in 1609. Due to lack of available
personnel, the region was given to the jurisdiction of the Agustinians and Recollects in 1658, but was
returned to the Friars Minor in 1703. Other early missions included Dipaculao, established in 1719, and
Casiguran, in 1753.

The early history of Aurora is linked to Quezon Province, of which it originally formed a part, and Nueva
Ecija. In 1591, Quezon (then named Kalilaya) was organized into a district that included a good portion
of what now constitutes the Provinces of Laguna and Nueva Ecija.

The original capital of Quezon was Kalilaya, now known as Unisan. In 1701, Nueva Ecija was split from
Kalilaya Province. Around 1749, the provincial capital was transferred from Kalilaya to the town of
Tayabas. The entire province then took on the name of Tayabas as well.

1800s to American Occupation

In 1818, Nueva Ecija annexed the towns of Palanan from the Province of Isabela, as well as Baler,
Casiguran, Infanta and Polillo Island, from Tayabas. Between 1855 and 1885, Aurora (then named El
Principe) was declared a comandancia politico-militar, with its capital at Baler. During the Philippine
Revolution of 1898, a provincial revolutionary government was instituted briefly in El Principe. During
this period, Bondo, formerly under the municipal jurisdiction of Mulanay, was made a separate
municipality.

With the arrival of the Americans in the 1890s, a short-lived military government was established,
followed by a civil government for this "district", established on June 12, 1902. In concert with the
installation of the latter civil provincial government, the district of El Principe was transferred from the
administrative jurisdiction of Nueva Ecija, which had controlled it since 1818, and placed under the
jurisdiction of Tayabas.
The Birth of a Province

It wasn't until after World War II, however, that this part of Quezon Province languished in extreme
isolation from neighboring provinces and cities. It was Mayor Pedro V. Guerrero, with the prodding of
Doa Aurora Aragon Quezon, who sought the creation of a Sub-Province of Aurora, named in honor of
Doa Aurora, as a stop-gap measure to pave the way for the eventual creation of an independent
province when the required number of municipalities was attained. Guerrero was appointed Lieutenant
Governor in recognition of his accomplishment.

In 1951 the municipalities of Baler, Casiguran, Dilasag, Dipaculao, Dinalongan, Dingalan, Maria Aurora
and San Luis were officially formed into the Sub-Province of Aurora by virtue of Republic Act 646.

The dream of converting the Sub-Province into a regular province was indefatigably pursued by Atty.
Luis S. Etcubaez, who has the distinction of being the last Lieutenant Governor of the Sub-Province of
Aurora. Etcubaez was appointed as the first Governor of Aurora when it became the 73rd province of
the country in 1979. Etcubaez issued an Executive Order declaring February 19 of each year Aurora
Foundation Day in honor of the late Doa Aurora Quezon.

The Aurora Day is held every February 14-19. The most awaited event during the celebration of the
annual Aurora Foundation Day is the so-called ‘Karansa’: a Street Dancing Competition where the
concept of cooperation and unity called ‘Paatag’ prevails as the overall theme of the day’s hilarious
activities. The weeklong activity includes singing and dancing competition, parade of the eight towns of
the province with matching thematic floats and beauty queens, Search for Bb. Aurora and a streetside
tourism and investment exhibits. The festival culminates in a beach party and fireworks display. A
wreath-laying ceremony takes place at the foot of the monument of Dona Aurora Quezon before the
end of the festival.

Every February, the province of Aurora plays host to the Aurora Surfing Cup, which through the years,
has established a steady following of local and international surfing enthusiasts. The province boasts of
internationally recognized surf sites such as Sabang Beach (beach break), Cemento Beach (reef break),
and Charlie’s Point (river mouth break). The best waves in these areas come around October to March

The Sabutan Festival in the town of San Luis, province of Aurora highlights the importance of growing
palm trees locally called Sabutan on the community’s economic wellbeing. The raw material which
grows on mountain terrain and forest land is used to weave a variety of useful products and
ornamentals like hats, placemats, fans and even native dress – all made of Sabutan. The exclusive art of
weaving Sabutan is handed down from one generation to the other. The festival features native dance
presentation among school children, trade fair, cultural shows and exhibits.
Presented on February 19 (Aurora Day) in Baler, Aurora, the “Zarsuela” is an interplay of drama and
dance. Taking three days to complete (although it could be shortened to a day), the “Zarsuela”
performed here is composed of several acts that revolve around the main theme of Moro-Moro or
Moslem-Christian conflict. The “Zarsuela” presents slightly different variations for the Moro-Moro
theme year after year. The roles of princes and princesses, warriors and laymen for both the Christian
and Moslem sides are performed in dance, while a narrator accompanies the pantomime act. What
makes this particular performance more dramatic is that real knives and bolos are used. Often in the
heat of the presentation, miscalculations result in knife and bolo gashes. Both actors and actresses
participate in this particularly sensitive and dangerous sword-play. Only beautiful, graceful ladies and
handsome men are chosen and trained for the theater. Indeed, this is a cultural theater that demands
talent, beauty, skills and courage from the actors, and highly skilled and experienced trainers are needed
to create this unique style of “Zarsuela”.

Every February Baler celebrates a HAGISAN activity, which features the homemade suman. This Filipino
sticky rice cake delicacy hangs above the main street as its smokey pandan aroma perfumes the air.
Colorful floats with lots of suman hanging from each crevice parades proudly in the middle of the crowd.
Further showing the importance of agriculture and rice to the masses in undeniable extravagance.

Witnessing these could make one crave suman. Especially for those who happen to be in the right place
at the right time, the suman are available everywhere. Along with the various flavor of these rice cakes
from the rich texture of ube, the bittersweet tango of chocolate and the fresh taste of plain suman.
Reminding you of home or your grandmother’s backyard, where as a child you used to devour greedily
the sweets and snacks. Exclusively made for her favorite apo, even in festivals, the concept of family
remains intact. The suman festival also gives way to farmers and other independent suman vendors to
hype up their market. Also advertising their own wares and boasting quality ingredients that were used
in creating the delicacy.

Aurora Culture

The Town of Aurora joins leading municipalities in Ontario in developing its first Cultural Master Plan.
The Plan will establish a cultural vision for the Town as well as identify concrete strategies and actions to
support cultural and broader economic development goals. This plan will contribute to realizing one of
Town Council's values that is "to continue to support a sustainable community that embraces a balanced
quality of life including arts, culture and recreation."

The first step in the Cultural Master Plan is completing a cultural mapping exercise which develops an
inventory of cultural resources within the community. The next step will be a community engagement
process to seek ideas and input to help shape the vision, directions and priorities of the Cultural Master
Plan. Input and insight will be sought from culture and heritage groups, the business community and all
interested residents. Stay tuned for further details.

To support the development of the Cultural Master Plan Council has appointed a Working Group
consisting of municipal staff and a range of cultural and community representatives.