Aurora, represent!

Back in college, all my block mates thought I was from Manila. No one had a clue that I was a shy promdi girl still learning the ins and outs of the big city. When they ask me where I came from, I readily tell them I'm from the province. No one bought it. I laughed it off.  

I am from a small province called Aurora in Central Luzon. The place is not as popular as its neighboring cities like Nueva Ecija and Bulacan, but I think we're getting there. It's an 8-hour drive from Manila and generally a rural/seaside area. We have mountains and rivers and waterfalls and a majestic share of the Pacific Ocean. We actually got everything covered there. People from Aurora, especially those from Baler are called "Akaws". Akaw is a local term that usually describes something unusual, something big or something out of the ordinary. You can click here to know more about our special dialect. It's technically Tagalog but infused with other quirky stuff tourists who speak Tagalog might not understand. 

Our house is located in a town called San Luis, 7 kilometers from the Baler, the province's capital. But I grew up in Baler, attending schools from the said town since I was in kindergarten up until I was in high school. I went to Baler Central School or BCS for my elementary education and Aurora National Science High School for my secondary. Kids from Aurora are usually nice and fun. Most go to Manila after graduating for college and some to Baguio or Nueva Ecija.

Facts about kids from Baler:

1. We are suckers for music. Rock music that is. I rarely meet kids from Baler that are into hip-hop and RnB. No hating here though. Music is music.

2. We love hanging out by the beach. Fact.

3. We laugh a lot. Even if we're in the city, kids from Aurora get noticed because of our loud voices and contagious laughs.

4. We can easily switch from our matigas na salitang Baler to puntong Manila. No sweat.

5. Undying loyalty to the school you graduated from. Especially high school.

Photo from here.

When I was still in the province, tourists rarely visit the place. Nothing really big happens except for the yearly town fiesta and the provincial foundation week. Now, Aurora is gaining popularity, thanks to surfing. Almost every month there's an event. City people flock the beach like seagulls whenever there's a holiday or even without one. I kind of miss the old Baler, the old Aurora.

Since I stared working, the only time I get to go home is during the Christmas holidays. Aurora is still beautiful but its unsoiled magic is slowly fading away. I just hope it won't end up like Boracay or Puerto Galera. 

Afternoon surfing session with a local surfer. Taken about a year ago.