ANGARA URGES FILIPINOS, TOURISTS TO VISIT BALER
Baler book wins National Book Award for Travel

Senator Edgardo J. Angara today encourages Filipinos to have a taste of Baler and encouraged local and foreign tourists alike to visit the once sleepy town. Angara, the favorite son of Baler recently received the National Book Award for Travel for his book Baler in this year's 27th National Book Awards.

"Baler takes us into a journey to the capital town of Aurora, a province situated between the Sierra Madre range and a vast coastline opening to the Pacific. Baler and the rest of Aurora are often associated with raw and rugged attractions, lushness and pristine beauty. Those who have visited this side of the Pacific would know that our coastline is one of our best attractions," said Angara who authored the book Baler.

He added, "This book serves as an invitation for you to visit Baler since we have won the category on Travel. They say it's too distant, no. In fact, it is only one hour by plane and soon it would be less than four hours to travel by land."

Held as one of the most outstanding Philippine books for 2007, Baler showcases, in vivid photography, the natural beauty of this part of the country, and the rare flora and fauna it cultivates. It is home to the Millennium Tree -the oldest balete tree in Asia, the sabutan, the indigenous deer and unique marine life. Two plant species have also been named after Baler: a wild duhat (Sygium balerense) and rattan (Calamus balerensis).

The book also presents current development challenges and efforts, at the center of which is sustaining the environment and educating the youth. Baler and the rest of Aurora's bountiful resources and industrious people prove its potential for growth and development.

"I accept this National Book Award, in behalf of the people of Baler and of all the writers and photographers who are part of this endeavor," added Angara.

He also invited Filipinos to learn more about Baler, the birthplace of President Manuel L. Quezon, not only by visiting Baler but also by watching a movie also called "Baler". The epic movie Baler is inspired by true events from the "Siege of Baler" and is one of the entries to the upcoming Metro Manila Film Festival.