BAHAY NA BATO
Location: Nalvo Norte, Luna, La Union, Philippines
Coordinates:
16°50'51.3"N 120°21'01.6"E
Jump-Off
Area: Municipal Hall, Luna, La Union
Contact
Person: Tito Gorospe (Tourism Officer): 09158072728 (Mobile No.) OR (072)
607 0099 / 607 1132 (Landline)
Entrance
Fee: Php20.00/pax
How
to Get There:
- From Manila or Baguio City, take a bus bound to Laoag, Vigan or Abra. Drop at Balaoan, La Union. Take a tricycle near the Seven-Eleven Store to Luna town proper. Take another tricycle to Bahay na Bato.
- From San Fernando City, La Union, you can take a Luna-bound jeepney. Otherwise, follow the travel plan for those coming from Manila or Baguio City.
Description:
Bahay na Bato (stone
house) is situated in a 35,000-populated municipality of Luna (Philippine Statistics Authority, 2010). In reality, it is not a house made entirely from
stones, although the concrete walls are plastered with stones and the floor is
strewn with large, smooth, flat pebbles. Adornments of carved stones, woods and
World War II items are seen inside the house. Of the two private rooms in the
ground floor, the one facing the beach is sometimes open to the public. This room has
a double-door access to the beach. Carved stones of different sizes and figures
are strategically positioned along the hallways. The floor is also covered with
smooth, pebbles and flat quarter-palm sized stones. Woods carved with faces are
also mounted on the upper portion of the inner wall of the receiving hall.
World War II items such as charcoal iron (de
uling na plantsa), kerosene lamps (lampara),
water canteens (kantina), carbide
lamps (de kalburong lampara), wooden
trunks (baul), and Stainless Steel mess
kit dishes are also being showcased in the house. The second floor offers a panoramic view of
the pebble-blanketed beach and stone carving-strewn lawn. Big stone carvings
resembling lizard, heart, sea creatures, flowers, man, hand gestures, etc. are
positioned to augment or create a landscape. Though there is a minipool for
children on the southern part of the house, the main attraction is still the
house and its stone carvings.
The house, built in
2000, was initially intended to be a resthouse for Dr. Edison and Dra. Purita
Noble; however, Luna Mayor Marvin Marron, seeing the tourism potential of the
property, persuaded them to open it to the public (Marbella, 2015). The property
was then opened in 2014 attracting a multitude of tourists. The local tourism
office has recorded a staggering number of visitors to the new attraction. In
December 2014, it registered more than 10,000 visitors, and another 7,800 for
January 2015 (Marbella, 2015).
If you visit this
place, you have a big chance of meeting the sculptor of the stone-carvings, Mr.
Vong Kim. He is a Korean married to the Luna native manager of the place. He
usually stays at the registration booth.
Other notable tourist
attraction of this municipality is the pebble-covered beaches, even coming in
different colors. According to a resident near the beach, the pebbles are
believed to be living and has the ability to grow. Baluarte ruin (Biyak na Bato) and Ukkalong Falls are
also gaining popularity in the place.
GALLERY:
Here's the admission fee and open house hours as of February 2016.
Here's the admission fee and open house hours as of February 2016.
The
receiving hall’s floor is covered with large flat pebbles.
The
receiving hall window overlooking the beach.
The upper portion of the walls is also lined
with woods carved with faces.
The hallway leading to the two private rooms and the stairs.
One of the private rooms. This rooms is sometimes opened to the public.
The
eastern wall at the second floor is adorned with World War II utensils.
Close up of the WWII utensils.
A wooden trunk as a centerpiece at the second floor.
Stone carvings in the ground as seen from the second floor window.
Stone and wood carving in a hallway.
This carving obviously depicts the Oriental culture of the carver.
Stone-faced? Call what you want.
Your name might be in this table too.
I actually wondered how they did this.
Emotions etched upon stones.
Yes, its not slimy. Its smooth.
Homo erectus(?) with glasses.
One of the best places outside the house. Don't just linger in the middle of the heat.
A monster fish, perhaps.
The beach without sand.
Unfortunately, swimming is not allowed at the beach near Bahay na Bato. The waves are strong and the beach is deep.
Pebbles and not sand. How is sunbathing done here?
Pebbles of different colors can be picked near the Baluarte ruins.
According to the locals,during the war, this structure is connected to a nearby building through a tunnel, making it a means of escape.
But I love the view!
The Baluarte ruins as seen from the beach. Concrete posts are used to fortify the structure preventing it from collapsing. This structure is becoming an icon of Luna.
Accordingly, the structure has split during a previous typhoon.
REFERENCE LIST:
Marbella, J. P. (2015). Stones bring solid tourism in La
Union. Retrieved on April 2, 2015 from http://www.launion.gov.ph/news.php?extend.687.1.
Philippine Statistics Authority (2010). 2010 Census of
population and housing. Retrieved on April 2, 2015 from http://web0.psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/attachments/hsd/pressrelease/Ilocos.pdf.
