Baluarte Watchtower

Cultural and historical activities abound in Puerto Galera, particularly among visitors interested in learning a little bit of the history of the island. One of those landmarks you will want to see is definitely the Baluarte Watchtower.

Location

The Baluarte Watchtower can be found in Lumang Bayan in Naujan, Mindoro. From Puerto Galera to Naujan you can get a jeepney or bus to take you directly to the location. The cost will be from 60 to 100 Php and these vehicles do not have a timetable; they only depart when it is full of passengers.

Fortunately, a visit to the Baluarte Watchtower is now part of most of the package tours that Puerto Galera resorts and hotels offer. In that case, expect to be driven to the site with your friends or family. Because it is part of the package, there are no extra fees and you also do not have to wait several minutes for it to depart.

At the Entrance

Arriving at Lumang Bayan in Naujan, you head over to the old harbor, where the Baluarte Watchtower is located. As you arrive at the spot you will come across an old hill, surrounded by thriving and luxuriant greens of varying shades and colors. As you make the ascent, you find yourself looking over the landscape; the skies are often a light blue, with the clouds scattered about, barely perceptible in their movement.

Making it to the top you come face to face with the ruins of the Baluarte Watchtower. Even in its dilapidated state, one gets a feel for its age, and the pivotal role that it played in the history of Puerto Galera and Mindoro. Standing by this brooding sentinel, you watch over the harbor, and begin to glimpse what it may have been like centuries ago when the edifice was constructed by the Spaniards.

History

The Baluarte Watchtower was built during the heyday of the Spanish occupation of Puerto Galera and Mindoro, and its chief aim was to notify the authorities of any incoming threat, be it from the Muslim prowlers or sea pirates. It also served to alert people of incoming Spanish and Chinese ships carrying merchandise to the village. This only goes to show how important its role was in the lives of the people during those times.

The Baluarte Watchtower remains a mute witness to the past history of Puerto Galera and Mindoro. Although battered and bruised by the sands of time, it nevertheless continues to stand guard over the land it was built to protect.