Patar, Bolinao, Pangasinan, Philippines
Note: This is a part of my June 5 – 6, 2016 Alaminos City-Bolinao-Camiling Tour which includes: Hundred Islands, Saint Joseph Cathedral Parish Church, Alaminos City Hall and Colegio San Jose de Alaminos, Giant Taklobo Resto Grill and Accommodation and Camiling Quick Tour.
Cape Bolinao Lighthouse is 351 feet (107 meters) above sea level atop Punta Piedra Point, an elevated hill of rocky topography which is the sharp point of Cape Bolinao itself with 140 steps spiral staircase fronting the serene West Philippine Sea. It was constructed in 1905 with the joint efforts of the Filipino, American and British architects.
It is the second highest lighthouse in the Philippines next to the Cape Bojeador Lighthouse of Burgos, Ilocos Norte. Unlike, the latter, this one can’t be climbed. I can't imagine, how it would be so picturesque using the illumination room as the viewdeck to see the surrounding seas, hills and coastal beaches and cliffs.
This lighthouse is 51 kilometers coming from Alaminos City via Alaminos – Bani Road and Regional Highway 5 or an hour and a half drive. This can be visited after enjoying the phenomenal beauty of Hundred Islands where historical and cultural tour will follow.
When I see a lighthouse, I am reminded of other lighthouses of the Philippines like that of Capones Island, Capul and in Batanes, though I find these three so picturesque. I had a deeper encounter with Capones Lighthouse when my friend Rome Frias and I, spent overnight during one Good Friday on a cliff down its lighthouse. It was such an scary experience when only two of us were in that island that night.
Standing from the viewdeck of the lighthouse, one can see the vast expanse aquamarine sea outlined with a long stretch of white sandy beaches while other coastlines are have rough and rocky formations and the rest are dramatic lush green hills.
Like any other lighthouse, it has its illumination room with lightning apparatus imported from England and lantern along with the chimneys and 3 wicks came from France. However when these parts were already damaged, the Filipino machinists had succeeded in manufacturing the same parts in replica form for importing them were really that difficult. It was amazing to know that in this specific lighthouse, its lamp is visible to as far as 44 kilometers. Then really, ships from afar can really see how it give signaling light visibility.
