Petroglyphs (also called rock engravings) are pictogram and logogram images created by removing part of a rock surface by incising, picking, carving, and abrading. Outside North America, scholars often use terms such as "carving", "engraving", or other descriptions of the technique to refer to such images. Petroglyphs are found world-wide, and are often associated with prehistoric peoples. The word comes from the Greek words petro-, theme of the word "petra" meaning "stone", and glyphein meaning "to carve", and was originally coined in French as pétroglyphe. [Source: Wikipedia]

After a hearthy lunch, we proceeded to Angono Petroglyphs.  Again, we followed the signs to Thunderbird Resort.  The road here is uphill.  When we got there, instead of taking a right to Thunderbird, we continued on the main road, passing a firing range and a botanical garden/restaurant on the left side.  The entrance is on an alley on the left, right after the garden/restaurant, be on the lookout for a tunnel.

Road to the direction of East Ridge Golf Club/Thunderbird Resort

Sign to the site

Man-made Tunnel to the site

Passing through the tunnel

Light at the end of the tunnel

The other side of the tunnel

Going out of the tunnel, we followed the path and it led us to the site museum.

The Angono Petroglyphs Site Museum is situated at the municipality of Binangonan, province of Rizal, three and a half kilometers southeast of the town of Angono. It was discovered in 1965 by National Artist, Carlos “Botong” Francisco during a field trip with a troop of boy scouts. He reported to the National Museum the existence of a cave with drawings of a primitive quality. [Source]

They've placed a small museum here that contains some "artifacts" and information about the petroglyphs and the place.  This is also where paid for the entrance fee (PhP20.00 for adults; PhP10.00 for students).

National Museum (Angono Petroglyphs, Binangonan, Rizal)

The "cave" is a few steps up from the museum.  They've already placed a platform so that it can be saved from vandals.

I think we stayed here for 30 minutes (or maybe less) but it was worth it.  It's a unique experience not far from the city.  However, I guess for now, only those with private transportation have access to it.

Angono's Balaw Balaw Restaurant: Art and Good Food in One Roof

Angono is a first class urban municipality in the province of Rizal.  It is known as "Arts Capital of the Philippines", and located 30 kilometres (19 mi) east of Manila. (Source: Wikipedia).  In fact, it is the hometown of two national artists, Lucio San Pedro for music and Carlos "Botong" Francisco for arts.

Angono Tourist's Landmarks

From our area in Taguig, it's just a 30-40 minute ride via C6 road.  We got there just before lunch so we decided to go to Balaw Balaw first.  It's a restaurant and art gallery in one.  It offers exotic dishes, as well as traditional Filipino dishes.

What is Balaw Balaw? It is a delectable appetizer and sauce the Tagalogs serve together with sinigang. It is made from small shrimps mixed with rice gruel and “angkak”, an herb that gives reddish coloring. The mixture is preserved and fermented in earthen jar for 3 days. After this, Balaw Balaw is ready to eat of sautéed with young bamboo shoots. (source)

Address:	#16 Doña Justa St., Doña Subd., PH1, Angono, Rizal
Contact Number:	+63 2 651-0110
Email Add:	balaw2x@yahoo.com

 Facebook Page

To get there, follow the signs to Thunderbird Resort.  The restaurant is one house/establishment from the main road (left side when coming from Manila), a block (or was it blocks) before a 7-11 convenience store where one turns left for Thunderbird Resort/East Ridge Golf Club.

Balaw Balaw (the sign can be seen from the main road)

Facade of the restaurant

While waiting for our order, we looked around at the art pieces in the restaurant.

 

There's an eerie feeling about this room.
It might be these big heads which might have been
used during the Higantes Festival,
or it's something else...

Artworks from floor to ceiling

Sculptures and Paintings

View from the 2nd floor

Faucet

Restroom

At last, our food was served.

Nilasing na hipon for PhP130.00

Minaluto for PhP970.00 (Medium size good for 3-4persons)
Consists of steamed rice, mussels, prawn, crab, water spinach, eggplant, okra, pork adobo, tomato and salted red egg

Bucoroco for PhP130.00
Young coconut with halo-halo & ice cream

Next Stop: Angono Petroglyphs

Avilon Zoo is currently the largest zoological institution in the Philippines in terms of land area and collection of animals. The 7.5-hectare (19-acre) facility located in Rodriguez, Rizal houses more than 3,000 specimens of exotic wildlife representing more than 600 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, freshwater fishes and invertebrates.(Source: Wikipedia)


The regular entrance fee for adults is PhP400 and PhP300 for children.  But I got a deal from Metrodeal for PhP199/person.

Going there on a Sunday morning, I decided to take the Marikina-Montalban route.  Having seen the road and experienced driving here (with the traffic and never ending two yellow line two-lane roads), I have already made up my mind that I'll take the Batasan route on the way back.  Anyway, it took us about 1.5 hr to get here from Taguig area (the drive home took only an hour).

Entrance

Reception Area

They don't have a map of the place yet but they are offering the services of a tour guide for PhP350.  Since we just wanted to tour at our own pace (and we're on a budget), we decided to do it on our own.

It was a short walk from the entrance before we got to this sign.

Here are pictures of some of the animals inside Avilon Zoo.

Barn Animals

Horses	Donkey and Deer
Wild Boar	Sheep

Birds

Ostrich	Cassowary	Hornbill
Macaw	Toucan

Turtles and Tortoises


Reptiles

Spiders and Scorpions


Crocs and Gators


Others

Arapaima	Leopard	Bengal Tiger
American Black Bear	Orangutan	Capybara

Most of the animals are hiding in the shade.  I think they're also feeling the heat of the sun.  We were not able to see the lion and the hippopotamus.  I'm not sure where they were during the time of our visit.  Overall, we enjoyed the place.