Ermita Hill

Ermita Hill is a forested hilltop park and viewpoint in Barangay Zabali, Baler, Aurora, overlooking Baler Bay and the Pacific Ocean. It is notable as the site where families took refuge during the 1735 tsunami that destroyed old Baler, allowing the town to be re-established. The hill features a chapel, a large cross, historical markers, and statues depicting the event, and is a popular spot for panoramic views and local history.

Visitors can expect a short climb up concrete stairs to a hilltop park with a view deck offering panoramic views of Baler Bay, the town, and surrounding mountains and coastline. The site includes a small chapel with a large white cross, historical markers, and life-size statues depicting families fleeing the 1735 tsunami. The area is forested and landscaped with paved paths, seating areas, and viewing platforms for sightseeing and photography.

Ermita Hill is historically significant as the refuge site during the December 27, 1735 tsunami that destroyed the old settlement of Baler. Families who fled to the hill survived, including ancestors of Manuel L. Quezon, and later re-established the town at its present location. Markers and statues on the hill commemorate this event.

The hill holds cultural importance for the people of Baler as a memorial to community resilience and faith, marked by a chapel and cross that serve as a local pilgrimage and remembrance site.