Land Area

Aurora Province has a total land area of 323,954 hectares, representing about one percent of the country’s total land area.

Topography

The province of Aurora covers the eastern portion of the Sierra Madre Mountains, hence it is generally mountainous. There are flat lands unevenly distributed throughout the province. Its coastline spans 332 kilometers in length. The municipality of Dingalan, in the south, has the most irregular topography.

The main drainage systems of Aurora consist of six rivers:

• Aguang River, Baler
• Calabgan River, Casiguran
• Ditale River, Dipaculao
• Dibatuan River, Dipaculao
• Ibuna River, Dingalan
• Sinagnuan River, Dingalan

Climate

Rainfall
Aurora’s climate is characterized by rainfall that is evenly distributed throughout the year, since Aurora faces the Pacific Ocean and has no barriers to shield it from typhoons coming from the east. Tropical cyclones are also a seasonal occurrence.

The average monthly rainfall is 273.9 millimeters. Rainfall is heaviest during the months of January, February, April, October, and November, while August is the driest month.

Wind Current
The province experiences two main wind currents. From November to April, the trade wind generally reaches the province from an easterly direction. The wind then moves in a southwesterly direction for the rest of the year. In Casiguran, the wind comes from the north from October to March and the South from April to September. The average annual wind speed is four knots.

Temperature
The mean monthly temperature of Aurora is 25.3 degrees Celsius. The coldest months are January and February, with a temperature ranging from 19.3 to 20.4 degrees Celsius. The warmest months are from June to July, with temperature from 30 to 33 degrees Celsius.

History

The Province of Aurora, with Baler as its capital, was founded by President Ferdinand E. Marcos in August 13, 1979 by virtue of Batas Bambansa Blg. 7. This act was the fulfillment of the prayers of the people of the former Municipalities of Baler and Casiguran to be truly independent from the Province of Quezon for the first time since the Spanish occupation.

Early History

In 1572, the Spanish explorer Juan de Salcedo became the first European to visit the region that would be known as Aurora while he was exploring the northern coast of Luzon. Salcedo reportedly visited the towns of Casiguran, Baler and Infanta.

In the early days of the Spanish colonial period, Aurora was ecclesiastically linked to Infanta, which today rests further south in the Province of Quezon. The earliest missionaries in the province were the Franciscans, who had established missions in Baler and Casiguran in 1609. Due to lack of available personnel, the region was given to the jurisdiction of the Agustinians and Recollects in 1658, but was returned to the Friars Minor in 1703. Other early missions included Dipaculao, established in 1719, and Casiguran, in 1753.

The early history of Aurora is linked to Quezon Province, of which it originally formed a part, and Nueva Ecija. In 1591, Quezon (then named Kalilaya) was organized into a district that included a good portion of what now constitutes the Provinces of Laguna and Nueva Ecija.

The original capital of Quezon was Kalilaya, now known as Unisan. In 1701, Nueva Ecija was split from Kalilaya Province. Around 1749, the provincial capital was transferred from Kalilaya to the town of Tayabas. The entire province then took on the name of Tayabas as well.

Geography & Location

• Capital: Baler
• Region: Central Luzon (Region III)
• Borders: Bordered by the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quezon, with the Philippine Sea to the east.
• Part of the Sierra Madre mountain range runs through Aurora, making much of its terrain forested and mountainous.

History

• Named after: Aurora Aragon Quezon, the wife of President Manuel L. Quezon.
• Originally part of Quezon Province, Aurora became a separate province in 1979.
• It has a rich history tied to early Spanish colonization and Filipino resistance movements.

Tourism & Attractions

• Baler: A historic town and the province’s capital, famous for its role in the Siege of Baler during the Philippine Revolution and for being the birthplace of President Manuel L. Quezon.
• Sabang Beach: Popular surfing destination, especially from October to February.
• Ditumabo Mother Falls: A stunning waterfall in San Luis.
• Dicasalarin Cove: A secluded beach with dramatic scenery, accessible from Baler.
• Ermita Hill: A historic site where survivors of a tsunami in 1735 fled to safety.

Environment & Biodiversity

• Aurora is home to Aurora Memorial National Park, a protected area with rich flora and fauna.
• It is part of the Sierra Madre Biodiversity Corridor, one of the most important ecological zones in the Philippines.

People & Culture

• Inhabited by Tagalogs, Ilocanos, and indigenous peoples like the Dumagats.
• Local culture reflects a blend of Christian traditions, indigenous practices, and a deep connection to the environment.
• Aurora Day is celebrated on February 19 to honor the province’s namesake.

Access & Infrastructure

• Aurora has a rural and laid-back charm. Most travel is by land via the Baler-Bongabon and Baler-Pantabangan roads, which zigzags through the Sierra Madre mountain range. A road traversing Bulacan and Nueva Ecija is under construction while another road through General Nakar via Umiray is also being built.
• Infrastructure is developing, especially as tourism grows.