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<img src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources-25/tromba-marina-sculpture.avif" alt="Tromba marina" loading="lazy" />
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(Tromba Marina Sculpture and Marker, located at the base of Ermita Hill - also called Point Baja - stands as a solemn tribute to the devastating tsunami that struck Baler on December 27, 1735. The sculpture captures a powerful moment: several family members braving the furious waters, struggling toward higher ground, and ultimately finding refuge atop the hill.)
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The Event: A Sudden and Devastating Tsunami
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The Tromba Marina tsunami struck Baler on December 27, 1735, at approximately 2:00 AM, catching the town's residents asleep and unprepared. Historical accounts describe the event as an "uncanny phenomenon", with a massive tidal wave engulfing the town within an hour. The barrio of Sabang, situated along the coast, suffered the most severe destruction, with an undetermined number of inhabitants drowning in the floodwaters.
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What makes this event particularly striking is the lack of any prior warning. According to records from the Municipality of Baler, the night was clear and bright, with no signs of bad weather or predicted typhoons. Nearby towns such as Casiguran, Dipaculao, and Dingalan, located along the same shoreline, were unaffected, suggesting the tsunami was a localized phenomenon. This sudden and mysterious nature of the event has puzzled historians and researchers, as no clear cause has been definitively established.
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Fray Jose de San Rafael, a Franciscan priest from Casiguran who was visiting Baler, provided a vivid account of the disaster. Awakened by his sacristan, who reported that the convent was moving, Fray Jose rushed to the window and witnessed the sea rushing toward the town. His account, as recorded in historical narratives, describes the convent being carried away by the waves, leaving behind a barren landscape littered with debris and bodies when the tide receded.
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December 27, 1735: Baler, Aurora, was struck by a tsunami known as "Tromba Marina"