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| Source: Wikia
Wondering what to do during your visit in Central Luzon?
Then wonder no more because this article is in fact a BUCKETLIST of the top 5
most amazing things to do in Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga and Zambales! Excited? I
know you are! So grab your pens and off
we go!
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1. Revisit the Spanish Era
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| Source: Tumblr
Want to live in the Spanish era even for just a short while?
Then Las
Casas Filipinas de Acuzar (Bagac,
Bataan) is the place to be! Las
Casas was strategically built to make people feel the Philippine vibe during
the Spanish era. Each house was acquired from a different place in the
Philippines, dismantled and rebuilt in Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar. One of
the majestic houses in this place is full of antique wooden furniture, a grand
wooden staircase, patterned woodwork, a painted ceiling, and a marble floor,
all of these can be enjoyed for ₱15, 750 to ₱45,000 a night! Also,
cottages can be rented here for the people travelling on a budget but still
want to marvel at the beauty of the place. Cobblestone streets,
Spanish-era houses, calesas and many more, what more can you ask for? Revisit
the Spanish Era, NOW!
2. Remember Bravery
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| Source: Panoramio
Hats off to the Filipino, American and Filipino-Chinese
soldiers who have had not surrendered to the Japanese forces up until they were
all sick and starving! The soldiers’ bravery is remembered at the 30-storey cross, more popularly known
as the Dambana ng Kagitingan (Mount
Samat, Pilar, Bataan). Tourists are encouraged to take an elevator ride to
the top that would let them enjoy the panoramic view of the area. Also, just a
short distance from the Dambana ng Kagitingan is the jump-off point of Mt.
Samat Treetop Adventure’s 540-meter-long zipline! Remembering the bravery of
our soldiers can never be this thrilling, so the next time you visit Bataan, be
sure to drop by here to give respect to our heroes and enjoy the adventure!
3. Birds and Skies
During the months of October to February, thousands of
migratory birds flock the coastal areas of Balanga City, which makes bird
watching possible! Different kinds of birds can be seen in the area, so if you
are travelling to Bataan during these months, don’t forget to pay a visit at
the coastal areas because this is an amazing experience plus an incredible
photo op!
4. It’s the Climb
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The Philippines is a mountainous country thus it attracts
many adrenaline junkies and mountaineers. In Bataan, there is an active volcano
called Mt. Natib known for
its endemic and exotic species! Mt. Natib rises 8,000 feet above sea level and
the climb to its peak takes about four hours. Both mountaineers and adrenaline
junkies often have a good climb in Mt. Natib because of the abundant wildlife
that they encounter here. Are you up for it? Don’t worry about the time it
would take you to reach Mt. Natib’s summit, after all it’s the climb!
5. Be one with Nature
Want to visit a place that has it all? Then try Balanga
Wetland and Nature Park (Balanga,Bataan)!
Bird watching, boating, kayaking, biking, bamboo rafting and exquisite seafood
meals? Yes, all of these in one stop! Do I need to explain more? Nah. Go and
experience it yourself!
Bulacan: One extraordinary
road trip!
1. Minana namin yan!
Architecture really has a say in a place’s history! Take
yourself back to the early years of Bulacan by visiting the Bustos
Heritage Houses (Bustos, Bulacan).
A prior appointment should be arranged with the municipal office before your
visit in these heritage houses (don’t worry, it’s just a phone call away!) but
the entrance is TOTALLY FREE! So
what are you waiting for? Go and have a taste of Bulacan’s rich history for
free!
2. Reuse, reduce, and
RECYCLE!
Every one of us has been taught to reuse, reduce and recycle
but Ms. Lercita Cristobal has taken this to a whole new level! How? By saving
old things from the garbage bins and transforming it into something beautiful,
like flowers made out of newspapers, placemats made from old vinyl records and
many more. All of these artworks are at the Bahay Resiklo. Kids and
kids at heart will surely learn something new at Bahay Resiklo. The entrance at
the Bahay Resiklo is FREE!
3. Hop on, Hop
Church?!
The province of Bulacan is filled with many churches that
every one would really want to visit, the remedy? Church hopping! Some of the
churches that you can include in your Church hopping itinerary are the Barasoain
Church (Malolos, Bulacan),
where the First Philippine Rebuplic was signed, San Isidro Labrador Parish (Pulilan, Bulacan), Kapitagan Chapel (Paombong, Bataan), and Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion
Parish! A place filled of churches that have amazing architecture and
history is truly a place to be!
4. Break it to me
gently?
History has it, Biak na Bato (San Miguel, Bulacan) has been the mountain hideout of the
revolutionary forces of the Spanish era and it also was the place where the
Malolos Constitution was signed. Biak na Bato attracts tourists today because
of its amazing caves and rocky surrounding appearing like “huge split
boulders”. It offers various ecological attractions that nature lovers,
families and barkadas would truly enjoy! So come on, break it to me gently in
Biak na Bato!
5. Exxxxxotic!
Of course, eating is a part of everybody’s adventure! But it
would not be adventure without trying the native cuisine that is famous in a
place. Here in Bulacan, a restaurant named A&T
Native Food House, offers an array of regular and exotic food for the
psychocentric and allocentric tourists! Some of the exotic food that the
restaurant serves are adobong sawa,
kalderetang kambing and adobong kabayo! Go and indulge!
Pampanga: Fly, Dine,
Play, Quest, and Splash!
1. Hotter than you
Are you ready for the biggest flying event in Pampanga? You
should be! The Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is not an event to be missed because
everyone would get to experience watching hot air balloons of different shapes
and sizes take off! Interested? Come as early as you can for the balloons would
be launched as early as the sun rises! Don’t forget to prepare your cameras for
this amazing photo op!
Pampanga is truly the culinary capital of the Philippines
because of its wide array of sumptuous food to choose from! Savoring the food
in your Pampanga visit is an opportunity that you should not forget to try!
Kapampangan food is arguably the best food a tourist can eat in the
Philippines, from regular to very exotic cuisines, Pampanga has it all!
3. High TEE
When it comes to golf courses, Pampanga is one of the
well-know places in the Philippines because of its wide selection of golf
courses to choose from! The newest golf course here is the 27-hole FAK Golf Club located in Clearwater Resort! There are also
old but good golf courses in Pampanga like the Mimosa (36-hole), and the
Fontana! Hey there, golfer! Take your pick!
4. A Sandbox
Adventure
Probably the newest leisure and adventure park in Porac,
Pampanga is the Sandbox at Alviera, a unique getaway for friends and families!
Some of the attractions and activities offered at the Sandbox are the Giant Swing, Aerial Walk Challenge, Avatar
One, Adventure Tower and ATV and
mini-ATV rides! What are these? Don’t ask, just go!
5. Splash-All-You-Can
 
Unleash the mermaid in you, splash all you can in Pampanga!
The most famous attractions in this province are the Puning Hot Spring which
has a steaming hot waterfall, eight differently tempered hot pools, sand steam
and many more; Mount Pinatubo’s Crater Lake where you can dip, swim and
splash! Relax now, merpeople!
Zambales: A Sweet
Escape
1. Surf All Day
Philippines, being blessed with abundant water resources, is
now an emerging surfing destination! San Narciso and San Antonio are one
of the places that are yet to be known out there, so now is the best time to
visit Zambales! I once tried surfing in Baler, Aurora before and it was so much
fun so I am truly looking forward to surf in Zambales. Come on, surf now!
2. Light it up!
My mom and dad used to go to Capones Island and Lighthouse (Pundaquit, San Antonio) and have shared
to me all of their experiences in the island which makes it even more exciting
to go there. Once you are at the top of the lighthouse, a breathtaking view of
the whole island and ocean will surely make your mouth drop. The island is also
famous for being a part of tourists’ island hopping checklist because of its
beautiful landscape. Come in Capones!
3. Palm trees? Nah.
Pine trees are better!
Ever heard of an island full of pine trees? Then camp in Anawangin
Cove (Pundaquit, San Antonio)
where Agoho trees looks like real-life replicas of pine trees! Amazing, isn’t
it? Not just that, the island is also famous for swimming, trekking, and
trekking! So come on, come all!
Yes, you read that right! A heritage house was converted
into a museum to be able to house the different artifacts of Zambales from its
olden days. Tourists can stay at Casa San Miguel because it offers
bed and breakfast, air-conditioned rooms and family suite while maintaining the
heritage house vibe with its capiz shell windows! Its earnings are used to fund
the education of music students and it also holds shows and concerts of its
scholars. Enjoy your stay at the Casa whilst helping others!
5. Go Loco Over
Mangoes
Want mangoes as large as your face? You got it! Zambales is
very famous for its mangoes and the Millenium mangoes that are imported from
Thailand! The Rosa Farms grow and sell a variety of mangoes plus it also lets
you pick your own mangoes straight from the trees, which makes the experience
more thrilling! In Zambales, you’ll go loco over mangoes.
References:
·
Libosada,
C. (2003). Domestic Tourism. Anvil
Publishing
·
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/356956/newstv/biyahenidrew/zambales-for-the-weekend-a-biyahe-ni-drew-itinerary
·
http://www.ivanhenares.com/2009/07/things-to-do-in-clark-freeport-and.html
·
http://www.alviera.ph/sandbox/
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