Local Philippines: Proudly Pampanga

By Author: Allan Leandro Merin
Total Articles: 48
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Drive northwards from Manila for roughly two hours and you will reach the Culinary Capital of the Philippines. Delectable dishes such as sisig and kilawin (cebiche) have placed Pampanga on the tourism map, not to mention its colorful cultural events and rich historical past. With a land area of 1,984.7 square kilometers, Pampanga is one of the county's most progressive provinces.

Pampanga never ceases to please tourists. Over the past years, the province has been reinventing its craft to boost its travel industry. Projects aimed at improving the sector such as building new roads and public transport system, launching hotels, resorts, and restaurants, and staging new festivals, are being rolled out to lure more holidaymakers to spend time in the province.

Here is a travel guide containing some of the must-see attractions and must-go destinations in Pampanga.

Candaba Marsh
Relax while watching different bird species do their thing at the Candaba Marsh in the municipality of Apalit. For only ...
... a shade over two hours drive from Manila, you can witness the beauty of the purple heron, the great egret, the little egret, the white-borrowed crake, the purple swamp hen, and the pleasant-tailed jacana.

Betis Church
Since Pampanga is one of the oldest provinces in the country, the rich Spanish influence can be traced in its churches. One of the popular places of worship in the province is Betis Church. This 18th century landmark is renowned for its ceiling paintings and wall murals that are comparable to that of Vatican City's Sistine Chapel. Betis Church has been named a National Cultural Treasure.

Paskuhan Village
An interesting attraction in Pampanga is the Paskuhan Village. The theme park, which is managed by the Philippine Tourism Authority, highlights the Filipino tradition of holding the world's longest Christmas festivities. One of the major events hosted by Paskuhan Village is the Giant Lantern Festival, which showcases the biggest and colorful Christmas-inspired crafts.

Hot Air Balloon Festival
Pampanga is also famous for its grand festivals that are celebrated in different parts of the province. Every February, people inside and outside the country flock to the Clark Field in Angeles City for the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Festival. The three-day event, which started in 1994, is participated by dozens of multi-colored hot air balloons steered by pilots from different parts of the globe.

Maleldo
Pampanga is also a magnet for Catholic faithful from the islands of Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and abroad during the Lenten Season. Hundreds of tourists swarm the barangays of San Pedro Cutud, Sta. Lucia, and San Juan on Good Friday to witness Maleldo, a re-enactment of the crucifixion of Christ. During this controversial event, some die-hard Catholic believers are literally nailed to makeshift crosses.

Local Philippines is your travel buddy. We have information about the destinations, how to get there, what to do while in the area and more! Destinations in the beaches or in the mountains, destinations under water, destinations right at the middle of the urban hub, name it and Local Philippines will most likely feature it.