Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (Clark), Pampanga
It was my first time using Diosdado Macapagal International Airport or more known as Clark International Airport (IATA: CRK) on my flight back from Cebú from Sinulog Festival. The first question of a first timer commuter is: How do I get out of the airport? I have been here a few years ago, but just until the waiting area. We walked from CM Recto Highway (near UP Pampanga) and it was a bit far from the airport terminal itself. Given the time constraint (I have work at Manila by 11PM, I arrived Clark at 7PM and Manila is almost a hundred kilometers away!) I have to leave as soon as possible. Now here are some of the options on how to get out of Clark Airport and head on to Angeles or Manila:
It was my first time I went to this festival…or fiesta. It is not the usual street dancing competition or handaan sa bahay-bahay festivities but it was a perfect way of celebrating Valentine’s Day and the Chinese New Year out of the hustle and bustle of Metro Manila. Nah, not the “Age of Aquarius” song again, but it’s “up, up and away, my beautiful, my beautiful balloon” in Clark Field in Pampanga as the people celebrate the 15th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta. The feast of hot air balloons and anything aviation has been running since February 11 (Thursday) and I was just in time for the final day of the said event (Feb 14)! Hurray for Flight Sim! …continue reading
Bale Dutung Entrance, Angeles City, Pampanga
After the event in Bacolor, Pampanga, we had a good opportunity to have a Kapampangan breakfast. But this is no ordinary carenderia or fastfood Kapampangan food trip. We were treated to one of Philippines’ well-known and one of the respected authorities in the eloquent and exotic Kapampangan cuisine. We head to Angeles City, Pampanga, some almost 20 kilometers away north of Bacolor to meet Chef Claude Tayag in his lair at Bale Dutung!
Puto Kalabasa with Eden Cheese | Photo by Flowell Galindez
BACOLOR, Pampanga — Christmas is the time of the year for giving, sharing and togetherness. As part of the tradition we Filipinos do during Christmas, we celebrate the birth of the Redeemer by observing nine mornings…nine days of waking up early and hearing mass we know as misa de gallo or simbang gabi. Christmas isn’t complete without a sumptuous meal served, may it be simple or extravagant. This is how Filipinos celebrate life. Yet 2009 was a tough year for most of us Pinoys. A lot of us have felt the brunt of tragedies and catastrophes. But no matter how tough it is Filipinos find hope in Christmas. …continue reading
Bacolor Church at Simbang Gabi, Pampanga, Philippines
It was a surprise visit, really. I never knew that we would go back to Bagong Pag-asa! It was just last Palm Sunday when we visited Bacolor, Pampanga for my visita iglesia. It’s the usual sightseeing and appreciation of our ancestor’s legacy to our country. This was no ordinary visita iglesia this time. For the longest time, I would like to see and listen to different misas del gallo in different provinces of the country…and Bro heard my prayers. For the first time, I’ve heard mass in vernacular…Kapampangan!
It has been over a decade since one of the most cataclysmic volcanic ereuptions of the 20th Century that altered the landscape of Central Luzon here in Pilipinas. As Apo Namalyadi blew his home in the mountain of Pinatubo in such fury, only a handful died directly of the such massive explosion…but its not that fury of hot gas and ash that changed Pampanga’s history, but a threat so menacing that it threatens to wipe out Central Luzon from the maps, and that is lahar.
Bacolor is once a progressive town of half of hundred thousand Kapampangans. History has said that this town once served as the cabisera de la colonia de Las Islas Filipinas or the seat of Spanish colonial power in the Philippines during the British Occupation of Manila which lasted for two years. This progressive town which sits beside San Fernando City would almost turned out to be another Cagsawa or Pompeii. …continue reading
Inside Santo Rosario de Angeles Church
Last Palm Sunday, my friend texted to visit her at Pampanga. Sana nga nakapanood ako nung flagellation at crusifixion at Cutud but I have work on Good Friday. Like any place I go, I always look o something interesting and something that is not, hehe! Heritage tour again! Last year it was Batangas; this year, 2 provinces: Pampanga and Iloilo!
Okay, my original plan was to go at least 5 churches for Pampanga. Angeles, San Fernando, Bacolor, Betis and Apalit. But it was reduced to only just 4 because of the tremendous heat and time constraint. Again, when I do my trip, I do it in a backpacker’s way…commute! Now getting to Pampanga is as easy as pie, thanks to NLEX (North Luzon Expressway). Just an hour and a half, you’ll be in another world.
Dau Bus Terminal
From Cubao terminal to Dau in Mabalacat, Pampanga, it cost me around 120+ Philippine Pesos (PhP120+/-) with Victory Liner, air conditioned bound. Take note to ask the dispatchers if the bus you’ll be taking will stop at Dau. Other way is that you could stop at San Fernando Pampanga via Olongapo, Bataan or Zambales-bound buses. …continue reading
Crickets cooked adobo style
As what they say, Kapampangan cuisine probably is one of best culinary traditions in the country. Ranging the sumptuous feast of Sulipan cooking all the way to exotic foods….
Speaking of exotic, I’ve tasted adobong sawa and tapang usa before. It was good, and they all came from Pampanga. Now I’m really wondering, what’s the taste of that very famous delicacy that Kapampangans are fond of cooking. Nope, not the Ginataang Kuhol or Palaka (frog) but kamaru (a kind of field cricket). …continue reading
