Pampanga is just 2-3 hours away from Manila and can be the best place for a vacation or just a weekend getaway. It is home to the best dishes that the Philippines has to offer together with its rich history and culture.
Travelling by bus is the main transportation going to Pampanga.
In a day, you can go to Pampanga early in the morning and comeback at night in Manila with few more hours left to spare on your day.
Philtranco organized a "Tasting Flavorful Places of Pampanga" event where we embarked on a journey to explore the well renowned dishes of Pampanga. There is a story behind a dish, a man or a woman who concocted these flavorful creations and a place where it all began.
Let's start the culinary and historical adventure where we depart around 6 a.m. at Philtranco Pasay Terminal. Along the way to Pampanga, it was a smooth ride and there were also games inside the bus. We arrived at our first stop..
BETIS CHURCH (GuaGua, Pampanga)
The Betis Church is one of the oldest parish church in Pampanga. Not only beautiful outside but also has an amazing interior inside . A painted ceiling art will greet when you look up just like the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican City. The construction of Betis Church is the first mission of the Augustinian priests and it has also produce many priests.
On our way to the 2nd stop..
JB BETIS WOODCRAFT
If you love shopping for unique pieces of furniture, JB Betis Woodcraft would be your go to place in Pampanga. We visited the place where they create elegant and artistic furnitures that you see in high-end places or hotels. Each piece is handcrafted from chair, tables, mirrors, beds to cases. They have also celebrity clients that requests their beautifully crafted furnitures that are sent overseas.
To the 3rd stop..
SAN GUILLERMO CHURCH
We briefly checked out San Guillermo Church and at first glance you’ll notice that the church is relatively small compared to the other precious church. But there is a story why it’s relatively small and that is because half of it is buried in lahar when the Pinatubo volcano erupted. People in Pampanga are resilient and still continuing with their livelihood despite what happened to the town of Bacolor when the volcano erupted many years ago.
San Guillermo Church (Half buried Church) Lady Selling Tamales and Rice Cakes
Rice Cakes (Kakanin) Tamales
ALING LARING TAMALES - CABALANTIAN
Our fourth stop is Aling Laring’s Special Kakanin where their specialty is the Tamales. She started selling Tamales in 1972 and became the Tamales Queen. Our version of Tamales is made up of ground rice, coconut milk and various toppings like chicken, ham and egg. They also makes Suman Bulagta, Bico, Capit, Kalame Duman/Ube etc.
Lady making Tamales
Tamales Suman
Aling Laring (Tamales Queen) and Nancy Lumen (Adobo Queen)
25 SEEDS RESTAURANT
The 25 Seeds Restaurant was formerly an old mansion then later turned by Chef Sau to a restaurant that serves Kapampangan dishes and Other FIlipino food. We were treated to these delicious dishes: Pako Salad, Okoy, Tinape Babi, Camaro (an insect dish), Bulanglang na Babi, Kare-Kare, Chicken Galantina and Tibok-tibok. Chef Sau also demonstrated his own version of Tamales.
Okoy and Pako Salad (Love this!)
Tinape Babi and Camaro (an cricket insect dish)
Chicken Galantina and Bulanglang na Babi
Kare-Kare and Tibok-tibok (Must-try!)
Chef Sau’s Tamales Cooking Demo and Tamales of Chef Sau
Tamales Bae!
SUSIE’S CUISINE
A popular stop to get pasalubong and delicious kakanin, Susie’s Cuisine is a must visit when you’re in Angeles, Pampanga. It started as a small canteen and later grown to what it is now and also expanded to different branches. You should try their Pancit Luglug and their kakanin (rice cakes).
PAMINTUAN MANSION
The Pamintuan Mansion is more than a century old house and is known as the place where they had the first and only public Independence Day celebration under Emilio Aguinaldo on June 12, 1899. Today, it is now the Museum of Philippine Social History where they showcase vintage antiques, elegant period furnishing, native textiles and fashion and architectural designs.
CENTER FOR KAPAMPANGAN STUDIES
Located inside the Holy Angel University, the Center for Kapampangan Studies houses the legacy of Kapampangan heritage and roots. There are historical pieces that is essential to the Kapampangans like death masks of famous personalities, golden wreaths of famous playwrights and many more.
Retablo (patron saints representing 21 towns of Pampanga-Library that houses Kapampangan Literature and History
Giant Lantern Artifact War Pieces
ALING LUCING’S SISIG
I have been to Aling Lucing’s Sisig many times and noticed they expanded and have taken the spot next to them. Aling Lucing Sisig houses the original sisig which has no egg, no mayo which we are accustomed to in Manila. Aside from its famous sisig, they also have bulalo, chicharon bulaklak, ensalada and other Filipino dishes. This was the last meal on our culinary trip to Pampanga and we devoured all the food that were served. All were delicious and we enjoyed every last bite of the meal. Even when we got to the bus, we still smell like sisig!
Front of Aling Lucing and their Chicken Barbecue
Bloggers and Print Media Enjoying Dinner / Bulalo, Chicharong Bulaklak, Ensalada and Buro
Aling Lucing’s Famous Sisig and Just outside Aling Lucing, a man grilling
KABIGTING’s HALO-HALO
On our way back to Manila, the staff of Philtranco team got us some Kabigting’s Halo-Halo. It is different from the usual halo-halo which is colorful and lots of ingredients. It has only few ingredients like sugared white kidney beans, corn kernels and pastillas. It has an interesting smooth texture but a sweet treat nonetheless.
I have enjoyed the Pampanga Heritage and Food Tour by Philtranco and it made realize that Pampanga has an abundance of culture, history and delicacies that made them a rich and amazing province. Thankfully we got to enjoy and experience Pampanga even though we’re in Manila or in far away provinces because there are busses like Philtranco that get us there safely and comfortably.
Going to Pampanga? Check out the bus schedules via Philtranco.net or visit their official Philtranco Facebook page.
Coverage by: Aaron Nomo
for Azrael's Merryland Blog
