Holy week and long Holidays are coming this month of March, but are you ready? do you know where to go? Aren't you tired of visiting the same site every year? if you are searching for new destination to visit and explore new town, then check out my blog post here, its like a report of the aftermath of our travel. Last week we went for a one day road trip, its an almost 19 hours of road trip that goes around the different town along TPLEX highway.
I've listed the places that we visited, the different churches that are popular and not so popular but important (find out why in my post below), the best food trip venues and town products that need to be supported.
So get ready for a ride --- in my blog post and learn how you can turn your TPLEX road trip into a Holy week travel or Visita Iglesia, or just road side trip when going to the North of Luzon.
THE ROAD TRIP
Im posting this photo here because I love the colorful flowers that blooms in the middle of the NLEX, these are Bougainvillea plants that are planted in the long center divider of the NLEX, its so beautiful and you'll see this when you pass by going through SCTEX to TPLEX.
Here's a Google Map plot of our destinations for this trip
View here
For a short summary, we visited 5 churches, 1 restaurant, 2 town product makers and a stop over at TPLEX. Check out our itinerary on my Google Map link to see a much detailed and exact plot location of the sites we visited.
See Also. View in VR 360 degrees photo - Churches in Tarlac, Pangasinan and Nueva Ecija (Insta 360 Air)
ABOUT TPLEX
TPLEX or the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway connects the central and northern Luzon starting from Tarlac all way to Pangasinan. The TPLEX is also an extension of NLEX and SCTEX, connecting QC-Bulacan-Angeles-Subic-Clark-Tarlac-Pangasinan.
If you want to travel to the far north, then it is suggested you take the NLEX-SCTEX-TPLEX route to save time and fuel, its a much faster route that lets you avoid the traffic in town and also gives you an option to connect to different towns. It will cost you some pesos for the toll fee, but that's better to pay for convenience and comfort for your road trip.
Buses going to La Union, Baguio and Ilocos take this route, because its much faster, smoother and safer, so if you plan to travel to the north, just ask the bus driver if they will take the TPLEX.
Back in the days, traveling to Baguio is 6-8 hours, but because of the new expressway, the travel time is now 4 hours (if you travel non stop).
Did you know that the TPLEX office in Tarlac toll plaza allows motorist to use their clean and comfy comfort rooms. There are no comfort room in the long stretch of Tarlac to Pozorubbio, I'm glad that they offer this to us who need to go number 1 or number 2.
Just tell the guard when you arrive, that you need a toilet emergency.
The newly opened Pozorubbio Exit will help motorist to reach the farthest Pangasinan route via TPLEX. Also bus and private vehicles take this route going to La Union, Baguio and Ilocos. I did some research and I learned that the construction of the end of the TPLEX which is in La Union will be complete soon in 2019. (read more about it here)
Toll fee we paid is PHP270, if ever you came from the Tarlac TPLEX entry.
Here are some photos of the TPLEX-Pozorubbio toll plaza
We took a side trip here before we proceed to our 1st travel destination along TPLEX. Its a bit quiet and few vehicles pass by - maybe because some of them didn't know yet that Pozorubbio is open, but I do hope that they learn that they can use this exit if they want to travel to the farthest part or have a fast shortcut going to North Luzon.
I need to take a selfie...
Before we hit the road, I just want to have a photo first while Im inside their toll plaza booth. Wow the mini boxed toll booth are equipped with air conditioner, comfy seat, nice desk and that's a A++ for a freelancers work area. LOL
Before the 19 hour journey around TPLEX -- a group photo of #EATGetaway boys with tv personality, singer, vlogger Andrea Montealto.
PADRE PIO PARISH CHURCH
For our first stop, we took the Pozorubbio exit and we landed here in Pozorubbio, Pangasinan. A few blocks away from the end of the TPLEX exit, you can visit the newly built Padre Pio Parish Church .
The church is built by the community, they've collaborated by crowd funding and donations from the people who are devotees of St Padre Pio. According to the care taker of this church, there are at least 2,000 devotees who donated cash and materials to help the completion of the church.
Padre Pio Parish Church is almost complete and operational, Everyone are welcome to visit and did you know that the some of the materials here came from Sto. Tomas, Batangas, the same town where the 2nd Padre Pio Parish Church is also located.
Inside Padre Pio Parish Church.
The beautiful stained glass used for the windows of this church are from the same stained glass maker who also a supplier for the Padre Pio Parish church in Batangas.
Going there, Right after Pozorubbo exit, turn right and then turn right to Brgy. Palguyod to reach Padre Pio Parish Church. You can ask the locals for the direction or you can use the Google Map for the exact location.
BLADE CULTURE INTERNATIONAL
In a short distance from Padre Pio Parish Church, we visited Pangasinan's best "panday" or swordsmith, this sword factory look so small, but their name is so big and popular in the sword making industry.
Blade Culture International or BCI was featured many times on local TV for their pinoy ingenuity and creativity as one of the best sword makers and exporters here in the Philippines. BCI is commissioned by many Hollywood movie producers to come up a mock up of battle swords that will be used as peg for their sword props production for their TV and movie projects.
BCI also join in international sword making competition for coming up with a new design and concept for handheld blades. During our visit they've showed us a sample of one of their winning design and we're not allowed to take a photo because some sword makers might copy their original design --- no photo? but I can describe it - its like those long sword with fusion of Japanese and Chinese sword design.
BCI is re-building their studio and they are planning to make a Sword and Blade museum that can be visited by the public. Just watch out for their announcement. You can also book a schedule of visit, you may contact them via their website http://www.bladecultureusa.com
If you plan to commission a custom made blade or sword or copy a popular movie sword, then go to BCI for their services. When we were there they have a ready made Gladiator sword that can be bought at PHP 8,000, these are real swords with sharp edge and each sword they make are labeled and marked with the BCI logo for authenticity of their design and craftsmanship.
Here's a look inside the sword smith's workshop at BCI
Lots of unfinished blades that need to be molded and sharpen.
I do not dare to touch anything inside the workstation--- Because while at their small showroom, my finger accidentally got cut by that Gladiator sword, the sword was just on the table and when I was checking the other sword at the table, my finger accidentally touched the bladed part (the blade with protected plastic) and I suffered a minor cut....ouch!
Just having fun with these swords hahaha, Ted holding a long sword, Enzo holding that sword from Braveheart and I hold two bolos.
BCI is a bit hard to find in the area, but look for their banner along the highway. Contact them for your scheduled visit and personal inquiry for their sword making services.
After our trip in Pozorubbio, we went back to TPLEX again and took the Binalonan Exit for another adventure in the other side of Pangasinan.
RUPERTO'S INLAND RESORT AND RESTAURANT
Its time to eat our lunch, after reaching the end of the Binalon exit in TPLEX, we took a right turn and at the corner we found Ruperto's resort and restaurant. Its a hotel, resort and restaurant for motorist and tourist who are traveling along the Binalonan route and going to Manaoag church.
Ruperto's served the best of our Filipino dishes, I super love their food and we got a treat with Pangasinan cuisine -- I super like their Igado, its a mixed pig's innard and meat, their local Binalonan longanisa that is fried to give a crunchiest outer part and their sinigang na panga ng salmon! for me that's the best!! My co-bloggers also loved the pork grilled on stick, pinakbet and bangus!
In Ruperto's don't forget to try their Binalonan longanisa, its a local kind of longanisa, it may look like same to other provincial longanisa but their version taste different, its a bit garlic-ly and packed with lots of meat inside, the most awesome part here is that the outer part of the longanisa is crunchy and has less oil in it.
We also met the owners/operators of Ruperto's and I learned that Ms Reese Tayag and her partner are vloggers on Youtube, I told Reese that I stumbled her vlog few weeks ago when I search for local beaches in Pangasinan. You can check out Reese Tayag's Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAGahXOUP-hzQgr9t3MQhLw/videos
Wow! that was awesome day! meeting vloggers in one day, 1st was Andrea and then Reese here in Pangasinan.
MINOR BASILICA OF OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY OF MANAOAG
The Binalonan exit in TPLEX is serve also as a gateway to Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag or Manaoag Church. This is the one of the most popular church here in North Luzon because of the miraculous image of the Mama Mary and during ancient times when galleons needed to be blessed by the church, here in Manaoag, newly bought vehicles come here to receive the blessing from the Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag.
I remember during my childhood days, we visit this church to get a blessing for our newly bought Owner type jeep, and that was my first and last visit. We bought 2 more vehicles after but I didn't join the travel because the travel time back time is so long and its like a travel to forever. There are no TPLEX yet back then, but for today, we're so glad that we can travel so easily taking the TPLEX and take the Binalonan Exit to reach the Manaoag church.
Since we are touring around, the church officials invited us to their orientation area where we watched a short film entitled "Taoag", its about the origin of the image of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag and the modern people who fulfilled their wishes. The short film is a good reference to know more about the church and how the devotees and church staff take care the century old image.
When I saw the film, I was amazed that they kept the image date back 1700s and they use a special elevator at the altar to move and transfer the image for cleaning and for its feast day.
I was told that this is the new area for vehicles who will be blessed by the priest. The new section will be for vehicles only, this to keep the solemn of the church and avoid the noise of engine for disturbing the devotees inside the church.
Its great to see that they have a museum that is open to all. This is a wow factor to me. If you visit the Manaoag church, pls drop by here and appreciate the church's effort in preserving lots of church apparatus, clothing and even image replica that is from the 1700-1800s to modern times.
Here's what inside the museum of Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag. They display the replica image and also the old dress that was used during the 1700 and 1800s.
There's a guide inside to tell you the story of the items they are preserving. The museum is a bit strict, so I suggest don't use any flash photography and avoid touching the artifacts. Also selfie are okay, but thou shall not vandalize the items in photo or photo bomb it with funny or crazy acts on photo or video.
The most awesome artifacts are the vintage goblets that dated way back 1700s. Still in perfect condition. There's also that mechanical tool that they use in making the holy host, a wooden rattler that's being used during holy week- they use it instead of a bell, and then old image and statues of saints that was used before inside the church.
I didnt get a chance to see the old image of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag, this is my first time to see it up close. Btw, go here on Thursday and expect to see very few people inside the church.
There are few people inside. So dont forget to visit this on a Thursday schedule. If you plan to visit the church for the mass and blessing, then check out their program and schedule at their website - http://www.manaoagbasilica.org and FB page - https://www.facebook.com/DominicanProvinceOfThePhilippines/
I have a collection of blog post about churches, I might post a separate post of these churches, you may check it out for more here in my old post azraelsmerryland.blogspot.com/search/label/church
During our tour, we have the opportunity to visit the praying area at the back of the altar and also an area where you can touch the image. Since its Thursday and few people come here, we went there to to meet the image upclose.
There's a rectangular hole at the back of the image's altar and you can touch the dress and also smell the aromatic fragrance of the perfume used for the image.
Those perfumes are gifts from the devotees, they come back here to offer any kinds of items for the image and for the church. These gifts are items given in kind, because the devotees wishes are granted when they visited the church and prayed at Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag.
The perfumes are also exhibited at their museum -- -you can see a lot of it, from the cheapest up to the most expensive perfumes.
Outside the church there's also a candle lighting area where you can offer a candle and prayers. You can buy the candles outside the church and you can lit them up here at the pond or at the candle altar.
Having a close encounter with the image of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag gave me a weird feeling.... being closer to God and also to Mama Mary.
We went back to TPLEX after the Binalonan, Pangasinan visit, then we took the Anao exit to visit another town. Its weird that I've got a chance to be introduced to these towns, they are so unheard of, but when you land there, you get amazed on the products they can offer and the history of the town.
ANAO YLANG YLANG CENTER
After taking the Anao exit in TPLEX, our side trip brought us here in Anao Ylang Ylang Center. Did you know that Anao in Tarlac is one of the top producer of Ylang Yland extract. The entire town is rich of Ylang Ylang tree that blossom the fragrant flower that is used in sampaguita ornament and now the town can produce the extract and use the fragrant oil to make perfumes, soap, massage oil and ointments.
Ylang Ylang extract is for export too, the town of Anao are planting more Ylang Ylang trees so that they can produce more and help the community be part of the flower oil extract business.
Above us is the Ylang Ylang tree. -- haha its my 1st time to see that tree. All we have here at home are Ipil Ipil trees. I expect that the entire town smells good during blossom day.
Meeting the staff of Anao Ylang Ylang Center and the mayor of Anao, Mayor Betty Lacbayan
Thanks po for inviting us to visit your center.
We arrived in the afternoon and missed the Ylang Ylang flower separation process, but we got lucky to see how their machine to the extract, after 8 hours of fermentation and filtering of oil, the stainless canister spills out theYlang Ylang oil that contains a rich fragrance.
These oil are expensive and it will be use for adding it in their product line.
Near the plaza, we visited their Aromanao Ylang Ylang store.
Lots of items are for sale -- perfumes, soap, dish washing liquids, hand sanitizer, car deodorizer and many more.
Great to meet you Anao, Im happy to visit you and hope to visit you back soon.
SANCTUARY OF THE HOLY FACE OF JESUS OF MANOPELLO
When I heard the name of the church, Im a bit clueless about its background. The church is small and it look like a common church, but I got amazed that this church houses the replica of the shroud of turin of Jesus and 7 bones of saints that are considered as a holy relic.
From Anao, a few meters away from the Ylang Ylang center, we crossed the borders of Nampicuan, Nueva Ecija. We thought at first that we are still in Anao, but a few meters away you can reach Nueva Ecija already.
Inside the church. Im impressed that they are using those industrial giant ceiling fans. I only saw that in some warehouses and malls.
Here's the Holy Face of Jesus. Its only a replica from the Shroud of Turin, it is believed that the image on the cloth is the face of Jesus, and the cloth was from Veronica, a cloth that she used in wiping of Jesus' face during our Lord's crucifixion.
I did some research and I learned that the monks at the church of Santuario del Volto Sant in Manopello, Italy, received a cloth from a man during the 1500s, the man left the package inside the church and they believed that the man stole the cloth from a private family that kept the cloth for centuries.
Now a copy of a shroud of turin with enhancement are now being sent all over the world. The replica copy from the 1st batch are now here in the Philippines and housed only here in Nampicuan, Nueva Ecija.
Inside this display cabinet is the entire full cloth that left the marking of Jesus during the time he resurrected. According to my research (on Wikipedia) the markings are from Jesus' resurrection, a massive energy flow that left these mark on the cloth.
There's a big debate about these holy relics, but several test from different generation can't still explain about the markings and how it was created ---- no inks, no technology can make it, and no man can produce this kind of markings.
The shroud of turin arrived here in Nampicuan just last 2014,it was sent by the church in Italy with the help of devotees who are a local of Nampicuan.
get to know more about via their website http://www.holyfacenampicuan.com
At the back of the church, there's a small chapel that was built to house the 7 bones of saints. I asked the church' staff but he's not sure who are those saints.
This chapel also have access for devotees to touch the holy relic of Jesus, which you can touch it at the back of the altar.
The 7 bones are embeded on that wooden cross, they are inside the chapel and heavily guarded by the church staff.
The church staff who shared to us the story of the Holy Face of Jesus and how it was donated here in Nampicuan.
A walk with saints during sunset.
I was planning to name my travel post a -- Travel to the North via TPLEX, but then it changed when I got a chance to see and touch these holy relics. I started to reflect.and think about that this generation still found a way to make you be closer to God.
SHRINE OF SAINT THERESE OF THE CHILD JESUS
After Anao, we visited its neighbor town -- Ramos, Tarlac. We went back to TPLEX and took the Anao entry and then went to Ramos exit for us to visit Ramos, Tarlac and the grand church of weddings here in the Philippines --- St. Therese of the Child Jesus Church.
The most interesting about this church is that they house the holy relic - bones of St. Therese.
Inside the church.
The entire church is taken care of by nuns who lived at the back of the church.
Chapel inside St. Therese of the Child Jesus Church, or maybe this is a praying room for rosary or for the priest and nuns who pray over and read the wishes of the church devotees.
Here's the holy relic containing the bones of St. Therese.
Close up look, I think its a piece of bone of St. Therese.
There's a note below to authenticate the item, but its in Italian language and I dont understand the letter's content.
We arrived here at around 6pm, the church is already closed but thanks to the nun who are present there for allowing us to visit and see the beauty of this church.
ST. JOSEMARIA ESCRIVA PARISH CHURCH
For our last church visit and travel along TPLEX, after Ramos, we went to Pura exit in TPLEX to visit the St. Jose Maria Escriva Church in Gerona, Tarlac. We arrived near 7pm and I got bored to see the church, because it was too dark and no lights yet.
But when the church care taker opened all the lights. I was amazed on the beauty of the church. I think this is the most beautiful church ever here in Tarlac.
St. Jose Maria Escriva Church in Tarlac is the 1st in Asia and in the Philippines, as diocesan shrine for the Opus Dei founder.
Im not familiar about Escriva, but I did some research and learned that Jose Maria Escriva is a Spanish priest who founded the Opus Dei.
here's what Opus Dei means
"Opus Dei is part of the Catholic Church. The name is Latin for “Work of God”. Opus Dei’s mission is to spread the Christian message that every person is called to holiness and that every honest work can be sanctified."
via OpusDei.org
Here in Tarlac, Opus Dei members put up their church and made a "drive through" visit to the Blessed Sacrament, which is located at the back of the church.
Travelers can visit the church and enter with their vehicles and pray as they pass by behind the church and infront of the Blessed Sacrament drive through section.
Here's the drive through of the Blessed Sacrament located behind the church.
Wow! this is one awesome discovery that churches can do a very convenient way for us travelers and motorist.
Inside the church is beautiful, everything is so clean and gives you a moment to suck all the positiveness. I took this photo at the 2nd floor of the church -- the choir area.
According to some friends, Opus Dei followers are pouring in a lot of their profits and donate it for the church. That's why the church is so beautifully painted and decorated. It may look like you are in mansion when viewing it at the ground floor.
This is my favorite part of the church. The pillars and the painted tiles on the ceiling.
Chapel inside
There's another prayer room outside the church. The priest said that the wooden altar was made by a priest-engineer and was used by Pope Francis during his visit here in the Philippines. I didnt got the entire details, but if ever Pope Francis turn into a Saint in the future, then this item will be considered as a holy relic.
CONCLUSION
Thanks so much for reading my blog post, Now you know where else you can go this coming Holy Week or anytime this coming vacation and holidays. There are lots of town to be explored and this is just a start of our exploration to the Northern side of Luzon.
Me and my friends will travel again soon to search for more sites and destination for food, lifestyle and travel and I think visiting the town along TPLEX is a good start to discover and re-discover new destinations.
Feel free to comment below for suggestion where to travel next.
