How to spend 48 hours in Pampanga

Aquaculture is made sustainable by mangroves planting. —WILLIE O. LOMIBAO

Planning a quick getaway from the city? Then Pampanga, about an hour’s drive from Metro Manila on a good day through the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx), is a perfect destination as it offers varied activities that can be enjoyed in two days.

Suggested itinerary:

DAY 1

8 a.m. to 11 a.m

Head to the Bangkong Mapalad mangroves in Sasmuan town. Check out the Ramsar Convention-designated “Wetland of International Importance.” A thick forest of mangroves has grown on sand that accumulated from the Pinatubo volcano’s debris that was washed down by rains from the slopes to the rivers. It is ideal to do birdwatching at 6 a.m.

Bangkong Malapad mangroves —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

[Best to book at the Sasmuan Tourism Office through the Facebook page of the Sasmuan Arts Culture and Tourism Office, email at [email protected], or contact 0945-7932598. Boat fare is P200/person. The boat capacity is 15. [For lunch on floating kubo, meal set starts at P2,000.]

12 noon

Proceed to the Bamboo Hub in Sta. Catalina, Lubao town.

Lubao Bamboo Hub —WILLIE O. LOMIBAO

For only P20, take a fish spa foot treatment or be lulled into sleep by rustling bamboo leaves.

2 p.m.

Enjoy artisanal coffee and empanada at Apag Marangle along Dalan Betis on the Guagua side of Jose Abad Santos Avenue.

Apag Marangle —WILLIE O. LOMIBAO

3 p.m.

Make a side trip to Bacolor to see the San Guillermo Church. Mt. Pinatubo’s lahar half-buried it in 1995, leaving the choir loft as the entrance door.

BURIED The San Guillermo Church in Bacolor town was buried by a series of Mt. Pinatubo’s lahar (mudflows), the worst rampaging in 1995, making the choir loft the main entrance now. —WILLIE O. LOMIBAO

3:30 p.m.

Visit the Andrea Domingo Foundation’s Museum of Philippine Arts and Culture (Mopac) in Barangay San Agustin (across from St. Scholastica’s Academy) in the City of San Fernando. Entrance fee is P300. Closed only on Mondays.

5 p.m.

Detour to SM City Pampanga for shopping or exhibits.

Morcon of Everybody’s
Cafe —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

7 p.m.

To get to Magalang town, take NLEx and SCTEx (Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway) and then exit at Concepcion toll gate. An alternative route is the San Fernando-Mexico via Ninoy Aquino by-way. Enjoy dinner at Abe’s farm in Barangay Ayala.

Recommended places to spend the night are Abe’s Farm, Nauvoo Farm Resort and Altezza Cabins, also in Ayala.

DAY 2

Betuteng Tugak (stuffed frog) of Everybody’s Cafe —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

8 a.m.

Still in Magalang town, head to a street at the corner of San Bartolome Church and go to Old Town, a bakery, to buy pasalubong. [For pre-order, call or text 0917-9442285 or 0920-6521389]

9 a.m.

Drive to Mabalacat City and take a peek at bonsai display along Barangays Dolores and Tabunalong in the North Manila Road section.

10 a.m.

Head back to Barangay Cacutud where the Kamikaze Shrine stands.

11 a.m.

Stop at Lora Nors Meryendahan near the old Mabalacat munisipyo for snacks or an early lunch.

Lola Nors Meryendahan —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

1 p.m.

Enjoy walking on a hanging bridge and taking a dip in the waterfall in Haduan. To get there, enter the Clark Freeport via the Mabalacat City gate. Head to Aqua Planet to reach Gate 14 as an entry to Haduan. The Aeta village collects P200 as an environmental fee. One can avail of an Aeta tour guide for a fee for an individual or group. Hiking is allowed, and so is biking.

The Salakot Arch, Bayanihan Park, Angeles, Pampanga. INQUIRER PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA

For arrangements, call the Mabalacat City tourism office at (045) 4991126 or Vilma at 0999-6605450

4 p.m.

One may opt for a visit to the Clark Museum in front of the Clark Development Corp. parade grounds where nighttime events are held. INQ