Discovering the Philippines: Four Reasons Why You Should Include Pampanga in Your Itinerary

“Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.” –Terry Pratchett

The Philippines is such a vibrant and diverse country that if you ever have the fortune of visiting it, you should never miss going to its many different cities and provinces. You will be pleasantly surprised as to how one place can significantly differ from another and considering that the country is a melting pot of many cultures, there would always be something unique about every place you visit. One particular and notable Philippine province you should visit is Pampanga.

 Nationally considered as the country’s gastronomic capital, Pampanga has a lot more to offer than simply its epicurean delights—although that is part of the allure.  Apart from the many activities you and your family can enjoy, such as the adventure activities in Alviera, the province is also known to be culturally diverse.
So, if you ever thought of visiting the Philippines, here is why you should include Pampanga in your itinerary:

1.)    Hot air balloons and various aerial exhibitions 

If you have a penchant for watching aerial activities, you would definitely enjoy the hot air balloon exhibit in Pampanga. Once every year, the sky gets painted with a multitude of colors as various hot air balloons coming in different shapes take off to the sky. If you wish to see this event, be sure to include Pampanga on your list of places to go around February as the event is held during that time of the year.

2.)    Get a taste of the traditional Filipino dessert Halo-halo

While you can get Halo-halo virtually anywhere in the Philippines—from high-end restaurants to street food carts, none of them can rival the sweet taste of Kabigtig’s Halo-halo which can be found only in Pampanga. The dessert is said to match Razon’s rendition of the famous sweet and cold dessert, and for that reason alone, it is worth a try. Kabigting’s version teases your taste buds with a myriad of unexpected flavors, and you get a bit of a surprise too as not all Halo-halo desserts come with yema, a sticky toffee-like ingredient.

3.)    To visit Alviera 

If you have ever thought of booking a family vacation and are unsure of where to go, worry no more as Pampanga is the ideal spot for you and your family. Apart from the array of restaurants and food stalls for you to sample, Pampanga hosts a wide range of adventure parks, and one of them is Alviera which is located in Porac. Kids and kids at heart will love this adventure park as there are a lot of activities to choose from—those that test not only your physical strength but endurance as well. Be sure to bring extra shirts with you though as spending majority of the day in this adventure park is bound to get you sweaty.

4.)    To get a slice of history and culture 

Filipinos are known to be devout Catholics and seeing as religion plays an integral role in most Filipinos lives, it would be easy to see it so heavily ingrained in their culture and history. Pampanga’s annual practice during the Lenten season, in fact, is a testament to that. Apart from the string of old and gothic churches you can find in the province, religious rituals are still being practiced until today. One noteworthy ritual is when a local man would have himself crucified on a Good Friday as penance for his sins or as an offering to God. Either through morbid curiosity or genuine fascination, this has been the cause why tourists visit the province.

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Discovering Pampanga: Top Five Kapangpangan Restaurants to Try

“Food is a lot of people’s therapy—when we say comfort food. We really mean that. It is releasing dopamine and serotonin in your brain that makes you feel good.”-Brett Hoebel

Without a doubt, Pampanga is widely known and revered to be the culinary and gastronomic capital of the Philippines. In fact, it has been said that the place is considered somewhat of a Filipinos food haven what with all their epicurean delights. The province’s reputation for good food has been said to stem from its history being an American and Filipino military Air Base. Clark Air Base, known to be a military facility for both Filipino and American forces from 1903 to 1991) is in proximity to Angeles. For this reason, foreign ingredients and international goods have since become more accessible to local chefs and culinary. As a result, Filipino cuisine assimilated with global ingredients have become somewhat of a staple in the province. Signature Kapangpangan dishes such as tabang talangka, morcon, pindang and even the world-famous sisig have since then ensued.

Considering all this, it is no doubt that the title of being the gastronomic mecca in the Philippines is well-deserved. So, if you are ever in the area or perhaps, you might want a quick bite after a day of adventure in Alviera, give some of their restos a try. However, if you truly want to give yourself a treat and sample only the best Kapangpangan dishes, then here is a list of restaurants that should make it to your itinerary:

1.)    HUES Restaurant 

Located at park Inn Clark, Hues Restaurant is rather known for their delectable and sumptuous cuisines. The restaurant features a casual dining experience that offers a wide selection of local favorites and international fares that there is bound to be something for everyone. Some of the must try items in their menu are: Boneless Chicken Inasal, Blacken Chicken and Baby Back Ribs Adobo.

2.)    Café Fleur 

A restaurant conceptualized by Chef Sau Del Rosario , Café Fleur incorporates the aspect of travel into the chef’s unique passion for food. The café is divided into concepts and each concept has something different to offer to its patrons. The ground floor is the Café which mainly serves casual food, cakes and smoothies. Right across that is Leh-Leh which is largely a Thai-inspired eatery. Lastly, the topmost floor is called Babo—an elegant dining area that serves exclusively Kapangpangan dishes.

3.)    Bale Dutung 

Known as one of the most highly acclaimed restaurants in Asia, Bale Dutung looks like a simple home turned into restaurant from the get-go. But do not let appearances fool you, as this humbled abode has reached celebrity status. In fact, this restaurant was featured in Anthony Bourdain’s “No Reservations”back in 2008. If you want a homey ambiance to amplify the food experience, Bale Dutung is an ideal place for you to dine in.

4.)    Everybody’s Café 

No list claiming to be a collection of must-try and best restaurants of Pampanga would ever be complete without including Everybody’s Café. In fact, one might even go as far to suggest that Everybody’s Café is the epitome of Kapangpangan cuisine as you can find most of the Kapangpangan staples on their menu. The menu largely consists of exotic food, but they do have some food items reserved for those who do not have the nerve to eat unfamiliar food. The timelessness of this café is attributed to the fact that the recipes have remained unchanged since they were introduced back in the sixties—and even then the restaurant already garnered a following from older generations.

5.)    Mila’s Tokwat Baboy and Sisig 

A household name to most Kapangpangans, Mila’s Tokwat Baboy and Sisig is an unassuming carenderia that serves the best and most addicting crispy sisig. Established in 1989, this eatery was originally famous for their Tokwa’t Baboy, but they serve a range of dishes today.

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