Food Galore

Food on...

AURORA:


1. Suman de Baler

“Suman is a native treat made of steamed sticky rice wrapped in either banana or coconut leaves.” [from Lawstude]

Photo: Blogspot

There are 2 kinds/flavors of Suman de Baler; it is the usual white-colored and the ube-colored one. It is not that sweet unlike the other suman in other provinces. It has its mild sweet taste and usually it has a dip of cocojam and/or peanut butter.

Photo: Blogspot

2. Santan/Cocojam

“Santan or Cocojam is made-up of sugarcane juice mixed with coconut milk.” [from Lawstude]


Other than being a dip on suman, it is also used as a spread or “palaman” on buns or any plain bread.


One of the famous cocojam is “Nanay Pacing’s Cocojam Peanut Butter”.

Photo: Blogspot

“This is why our peanut butter is delicious: there are no skins, no rotten peanuts, no oil,” said the 75-year-old.


“You will enjoy it. It’s not like the cheap ones that taste bitter while you eat it, the ones that taste like soap,” said Nanay Pacing.

Nanay Pacing only uses pure coconut milk and sugar that each batch takes about 8 hours just to mix it. [from Interaksyon]




3. Ensaladang Pako

Photo: Our Awesome Planet

It is a native Baler dish that is composed of their fern variant (locally called pako), onions, salted eggs, tomatoes and their local vinegar. [from ToEyeFor]

NUEVA ECIJA

1. Puno’s Ice Cream

“Puno’s Ice Cream and Sherbet is a famous ice cream brand in in Cabanatuan City which was established in 1940.” [from WillExplorePhilippines]

Photo: WillExplorePhilippines

The best seller flavors are Cheese Cashew Macapuno, Langka Cheese Cashew and Sherbet Buko Lychee.


There are also other flavors like Ube Cheese, Strawberry, Fruit Salad, Cookies and Cream, Corn Queso, and Chocolate with Cashew. [from RjDexplorer]

Photo: Blogspot

2. Batutay

The word “batutay” means “beef sausage”. There are a lot of longganisa in the country like Vigan longganisa, Lucban longganisa, etc. It’s the tastes of sweetness that makes Batutay different.

“It is prepared using garlic, beef meat, pepper, salt, soy sauce, salt, pork-isaw, and sugar. 80% of the Batutay is meat, while the remaining percentage is fats, which is to allow frying.” [from NuevaEcijasBest]

Photo: Photobucket

3. Day-old chicks

In Nueva Ecija the Day-old chick is their famous exotic food. It is a one day old chick and usually fried. Since, it is a day-old chick, it is the chick itself that you are going to eat and it is eaten with its perfect combination which is the vinegar. [from Beng-gee]

TARLAC

1. Capit Roll

Photo: Flickr

Photo: Facebook

Instead of the ‘latik’ being on top, it is now filled inside the Capit Roll, making it innovative unlike the usual kakanin or local rice delicacy that places the ‘latik’ on top. [from HouseOfWards]

Photo: VisitTarlac

 2. Tupig

Tupig is a famous local delicacy of Tarlac and Pangasinan. It’s the banana wrapper that gives its distinct flavor and the way of cooking ut by grilling over charcoal and best on clay. [from VisitTarlac]






3. Iniruban


Iniruban or also called as nilubyan is a famous Tarlac delicacy that originated from the town of Camiling. It is a type of rice cake made with burned young sticky rice, coconut milk and sweetener; usually sugar, or tagapulot, hardened sugarcane molasses. [from VisitTarlac]

Photo: VisitTarlac

4. Duman

Photo: Facebook

It is a native cake with a creamy coconut milk on top. [from Betty's Special Native Cake]













Sources:

Lawstude
Interaksyon
ToEyeFor
WillExplorePhilippines
RJDexplorer
NuevaEcijasBest
Beng-gee

HouseOfWards

VisitTarlac

VisitTarlac

Facebook

Natural Attractions in Northern Central Luzon

Natural Attractions in Northern Central Luzon

See how wonderful the nature is. 

Behold the majestic natural attractions of the Northern Region 3.

Photo:Tumblr

Aniao Islets

Location: Off the coast of Barangay Zabali, Baler, Aurora

It is the two small but imposing islands that lie on south of the islet of Dimadimalangat. These islets jut straight from the sea like bullets, with shrubs, small trees and other greenery growing on top surfaces. Kingfishers, gulls and hawks use these islets as lookout points for fish. Towering waves relentlessly pound the base of the formations, challenging even the most intrepid of rock climbers.

(Source: Aurora)

Dicasalarin Bay

Location: Dicasalarin, San Luis, Aurora

It is a peninsula, has beaches and hills, has a Grotto of the Blessed Virgin, coves, caves, a cave-pool and reefs; Despite the small are of Dicasalarin Bay, it manages to offer hours of recreation and relaxation for the entire family.

(Source: Aurora)

Ditumabo Falls

Location: Barangay Ditumabo, San Luis, Aurora

The crystal clear water of Ditumabo Falls gushes endlessly, flowing and twisting among countless rocks and boulders. It has approximately 140 feet high and surrounded by huge cliffs. The trek to the falls has few rivers to pass through, natural bridges/obstacles and mountain trails.

(Source: Aurora)

Photo: Philippine Evolution 

Gabaldon Falls

The lure of Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija. The ten-feet falls are surrounded by huge rock formations and rippling ice-cold water. It is located within the 200-hectare Sabani Estate Agricultural College.

(Source: Lakbay Nueva Ecija)

Photo: Merry Wanderlust

Minalungao National Park is a protected area of the Philippines located in the municipality of General Tinio, Nueva Ecija in Central Luzon. The park covers an area of 2,018 hectares centered along the scenic Peñaranda River bordered on both sides by up to 16-meter high limestone walls in the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountain range. It was established in 1967 by virtue of Republic Act No. 5100.

The park is considered as one of the few remaining natural environments in this region north of Manila. It is promoted by the local government as an ecotourism destination offering breath-taking scenery of green pristine river and unique rock formations. A system of unexplored subterranean caverns has also been identified as potential attractions. It is available for picnics, swimming, fishing, raft riding and cliff diving have likewise been put up to draw more visitors.

(Source: Wikipedia)

Photo: It's More Fun in the Philippines

Mount Pinatubo is situated in Tarlac, southern part of Luzon. It is one of the biggest volcanoes in the Philippines. In 1991, the Pinatubo became in a few months one of the most known volcanoes in the world. In that year the Pinatubo erupted violently.

There were more than 700 people killed and a huge masses of volcanic material which flew out of the crater and covered in a few days an area of more than 400 km². Despite this catastrophe, the citizens were able to compromise the lahar into an advantage and created activities that use lahar.

(Source: Philippines)

 

[Photo source]

Mount Telakawa or Straw hat Mountain

Location: Capas, Tarlac on the boundaries of Santa Juliana and Maruglu.

It also provides access to Mount Pinatubo via the preferred route through Barangay Santa Juliana.

(Source: Wikipedia)

Photo: Wikimedia

Pantabangan dam

The construction of the Dam had great economic and social impact on the lives of Pantabangeños and it is about 8,100 hectares (20,000 acres) of productive farmland and the town center (East and West Poblacion) along with seven outlying barangays (Villarica, Liberty, Cadaclan, San Juan, Napon-Napon, Marikit and Conversion) that were submerged under the new lake. It is located in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija. 

The Pantabangan Dam is claimed to be the second largest dam in Asia, and supplies the irrigation requirements for about 77,000 hectares (190,000 acres) of agricultural lands in Central Luzon. Its power station generates 112 megawatts of hydroelectric power.

(Source: Wikipedia)

The dam was built by Filipino engineers under the supervision of the National Irrigation Administration in 1974. It is now one of the most visited tourist spots in the province of Nueva Ecija which offers a scenic view of the surrounding area that tourists also appreciate the dam's engineering wonders.

(Source: Lakbay Nueva Ecija)

Sabang Beach

Location: Barangay Sabang, Baler, Aurora

It is located on this long stretch of gray sand beach are several resorts namely: Angara's Beach House, Bay's Inn Resort, MIA Surf and Sports Resort and Baler Guesthouse and Restaurant, which, offer accommodations near the beachfront and provide food, relaxation, and respite for swimmers and surfers.

The waves from March to June are relatively calm and provide a good beachfront for swimmers and an excellent challenge for expert windsurfers while from October to February, it brings large waves for beginner surfers to learn the basics with relative safety from scratches, since most of the beach is sandy- bottomed. Undertows, which are helpful to surfers and dangerous for non-swimmers, do occur in certain areas.

The most popular surfing point is found right in front of Bay's Inn, where beginners brave the moderate waves and regular surfers practice.

Lindy's Point, found further north along Sabang Beach, is a highly-prized secret spot among local surfers.

(Source: Aurora)

Photo: Flickr

Sierra Madre Mountain

Location: Parts of Aurora Province

This mountain range covers a large part of the province of Aurora. In fact, apart from the Aurora coastline, the mountain range is where the flora and fauna of the province is concentrated. Waterfalls, rivers and crystal-clear streams of varying sizes are located within, if not adjacent to, the Sierra Madre Mountain Range. There are activities that can de done such as mountain climbing, photo safaris, bird watching, ecological studies, or simply picnicking could be rolled into one by taking trails recommended by local nature trekkers.

(Source: Aurora)

Bucket List on Northern Region 3 (Central Luzon)

Aurora

5 fun things to do and to visit in Aurora

1.   Surf at the Sabang Beach
2.   Trek to Ditumabo Falls
3.   Visit the Historical sites   

4.   Come and see the huge Balete Tree
5.   Travel around the Diguisit Islets

Photo: Surfing Philippines

 1.   Surf at the Sabang Beach

Baler is also famous in surfing just like in Siargao and La Union. If you are a beginner, there are many surfing school beside the Sabang Beach so you can try and learn how to surf for hours. I remember my first ever surfing experience, it was so awesome even though it was hard at first but in the end it was all fun and worth every body pain. The instructors were very friendly and will really assist you in every way possible. Also, they will advise the person about the condition of the beach (e.g. if it is too dangerous or if it is safe, etc) so don’t worry too much about the current.   

 2.   Trek to Ditumabo Falls

Ditumabo Falls or most commonly referred as “mother falls” because it is the biggest waterfalls in the province. Trekking is very exhausting but this hike is not that much tiring and also suitable for all age group because it is not that steep and has a safe path. There’s a drop-off point where there will be no vehicles or any kind of transportation allowed and there’s where walking starts. After all the trekking done, witnessing and swimming in the Ditumabo Falls is worth every sweat.

3.   Walk around the city proper for historical sites. 

One of the sites is Museo de Baler. It is a museum where the priceless artifacts and memorabilia. The other historical or tourist sites are Baler Municipal Hall, statue of Jose Rizal and Manuel L. Quezon, Baler Church, Aurora Quezon’s ancestral home, etc. It was informative enough for those who are inclined into historical background.  

Photo: Lakwatsero

 4.   Come and see the huge Balete Tree.

There was a folk story about the Balete tree being haunted and may give a wrong impression for those who know the old story. Despite that concept, there’s still a 600-year old Balete tree and was given a title of “Millenium Tree of the Philippines” because it is the largest tree of its kind in Asia and for its age. The thick roots grown above the ground that formed a cave because of its openings and it is passable by people. (Source: Aurora)

Photo: C2 staticflickr

 5.   Travel around the Diguisit Islets

Travel around the Diguisit Islets because it is pretty much attractive because of its size. There are also many rock formations around so make sure to have a picture with it. The rock formations are climbable but just be cautious in climbing because it might not be that stable and possible to be slippery. (source: Pinoy Adventurista)  

Nueva Ecija

5 fun things to do and to visit in Aurora

1.   Cliff dive at Minalungao National Park
2.   Swim at the Gabaldon Falls
3.   Bamboo rafting at the Peñaranda River
4.   Visit the Divina Pastora Church
5.   Celebrate the Taong Putik Festival (June 24)

[Photo Source]

 1.    Cliff dive at Minalungao National Park

The word “Minalungao” was derived from the words “Mina” which means “mine” and “Lungao” is a local word for “cave”. Minalungao National Park, situated in the town of General Tiñio, Nueva Ecija, is a tourist attraction slowly gaining popularity in the local travelers’ circle. This secret haven located on the foothills of the extensive Sierra Madre Mountain Range is just under four hours away from the capital Manila. (Source: Looloo)

 Minalungao National Park is a protected area of the Philippines located in the municipality of General Tinio Nueva Ecija in Central Luzon. The park covers an area of 2,018 hectares centered along the scenic Peñaranda River bordered on both sides by up to 16-meter high limestone walls in the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountain range.(Source: ManongUnyol)
 

(Photo: Drift wood journey)

[Photo source]

 2.    Swim at the Gabaldon Falls

The Waterfall of Gabaldon is a ten-feet body of water that is stunningly surrounded with the fascinating and enormous rock formations and which has an aqua pura that is as cold as ice.  The natives of Nueva Ecija have claimed that the Falls of Gabaldon in Nueva Ecija have therapeutic waters which are extremely crystal clear; and are very much potable for human consumption. The best feature of Gabaldon Falls is the fact that it has been bestowed with a remarkable tag as the “cleanest water source in Region III”. (Source: Drift Wood Journey)

[Photo Source]

3.     Bamboo rafting at the Peñaranda River

The Peñaranda River is a calm river and located at the Minalungao National Park which was It is established in 1967 by Republic Act No. 5100. The pristine river adds more charm to its serene environment so it is appropriate for a bamboo kayaking.

(Source: Looloo)

Photo: Wikimedia

 4.     Visit the Divina Pastora Church

The Parish Church of the Three Kings in Gapan is considered the oldest and biggest colonial church in Nueva Ecija. It was declared as the National Shrine of Virgen La Divina Pastora in 1986 by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines. (Source: Wikipedia)

It was made of bricks, adobe and lime with the architecture of Byzantine and was constructed for about sixteen years that is 1856-1872 under the successive direction and supervision of Father Loredo, Conejo and Llaneza and was built trough through forced labor. (Source: Wikimapia)

Photo: Mon Valmonte

 5. Celebrate the Taong Putik Festival (June 24)

In Barangay Bibiclat, Aliaga, Nueva Ecija , there are hundreds of devotees of the village's patron saint, John the Baptist is celebrated during the Feast of Saint John the Baptist every June 24, transform themselves into "mud people" -- literally "taong putik."  The locals call the ritual Pagsa-San Juan while outsiders call it as Taong Putik Festival. The ritual symbolizes the acknowledgement of their sins and humble appeal for forgiveness.
(Source: Mon Valmonte ; Visit My Philippines)

Tarlac

5 fun things to do and to visit in Aurora

1.   Trek to Mount Pinatubo + Spa
2.   Capas ATV at Mt. Pinatubo
3.   Visit the Monasterio de Tarlac
4.   White water rafting
5.   Hike at Cow’s hump

Photo: Infocomrade

 

Photo: Trip the islands

 1.   Trek to Mount Pinatubo + Spa

Just like trekking in any other mountains, there are rivers, streams, jungles, and rocks along the way. It has a lahar spa that why it is unique.

 A fascinating oasis amidst a picturesque pastoral environment framed by rolling hills and mountain ranges, this new product in health tourism offers a first-of-a-kind model in fitness therapy and wellbeing: from a relaxing body wrap on sulfur-laden hot volcanic sand, to a revitalizing dip in a thermal bath and foot spa, and finally to a soothing Shiatzu body work in a 100-pax capacity massage parlor - all made possible after a day's sweltering trek to Mt. Pinatubo. The wellness center also serves Korean/native cuisine cum grillery in a 150-seat capacity open-air restaurant plus a souvenir shop and soda fountain serving health drinks to the intrepid explorer. (Source: It's More fun in the Philippines) 

Photo: Capas ATV

 2.  Capas ATV at Mt. Pinatubo

Another kind of adventure being offered is to ride the ATV around the mountain in the lahar trails.

Photo: Static panaramio

 3.  Visit the Monasterio de Tarlac

Monasterio de Tarlac is somehow similar to the Christ the Redeemer in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil because of the huge statue of Christ with open arms and located in an elevated area. It was built in 2001 in San Jose’s Eco-Tourism Park and what makes it relevant to Christians is because it houses a reliquary of the cross of Jesus Christ (He’s the savior and the son of God to the Christians). The Servants of the Risen Christ Monastic Community, a small brotherhood that takes care of this monastery and of course the reliquary. (Source: It's More fun in the Philippines)

 4.   White Water Kayaking

Photo: East gate publishing

Head on the mountain Barangay, Maamot, roughly 30 minutes by vehicle from the town center, and find your way to an adventure. Head down Camaling river with Rapid Stream, the only Kayaking outfitter in town. The run is about 12 kilometers and is best on rainy days. (Source: It's More fun in the Philippines)

Photo: Juan day

 5.   Hiking on a Cow’s Hump

The mountain, Mt. Bunkol Baka, literally means “cow’s hump”.  It’s a good overnight, steady hike for beginners. You can also hike Mt. TMC-Kawayan and Mt. Tangisan.  Here, you will meet one of the 110 indigenous groups in the Philippines, the All are good for day hikes, just book with the local Tarlac Mountaineering Club. (source:It's More fun in the Philippines )