REGION IIITop Events and Places to visit

Cutud Lenten Rites

The Cutud Lenten Rites is a Holy Week re-enactment of Christ’s

Passion and Death complete with a passion play culminating with

the actual nailing of at least three flagellants to a wooden cross atop

the makeshift Calvary. 

Philippine International Hot-Air Balloon 

Held every 2nd weekend of February in Clark, the annual festival features air-

sporting events like hot-air balloon competition, aircraft maneuvers and

precision flying, ultralights, RC Demonstration Flying, sky diving,

aircarft rally, rocketeering, flag jump, balloon bursting competition, kite flying,

trade fair, carnival rides and nightly concerts.

Ibon-Ebon Festival 

Date and Venue: 1st Week of February, Candaba, Pampanga One of the more colorful events in Pampanga, the Ibon Ebon Festival (literally means 'bird - egg') initiated by Mayor Jerry Pelayo

features the municipality of Candaba as the home of thousands of migratory

birds from different parts of the globe, and at the same time showcase its

growing duck-egg industry.

Giant Lantern Festival

Date and Venue: Saturday before December 25, City of San

Fernando, Pampanga Rising at 18-20 feet in diameter and fitted with close to 10,000

bulbs that blink on and off through a number of rotors in sync with a medley of Filipino

Christmas songs

World’s largest and rarest flower found in Aurora forests

In the Philippines, there are at least 11 recognized species of Rafflesia, four of which are found in Luzon, Aurora is one. To reproduce, a male and female flower must bloom at the same time in the same vicinity which tends to be quite rare.

Rafflesia manillana

Sibuyas Festival

Bongabon, Nueva Ecija, Onion Capital of the PhilippinesOnion Basket of Asia Bongabon is the leading onion producer in the Philippines and Southeast Asia

Monasterio de Tarlac (Relic of the True Cross)

Located at Brgy. Lubigan, San Jose, TarlacThe Monasterio de Tarlac was established in 2003 as the hermitage house for five (5) monks of the Priory of the Servants of the Risen Christ (SRC) 

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

Located in Bagac, Bataan, a unique resort. It’s a replica of

an old Filipino town with ancestral homes and

buildings dating from the 18th to the early 20th

century. There are no power lines and driving lanes, only lampposts and cobblestone

roads. 

Anawangin Cove

An undeveloped paradise tucked into the Zambales mountains, a

popular camping site among outdoor and mountaineering

groups. The unusual presence of pine trees on the beach instead of

the expected palm trees makes the place a photographer’s choice.

Kamestizuhan Street 

A row of ancestral houses that are steep in history: Estrella and Pariancillo Sts. on where stands the Ejercito House which was the Department of War of the First Philippine Republic.

Bataan Birdwatching

City of Balanga, Bataan The Bataan peninsula is part of the East

Asian-Australian flyway or the main migratory routes these birds have used for ages. Balanga City’s thick mangrove

forest, wetlands, grasslands and mudflats have provided a natural food basket for both migratory and endemic bird species for years, making the area one of the most populated bird sites in

the Philippines.

Pantabangan Dam 

- Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija - Built in 1974 along the

Pampanga River to serve as reinforcement against flood, and

provide irrigation, additional electricity in the entire Luzon island, the 1.61-km long, 107-meter high dam now supplies

irrigation waters to farmlands in Nueva Ecija 

Ecotourism Sites in Central LuzonAguinaldo

Cave

Aguinaldo Cave is one of the three prominent caves that exist along

the banks of the Balaong River that circumscribe the historic barangay

of Biak-na-Bato.

Mt. Pinatubo Botolan,

Zambales

Central Luzon’s Major Industries

- Gift, Toys and Houseware- Furniture- Fresh and Processed Foods/Beverages- Ceramics- Fashion Accessories/Leathergoods

- Electronics- Garments and Textiles

In 2011, Central Luzon accounted for 9.33 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product.

Central Luzon Governors

Other Elected Officials (Aurora)

Bataan

Bulacan

Nueva Ecija

Pampanga

Tarlac

Zambales

Top Issues

• Five provinces in Central Luzon are the most vulnerable to extreme flood cases, said an official from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The five Central Luzon provinces are Pangasinan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Bulacan and Nueva Ecija.

He also pointed out the massive effects of illegal logging and soil erosion that are both rampant in the said cities.

Ebdane suspends small mining in Zambales

IBA, Zambales—-Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. has ordered the suspension of all mining and quarrying operations in this province pending a review of permits and compliance by mining firms with environmental-protection requirements.

Ebdane cancelled all 110 mining and quarry permits issued by the previous administration.

He explained that he decided to cancel all the permits to enable strict enforcement of environmental safeguards among mining and quarrying firms, as well as the proper collection of fees for the local coffers.