A place of mountain and valleys situated at the foothills of the explicit Banaue Rice Terraces with waters from the rain forest of the Cagayan Valley which irrigates its rice paddies through the Magat River and straight out to the Pacific Ocean. The Province of Nueva Vizcaya or the New Biscayne is one of the few landlocked provinces of the Philippines which was named after a region in Spain. I vaguely remember the province as I have been there many years ago in Solano at age 9. Many of my ancestors and relatives have migrated there from nearby Pangasinan and Nueva Ecija. Listening to stories that some of my relatives there have established themselves in farming rice and other crops and also raising livestocks. My now deceased father used to mention that he was related to former Assemblyman Carlos Padilla but I never really met the guy but heard of nice things about him and his accomplishments. Anyway , Nueva Vizcaya is a province that prides itself of not only its rich and fertile soil but also of natural water springs and not to mention of its mine deposits. Also, the province has played an important role in the history of the Philippines as it was almost made the temporary capital of the Philippines when General Emilio Aguinaldo temporarily made Bayombong his shelter from the pursuing US Army because of its strategic high mountains and valleys. The majority of the province population is comprised by the Ilocanos who migrated from the upper north and settled to this mountain valley with Tagalogs and Kapangpangans from nearby Central Luzon provinces. The Isinai dialect is spoken by the natives from Aritao, Dupax and Bambang while Gaddang is spoken in the upper region.

Nueva Vizcaya has pride itself of its farmlands, enriching its industry and now is fast becoming the fruit basket of the Philippines and proudly calling itself the Citrus Capital of the Philippines due to high quality citrus products grown locally. While mining its rich mineral deposits is being discouraged with ordinance law becoming stricter and paving the way for a more eco friendlier industry, mining is still a big part of its business industry. The local government though has introduced other means of livelihood especially since there are fresh natural water streams and rivers that flows through the province, Tilapia Farming has become an enormous industry.

The province’s culture is preserved at the Peoples Museum and Library Park while other attractions and leisure recreation can be found out at Capisaan Caves in Kasibu made up of variety of rock formations, and also the 5th longest cave in the country. The Imugan Falls in Santa Fe is a great place for picnic, swimming and family fun while mountain climbing and trekking lovers should go to Mount Palali located in the towns of Quezon and Bayombong with views overlooking other municipalities and that includes Mount Pulag National Park. The Balete Dalton Pass in Santa Fe, The Mapallao Falls experiencing the hanging bridge and the Lower Magat Eco Tourism Park in Diadi with its verdant view of forest and faunas. The Provincial Capitol of Bayombong which has a 1000 hectares of beautiful landscape is dubbed as the Luneta of the North. The Panagyaman Festival is one of their pride festivals celebrated in the month of May.

The Province of Nueva Vizcaya offers more than just mountain peaks, breathtaking waterfalls or mystical caves, its historical attractions, agricultural lands, flowers and eco tourism, it also offers the warm friendly atmosphere and hospitality that the Novo Viscayanos are proud. Welcome to Nueva Vizcaya.

When speaking of food….

The culinary recipes of Pampanga is said to be one of the outstanding food anyone would enjoy. The Kapangpangans are great cooks and have passed their ingenuity from generations to generations from traditional dishes to exotic palates to pulutans (appetizers). Some of my favorites are the burong talangka and the taba ng talangka, fermented little crabs and crab fat translated in english respectively. Sisig and bulanglang also are mouthwatering dishes I never miss with local longganiza and tocino while the azucena is a chefs specialty when it comes to a social drinking session with the barkada. ( Don’t ask me about the azucena as some of our readers wouldn’t like it.) These are some examples but there are also many more and even the country’s native dishes are so good that preparation by individual household cookings are well known in almost all parts of the country.

Beauty and brains….

Beautiful women are Pampangga’s pride. Beauty and sophistication is very synonymous about women of this province. I myself have a wife from Macabebe coming from the Lagman Family. Some of the famous movie personalities are Hilda Koronel, JaclynJose, Alma Moreno, Helen Gamboa, Lorna Tolentino, Melanie Marquez, Vilma Santos and more including their second generation breeds such as Sharon Cuneta, Mark Anthony Fernandez, Lucky Manzano and more. In the political field Diosdado Macapaga, Gloria Macapagal and Lito Lapid are the most popular. While Pampanga has produced so many popular beauties it has also produced a lot of talented people in both political, civic and cultural field. Besides the popular sons and daughters in politics Nicanor Abelardo (kundiman), Amando Dayrit (columnist/writer), Jose Gallardo (poet), Rafael Yabut (radio), Efren Bata Reyes (sports), Jose Abad Santos ( law), and more that have an illustrious career and are featured in our national heritage that if we go on and on it might take us to write a book.

Doing business in Pampanga….

Since the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo and the devastation of “lahar” that spread throughout its other towns and municipalities, the Province of Pampanga has definitely showed its might and the will to move on. Farming which has been affected mostly has diverted to other more productive ways that includes indoor greenhouses for growing crops. The former Clark Air Force Base has been overturned as the country’s second biggest airport of the country named as Diosdado Macapagal International Airport and serves as the gateway powerhouse economic industry of the province with manufacturing of semi conductors in the Clark Special Economic Zone . Other industries of the province are handicrafts (guitars, furniture and wood carving), fishing, specialty foods. While the business sector is moving on a rapid growth, education facilities and its system copes up with it growing youth population. There are at this moment 40 colleges and universities throughout the province with the University of the Philippines in Angeles City leading the way.

No pristine beaches or reef corals….

Though there are no pristine beaches or corral reefs to be explored, there are vibrant arts and culture, historical places, natural parks, festivals and fiesta fevers of the different towns and municipalities. Some examples are the Mt. Arayat National Park (Arayat), Mt. Pinatubo, Swamps and Wild Duck Sanctuary (Candaba), Dara Falls (Porac), Death March Marker (San Fernando City), Kamikaze Shrine (Mabalacat). To make up for the lack of beaches, man made attractions and theme parks are one of the biggest hits this province has made such as the Fontana Leisure Parks complete with pools, golf course, and casino. Festivals and fiestas are not to be counted off such as the Sinukwan Festival, Ligligan Parul (Lantern Festival), Fiestang Kuliat and the Hot Air Ballon Festival. Catching all the Fiesta Fever in Pampanga will definitely leave you to stay all year round in this province as town fiestas and parish feast runs through all different months and dates.

The Province of Pampanga
Cities
Angeles City
San Fernando City
Municipalities
Apalit, Arayat, Bacolor, Candaba, Floridablanca, Guagua, Lubao, Mabalacat, Macabebe, Magalang, Masantol, Mexico, Minalin, Porac, San Luis, San Simon, Santa Rita, Santo Tomas and Sasmuan.

So Mekeni na and Malaus ka sa Pampanga…

Romblon is one of the provinces that compose the MIMAROPA Region of Luzon. This province that lies in the Sibuyan Sea is composed of several islands, the three major ones however, are the Romblon Island, Sibuyan Island and the Tablas Island, with most of the province’s natural attractions remained unexplored up to this very day and the province is still relatively isolated from economic progress. Romblon is rich in mineral resources and considered to be the country’s leading producer of excellent quality marble that is comparable to that produced by Italy, also called as “The Marble Capital of The Philippines“. Other mineral deposits that have an abundant quantity in this province are gold, clay, quartz, silica, copper, zinc, silver and sulfide ores with Pandan Mining Corporation as one of the country’s biggest exporters of Calcium Carbonate to Japan. Fishing is the main source of livelihood of the people in coastal towns while farming and handicraft basket making or native weaving delicately crocheted bedspreads and laces are mostly the livelihood of people in other towns and villages.

Extensive developments are currently being undertaken to develop Romblon’s interesting places to boost the tourism industry. Since Romblon boasts a number of white sand beaches with explicit coral reefs that would delight sun worshipers and diving enthusiasts, with every coastal town having unique attractions. One of the most famous tourist destinations is the islet of Cobrador as aside from the vast stretches of pristine beaches, this is where the rare and high quality gold, black and green marbles are found. The Carabao Island in the municipality of San Jose is dubbed as the Jewel of Romblon because of its pristine sugary white beaches that is comparable to that of Boracay. The town of Calatrava is also a destination in the province that offers wonderful beaches and sceneries for a perfect travel with its Tinagong Dagat and the Guindawahan Island.

Resorts and inns are abundant in the Province of Romblon from prime accommodations to budgeted stay. In the capital of Romblon, which is also called Romblon, The Romblon Plaza Hotel is one of the best place to stay along with Bayview and Cabanbanan Resorts while Rowenas Beach Resort in Sitio Agdapdap is a favorite stay because of its native surroundings. There are more that we could not mention especially in the towns of Odiongan, Magdiwang, Santa Fe, San Fernando, San Jose, Puro Island. All of these resorts, inns and hotels are nice accommodations and surely anyone would have a hard time choosing that perfect place to stay and especially during the yearly town fiestas where street dancing, live entertainment and joyous residents celebrate and party the occasion. The most popular fiesta is the Biniray Festival, celebrated in the second week of January in commemoration of Santo Nino where thousands of local Romblomanons as well as other Pinoys and foreign travelers gathers to view this extraordinary colorful and joyous festival.

An unfortunate event though has struck the province of Romblon last June when the super ferry passenger ship MV Princess of the Stars sank off the coast of San Fernando with crews and most passengers died. The vessel owned by Sulpicio Lines was struck by a gigantic storm, waves and winds that led the ship to sink and lie on the coral beds off San Fernando. The vessel also was carrying loads of the toxic chemical Endosulfan used as a pesticide for pineapples. The local government, agencies and other departments of the country are doing their best to remove the sunken vessel off the coast and bring back order and development which has affected lives of local fishermen in the village. Both local government in cooperation with international maritime companies are finding a way to raise and remove the sunken ship with dead passengers still inside. Also, compensation and help are being given to families of those who perished in the disaster. Our sincere prayers goes to the bereaved families of those who perished in the disaster and may the Lord be with them and find comfort during these difficult times. We also wish that everything should be restored at the very soonest possible time and bring back the normal lives of the villagers, their livelihood and the environment free from any subsequent disasters.

The Province of Pangasinan… where beautiful unexploited landscapes of nature exists. A place where innovation, technology and urban development is a continuous project. A place where technology and nature co-exists.

Its location from Metro Manila is about a 170 kilometers and could be traveled by land in about 4 hours passing thru the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga and Tarlac and arriving the first town of Pangasinan which is Rosales ( Carmen is the municipality ) via Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway Project (TPLUEP). This is the province where I also frequented during my younger years as its the land of my ancestry on my mother side. My grandmother comes from Urdaneta City and I remember the house I frequented along the main road infront of the market. Pangasinan is also one of the provinces that have a good number of cities in place such as Alaminos City, Dagupan City, Urdaneta City and San Carlos City. But that doesn’t stop there since it has 44 municipalities, 1354 barangays and 6 congressional districts that comprises the whole province. Each individual municipalities are well known throughout Luzon if not in the whole country, maybe because its a favorite stop to other northern destinations. The local population are very friendly and most speak Panggalatok or Pangasinense with Ilocano and Tagalog as subsequent dialects. During my stays in Pangasinan, I would never leave without some large bottle or carafe of bagoong “salted shrimp” towards my voyage back to Manila as the place is where the best bagoong is produced and some are even exported.

Its local economy has been impressive so far in the last two decades with infrastructures of malls, real estate and building constructions on cities and municipalities while export of local handicrafts and products has a stable growth, its tourism industry never ceases to lay low because of its natural wonders. The province’s industry and local economy varies from farming to aquaculture, handicrafts, manufacturing of raw and finished materials, bagoong and oyster processing, tourism, power with construction and development. The local populations OFW’s contribution also are a prime contributor in their economy. Being industrious people, you can find the people of Pangasinan all over the world. In San Quintin alone most of the people I met in Spain are from this town with Asingan, Mangatarem, Bayambang and Calasiao making up the bulk of the pinoy population in Marbella. The Province of Pangasinan has produced influential leaders of the country, namely Fidel Ramos from Lingayen, Jose de Venecia and Eugenio Perez as examples with Renato de Villa, Oscar Orbos and Fernando Poe Jr. family hailing from San Carlos City.

Education facilities in the province have a substantial amount scattered across with elematary and secondary education public schools all over the municipalities and cities. Colleges and Universities are located primarily in the urban centers with some on its municipalities too. Most popular are Pangasinan State University, University of Pangasinan, Pangasinan College of Science and Technology, Lyceum Northwestern University with more to mention. Health care facilities also have enough for its local population with 51 public and private hospitals and clinics while rural health care facilities number to about 70 with a staff of doctor, dentist and nurse manning the stations.

The tourism industry in the Province of Pangasinan is one of its main attractions spearheaded by its nature of wonderful islands scattered in the ocean like emeralds , The Hundred Islands National Park, with its beauty and untouched forest, reefs, corals and white sandy beaches are a perfect travel destination getaway for both local and foreign travelers. Dagupan City also offers nice beaches with big waves suitable for surfing especially in Tondaligan and Bonoan which has cottages and inn accommodations. Bolinao also offers great resort facilities from first class accommodations to budgeted and with Lingayen and Alaminos City as the same.

Festivals and town fiestas are among the most celebrated during the summer seasons. The most popular and world known event that even is included in the Guinness Book is the Dagupan Bangus Festival featuring a showcase of its aquaculture product “Bangus or Milkfish” with tons of kilograms paraded and cooked for everyone to consume with variety of cooking from inihaw, relleno, pesa, paksiw and many more. The Rice Cake Festival is also a favorite in Calasiao.

The Land of the Uragons….
One of the richest coastlines of the country, Camarines Norte situated at the tip of Quezon Province and an approximately six hour drive from Metro Manila, is faced on the east by the Pacific Ocean. Camarines Norte is also blessed with a dense rainforest with habitats of natural wildlife and one of the nesting grounds of the Philippine Eagle. The province also have an illustrious quantity of mineral deposits such as gold, silver, iron, lead, limestones, zinc and white clay with its fertile volcanic soil suitable for farming that produces large variety of agricultural products such as rice, coconut, vegetables, pineapple, abaca and an unlimited supply of other root crops. Its coastline produces top quantity of seafood and marine products marketed throughout the province and Metro Manila and the town of Mercedes is the top grosser in production. Daet, its capital and the seat of the provincial government is also the most busiest municipality of Camarines Norte as trade and economy is mostly concentrated in this area.

Camarines Norte Provincial Capitol

Photo Courtesy By  Dhon Jason de Belen

Business, trade and economy had spurred in recent years, thanks to the establishment of LIND Growth Corridor, an acronym for Legaspi, Iriga, Naga and Daet that facilitates economic growth to adjacent areas. While the province’s economy is focused strongly on agriculture and fishing, gold deposits and jewelry crafting are being mined and handcrafted in Paracale. The “golden pond” town have a vast amount of gold deposits that it even exists in the Paracale River. Handcraft jewelries is still a major source of living in this municipality and a source of antique styles with the most popular regarded as “agrimon or alakdan” flat necklace. An industrial center also was established in the town of Jose Panganiban, PHIVIDEC, that encourages small and medium industries to support the local economy through manufacturing and processing mineral products with construction materials and handicrafts.

Historical sites are also a favorite hang around of local residents as well as foreign travelers. Shrines are all over the province such as The First Rizal Monument, The Jose Ma. Panganiban Shrine, The Martyr Shrine, The Rufino Pabico Ancestral Shrine, The Wenceslao Q. Vinzons Shrine, Laniton Shrine and Capalonga Shrine. While the locals also are proud with education institutions like La Consolacion College, Lourdes College, Mabini College, Heroes Memorial College and.

Camarines Norte is also fast becoming a travelers destination with the promotion and help by the local government. Surfing sites, restaurants and resorts accommodations are being introduced and built in its coastline towns. Apart from surfing, the province also have a a vast kilometer of unspoilt beaches with isolated offshore islands and national parks. The most popular beach is the Bagasbas Beach in Daet with big waves from the Pacific Ocean suitable for surfing and the Mangcamagong Beach which has a peaceful ambience suitable for relaxation or family outings. The Calaguas Group of Islands boasts of boasts of white sandy beaches with its beautiful Coral Reefs in Banocboc that is a fish sanctuary and marine reservation area. The Mampurog Resort, Pulang Daga Resort, Sinagtala Resort, Canimog Island Resort are not to be missed white sand coastlines and the Pineapple Island Resort situated in a eco-tourism lot serves as a manmade waterpark lagoon suitable for family activities. The Colasi, Mananap, Binauaang and Malatap Falls are mystical waterfalls with lush vegetations that surrounds this cascading panoramic views very suitable for outings and picnics. The Bantayog Festival is the biggest festivity of Camarines Norte celebrated from March 17 to April 16 with its extensive promotional campaign showcasing numerous activities all over the province turning this event celebration more likely as economic, tourism and cultural development not to forget the Pineapple Festival in honor of its abundant growth and harvest.