Showing posts with label Pampanga. Show all posts

Bacolor Church – History, Travel Guide, and What to Expect

About Bacolor Church

San Guillermo Parish Church, commonly known as Bacolor Church, is a centuries-old church in Bacolor, Pampanga. Despite being buried by lahar during Mt. Pinatubo’s eruption in the 1990s, it remains a powerful symbol of faith and Filipino resilience. Having said that, it is considered the Cagsawa of the North.

Tourist Spots in Pampanga (Historical, Festivals, Hotels)

The province of Pampanga is located in Region 3 or commonly known as Central Luzon. This province is prominent for its rich cultural heritage, vibrant culinary scene, and historical significance. Often referred to as the "Culinary Capital of the Philippines," Pampanga is home to a diverse range of delicious dishes, including the world-famous sisig and tocino. Its capital, San Fernando, is known for its stunning Christmas lanterns and is also the site of historical events that shaped the nation's struggle for independence. Not only that, the Giant Lantern Festival and Sinukwan Festival are the most awaited events that showcase the province’s creativity and deep-rooted traditions. Below is the list of the recommended destinations in Pampanga:

Angeles Church, Pampanga - Things You Need To Know

The first chapel of Angeles Church in Pampanga was established in 1812. However, the current Renaissance-style structure was built through "polos y servicios," or forced and unpaid labor under the supervision of the Spanish government from 1877 to 1896. Dubbed as "Pisamban Maragul," a Kapampangan phrase for "big church" because it was the tallest church in Pampanga during that time. By the way, it was evening. We were heading back to Manila when we passed by this church, and we thought that this was stunningly beautiful. So, we parked and explored the area.

Night full of colors at the Giant Lantern Festival

Image of Giant Lantern Festival in Pampanga.

This is an annual festival held in December in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines. The festival features a competition of giant lanterns. Because of the popularity of the festival, the city has been nicknamed the "Christmas Capital of the Philippines". The first Giant Lantern Festival was held to honor President Manuel L. Quezon. At that time, Quezon made Arayat his rest area and converted Mount Arayat into a tourist resort. As a show of gratitude to Quezon, the people of San Fernando held a Christmas lantern contest to honor the first family. Quezon himself donated the prize for his lantern contest, which was personally awarded to the winner by First Lady Aurora Aragon Quezon -WikiPedia.org