Bacolor Church, Pampanga

Bacolor Church (San Guillermo Church) in Pampanga is considered as the Cagsawa of the North. More than twenty years ago, Mt. Pinatubo erupted and many municipalities were left devastated, including Bacolor. This church was built in 1576 and was named after their patron saint San Guillermo Ermitaño. Destroyed by earthquakes and fire then was rebuilt in 1886.

Featuring Pampanga (Attractions, Itinerary, Guide)

A photo of Bacolor Church.

About Pampanga:

The province of Pampanga is located in Region 3 or commonly known as the 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 event that showcase the province’s creativity and deep-rooted traditions. Below are 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

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