Pampanga, whose name comes from the words “pangpang or pampang,” which means “riverbank,” is recognized for its extensive contributions to history, tradition, and even exceptional culinary inventions, earning it the moniker “Culinary Capital of the Philippines.” Pampanga is a foodie’s paradise, with delicacies ranging from sisig, the famous sizzling pig dish, to family favorites like pangat na ulang (sour soup with fresh water prawns). We’ve listed down some of the best things to do in Pampanga in case you decide to pay a visit!
This province, which spans 218,100 hectares in central Luzon, is home to 20 municipalities split into four districts. Pampanga’s primary businesses are farming and fishing, which produce rice, corn, sugarcane, and tilapia, among other things. Other popular businesses include wood carving, handcraft, and furniture manufacture. Handcrafted lit lanterns, also called as “Parol” in the Philippines, are added to the mix.
With these wonderful details about Pampanga, here are the best things to do when you visit the place:
1. MT. PINATUBO 4×4 Adventure
This active volcano, which lies between the provinces of Pampanga, Zambales, and Tarlac, is known for its magnificent lahar formations. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Philippines and home town of Bria Homes San Fernando, Pampanga.
Mt. Pinatubo has remained one of the most popular destinations for adventurers even after its historic eruption in 1991. Its crater lake is one of its main attractions. The water color changes from blue-green to deep-blue depending on the season.
One of the best things to do when you visit Pampanga is to get to the starting point of your trip, take a 4×4 to the jump-off location. As you walk through steep pathways and beautiful streams, take in the harsh terrain before arriving at the crater lake, where you may take photos.
2. Porax Pampanga’s SANDBOX
Sandbox in Porac, Pampanga, located west of Bria Homes San Fernando offers a weekend of exhilarating activities to let you forget about the stress of the week.
You may pick from a variety of adventure zones at the outdoor adventure park, including the Giant Swing, the Aerial Walk Challenge, the Avatar One, and the Adventure Tower, which features a wall-climbing zone.
For those who want to stay on level ground, Sandbox also has ATV and mini-ATV rides, camping areas, and child playgrounds.
3. NATIONAL PARK OF MT. ARAYAT
A 1,026 meters above sea level, Mt. Arayat, Pampanga’s only mountain looms over the province’s largely flat plains. Witnessing this delightful nature’s beauty by following the trailhead located at Brgy. Ayala, hometown of Bria Homes Magalang, Pampanga is one of the best things to do there.
The peak is located within the Mt. Arayat National Park, which is one of the country’s oldest national parks.
At the base of the extinct volcano, non-climbers may enjoy the strolling routes and natural ponds. Intermediate climbers can reach the peak alone or in groups.
There are trail guides ready to assist you on your day-long walk across Mt. Arayat.
4. AMUSEMENT PARK AT SKYRANCH
Amusement parks has a way of making even the most hardened adults feel like a carefree, innocent children once more. And a trip to the Sky Ranch theme park will undoubtedly transport you back to your childhood.
The Pampanga Eye, Drop Tower, Super Viking, Loop Roller Coaster, Bungee Jump, Space Shuttle, and more are among the 23 rides available at the park, which is located immediately below SM City San Fernando and a 30 minutes ride from BRIA Homes, San Fernando, Pampanga. These great experiences adds up to the perks of living in San Fernando, Pampanga!
There is no admission charge to the park, but you must pay to ride each of the rides.
5. BEAT THE HEAT AT AQUAPLANET
Without having your feet (or your whole body) wet, a weekend trip would be incomplete. Beat the heat at Aqua planet Pampanga as one of the best things to do when you visit the place.
Enjoy a whole day at Aqua Planet in Clark Freeport Zone, Clark, Pampanga a 20-30 minutes ride from BRIA Homes, San Fernando, with its 30-plus water slides and other activities.
The water park also boasts its own restaurants, shops, and nightly live entertainment events, so you can spend the entire day at the resort!
6. FIELD TRIP AT NAYONG PILIPINO
At Nayong Pilipino in the Clark Freeport Zone, a field tour throughout the whole Philippines in a single location. There are reproductions of tourist attractions, historical places, ancestral houses, and local communities from all across the Philippines in the park.
There’s also a recreation of the Tabon Cave, where the bones of the Philippines’ first human inhabitants were discovered. A Money Museum and a Textile Museum are among the other attractions.
The park also has traditional dances such as the tinikling and singkil. Join a day trip to Clark, Pampanga to see this site and other tourist attractions.
7. MEET ANIMALS AT ZOOCOBIA FUN ZOO
Zoocobia is a zoo-themed adventure park in Clark, Pampanga. A Birds of Paradise enclosure, a Garden Maze, a petting zone where you may bottle-feed young goats and pigs, and more are among the zoo’s attractions.
There’s also a taxidermy museum and an exhibit of indigenous species.
Other activities at Zoocobia include a camel ride up a hill, an exciting ATV ride, feeling the wind on your face while zip-lining, and a downhill drive in a gravity car (similar to the luge in Singapore)!
8. KNOW THE HISTORY AT CLARK MUSEUM AND 4D THEATRE
The Clark Museum, a house at a former US base in Clark, Pampanga, tells the story of Clark, the American occupation of the Philippines, and its role in World War II. Visiting The Clark Museum and learning more about history is one of the best things to do in Pampanga.
Its galleries are filled with well-preserved artifacts, dioramas, murals, and interactive displays that will pique your interest in history.
9. BE AN ADRENALINE JUNKIE AT DECA WATERBOARD PARK
If you want to learn how to wakeboard, all you have to do is go to the Deca Wakeboard Park in Clark or Pradera Verde in Lubao.
Both wakeboard parks provide a variety of jumps and challenges for both novice and experienced wakeboarders.
They rent boards, helmets, and other equipment for individuals who don’t have their own, so all you have to do is show up on your day excursion to Deca Wakeboard Park, hop on the board, and get drenched!
10. RELAX AT MUSEO NING ANGELES
The Municipio del Pueblo or Angeles City Town Hall, only south west of Bria Homes Magalang, Pampanga is the historical Museo Ning Angeles. The two-story structure, which was built in 1922, stood vigil over Angeles City for decades, seeing its growth and progress.
Through its memorabilia exhibit, the museum, which opened in 1999, provides a look into Angeles City’s history.
Art courses, cultural events, and local artist displays are all held in the museum. Join a cultural and heritage trip in Angeles to see this site.
11. VISIT PAMINTUAN MANSION
The Pamintuan Mansion in Angeles City is a Spanish-style colonial house with stunning architecture and decor. It was here that the first Philippine President, Emilio Aguinaldo, stood to commemorate the country’s independence from Spain on its first anniversary.
The Pamintuan Mansion, now a museum, gives visitors a glimpse into the lives of one of the province’s most powerful families.
12. WITNESS THE BEAUTY OF NATURE AT MIYAMIT FALLS
Miyamit Falls in Porac, Pampanga, is one of the best ways to relieve tension. The journey to this hidden jewel in the province’s center is long, but the vista is well worth the effort.
The pristine natural vista and the sound of the water hitting the rocks as it makes its way down to the dipping pool are easy to be fascinated by.
The Miyamit Falls has no admission fee, but you must obtain permission from the Porac city hall.
13. HAVE A LEISURE EXPERIENCE AT BALE DUTUNG
The private dining restaurant, Bale Dutung in Angelis is run by Chef Claude Tayag and his wife Mary Ann, is ideal for calm, small family events. If you want to sample a 3- to 4-hour, 12-course feast featuring the finest of Kapampangan cuisine. Feasting on this restaurant can be one of the best things to do and explore in Pampanga.
They now offer an Anthony Bourdain menu, inspired by the late chef/travel host/visit writer’s to the restaurant, due to popular demand.
Bale Dutung is only open to dining on rare occasions because it is also the Tayags’ home. It’s recommended to check their website for the most up-to-date restaurant schedule and make reservations over the phone.
14. HAVE FUN WITH CUTE LITTLE BIRDS AT CANDAVA SWAMP
The Candaba Swamp is home to white egrets, Philippine ducks, white-breasted herons, striped reed-warblers, and other species.
Freshwater pools, marshes, and grasslands make up roughly 32,000 hectares of wetland in the swamp.
From October to February, migratory birds flock to the Candaba Swamp to escape the severe winter weather in China and Russia.
15. VISIT THE HISTORICAL SAN FERNANDO TRAIN STATION
The historical remains of this train station stood as a mute testament to the suffering of Filipino and American soldiers under Japanese hands shortly after the surrender of Bataan in 1942, as the terminus of the horrific Bataan Death March.
At this checkpoint, thousands of weary and dying POWs were loaded into box carts and sent to Camp O’Donnell in neighboring Capas, Tarlac.
16. SEE THE HISTORICAL BEAUTY OF HOLY ROSARY PARISH CHURCH
The Holy Rosary Parish Church, also known as Pisambang Maragul (“Big Church”) by locals, is a live church and a national historical monument in Angeles, Pampanga.
The church was erected under the “polo y servicio” labor system, which was enforced by the Spanish colonial authority on Filipino local men as a forced, unpaid work system.
The thrilling theme parks and resorts, must-see historical monuments, and stunning natural tourism locations only found in the Philippines are all waiting for you.
Pampanga should be on your list of must-see provinces in Central Luzon, whether you’re traveling alone or with family and friends.
17. Own an Affordable House and Lot Pampanga
Experience the beauty of Pampangawith Bria Homes. As Bria Homes takes Pampanga to new heights, owning an affordable house and lot in the progressive province of Pampanga can also be one of the best things to do there.
1. EMBRACE THE COUNTRY LIVING
Pampanga is becoming more appealing to families that like suburban life and all of the perks that come with it. True, Metro Manila continues to be the epicenter of activity. The increasing state of traffic, population congestion, and a lack of open and natural spaces, on the other hand, are sufficient grounds for families to relocate. The following are some of the reasons why Pampanga is likely to be one of their top selections.
2. EASY ACCESS
The Northern Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) significantly reduce travel time to and from Metro Manila. Furthermore, Clark International Airport is undergoing a huge development, with three new passenger terminals set to open by 2025, giving you even more travel alternatives. Families with school-aged children will be relieved to learn that Pampanga has a wide range of schools and colleges to choose from.
3. A SUSTAINABLE GROWTH
There is no denying the importance of sustainability. If the COVID-19 issue has taught families and people anything, it is the necessity of a long-term community. Pampanga is the next big thing in the Philippines. It has evolved into one of Luzon’s most dynamic and promising areas.
With the development and prosperity of Clark International Airport, one of Asia’s fastest-growing airports today, you’ve experienced it firsthand. It doesn’t end there, but it’s the new “iconic” passenger terminal, which has been labeled a “keystone” in Central Luzon’s economic growth. According to an article in the Inquirer, Clark will undergo a complete transformation over the next several years as a result of the forward-thinking initiatives planned for them. The government’s Build, Build, Build initiative is referred to here.
According to Santos Knight Frank, a real estate company, Property giants like Ayala Land Inc., Robinson’s Land Corp., Megaworld, and Filinvest have expanded in the area, which includes the towns of Angeles, Porac, Mabalacat, San Fernando city, and Capas, thanks to massive infrastructural projects like the construction of the Clark International Airport and The Malolos-Clark Railway Project (MCRP)
MCRP is a proposed 53.1-kilometer railway line in central Luzon, Philippines, that will connect Malolos to the Clark economic zone and Clark International Airport (CIA).
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). will work together to build the elevated train line It will be the country’s first airport fast train service that will surely boost the economic growth of Pampanga.
4. CONVENIENCE
Schooling will not be an issue either. We understand how important it is for you to provide your children with the best education available. If you want to live in Pampanga, you will have several options for collegiate and secondary schools. In fact, the Clark Freeport Zone is home to the University of the Philippines-Diliman Extension Program.
In light of current events across the world (COVID-19), you’ll be relieved to learn that Pampanga will alleviate your healthcare concerns. The area’s hospitals and medical facilities are close by, efficient, and of excellent quality. The Medical City Clark and Pampanga Medical Specialist Hospital are only a few minutes away. Commercial businesses, office buildings, and retail outlets are also included.
To summarize, all of these factors combine to make Pampanga the greatest place to raise a family. You may take advantage of fantastic career prospects and possibilities, easy family getaway, as well as overall safety and convenience, long-term growth and investment opportunities, and the opportunity to live in a dynamic society.
