21ST CENTURY FROM THE PHILIPPINES AND THE WORLD

REGION III: CENTRAL LUZON

Province Capital

Aurora - Baler
Pampanga - San Fernando City
Bataan - Balanga City
Bulacan - Malolos City
Nueva Ecijia - Palayan City

Region 3 is bestowed with a combination of towering, mountains, extinct and active volcanoes, lush verdant farmland and
natural sea harbours.

The region contains the largest plain in the country and produces most of the country’s rice supply earning itself the
nickname “Rice Granary of the Philippines”

FACTS ABOUT REGION III

A. AURORA

1. Also known as “Land of the Golden Sunrise” and Gate way to the Pacific”

2. A province of the Philippines located in the eastern parts of the Central Luzon region, facing the Philippine Sea.

3. Its capital is Baler

4. Aurora was, in fact name after Aurora Aragon the wife of former President Manuel L. Quezon, the president of the
Philippines Commonwealth, after whom the mother province was named.

5. Aurora Foundation Day – also known as “Karansa” a street dancing competition where the concept of cooperation
and unity called “Paatag” prevails as the overall theme of the day’s hilarious activities. Aurora day is held every
February 14-19, the most awaited event in the province.

TOURIST SPOT

1. SABANG BEACH
- A good place for surfing. A two kilometers strip of gray sand facing east over Pacific Ocean.
- Famously known with its frequently strong waves that are massive enough to give life to people who would like to ride
the waves.
- Sabang beach is the birthplace of surfing in the country.

NATIVE DELICACIES

1. Baler’s Suman
- Suman is Aurora’s most popular native delicacy. Made with glutinous rice, coconut milk, sugar, and salt.
- Suman became a staple food enjoyed by Filipinos nationwide.
- The glutinous that they used in making suman is so highly treated and regarded in Aurora province that they honor it
with celebration.

2. Yellow Fin Tuna

- A staple fish in Baler, it is caught fresh every day in Baler Bay, so it is always good.
B. PAMPANGA

1. Also known as “The Culinary Capital of the Philippines”

2. The original name of Pampanga was “Pampang” which means “River Bank”

3. Its capital is San Fernando City

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4. The province is the home of Philippine Air Force Base, and Clark Air Base

5. Inhabitants of Pampanga are generally referred to as Kapampangans (Alternatively spelled Campampa can)

6. Kapampangan is their major language.

7. Makapatak Festival – celebrated during November, it is a reminder of the strength and unity of the people of Bacolor,
Mount Pinatubo that erupted in the year 1991, Bacolor was deep in Lahar for four years. People belived that Apo
Malyari, the God of the Aetas, got angry because of the town folks’ misconduct towards Mother Nature. Makapatak
means “going barefoot”. People had to remove their slippers and step firmly on the soft, hot mud. Walking over
lahar is similar to walking through quicksand. The experience was humbling as people from different social classes
walked hand in hand to reach safety.

8. Giant Lantern Festival – The lanterns or parol are traditional Filipino decorations which symbolize hope and light
during Christmas time. Ligligan Parul, a parade showcasing the huge lanterns on Saturday before Christmas Eve.

C. BATAAN

1. Bataan was formerly known as Vatan

2. Bataan was very well known for the Death March during the World War II era. The prisoners were forced to march 85
miles in six days, with only one meal of rice during the entire journey. Hundreds of Americans and Filipinos died.

3. Its capital is Balanga City

TOURIST SPOT

1. The Mount Samat National Shrine or Shrine of Valor

- A historical shrine located near the summit of Mount Samat in the town of Pilar, Province of Bataan Philippines.
- The memorial shrine complex was built to honor and remember the gallantry of Filipino and American soldiers who
fought during World War II.
- The Memorial Cross stands as remembrance to the soldiers who fought and lost their lives in the Battle of Bataan.

NATIVE DELICACIES

1. Bataan Tinapa
- This is very common as homecoming treat or pasalubong. The milkfish or bangus is the top choice for tinapa that
comes in boneless and savory, ready for the craving appetite.

2. Cashew Butter
- This can be comparative to peanut butter, which is also creamy, decadent, and yummy. This can be used as
ingredient for “Kare-kare”.

D. BULACAN

1. Also known as “The Gateway to the Northern Philippines.”

2. Many national heroes and political figures were born in Bulacan.

3. This was also one of the first province who revolt against the Spaniards.

4. Its capital is Malolos City

5. Obando Town Festival (Fertility Rites, Obando) – a festival where couples who hope to be blessed by children
perform street dances in a long procession. The Fertility Dance of Obando is both a festival and a prayerful appeal for
devotees.

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6. Pulilan Carabao Festival – is a two-day celebration that starts during the month of May. Farmers pay tribute to their
ever-helpful carabaos through this festival. Their day starts with brushing the carabao’s skin and rubbing the horns
with oil until they become shiny. Carabaos and their carts are adorned with flowers and ribbons made from crepe
paper, plastic or abaca string. Some farmers choose to pain their carabaos using washable paints. The farmers lead
their carabaos to the church and once all of the participating carabaos are there, the procession starts.

TOURIST SPOTS

1. Obando Church
- Also known as The Parish of San Pascual Baylon and Diocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora Inmaculada Concepcion
de Salambao. A Roman-Catholic church located in the municipality of Obando in the province of Bulacan. This is
where the Obando Fertility rites is performed.

2. Barasoain Church
- Also known as Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish.
- The origin of the term “Barasoain” was derived from a place in Spain which the missionaries found the place in
Malolos in striking similarity.
- When the Spanish-Filipino revolution broke-out, the revolutionaries coined the term “baras ng suwail” “dungeon of the
defiant”

NATIVE DELICACIES

1. Serkele
- A proud Bulacan specialty which is a type of Dinuguan recipe but with beef innards. It is a unique and delicious
Filipino delicacy that everybody craves for when visiting Bulacan. It is like Dinugaun but it is soupy version and
“lamang loob” of beef is used instead of pork.

2. Chicken Kinulob
- Native chicken slow-cooked in the traditional palayok with pork stomach, vegetables and aromatics; it comes with rich
liver and calamansi sauce.

E. NUEVA ECIJA

1. Its capital is Palayan City

2. Palayan City was just a government stock farm before it was named on its present name.

3. Palayan was chosen as its name because the province is dubbed as the “Rice Granary of the Region and the
Country.”

4. Majority of the people here speaks Tagalog.

TOURIST SPOT

1. Minalungao National Park

- A protected area and one of the few remaining natural environments in the region. Spanning over 2,000 hectares, it
lures travelers with the picturesque sight of the emerald-colored Penaranda River that runs across most of the park
and the towering limestone formations that border it.

NATIVE DELICACIES

1. Tilapia Ice cream

- A tilapia flavored ice cream developed by the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) it won the Innovation Gold
Award during the Salon International de L’Agroalimentaire (SIAL) ASEAN Manila 2016.
- The dessert is made with tilapia fillet, all purpose cream, condensed milk and diced cheese, according to the
Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD).
- PCAARRD said Tilapia Ice Cream has no fishy smell and aftertaste.
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2. Buko Lumpia
- This lumpia is perfect for Pinoy vegetarian because it contains no meat. They give a different twist to the classic
Filipino dish lumpia by using coconut shreds as filling. A Lumpiang Buko consist of shredded vegetable cooked with
coconut shreds then wrapped in a flour or rice skin then fried.

REPRESENTATIVE TEXTS OF REGION III

A. SONGS

KUNDIMAN
(Awit ng Pag-Ibig – Song of Love)

Noong unang panahon ako ay bata pa,

Natisod man ay dipa alintana,
Nang Ako ay lumaki at maging dalaga.
Tila sa wari ko ay may pagbabanta pa.

Pagsinta mo sa akin ay diko ttanggapin

Pagka’t akong ito ay alangan sa tingin,
Bakit naman ngayon ay itong iibigin?

LERON LERON SINTA

Leron-leron sinta, buto ng papaya

Dala-dalay buslo, sisidlan ng sinta
Pagdating sa dulo, nabali ang sanga
Kapos kapalaran, humanap ng iba.

Ako’y ibigin mo lalaking matapang

Ang sundang ko’y pito, ang baril ko’y siyam
Ang lalakarin ko’y sampu ng dunulang
Isang pinggang pansit, ang aking kalaban.

ATIN CU PUNG SINGSING

(Kapampangan)

Ati cu pungsingsing
Etong yang timpucan
Amana que iti
Cang idung sininup
Sangcan queng sininup
Quing metong acaban
Mewala ya iti
Ecu camalayan

Quing sucal nin lub cu.

Susucdl quing banua
Mengurus cung gamat
Babo ning lamesa
Ninumang manaquit
Queng singsing cung mana
Calalung pusu su Manginu ya que ya

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