Central Luzon (Region 3)

Central Luzon sits on vast plains mainly used for agriculture, particularly rice
production which has earned it the nickname “Rice Bowl of the Philippines”. It spans
the entire central area of Luzon with the South China Sea to its west, the Philippine
Sea to its east.

San Fernando City is the regional center located in the province of Pampanga which is
known as the Culinary Capital of the Philippines. This means that a journey to Central
Luzon can be a gastronomic experience; it is common knowledge that the people of
Pampanga are excellent cooks.

Mount Pinatubo

Mount Pinatubo is an active stratovolcano in the Zambales Mountains, located

on the tripoint boundary of the Philippine provinces of Zambales, Tarlac and
Pampanga, all in Central Luzon on the northern island of Luzon. Its eruptive
history was unknown to most before the pre-eruption volcanic activities of 1991,
just before June. Pinatubo was heavily eroded, inconspicuous and obscured from
view. It was covered with dense forests which supported a population of several
thousand indigenous Aetas. Pinatubo is most notorious for its VEI-6 eruption on
June 15, 1991, the second-largest terrestrial eruption of the 20th century after the
1912 eruption of Novarupta in Alaska. Complicating the eruption was the arrival
of Typhoon Yunya, bringing a lethal mix of ash and rain to towns and cities
surrounding the volcano. Predictions at the onset of the climactic eruption led to
the evacuation of tens of thousands of people from the surrounding areas, saving
many lives. Surrounding areas were severely damaged by pyroclastic surges,
pyroclastic falls, and subsequently, by the flooding lahars caused by rainwater
re-mobilizing earlier volcanic deposits. 
Sky Ranch Pampanga

Sky Ranch is a network of amusement parks in the Philippines. Sky Ranch has
three branches; in Tagaytay, San Fernando, Pampanga, and in Baguio. The first
Sky Ranch amusement park opened in Tagaytay in 2013. 

The Sky Ranch branch in Tagaytay is situated along Tagaytay–Nasugbu

Highway, Tagaytay, Cavite which opened in March 2013. It is located inside a
property owned by SM Investments Corporation's subsidiary SM Land
commercial property division (later merged with SM Prime Holdings,
Inc), where several shops and restaurants are also located. It includes kiosks,
rides, and the Sky Eye Ferris wheel, which is 63 metres (207 ft) tall and has 32
gondolas. The amusement park temporarily closed following ash fall caused by
 the Taal Volcano eruption on January 12, 2020 but reopened almost a week later
on January 18.

ZOOBIC SAFARI

Zoobic Safari is the Only Tiger Safari in the Philippines located in the
heart of the forest of Subic Bay Freeport Zone.It is a 25 hectare forest
adventure park where guest are treated to an exciting adventure. Far from
the conventional zoo / themepark, Zoobic gives you a chance to meet these
wonderful animals up close and personal, promote awareness and concern
for their species thru education/information given by our competent Tour
Guides, a unique avenue to commune with nature and most of all,
experience an adventure like no other here in the country: A close
encounter with the biggest members of the cat family.This may very well
be the closest thing to a real animal jungle safari around here in the
country.

Ocean Adventure, Subic Bay

Be prepared to be swept away at Ocean Adventure, the first open-water marine

theme park in Southeast Asia! Walk through the enchanting Ocean Discovery
Aquarium and marvel at the unique display of colorful sea creatures and coral
reefs. Aside from the aquatic exhibitions, you can also enjoy 4 incredible water
shows starring adorable marine and wildlife creatures. Don’t forget to stop by the
park’s newest attraction, the Japanese Koi Pond, so you can experience a Koi
feeding session. 
Mount Samat

Mount Samat National Shrine or Dambana ng Kagitingan is a historical shrine

located near the summit of Mount Samat in the town of Pilár, Province of
Bataan, in the Republic of the Philippines. The memorial shrine complex was
built to honor and remember the gallantry of Filipino and American soldiers who
fought against the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. Consisting of a
Colonnade and the large Memorial Cross, the park was commissioned in 1966 by
then-President Ferdinand Marcos, for the 25th Anniversary of World War II. The
white Memorial Cross stands as a remembrance to the soldiers who fought and
lost their lives in the Battle of Bataan. The shrine complex also includes a war
museum with a wide array of collections from paintings of the Philippine heroes,
to armaments used by the Filipino, American and Japanese forces during the
battle. From the colonnade and the cross, there is a panoramic view of Bataan,
Corregidor Island and on a clear day, the city of Manila situated about 50 km
across Manila Bay. 
 Nagsasa Cove

Nagsasa Cove bears many similarities to its more famous stepsister. Anawangin’s
popularity, however, is also her weakness. Anawangin can get too overcrowded
especially during peak season. Nagsasa, although beginning to draw in more and more
tourists each year, offers more moving and breathing space. It has all the good things
Anawangin is famous for but retaining the more laidback atmosphere that has started
to slip away from the other.Like neighboring Anawangin and Talisayin, Nagsasa
Cove used to be a typical rocky coast fronted landward by a rich rainforest that was
home to small groups of Aetas. Until the first grain of ash fell.

Potipot Island

Potipot Island is a secluded islet in Uacon, Candelaria, Zambales. It has become

one of the most popular beach destinations over the years because of its creamy
white sand and crystal clear waters. Truly, you’ll experience a relaxing quick
weekend getaway on this gorgeous island
 Sabang Beach

The eastern portion of Luzon is known for its mighty waves, thus attracting wave
chasers and sun chasers alike to its coastal areas. One of those destinations is the
town of Baler in the province of Aurora, and Sabang Beach is Baler’s most
notable surfing spot. Coming from Manila, the long but very scenic drive will
further fuel your excitement and will make the journey as enjoyable as your
destination.

Baler: The Birthplace of Filipino Surfing

Fans of the movie Apocalypse Now probably know it was shot in Baler, some

150 miles northeast of Manila. At the time, locals were already well aware of the
area’s killer waves, which caused trouble for the fishermen. But attitudes toward
the waves slowly changed, thanks to the film: Residents used the surfboards left
behind by the crew to learn to ride them. Surfing culture in the Philippines was
born, and the big waves were no longer considered a threat, but rather an
opportunity to bring in surfing tourism and events each year from October to
February. But Baler has a lot to offer for the non-surfer, too, even if you just sit
on the beach and watch the ocean. Couples love the long stretch of sand at
Sabang, which is perfect for romantic beach walks, and the sunrise here is a
must-see. From a historical perspective, Baler is significant because it was the
last stand of Spanish forces in the Philippines; the yearlong siege that began in
July 1898 is one of the longest in the country's recorded history. The
undermanned Spanish troops, not knowing the war was over, held ont their
fortress in the only stone building in the area, the San Luis Obispo de Tolosa
church, for 337 days.

Mount Arayat

Mount Arayat is potentially active basaltic volcano on Luzon Island, Philippines,

rising to a height of 1,026 metres. The volcano has a breached crater on its
northwest side with a smaller andesitic dome in the collapse amphitheater. There
are no historical records of eruption in Arayat and the only dated rocks are 530-
and 650-thousand-year-old basalts predating the collapse and formation of the
lava dome. The Mount Arayat National Park was established in 1933. The
mountain is located in a flat agricultural region at 15°12′N 120°45′E. The
southern half of the mountain lies within the municipality of Arayat, Pampanga,
while the north half and the mountain summit lies within Magalang, Pampanga.
Ten miles to the west of Mount Arayat is Angeles, Philippines and the former
Clark Air Base. The active volcano Mount Pinatubo is located 26 km west. The
volcano was officially declared as a tourist spot on 1997

Capones Island

Capones Island, also known as Grand Capon or Capon Grande Island is a small
island approximately 1.9 kilometers long by 0.4 kilometers wide, at its widest
point, lying some 3.8 kilometers off the coast of the province of Zambales on
western Luzon island in the Philippines. It is the largest of the Capones Islands, a
group of three small islands which also includes nearby Camara Island and
another islet connected to it by a sand bar. The island is administratively part of
barangay Pundaquit of the Zambales municipality of San Antonio. The island is
characterized by huge rock formations and steep cliffs surrounded by white sand
and coral beaches. The Capones Island Lighthouse is located on the hillside near
the western end of the island

Biak-na-Bato National Park

Biak-na-Bato National Park is a protected area of the Philippines located almost

entirely within Barangay Biak-na-Bato in San Miguel, Bulacan from where it
derives its name. The park also extends to the nearby municipalities of San
Ildefonso and Doña Remedios Trinidad covering a total area of 2,117 hectares. It
was declared a national park in 1937 by President Manuel Luis Quezon by virtue
of its association with the history and site of the Biak-na-Bato Republic. The
 park consists of a cave network and a system of rivers and trails of both
historical and ecological importance. Situated only 80 kilometers northeast from
Manila, it is fast becoming a popular weekend eco-adventure destination for the
city dwellers. 

Lake Pinatubo

Lake Pinatubo is the summit crater lake of Mount Pinatubo formed after its
climactic eruption on June 15, 1991. The lake is located in Botolan, Zambales,
near the boundaries of Pampanga and Tarlac provinces in the Philippines. It is
about 90 km northwest of the capital city of Manila. While one paper by
researchers from Japan suggested a depth of 600 m, more detailed research
suggests that 95–115 m is more accurate

Holy Rosary Parish Church

ish, formerly known as Santo Rosario Church, today fondly called by locals as
"Pisambang Maragul" stands in the epicenter of the old Culiat town, now
Angeles, Pampanga, Philippines. The church has recently been recognized by the
National Commission for Culture and the Arts as a national historical site.

Monasterio de Tarlac

Monasterio de Tarlac is a popular tourist destination in the province of Tarlac in

the Philippines. It is a monastery on top of Mount Resurrection, part of the
Zambales Mountain Range in San Jose, one of the municipalities in Tarlac. In
the monastery can be found a relic of the True Cross. Monasterio de Tarlac is
located at the Mount Resurrection Eco Park in the barangay of Lubigan. The
monastery is open to the public daily from 7:00AM to 6:00PM with a fee for
every entering vehicles. The Monasterio de Tarlac sits on a 278-hectare eco-
tourism park developed by the former congressman Jose "APING" Yap and has a
30-foot concrete statue of Jesus Christ overseeing the town. 

Fontana Leisure Parks and Casino

Fontana Leisure Parks & Casino is a water park and casino situated at the Clark
Freeport Zone in Mabalacat, Pampanga, Philippines

The casino hosts at least a hundred slot and video machines. 49 gaming tables which
offers games such as Baccarat, Blackjack, Roulette. 4 VIP rooms and 1 "Premium
Player's Pit" is housed within the Pai-Gow Fontana Casino.
Aside from casino facilities, Fontana Leisure Parks hosts a hotel, a hot spring,
swimming pool and a water park.
Fontana Leisure Parks hosts an events venue called the Fontana Leisure Parks
Convention Center. The convention center has hosted concerts by international artists
such as Michael Johnson and Stephen Bishop, as well as business conventions such as
the MICE CON and the 2015 APEC Summit.] It contains 9 function rooms.
The Sports Center area of Fontana Leisure Parks consists of basketball, volleyball,
and badminton courts, as well as an indoor venue. The leisure park also hosts a 9-
hole par golf course 28 within its grounds. Graham Marsh was responsible for the
design of the golf venue.

Capas National Shrine

The Capas National Shrine in Barangay Aranguren, Capas, Tarlac, Philippines was built by the
Philippine government as a memorial to Allied soldiers who died at Camp O'Donnell at the end of the
Bataan Death March during the Second World War. The site, which was the former concentration
camp, is a focus for commemorations on Araw ng Kagitingan, an annual observance held on 9 April—
the anniversary of the surrender of US and Philippine forces to the Imperial Japan in 1942. There is
also a memorial to the Czechs and some Slovaks who died fighting alongside the Filipinos and US
soldiers. 

Mount Pinatubo
Mount Pinatubo, a dormant volcano north of Manila, discharged millions of tons of sulfur
dioxide in the air on June 1991, when it was awaken after more than 600 years of dormancy, on
what is considered as the largest and most catastrophic volcanic eruption in the recent years.

Ashes covered the entire Luzon landmass and even reached Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and
other neighboring Asian countries.

Close to a thousand perished, more than a hundred thousand lost their homes, and billion worth of
crops were damaged. The eruption also brought down the world temperature by a few centigrade.

St. James the Apostle Parish Church - Betis

Church
The St. James the Apostle Parish Church, commonly known as Betis Church, is a Baroque style
church located in the Betis District in Guagua in Pampanga, Philippines under the Roman Catholic
Archdiocese of San Fernando. The church was established in 1607 and dedicated to Saint James, the
Apostle. It was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum and the National
Commission for Culture and the Arts

Capones Island Lighthouse

Capones Island Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse located in Capones Island off the coast of Brgy.
Pundaquit, San Antonio, in the province of Zambales, in the Philippines. The light guide international
vessels coming from the north to northwest towards Subic Bay or to Corregidor Island Lighthouse at
the entrance of Manila Bay. It has first-order lenses when it was first lit on August 1, 1890

San Guillermo Parish Church

San Guillermo Parish Church is named after San Guillermo, the patron saint of Bacolor, Pampanga,
Philippines, where the church is erected. The church was originally constructed by the Augustinian
Friars in 1576 – also the town's founding – with Fr. Diego De Ochoa, OSA, as the town's first parish
priest. Having been installed as such two years after. In 1880, the church was destroyed by an
earthquake only to be rebuilt by Fr. Eugenio Alvarez in 1886. On September 3, 1995, lahar flow from
the slopes of Mount Pinatubo which erupted into the world's notice on June 15, 1991, buried the
church at half its 12-m height prompting its more than 50,000 town residents to evacuate to safer
grounds in resettlement areas. Near the façade of the parish church is a museum which contains the
history of the church. It also contains paintings of the Pinatubo eruption in 1991.
Mount Mariveles
Mount Mariveles is a dormant volcano and the highest point in the province of Bataan in the
Philippines. Mariveles and the adjacent Mount Natib comprise 80.9 percent of the total land area
of the province. The mountain and adjacent cones lie opposite the city of Manila across Manila
Bay, providing a beautiful setting for the sunsets seen from the city.

Divine Mercy Shrine

The Divine Mercy Shrine is a Catholic monument in El Salvador, Misamis

Oriental, Philippines. It features a 50 foot statue of Jesus as the Divine Mercy as
the focal point of Divine Mercy Hills, a tract of land overlooking Macajalar Bay
on the southern island of Mindanao. The nine-hectare land for the Shrine was
purchased for a nominal amount and the complex was paid for by donations. The
shrine was completed in 2008 and serves as a pilgrimage site for Divine Mercy
devotees.

Madlum Cave

Madlum Cave is a tourist attraction in Barangay Sibul, San Miguel, Bulacan.

Mount Tapulao

Mount Tapulao is the tallest mountain in the Zambales Mountain range and in
the province of Zambales in the Philippines. The peak, which rise to an elevation
of 2,037 metres, is located in the municipality of Palauig, Zambales. Its name is
derived from the abundance of Sumatran Pine trees in the area, known in Zambal
as tapolaw. The mountain was once a site of a large-scale chromite mining
operations. The destruction of the beautiful natural scenery is visible in the mine
pits on the summit as well as other related structures along the trail. The summit
offers a 360-degree vista from where you can see the other Zambales mountains
on the eastern side, Lingayen Gulf to the north, and on the western side, the
Zambales lowlands and the South China Sea stretching to as far south as
Pundaquit in San Antonio, Zambales.

Bataan National Park

Bataan National Park is a protected area of the Philippines located in the

mountainous interior of Bataan province in the Central Luzon Region. The park
straddles the northern half of Bataan Peninsula near its border with Subic Bay
Freeport Zone, Zambales. The park was first established in 1945 under
Proclamation No. 24 with an initial area of 31,000 hectares and included portions
in Subic, Zambales. The park was reduced in 1987 to its present size of 23,688
hectares and is now wholly located in Bataan province. The park encompasses
the Bataan towns and cities of Hermosa, Orani, Samal, Abucay, Balanga, Bagac
and Morong. Mount Natib with its 6 by 7 km wide forested acorn-shaped caldera
is located in the middle of the park. Activities in the park include nature viewing,
bird watching, and trekking to its several peaks and waterfalls. The park is
located 101 kilometres from Manila, its mountains can be seen across Manila
Bay from the city.
Angat Dam

Angat Dam is a concrete water reservoir embankment hydroelectric dam that

supplies Metro Manila and nearby provinces with water. It was a part of the
Angat-Ipo-La Mesa water system. The reservoir supplies about 90 percent of raw
water requirements for Metro Manila through the facilities of the Metropolitan
Waterworks and Sewerage System and it irrigates about 28,000 hectares of
farmland in the provinces of Bulacan and Pampanga.

Santa Monica Parish Church

The Santa Monica Parish Church, commonly known as the Minalin Church, is a
Baroque church, located in poblacion area of San Nicolas in Minalin, Pampanga,
Philippines. The church, built during the Spanish era, was declared a National
Cultural Treasure by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the
National Museum of the Philippines on August 27, 2011, one of 37 churches in
the country bestowed that honor. The parish church is part of the ecclesiastical
province of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Fernando, under the
Vicariate of Christ The King. The church is under the patronage of Saint Monica
of Hippo, with a feast day celebrated annually every second Sunday of May. The
current parish priest is Rev. Fr. Eric de Guzman succeeding Rev. Fr. Greg Vega. 

Manila Bay

Manila Bay is a natural harbor which serves the Port of Manila, in the
Philippines. Strategically located around the capital city of the Philippines,
Manila Bay facilitated commerce and trade between the Philippines and its
neighboring countries, becoming the gateway for socio-economic development
even prior to Spanish occupation. With an area of 1,994 km², and a coastline of
190 km, Manila Bay is situated in the western part of Luzon and is bounded by
Cavite and Metro Manila on the east, Bulacan and Pampanga on the north, and
Bataan on the west and northwest. Manila Bay drains approximately 17,000 km²
of watershed area, with the Pampanga River contributing about 49% of the
freshwater influx. With an average depth of 17 m, it is estimated to have a total
volume of 28.9 billion cubic meters. Entrance to the bay is 19 km wide and
expands to a width of 48 km. However, width of the bay varies from 22 km at its
mouth and expanding to 60 km at its widest point. The islands of Corregidor and
Caballo divides the entrance into two channels, about 2 mi towards the North and
6.5 mi wide on the South side. 

Corregidor Island

Corregidor Island is an island located at the entrance of Manila Bay in

southwestern part of Luzon Island in the Philippines. Due to this location,
Corregidor has historically been fortified with coastal artillery to defend the
entrance of Manila Bay and Manila from attacks by enemy warships. Located 48
kilometres inland, Manila has been the largest city and the most important
seaport in the Philippines for centuries, from the colonial rule of Spain, Japan
and the United States, to the establishment of the Philippines in 1946. Corregidor
 is the largest of the islands that formed the harbor defenses of Manila Bay,
together with El Fraile Island, Caballo Island and Carabao Island, which were all
fortified during the American colonial period. The island was also the site of a
small military airfield, as part of the defense. During World War II, Corregidor
played an important role during the invasion and liberation of the Philippines
from Japanese forces. The island was heavily bombarded during the latter part of
the war, and the ruins serve as a military memorial to American, Filipino and
Japanese soldiers who served or lost their lives on the battlefield.

Inflatable Island
The first of its kind in the Philippines, Inflatable Island holds the reputation of being
the biggest and wildest inflatable playground in all of Asia! This floating beachside
course covers an area of 3,400sqm - that's around 8 basketball courts put together! -
and is scattered with slides, towers, bridges, human launchers, swings, and more.
Adrenaline junkies would definitely have the time of their lives climbing, jumping,
rolling, and wobbling around the giant playground. Once you've tired yourself out,
explore Samba Beach, take a break at Bali Lounge, or relax at the Floating Zoo -
simply show your all day access pass!