Aurora

It is the north-easternmost province of Central Luzon (Region III). It is bordered on the north by
the provinces of Isabela and Qurino, on the west by Nueva Ecija and Nueva Viscaya, on the
south by Bulacan and Quezon, and on the east by the Pacific Ocean.

Language/ Dialect: Tagalog and Ilocano

History
- In 1572, the Spanish explorer Juan de Salcedo became the first European to visit the
region that would be known as Aurora while he was exploring the northern coast of
Luzon. Salcedo reportedly visited the towns of Casiguran, Baler and Infanta.
- The early history of Aurora is linked to Quezon Province, of which it originally formed a
part, and Nueva Ecija. In 1591, Quezon (then named Kalilaya) was organized into a
district that included a good portion of what now constitutes the Provinces of Laguna and
Nueva Ecija.
- In 1951 the municipalities of Baler, Casiguran, Dilasag, Dipaculao, Dinalongan,
Dingalan, Maria Aurora and San Luis were officially formed into the Sub-Province of
Aurora by virtue of Republic Act 646.

Culture
● Moro-Moro Zarsuela
Location: Baler

- Presented on February 19 (Aurora Day) in Baler, Aurora, the "Zarsuela" is an

interplay of drama and dance. Taking three days to complete (although it could
be shortened to a day), the "Zarsuela" performed here is composed of several
acts that revolve around the main theme of Moro-Moro or Moslem-Christian
conflict. The "Zarsuela" presents slightly different variations for the Moro-Moro
theme year after year. The roles of princes and princesses, warriors and laymen
for both the Christian and Moslem sides are performed in dance, while a narrator
accompanies the pantomime act. What makes this particular performance more
dramatic is that real knives and bolos are used. Often in the heat of the
presentation, miscalculations result in knife and bolo gashes. Both actors and
actresses participate in this particularly sensitive and dangerous sword-play.
Only beautiful, graceful ladies and handsome men are chosen and trained for the
theater. Indeed, this is a cultural theater that demands talent, beauty, skills and
courage from the actors, and highly skilled and experienced trainers are needed
to create this unique style of "Zarsuela".

● Santo Entierro
Location: Baler

- A glass coffin encasing a statue of Jesus Christ is displayed in a makeshift

wooden chapel in Baler. The name of the sculptor is lost; however, locals claim
 that this icon possesses miraculous powers and grants miracles to those who
believe. During Holy Week albularyos (spiritual doctors) and amulet holders flock
to this revered statue to insert their anting-anting (amulets) into the niches of the
coffin. After Good Friday, they retrieve their respective amulets now "recharged
with power." It is also said that the amulets in the niches are visible only to their
owners.

● Ermita Hill
Location: Casiguran

- Located in the Poblacion of Casiguran town, Ermita Hill provides an enchanting

view of the entire Poblacion, the dark blue coast of Casiguran Bay and the
barrios nearby. Aside from its magnificent landscape, Ermita Hill is known as a
sacred haven for religious activities by devotees of the Miraculous Mother Mary,
of whom a life-size statue is situated in a grotto on top of the hill. Under Spanish
rule, a Watchtower was built to guard the town against possible attackers.
Governor Bella Angara-Castillo (then a Congresswoman) appropriated funding
for the prevention of erosion of the hillside and its beautification.

Aurora is best known for: Known as the “Gateway to Pacific”, it is generally mountainous
facing the mid-eastern Pacific Coast of Luzon some 232 km from Manila. And is home to many
Major crops include rice, coconut, coffee, bananas, root crops, corn, citrus fruits, peanuts
and abaca.

Best Delicacy: Suman de Baler

- is glutinous rice cooked in coconut milk and wrapped in buri palm leaves. Its preparation
and cooking time are shorter than the pakumbo. The most notable thing you'll notice with
their suman is the red-ish or sometime purple-ish color.

Aurora's population is about 215,000 as of 2015, and is the least populated province of Central
Luzon. Aurora's population is approximately 50% Tagalog, 30% Ilocano, and the remainder
indigenous peoples (Kankana-ey, Casiguran, Bugkalot, Dumagat), Bicolano and Visayan.

Known Landscape
Dingalan, Aurora
- Dingalan is a town in Aurora known as the Batanes of the East. It has landscapes that
mimic the rolling hills and blue waters of the islands of Batanes. Located at the Eastern
part of the country, it showcases a view of the majestic Pacific Ocean.

Bataan
is a province in the Central Luzon region of Luzon. A peninsula surrounded by Manila Bay to the
east and the West Philippine Sea (or South China Sea) to the west, it is known in history as the
last stronghold of the Americans in the Philippines when the Japanese invaded it during World
War II.

Language/ Dialect: Tagalog, Kapampangan and Marieveleno

History: Bataan Death March

- Bataan Death March, march in the Philippines of some 66 miles (106 km) that 76,000
prisoners of war (66,000 Filipinos, 10,000 Americans) were forced by the Japanese
military to endure in April 1942, during the early stages of World War II.

- Mainly starting in Mariveles, on the southern tip of the Bataan Peninsula, on April 9,
1942, the prisoners were force-marched north to San Fernando and then taken by rail in
cramped and unsanitary boxcars farther north to Capas. From there they walked an
additional 7 miles (11 km) to Camp O’Donnell, a former Philippine army training center
used by the Japanese military to intern Filipino and American prisoners. During the main
march—which lasted 5 to 10 days, depending on where a prisoner joined it—the
captives were beaten, shot, bayoneted, and, in many cases, beheaded; a large number
of those who made it to the camp later died of starvation and disease. Only 54,000
prisoners reached the camp; though exact numbers are unknown, some 2,500 Filipinos
and 500 Americans may have died during the march, and an additional 26,000 Filipinos
and 1,500 Americans died at Camp O’Donnell.

Culture
- The province of Bataan has always been linked closely to the culture and economy of
Manila. Much of what the province produces is exported to Manila. The primary
traditional industry of Bataan is fishing. It is the home of thousands of fishermen whose
industry has spawned a unique craft of net and fishtrap making. Nets produced in
Bataan take on various forms and shapes like the panli, kalukutok, pambonot, pansiliw,
panitig, mananacag hipon, panglusong, hila-hila, kitang, pangapak, bintol, salambaw,
dala, bating, pangalabaw and the gulgureta. Each net type responds to various needs
and uses. There are also various fishtraps like the saluhin, paclang, aguila, panghipon
and pangalalo.

● Flores de Mayo (May)

- A daily devotion to the Virgin Mary by offering flowers throughout the month. Highlighted
with "santacruzan" or "sagala", a parade of beautiful Bataeña debutantes participate in
full regale amidst flowers.
 ● Bataan Day (April 9)
- The Bataan Day Celebration is an annual event of the province. War veterans and their
families travel from all over the country to Mount Samat every April 9 to reminisce about
the past and celebrate the bravery of our soldiers who offered their lives for freedom.
Prior to the big day, the Provincial Government and the Provincial Tourism Office
sponsor activities like a photo contest and exhibit, quiz bees, beauty pageants, trade
fairs, and a drum and bugle competition/exhibition.

Bataan is best known for: Bataan is known for its narrow coastline, and it characterizes the
eastern portion of the province. At the same time, the western coast features many ridges,
cliffs, and headlands.

Best Delicacy: Tinapa Pasalubong

- Cebu has its own 'danggit' when it comes to dried fish, but Bataan has their own delicacy
named 'tinapa'. This is very common as a homecoming treat or locally known as
pasalubong. The milkfish or 'bangus' is the top choice for tinapa that comes in boneless
and savory, ready for that craving appetite.

Most of the 424,000 people living in Bataan are Tagalogs. Kapampangans comprise a
significant minority of less than 10% and are concentrated in the municipalities adjoining the
province of Pampanga. Recent rapid industrialization has lured thousands of people from other
provinces to settle within Bataan.

Known Landscape
Mt. Samat
- Mt. Samat FTEZ is a historical, cultural and heritage tourism zone that commemorates
Philippine heroism and relics of World War II, that aims to introduce more developments
in the Shrine of Valor and its locator site to make it an emerging world-class historical
city and tourism destination in the country.

Bulacan
Bulacan is in the southwestern part of Central Luzon. It is bounded on the north by Nueva Ecija,
on the east by Aurora and Quezon, on the west by Pampanga and on the south by Rizal, Metro
Manila and Manila Bay.

Language/ Dialect: Tagalog, Waray, Bicolano, Ilocano and Kapampangan.

History
- The province's name is derived from the Tagalog word 'bulak' meaning cotton, which
was its former principal product. Bulacan started with small fishing settlements along the
coast of Manila Bay and expanded into the interior with the coming of the Spaniards.
These settlements formed the nucleus of towns that were founded from 1572 (Bulacan
and Calumpit) to 1750 (San Rafael). In 1848, the town of San Miguel was annexed to
Bulacan from Pampanga. Bulacan was one of the first eight provinces to rise against
Spanish rule. The first phase of the Philippine Revolution ended with the signing of the
Pact of Biak-na-Bato in San Miguel in 1897 between the Filipinos and the Spaniards,
after which Aguinaldo was exiled to Hong Kong. The second phase saw the drafting of
the constitution of the first Philippine Republic by the Malolos Congress at Barasoain
Church in 1898. The subsequently established republic had its capital at Malolos until
President Emilio Aguinaldo transferred it to San Isidro, Nueva Ecija in 1899 when the
Filipino-American broke out. When the Americans established a civil government in the
Philippines, they held the first election in the country in the town of Baliuag on May 6,
1899. Bulacan is the home province of heroes like Francisco Baltazar (Balagtas), "The
Prince of Filipino Poets", Marcelo H. Del Pilar, "The Great Propagandist" and Gregorio
del Pilar, "The Hero of Tirad Pass".

Culture
● Palm Sunday (The Holy Family)/ Linggo ng Palaspas
- Palm Sunday is the start of the Holy week, also called Passion Sunday and the
Gospel for this Sunday gives us the account of Jesus’ passion, crucifixion and
death.

● Libad Festival
- A fluvial procession of well-decorated pagodas is held on the river every 23rd of
June right before the annual town fiesta in honor of St. John the Baptist.
Townsfolk gaily sing, dance and frenziedly douse water to “baptize” passers-by –
prepare to get wet.

● Dakip
- is a Filipino word which means to arrest or to abduct. This special event
happens every holy week or lenten season, only in the municipality of Bulakan,
 Bulacan. From the word itself, you can easily identify what this event signifies. It
is a play that portrays how Jesus Crist was captured.

Bulacan is best known for: Barasoain Church, Biak-na-Bato Shrine in San Miguel,
Pyrotechnics of Bocaue, dairy delicacy called Pastillas de Leche in San Miguel de Mayumo
(Sevilla Sweets), famous ensaymada and inipit of Malolos, minasa of Bustos, crunchy sitsaron
of Bocaue and Sta. Maria, vinegar from Paombong, sinigang na ulang, sugpo and tilapia, bone
inlay furniture and Buntal hat of Baliuag, hand-woven and embroidered fabric and hand-crafted
decors from Sta. Maria and Bustos, fine terra cotta in Calumpit, Jewelry art of Meycauayan,
Pulilan Carabao Festival, Obando Fertility Dance Festival, Pastillas Festival and Sto Nino
Festival

Best Delicacy: Nilagang Pasko

- is said to be a dish that is the result of combining the meat leftovers from Noche Buena.
That's why it's got, not one, not two, but three kinds of meat in it: pork, chicken, and
beef. It was traditionally seasoned with a ham hock, but without this, chorizo or Chinese
ham slices can be substituted.

As of the 2020 census conducted on May 1, 2020, Bulacan registered a total population of
3,708,890. Bulacan, the largest province in terms of population in Central Luzon, shares 29.85%
of the regional population (12,422,172) and 3.41% of the national total population
(108,771,978).

Known Landscape
Barasoain Church
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish - Barásoain Church is a Roman Catholic church built
in 1888 in Malolos, Bulacan. Having earned the title as the "Cradle of Democracy in the
East, the most important religious building in the Philippines", and the site of the First
Philippine Republic, the church is proverbial for its historical importance among Filipinos.

Nueva Ecija
Located in the eastern section of the central plains in Luzon is the landlocked province of Nueva
Ecija. Endowed with rich soil, its main industry is Agriculture, thus dubbed as the Rice Granary
of the Philippines.

Language/ Dialect: Tagalog, Ilocano and English

History
- In 1705, Spanish Governor General Fausto Cruzar created the province and named it
Nueva Ecija after his hometown Ecija in Seville, Spain.

- In 1818, Nueva Ecija annexed a long strip of territory facing the Pacific Ocean in the east
that extended from Palawan (now in Isabela) in the north to Infanta in Tayabas (now
Quezon) in the south. In 1848, it acquired the towns of Gapan, San Isidro, Cabiao. San
Antonio and Casiguran were separated from Nueva Ecija and annexed to Tayabas.
Palanan was transferred first to Nueva Ecija then to Isabela. With the subsequent
separation of Infanta and Polilio Island, Nueva Ecija’s isolation from the sea became
complete.

- Nueva Ecija was one of the first eight provinces that took up arms against Spanish rule
in 1896. During the Filipino-American War, General Emilio Aguinaldo retreated to the
province and, on May 9, 1899, made Cabanatuan the temporary seat of his government
until it was moved to Bamban, Tarlac. General Antonio Luna was killed on June 5, 1899
in the convent of the town’s church.

- American forces, after occupying Nueva Ecija in 1899, established the provincial seat of
government in San Isidro. Other provincial capitals had been Baler (now in Aurora),
Bongabon, and Cabanatuan. On June 19,1965, Republic Act No. 4475 created the city
of Palayan as the new capital.

Culture
- Nueva Ecija is endowed with rich cultural heritage. The expansion of Christianity and the
influx of migrants from Ilocos region and Pampanga influenced the foundation of the
unique culture of Nueva Ecija. The province served as a melting pot of different cultures
that molded the way of life of Novo Ecijanos. Their values and spirituality are expressed
in different unique ways and traditions that made Novo Ecijanos district.

● Taong Putik
- The Taong Putik Festival (mud peoples) is an annual feast held every 24 June. It
is a religious festival celebrated by the locals and devotees to pay homage to
San Juan Bautista on his feast day by wearing costumes patterned to his attire.

● Balitaw
- The balitaw is an extemporaneous exchange of love verses between a man and
a woman. Danced and mimed, it is accompanied by a song, or the dancers
themselves sing, improvising the steps and verses. It may last for hours, ending
with the woman accepting or rejecting the man's suit.

● Mais Festival
 - This festival's primary goal is to demonstrate the significance of corn plantation
and to highlight corn as the second most important crop in the province of Nueva
Ecija.

Nueva Ecija is best known for: being the largest province of Central Luzon and the biggest
rice producer of the country, thus, it is often referred to as the “Rice Bowl of the Philippines.”
Other major crops are corn, onion, garlic, mango, calamansi, banana, garlic and vegetables.

Best Delicacy: Biko

- is a rich, chewy Filipino rice cake made with sticky rice, coconut milk, and dark sugar.
Traditionally served in a round, shallow bamboo tray lined with banana leaves known as
a bilao, biko belongs to a category of sweets called kakanin, which is made up entirely of
rice cakes.
-
Population: (2000 Census) 1,659,883 persons, (Projection: 2005) 1,836,882 persons,
Household: 340,158

Known Landscape
Minalungao National Park
- Minalungao National Park is a protected area of the Philippines located in the
municipality of General Tinio, Nueva Ecija[1] in Central Luzon. The park covers an area
of 2,018 hectares[2] centered along the scenic Peñaranda River bordered on both sides
by up to 16-meter high limestone walls in the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountain
range.