CENTRAL LUZON
Introduction to Central Luzon
• Known as Region III,
is located in the central part
of the island of Luzon in the
Philippines.
• It's characterized by the
largest contiguous flatland
area in the country.
• The region is composed of
seven provinces: Aurora,
Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva
Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and
Zambales. 2
Regional Center: San Fernando,
Pampanga
Physical and Economic Geography
• Geography: wide plains, mountains (Sierra
Madre, Zambales Range?, river (Pampanga
river)
• Known as the “Rice Granary of the Philippines”
• Strong agricultural, industrial, and service
sectors
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People and Language
• Major ethnolinguistic groups:
Kapampangan, Tagalog, Ilocano, Sambal.,
Aeta
• Languages: Tagalog, Kapampangan,
Ilocano, English
• Religions: Mostly Roman Catholic, with Aeta
indigenous beliefs
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Role in Philippine revolution (Cry of
Balintawak, Biak na Bato)
WWII heritage (Bataan Death March,
Mt. Samat Shrine
Historical Birthplace of heroes: e.g. Francisco
and Cultural Balagtas, Jose Abad Santos.
Background
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• Nickname(s) “Land of the Golden
Sunrise” and “Gate way o the
Pacific”
• A province of the Philippines
located in the eastern part of the
Central Luzon region, facing the
Philippine Sea.
• Its capital Baler
• Before 1979, Aura was part of the
province of Quezon. Aurora, in fact
named after Aurora Aragon, the
wife of Pres. Manuel L. Quezon
Commonwealth, after whom the
mother province was named.
Aurora
Economy
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Tourist Attractions
Baler Bay(Sabang Beach) Dicasalarin Cove
-a good place for surfing
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Aurora Festival
• Suman Festival held ever February 14-19 in Baler, Aurora
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Bataan
• A province of the Philippines occupying the whole portion of Bataan Peninsula
on Luzon.
• The battle of Bataan is famous in history as one of the last stands of American
and Filipino soldiers before they were overwhelmed by the Japanese forces in
the Word War II.
• The Bataan Death March was named for this province, where the infamous
march started. This is also the location of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant
located in the Municipality of Morong.
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Bataan Tourist Attraction
First Abucay Catholic
Mount Samat
Church
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Bataan Festival
• The Pawikan Festival is held yearly at the Pawikan
Conservation Center in Morong, Bataan. The main
activity here is the releasing of the baby pawikan, which
are hatched in the conservation center.
• Every year, during the festivals, they invite visitors and
thousands of students from the provinces to promote
awareness and also be treated to some street dancing,
sand sculptures, a showcase of local products, and
witnessing how the hatching go back to the sea.
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Bulacan
• “The gateway to the Northearn Philippines”
• Bulacan prides itself on its rich history. The province figures prominently in the
Philippine history. Many national heroes and political figures were born in Bulacan.
• The province is honored as one of the 8 rays of the sun in the national flag. It is
the home of the “Three Republics”.
• These are the
The Republic of the Real de Kalarong de Sili (1896) in Pandi.
Republic of Biak-na-Bato (1897) and first Philippine Republic in Malolos (1899-
1901)
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Bulacan Festival
• People participate in the annual Obando Fertility Dance Festival in Bulacan
Province, the Philippines, on May 18, 2018. Obando fertility dance festival is
held to honor the town’s patron Saint Clare, and a chance for newly-wed
couples to pray for fertility through dances on streets.
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Nueva Ecija
• Rice Bowl of the Philippines. The province is the largest in Central Luzon. Ts
capital is Palayan City.
• Cry of Nueva Ecija is the 1896 revolutionary battle led by General Mariano
Llanera.
• Festivals: Taong Putik Festival and Kariton Festival
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Pampanga
• “Culinary capital of the Philippines”. Its capital is the city of San Fernando.
• The world pampang, from which the provinces name originates, means river
bank.
• The province is home to two Philippine Air Force air bases, Basa Air Base in
Floridablanca, Clark Air Base.
• Tourist Attraction: Mt. Pinatubo and Sky Ranch
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Tarlac
• “Melting pot of Central Luzon” and “Sugar Capital of Luzon”
• The province is situated at the center of the central plains of Luzon, landlocked by
the four provinces.
• Pampanga on the south
• Nueva Ecija on the east
• Pangasinan on the north
• Zambales on the West
• Festival: Malatarlak Festival
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Zambales
• Zambales is the second largest among seven provinces of Central Luzon. The
province is noted for its mangoes, which are abundant from January to Aprl.
• Zambales is served by the Subic Bay International Airport
• The province’s name came from this word zambal, which is a Hispanizeed
term for Sambali.
• Zambales Day is celebrated every August 30.
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Beliefs and Practices of Region III
• Birth practices: In one of the barrios of Guagua, Pampanga, close relatives of a
woman who is about to deliver a child, together with their neighbour, make
noise like shouting, beating tins cans and exploding firecrackers in order to
heel expel the fetus faster.
• Courtship and marriage: the only prevalent form of courtship now is
pamanhikan. At present, pamanhikan is being practiced when the parents of
the boy confer with their balae (parent of the bride-to-be) regarding marriage
plans of the children.
• Baptimasl rites practices: In many Kapampangan houses, the baby’s
baptismal dress serves as a souvenir and decoration for the sala. It is put on
frame and hung in the sala like a picture.
• Death and burial: The wake (makipaglame) lasts for at least three days and
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two nights after which everybody participates in the libing (interment).
