Tourism attraction
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Chapter 3 TOURISM ATTRACTION
The CLTMP envisions to provide "A Well Spring of Diversity" to tourists, both domestic and foreign. This diversity of attraction is well-defined in each slogan adopted by its provinces and major cities.
and Heroism
Historic Events
and Gateway to the Mountains
- Angeles City : The City that has Risen from the Ashes - Clark Field : A Sound Investment for Business in the Future
Sand combine for an Unforgettable Vacation
- Subic Bay : Asia's Resort Suburb- A Great Base to Be - Olongapo City : Where Cleanliness is a Way of Life These slogans enable the people of Central Luzon to manifest a vision that combine every attribute each province has: VISION "WE, IN CENTRAL LUZON REGION, HOME OF SELF-RELIANT AND GALLANT PEOPLE, BOUNDED BY ITS BEAUTY, RICH NATURAL RESOURCES, CULTURAL HERITAGE AND HISTORICAL LANDMARKS AND CENTER OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES WITH GLOBAL STANDARDS, ENVISION CENTRAL LUZON AS: A WORLD CLASS TOURIST DESTINATION; CENTER FOR ECOLOGICAL EDUCATION; INVESTMENT HAVEN.; AND FOOD BOWL AND CULINARY CAPITAL OF LUZON." These slogans are well-anchored to the leading concept of the Central Luzon Development Program of which tourism is a part which is "One Region-One Vision." It embodies the concern to integrate potentials and prospects not only among the six provinces of the region but also among cities. This vision jives with the Tourism Master Plan of the Philippines that sets the role of the Luzon cluster as " a multi-faceted destination based on a full range of markets and products."
Region III otherwise known as the Central Luzon Region is very rich in cultural resources. The diversity of the region's cultural resources is evident on the existence of festivals, folk arts and crafts, cuisine, historical and archaeological sites, and its indigenous people. The provinces of Pampanga and Tarlac for example, are noted for its special and exotic cuisine aside from its being famous for its neo-classic wood carvings. Centuries old churches and ancestral houses, as well as other historical monuments, are significant landmarks depicting the rich cultural heritage of the region. Region III is also known for its secular and religious festivals. The most famous of these festivals are found in the province of Bulacan, such as the Carabao Festival in the municipality of Pulilan and the fertility rites in the municipality of Obando, Bulacan. Festivals in Region III are always associated with religious rites and celebrations that relate to the region's lifestyle and to its cultural traditions. Central Luzon also hosts a major concentration of Aetas, the only Indigenous People (IPs) that are found in the region. The Aetas are said to be the earliest inhabitants in the Philippines. They are semi-nomadic, subsisting through hunting gathering and swidden cultivation. The Aetas are also known for its basketry, mat weaving and other forms of artistically-made handicrafts. Other ethnolinguistic groups that are found in the region are the following: Sambals, Kapampangans, Tagalogs, Ilocanos and Pangasinans.
Central Luzon has rich archaeological resources. The prehistory of the region spans the Old Stone Age period (approximately 500,000 years ago) to the Age of Contact Period (9th to 18th centuries A.D.). Noteworthy was the discovery of stone tools attributed to the Old Stone Age period in the municipality of Marilao, Bulacan. The physical setting of the region is such that the river systems surrounding the Mt. Pinatubo may have provided in-land navigation that provided access for travel and migration during the prehistoric and historic periods. The adjoining banks of these major river systems provided an ideal setting for prehistoric habitations of the region as indicated by pre-Spanish habitation sites found in the municipality of Porac, Pampanga. Porac, Pampanga has remarkable archaeological attractions and these are found in the old or former Hacienda Ramona in Barangay Dolores. An extensive "Porcelain Age" site dated to the Sung Dynasty Period (960-1279 A.D.) was discovered in this location. A large quantity of burial jars and smaller ceramic pieces of various forms and sizes was excavated. Equally significant archaeological findings were discovered along the coastal areas of Zambales and Bataan. The sheltered bays of Zambales and Bataan coastline provided safe refuges for colonial shipping and the Manila's Trans-Pacific economic lifeline, the Galleon Trade between the Philippines and Acapulco. Numerous tradeware ceramics attributed to the Sung and Ming Dynasty periods were found along the coastal areas of Samal and Limay, Bataan. Similar cultural materials were also found along the coastal areas of Zambales which include prehistoric habitation sites and shipwrecks in the municipalities of Iba and San Antonio. Pre-. Spanish habitation sites were also discovered in the municipalities of San Marcelino and Masinloc, in the province of Zambales. The presence of a large volume of tradeware ceramics from these archaeological sites in the provinces of Zambales and Bataan indicated an active thriving tradewark during the pre-Spanish colonial periods. The province of Bulacan contains practically all known archaeological horizons in the Philippine prehistory, ranging from the Old Stone Age period to the Age of Contact Periods. In Marilao, Bulacan, several crude cobble and pebble stone tools attributed to the Old Stone Age period were found, indicating the presence of Early Man in the region. The most remarkable prehistoric site in Bulacan can be found at the upper reaches of Santa Maria River. Polished stone adzes dated to the Neolithic period (approximately 10,000 to 2,500 years ago) were discovered in Ginyug Site, near the junction of Tilaok Creek and Santa Maria River. In Nueva Ecija, the municipalities of Laur, San Leonardo and Rizal, were known for the extensive distribution of tradeware ceramics in burial sites. Chinese tradeware ceramics that were excavated in these municipalities consisted of burial jars and other ceramic pieces that were used as funerary goods. The tradeware ceramics are attributed to the Ming Dynasty period. Table 3.1 provides the listings of archaeological sites found in Region III.
Central Luzon was among the first to be colonized in the Philippines under the Spanish regime. The colonization led to the establishment of mission stations, resettlement areas, fortresses, churches and other structures that are now considered as historical landmarks of the region. Likewise, the American and Japanese occupations of the region also left numerous landmarks depicting very significant historical events. Most of these landmarks are found in the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Bataan, and Nueva Ecija.
The region is bestowed with natural attractions that are developed into resorts by resourceful businessmen. These resorts provide both a lodging and leisure to tourists who are visiting the region either exclusively for leisure or on business trips.
The region also offers opportunities to businessmen and industrialists who are interested to invest in the area. They can be interested on existing industrial centers or can explore new ones.
Visitors to the region can also be interested to visit beautifully constructed Water Impounding Dams located strategically in the region. These attractions are primarily educational but also scientific.
A good number of these types of facilities are available in the region especially on provincial capitals. Companies can hold their annual convention in these facilities catering to both work and leisure.
Each province has two or more loops as guide for tourists in visiting the attractions of the region. The attractions are grouped into themes. A loop will assure a tourist of visiting different places/attractions without repeating his route. This system will optimize his time and avoid redundancy of site visitation. LOOP 1 - Dinalupihan-Hermosa-Orani-Samal-Abucay Pilar Balanga-Bagac-Morong (BATAAN)
Loop 2 - Pilar-Orion-Limay-Mariveles (Bataan)
LOOP 1 - Malolos-Guiguinto-Balagtas-Bocaue-Marilao-Meycauayan-Obando-Bulacan (BULACAN)
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