Tarlac is the most multicultural of the Central Luzon provinces. A mixture of four district groups, the Pampangos, Ilocanos, Pangasinenses, and Tagalogs, share life in the province. Tarlac is best known for its fine foods and vast sugar and riceplantations. But there is more in Tarlac it is also known as The Melting Pot of Luzon located in Region III of the Philippines. One of the favorite stopovers of those tourists going to Northern Provinces. But people only see this area as quick rest stop point instead of an actual tourist destination. This landlocked province has many tourist offerings and amazing features that are often overlooked by many. I have been to many provinces in the Luzon and I can declare that Tarlac has something unique which are worth to be explored. So if you are planning for a rushed haul road vacation or spending your weekend somewhere, you might regard as innate this province and here are the intensity things to make a get sticking together in Tarlac.
List of wonders in Tarlac you must see!!!
1. Statue of the Risen Christ " Monasterio de Tarlac"
Monasterio De Tarlac is considered as a sanctuary for spiritual nourishment in the Philippines nestled in the serenity and beauty of nature where one can really feel the warm embrace of God Almighty.
At present, the monastery only has 5 cottages that can accommodate a small number of faithful looking for spiritual retreat and solitude.
They wanted to provide better and more sufficient facilities for spiritual nourishment, hence the initial construction of the SRC Center for Spirituality located within the monastery. They also started the construction of a new basilica that will serve as a new home for the Relic of the True Cross of Jesus Christ. However, due to the lack of financial means, the development of the said establishment has been put into an indefinite halt.
The SRC Monastic Community would like to make an appeal to please help them continue what they have started. Generous donation will certainly help them reach the completion of the center for the greater glory of God.
Pilgrims' Mass Schedule
Monday to Saturday at 10:30am except Thursday
- Wednesday Mass is preceded by Novena to Perpetual Help
- Friday Mass is in Honor of Sacred Heart Preceded by Chaplet to Divine Mercy
- Saturday Mass is in Honor of Blessed Mother
Every Thursday is at 6:00am
Every Sunday at 10:30am and 3:00pm is Risen Christ's Day
The pilgrims are allowed to touch the reliquary after the mass.
Open veneration of the relic happens twice a year, every January 19 to commemorate its enshrinement and September 14 to celebrate the Servants of the Risen Christ anniversary.
Location: San Jose Tarlac
2. Capas National Shrine "Death March"
The area where the Bataan Death March ended was proclaimed as "Capas National Shrine" by President Corazon Aquino on 7 December 1991. The shrine encompasses 54 hectares of parkland, 35 hectares of which have been planted with rows of trees to represent each of the dead.
On 9 April 2003, a 70-metre obelisk and new memorial wall were unveiled on the grounds of the former internment camp. The obelisk is surrounded by a three-segmented, black marble wall engraved with the names of the Filipinos known to have died during the Death March. There are also statistics about the total numbers of prisoners and deaths, together with poems for peace.
Nearby, there are three smaller memorials to the countries whose nationals died at the camp: the Philippines, the United States, and the Czech Republic (then Czechoslovakia). A small museum and monument is also on the site, built by an American group called the "Battling Bastards of Bataan".
A few hundred meters from the Obelisk is a garden separated from the rest of the shrine by a creek that can be crossed via a hanging bridge. The relics of an old train and railings are also located in the shrine complex.
Source: Wikipidea
Entrance Fee: Student P10 Domestic P20 Foreign P40 Operating Hours: 8am-5pm
Location: Capas Tarlac
3.Tarlac Recreatinal Park
RECREATIONAL AND SPORTS COMPLEX
At the heart of the mountain ranges of San Jose in Tarlac, one can discover a park, where competition is always healthy, victory is humbling and defeat puts a man to his best. It is where people and groups can be inspired and can unify, where family and friends can converge and converse. It is where hearts can bind and minds can explore, where nature is life and the world is a playground.
Built in 2008, Tarlac Recreational Park or TRP was originally named Jose V. Yap Recreational and Sports Complex. It rests on a 78-hectare land, with international standard facilities for different sporting events. In fact, TRP hosted one of the country’s biggest sporting event the 53rd Palarong Pambansa in 2010.
Source: Tarlac.com.ph
Location: Barangay Labney San Jose Tarlac
4. San Jose Circuit
The western towns of Tarlac, particularly San Clemente, Mayantoc, and San Jose, are a fertile ground for hiking exploration and documentation, being located at the foothills of the Zambales mountain range. These towns are the access points to approach the Zambales mountains from the west, and the most notable of them (and the only one in common use today) is the well-received Mt. Tapulao Traverse. Moreover, there are also foothills that serve as hiking destinations in themselves. For instance, Mt. Damas, in San Clemente, Tarlac is becoming a popular hiking destination.Another such trek through the foothills is what I call the San Jose Circuit, which combines three small mountains: Mt. Tangisan, Mt. Bungkol Baka, and Mt. Kawayan, to form a very nice loop trail originating and ending in Sitio San Pedro, Brgy. Iba. The total trail length is around 17-18 kms. This hike features scenic views of the rural San Jose villages and fields, as well as rocky peaks that serve as viewpoints to the great mountains of Zambales, as well as the Central Luzon plains, where Mt. Arayat stands as a solitary giant.
Source: Pinoy Mountaineer
Location: Sitio San Pedro, Brgy. Iba, San Jose
5. Lourdes Grotto
The Bamban Grotto is located in Bamban, a town in the Province of Tarlac. Going north, it's on the left side situated on top of the mountain just after you pass through the new bridge. Going up the grotto, you have to conquer 164 flights of stairs. That alone is a sacrifice. When you reach the top, you'll be greeted by a white grotto. The grotto was donated by my maternal grandmother in the 1950s. It features an our Lady of Lourdes statue with 2 female devotees in kneeling position.
Location: Barangay Anapul Bamban Tarlac
6. Goshen Resort & Hotel
The “Dambana ni Yahweh” is the main attraction in Goshen Resort and Hotel for its appealing look resembling the Amphitheatrum Flavium building in Rome, Italy. The structure will definitely attract visitors and will give everyone a perfect backdrop for family and barkada pictures. The place is lovely and romantic. This is the reason why Goshen Resort is a favorite set for prenuptial filming and photography.
Location: Bamban Tarlac
7. Mt. Damas & Ubod Falls
Mt. Damas is situated near the border of 3 Tarlac towns: Mayantoc to the southeast, Camiling to the north and San Clemente to the west. The trek starts off at the Dueg resettlement – a relocation site established after the Mt. Pinatubo eruption. Although there were original settlers before the eruption almost half of the population in the community were resettled from the various towns that were hardly hit by the eruption and the lahar flow.
The view from the jump-off itself is rewarding. One can experience a panoramic view of the Tarlac and Pangasinan plains and Mt. Arayat from afar. Despite not having much tree cover throughout the climb, the first 45 minutes of descent through the cogon grass will lead you to a river. From there 30 minutes of river crossing will commence the 3 hour assault to the summit. The trail from this point is not well established but guides can be asked to clear the trail so expect a lot of rest in during the assault. A small nipa hut can be found around 30 minutes before the peak to provide shelter in case of a downpour or strong winds since the summit itself has no pronounced windbreakers.
Once on top, photo ops are excellent which include the Tarlac and Zambales ranges, Mt. Pinatubo, Sawtooth Mountains and Mt. Tapulao (S), Tarlac-Pangasinan mountain ranges (W) Tarlac plains (E), the town of San Jose (SE) and the province of Pangasinan (N).
Mt. Damas may arguably have the distinction of being the most scenic mountain in Tarlac. One of the more exciting highlights, aside from the captivating sunrise amid the morning clouds is the 2 and a half hour descent to Ubod falls. Again, the trail is not well established and the slope gets steeper as you descend towards the river from this point 15 minutes of river trekking will take you to Si-eL falls, (named after the school were all of the first explorers were studying). Another 30 minutes of river trekking will lead you to the 120 foot Ubod falls. From there, one can have lunch and explore the area.
After taking your lunch, backtracking 45 minutes to the river will lead you to a fork, take the left turn and proceed with river trekking, you will have to climb on the side of smaller waterfalls during this 2 hours of river trekking after which you will enter a forest trail leading to another hour of trekking to Papaac, Camilng.
Source: Pinoy Mountaineer
Location: Camiling Tarlac
8. Nambalan River
Nambalan River. A 15- to 20-minute ride from the town proper of Mayantoc, this river has calm waters – perfect for swimming – and view of mountains. Cottages are offered on the shore of the river and you do need to pay an entrance fee. As of this writing, getting into the river costs PHP 10. You can board a tricycle at the Mayantoc town proper to the river; the fare as of this writing is PHP 40.
Location: Mayantoc Tarlac
To know more about the Province of Tarlac visit this Blog http://www.govisitphilippines.com/quick-facts.php?province=Tarlac#
What are you waiting for!!! Let's go and visit Tarlac Province !!!!