Tarlac

MANILA, Philippines - Tarlac is a city of many firsts. It was one of the first eight provinces to revolt against the Spanish colonizers in the Philippine Revolution of 1896. The nation’s first paper money and coins were issued from the province. Tarlac National High School is the first public high school in the country, founded in 1902 by the American colonial government. Tarlac Provincial Hospital, established in 1923, was the first provincial hospital in the country. In 1953, Ma. Christina Galang, hailing from the province, became the first Miss Philippines.

In more recent years, Tarlac is usually seen as the top place for a quick rest stop before heading to Baguio or other destinations farther north. So, knowing the province’s rich history and its many overlooked tourist offerings, the people of Tarlac, led by its Convention and Visitors Bureau, have been working hard to make the province the destination of choice, not just a stopover.

Indeed, Tarlac has a bit of everything for anyone who passes through. For those interested in history, the province is home to the Aquino Center, managed by the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation. Born in Concepcion, Tarlac, Ninoy was its youngest mayor at 22. At 27 he became the youngest vice-governor and, two years later, was elected as governor of Tarlac. He also holds the record for being the country’s youngest senator at the age of 34.

The Aquino Center outlines the life of Ninoy and Cory and the impact they both made on the history of the country through photos, letters, news clippings and artifacts. Visitors learn about the Aquinos’ political career and personal life. Peering into the small windows cut into a replica of Ninoy’s shoebox of a prison cell gives museum-goers a sense of emptiness and isolation, leading up to the heart of the museum that displays the glass-encased blood-stained outfit Aquino wore when he was assassinated.

The tour continues with Cory’s campaign and rise to presidency. Another highlight is the shelves of gifts and honors given to Cory during state visits, showing how leaders from all over the world held the lady president in high regard. The center ends the tour with thoughts on how the Aquino legacy continues until today.

The museum is informative as it is provocative. Traveling history buffs may find it interesting to visit the Aquino Center, then go on to another well-maintained museum further north, immortalizing Aquino’s fraternity brod and political nemesis in Ilocos.

For those looking for a spiritual journey, a pilgrimage must be made to the Monasterio de Tarlac, home of the relic of the True Cross of Christ.

The relic made its way to the Philippines when Fr. Archie Cortez, prior Servants of the Risen Christ, was invited to attend the World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany. There he met Msgr. Volker Bauer of the Diocese of Essen, where the relic of the Holy Cross had been kept for some 1,000 years. As the monastic community in Europe was slowly waning, Bauer was looking for another community to pass the relic on to. Cortez promptly volunteered to give the relic a home in the Philippines. The relic was formally enshrined at the Monasterio de Tarlac in 2007.

The relic is exposed for public veneration only twice a year: in celebration of its enshrinement on Jan. 30 and on Sept. 14, the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross and foundation day of the Servants of the Risen Christ monastic community.

However, the chapel is open to the public every day except Thursday. Visitors are allowed to say a short prayer while touching the silver arqueta which encases the cross fragment.

The monastery is also open for retreats and spiritual counseling.

On the monastery grounds, a 30-foot statue reminiscent of Brazil’s Christ the Redeemer watches over Tarlac, its arms outstretched.

Thrill seekers will not be disappointed. The Tarlac Recreational Park, located in the mountain ranges of San Jose, is a 78-hectare property with international-standard facilities. Visitors can try the zipline or rappel; kayak on the lagoon or drive an all-terrain vehicle. Mountain bike trails are also available. To cool down and relax, guests can enjoy a picnic on the extensive grounds, try fishing or bird watching. There is also an athletics oval and an olympic-sized swimming pool where Tarlac hosted the Palarong Pambansa in 2010.

The Tarlac Ecotourism Office also offers tours to the summit of Mt. Telakawa with a view of Mt. Pinatubo and a chance to interact with the Aeta community; a unique trip to the Mt. Pinatubo crater itself via a 4x4 vehicle; and a trip to Nambalan River where adrenaline junkies can jump from 200 feet alongside the Twin Falls.

If all that is not enough, Kart City is located on MacArthur Highway, in front of SM City Tarlac. Started by a group of friends and karting enthusiasts, Kart City was built so that they did not have to go all the way to Manila or elsewhere to satisfy their need for speed. Eventually, they realized that many others in the area were interested and opened the track to the public. Then, visitors started looking for food to eat while at the track, so the group of friends started a restaurant. It is now the only kart and restaurant complex and is being constantly updated with new facilities and the latest karts.

Two kilometers long, the track can be reconfigured into nine circuits, so returning racers will not have to make the same turn twice. There is a kiddie track with smaller, easy to operate karts, and young and old alike can suit up in provided racer attire for the obligatory OOTD.

Year of the Goat

The outlook does not look good for goats in Tarlac as kalderetang kambing is a dish commonly found on the table. But, goats at JSJ Goat Farm can rest assured that they will stay safe as they provide milk for JSJ’s Aussie pure goat’s milk and other dairy products like feta cheese, kesong puti and pastillas.

Those looking for a more off-beat experience can visit the farm, preferably in the early morning, to see the goats file orderly into their stations to be milked. Curious guests can also try their hand at milking the goats. The experience is more fun than it might seem, especially for those who are used to urban life.

Seeing the goats’ different personalities is amusing as is going to the nursery where all the little kids bleat and jump to catch your attention.

A tour of the farm is rewarded with a bottle of the freshest chilled goat’s milk. It is delicious and smooth, with the rich taste of carabao’s milk, but with a much lighter consistency. Goat’s milk is said to be next to mother’s milk in terms of nutritional value and is even good for those who are lactose intolerant. It has a higher percentage of calcium and protein than cow’s milk.

Upon returning home, those who have a sudden craving for JSJ Farm’s Aussie dairy products can find them at Banawe Soy Bean in Quezon City, Jash Mart in Quezon City and Mandaluyong, and at Ying Ying Tea House in Binondo.

Offering all these and more, one whole day – and surely a merely passing through – is not enough time to enjoy all that Tarlac has to offer. So, next time you are in Tarlac, make it a full stop, and not just a stopover.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/TCVB.tarlaccvb and www.tarlacecotourism.com. This trip was made possible by the Manila North Tollways Corporation and the North Philippines Visitors’ Bureau.