For the longest time, whenever I craved a quick escape from Manila, I almost always headed south. Tagaytay for the atmosphere, Batangas for the beaches, Laguna for hot springs. When I want to go north, my mind immediately head straight to La Union or Baguio. It has been a well-worn routine. But recently, I realized something: I had been completely and undeservedly ignoring an entire region that is packed with nature, culture, and adventure — Central Luzon. And that had to change.
Fortunately, the Department of Tourism invited us to the Central Luzon leg of the Philippine Experience Program (PEP), and this gave us a better grasp of things to do in this seven-province region. From underrated beach towns to historic centers to food stops, a trip to Central Luzon can be enriching as much as it is relaxing.
If you’re like me and have been guilty of overlooking Region III, this list might just convince you to switch things up on your next road trip. It’s also great if you’re flying in via Clark International Airport (CRK) and you’re looking for places to visit in the surrounding provinces. Whether you’re coming from Manila or Clark, you can visit several of these attractions in a single journey. NLEX makes traveling between these Central Luzon destinations easier and quicker.
So are you ready to explore more of Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales? Let’s hit the road!
1. Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar
First opened to the public in 2010, Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar is a beach resort, convention center, and heritage destination. Owned by Jose Acuzar, Las Casas started as a private vacation property. Then in 2008, he bought an old home in Cagayan Valley. He then dismantled it, brought it to Bagac, Bataan, and rebuilt it piece by piece. It seems so impossible until you actually see the buildings restored in what we now know as Las Casas.
Today, there are a total of 63 houses transplanted from different areas in the Philippines, transferred to Bataan, and rebuilt. All of these are now part of the resort along with 34 structures built in the style of old houses. These casas serve as accommodation options in the resort along with their hotel rooms.
If you don’t have much time or booking accommodation in Las Casas is out of your budget, you can also avail their day tour package. The day tour package will give you access to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar and is…
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