5 Things We Love About Spanglish Restaurant in Clark, Pampanga

September 8 is Mama Mary’s birthday. It is also the date when we had our marriage vows in a civil wedding ceremony at Imus Regional Trial Court in Cavite, 17 years ago.

Yes, we just celebrated our 17th year of wedded bliss.

September 8 is not a coincidence…it was our choice to be married on that day. And though it is our official wedding date, but we always celebrate it simply. For years, it was always dinner at home, painstakingly prepared with love by our “home-cooked chef”.

But yesterday, Jonjie suggested we dine-out for a change. Come to think of it, maybe he just wanted to relax and not be stressed with all the task of cooking…but it’s just a thought. For I know he enjoyed cooking and for him, it was not a task. And the kitchen is one of his happy places.

Dine-out, it would be. We think of possible restaurants near and inside Clark, Pampanga. But there is one restaurant which stood out among the rest…

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Minalungao National Park, An Ecotourism Marvel in Nueva Ecija

July 2, 2016…a Saturday. And our wandering feet strikes again. We embarked on a day trip to satisfy our wanderlust. We left our house with just a light breakfast, our swimwear, and a few clothes…nothing else. Oh, and the tent that never left the trunk of our car, ready to be pitched anytime, anywhere.

The previous night, Jonjie and I talked about a possible place to explore. But for those of you who are familiar with our road trips, our destination is never final until we reached the place.

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7 Things To Do at Prado Farms in Lubao, Pampanga

The place was once a sprawling sugarcane plantation owned by three of the prominent families of Pampanga. It has its own airfield and back then having one was of course synonymous to vast financial capacity.

In the 1960’s, it was acquired by the husband and wife, Victor Gutierrez and Amanda Ocampo. In 1970s, They converted the frontage of the property into an LPG refilling station.

The LPG refilling station is long gone. What remain is the gate made of “LPG tanks” which is just the tip of what lies inside Prado Farms.

Inside are collections of junks turned into colorful and beautiful pieces of artsy junks. At Prado Farms, nothing go to waste...everything was transformed into something else.

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Prado Farms, A Gem of a Farm in Lubao, Pampanga

Through the years, much had been written about Prado Farms but the one thing that’s common is the gate made-up of “old LPG tanks”. And if my memory served me right, it was even featured in one of the episode of Korina Sanchez’s Rated K.

Prado Farms is located in Brgy Prado Siongco, Lubao Pampanga, less than an hour travel from Manila. It was just a few kilometers from Mabalacat City where we are currently residing.

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Monasterio De Tarlac, Home of the Relic of the True Cross

It was in 2011 when I first heard from one of my colleagues who hailed from Bamban, Tarlac about a monastery in Tarlac that house “the relic of the true cross”. When I asked her about the exact location, she could not remember it. In one of our free weekends, we traveled to Capas, Tarlac thinking that we could ask around the area to the way to “the relic”. We tried to inquire several times from different group of people…some have no ideas…some heard about it…but none of them knows where.

November 06, 2011…Jonjie, Daniz and I found the way. We traversed through rice fields, crossed a one-way bridge, braved the winding road and finally found ourselves on top of the mountain at Brgy. Lubigan, San Jose, Tarlac. And the very first thing that we saw was the 30-foot statue of The Risen Christ facing the hills and fields of Tarlac and its neighboring communities.

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Wakeboarding at Deca Clark, Pampanga

Wakeboarding is a surface water sport which involves riding a wakeboard over the surface of a body of water. It was developed from a combination of water skiing, snowboarding and surfing techniques.

Deca Wakeboard Park is part of the Deca Clark Resort Residences located in Margot, Angeles City. Its close proximity to Clark Freeport Zone ensures access to other amenities that the area can offer such as parks, restaurants, hotels.

Deca Wakeboard Park is a man-made lake which is surrounded by a series of masts that hold an overhead cable. The overhead cable rotates in a counterclockwise motion around the lake. Along the cable there is a number of carriers. Riders are pulled around the lake by the ropes attached to these carriers.

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10 Things To Do in Clark and Angeles City in 4 Hours

Yesterday, Jonjie had a visitor from Malolos, Bulacan...Ms. Icecycles Florentino. She was one of the members of Mapua Dabarkads. She took a UV Express Van from Malolos and Jonjie picked her up at Dau Bus Terminal. She arrived at around 10:30 am.

At 12:00 pm, we had our lunch courtesy of Jonjie and Ate Bev in our humble abode: Baby Back Ribs, Baked Stuffed Green Bell Peppers, Potato Salad with Raisin Bread and Fruit Salad in Light Syrup for Dessert.

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Shrine of the Miraculous Apung Mamacalulu, Angeles City, Pampanga

We have been living in Pampanga since 2004, 2 years in Angeles City and almost 8 years in Mabalacat City…two neighboring cities. Ever since, I knew that Friday is “Apu Day” in Angeles City because of the bargain shopping and the best time to go is early morning. But I never realized how significant Friday is until we visited the Apung Mamacalulu Shrine last Monday.

July 28, 2014, Monday, I was on holiday from work due to swapping implemented by our company…the declared holiday is July 29 as Eid’l Fitr (end of Ramadan). We had a lazy morning at home after Ate Bev and Daniz left for school and at noon we left for Angeles City. We had our lunch at Downtown Café and then proceeded to the nearby Holy Rosary Parish Church but it was closed. Before we left, Jonjie ask the church personnel where to find Apung Mamacalulu Shrine. 

Through the direction given to us and by the visible signs along the route, we reached the area with a few wrong turns and asking where is the right way to the shrine, twice. When we arrived, the church was closed but we were told by one of the staff that the side entrance to the right is open.  When we entered, it was just the two of us…

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6 Things to Fully Enjoy the Enchanting Potipot Island of Zambales

Potipot Island is known as the “Little Boracay” of the North. Located in Candelaria, Zambales, the island is a 10-minute ride from the mainland shore using a motorized boat.  It was already creating a buzz among local and even foreign travelers because of its pristine beach, powdery sand and clear water…we have yet to visit Boracay so there is no point of comparison.

It was two days before the first weekend of April this year and one of those times that we felt like going away…somewhere quiet and tranquil. Our initial plan is to go to Pangasinan to a public but unknown resort recommended by a friend of Jonjie. I called my brother Aster and told him about it and invited them to join us, if they do not have plans for the weekend.

Friday night, while we are preparing for the trip, Potipot Island suddenly came to my mind and mention it to Jonjie. Actually, the island was included in our 2013 “planned” trip so we already have a bit of information on it. Jonjie checked the net for some more details, compared the distance against the Pangasinan resort and then…Potipot here we come.

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Historical Church: Barasoain Church of Malolos, Bulacan

Since I had a not so good morning the day before my birthday, I was not up for celebrating or going on a road trip even a short one. But again Jonjie has always something available to cheer me up or to make me going. He mentioned in passing that the blood relic of Saint Pope John Paul II was enshrined at Barasoain Church. That caught my interest and decided to go on a trip to Malolos, Bulacan.

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Extreme Outdoor Adventure: Sandbox at Alviera, Porac Pampanga

Sandbox is a new outdoor adventure park developed by Ayala Land, Inc. located at Alviera, Porac, Pampanga. Sandbox is defined as “a ground partly filled with sand for children to play in”, but in this case, it is a huge playground, with lahar, for children not below 4 feet and those "children at heart" with thirst for extremely intense outdoor activities. The attractions includes: a 10-meter tall Giant Swing (the tallest in the country), a 30-minute course Aerial Walk, a 5-storey Adventure Tower for Wall Climbing and Rappelling, jump-off for the Free Fall and jump-off for the 180-meter long Avatar One Roller Coaster Zip Line (the first in the country).

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La Union Adventure: Villa Marand Resort and Spa

After checking three places near the area, we chose this place mainly because everything is new and we were able to avail their promo rate. We stayed in a Deluxe Queen Room, good for 4 persons with free breakfast and free entrance to the resort.

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La Union Botanical and Zoological Garden

Located in Sitio Japan, Brgy. Cadaclan, City of San Fernando that showcase different themed garden: Japanese Garden, Shade Garden, Sunken Garden, Evergreen Garden, Arid Paradise, Fragrance Garden, Fernery and Palmery.

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Historical Church: Our Lady of Namacpacan Church of Luna, La Union

Dada is walking towards the side of the church to look for the entrance.

Our Lady Apo Baket of Namacpacan was the title given to our Blessed Virgin Mary by the natives of La Union because she appeared to the indigenous people of the Cordilleras as an old woman and offered them food and invited them to be baptized. Apo Baket is how the people call the elderly woman as a sign of respect. The image got the name from the town itself. Namacpacan is an Ilocano word which means "one who had given food".

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La Union Adventure...Huling Hirit sa Tag-Araw

The Road Trip to La Union

Our initial plan is to go to Baler, Aurora but because of the distance and most of the hotels and resorts were fully booked, Baler could wait...

Then Dada mentioned that La Union is also a good place to visit and just a 3-hour drive from Mabalacat, Pampanga. It was already Friday night, and when I tried to call some of the hotel and resort in the area, all standard accommodations are taken for the weekend.

But since we are set on a weekend getaway...so off we go without a room to stay and without planned itinerary. 

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