Region III - Central Luzon is located north of Manila. It consists of 7 provinces: Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bataan, Tarlac, Zambales and Aurora. The region has a total land area of 21,543 square kilometers and is known as the "rice granary of the Philippines" as it produces most of the country's rice supply. The population is composed of groups such as Ilocano, Kapampangan, Tagalog and others. The region is known for its agricultural production as well as historical and cultural sites.

1. REGION III – CENTRAL LUZON
CAPITAL: SAN FERNANDO,
PAMPAGA

3. GEOGRAPHY
• TOTAL LAND AREA OF 21,543 SQUARE
KILOMETERS
• LOCATED NORTH OF MANILA
• EAST: AURORA & QUEZON
• SOUTH: MANILA BAY & METRO MANILA
• WEST: SOUTH CHINA SEA

4. PEOPLE
• ILOCANO
• KAPAMPANGAN
• AETA
• TAGALOG

5. DIALECTS
• TAGALOG
• ENGLISH

6. • KAPAMPANGAN
- OLD > MATUANA
- HANDSOME > MASANTING
- BEAUTIFUL > MALAGU

7. • PANGASINAN
- GOOD EVENING > MASANTOS YA
LABI
- GOOD MORNING > MASANTOS YA
KABWASAN
- I LOVE YOU > INARO TA KA

8. • ILOCANO
- THANK YOU > AGYAMANAK
- YOU’RE WELCOME > AWAN TI
ANYAMAN NA
- I’M SORRY > PAKAWANEN NAK

9. • SAMBAL
- HOW ARE YOU? > KAMUSTA CAY
NA?
- WHAT IS YOUR NAME? > ANYAY
NGALAN MO
- I MISS YOU > ANCAMISS CATAY
NA

10. POLITICAL PROFILE
• 7 PROVINCES
• 14 CITIES
• 116 MUNICIPALITIES
• 3,102 BARANGAYS

11. HOW TO GET THERE
• BUS: BALIWAG TRANSIT, GENESIS,
VICTORY LINER & PHILIPPINE RABBIT
• PLANE: DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL INT’L
AIRPORT & SUBIC BAY INT’L AIRPORT

12. FACTS
• KNOWN AS “RICE GRANARY OF THE PHILIPPINES
• 3RD LARGEST AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION IN THE
PHILIPPINES
• CONTAINS LARGEST PLAIN IN THE COUNTRY
• PRODUCES MOST OF THE COUNTRY’SRICE SUPPLY

13. ZAMBALES
CAPITAL: IBA

15. GEOGRAPHY
• Total land area of 3,830.83 square
kilometers
• North: Pangasinan
• East: Tarlac & Pampanga
• South: Bataan
• West: South China Sea

16. PEOPLE
• Tagalog
• Ilocano
• Sambal

17. DIALECTS
•Tagalog
•English
•Sambal
•Ilokano
•Kapampangan
•Pangasinan

18. FACTS
• 2nd largest among the 7 provinces
of central Luzon
• Also known as Mango Capital of
the Philippines

19. HISTORY
• 1572, Zambales was 1st explored by the Spanish
led by Juan de Salcedo
• Earliest towns founded were: Subic (1572),
Botolan (1572), Masinloc (1607), Iba (1611) &
Santa Cruz (1612)

20. ETYMOLOGY
• Came from the word zambal which is
hispanized term for Sambali.
• Zambal refers to the language spoken by
the Austronesians

21. • A contending version states that the
name was derived from the word samba
meaning worshipbecause the Spanish
supposedly found the native inhabitants to
be highly superstitious.

22. HOW TO GET THERE
•Bus: 3-5 hours (Victory Liner)
•Private Vehicles: 2-3 hours

23. NATURAL ATTRACTIONS

24. ANAWANGIN COVE

25. POTIPOT ISLAND

26. MT. PINATUBO

27. MAN-MADE ATTRACTIONS

28. CAPONES LIGHT HOUSE

29. PHILIPPINE MARINE MERCHANT ACADEMY

30. SAN AGUSTIN CHURCH

31. FESTIVALS

32. PAYNAUEN ‘DUYAN’ FESTIVAL

33. ZAMBALES MANGO FESTIVAL

34. BINABAYANI

35. CUISINES

36. GINIPANG

37. LINGA

38. PASTILLAS

39. ACTIVITIES
• Trekking
• Island hopping
• Surfing at crystal beach resort
• Hike
• Scuba diving

40. FLORA & FAUNA

41. TRISTANIOPSIS DECORTICATA

42. FLAME-BREASTED FRUIT DOVE

43. PHILIPPINE EAGLE-OWL

44. AURORA
CAPITAL: BALER

45. GEOGRAPHY
• Total land area of 3,147.32 square kilometers
• South: Quezon
• Southwest: Bulacan
• West: Nueva Ecija
• East: Philippine Sea
• North: Isabela & Quirino
• Northwest: Nueva Viscaya

46. PEOPLE
• Tagalog
• Ilocano
• Kapampangan
• Bicolano
• Kasigurahin
• Kankanaey
• Dumagats or Negritos

47. DIALECT
• Tagalog
• English
• Ilocano
• Pangasinan
• Kapampangan

48. FACTS
• Known as “Gateway to the Pacific”
• Baler is the oldest municipality
• Aurora is the only Philippine province named
after a first lady
• Baler bay is the best surfing place with 9 ft
high waves

49. HISTORY
• 1572 the Spanish explorer, Juan de Salcedo
became the first European to visit the region
• 1579 the first Franciscan to reach the eastern
coastal region of the Sierra Madre was Fray
Ortiz.

50. •1609 the earliest missionaries in the province were
the Franciscan, who had established missions in
Casiguran and Baler.
•1658 due to lack of available personel, the region was
given to the jurisdiction of the Agustinians and
Recollects
•1703 it was returned to the Friars Minor

51. •1719 mission of Dipaculao was established
•1753 mission of Casiguran
•1951 Aurora became sub-province of Quezon
•August 13, 1979 Aurora with its capital Baler
was founded by Ferdinand Marcos.

52. ETYMOLOGY
• The province was named in honor of
Aurora Quezon, wife of former president
Manuel Quezon.
• Aurora itself is the latin word for dawn.

53. HOW TO GET THERE
•By bus: 6 hours (Genesis)

54. NATURAL ATTRACTIONS

55. DISCALARIN COVE

56. DINADIAWAN BEACH

57. DITUMABO FALLS

58. MAN-MADE ATTRACTIONS

59. ERMITA HILL

60. BALER CATHOLIC CHURCH

61. QUEZON HOUSE

62. FESTIVALS

63. AURORA FOUNDATION DAY

64. SABUTAN FESTIVAL

65. SUMAN FESTIVAL

66. CUISINES

67. BALER SUMAN

68. ENSALADANG PAKO

69. ACTIVITIES
•Surfing
•Watching sunrise
•Swimming
•Go inside the 600 year old Balete tree

70. TARLAC
CAPITAL: TARLAC CITY

72. GEOGRAPHY
•Total land area of 3,053.60 square
kilometers
•South: Pampanga
•East: Nueva Ecija
•North: Pangasinan
•West: Zambales

73. PEOPLE
•Ilocano
•Kapampangan
•Tagalog

74. DIALECTS
•Ilocano
•English
•Tagalog
•Kapampangan
•Pangasinan

75. FACTS
• Known as “Melting Pot of Central Luzon” and
“Sugar Capital of Luzon”
• Most multicultural of the central Luzon
• Known for its fine foods, vast sugar and rice
plantations

76. HISTORY
• 1896 Tarlac was among the first eight provinces
to rise against Spain.
• March 1899 it became the new seat of the first
Philippine Republic when Gen. Emilio Jacinto
abandoned the former capital, Malolos, Bulacan.

77. • November 1899 Tarlac was captured by American
forces.
• 1901 a civil government was established in the
province.
• April 9, 1942 during WWII, Camp O’Donnell in
Capas became the terminal point of the infamous
Bataan death march of Filipino and American
soldiers who surrendered at Bataan.

78. • 1942-1946 the general headquarters of the
Philippine Commonwealth Army was
established.
• Early 1950s Tarlac became a hotbed for the
hukbalahap, a local communist movement
headed by Benigno Aquino Sr., father of the late
Ninoy Aquino.

79. ETYMOLOGY
•Hispanicized rendering of tarlak, Aeta termfor a
certain grass related to talahiband tanglar(Zamabal for
lemongrass).
•The area around the current capital city, after which the
province was named, was described as matarlak, an
adjective meaning “abundant with tarlakgrass.”

80. HOW TO GET THERE
•By bus: 2-5 hours (Five Star, Victory
Liner, Baliwag Transit & Genesis)

81. MAN-MADE ATTRACTIONS

82. CAPAS NATIONAL SHRINE

83. CAPAS DEATH MARCH MONUMENT

84. HACIENDA LUISITA

85. MARIA CLARA MUSEUM

86. BAMBAN PARK

87. FESTIVALS

88. BELENISMO FESTIVAL

89. MELTING POT FESTIVAL

90. ANAO TOWN FESTIVAL

91. CUISINES

92. INIRUBAN

93. TUPIG

94. CHICHARON CAMILING

95. ACTIVITIES
• Hiking
• Camping
• Trekking
• Golf

96. BATAAN
CAPITAL: BALANGA CITY

98. GEOGRAPHY
•Total land area of 1,372.98 square
kilometers
•North: Pampanga & Zambales
•East & South: Manila Bay
•West: South China Sea

99. PEOPLE
•Tagalong
•Kapampangan
•Ilocano

100. DIALECT
•Tagalong
•English
•Kapampangan
•Ilocano

101. FACTS
• Where large turnips or singkamas are found
• They export cashew to Antipolo
• They have unusual flavors of ice creamlike: gabi,
caimito, aratilis and chesa.
• Also known as historical hub of central Luzon

102. HISTORY
•1572 Bataan was explored by Juan de Salcedo
•1754 the province was established by Gov.-Gen.
Pedro Manuel Arianda from 8 towns of Pampanga
and 3 towns from the Corregimiento of
Maragadoni in Cavite.

103. •December 1, 1896 Bataan joined the revolution
•April 9, 1942 DeathMarch
- FromMariveles, Bataan to San Fernando,
Pampanga, from San San Fernando prisoners were
loaded in a train and brought in Camp O’Donnell in
Capas, Tarlac
- 60,000 to 80,000 Filipino and American
soldiers

104. ETYMOLOGY
•The current name “Bataán” (spoken with emphasis on
the last syllable) was first used upon the establishment of
the province in 1754
•“Batáan” (with emphasis on the second syllable) itself can
mean “servant” or “place of suffering”. In tagalog, from the
verb batâ meaning “to tolerate” or “to suffer”

105. HOW TO GET THERE
•By bus: 3 hours (Genesis, Victory Liner and Bataan
Transit)
•By private car: 2 hours
•By ferry: 45 minutes to 1 hour (Diosdado Macapagal
Ferry to Orion Point)

106. NATURAL ATTRACTIONS

107. WESTNUK BEACH RESORT

108. MT. NATIB

109. CAMAYA COAST

110. CORREGIDOR ISLAND

111. MAN-MADE ATTRACTIONS

112. LAS CASAS FILIPINAS DE
ACUZAR

113. STO. DOMINGO ABUCAY
CHURCH

114. PHILIPPINE-JAPANESE FRIENDSHIP
TOWER

115. FESTIVALS

116. PAWIKAN FESTIVAL

117. ALIMANGO SUGPO FESTIVAL

118. CUISINES

119. TINAPA

120. TIDTAD

121. CASHEW BUTTER

122. ACTIVITIES
•Biking
•Mountain climbing
•Swimming

123. BULACAN
CAPITAL: MALOLOS

125. GEOGRAPHY
•Total land area of 2,796.10 square kilometers
•North: Nueva Ecija
•Northeast: Aurora
•East: Quezon
•Southeast: Rizal
•South: Metro Manila
•Southwest: Manila Bay
•West: Pampanga

126. PEOPLE
•Tagalog
•Bisaya
•Bicolano
•Ilocano

127. DIALECT
•Tagalog
•Waray
•Ilocano
•Bicolano
•Kapampangan

128. FACTS
•Also known as land of the
heroes

129. HISTORY
•1571 during the conquest of Luzon by Adelantado
Miguel Legazpi, Bulacan was reported to be well
populated and rich
•1575 the first pueblo was established in Bulacan
was the town of Calumpit, founded by Agustinian
Friars.

130. •1578 the Franciscan friars Juan Plasencia
and Fray Diego de Oropesa founded
Meycauayan.
•1899-1900 Malolos became the
headquarters of the Military Governor of
the Philippines Malolos at Casa Real in
Malolos.

131. •February 27, 1901 the Philippine Commission
officially transferred the seat of government to
Malolos and the Casa Real de Malolos was the seat
of the provincial Governor.
•1942 at the height of WWII, the Japanese Imperial
Army occupied Bulacan and made Casa Real it’s
headquarter.

132. •1945 combined Filipino and
American forces and local guerillas
attacked the Japanese Imperial
Forces and liberated Bulacan.

133. ETYMOLOGY
•Hispanicized form of the word burakan,
tagalong or kapampangan for “muddy place”
•Hispanicized rendering of bulakan tagalong for
“place with cotton”

134. HOW TO GET THERE
•By bus: 30 minutes to 1 hour
(Baliwag Transit)

135. NATURAL ATTRACTIONS

136. BIAK NA BATO

137. PUNING CAVE

138. TILANDONG FALLS

139. MAN-MADE ATTRACTIONS

140. NATIONAL SHRINE OF DIVINE
MERCY

141. BARASOAIN CHURCH

142. SAN AGUSTIN PARISH
CHURCH

143. FESTIVALS

144. PAGODA FESTIVAL

145. PASTILLAS FESTIVALS

146. PULILAN CARABAO
FESTIVALS

147. CUISINES

148. APAHAP DE PATERNO

149. BRINGHENG MALOLOS

150. MORCON PLARIDEL

151. ATIVITIES
•Church hopping
•Swimming
•Golf in Royal Northwoods
•Hiking

152. FLORA
TEAK

153. NUEVA ECIJA
CAPITAL: PALAYAN CITY

155. GEOGRAPHY
•Total land area of 5,751.33 square kilometers
•North: Nueva Viscaya
•South: Bulacan
•East: Aurora
•West: Tarlac
•Southwest: Pampanga
•Northwest: Pangasinan

156. PEOPLE
•Tagalong
•Ilocano
•Kapampangan

157. DIALECT
•Tagalong
•English
•Kapampangan
•Pangasinan
•Ilocano

158. FACTS
•Largest province in Central Luzon
•Biggest rice producer of Central Luzon,
referred as the “Rice Bowl of the
Philippines”

159. HISTORY
•1777 Nueva Ecija was created as a military
commandacia by Governor General Claveria, with the
capital Josean at Baler, now part of Aurora.
•1942 During WWII the Imperial Japanese Army
entered the province and Nueva Ecija was taken.

160. •March 29, 1942 under the leadership of Luis Taruc
the Hukbalahap was organized in Sitio Bawit,
Barrio San Juan in the town of Cabiao.
•1945 combined American and Filipino soldiers
liberated Nueva Ecija with the recognized guerillas
continuing to harass the Japanese at every
opportunity.

161. •January 30, 1945 American Army Rangers, Alamo
scouts and Filipino guerillas conducted a raid to
liberate Allied civilians and prisoners of war in
Cabanatuan, this was successful with over 516
rescued.
•1896 Nueva Ecija became one of the first provinces
to revolt against Spanish rule

162. •1898 declared its
independence.

163. ETYMOLOGY
•Nueva Ecija, Spanish for “New Ecija” in
honor of the hometown of province’s first
Spanish governor, Governor Acuyar.

164. HOW TO GET THERE
•By bus: 2 hours and 12 minutes
(Baliwag Transit)

165. NATURAL ATTRACTIONS

166. MINALUNGAO PARK

167. GABALDON FALLS

168. BINBIN FALLS

169. MAN-MADE ATTRACTIONS

170. GEN. LUNA STATUE AND
MARKER

171. CAMP PANGATIAN

172. PANTABANGAN DAM

173. FESTIVALS

174. PANDAWAN FESTIVAL

175. LONGGANISA FESTIVAL

176. TAONG PUTIK FESTIVAL

177. CUISINES

178. AR-AROSIP

179. ITLOG TI ABOOS

180. BARBARADYUT

181. ACTIVITIES
•Sight-seeing
•Swimming
•Mountain climbing

182. PAMPANGA
CAPITAL: SAN FERNANDO
CITY

183. GEOGRAPHY
•Total land area of 2,062.47 square
kilometers
•North: Tarlac & Nueva Ecija
•East: Bulacan
•South: Bataan
•West Zambales

184. PEOPLE
•Kapampangan
•Tagalong
•Ilocano
•Bicolano

185. DIALECT
•Kapampangan
•Tagalog
•English

186. FACTS
•Known as “Culinary Capital of the
Philippines”
•Porac has the largest land mass followed by
Florida Blanca and the smallest is San Antonio
•It is famous for Christmas lantern

187. HISTORY
•It was the first province in the island of Luzon
inaugurated by the Spaniards.
•It was founded on December 11, 1571 in the same
year the city of Manila was established by Miguel
Lopez de Leagzpi as the seat of the national
government.

188. •1848 the old Pampanga towns of Aliaga, Cabiao,
Gapan, San Antonio and San Isidro were ceded to the
province of Nueva Ecija during the term of Spanish
governor-general Narciso Claviera y Zaldua.
•November 11, 1849 Claviera issued a decree to
systematize the selection and registration of names of
the Filipino people.

189. ETYMOLOGY
•Hispanicized form of pampangor pangpang,
kapampangan for “river bank” referring to the
densely populated area on the northern shores of
Manila Bay, the settlements of which stood on the
banks of the delta of what is now called the
Pampanga River.

190. HOW TO GET THERE
By bus: 1 hour to 2 hours (Victory
Liner, Genesis, Baliwag Transit)

191. NATURAL ATTRACTIONS

192. MT. ARAYAT

193. CANDABA SWAMP

194. MAN-MADE ATTRACTIONS

195. SAN GUILLERMO PARISH CHURCH

196. BETIS CHURCH

197. NAYONG PILIPINO

198. FESTIVALS

199. IBON EBON FESTIVAL

200. APUNG IRO FLUVIAL
FESTIVAL

201. PHILIPPINE INTERNATIONAL HOT-AIR
BALLOON FESTIVAL

202. CUISINES

203. ADOBONG BALUT

204. DEEP FRIED CAMARU

205. BURONG HIPON

206. ACTIVITIES
•Trekking
•Bird watching
•Ride a hot-air balloon
•Horseback riding in At El Kabayo
•Golf in Clearwater Resort
•Swimming