Traveling A-Z: Nueva Ecija

By VINCE G. LOPEZ

December 15, 2010, 11:09am

Often described as the “Rice Granary of the Philippines,” the province of Nueva Ecija features a vast expanse of fertile land.

The simplistic rural living is the prevailing ambience of the province as agriculture serves as its main source of living. But beneath this peaceful idyll is a valiant history that is of great importance to the country’s history. Nueva Ecija is one of the eight provinces that initially revolted against the Spaniards. This is represented in the Philippine flag, making it one of the most interesting historical destinations in the North.

Natural wonders, historical landmarks, as well as man-made attraction abound in this quaint and simple province. The land locked province’s capital is Palayan City and its borders include Bulacan, Nueva Vizcaya, Pamapanga, and Pangasinan provinces.

Fast facts:

Local Dialect: Filipino/ Tagalog

Festival:

Taong Putik Festival of Aliaga – A celebration that portrays a scene in St. John the Baptist’s life. Mud covered devotees ask for alms or candles from townsfolk, and a special mass culminates the entire feast.

Must See:

Minalungao Park - Its view of the deep and narrow Penaranda River is a breathtaking perspective of nature’s might. Declared as a national park, the site is surrounded by 16-meter high limestone walls.

General Luna Falls - This hidden treasure of Central Luzon is nestled beautifully in the footsteps of Sierra Mountain.

Capintalan – Its low lying hills make it ideal for hiking and communing with nature.

Gabaldon Falls - The majestic 10-foot falls is surrounded by big rock formations and numbing cold water.

Aloha Falls – Aside from being a great picnic site, this nature park is also great for trekking and hiking as it is surrounded by green foliage.

Dalton Pass - Located in Capintalan, Carranglan, the five-hectare area is blessed with a cool climate and houses the monument of General Dalton as well as a tower that borders the provinces of Nueva Ecija and Nueva Vizcaya. Uphill is a World War II memorial in black marble where a historical account of the war had been etched in English and Japanese.

How to Get There: 

Major bus companies ply the Nueva Ecija route, leaving their terminals every thirty minutes depending on the week of the day. The province is approximately 2-3 hours of travel from Manila.

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