Located 81 kilometers from Metro Manila and just an hour and twenty-five minutes away by road, the province of Pampanga stands out not only as the Culinary Capital of the Philippines but also for its giant lanterns, hot air balloon festival, and extensive tilapia production. Pampanga offers much more than these well-known features.
Comprised of 19 municipalities and 2 component cities, Pampanga is a first-class, highly urbanized province with a diverse array of industries. Beyond its traditional farming and fishing sectors, Pampanga supports a thriving cottage industry, producing handmade woodcrafts such as guitars and furniture. The area, particularly Clark, has also become a tourism hub, boasting numerous hotels, casinos, resorts, and attractions like Paskuhan Village, Dino Island, Insectlandia, and Paradise Ranch. Culinary delights such as Sisig, Tocino, Lechon Kawali, Bringhe, and San Nicolas Cookies further highlight Pampanga’s rich gastronomic heritage. The province’s handcrafted lighted lanterns, or parols, are celebrated every December during the Giant Lantern Festival, earning Pampanga the title of Christmas Capital of the Philippines.
However, beyond these attractions, Pampanga offers numerous historical and cultural sites, particularly in San Fernando, that provide visitors with a profound connection to the region’s storied past.
Old San Fernando Train Station
The Old San Fernando Train Station, part of the former Manila-Dagupan Line of the Manila Railway Company, was inaugurated on February 23, 1892. This station is historically significant as Jose Rizal used it in 1892 to visit friends in Bacolor, inviting them to contribute to La Liga Filipina. During the Japanese occupation in 1942, the station witnessed the Bataan Death March. Today, it serves as a tourism office and a museum dedicated to the Bataan Death March.
Arzobizpado de Pampanga
Known locally as The Bahay Pari, the Arzobizpado de Pampanga is a residence for retired priests and bishops. Its remarkable facade, Virgen delos Remedios Repository Chapel, and the Garden of Healing and Peace make it a popular wedding venue.
Monumento Fernandino
Monumento Fernandino is a sculptural tribute to San Fernando’s rich history and cultural heritage, located in the city proper. The monument features symbols of the city’s diverse industries and traditions: a girl with a lantern representing parol making, a lady holding a torch symbolizing life, truth, and power, and a boatman representing the fishing industry. It was erected on February 4, 2004, under the administration of Mayor Rey Aquino.
Casa Nicolasa
Casa Nicolasa, a heritage house built during the Spanish colonial period by Gobernadorcillo Saturnino Henson y David, who was San Fernando’s first municipal treasurer, later passed to Pablo Panlilio y Dayrit and Dolores Arguelles. Their daughter, Nicolasa, treated wounded soldiers during the Filipino-American War here. Beside the house stands a monument to Nicolasa.
Metropolitan Cathedral
The Metropolitan Cathedral, formerly the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, was founded in 1754 and serves as the seat of the Archdiocese of San Fernando. It has witnessed significant historical events, including General Emilio Aguinaldo’s review of the Philippine Revolutionary Army on October 9, 1898, and its burning by General Antonio Luna in 1899. Reconstructed in 1948 by architect Fernando Ocampo after a fire in 1939, the cathedral underwent further restoration in 2014.
Calesa Factory and Repair Shop
Although modernization has diminished the number of calesas (traditional horse-drawn carriages) in Pampanga, a few still remain, preserving a vital part of the region’s heritage for future generations.
Lantern Factory
Pampanga’s reputation as the home of giant lanterns is celebrated annually at the Giant Lantern Festival, drawing spectators from across the Philippines. Lantern making is both a cherished tradition and a vital industry for many local families.
PASUDECO (Pampanga Sugar Development Company)
PASUDECO, the first local sugar mill financed by Filipinos, holds significant cultural heritage for San Fernando. Initially built in March 1921 by Honolulu Iron Works, it was destroyed by the Mount Pinatubo eruption in 1991, rebuilt in 1995, and again destroyed by lahar. Operations ceased in 2015, but Megaworld Corp. is developing the site into a commercial and business district.
San Fernando, Pampanga, has evolved significantly, embracing modernization while preserving historical sites that offer a glimpse into its vibrant past. These enduring landmarks ensure that the city’s rich history continues to be celebrated and remembered by future generations.
