Category: tarlac

NLEX Lakbay Norte Diary Day 2

Eric Leave a comment

Day 1 of the series

Day 2 – We woke up early in the monrning. After our heavy breakfast we then headed towards the town of Gerona in Tarlac to visit the JSJ Goat Farm. This is my first time to visit a goat farm and I am really excited! During the trip we got to experience how to milk a goat. It was indeed a fun experience. JSJ Goat Farms currently has 900 goats and sheeps, and produced 70 liters of milk daily. Aside from fresh milk they also make cheeses like kesong puti, chevre, and feta.

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From the goat farm we then travelled to Subic in Zambales. Our first stop was at the waterspots adventure courtesy of Networx Jetsports atthe Lighthouse Marina Resort in Subic. I got to try the Banana boat. It was fun. I’m just so glad i didn’t fell off the ride.

From the Lighthouse we headed towards Camayan Beach reasort for our lunch, then wet straight to Ocean Adventure for sea turtle, and shark feeding session. It was so fun! The Olive Ridley sea turtles acording to our guide were either rescued or turned over to Ocean Adventure .The kids would surely have so much fun with this kind of experience.

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Our last stop for the day was a visit to the Animal Rescue Center, where we got to encounter som of the animals rescued in the wild. Among them: fruit bats, sea eagle,eagle owl, hawk eagle, brahminy kit as well as ball python.we have learned so much about rpotecting our environment as well as conservation.

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We ended the day with dinner and overnight stay at the WhiteRock Beach Resort in Olongapo Zambales.

NLEX Lakbay Norte Diary Day 1

Eric Leave a comment

I have been getting invitatins to join the Lakbay Norte every year. But i was only this time that I confirmed to the event with so much excitement.

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Lakbay Norte is an annual media Familiarization tour organized by the Noth Philippines Visitors Bureau and North Luzon Expressway (NLEX). Lakbay Norte is one of the much anticipated events. It is now on its fourth edition. This year, 20 members from print and online media wer invited to join the tour.

This is just a diary of what my experiences from the 4-day adventure across Central Luzon.
Day 1 – From Cubao we traveled north. Our first sto was at the MNTC (Manila Noth Tollways Corporation) in Caloocan we we got to observe how the tollgates in NLEX operate. After whih we then headed towards Tarlac Ciy to viit the Aquino Center Museum.

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The museum houses collections and memorabilias ownwd by the Aquino family. It was opened in 1992 and the former president Cory Aquino herself picked some of the photographs to be displayed at the museum..

The highlight of the tour is the dislay of a white bush jacket soaked in blood, said to worn by Ninoy Aquino when he was assassinated. I was really at a loss for words when I saw the exhibit. I just can’t imagine how a simple man from Tarlac has ultimately changed our government leaders and restored democracy.

After the Aquino Tour, we had our sumptous lunch at Terase Cafe. Tarlac has always ben known as the melting pot of the Centrl Luzon Region. Its foods has influences on Kapampangan, Tagalog and Ilokano culture.

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After the hearty lunch, we roamed around the ciy for a rolling tour, we also got to get a glimpse of the Hacienda Luisita Golf Club.
Later int he afternoon, we headed towards the town of San Jose, Tarlac to visit the Monasterio de Tarlac. The monastery is ran by the Servants of the Risen Christ Monastic Community. A group of monks who monks and brothers who devoted themselves to a life of prayer. Just before the gate of the monastery is a humongous statue of the risen Christ, somewhat similar to the Cristo Redentor monument in Rio de Janeiro. Safely tucked inside the monastery chapel is a relif of the True Cross of Jesus, where one can venerate.

After our brief trip to the monastery we went to Kart City for another adrenaline rush experience. This tmie we go Karting! Too bad i left my eyeglasses so I opted not to try this one. We ended our first day with an overnight stay at the Microtel Hotel by Wyndham in Tarlac City.

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