Filipino Heritage Festival Pampanga Tour

Filipino Heritage Festival Inc.

In Celebration of National Heritage Month 2015

Heritage Pilgrimage Tour on 09 May 2015

PISAMBÁN: Pamangan Caladua at Catauan (Food for the Soul and the Body)

A Heritage Pilgrimage Tour of Pampanga

[by Lord Francis D. Musni]

Pisambán is how the Capampañgans call their massive stone churches built by the natives under the supervision of Augustinian missionary friars who not only gave them the gift of faith but left indelible marks on their culture and language as well. Despite earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, typhoons and floods, and callous neglect, many of these structures stood the test of time and space. They serve not only as houses of worship for their ancestors but has also become vessels of their history and culture, they have become indispensible elements of their heritage. They also stand as proud monuments of their faith and repositories of the best examples of local arts and crafts.

Join us on a pilgrim’s visit not only to pay homage to the gift of faith that lives within these walls but also witness how the people of Pampanga have shown their strong faith in the sheer massiveness and beauty of these structures but also in the cultural treasures abounding in them. Along the pilgrim route, nourish your soul with visual catechetical images in paint, wood and stone, while we take stops to nourish our body with the best offerings of a province touted to be the Gourmet or Culinary Capital of the Philippines. Its cuisine renowned for its rich, elaborate and tasty offerings, is a product of the melding of influences, Malay, Chinese, American but most especially, Castilian, one will easily be convinced that a Capampañgan is not only born to eat but is also born to cook as well.

So come with us on a rare pilgrimage to fete the body and feed the soul.
Tara pu mangadi tamu at mangan! (Come with us to pray and eat.)

PROPOSED ITINERARY:

Leave Makati-Santuario Church area at 7 AM

1st stop :
Gosioco Gardens / Salaria 1849 : Capampangan Breakfast and Tour
San Vicente, Sta. Rita, Pampanga

Commonly referred to as Salaria, the Gosioco Ancestral House is believed to be the oldest house in town, built in 1849. Salaria is one of the surviving homes in Sta. Rita, Pampanga. A historic landmark of the town, Salaria comes from the Spanish word “Serreria”, which means a place for candle making.

Experience the ambience of a traditional ancestral home, see a good collection of beautiful, well- preserved old Capampangan kitchen tools and implements used by the Gosioco household members from generation to generation.

A hearty Capampangan breakfast of empadados, tamales/bobotu, suman tili, pandesal con pistu suclati, and “sopas” – a crispy mammon which is served together with hot soup; thus the term “sopas”.

There will also be a cooking demo of ASADUNG MATUA (Old-Fashioned Pork Asado) – also called Asadong Paski, Asadong Barrio and Abo-abo in Pampanga. This dish is not typically served in restaurants.

A popular local sherbet maker, Paguio’s will serve sherbet at the Salaria. Sta. Rita is renowned for its sherbet which is made under two-types of preparation : a) sherbet for refreshment – thin ; and b) sherbet as dessert – thicker and sweeter.

Lansang Turrones Factory
San Jose, Sta. Rita

Cooking of the nougat starts at 4:00 am. The group can take snap-shots of what we can still catch at this time. Wrapping of the turrones, stretches into the afternoon, and the sans rival is prepared later in the afternoon.

Galan’s Chicharron Factory
San Roque, Guagua

Witness the preparation of Galan’s popular chicharron and see the different variants of chicharron.

Lapid’s Hornong Liempo
See the unique “pugon”-style cooking of the much sought after Liempo at Lapid’s, a popular fare in Western Pampanga.

Parish Church of Santiago Apostol
Betis, Guagua

Betis Church in Guagua is the next stop. It is referred to as the Sistine Chapel of the Philippines because of its hand-painted interior. It also boasts of the finest woodcrafts the town of Betis is famous for. There is a museum on the ground floor of the old convent. The Church has been declared as a National Cultural Treasure (NCT) by the National Museum in 2001.

The town of Betis is also famous for its guitar-making industry. Betis artisans are known to have produced the wooden chandeliers installed in Malacanang Palace.

David Ancestral Home (a few meters away from Betis Church)
The David Ancestral Home is owned by the family of Sociologist Randy David, Atty. Dante David and Bishop Pablo David. See how the Davids were able to salvage their ancestral home from lahar threat by employing “jack-technology.”

Capampangan Lunch : at Henson-Panlilio Ancestral House
Parian, Masangsang, Mexico, Pampanga

Lunch will be hosted by Tita Lilian Borromeo-Lising, a culinary heritage cook. A hearty treat of select
Capampangan dishes, and a tour of the old Capampangan cocina awaits the group.

There will be a cooking demo of heritage recipes like pan de saniculas, dulce prenda and brazo de maiz in an open kitchen filled with ancient Kapampangan cooking tools and implements.

A side demo of traditional tamales/bobotu and suman preparation will be done by Ms. Mhye from Bulaon.

Parish Church of Sta. Monica
Minalin, Pampanga
The Sta. Monica Parish Church or commonly called Minalin Church is one of the oldest churches in Pampanga which was erected by the Augustinian architects and engineers in the 17th century.

Declared as a National Cultural Treasure (NCT) by the National Museum in 2011, the Church is overflowing with artistry and ingenuity as exposed by its retablo-like-facade; significant decors of the Coat of Arms of Bishop of Spain at that time on the base of the window ; escudo of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the main entrance ; lantern like kampanilya and a 1619 mural painting which measures 89 inch wide and 113 inch tall depicting an old map of the town.

The church is also the only one of its kind with intact capilla posas at the four corners of its atrium.

Pottery Shops
Sto. Tomas, Pampanga

Home to many traditional potters, Sto. Tomas is the place to go for its decorative clay jars, classic
earthenware and assorted potteries. Here in Sto. Tomas, where clay remains abundantly available, this ageold art continues to thrive.

Nathaniel’s (JASA) : Merienda and Pasalubong Shopping
San Fernando City

Return trip to Manila, 4 PM

For inquiries and reservations, please contact Ms. Tonie Bautista 0916 4788163 or 333 2215.