Angeles City in Pampanga is a gem of a landscape with its exciting mix of cultural heritage and modern, world-class structures.
As a first class, highly urbanized city in the province of Pampanga, Angeles City has a lot to offer for people who want to settle in a less dense area than Metro Manila and are looking for economic opportunities. Growth is evident here as seen in the city’s construction boom over the past decade, which has seen the rise of condominiums, hotels, resorts, casinos, international restaurants, shopping malls and recreational complexes.
Heritage and tourism
The city boasts of heritage sites and ecological tourist spots. Some of the more notable sights include Filipino structures from the 19th and 20th centuries like the Pamintuan Mansion, situated at the corner of Santo Entierro and Miranda Streets.
A wedding gift to former Angeles City Mayor Florentino Pamintuan, the house became the headquarters of the Katipunan during the Philippine-American War and the seat of the First Philippine Republic during its stint in Pampanga. Today, the mansion is managed by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and has been converted into the Museum of Social Science and History of the Philippines.
The Museo Ning Angeles, or the Angeles City Museum, is also another must-visit place. Built in 1922, the building formerly served as a town hall. It was converted into a museum in 1999 and was declared an “Important Cultural Property of the Philippines” by the National Museum in 2012. Easily recognized by its majestic entrance steps, the museum features artifacts from the Philippine-American War, Mount Pinatubo’s 1991 eruption and artworks of local craftsmen. The museum also has a Culinarium, showcasing the best offerings of Pampanga which has been dubbed the “Culinary Capital of the Philippines.”
Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone
The Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone, a former US military base that is being touted as the next investment center in Asia, is also accessible through Angeles City. As a special economic zone, Clark was seen to provide employment and livelihood opportunities to the residents, as the area became a civil aviation complex and a tourism, trade and business center in Luzon.
Infrastructure
The government’s “Build, Build, Build” initiative led to several infrastructure projects being lined up in Clark, including Clark International Airport’s new passenger terminal which is bound to start operations this year.The Philippine National Railways (PNR) Clark Phase 2, also known as the Malolos-Clark Railway project, is another exciting development for Angeles City. Set to span 53.1 kilometers long, the railway line will connect Bulacan to the Clark Economic Zone. It is part of the planned 148-km North-South Commuter Railway System, a key infrastructure project that also includes the PNR Clark Phase 1 which will run from Manila to Bulacan.
This project is meant to be the Philippines’ first airport express railway service and is planned to have 35 stations, one of which will be in Angeles City. Once completed with the target year in 2025, the railway service is estimated to cut travel time from Manila to Clark to an hour.
Article was originally published in Inquirer and written by Marielle Medina.
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