Alluring Pampanga: Lunch @ The Original Razon's Guagua

First Branch

It was a hot afternoon and I felt so hungry since I didn't took breakfast in Metro Manila. After my tour around Guagua town proper, I wanted to have a lunch initially at the famous fast food. But hey, I remembered that Guagua is famous for Razon's Halo-Halo so I immediately asked the locals on where was the first branch of Razon's located. Since all the locals were familiar to this location, they showed directions on how to get there. 

I arrived to this place after 10 minutes of walking. The place was a simple restaurant as compared to other branches in Metro Manila. As I entered, there were two crew members and one of them gave me the menu lists and I was surprised because of their price was lower compared to other branches.

Good to see you!

Now It's Sugar Free Halo-Halo!

inside

check the menu

low prices!! :)

I ordered Halo-Halo, Pancit Palabok and Toasted Bread with Butter. I can't imagine that Halo-Halo's price was only PHP60 as compared to PHP95 in other branches. They explained to me that all Razon's branches are franchised so definitely their prices started to increase. Since I was at the Original Razon's their prices were the lowest. After 10 minutes, my lunch was served. :)

Founder of Razon's

my lunch

Pancit Palabok

Famous Halo-Halo

Mangan Tamu! (Let's Eat!)

love their halo-halo

Lunch was great and Pancit Palabok was yummy and the sauce was creamy. Noodles were perfectly fine. Toasted bread was a great match. For Halo-Halo, it was wonderful. I love the simplicity of ingredients and the leche flan on top was heaven! I love the banana which was not too sweet including the macapuno. It was a great dining experience here at the Original Razon's. If you are going to Guagua, Pampanga, make sure you drop by to this place. :)

Thank you Razon's

picture with Razon's

More information to this place:

The Original Razon's

Address: San Nicolas, Guagua, Pampanga

Website: http://www.razonsofguagua.com/

How to get there: Ride a jeepney from Guagua downtown with a sign Guagua-Bacolor-San Fernando and asked the driver to drop you off to the Original Razon's. Fare: PHP8

Alluring Pampanga: Getting To Know Guagua

Guagua Municipal Hall

It was a boring Saturday at my house here in Quezon City and off from work. I only spent my time infront of computer playing games and searching internet until one time, I decided to have a day tour. Since Metro Manila has many provinces nearby, I searched for the places that I have been once or never been there from the start. Pampanga came to my mind since I need also to explore the other towns since it has rich in cultures and places of interest. I packed my things including my ever reliable camera. I rode Bataan Transit and went to Guagua, Pampanga. I passed NLEX and Gapan-Olongapo road and after two hours, I reached Guagua.

Source: Wikipedia

Guagua is a first class municipality and 77 kilometers north of Metro Manila. It also belongs to Second District of Pampanga. This town was also damaged during the eruption of world renowned Mount Pinatubo. But Guagua stood up and regained it and become one of the best performing towns in Pampanga. By the way, I rode a jeepney since the town proper was not in the National Highway so I paid PHP8 fare in order to reach the town proper which was only 10 minutes from the Gapan-Olongapo road. The town proper was simple as I expected. But there were several establishments which makes the town progressive.

Welcome to Guagua

Rufino Cardinal Santos Catholic Center

The town was quiet as compared to other cities such as San Fernando (capital) and Angeles but their population was huge, one of the highest in the province. Along my stroll, there were many structures built during Spanish and American era. Among them were the following:

1. Immaculate Concepcion Parish

Built in 1590

It was one of the oldest structures built in Guagua. It was also rebuilt for several years due to fire. The simplicity of the structure and what was more interesting was the inside of the church. It may be looked like a cathedral but this place drawn tourists who were interested to this site.

white church

solo pic

another one

went inside

walk to the aisle

there was christening ongoing

way to the altar

dome shaped inside

2. Rufino Cardinal Santos Catholic Center

Neo-Classical Building

Adjacent to the church was this building who looked like a City or Provincial Capitol in some provinces such as Ilocos Norte and Negros Occidental that I've been to. This place was the office building of the church.

me

3. Aurelio Tolentino Monument

Located beside the Municipal Building, Aurelio Tolentino was born in Guagua and he was one of the revolutionary hero. He was also a playwright and one of the members of Katipunan. He died in 1915 and buried in Manila North Cemetery but in 1921, his remains were transferred to this monument.

4. Guagua Municipal Building

building edifice

It was built last 1937 and until now this building was a seat of government of Guagua where Mayor and Vice Mayor took their office. The structure was simple the good thing was it retained the structure.

simple and historical

picture at municipal building

another one

There were other places I visited at Guagua. I will post it on separate blog. It was an interesting trip to this town and I was hungry by that time. So I went to look for a place that was proudly Guagua and already spread out across the country. 

Find out on my next blog post! :)

How to get there:

Via private vehicle - From Metro Manila, headed to North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and exit at San Fernando. Drive along Gapan-Olongapo Road and turn left once your reach Mary the Queen College. Drive along and you will reach Guagua downtown. Travel time is 1.5 hours.

Via commute - From Metro Manila, ride a bus bound for Bataan, Olongapo and Zambales that passes along Gapan-Olongapo Road. Tell to the bus conductor or driver to drop you off to the intersection to Guagua. Fare ranges from PHP80 to PHP100. Once you arrive, ride a jeepney (Guagua-Porac) to go to the town proper. Fare costs PHP8. Travel time is only 2 hours.

Travel North: Laoag to Manila via Partas Bus Line

Partas Bus Bound for Manila

It's my third and last day here at Ilocos Norte. But before I went back to Manila, I had my 2-hour pasalubong break and bought some items. Some pasalubong were bought few days ago and I do last minute shopping today. So what were these items I bought? 

Good Morning Laoag!

Walk to downtown area

I headed to Laoag City Public Market and bought garlic and lasona or what we call small onions. Both are widely popular here in Ilocos Norte and sold at very low price compared to Manila and other nearby provinces. I bought 2 kilos of garlic for only 80 pesos per kilo and lasona for 60 pesos per kilo. It was a great deal. :)

At Laoag Public Market

Garlic and Lasona (small onion)

garlic galore

After I bought these, I went back to Isabel Suites, short rest and have my breakfast before I went to Partas Bus Terminal. I also bought dragon fruit which was also popular here in Ilocos Norte. It was a nice stay at Isabel Suites and they were helpful in giving directions while I was in the city.

walk to the hotel from the market

nice hotel at the heart of the city

Breakfast time

avail their free breakfast

dragon fruit for sale

bought 2 kilos

I hailed a tricycle and driver knew exactly the bus terminal because Partas was popular here. In few minutes, I arrived to the terminal and I paid PHP20 since I have 2 baggage so it's affordable. Partas Bus Terminal here in Laoag is huge. There were several trips to Manila (Cubao & Pasay) and Baguio cities. These were scheduled trips. I went at the ticket booth to check the available trips to Manila and I availed the Pasay-bound  trip at 10AM. 

ticket booth

lined up

bus schedules to Manila and Baguio

bus bound for Pasay-Cubao

my ticket

I paid PHP701 and gave me the ticket. Busy left on time. I amazed on my road travel since I saw the different places in Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur. I came to Laoag via airplane (Philippine Airlines) and I appreciated the beauty of the province. After two hours, we arrived at Vigan City, Ilocos Sur and took our first stop over. I went down to have my break and bought Marsha's Royal Bibingka (rice cakes) which was popular here in Ilocos Sur. I wasn't able to tour around Vigan City but it will be on my itinerary lists in the future travels. :) 

passing Gilbert Bridge

bye Laoag!

Hello Vigan!

quick stop over at Vigan City

bought a box of Royal Bibingka

After few minutes, we left Vigan City since they carried some passengers. We passed the famous Quirino Bridge and I was amazed the structure along the Abra River, we passed to the newest bridge because the first one was not passable due to the condition after the storm that hit the province. After few minutes, the bus driver and conductor took their break. I also went down and took some photos along the sea shore. 

The famous Quirino Bridge

passing along Abra River

3rd arch was damaged during storm

at Santa, Ilocos Sur

some of the islands

me

strong waves

along the National Highway

Weather was perfectly fine at Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur. We passed different towns and cities but when we reached La Union, heavy rain poured in. There were no reported any storm or typhoon but it was monsoon rains but it was very heavy especially when we reached Pangasinan and Tarlac.

Candon City, Ilocos Sur

Candon City Pasalubong Center

heavy rain at La Union

start pouring in

Due to heavy rain, from the usual 9 hour bus travel it went up to 13 hours and I arrived at Partas Bus Terminal in Cubao Quezon City at 11PM. It was a tiring bus travel but I enjoyed my vacation in Ilocos Norte. It was fun, entertaining and learned at the same time. It was one of my successful solo trip. 

P.S. The following day, classes and office were suspended due to Monsoon Rain which locally called Habagat.