Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Brace yourselves for storm of events in Angeles City

THE much awaited and anticipated major internationally acclaimed event in Angeles City is coming really soon!

The culminating activity of the month-long celebration of the Angeles City Twin Fiesta ’09, dubbed as the Angeles City Street Jam & Party 2009, will be observed for two days, October 30 and 31, this Friday and Saturday, each from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m., at Mac Arthur High Way, Balibago, Angeles City.


This is a project of the Angeles City government, headed by Mayor Blueboy Nepomuceno, with the Angeles City Tourism Office (ACTO), headed by Pie Angeles-Flores as lead organizer. This is in cooperation with the different government agencies, non-government organizations, and the private sector and has been funded by this year’s major sponsors: San Miguel Brewery Inc., San Miguel Beverages, Globe Telecom, Globe Asiatique, Andok’s, and Zest Air.

Compared to five stages from last year, Angeles City Street Jam & Party ’09 boasts of seven entertainment stages this year: two stages from San Miguel Brewery Incorporated, with local and national bands, one stage from Ginebra which has a videoke center that gives out free CDs after recording your own song, one stage from Globe Telecom which has a dance contest and Manila DJs, one stage from Globe Asiatique with musical talents and showbiz personalities, and one stage in front of Pagcor/Angeles with musical artists delighting the crowd.


On Friday, October 30, national bands provided for by San Miguel Brewery Inc. are Rock Steady, Mayonnaise, Hale, Shamrock, and Sanijnilif.

On Saturday, the next day, people will be entertained by Brown Man Revival, Sugar Free, Delara (formerly Mojofly), Silent Sanctuary, and Soap Dish.

Reasonably priced at P100 per ticket, entrance fee is inclusive of a plastic cup of San Miguel Daft Beer or a can of Cali Shandy, Globe sim card, Friendship bracelet & necklace/dog tag, and a raffle ticket entitling participant a chance to win a prize from Globe Asiatique. On top of this, more promos await spectators within the event area from the different concessionaires in their own booths. Moreover, each day is even more spiced-up with a fireworks display.

To secure all stakeholders in the event area, security has been heightened by tapping Angeles City Police Office, Philippine Air Force: 710th SPOW & 600th ABW, and force multipliers such as Cobra D Founder, Citizen’s Crime Watch, Tropang Crime Watch, Phi Beta Rho, and Tanods from Baragays Cutcut & Sto. Rosario. Moreover, CCTV camera units will be spread along the entire stretch of the festival area as Angeles City Mayor, Francis L. Nepomuceno will launch the city-wide CCTV Surveillance Project this Saturday, October 31.

To ensure the smooth flow of traffic, ACTMEU-PNP & Actetmo have come up with a re-routing scheme. Aside from road signages, traffic enforcers will be present to guide motorists. The organizers would like to remind the public that starting today, Wednesday, at 12:01 a.m., the “Truck Ban” will be enforced on the Balibago Mac Arthur High Way Stretch (venue of the A.C. Street Jam & Party ’09).

On Friday, at 12:01 a.m., Partial closure of Balibago Stretch’s Mac Arthur Hi-way North bound lane, at 1 p.m. is total closure of Balibago Stretch’s Mac Arthur Hi-way North & South bound lanes.

On Sunday, November 1, at 8 a.m. - Partial opening of Balibago Stretch’s Mac Arthur Hi-way South bound lane, and at 10 a.m. - Total opening of Balibago Stretch’s Mac Arthur Hi-way North & South bound lanes.

The energy is high as everyone looks forward to this year’s electrifying Angeles City Street Jam & Party 2009! So be part of the fun, celebrate with the Angeleños this Friday and Saturday, October 30 & 31, 2009.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

What Angeles is celebrating

LET'S give a toast to Angeles City which celebrates its fiesta this second Sunday of October.

This city of illustrious families, visionary entrepreneurs and resilient, deeply religious citizens is the first town in the entire Kapampangan Region to become a city, back in 1964, or 37 years before another town achieved the same feat (San Fernando in 2001).


The difference between the two is that Angeles is a chartered city, which gives it autonomy from Pampanga (which is why Angeleños don’t vote for governor), while San Fernando is a component city, which still makes it administratively part of the province.

How this former barrio of San Fernando rose to prominence and eclipsed its own mother-town is a success story that should serve as a model to other progressive barrios dreaming of independence from their respective matrixes, like Sta. Cruz from Lubao, Dau from Mabalacat, Betis from Guagua, San Matias from Sto. Tomas, Manibaug from Porac and Balibago from Angeles.

San Fernando itself used to be part of two towns, Mexico and Bacolor, which were two very large towns right next to each other, until 1754 when the Spaniards carved out a new town right between them.

This is the reason old families from Bacolor and Mexico like the Lazatins, the Panlilios, the Ocampos, the Singians, the Dayrits and the Hensons can also be found in San Fernando.

Later, when it was the turn of Angeles to secede from San Fernando, the same families moved to the new town as well—which is why you see families here carrying these surnames.
They also own some of the big subdivisions in this city: L & S (which stands for Lazatin and Singian), Essel (or SL, Singian Lazatin), Hensonville, Josefaville (after Josefa Henson), Carmenville (after Carmen Dayrit) and Villa Gloria, Villa Angela and Villa Angelina (all Lazatin ladies).

The founder of Angeles town, Don Angel Pantaleon de Miranda, was the mayor of San Fernando in 1795. As soon as he stepped down, he moved north to retire in a barrio called Saguin, from where he and wife Rosalia conducted daily clearing operations in a forested area called Kuliat. There he built his new hacienda, his house (“on the northwest corner of the intersection of Sapang Balen creek and the road to Porac,” or the present Robin Theatre) and a chapel (the present Chowking Restaurant). (The house owned by the Naguiats is Don Angel’s second.)

He also invited friends in his old town to resettle, which irked the parish priest of San Fernando, Fray Jose Pometa, OSA, who probably feared a reduction in Sunday Mass collections. Fray Pometa and his coadjutor used the pulpit to convince Kuliat residents to return to San Fernando, sometimes publicly humiliating them. The priests reportedly even put a curse on Kuliat, which would never become a town “tuling la man ding tagac, muti la ding sablang auac!”

After Don Angel formally applied for secession, two developments worked in his favor: (a) the marriage of his only daughter to a brilliant Kuliat-born lawyer, Mariano Paras Henson, the first Filipino layman to become a Doctor of Laws, and (b) the appointment of a Kuliat-born secular priest, Padre Macario Paras, who was Dr. Henson’s relative.

On December 8, 1829, after Don Angel complied with the final requirement (he personally paid the colonial government the equivalent amount of taxes collectible from the 160 pioneer settlers), barrio Kuliat officially became a town.

The court decision, signed October 16, 1829 (a copy of which was given to the Center for Kapampangan Studies by historian Dr. Luciano Santiago), stated, among others, the petitioner’s assurance of the parish priest’s income, his principal reason for the separation (the great distance between Kuliat and San Fernando “which makes it difficult and almost impossible to administer the sacraments during the rainy days”), and the warning that it was “illegal for the parish priest of San Fernando to prevent (the new parish priest of Kuliat) from freely exercising his pastoral ministry.”

The new town’s first barrios were Sto. Rosario, San Jose, Cutcut, Pampang, Amsic and Santol. (Balibago and Malabanias still belonged to Mabalacat, Cutud to Mexico and Pandan, Pulungbulo, Mining, and Capaya to San Fernando.)

Kuliat was renamed Angeles in honor of its founder, Don Angel. It was dedicated to the Los Santos Angeles Custodios (The Holy Guardian Angels), whose feast day is Oct. 2. (The US city of Los Angeles, on the other hand, got its name from the Nuestra Señora de los Angeles, or Our Lady of the Angels).

Eventually the town adopted Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary as patron saint (whose iconic image is venerated as the Virgen de La Naval because it was the same image used by the victorious Spanish fleet in a naval battle against the Protestant Dutch invaders in 1646). This makes Angeles one of only three places in the country celebrating the La Naval (the other two are Manila and Bacolor). It is said that the founder’s wife, Rosalia, was also personally devoted to this Marian icon.

On Sunday, the feast that Angeles will celebrate is that of La Naval (Manila and Bacolor celebrate their versions in November). Later, on the last Friday of this month, Angeles will celebrate another fiesta, the Fiestang Apu, in honor of the Apung Mamacalulu (Lord of Mercy, whose icon is the Interred Christ, or Santo Entierro).

Devotion to this icon started in 1897 when the town was spared from Revolution-related skirmishes, which residents credited to the quinario (five-day novena) they held right after the La Naval fiesta in honor of the five wounds of the Interred Christ. Local legend has it that a local Katipunero named Roman Payumo miraculously escaped execution during the quinario. Devotion has since reached cult proportions.

As the city celebrates its fiesta, let’s appreciate the role it played in the nation’s history: This is where Aguinaldo moved his revolutionary government’s capital (before Tarlac) and celebrated the first anniversary of Philippine Independence on June 12, 1899. This is also the town that hosted the largest American military base outside the United States, which spun off a PX industry that redefined Kapampangan tastes.

After being dealt two near-fatal blows in 1991 (the Pinatubo eruption and the Clark Air Base pullout), it defied all odds and rose back to its feet. You should have seen how this town looked like the day after the eruption to really appreciate the heights it has reached since then.

Cheers to the City of Angels!


Published in the Sun.Star Pampanga newspaper on October 6, 2009.
Robby Tantingco

Monday, September 28, 2009

Ayala’s Marquee Mall opens, redefines shopping in Angeles City

ANGELES CITY—Ayala Malls’ first foray in Central Luzon, the Marquee Mall, opened its doors here last week September 23, 2009. A move Ayala executives said is set to redefine shopping, dining and entertainment in Pampanga and the region, and provide patrons an experience that goes beyond shopping.

The mall is conveniently situated near the city’s business district and adjacent to the Angeles exit of the North Luzon Expressway (Nlex). This new 9.3-hectare lifestyle hub is a vital component of Marquee, a 53-hectare integrated mixed-use community recently developed by Ayala Land Inc. (Ali)

The new Pampanga destination also brings the other side of the globe with Aldo, Nautica, Iora, Lacoste Footwear, Sanuk, Bossini, Naturalizer, Samsonite, Aerosoles, Nine West, Lacoste, Marks & Spencer, Swatch, Res Toe Run, Geox and Travel Club as representatives. Urban Manila doesn’t get left behind with Bench, Penshoppe, Folded & Hung, Kamiseta and Bayo.

International dining chains such as TGIFridays, Italianni’s, Flapjacks and Cyma are also in the mall.

So come on in. Take a good look around. You’re sure to have “fun at the mall” and at the same time find some super bargains.


Facade not yet finished.

Interior

Cinema



Friday, August 7, 2009

Deluxe Hotels in Angeles

* HOLIDAY INN HOTEL
* OASIS HOTEL
* ORANGE LION HOTEL
* PACIFIC BREEZE HOTEL
* ROYAL AMSTERDAM HOTEL
* WILD ORCHID RESORT HOTEL


HOLIDAY INN HOTEL

Holiday Inn Clark is just 5 minutes drive from the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (Clark International Airport which offers flights to Korea via Asiana Airlines, Singapore via Tiger Airways, to Malaysia via Air Asia and to Hong Kong via CR Airways.

The hotel offers 303 superior and deluxe rooms and one-bedroom suites and 34 two-bedroom garden villas, tennis court, children’s day care center with baby sitting, swimming pool, full spa and a gymnasium and features two restaurants, a bar lounge and 24-hour room service. Just two minutes drive is the Mimosa Golf and Country Club- a 36-holes championship golf course. Five minutes away are the duty free shops and the Casino Filipino Mimosa and just 10 minutes drive to the SM City Clark Mall. Holiday Inn Clark is positioned just 1 ½ hours drive from Manila via the new North Luzon Expressway. The hotel also has extensive convention and banquet facilities which can accommodate up to 1,000 persons plus four breakout rooms for small meetings and seminars. Clients can also enjoy the exciting sightseeing tours and nearby local historical points of significance.


Location : Mimosa drive, Mimosa Leisure Estate, Clark Field, Pampanga 2009 Philippines
Website : www.ichotelsgroup.com

 OASIS HOTEL

Oasis Hotel consist of 124 rooms ideal for individual travelers, businessman, group booking and for couple, too. Each of the well-appointed guestrooms is equipped with individual air-conditioning unit, IDD and NDD connections, cable TV with premium channels and adequately stocked mini bars. Furnished with your choice of a king-size bed or two single beds. Oasis Hotel, a sprawling property, situated with a unique gated community that gives you a feeling of belongingness and security at the heart of Angeles City. When traveling on business or leisure, attending a conference or a special event, there’s still no place like home.


Location :Perimeter of the Clark Special Economic Zone, Angeles City, Philippines
Website : http://www.oasishotel.com.ph
Email : reserve@oasishotel.com.ph

ORANGE LION HOTEL

Established in April 2005, our hotel was built in the renowned Dutch baroque style of the 18th century and pays tribute to all the splendor of this era. From our rooms, which are all individually dedicated to a specific Dutch Master painter, to our classical Amsterdam frontage, to our café with its warm fine wooden furniture, antique decorations and extensive music collection at conversation level, all will give you a warm feeling of unwinding like they used to do in the Golden Age. Combine this with the luxury facilities that the 21st century has to offer, and a pleasant stay is guaranteed.


Location :132-A Fields Avenue, Balibago, Angeles City, Philippines
Website : http://www.orangelionhotel.com
Email : info@orangelionhotel.com

PACIFIC BREEZE HOTEL

Pacific Breeze offer seven types of attractively decorated rooms and suites situated throughout our main building and our Oahu Wing annex. All rooms are equipped with the following features:






* DVD Player with remote
* Remote Control Color TV
* Cable TV with CNN/FOX/HBO/Cinemax and many other international channels
* Free High-Speed Internet Access
* In Room Direct Dial Phones
* Air Conditioning with Overhead Fans
* Large Wardrobe/Closet
* Large In Room Programmable Safety Boxes (Laptop friendly)
* Stocked Mini bar
* Breakfast Table with Chairs
  

Location : 1888 Vian Street, Balibago, Angeles City, Philippines 2009
Website :http://www.pacificbreezehotel.com
Email :info@pacificbreezehotel.com
Telephone: +(63)-45-625-6494/6495, 322-1265
Fax: +(63)-45-892-5293


 ROYAL AMSTERDAM HOTEL

With the extraordinary way of pampering at the Hotel Royal Amsterdam Angeles City, you'll hardly feel away from home. With every stay at the Hotel Royal Amsterdam Angeles City, experience a distinctly indulgent and comforting atmosphere where your every need is personally met. With our efficient and friendly staff, professional housekeeping services and other special courtesies, we make you feel the extra attention that touches you from the start to the end of the day...the Royal Amsterdam way.


The Hotel Royal Amsterdam features 7 different room and suite types. All guest rooms are tastefully designed and appointed with luxurious furnishings and first class amenities. Fine wooden finishes, classic designs, soothing hues, and mellow lighting foster an inviting aura of coziness and comfort.

Location : 648 Fields Avenue, Balibago, Angeles City, 2009, Pampanga, Philippines
Website : http://www.hotelroyalamsterdam.com
Email : info@hotelroyalamsterdam.com
Telephone No. : +63-45-892 3392-3
Fax No. : +63-45-892 3391

WILD ORCHID RESORT HOTEL


The Wild Orchid Resort Hotel Angeles City features 55 rooms offering some of Angeles City�s best accommodations at competitive rates. You may choose from five room types:




    * Deluxe Room
    * Balcony Room
    * Veranda Room
    * Jacuzzi Room
    * Garden Room

All rooms are equipped with American King size mattress and box spring beds, air conditioning, bath tubs (except Jacuzzi rooms), fully stocked refrigerators, remote controlled televisions with cable (including HBO, ESPN and Cinemax, and much more), DVD players, writing desk, toiletries, in-room safes, international and domestic direct dial and internet access (laptop required). Non-smoking rooms are available.

Website : http://www.wildorchidresort.com
Email : info@wildorchidresort.com
Telephone:
+63(045)892-0134 / 892-0138 / 892-0316 / 892-0349
+63(045)625-6335 to 6339 / 625-6445
Fax +63(045)625-6267

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Why do they call it Fields Avenue?

Do they think it was named in honor of W. C. Fields?

You hear people say, "Fields Avenue" or simply "Fields" when they are referring to Field Avenue. Look around the Internet and you will find this is a common error even in print. It seems many businesses located on Field Avenue have perpetuated the error by listing their address as being on Fields Avenue (with the "s").


Field Avenue was not named in honor of W. C. Fields or any other person with the name Fields. It started out as a road next to an army airfield and as was common practice it was named Field Avenue.


If you look at old maps or street signs you will find the spelling to be "Field" (without an "s").  See street sign below:







You may also view the spelling of Field Avenue on the Balibago map on the WHOA web site: 

Newer maps may show the spelling as Fields Avenue (with the "s"), but there is no evidence that the official street name was changed.





Monday, August 3, 2009

Luxury Hotels in Angeles City

ANGELES BEACH CLUB HOTEL





Other than superior comfort and service, a passion for art and craftsmanship, and a tropical beach, at the ABC it's all about life as wonderful as can be. Adding a new dimension to the 'Angeles Holiday'. We offer fresh suggestions that might help you achieve the best time in the entertainment area of Angeles City, Philippines. 

At ABC hotel, a room is not just a place to sleep. The 53 rooms are the hotel's main feature. They want the guest to fall asleep with a smile. Outstanding choices of furniture, decor and general design give the rooms the exceptionally warm and picturesque visual result. Though, other than a visually pleasing setting, more important, is creating a structured environment of optimal well-being. They believe that comfort and luxury is in the details. In between the two buildings lies a little 'untouched' oasis.

















Location :
Don Juico Avenue Malabanias, Angeles City, Philippines

Website : http://www.angelesbeachclubhotel.com

Email : info@angelesbeachclubhotel.com

Phone Number: 00(63) (45) 892-2222
Fax Number: 00(63) (45) 892-5375


DOLLHOUSE HOTEL AND CAFE


Experience the ultimate in lifestyle and convenience during your trip to one of Asia’s most exciting cities with a stay at the Dollhouse Hotel & Café. Located in the heart of Angeles City’s entertainment district, the famous Field Avenue, means that the city’s best shopping, dining, and entertainment venues are conveniently close at hand.

























Guest rooms are well appointed and tastefully designed  combined with the comforts of home with the services and facilities of a superior hotel. The perfect location, unsurpassed comfort, and unrivaled facilities and services make Dollhouse Hotel & Café the preferred choice in exclusive accommodations.

Location :
1035 Fields Avenue, Balibago, Angeles City, 2009 Philippines
Website :     http://www.dollhousehotel.com
Email :         info@dollhousehotel.com  
Telephone No: +63 (45) 892-2720 
Fax: +63 (45) 892-3267


LEWIS GRAND HOTEL

 Where entertainment is magnified, cultures meet, and Angeles City style is redefined. Nestled between the world famous upper and lower Field Avenue, the hotel offers its customers absolutely the finest Hotel accommodations Angeles City currently has to offer. The Hotel is tourist friendly and offers an atmosphere that is exciting and at the same time soothing and comfortable. It is driven by the qualities of its international and local guests, serving as a get away oasis for those in search of the purest comforts.

The Hotel is tourist friendly and offers an atmosphere that is exciting and at the same time soothing and comfortable. It is driven by the qualities of its international and local guests, serving as a get away oasis for those in search of the purest comforts.
















Location :   
Don Juico Avenue Malabanias, Angeles City, Philippines

Website :   

http://www.lewisgrand.com

Email :
info@lewisgrand.com

Phone Number:
+(6345) 625.3947

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Angeles City

Angeles City is in Pampanga province in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines. The city is rich in history and heritage, with old and historical significant buildings dotting its landscape, but these days it is perhaps best known for its vibrant adult nightlife.


Angeles is a thriving city comparable to the Philippine capital and largest city, Manila. In 1899, it became the seat of the Philippine government under General Emilio Aguinaldo and the site of the first anniversary celebration of Philippine Independence.


The city has a booming nightlife and is becoming increasingly popular as a tourist destination, particularly from South Korea. Its center, Balibago, is especially known for its fine restaurants, hotels and shopping malls. Within Balibago is neon-lit Fields Avenue, known for its bars, nightclubs and what may be one of the world's largest concentrations of go-go bars. Adjoining Clark Freeport Zone is the site of world-class resorts, casinos, duty-free shops and beautifully landscaped golf courses. The city, and the rest of the Pampanga region, is known as the "Culinary Center of the Philippines."

Get in

By plane


Angeles is served by the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Clark Freeport Zone, approximately 5 kilometers from the city proper. It has adequate travel facilities, a duty free shopping center, souvenir shops, free wireless internet, a tourist information center, hotel and travel agency representatives, and car rental services.

The airport is where budget airlines like Air Asia (from Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu), Tiger Airways (from Singapore and Macau) and Cebu Pacific (from Singapore and Bangkok) fly to. Also, it receives direct flights from Hong Kong and Korea from current carriers like Asian Spirit, Asiana Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Cebu Pacific, South East Asian Airlines and Tiger Airways. Domestic flights are offered by Cebu Pacific and South East Asian Airlines.


Because DMIA is a small airport, containing only one terminal, it is often considered a more efficient gateway into the Philippines than through heavily-congested Manila. The roadways around the airport is fairly rural, making transport between the airport and the city quick and hassle-free. Don't worry about finding transport as taxi drivers will heavily solicit you for patronage as you exit the airport.

By bus


This is the most common and economical way to get to Angeles from Metro Manila. Several air-conditioned bus lines ply from Manila to Angeles route with terminals scattered across the metropolitan area. It normally takes one-and-a-half hours to get to Angeles by bus. However, travellers are well advised to consider the unpredictable effect heavy traffic and downpours will have on the commute. In short, give yourself plenty of time to travel by bus. Provincial bus companies have scheduled trips from Manila to provinces to northern provinces and key cities.

By car


The best way from Manila to Angeles via car is taking the North Luzon Expressway which extends until Sta. Ines in Mabalacat, Pampanga. You may take either the Angeles Exit or Dau exit to get there. Another motorway, though narrow, is the McArthur Highway and visitors need to pass through the province of Bulacan to get to Angeles on both routes. It usually takes about 45 minutes to travel but it is twice the travel time if you plan to take the McArthur route due to heavy traffic along its stretch. Rental car companies can be found all over Manila and Angeles. If you don't know the routes, you can hire drivers by asking the attendant of the rent-a-car shop.

Get around

By jeepney
To hop on a colorful jeepney (small bus) is certainly the most affordable way to get around downtown. It is available 24 hours a day and it is the most famous mode of transportation in the country, which connects towns and cities together. Since jeepneys tend to be overcrowded with passengers, tourists carrying bulky luggage should consider traveling by taxi.

By taxi
Though more convenient for tourists, taxis are less common in Angeles and not normally used for travel outside the city. Rather, they are primarily used to tour around the Clark Freeport Zone and for transport to and from the airport. Simson's taxicab terminal can be found particularly next to Clark's main gate (opposite Jollybee's) and SM City-Clark mall in Balibago.

By trike
Trikes (or tricycles) are motocycles with a small attached passenger cabin. They are restricted to low-speed roads and not permitted to enter the area surrounding the airport. Passengers of larger physical stature may find riding in them uncomfortable. Nevertheless, because of their slower speeds, trikes are generally a safe mode of transport.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Places to see in Angeles

Place to See

  • Fort Stotsenburg, named after Colonel John M. Stotsenburg, a Captain of the 6th US Cavalry, was the location of the first permanent quarters of the American forces in Sapang Bato, Angeles. It is also known as the "Parade Ground," which served as a venue for many important celebrations by the Americans before the US-RP Military Bases Agreement ended in 1991.
  • Old Pamintuan Residence was served as the seat of government of the First Philippine Republic under General Emilio Aguinaldo from May to July 1899 and the Central Headquarter for Major General Arthur McArthur. It now houses the Central Bank of the Philippines in Central Luzon.
  • Founders' Residence (Bale Matua), located at the heart of Santo Rosario, is the oldest building in the city. It was built in 1824 by the city founder, Don Ángel Pantaleón de Miranda, and his wife, Doña Rosalia de Jesus, and was inherited by Doña Juana de Miranda de Henson, the only daughter of Angeles City’s founders. This house, which is made of high stone wall and an ornate gate, nostalgically symbolizes the glorious past of Angeles amidst the overwhelming onslaughts of modernization.
  • Post Office Building (Deposito) is a building that was constructed in 1899 for the purpose of depositing Catholic religious statues and carriages of the church, hence the name Deposito. It was also used as the headquarter of the 11th Film Exchange US Army from 1946 to 1947 and was then used as a jailhouse for recalcitrant US troops during the Philippine-American War. On February 6, 1967, the Angeles City Post Office moved to this building. It is now the site of Angeles Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Center.
  • Camalig was built in 1840 by Don Ciriaco de Miranda, the first gobernadorcillo or town head of Angeles, and was used as a grain storehouse along Santo Rosario Street. It was restored in 1980 by Armando L. Nepomuceno and is now the site of Armando's Pizza and Camalig Restaurant.
  • Holy Rosary Church (Santo Rosario Church) was constructed from 1877 to 1896 by the "Polo y Servicio" labor system, a kind of forced labor imposed on Filipino peasants by the Spanish colonial government. It was used as a military hospital by the US Army from August 1899 to December 1900. Its backyard was the execution ground to the Spanish forces in shooting down Filipino rebels and suspects.
  • Holy Family Academy Building was served as a military hospital of the US Army in 1900 and later as the troop barracks, officers' quarters and arsenal by the Japanese Imperial Military Forces in 1942.
  • Museo ning Angeles used to be a municipal hall and it periodically features exhibits on the history, culture, the tradition of the city and its people.
  • Bale Herencia, built in 1860, is situated in Lakandula Street corner Santo Rosario Street. It is a picturesque house with the unsavory reputation of having been built for the mistress of a parish priest. The current owners now use it as a banquet hall.
  • Juan D. Nepomuceno's Center for Kapampangan Studies houses a library, museum of archives and gallery, research center and theater, put up by the Holy Angel University in 2002 to preserve, study and promote Kapampangan history and culture.
  • Lily Hill is a strategic observation post for monitoring Japanese movement in World War II. Remains of Japanese aircraft were found here at the end of the war. Along this hill can now be found Lily Hill Duty Free Store.
  • Mount Pinatubo is now an inactive volcano that brought devastation by its eruption in 1991 and forced the US military base to abandon this city. Trekking the volcano's slope and dipping into the crater's turquoise-blue waters is truly an adventure of a lifetime
  • Apu Chapel is the shrine of the Our Lord of the Holy Sepulchre (Apung Mamacalulu). Devotees pay their homage to the shrine every Friday
  • Expo Pilipino is where the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the declaration of Philippine Independence on June 12, 1898 was held. Today, its 35,000-seating capacity amphitheater is a favorite venue for concerts, ecumenical services and political rallies. Nayong Pilipino is adjacent to this site
  • Kapampangan Museum (Clark Museum) features the history of the US military in the Philippines, Philippine military history and a Mount Pinatubo exhibit. It also showcases Clark as a former US military base and its metamorphosis into a special economic zone and then as a world-class aviation and business metropolis as depicted in pictures, dioramas, replicas, murals and artifacts.
  • Bayanihan Park (formerly Astro Park) is home to a year-round mini-amusement park and it is an ideal spot for sports and recreational activities having basketball and volleyball courts and huge space for jogging and other recreational activities. This is where the famous and historical "Salakot Arch" is now located
  • Salakot Arch is a landmark of Angeles City. From 1902 to 1979, Clark remained a US territory, guaranteed by the Military Bases Agreement (MBA) in 1947. In 1978, the Philippines and the US agreed to establish Philippine sovereignty over the US bases and thus the Clark Air Base Command (CABCOM) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines came into being, following the signing of a revised MBA on January 7, 1979. To commemorate this event, the government constructed a special structure based upon the design of a salakot or native hat, which soon became a widely recognized symbol of this new spirit in the long tradition of Philippine-American relations.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

To do in Angeles

• Barhopping on Fields Ave. is arguably Angeles City's most famous attraction, offering male tourists a large selection of female companionship. Surrounding Fields Ave., Santos St., Real St. and Raymond St., there is perhaps the largest concentration of go-go bars in the world, numbering 60-70 within a few city blocks. Although some bars are opened 24 hours, most don't open until late afternoons and close during the wee hours of the morning. There is no cover charge to enter the bars (except for special events) and drinks will cost P50-200. Lady drinks are normally triple that amount. At any given moment, each bar can host between 20 to 100 dancers, most of whom are available for take-out in exchange for a "barfine", a payment to the bar for the priviledge. Barfines can range from P500 to P2000, depending on the bar and the duration in which the buyer wants companionship. Patrons are not obligated to pay a barfine and can simply sit, drink and watch the dancing.

• Tigtigan Terakan Keng Dalan (Music and Dancing in the Streets) which started in 1992, is an annual all-night party along MacArthur Highway, Balibago, held on the last friday & saturday of October. Restaurants & bars set-up tables & chairs along the streets, and serves over-flowing food and drinks. It features non-stop music from amateur and national bands and is attended by celebrities, out-of-towners and locals alike. This event is used to celebrate the Octoberfest. Phone: (63)(45) 625-8525 (Department of Tourism); E-mail: celtour@yahoo.com.

• Philippine International Hot-Air Balloon Fiesta is held every year between January and February at Clark Special Economic Zone. It features multicolored hot-air balloons with more than a hundred balloon pilots from around the world and considered to be the biggest aviation sports event in the country. Phone: (63)(45) 599-5524.

• Sisig Festival is held annually in the month of December, celebrating the Kapampangan dish, sisig, which said to have been originated in this city. Phone: (63)(45) 625-8525 (Department of Tourism); E-mail: celtour@yahoo.com.

• Mount Pinatubo Trekking is highly recommended for trekking or hiking enthusiasts who like to have the most memorable trip to this once deadly volcano. One would have the experience to board a 4x4 which will head to lahar country passing some rough terrain, gray, barren mountains interspersed with green, lush mountains. Upon reaching the summit, you would definitely enjoy the spectacular clear blue, pristine waters surrounded by mountains. Phone: (63)(45) 892-7975 (Dream Treks), (63)(45) 781-12582 (R & J Pinatubo Trek) and (63)(45) 602-5133 (Swagman's Mount Pinatubo Adventure Treks). Current cost for the trip is PhP8,000 and it is good for 4 persons. This might be a problem if one is traveling alone, as it might be hard to find company for this trip as most of the tourists in Angeles are there for totally other reasons. This is for short 9 hours or one-day trip. Hiking part is being anything between 3 and 6 hours depending on the fitness of the group. There are also overnight trips available.

• Philippine Adventures provides an exciting day trip to Mt Pinatubo from Manila. The tour includes air-conditioned transfers. Use of 4x4 Jeep. Packed lunch. Private local guide leading a trek to the crater and lake. For further information email info@philippineadventures.com or view

• Mount Pinatubo Aerial Tours is for you if you want to have the best seat to view the volcano that once ravaged Central Luzon. Considered one of the largest eruptions of the 20th century, the eruption affected global weather patterns. Having been dormant for centuries, Mount Pinatubo erupted anew in 1991, spewing an ash plume that spread across the globe. Have a bird's-eye-view of the crater, surreal ash canyons and the remnants of the once-devastating lahar flows. Flights depart out of Omni Aviation Complex at Clark Field. Cost is $55 per person, flying time for 1 to 2 persons is 45 minutes while for 3 or more is one hour. The best time to fly is early in the morning (sunrise-10AM) and in the late afternoon (3PM-sunset). Phone: (63)(45) 599-5524.

• Parachuting/Skydiving has to be one of the very best ways to view the surrounding countryside. The Tropical Asia Parachute Center (TAPC) operates from Clark Freeport Zone. The center provides student training, including both tandem and static line parachuting, and advanced training. Costs are very reasonable and if you have considered trying this sport before, take advantage while visiting the Philippines. Phone: (63)(45) 599-6246; Fax: (63)(45) 599-6245; E-mail: ville@mozcom.com.

• Ultra-light Flying is one sport that is definitely growing. If you want your senses get heightened and your heart pound as the wind whistles through your hair, this is for you! This is organized by the Angeles City Flying Club. The area also offers many additional attractions, from diving to cycling to hiking to night clubbing. Phone: (63)(918) 231–5266; Fax: (63)(45) 332-3311; E-mail: acfc@mozcom.com.

• Drive Off-Road is an off-road challenge where you can take on a wild, bumpy, ride in old four-wheel-drive jeeps in a safari-like journey across the dusty expanse of the valley to a campsite. It is organized by the Angeles City Four Wheelers Club and is ideal for trekking and be able to see the lahar canyons, Gate of Heaven and other sites in Mount Pinatubo. Phone: (63)(45) 599-5000.

• Golf, world-class golf courses, such as Holiday Inn Golf and Resort, Fontana Resort, Angeles Sports and Country Club, and J&K Golf are the recommended golf courses for those so inclined. Phone: (63)(2) 845-1888 or USA toll-free: 1-888-465-4329 (Holiday Inn), (63)(45) 599-5000 (Fontana), (63)(45) 892-6358 (Angeles Sports and Country Club) and (63)(45) 599-7888 (J&K Golf).
• Lawn Bowling is the only one in the country and is offered at the Hidden Vale and Angeles Sports and Country Club, a mature 11.34 hectare site which includes a nine-hole golf course, luxurious penthouse suites and driving range. Phone: (63)(45) 625-8525 (Department of Tourism); E-mail: celtour@yahoo.com.

• Visit the Pool Resorts, though Angeles has no beaches, it has a number of resorts to choose from, including Clearwater Country Club, Angeles Beach Club (ABC), Fontana, Oasis, Holiday Inn Resort, Amando's, Villa Alfredo's, Villa Antonina, and Greenville, some just slightly outside the boundries of the city. Phone: 599-5949 (Clearwater), (63)(45) 892-2222 (ABC) and (63)(45) 599-5000 (Fontana).

• Drag and Go-Kart Racing is organized by the Angeles Hot Rod Association (AHRA), the oldest drag racing in the Philippines. You can find this attraction at the Omni Aviation inside the Clark Ecozone. AHRA is where you will find most of the big V8 muscle cars, as well as many "bangers." In addition to race meets, they also organize and run regular classic and custom car shows, swap meets, social events and more. Phone: (63)(45) 599-5524 or (63)(45) 599-6246; E-mail: ahra@nt1.ph.

• Gambling, being renowned as a city with high concentration of casinos, such as Casino Filipino-Angeles, Casino Filipino-Mimosa, Fontana Casino, and Casablanca Casino, Angeles offers a variety of activities that will keep leisure travelers definitely happy. Phone: (63)(45) 332-1196, (63)(45) 332-1198, (63)(45) 892-5073, (63)(45) 892-5074, or (63)(45) 892-4182 (Casino Filipino-Angeles) and (63)(45) 599-6020 (Casino Filipino-Mimosa); E-mail: cfangeles@comclark.com.

• Play Pool in a city of great champions like Efren Reyes and Rodolfo Luat. Angeles has an abundance of pool tables to play all along the Fields Avenue and hundreds of other places in the city.

• Mount Arayat Trek is available November through May. Prices range: day trips (minimum of 3 persons, P800 per person) and overnight trips (minimum of 3 persons, P2500 per person). Phone: (63)(45) 892-6239.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Where to Eat in Angeles

Angeles is known for being the "Culinary Center of the Philippines." This reputation reportedly goes back to the Spanish colonial times where it is said that the Kapampangan cook learned very quickly to improvise on Spanish dishes using local ingredients.

The culinary adventure in Angeles is sure to be an experience of a lifetime. A must-eat dish is "Sisig", which Angeles is famous for. From its humble beginnings in Aling Lucing's Eatery along Angeles' railroad to its present top-of-the-menu ranking in Manila's bars and nightclubs, sisig has come to conquer the Filipino drinkers' palate. It has become the quintessential pulutan fare
— the default order that comes with every round of beer.

Other not-to-be-missed local mouth-watering cuisines are
  • Dencio's kare-kare (another Kapampangan menu, which is a Philippine stew made from peanut sauce with a variety of vegetables, stewed oxtail, beef and occasionally offal or tripe),
  • fresh papaya lumpia
  • tilapia in tausi sauce
  • adobong pugo
  • morcon
  • tortang bangus (milkfish stuffed with ground pork)
  • Everybody's Cafe's camaru (fried cricket adobo), kilayin baboy (pork meat and lungs pickled in a marinade of vinegar or calamansi juice, usually along with garlic, onions and hot/sweet peppers), bringhe (local Spanish paella), bulanglang (meat or fish broth soured with guava fruit)
  • Aling Luring's batute (a frog stuffed with ground and seasoned pork, then deep fried to a crisp), burong isda (fermented rice with fish or small shrimps), pork and carabao tocino
  • Bale Dutung's burong talangka (the fat of salted little crabs, very rich and laden with cholesterol but hard to resist),
  • Filipinized pizza in a bilao at Armando's Pizza, brazo de mercedes
  • halo-halo from Razon's and Corazon's (a popular dessert that is a mixture of shaved ice and milk, added with various boiled sweet beans and fruits, and served cold in a glass or bowl),
  • Susie's Cuisine's famous pancit luglog (palabok), tibuk tibok (made from carabao's milk and also known as "maja blanca"), tocino del cielo (a richer version of leche flan) and turron de casoy.


If you are a person inclined to drinking beer and eating barbecue, then

  • Frank & Jim
  • Ikabud
  • Whythaus Grill
  • Wishing Well
  • Marisol Steakhouses and the eateries along Angeles railroad crossing are certainly the spots for you. Street foods, such as fishballs and kikiams on sticks, are a must-try at Nepo Compound vendor stands.


If local cuisine is not your type, no need to worry as the city has a wide range of pretty decent restaurants to choose from. Fine restaurants and eateries that serve international menus are

  • C Italian
  • Maranao Grill-Oasis Hotel
  • Salvatore's
  • Zapata's
  • Rodizio-Holiday Inn
  • Cottage Kitchen
  • Red Crab Seafood & Steaks
  • Shanghai Palace
  • House of Bamboo
  • Subdelicious
  • Rumpa
  • VFW
  • Chic 'N Ribs
  • A la Crème
  • Rib Eye Steak House
  • Fortune Seafood
  • Perfect Loaf
  • Four Season's Grill
  • Angeles Fried Chicken
  • Bretto's
  • Mar's
  • Toll House
  • Hana-mi
  • Didi's
  • Peking House
  • Mister Frosty
  • China Jade Seafood and Dimsum House

and a host of other American, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Mexican and Korean restaurants.
A number of coffee shops are also to be seen even in the outskirts of the city, such as

  • Beatico Coffee
  • Zulu Coffee & Tea
  • Ciocollo
  • The Coffee Academy
  • Starbucks
  • Northern Brew
  • Coffee Overdose
  • and Mequeni Cafe-Holiday Inn

that serve drip regular coffee, decaff, brewed coffee, espresso-based hot drinks, other hot and cold drinks, and snacks.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Where to Drink in Angeles

The infamous nightlife scene in Angeles originally sprung up to service nearby Clark Air Force Base. The US military left in 1991 after nearby Mt. Pinatubo erupted, but a crackdown on prostitution in Manila promptly restored the industry's fortunes, and today Angeles has the biggest nightlife scene in the Philippines.
Balibago district is home to many bars and karaoke joints. It has of a number of clubs which fit any budget and personality. There are traditional clubs with DJ's and the live band clubs. For endless evening of dancing and pulsating music, head for the bright lights of Balibago. Fields Avenue and McArthur Highway are the places to head for go-go bars, comedy bar shows, sing-along or karaoke bars, nightclubs and drinking beer - it is a non-stop pleasure seven days a week, everyday of the year.


Sax Bar, Diamond Service Road, McArthur Highway, Balibago, ☎ 63 (45) 892-3574.


Whythaus Grill & KTV, Severina Lim Avenue, Diamond Subdivision, Balibago, ☎ 63 (45) 892-7077.


Wishing Well Music Lounge (KTV & Grill), Severina Lim Avenue, Diamond Subdivision, Balibago, ☎ 63 (45) 322-4857.


Spencer's Fusion Bar & Restaurant, Saver's Mall, McArthur Highway, Balibago, ☎ (63)(45) 892-5826 or (63)(45) 323-6888, local 183.


R&B Music Venue, Don Juico Avenue, Malabanias.


S.O.S., Fields Avenue, Balibago.


Skytraxx, Fields Avenue, Balibago (Next to Subdelecious). One of the best Hip hip clubs in Angeles City with friendly bartenders, waiters and waitress.


The London Bar, 4370-B Arayat Street, 1st Floor, Diamond Subdivision, Balibago.


Topsy Turvy, 4370-B Arayat Street, 1st Floor, Diamond Subdivision, Balibago.


Klub Caterva, 4370-G Arayat Street, 2nd Floor, Diamond Subdivision, Balibago.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Where to Stay in Angeles

There are many nice hotels around the city, furnished with the luxury of modern day living with upgraded facilities to accommodate your needs. Some can be found along the Clark Perimeter Road while others within the Clark Freeport Zone. Lower-cost accommodation in the main entertainment area near Fields Ave., however, tends to be expensive by Asian standards, with prices starting around P800-1000, and the cheapest places are often fully booked. If you look for the budget options, while still in the bar area and walking distance from Fields Ave. proper, head along the Fields Ave. to the west, where it is no more traffic-free and continues along the Clark Freeport Zone fence as the Perimeter Road (Don Juico Ave.). Numerous cheap (P400-700) rooms can be found here, as well as more upmarket hotels (ABC Hotel. for example, which is also a well-known landmark in the area). The Perimeter Road is quite busy even at night, and so is relatively safe to walk home late, compared to the other streets around. Another option is to accept tricycle driver's "cheap hotel" tout - but, as everywhere, this may mean overpricing due to the driver's commission, more concerns about hotel security, and a P50 or more for a trike ride every time you go in and out (or a long walk, which may be not safe in the night time also).


• Holiday Inn Hotel and Resort - Mimosa, Mimosa Drive, Clark Field, ☎ 63)(2) 845-1888, (63)(45) 599-8000 and 1-888-465-4329 (hircf@comclark.com, beeline@beelinetravel.com, fax: (63)(45) 843-1363), The region's only Holiday Inn Resort, it has deluxe rooms which range from about $60/night on up. This is by far the largest hotel in the Angeles area, having over 300 rooms, suites and villas. It is located at the Mimosa Leisure Estate, which has the best golf course in the region and a casino. This is a business-class convention hotel for Clark. No problem bringing in a guest (or two). It has smoking and non-smoking rooms. Government rate is generally the lowest available. This location within the Clark Freeport Zone is only a few miles away from the entertainment district. Taxi service is available 24/7 for P150 to the bar area.

• Angeles Beach Club Hotel (ABC Hotel), Don Juico Avenue, Malabanias, ☎ (63)(45) 892-2222 (info@angelesbeachclubhotel.com), It is a five-star hotel situated in the entertainment zone across from SM shopping mall. It is an outstanding one-of-a-kind hotel specifically designed for Balibago. The rooms are 'out of a dream' and its swimming pool has a white sandy beach. For $90 per night, it includes free breakfast, free shuttle service to and from Clark Airport and around town, 3 extra movie channels, 3 adult channels and free internet. 'Beachfront Suites' and 'Penthouse Suites' are also available. It is constructed with great detail by the best craftsmen in the area. A must-see hotel that is, by far, the number one recommended hotel.

• Oasis Hotel, Clark Perimeter Road, Clarkview Compound, Malabanias, ☎ 63)(45) 322-3301 (reserve@oasishotel.com.ph, oasishtl@comclark.com), Once a favorite of visiting US Air Force officers, this quiet, respectable hotel is located within a secure residential compound. The hotel has all the services you will need including a 24-hour room service, 24-hour foreign currency exchange, 24-hour high security and dual-key safe deposit boxes, laundry service, a beautiful swmimming pool, a business center with internet access and a gift shop. The hotel restaurant, Maranao Grill, is open 24 hours and there is an English pub. Standard and deluxe rooms are offered, but if you are going to stay here, take a P2750 junior suite and ask for a discount. The suites are among the largest rooms in Angeles and a good option if you like to have two or more girls for the night. Each suite is available with one king or two queen-size beds and has a large, clean bathroom. This is a place where you can bring your wife and kids if you are not able to leave them at home.

• Fontana Leisure Park, C.M. Recto Highway, Clark Field, ☎ (63)(45) 599-5000 or (63)(45) 599-8118 (resortsales@fontanaleisureparks.com),. It features a world-class wave pool that can electronically produce various types of waves and three giant aqua thrill slides. The park also has other attractions like the mad scientist water laboratory, the buccaneer ship and the lazy river. A prelude to the coming 18-hole championship course, the pitch and putt of the golf course is a perfect place for golfers to practice their game. It also has a casino which offers over a hundred slot and video machines and 40 gaming tables with games like Baccarat, Blackjack, Roulette and Pai-Gow.

• Clarkton Hotel, 620 Don Juico Avenue, Balibago, ☎ (63)(45) 322-3424 or USA toll-free: (866) 978-4962 (info@clarkton.com). This is a German-managed hotel that has 93 rooms. Large suites are available on the 3rd floor. It has an excellent restaurant, on-site go-go bar, a 24-hour room service and a large, clean pool. The pool area is a popular gathering place. Single deluxe room is P1650 while a suite is for P2500 or P2800.

• Hotel Stotsenberg, Gil Puyat Avenue corner A. Soriano Street, Clark Field, ☎ (63)(45) 499-0777. This resort, with a casino, enjoys the best of worlds as it is a serene sanctuary, yet only a breeze away from an exciting nightlife. Just five minutes away from the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport, the hotel is accessible from all points in Greater Luzon via the North Luzon Expressway and other arterial highways - making it an excellent base for the discerning business as well as leisure travelers. Deluxe room is $83, executive suit is $98, Clark suite is $263 and Stotsenberg suite is $299.

• Marlim Mansions Hotel, MacArthur Highway, Balibago, ☎ 63)(45) 322-2002 or 63)(45) 322-2393 (marlim@digitelone.com, fax: (63)(45) 722-2972). A five story full-service hotel, Marlim Mansion Hotel is one of the biggest hotels located at downtown Balibago with a total of 100 rooms. Standard room is $25, deluxe room is $29 and junior suite is $19.

• Pacific Breeze Hotel and Resort, 1888 Vian Street, Balibago, ☎ (63)(45)625-6494, (63)(45) 625-6495 and (63)(45) 892-5293 (info@pacificbreezehotel.com, fax: (63)(45) 892-5680). It offers the most complete set of services and it is one of the better facilities in Angeles. With the completion of the Oahu Wing, they have also added a large conference rooms that may be rented for meetings, parties or other social functions. Here is a brief list of some of the amenities that await you: a 56 guest-room main building with elevator access to the roof top; a 50 guest-room Oahu Wing annex; and a large rooftop conference room for meetings, or other social functions.

• Oxford Hotel, M.A. Roxas Avenue corner N. Aquino Avenue, Clark Field, ☎ (63)(45) 599-7888. It features small function and meeting rooms and a very large convention hall which can accommodate approximately 2,500 business, personal company team building or political guests. Stay at this hotel and get Mount Pinatubo Trek discounts.

• Hotel Royal Amsterdam, 648 Fields Avenue, Balibago, ☎ (63)(45) 892-3392 (info@hotelroyalamsterdam.com). It is one of the newest hotels in town. Built from the ground up, room rates range from $20 to $150.

• Mo's Place, Fields Avenue corner A. Santos Street, Balibago, (63) (45) 892-0509. Budget hotel with its own sports bar, swim-up bar and swimming pool. Rooms are a bit worn, and extra towels will cost you 30 pesos each. It has an in-house travel agency that can arrange tours around Angeles. Rooms rates start at about $36.

• Clark Hostel, Ninoy Aquino Avenue corner M.A. Roxas Avenue, Clark Field, ☎ (63)(45) 599-7500 or (63)(45) 599-7501 (fax: (63)(45) 599-7462). Stay in a cozy, unique boutique condotel with many amenities and most importantly, good old fashioned warm and friendly Filipino hospitality. If you are planning an extended trip to Clark, this is the place to lodge. It is a favorite lodging facility for budget minded games-of-chance players as various casinos abound in and around the area, some within walking distance. It has a coffee shop, bar and grill with seating capacity of 200 persons at the garden coffee shop/bar with live music performances Friday nights.

• Swiss Chalet Hotel, A. Santos Street corner Real Street, Balibago, at the site of the former ''Lollipop Bar'', ☎ :(63)(45) 888-2618 (info@swisschaletph.com). This is a new hotel built from the ground up. Rooms are priced from P1400 to P2850. It has no swimming pool but has an excellent restaurant.

• Orchid Resort, 109 Raymond Street, Balibago, ☎ (63)(45) 322-0370 or (63)(45) 892-2653 (info@orchid-inn.com, fax: (63)(45) 322-2790). This resort has 84 rooms in the heart of the Balibago entertainment area. The resort has three buildings: the 24-room original inn, a 27-room extension and a third building, a 33-room annex completed in November 2001, called the Jasmine Wing. The family superior deluxe rooms, located in the extension, are huge. A large tropical garden of lawn and shrubs surrounds the new 50 feet by 25 feet swimming pool. 24-hour room service is available from the hotel restaurant. Safe deposit box access is available 24 hours. Orchid rooms are priced from $32 to $66.

• Wild Orchid Resort, A. Santos Street corner Johnny Street, Balibago, ☎ (63)(45) 625-6335 (info@wildorchidresort.com, fax: (63)(45) 625-6267). Prices range from $80 to $100. The resort is situated in the center of the entertainment district for easy walking to all of Angeles' finest clubs.

• Central Park Hotel, 261 Real Street, Balibago, ☎ (63)(45) 892-0256 (reserve@centralpark-ac.com, fax: (63)(45) 892-5680) It has 48 rooms in the heart of Balibago nightlife. Central Park rooms were extensively renovated in late 2003. Rooms are kept quiet by double-pane windows. If you are interested in taking a swim or sitting around a pool, it is a short walk to Kokomo's. A standard room is $25, standard plus is $33 and premiere is $35. This hotel used to be named Park Chicago.

• Montevista Villas, Mimosa Drive, Clark Field, ☎ (63)(45) 599-3333 or (63)(2) 845-2493 (mgahotel@portalinc.com, fax: 63)(45) 599-2531). A renovated former USAF housing, the Montevista Villas are located within the Mimosa Resort amidst stately Mimosa rain trees, the former residential grounds and golf club. It is a good place for a long-term stay if you have a car. Their rate ranges from $78 to $129.

• Century Resort Hotel, MacArthur Highway, Balibago, ☎ (63)(45) 322-7454 (century@comclark.com, beeline@beelinetravel.com). The Casino Filipino-Angeles and Klownz Comedy Bar are just right next to this hotel and it is very accessible to Angeles' vibrant nightlife of Balibago district. Rate ranges from P1440 to P2880.

• Maharajah Hotel, Texas Street, Villa Sol Subdivision, Anunas, ☎ (63)(45) 625-6973 (mahatel@mozcom.com). Price ranges from P1050 to P2000.

• Phoenix Hotel, 1810 Malabanias corner Perimeter Road, Malabanias, ☎ (63)(45) 888-2195 or (63)(45) 888-2196 (info@phoenixhotel.com.ph, fax: (63)(45) 322-2074). This hotel has 33 spacious, comfortable rooms including non-smoking rooms. Each room is fully carpeted and includes cable TV, mini-bars, air-conditioning, telephones and a 24-hour room service with a full international menu. Same day laundry and dry cleaning service are available.

• Swagman-Narra Hotel, S.L. Orosa Street, Diamond Subdivision, Balibago, ☎ (63)(45)322-5133 (bookings@angelescity.info). Named after the national tree of the Philippines, the Narra tree, it offers a spa, swimming pool, a bar and restaurant, pool, karaoke stage, barbecue cooking area and excellent food with a variety of steaks and seafood as well as Australian, Filipino, Thai and Chinese specialties. As an added bonus, there are night-time specials and a Sunday lunch roast. Fine wines are always available.

• Blue Bianco Suites, C.M. Recto Highway, Clark Field, ☎ 63 045 599-3956. checkin: 12:00 NN; checkout: 11:00 am. 1300+.

• Patio Inn, 4410 S.L. Orosa St. Diamond Subd. Balibago, ☎ (63)(45) 322-4272 or (63)(45) 892-0890 (patioinnhotels@hotmail.com, fax: (63)(45) 332-1771). With 16 well appointed rooms, a 24-hour bar and restaurant, library and business center, the Patio is where you can escape, relax but still be in touch, when you want. It also has top-quality car rentals, van, trucks and motorcycle rentals. This is a series of hotels, which cater to American and Australian travelers, mostly men. Patio V is named after the American VFW post, which is just situated next door.

• Bluefields Hotel, 1239 Malabanias Road Pladirel I, Malabanias, ☎ (63)(45) 892-7290 (reservation_bluefileds@yahoo.com). checkin: 14:00; checkout: 12:00. Quite decent budget option at the Perimeter Road end. Standard room with bathroom, aircon and TV is for only PhP975. It also has a swimming pool and free internet. It's a little barred but staff is friendly.

• Hotel Vida, 5414 M.A. Roxas Avenue, Clark Freeport, ☎ (63)(45) 499-1000. A tropical paradise hotel in Clark Freeport, this hotel is set in a lush green landscape of acacia and palm trees, where natural light and ventilation were given emphasis to achieve a breezy atmosphere. A host of first-class recreational facilities and accommodation amenities await travelers and guests.

• Donald Paul Apartelle (& Country Kitchen), Surla Street, Angeles City (Across from the city hygiene, near the casino, a few steps away from Fields Avenue.), ☎ (045)322-5569 (the_donald_paul_apartelle@yahoo.com). checkout: 1200. A new establishment, in a very convenient, but quiet location. The Donald Paul Apartelle offers queen and king size rooms, as well as two apartments that both have two bedrooms and a lounge. The whole building is brand new and very clean. The hotel has a swimming pool, free wifi / computers, and a kitchen that is open "24 & a half" hours with room service available around the clock. The staff are exceptionally friendly, especially William a local man who is always on hand with advice and a big smile. Rooms start from 1600 a night. 1600.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Contact

Internet cafes have become a common sight along university roads, at the malls, hotels and different establishments. You will have no trouble finding cheap and fast internet access. Usual rate ranges between PhP15 and PhP30 an hour. You will also find cheap gaming stations aside from internet access.
Prepaid SIM cards of local GSM operators (Globe, Smart, Sun) are widely available and cheap (P50-100). International calls, however, are not particularly cheap (though still much cheaper than roaming rates) and usually cost around US$0.40 per minute ($0.30 for Sun, but at the expense of network coverage quality). However, often they have promotions with lower call/SMS rates to the chosen countries - just ask the dealer about that.

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