Road trip, Bulacan: A ‘Biyahe ni Drew’ itinerary

Bulacan is the first province north of Metro Manila—so close that many city-dwellers don’t see it as a viable vacation spot. But as Drew Arellano found out, the province is rich in history and theme parks for the whole family.

Fun facts:
-Its name comes from the word “bulak” (cotton), because there used to be plenty of cotton plants in the province.
-Francisco Balagtas, author of Florante at Laura, was from Bulacan. “Balagtasan”, the Filipino debate form that flows like poetry, is named after him.
-Bulacan is the birthplace of Filipino heroes Marcelo H. Del Pilar and Gregorio Del Pilar. Bulacan was also one of the first areas to revolt against the Spanish colonizers. Because of this, Bulacan is symbolized in the Philippine flag as one of the eight rays of the sun.

What to do and where to stay
Bulacan isn’t near the beach, but they have plenty of water parks—each one has their own gimmick.

At Adventure Resort, you can try wall climbing, zip lines and a virtual tour around the world via mini versions of the Statue of Liberty, Eiffel Tower and Great Wall of China. Meanwhile, Galilee Wonderland has a park themed like Noah’s Ark; Malamig Park Resort is superhero-themed and comes with a wave pool with rainbow-colored lights that turn on at night.

The ‘Biyahe’ team stayed at Malamig Park Resort. Expect to pay P3,000 a night for a room good for four. While these are far from five-star digs, accommodations are clean and come with air-conditioning and a private bathroom.

What to see

Angat Afterbay Regulatory Dam (Also known as Bustos Rubber Dam)
Tibagan, Bustos, Bulacan
The Angat Afterbay is a dam made of rubber, and it’s the second largest of its kind in the whole world. While swimming is now prohibited, you can walk around, picnic and take pictures for free.

Bustos heritage houses
Bustos, Bulacan
History can be seen in a place’s architecture. If Ilocos has Vigan, Bulacan has Bustos. Avelina Perez, the fourth-generation owner of the Perez ancestral house, recalls how her father told her, “Huwag niyo ito bubuwagin. Kung may nasira, ayusin o ibalik niyo na lang. Ito ang magsisilbing roots ninyo.”

Entrance to the heritage homes is free, but you can’t just walk in. Call the municipal office first and they’ll take care of setting a time for your visit.

Bahay Resiklo
Want to teach your kids about recycling? Visit this quirky exhibit made by Lercita Cristobal, dubbed “Babaeng Maka-Kalikasan.” For the past 17 years, Lercita has saved old things from the garbage bins, turning them into something new. In Bahay Resiklo, you’ll find bouquets of flowers made from newspapers, a tissue dispenser made from an inkjet printer, placemats made from old vinyl records, and more. Entrance is free!

Bakas River
Brgy. Matictic, Norzagaray, Bulacan
With its cool, clear waters, Bakas River is a popular swimming spot for the younger, more active crowd.

A word of caution, though: Stay close to the banks and don’t try cliff-diving if you aren’t a strong swimmer. Through the years, several tourists have drowned after being caught in the current.

Where to eat

JL Jamie’s Crispy Pata
Norzagaray, Bulacan
When the ‘Biyahe’ team tweeted that we’d be trying crispy pata in Bulacan, we were flooded with comments saying “JL Jamie’s!” We weren’t disappointed—this is truly one of the best. It’s crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. “Ang paglalaga ng crispy pata namin, four hours na hinay-hinay,” says JL Jamie’s owner.

A&T Native Food House
For Drew, dining in a nipa hut gives the full probinsya experience. A&T serves regular fare like fried chicken and daing na bangus as well as exotic dishes like adobong sawa, kalderetang kambing and adobong kabayo, which Drew found surprisingly soft. “Sure ba silang kabayo ito? Parang hindi… I really like it,” he says.

Exotic dishes good for one cost P100 each, while the rest of the menu is priced under P90. Veggie dishes are P30.

Da Best Kumain sa Bahay Kubo
San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan
Try their bulalo (P500) and Arroz Valenciana (P400). Servings are large enough to feed eight each!

What to buy for pasalubong

Herschel’s Candies

Established in 2002, this famous candy shop is named after the owner’s grandson. They now sell products in markets all over the Philippines, but their factory is still in Bustos, Bulacan.

Minasa and Barquillos
Back in the day, barquillos were only served during fiestas. The crisp rolls were made by pressing a mix of egg whites, sugar and flour. These days, you can have barquillos whenever you want! Meanwhile, minasa is Bustos’ version of uraro cookies made with cassava—best enjoyed with coffee or hot chocolate. —Cristina Tantengco/CM, GMA News