Dear Foreign Retiree, Why You Should Retire In My Town? Part II

After a long walk, I enjoyed the cold water flowing at the river and it was so refreshing. We went to take a bath and washed the mud on our clothes on that river. When I was in my second year in college, I joined an educational trip to Pampanga. I have tasted the most delicious food. We enjoyed our breakfast at one of the finest restaurants there. The restaurant was first managed and built by the grandparents and they passed the ownership to current owner’s parents. They served us the tapang kalabaw and it was supposed to be that hard to eat because its meat was not so tender. However, they have done something during the processing where the carabao meat would almost melts on your mouth. I was shocked when they served us stuffed fried frogs. Most of my friends tasted the exotic meal and they told me that it just tasted like chicken, but I did not have the guts to try. Afterwards, the chef showed us how to cook kamaro, a rice field insect, which according to the farmers in Pampanga, was a daily meal. At lunch we went to one of the famous cooks in Pampanga. She served us home cooked vegetable dishes. The vegetables came from her own backyard and it was quite surprising to see that she and her children still lived at her grandparent’s house. It was still in good condition and after eating, we went for a walk and I witnessed how religious the Pampangenos were because in almost every corner of the streets, one can see a church. It was everywhere and they were able to preserve their heritage and culture by applying them in their everyday life. For instance, in a certain university they use Kapampangan language instead of Tagalog or English as a medium of communication. They kept most of their antiques at the museum and even the antique houses were still standing. We also visited the church affected by the lahar flow in Pampanga. It was almost half buried because of the eruption of Mount Pinatubo. Pampanga is known for their longanisa, tapa and many preserved delicious meats. Here in Manila, you can see the Intramuros. It served as a Spanish defense wall during its period, the historical Rizal Park where our national hero Jose Rizal was executed, the Manila Ocean Park, the Bay Walk, the well-known universities here in our country, the Ateneo de Manila formerly known as Ateneo Municipal where Rizal studied, the University of Santo Thomas which is the oldest university in Asia, the University of the Philippines – a well known producer of the most finest scholars. At the Global City Taguig, you can enjoy the nightlife at different bars and restaurants, and even avail your own condo unit. In Makati you can see many hotels, malls and business establishments. In Marikina City where you can find the biggest shoes, you would notice how clean the city is. The Baguio City which is home of the Philippine Military Academy produces the most of the finest soldiers we have. Taste the sweetest strawberries in this summer capital of the Philippines. Witnessing the colorful Panagbenga Festival and of course taking pictures and conversing with the native Igorots are worth of adventure. The Corregidor Island known for its past experiences during the Spanish and American Periods, the white sand beaches of Boracay, the Mayon Volcano in Albay, pili nuts and spicy dishes from Bicol, the tarsiers and Chocolate Hills of Bohol, the mangrove, pearls, and underground river of Palawan, the charming ladies of Iloilo, the beautiful, captivating women and the delicious durian and tuna of Davao City, dolphin show in Subic, the antique houses in Vigan, extreme sports in Camarines Sur – these are just few of the fascinating places you could visit in the Philippines.


Written by Ms. Mae-rizza Sotelo, BSHRM student, 2nd Year