From Wikitravel
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.
Understand
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 concentration 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. They, however, tend to charge
quite steep (for Asia) fares of, normally, P300 for just several
kilometers ride to Fields Ave. area. If alone, it is best to find a
fellow traveler to share a taxi. When going back to the airport
from the Fields Ave. area during the daytime, jeepneys parked near
the Clark AFB entrance are also an option. They're often not going
to the airport itself, and normally wait until the jeepney is full
- but by paying the higher price (P200 if you charter an empty one,
less if you just want the driver to make a short detour to the
airport) these inconveniences are resolved easily and cheaper than
by hiring a taxi.
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.
- 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.
- Nayong Pilipino offers a good and educational
alternative road trip destination in the country.
- 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.
- Clark Freeport Zone (formerly Clark Air Base),
now the site of the Philippine Air Force and once the largest US
military base outside of the United States, is home to a number of
resorts, golf ranges, casinos and high-class hotels. Duty free
shops, foreign and local investment companies, and a number of call
centers can also be found inside the freeport.
- 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.
- Mount Pinatubo Tour : an adventure trek
provided by tripinas includes AC transfer from Manila or angeles, *
Round trip A/C Van transfer (Manila-Tarlac-Manila) inclusive of
toll fee and gas * 4x4 wheel drive to Mt Pinatubo * Local guide *
All applicable fees (conservation, local guide) * lunch and
drinking water (500mL) * Certificate of Conquest * Tour
coordinator. For more information email tripinas@gmail.com or view [1]
- 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 [2]
- 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. http://www.angelesflying.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.
Buy
If you like to shop, Robinsons Place, Jenra Grand Mall,
Nepo Mall, Saver's Mall and the SM City
Clark are the places to go. These are mostly shopping
malls with decent boutiques, department stores, supermarkets,
hardware stores, movie theaters and over a hundred shops and
restaurants.
Duty-free stores are to be found inside the Clark Ecozone,
namely Pure Gold, Oriental, Parkson, Clark Interiors,
Liberty, and Arjan that sell imported
housewares, cooking items, snacks and branded clothes. Most of
which are surplus so they are actually cheaper. Some of these
stores have an extensive selection of cigarettes and perfumes as
well.
The barratillos (cheap or thrift stores) crap the likes
of which you cannot imagine. If you really want a native
experience, go to one of these open-air "flea markets," there are
several of them around town. Hop on a jeepney and have someone take
you. There are many other fun places to shop household items,
clothing, including audio-video equipment in a makeshift market
called tiangge at bargain prices at Apu
district every Friday. Twenty-four hour convenience
stores, like 7-11, are also found in the city from
city proper to Balibago. Most locally owned stores, which they call
sari-sari, sell retail items, especially the cigarettes
that you can buy per stick or per pack.
Handicraft stores sell locally good and export-quality
craftwork. The Rosa's Handicraft Gift Shop and
Mhea's Custom Woodcraft have a large selection of
gift items and are conveniently located in Balibago district.
Stores selling souvenir shirts, woodcraft and other local stuff are
also dotted along Fields Avenue and they are sold for cheaper
prices.
For more Angeles souvenirs and products, you may get in touch
with the Metro Angeles Chamber of Commerce and
Industry at (63)(45) 323-4145.
Eat
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.
- Young's Bookstore, Miranda Street, Angeles City
(infront of San Nicolas Public
Mall), ☎ +63456259178, [3]. 830AM-630PM. Retail
and Wholesale dealer of School and Office Supplies, Paper supplies,
Computer Supplies edit
- Angeles Fried Chicken, 1992 Marlim Ave.,Diamond
Subd.,Balibago, Angeles City (near Casino Filipino-Angeles--- 2 kms away
from Clarkfield), ☎ +65-453224448. The oldest Restaurant in Angeles City. A must
try when in Angeles City. Offers wide array of food at very
reasonable prices. Famous for its juicy chicken (crispy or
regular)with coleslaw and gravy that everybody loves....
Recommended/ Bestsellers:gambas,sisig,calamares,japanese fried
chicken,pancit canton,bihon, clubhouse sandwich & their famous
Iced Tea--an afc trademark! edit
- Mother's Cakehouse & Restaurant, 1982 Marlim Ave.,Diamond
Subd.,Balibago Angeles City. (near Casino Filipino- 2 kms away from
Clarkfield.), ☎ +63-456257593. The oldest Cakehouse in Angeles City. Known for
its traditional and personalized cakes... The restaurant is so cozy
that gives you a home-y feeling ambiance with pink and white
motiff. Its baked macaroni is to die for! Other must try:
spareribs, sisig dinuguan, palabok, tacos, spaghetti, salisbury
steak and a lot more... Good thing about this restaurant is that,
since it's a sister company of the famous Angeles Fried Chicken,
you can also order foods from Angeles Fried Chicken--which they
would cross over for you to fill your crave... edit
Drink
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. edit
- Whythaus Grill & KTV, Severina Lim Avenue,
Diamond Subdivision, Balibago, ☎ 63 (45) 892-7077. edit
- Wishing Well Music Lounge (KTV & Grill),
Severina Lim Avenue,
Diamond Subdivision, Balibago, ☎ 63 (45) 322-4857. edit
- Spencer's Fusion Bar & Restaurant, Saver's Mall, McArthur
Highway, Balibago, ☎ (63)(45) 892-5826 or (63)(45) 323-6888, local
183. edit
- R&B Music Venue, Don Juico Avenue, Malabanias.
edit
- S.O.S., Fields Avenue, Balibago.
edit
- Skytraxx, Fields Avenue, Balibago (Next to Subdelecious). One of the best Hip hip clubs in Angeles City
with friendly bartenders, waiters and waitress. edit
- The London Bar, 4370-B Arayat Street, 1st Floor, Diamond
Subdivision, Balibago. edit
- Topsy
Turvy, 4370-B
Arayat Street, 1st Floor, Diamond Subdivision,
Balibago. edit
- Klub
Caterva, 4370-G Arayat Street, 2nd Floor, Diamond
Subdivision, Balibago. edit
An up-to-date (according to the site author) map of the
entertainment areas of Angeles can be found here: [4].
Sleep
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),
[5]. 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. edit
- Angeles Beach Club Hotel (ABC Hotel), Don Juico Avenue,
Malabanias, ☎ (63)(45)
892-2222 (info@angelesbeachclubhotel.com),
[6]. It is a five-star hotel situated in the
entertainment zone across from SM shopping mall. 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. edit
- Oasis
Hotel, Clark
Perimeter Road, Clarkview Compound, Malabanias, ☎ 63)(45) 322-3301 (reserve@oasishotel.com.ph,
oasishtl@comclark.com), [7]. 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. 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. edit
- Fontana Leisure Park, C.M. Recto Highway, Clark
Field, ☎ (63)(45) 599-5000
or (63)(45) 599-8118 (resortsales@fontanaleisureparks.com),
[8]. 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. edit
- Clarkton Hotel, 620 Don Juico Avenue,
Balibago, ☎ (63)(45) 322-3424
or USA toll-free: (866) 978-4962 (info@clarkton.com), [9].
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. edit
- Hotel Stotsenberg, Gil Puyat Avenue corner A. Soriano Street,
Clark Field, ☎ (63)(45)
499-0777,
[10]. 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. edit
- Marlim Mansions Hotel, MacArthur Highway,
Balibago, ☎ 63)(45) 322-2002
or 63)(45) 322-2393 (marlim@digitelone.com,
fax: (63)(45) 722-2972), [11].
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. edit
- 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), [12]. 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. edit
- Oxford Hotel, M.A. Roxas Avenue corner N. Aquino Avenue,
Clark Field, ☎ (63)(45)
599-7888, [13]. 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. edit
- Hotel Royal Amsterdam, 648 Fields Avenue,
Balibago, ☎ (63)(45)
892-3392 (info@hotelroyalamsterdam.com),
[14]. It is one of the newest hotels in town. Built
from the ground up, room rates range from $20 to $150.
edit
- Mo's
Place, Fields
Avenue corner A. Santos Street, Balibago, (63) (45)
892-0509, [15]. 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. edit
- 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),
[16]. 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. edit
- 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),
[17]. 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. edit
- Orchid Resort, 109 Raymond Street, Balibago,
☎ (63)(45) 322-0370 or (63)(45)
892-2653 (info@orchid-inn.com, fax: (63)(45) 322-2790), [18]. 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. edit
- Wild Orchid Resort, A. Santos Street corner Johnny Street,
Balibago, ☎ (63)(45)
625-6335 (info@wildorchidresort.com,
fax: (63)(45) 625-6267), [19]. 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. edit
- Central Park Hotel, 261 Real Street, Balibago,
☎ (63)(45) 892-0256 (reserve@centralpark-ac.com,
fax: (63)(45) 892-5680), [20]. 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. edit
- Montevista Villas, Mimosa Drive, Clark Field,
☎ (63)(45) 599-3333 or (63)(2)
845-2493 (mgahotel@portalinc.com,
fax: 63)(45) 599-2531), [21].
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. edit
- Century Resort Hotel, MacArthur Highway, Balibago,
☎ (63)(45) 322-7454 (century@comclark.com,
beeline@beelinetravel.com), [22].
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. edit
- Maharajah Hotel, Texas Street, Villa Sol Subdivision,
Anunas, ☎ (63)(45)
625-6973 (mahatel@mozcom.com), [23].
Price ranges from P1050 to P2000.
edit
- 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), [24]. 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. edit
- Swagman-Narra Hotel, S.L. Orosa Street, Diamond Subdivision,
Balibago, ☎ (63)(45)322-5133 (bookings@angelescity.info),
[25]. 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. edit
- Blue Bianco Suites, C.M. Recto Highway, Clark
Field, ☎ 63 045
599-3956. checkin: 12:00
NN; checkout: 11:00 am. 1300+. edit
- 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), [26]. 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.
edit
- 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. edit
- Hotel
Vida, 5414
M.A. Roxas Avenue, Clark Freeport, ☎ (63)(45) 499-1000, [27]. A tropical paradise hotel in Clark Freeport,
this deluxe 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. edit
- 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. Rooms start
from 1600 a night. edit
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.
Stay Safe
The tourist and entertainment areas are generally safe as it is
filled with pedestrians and police around-the-clock. Although you
will likely get heavily solicited by street vendors pitching
Viagra, cigarettes, pornographic DVDs and trike rides, they are
usually nothing more than minor nuisances. They aren't persistent
as long as you show disinterest. It’s the same with the begging
population, which is small but visible.
However, venturing into the Perimeter bar areas (around the ABC
Hotel) after dark is not recommended or along Santos Street south
of Wild Orchid Resort. The rule of thumb is, if it's not well-lit
at night, don't go there.
Furthermore, be extremely vigilant of street strangers
pretending to know you. These scammers, often middle-aged men,
usually target solo tourists. With an extended hand, they would say
something like "Hi, my friend, I met you at the hotel last night"
or "Hey, remember me? I was your driver". Their initial goal is
simply to get you talking and drawing down your guard. But their
ultimate goal is to transport you to an illegal gambling den or to
set you up for theft or mugging. Ignoring random street strangers
is essential advice. And definitely never go anywhere with them or
show your wallet.
Get out
Explore the Philippines and more of Angeles City. There is still
life outside of Fields Avenue and Clark Ecozone.
- San Fernando, Pampanga, only 16 km south of
Angeles, is the provincial capital. It is well known for its giant
lanterns and it annually holds a Giant Lantern
Festival in December. Among legions of Catholics, it
is known for its annual re-enactment of Christ's crucifixion on
Good Friday (Cutud Lenten Crucifixion),
which is dramatized in Barangay San Pedro Cutud. Also,
Hilaga Philippines (formerly Paskuhan
Village) is found here. It is a tourism village where the wealth,
character and cultures of the four Northern Regions of Luzon are
pooled together to provide every visitor the virtual experience of
a visit to the North.
- Mabalacat, Pampanga has an airfield where the
first Kamikaze suicide attacks were launched on October 20, 1944
commanded by Vice-Admiral Takjuro Onishi in an attempt to destroy
hundreds of ships of the Allied Forces in the Pacific Ocean,
killing thousands of US soldiers during World War II.
The Memorial and Kamikaze Peace Shrine
marks the site of the old runway and it is frequently visited by
tourists, especially Japanese.
- Porac, Pampanga is known for its natural sites
such as the Dara and Miyamit Falls, as well as the Porac Highlands.
It is equally popular for being a lahar-stricken town brought about
by the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption and subsequent flooding of
rivers with lahar (a mixture of rainwater and volcanic ash and
outfall) that severely eroded river banks and destroyed bridges and
low-lying areas. Trekking through Porac is another way to reach
Mount Pinatubo's peak, a seven-hour trekking safari to the slopes
of Mount Pinatubo via the Pasig-Potrero river in Barangay Mancatian
while traversing fast streambeds, prolific waterfalls and fantastic
lahar landscapes.
- Arayat, Pampanga is known for its majestic
Mount Arayat and a natural park complete with exquisite swimming
pools, spa, recreational halls and picnic huts. One would be
delighted to experience the cool breeze and natural spring water
that falls from the mountain. Have an optional tour of
Mount Arayat National Park for a short
mountain climb and swimming in natural pools.
- Candaba, Pampanga is known for its
Bird Watching Tour, the staging and
wintering area for thousands of birds from October to April of
every year and it offers the only organized bird watching tour in
the region. It serves as a bird sanctuary and a haven for migratory
birds, such as egrets and wild ducks during winter in China.
Indigenous ones like the rare salaksak and batala
are to be seen as well.
- Guagua, Pampanga takes its pride for having
Pampanga's oldest church, Betis Church,
which is a fascinating work of architecture with its classic altar
in antique-carved design and decor blending with religious frescoes
reminiscent of neoclassic works of European art. Built in 1754,
this church has impressive paintings on its ceiling and walls with
fine sculpture and paintings in gold dust.
If leaving by airport, remember to carry enough cash for the
P600 departure tax (P150 for domestic flights).
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