Lakbay-Aral sa Pampanga

The 3rd day of the PSSP Conference was spent by the remaining delegates, HAU Psych faculty, and the secretariat traipsing around some towns of Pampanga. Following is a brief description of some of our stops:

1) Betis Church, dubbed as the Sistine Chapel of the Philippines because of the walls and ceiling frescoes including the trompe o' leil paintings on its majestic dome. Moreover, is the 17th century central retablo, one among the many masterpieces inside the church. Paintings of Simon Flores hanging in the old convent and church laterals is also a must see. Recently declared as one of the country’s national cultural treasures by the National Museum

2) Sta. Rita Church and Town. One of the best preserved colonial towns set up in the province. The presence of the old church fronting the plaza and the tribunal (municipio) surrounded by colonial houses of 19th and turn of the century bahay na bato. A must see inside the church are the neo gothic 19th century retablos and the recently enthrone relic of Sta. Rita. Famous also for its delicacies of turrones de casoy and sanzrival and other different stuffs like mammon tostado, tarts, petite fortunes, boat tarts, arraro and others

3) Bacolor Church, the half lahar buried church, former capital of the province and once capital of the Philippines during the British occupation. A must see are the buried houses and houses on stilts to cope up during the lahar days and including the newly built houses and infrastructures. At the church's interiors are the 3 dug restored retablos especially the left side an 18th century period, which has intricate carvings and local floral designs and motifs.