Many of us are still coping with post-election stress. To say that this past week seemed like one hell of a roller coaster ride is to put it mildly. It would come as no surprise if many are headed out of the metro right at this moment to de-stress, simmer down and collect oneself.
Good thing we can now go on out of town trips as we please. Especially if you're from Metro Manila, escaping to nearby provinces up north is one easy way to take a breather.
One thing that makes towns north of Manila a top-of-mind destination is accessibility. You can just bring your own vehicle or simply hop on a bus and you're on your way to Bulacan, Pampanga, Zambales or Bataan for a quick weekend getaway. Road projects such as the North Luzon Expressway, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway and Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway have made it hassle-free for weekend warriors to go from Manila to wherever northern town they fancy.
Filipinos know—and love—good food. And towns north of Manila abound in mouthwatering goodies. For those with a sweet tooth, Bulacan offers a wide assortment of desserts such as kutsinta, sapin-sapin, kalamay, suman, cassava cake, pastillas de leche, macapuno balls and inipit.
How can one pass on Kapampangan food and delicacies? From savory sisig and morcon to luscious and creamy tibuk-tibuk and halo-halo, there's a reason why Pampanga is the Culinary Capital of the Philippines and among the top food tour destinations in the country.
Scenic views and exciting activities up north await the moment you get out of the metro and into any of the north's towns. You can trek to the crater of Mt. Pinatubo, camp overnight at Zambales' Anawangin and Nagsasa Coves or go island hopping between Capones and Camara Islands.
If traveling back to the Philippines of old is your thing, you can head to Bataan's heritage and historical sites such as Mt. Samat and Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar. Thrill seekers, meanwhile, can head to Sandbox Pampanga for its obstacle courses, or Pradera Verde in Lubao for some wakeboarding fun.
Indeed, with all its offerings, it's impossible for these provinces north of Manila to not grow on you. In case that happens and you eventually want to set up a permanent home where you can escape to every weekend, Sta. Lucia Land Inc. offers just the ideal resort development which will allow you to own a piece of paradise in this part of Luzon.
Nestled in the center of Subic in Zambales is Club Morocco Beach Resort and Residential Estates. Here, you can indulge in the creature comforts of a beach resort and hotel, with a water park that features an expansive pool, wave ball and slide, and surrounding cabanas where you can lounge and unwind.
The Grand Hotel and Beach Resort Club also features state-of-the-art indoor sports, fitness and health facilities. There are tennis and basketball courts, a billiards and bowling hall, and spa and sauna as well.
A stone's throw away from the beach, it also offers exclusive and first class residential communities where residents are promised the best of nature at any time of the year—the laidback mood of Subic's clear blue skies and cool waters and the serene views of the Zambales and Cabusilan mountain ranges.
Homebuyers can choose between Club Morocco's pocket neighborhoods, namely, Villa Monaco, Villa Ibiza, Villa Venezia and Costa Malaga. Tree-lined streets and landscaping, parks and open spaces greet residents each time they come home to the estate's private communities, away from the frenzy of the metro.
With close to five decades of experience in developing masterplanned communities, the Sta. Lucia Group is committed to building conducive and future-proof spaces where families can thrive and find respite. Creating communities that ensure comfort and security has always been the pursuit of this long-standing property developer, and Club Morocco is designed precisely to accomplish that mission.
Sources: Guidetothephilippines.ph, Lamudi.com.ph, Stalucialand.com.ph, Inquirer Archives