The time & date in Clark, Philippines is

Nakikiprobinsiya

“Be my laydeh…” Martin Nievera crooned as I entered the bus, this first bus I saw with a “Dau” sign on the dashboard, on EDSA near Munoz Market.

“Comfort me through all the pain and be my laydeh…” Martin seemed to serenade me as I plopped on a seat I had all to myself. It’s almost the same. Like being transported back in time, I told myself, as I surveyed the inside of this generic bus I can’t even remember the name of.

Red curtains shielded us passengers from the sun’s harsh rays. Backpacks and plastic bags were stacked overhead. The seats were covered in plastic. There was a TV overhead behind the driver, but it was turned off. The bus smelled old. The word ‘kitsch’ stuck in my head.

Then came Ric Segreto singing “Lovin’ you oh-oh is such an easy thing to do…” and I relaxed. I’ve been through this before, something like more than 20 years ago, on a bus on the way out of Metro Manila with 80s music from cassette tapes. I was on one of my “nakikiprobinsiya” trips back then, like now.

For college, I went to a university in Manila that seemed to be a melting pot of people from different regions. I gave a quizzical look the first time someone asked me, “Taga-saan ka?” “Sa Quezon City?” I answered, kinda asking myself if I gave the right answer. “Hindi, saan ang probinsiya mo?” a classmate asked. “Um, sa Batangas ang Daddy ko, pero ang Mommy ko sa Bulacan. Pero ang roots ng Daddy ko sa Ilocos. Pero ang Mommy ko dito na lumaki sa Manila. Dito na rin kami lumaki.” Lotsa “peros” or buts as the question simply couldn’t be answered in one word.

A number of my classmates though would rattle off provinces they hail from left and right: Batangas, Pangasinan, Benguet, Pampanga, Laguna, Albay, Davao, Nueva Ecija, Zambales. Those were really where their families were, and they were just staying in dorms in Manila. When sem break, Christmas break, or a long weekend would be nearing, my probinsiyano classmates seemed to be more excited and would ask each other, “Uuwi ka? Kailan?”

Then they would come back refreshed and happy with tales of their vacation, and of how traffic was light or heavy going back to Manila.

I, on the other hand, would have most likely spend vacation in –where else–Quezon City, in the comforts of our home.

And so it was that I started inviting myself to the provinces, at times “imposing” on others, employing as much charm as I could muster.

First, Christmas and summer vacations at my cousin Kuya Roger’s house in Batangas City where Ate Cory would lovingly cook longganisa and pochero for me. Then came sleepovers at my friend Erli’s house in Angeles City, Pampanga, where she introduced us to Aling Lucing’s sisig by the riles or old dilapidated train tracks. I would spend three days or more at my best friend Richelle’s house in Dagupan, and discovered Bonoan bangus. And I remember “ambushing” my friend Boy in Alitagtag, Batangas with two other “kaladkarin” org mates, and buying tulingan at the wet market.

At Nini’s in San Pedro, Laguna, we rode the sidecar after riding an 80s kitchy bus, a treat for me since there were no sidecars in our part of Quezon City. Then there was a time almost a whole jeepney-load of us went to Ching-Ching’s place in Angono to spend the night and wake up before dawn in time for the Easter Salubong. And how can I forget submerging my feet in the waters of Malay, Aklan near Marlie’s grandparents’ place after watching the Ati-Atihan festival in Kalibo?

Sometime in between starting work and raising a family, though, my provincial visits became few and far between. These came in the form of family road trips, office outings, or coverages for lifestyle articles.

Good thing my 17-year-old son had an out-of-town trip recently. It was then that I hopped on the first Dau-bound bus I saw on EDSA to visit Erli again for a sleepover and a sisig dinner, and relive those memories of a time when there was more time to explore the world.

“Doobidoobidoo bidoobidoo,” the Apo Hiking Society seemed to cheer me on while I sat smiling to my forty-something self in this old kitschy bus.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/287120/opinion/blogs/nakikiprobinsiya

Top rated outdoor place in Pampanga, highly recommended for families with children looking for a good safe place for kids to play and enjoy family bonding with parents

Poor Philippines Records in Law and Order drove city dwellers to enjoy holidays in havens like Clark Freeport.

Metro Manila has lost a great deal of its luster of old not only because of its failure to keep up with the times in development but also its reputation as a safe destination for family bonding, travelers looking to unwind and relax in a beach or a lake and retirees looking for a life of leisure.

Where to go in Clark? Hotel Clark Philippines is a De Luxe Hotel in Clark and Subic, a risk free place to stay, cozy and nice ambience, a nice function place for special occasion

You might want to check also the Yats Restaurant is the best restaurant for special dinner, best restaurant for dinner with friends near Manila, also the best place to celebrate special events.

Famous Restaurant in Pampanga, a place to dine with friends in Clark, cozy restaurant with a nice ambience, a nice function place for special occasions. Looking for a restaurant in Clark for a Business meeting? Or a place to eat with friends? Yats Restaurant offers exclusive dinner venue for groups, a good place to celebrate special occasions, it can be a party venue in town. Yats Restaurant is a recommended restaurant for private dinner in Philippines, a well-recognized restaurant that serves good food and good wines for dinner.

Are you looking for an attractive restaurant or a nice place to eat with friends in Clark, Angeles City Pampanga? Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar is a restaurant with good food and good wines for dinner located at Clark Angeles City Pampanga. Perfect for exclusive dinner venues for groups, recommended for private dinner in Philippines. A Restaurant in Clark for business dinner meeting. Private dinner place or dinner restaurant in Clark Subic Near Manila Angeles City Pampanga. Yats Restaurant is one of the Good Restaurant in Pampanga Angeles City Clark near Manila.

Clark Pampanga was the largest foreign US airbase, complete with its own international airport with daily flights linking it to major cities around Asia. Inside of Clark Philippines are golf courses, casinos, family-styled resorts that smacks of the US suburban lifestyles and fine-dining restaurants. Travelers going north to Clark Pampanga look for enjoyable hotel for family bonding during summer vacation in Philippines. Most prefer the privacy of an exclusive resort that offers outdoor amenities like beach, lake and picnic grounds so the whole family can spend quality time, lay back and rest with no stress.

Looking for a party venue in town?
Clearwater Resort and Country Club is one of the ideal venues for birthday party because it is a risk free venue. Not only Birthday Parties but also a good place to enjoy family reunion. A good place to celebrate special occasions. Clearwater Resort and Country Club is one of the resorts in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga or near Manila with activity amenities, place that are nice for celebration.

This web site contains articles and information that will be helpful to visitors, residents and tourists traveling out of town from Manila on a short getaway to Subic, Angeles City, Pampanga and Clark Philippines. There are several web sites that contain information that might also be pertinent to what is happening in North Luzon, Subic, Tarlac, Pampanga, Clark Freeport Philippines.

Looking for interesting hotels near Manila Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga?
Trouble free hotels and well recognized hotels in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga
Clearwater Resort and Country Club offers a good place to stay in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga. In offers nice place to have rest in Subic Pampanga outside Manila.
One of the Philippines top hotels in north Luzon.

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

For assistance with lodgings, accommodations, hotels and resorts near Manila in Subic, Pampanga, Angels City and Clark Philippines log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

While in Clark, one might as well add to the itinerary a visit to the famous Clark Wine Center, the largest wine shop in Philippines which offers over 2000 selections of fine vintage wine from all wine regions, vintages spanning over 50 years covering all price ranges.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

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