Part 1 of the Libotero Pampanga and Malolos Heritage Series
DAY 1.
As I arrived in Clark, I was picked-up by 950 (read as nine-five-OH) Condotel’s shuttle service. I already pre-arranged this before my trip as I am aware that public transportation to and from the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark can be quite a hassle. The ride from the airport to Fields Avenue where the hotel was located took not more than fifteen minutes.
Upon arrival at the hotel, I immediately checked-in, settled my things and wasted no time and said hello to the outdoors! From the hotel, I took a tricycle to Dau Bus Terminal. As I disembarked and asked Manong Driver how much the fare was, he said P70. I was in disbelief so I asked again and indeed it was P70. Wow! If there was a taxi available, I’m sure it would have cost the same amount for the same distance, but oh well.
Dau Terminal. Why Dau? The terminal is actually located in Barangay Dau, Mabalacat, Pampanga, thus the name. The Dau Terminal is one huge terminal. It serves both northbound and southbound buses, clearly separated for commuters’ convenience. “Mini-Buses” and GT Express for short-haul routes (e.g. within Pampanga, Bulacan, Bataan, Zambales, etc.) can be found just by the entrance of the terminal.
First on my itinerary was the San Fernando Metropolitan Cathedral so I searched for a mini-bus marked San Fernando. I easily found one with the help of the barker who was shouting, “San Fernando, San Fernando, konti na lang!”. It was hard not to notice his yelling. Haha.
I got a window seat at the middle section of the bus and waited for a few more minutes for the bus to get filled. As soon as the bus got full to capacity, the bus left the terminal and the conductor collected the fares. The cost of the trip was P30. Not bad, but getting a window seat was a big big big mistake! I totally forgot that the bus wasn’t airconditioned and that we were going to pass through the expressway. A speeding bus in an expressway means a windy trip. My hair was standing as if it was struck by lightning haha. Anyway, the trip took us about thirty minutes more or less.
From the Dau Terminal, the bus took the Dau Entry to the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) and then proceeded all the way to the San Fernando Exit, towards Jose Abad Santos Avenue (JASA), then to Manila North Road until we reached the terminal in the City of San Fernando.
From there, I was totally clueless, hahaha. I didn’t know how I’d reach the Cathedral. I did notice that while we were on the bus, we seemed to revolve around the Cathedral, so I just asked around and the locals were really very helpful. They just advised me to take any jeepney as all routes pass by the Cathedral, and so I did. It just cost me the minimum fare of P7.
A few minutes later, I was already at the Cathedral of Saint Ferdinand in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga.
The Metropolitan Cathedral of the City of San Fernando is the seat of the Archdiocese of San Fernando. The original structure of wood was built by the Augustinians in 1755. Later on, in 1788, the church was transferred to the care of secular priests.
In 1948 the church was elevated to the status of “Cathedral” when it became the seat of the Diocese of San Fernando which was canonically created by Pope Pius XII. . In 1975, the diocese was elevated by Pope Paul VI, to Archdiocese of San Fernando. Its first bishop was Monsignor Cesar Ma. Guerrero, D.D.
The Cathedral is located at A. Consunji Street in Barangay Santo Rosario, fronting the City Hall, within the Heritage District of the city.
There are currently plans to build a 6-level SM mall right at the center of the poblacion. This plan has been strongly opposed by heritage advocates and citizens of the city. But it seems like SM is having it their way as they promised to pattern the mall’s architecture to blend with the atmosphere of the heritage district. Will SM deliver? We’ll see. But the thought of a 6-level mall towering over the Cathedral is already disturbing. It will definitely ruin the charm of the heritage district! Dear SM, are 40 malls not enough?!
After visiting, appreciating and offering my prayers at the Cathedral, it was time to go back to Clark. Once again, I did not have any idea of how to commute back to Clark so I tried to observe and follow where most of the pedestrians were walking to. I walked by the left side of the Church and reached the heart of downtown San Fernando, where the back part of the Cathedral could be seen in its glory and that was where I was able to appreciate the beauty of the heritage district.
Did you know that the City of San Fernando may be the only city in the country which prohibits motorized tricycles in its downtown area? Instead, kalesa rides are readily available on this side of town. I would have wanted to ride in one so I could tour around the city’s heritage district (which features almost twenty heritage landmarks), but it was starting to get dark already so I had to skip that, meh!
I then asked around, again, and locals gave me directions to the jeepney terminal. It was another awkward scene as the jeepney terminal was just in front of me. Meh! Next time, I’ll have to open my eyes and observe more before I open my mouth, LOL..
(…to be continued)
