It’s the mother of all surprises with auntie’s surprise birthday celebration in iBuffet in Apalit, Pampanga highlighted with surprise homecoming of her daughter’s family from the US. Happy birthday to our auntie! May your birthday bring a lot of smiles, happiness & more adventures in life! A family (or clan) that travels together, stays together.
So let’s continue seeking adventures right on auntie’s birthday. Let’s walk with nature to nurture our mind, body & soul in this mystical, potentially active volcano sleeping in the province of Pampanga. In ancient Kapampangan folklore, Mount Arayat sitting on a flat agricultural terrain is the abode of Aring Sinukuan, a rival of Apo Namalyari of Mount Pinatubo.
Finally had the chance to trek off Mt. Arayat at Gintung Pakpak Ecopark at the municipality of Arayat where the southern half of the mountain lies. The ecopark is just on the slopes of the mountain on the Baliti side with accessibility carefully engineered to blend with the existing natural contour of the mountain.
You can just climb naturally whether you are 5 or 75 years old without the aid of expensive gadgets or equipment. So the only power you will need is your determination to put your foot forward & walk up the natural way. With the ecopark’s modern structure, it manages to be in harmony with the elements of nature without sacrificing comfort.
From the new function hall called Batyawan, you can see the panoramic views of the mountain facing the man-made lake, fishponds, fruit-bearing trees, camping sites & more. The well-paved concrete roads from the barrio to the doorsteps of Gintung Pakpak’s villas (nice for glamping), gardens & other facilities can make for a perfect gathering for your family occasion or corporate events.
Then there’s Bale Batu or stone house derived from Kapampangan dubbed here as the Little Cambodia of the Philippines. If you’ve never been to Siem Reap with its world-famous Angkor Wat & other Tomb Raider temples, then this single structure might suit your ala-Angelina Jolie type of adventure.
27 май 2023
