By: Maria Rencelyn Valdenarro
On Saturdays, I am usually sleeping until late in the morning.
But it was a different Saturday. I woke up at 3:00 in the morning and didn’t even have breakfast as I hurriedly find my way to join the MIS Team bound for Nueva Ecija, considered as the country’s “rice bowl.”
The MIS Team will join Zoe TV in covering the 25th Anniversary of JIL Nueva Ecija.
I had wondered how long I would last for a travel without eating anything yet.
But as we cruised up north, I had a feeling I was in for feast!
Mountains and rivers, roads and bridges – these were the vast, long and winding sceneries that were a delight for an early morning travel.
The air was fresh and fog covers mountain tops. The road seems endless and the canopy of the trees covers and guides.
Nueva Ecija is a landlocked province and is completely surrounded by the vast provincial lands of Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Nueva Vizcaya and Aurora.
It is consisted of 27 municipalities and 5 cities with the City of Palayan as its capital.
My memory of Sibika at Kultura back in grade school reminds me of Central Luzon or Gitnang Luzon having the largest land area, producing and supplying rice in the country.
Nueva Ecija, one of the 7 provinces in Region 3, is the largest.
Novo Ecijanos are descendants of settlers from the neighboring provinces, Pangasinan, Ilocos and Bulacan. About 70 percent speak Tagalog; the rest are Kapampangans and Ilocanos. There are small communities of Agtas and Negritos in the area.
Utilizing the gift of land, agriculture and farming are the major industries and sources of income. Farmers and animal raisers use the tract of land to grow crops and raise livestock and poultry.
With the large area of land being used in rice production, Nueva Ecija is aptly referred to as the Rice Bowl of the Philippines.
The towns of Bongabon and neighboring Laur and Rizal are major producers of onion and garlic. Other major crops are corn, onion, pipino, banana, tomatoes, and other vegetables which producers grow in the land.
Duck raising and egg production are also important livelihood for Novo Ecijanos. Animal raisers use windmills, a rotary device that extracts energy from the wind to help pump water used to hydrate livestock and poultry.
The abundance of rivers makes agriculture more productive. A natural watercourse, rivers provide the needed amount of water to grow the crops and raise livestock.
Two hours before the Anniversary program would start, Kuya Cris and Mang Jhun of JIL Nueva Ecija accompanied me to a short trip to nearby tourist attractions. We coursed through the long, narrow roads of highway to reach Gabaldon, a town known for its ten-foot falls surrounded by huge rock formation. Although I wasn’t able to see the place, the feel of the cold water rippled down to the spot where we had a stop over.
In the area, nipa huts were built and roads were developed for visitors.
Vegetable sellers selling pipino and green peppers at low cost.
Another spot I was able to visit was Stone 8, a barren land with a natural cold spring flowing from a mountain that was turned into a spot to visit in the area.
Going back to Palayan City after the short trip, we passed by jeepneys and trucks carrying loads of pipino. Being one of the top producers of agricultural goods, these were brought to flee markets and sold at low prices in the area.
Both sides of the road were wide harvest field of rice. Harvested rice were dried along the roads. Enjoying the sight, I felt I was on a farm tour!
Bridges connect the areas separated by rivers. They provide passage to commuters to reach the other part of the town which is disconnected by bodies of water. These structures easily catch attention.
A bridge with a name Bato Ferry.
Stopping at a carinderia, a food store near Bato Ferry, we had sinigang, pritong maliliit na isda, atay ng manok for breakfast.
Mountains
The mountainous part of the region surrounds the place. These natural elevations protect the natives from storms. Those living in the lowland work as farmers while settlers living at the foot of the high lands live on coal-making.
Manganese is also deposited in the mountain areas, but because of erosion, mining has been discontinued.
Later, my google research on Nueva Ecija tourist spots brought me to many of the town’s attraction from historical, cultural, natural, religious, and even man-made wonders. I hope I was able to visit them as well.
With all these attractions which I have not visited, my half day tour from Manila to Nueva Ecija was, sadly, incomplete. Nonetheless, enough for me to say that my eyes – and my heart – had already a feast!
JIL Nueva Ecija
Ds Garcia, Circumferential Road, Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija
Ptr. Elsa Aquino
(044) 940-3785
1st service: 7:00am – 9:00am
2nd service: 10:00am – 12:00nn
3rd service: 5:00pm -7:00pm