The first time Tutubi set foot in Cabanatuan was sometime in 1995 to visit Wesleyan University. This time, he passed by the city notorious for the presence of so many tricycles criss-crossing the busy streets of the city made notorious by the murder of a revolutionary general and the almost forgotten daring rescue of American POWs by Americans aided by Filipino guerilas during World War II.

It took barely two hours drive to go to Cabanatuan from Quezon City because Tutubi left at early at 5am and got there before 7am when Jollibee and the city's notorious "million" tricycles were still asleep.

Drive and shoot pictures of Cabanatuan City:

welcome arch of the city
a photo of NE Crossing unobstructed but a speeding tricycle entered the frame. It's about 7am and you still can't see the other million tricycles here
Kamura, Tutubi thinks prices here are cheap! :P
The statue of Antonio Luna near the Cathedral. For lesson in history, the revolutionary general Antonio Luna was murdered by the soldiers of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo inside the Cabanatuan Cathedral in July 1899. (Tutubi wanted to take pictures of the statue and the marker on the wall of the church but rain fell as soon as he got out of the car...next time Tutubi, next time)

There are three major roads in Cabanatuan: the Maharlika Highway, Cabanatuan-Tarlac, and the Cabanatuan-Aurora road. The Maharlika Highway is the main thoroughfare going to Nueva Vizcaya. The so called Crossing is the corner of Maharlika and the road going to Aurora (Baler, Casiguran, Dingalan) and pass by the historic Pangatian Shrine and Palayan City,the capital of Nueva Ecija province. Cabanatuan-Tarlac is Nueva Ecija's link to neighboring Tarlac province.

Should you find yourself in Cabanatuan, Tutubi recommends gassing up at this gas station. Too bad, he had already gassed up at Shell Crossing when he saw this nationalistic station sporting the colors of the national flag and whose name sounded like refill. Creative and nationalistic indeed!

On his return trip to Manila, Tutubi passed by the former concentration camp also in Cabanatuan which was the site of the most successful rescue mission in American military history...subject of a future post! :P

Tip: To avoid heavy traffic in Cabanatuan, there are two bypass roads you can take, one pass by Barangay Kapitan Pepe (left, coming from Manila) and the other one is up to Mabini (right, from Manila)

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How to get to Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija:

Driving Directions: On NLEX, take Sta. Rita Exit then just follow the route that willlead to Pulilan, Plaridel, Baliuag, San Ildefonso, and San Miguel and Gapan.

Those with motorcycles or want to avoid toll fees on NLEX can opt to go via MacArthur Highway passing through Caloocan, Valenzuela, Meycauayan, Marilao, Bocaue, Balagtas, Guiguinto (Tabang), Plaridel, Pulilan, Baliuag, San Rafael, San Ildefonso, San Miguel , Gapan, San Leonardo, Sta. Rosa, then Cabanatuan City.

Commute: Bus to Gapan, Nueva Ecija is serviced by bus companies on EDSA, Cubao Quezon City e.g. Baliwag Transit, Five Star Transit et al with signboards Cabanatuan, Santiago or Tuguegarao.

Labels: Antonio Luna, Cabanatuan City, Central Luzon, National Heroes, Nueva Ecija, Philippine History, Philippine Revolution