Tourist Spots in Arayat, Pampanga

Built in 1895, it was one of the biggest house built back then and was able to withstand the test of time. Very little is known about the history of the property. The house has been inherited from Rodolfo Santos and Martina Samia Santos, by their seven children namely; Alejandrino Santos, Rudolfo Santos Jr, Maria Rita Santos, Eduardo Santos, Serafin Santos, Reynaldo Santos and Dorothy Santos. None of the siblings grew or lives in the house, it is currently under maintenance by their caretaker.

The house retains its original furnishing to this day. The exterior and interior still showcase the design of its original Spanish occupation period and are well preserved. To date, the house serves as a specimen of architecture of Arayat’s Spanish colonial period.

Built in 1753, based on the canonical books stating that baptismal activities have been conducted by Fray Villalobos since 1758. At present, it belongs to the parish of the Vicariate of Mary, Help of Christians, in the Archdiocese of San Fernando.

At the foot of Mt. Arayat, the lone mountain of Pampanga, lies a hidden structure which at a glimpse would resemble a temple in Indonesia. The creator spent more than half of his entire life working on the project—and as a result of his hard work, the artist achieved his goal, creating a masterpiece I never expected. The temple-like structure that I am talking about is called “Bale Batu”, built by the industrious hands and artistic mind of a pure blood Kapampangan artist, Jesus Padilla, or most commonly known as Apung Susing. A living proof of Pampangueños’ ingenuity and creativity.

After 27 long and agonizing years, the P3.4-billion foreign-funded Cong Dadong Dam, named after President Arroyo’s late father, former President Diosdado Macapagal, finally released its first volume of water to thousands of hectares of farmlands in this town and other parts of Pampanga and Nueva Ecija.