Stone 8 Resort & Aurora Memorial National Park in Nueva Ecija

The silent town of Gabaldon in Nueva Ecija is just an hour and half away from Cabanatuan City. One cannot just fall asleep on the way because the picturesque landscape is enough to keep you awake. On the way, the rice fields are so green with flocks and flocks of ducks every now and then. The Pampanga river runs silently on the right side. What's so amazing are the mountains of General Tinio on the right and the Sierra Madre Mountains on the left side which can be likened to the rolling mountains of Batanes.

Stone 8 Resort is a notable resort just along the National Highway of Gabaldon before reaching the town of Dingalan. It is at the foot of the Aurora Memorial National Park. The entrance fee is just P50 per head but the cottages are expensive. You must bring your own charcoal for grilling because it's expensive as well. Even the grill is for rent! Everything inside is so expensive. They also have rooms for rent. I'm sure they're so expensive, too. Ok, enough with that.

In fairness, the water in the swimming pool is so cold since it is fresh running water from the mountains of Sierra Madre. There's a big dual slide at the big swimming pool. And on the far side, is the nice swimming pool for kids which I know they will surely enjoy. There's also a small river which runs across the resort and empties into the big river in the highway. But it was a rainy day and the water from the mountains are murky. I'm sure it's a lovely sight during summer.

But what's exciting about this resort is the hiking trail going to the Aurora Memorial National Park. The trail is well maintained. The first hundred steps were cemented but after that, was just a small trail going steeply uphill. But this side of the mountains are lined with mahogany trees which you can hold on to. I'm not athletic, so as usual, the climb was so hard for me. But it was just a breeze for the boys. But the struggle of the climb was all worth it because it was a view to behold when we reached a clearing. I stayed in the clearing to savor the beauty of Gabaldon and the nearby towns. The boys even went to the peak of the mountain and they said that it was even more beautiful. But we have to hike down fast since it was already raining. We had bananas for umbrellas - brings back childhood memories.

Clark Field or Fort Stotsenburg in Pampanga

I thought that Clark Field is simply a vast field where sporting events, concerts or field demonstrations are held. But no, this place is very historic - with a bloody past. It's called Calrk Field in memory of US Pilot Major Harold Melville Clark. Also called Fort Stotsenburg in memory of US Colonel John Miller Stotsenburg. This place became the battlefield of the American, Filipino & Japanese soldiers during World War II. Around the field, there are US style houses which used to be the accommodation of US service men until they left in 1991. Those houses are now used as offices of the Clark Development Corporation & of the local government. Some are also rented to private businesses.

As we walk around the jogging area of the field, we noticed that the entire place has WIFI. Bikes are not allowed in the jogging area. Littering & drinking of liquor is strictly not allowed. And of great importance, this is the place of death of former President Manuel Roxas. 

Las Casas Fillipinas de Acuzar in Bagac, Bataan

Architect Jose Acuzar started the Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in 2000 and was opened to the public in 2010. It was originally just a hobby of the owner to collect old houses from all over the Philippines but he decided to open it to the public. Some of the houses were already dilapidated and some parts were already found in junk shops. The pieces were transported here, restored then built again like puzzle pieces. Most of the houses still have the original parts, others only have a percentage of the entire house while some are just replicas. Each house has its own - interesting and intriguing story.

Casa Lubao - Original house from Lubao, Pampanga. The owners sponsored the education of Pres. Macapagal. This is the youngest house in the property and it has a game room at the lower floor. This became a Japanese Garrison during World War II.

Tulay Ni Lola Basyang - replica of the Jones Bridge in Manila. Lola Basyang is actually a male storyteller but wrote under the pen name of 'Lola Basyang' since children during the old times preferred to listen to the stories of their grandmothers than their grandfathers.

Under construction at the far end of the resort is the replica of the San Jose Cathedral in Balanga, Bataan.

At the back of the San Jose Cathedral, in another 'island' is the Casa Maranao from Mindanao.

Hotel de Oriente - replica of the first luxurious hotel in Binondo, Manila which became the venue of the APEC Convention in 2015. It is a convention hall, restaurant and an exhibit hall.

Casa Cagayan - from Cagayan Valley which is the home of ordinary Filipinos. It stands on stilts and usually found in the shorelines. 

Casa Luna - from Luna, La Union and owned by the uncle of the Luna brothers. This is now the museum in the resort. It also has a spa at the ground floor. 

Casa Jaen I - from Jaen, Nueva Ecija. White House, 1901, owner was Mayor who was ambushed.

Casa Mexico - from Mexico, Pampanga. Parts of the house were found in a junk shop and was restored using old photographs. This is now the customer service area of the resort.

Casa Jaen II - The second house in the resort from Jaen, Nueva Ecija,The owner loves to collect paintings. Since the paintings during their time were easily stolen, they painted at the back of their doors so that it will not be stolen.

Paseo de Escolta - A replica of a hotel in Escolta, Manila. It uses old and new materials to recreate a commercial building in Escolta. It has shops at the ground floor and accommodations at the second and third floor.

Casa Candaba - This is the oldest house in the resort which was built in 1961 and used by the movie Noli Me Tangere.

Casa Binondo III - or Casa Bisantina in Binondo, Manila. This is for rent at P150,000 per night. It was leased by the Instituto de Manila or University of Manila to hold its elementary and high school classes.

Casa San Miguel - from San Miguel, Bulacan. This is also for rent and it has games like billiards and mahjong

Casa Unisan - Unisan, Quezon. Owned by he Maximo's. Function hall for small meetings. With secret passage used by the owner but it was discovered by the bandits. They were locked there and massacred. The only survivor was Carmen who was still an infant and was wrapped by her nanny. She lived until old age.

Casa Quiapo - Built in 1867, became the 1st building of the UP Fine Arts. With a torohan (live sex show) and abortion clinic. But was blessed when transferred here.

Casa Baliuag I - Built in 1898 and owned by Kapitan Vergel de Dios with two wives. He is blessed with 21 children from both wives. Used by the owner of the resort as rest house.

Casa Biñan - house of the grandmother of Rizal but only the original staircase was acquired by Las Casas because people from Biñan didn't approve so thus making this the most controversial house in the resort. This is also used by the movie Heneral Luna where the scene in which he was killed was shoot at the back of the house.

There were so many houses to see, many things to do, many pictures to take but my favorite activity was just to stare at this great houses and thinking about their glorious past.

Our deluxe room at the Paseo de Escolta 

The 'batis' inspired swimming pool 

The back part of the reception building which is not part of the heritage tour. 

My favorite casa. 

This is across the church which is not yet part of the heritage tour. 

The game room of Casa Lubao at the ground floor. 

The tram which transports guests back and forth from Casa Mexico to the reception are. 

The beach, a part of the West Philippine Sea. 

There were also boats for rent.