Concepcion is a town in southern Tarlac. A primarily agricultural town, it is known for being the home of the Aquino political family, which has produced two Philippine presidents.
Understand
[edit]Concepcion used to be part of Pampanga province, resulting in a significant number of Kapampangan speakers in town. In 1863, the Sacobia River changed course during a severe flood, physically isolating Concepcion from the rest of Pampanga. It was subsequently transferred to the province of Tarlac. A primarily agrarian town, Concepcion also became a satellite town of Angeles following the expansion of the US military presence at Clark Field, with the Americans building a radio transmitter complex in Barrio Tinang whose blinking red lights are visible across for miles around.
In modern Philippine history, Concepcion is best known for being the home of the Aquino dynasty, a political family who were originally landowners. Among their members is opposition leader Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., who was dramatically assassinated while leading the civic resistance against the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos in 1983, his wife, Corazon Aquino, who overthrew Marcos in the EDSA People Power Revolution in 1986 and became the first female president of the Philippines until 1992, and their son, Benigno "Noynoy" III, who also became president from 2010 to 2016.
Get in
[edit]From Manila, take the Concepcion exit of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX). Alternately, take the Magalang-Concepcion Road from Magalang in Pampanga or the Concepcion-Capas Road from MacArthur Highway in Capas, Tarlac.
Get around
[edit]
Tricycles are the main form of transportation between barangays.
See
[edit]- 1 Immaculate Conception Parish Church (Concepcion Church), La Purisima Street, San Nicolas (in front of the town plaza). Concepcion's main Roman Catholic church, built during the Spanish era in the late 19th century in the neo-Romanesque style. It is one of the few remaining Spanish-era buildings in the province.
- 2 Concepcion Municipal Hall, Timbol Street, San Nicolas (in front of the town plaza). The colonnaded seat of local government in Concepcion. In front is a monument to Ninoy Aquino, who started his political career in 1955 aged 23 as the town's youngest elected mayor.
- 3 Aquino Ancestral House, A. Luna corner Timbol Streets, San Jose. The ancestral residence of the Aquino family, built during the 1930s.
- 4 Voice Of America - Tinang Relay Transmitter, Tinang. During the Cold War, the US government took over a piece of land outside Concepcion to build transmitters for the Voice of America radio station broadcasting anti-communist propaganda across Asia. Since the American withdrawal in 1992, the site has been used by the Philippine government for its media outlets. While the complex is a restricted area, its red lights blink continuously at night and are visible as far as several towns away.
Do
[edit]Buy
[edit]- 1 Concepcion Public Market, C. Cortez Street, San Nicolas.
- 2 Savemore Market Concepcion, L. Cortez corner A. Mabini Streets, San Nicolas.
- 3 WalterMart Concepcion, L. Cortez Street, Alfonso.
- 4 FCC Supermarket, Juan Luna Street, Minane.
Eat
[edit]- 1 Rustica, Concepcion-Capas Road, San Jose. A restaurant serving Filipino dishes.
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]Connect
[edit]Go next
[edit]| Routes through Concepcion |
| Laoag ← Tarlac City ← | N   S
|
→ Angeles → Olongapo/Balintawak via NLEX |