Floridablanca is a town in southwestern Pampanga. Situated at the boundary of the Central Luzon plains and the Zambales mountain range, it combines a military airfield, cultural heritage and natural wonders within its territory.
Understand
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Floridablanca, which literally means "White Flower" in Spanish, was named either after a Spanish count with a title containing the phrase, or the local pandacaqui plant, which has a white-colored flower. Since the American period, the town has hosted Basa Air Base, a military airfield from where the first suicidal kamikaze flights by the Japanese took off during World War II.
The town sustained heavy damage from ashfall during the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991, but largely avoided the lahar flows that nearly erased neighboring towns such as Porac, Guagua and Bacolor.
Get in
[edit]For private vehicles, the fastest way to enter Floridablanca is through the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), which has an exit in Floridablanca. Those using public transportation usually switch vehicles in Angeles and take jeepneys traversing the Angeles-Porac-Floridablanca-Dinalupihan Road.
Capillary roads connect Floridablanca with Lubao and Guagua, where a jeepney service at Golangco Junction connects with Jose Abad Santos Avenue (Gapan-Olongapo Road) leading to San Fernando.
Get around
[edit]Tricycles are the main form of transportation in town.
See
[edit]- 1 Saint Joseph the Worker Parish Church (Floridablanca Church), Alvendia corner Dinio Streets, Poblacion. Floridablanca's main Roman Catholic church, built during the Spanish era in the 19th century and repaired following World War II bombing.
- 2 White House (Alvendia Mansion), Rizal corner San Jose Streets, Poblacion. A two-story private, white-painted mansion built during the Spanish era.
- 3 Bale Kastila (Infante Mansion), Don Alfredo Street, Paguiruan. A 19th-century Spanish-era residence with an extensive balcony that used to be the estate house of a sugarcane hacienda. It fell into neglect and was used as a shooting location for domestic horror films before being restored to its original Victorian and Art Nouveau design complete with tiles in 2024. There are plans to convert the house into a bed and breakfast and event venue.
- 4 Nabuclod Mountains, Nabuclod. Part of the Zambales Cordillera, it provides views of the Central Luzon plains up to Mount Arayat.
- 5 Sumuclab Lagoon, Mawacat. A freshwater lagoon.
Do
[edit]- 1 Palakol Summer Place, Pabanlag, below the SCTEX viaduct. A shallow point along the Telesiko River that is a favorite swimming place for residents.
Buy
[edit]- 1 Floridablanca Public Market, Dinio Street, Poblacion.
Eat
[edit]Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]Connect
[edit]Go next
[edit]| Routes through Floridablanca |
| Angeles ← Porac ← | N   S
|
→ Dinalupihan → Olongapo |
