If you are living in Nueva Ecija or near the province then you are probably be familiar with Cabanatuan City. It is the commercial hub of Nueva Ecija wherein all sorts of commercial trades are offered in the city.
Arguably the city is called as the "Tricycle Capital of the Philippines" which is easily noticeable within the school year calendar. It is also home to Nueva Ecija's Central Transport Terminal wherein all sorts of transportation are catered.
Wikipedia
Within the terminal you can find means of transportation for destinations such Metro Manila, Baguio City, Isabela, Bulacan, Olongapo, San Fernando, Tarlac, Cuyapo, Guimba, Muñoz, San Jose City, Sto. Domingo, Aliaga, Rizal, Cabiao, Gapan, Quezon, Bongabon, Bataan, Pangasinan, Palayan City and San Jose City.
Buses such as Five Star, Cisco, Solid North, Baliwag, Golden Bee, Genesis and ES dominates the high roads. While Jeeps and XLTs dominates short distance trips.
The city is also home to numerous Colleges and Universities such as Araullo University - Phinma, Wesleyan University - Philippines, Good Samaritan Colleges, College of the Immaculate Conception, Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology, AMA, AICS, Manuel V. Gallego Foundation Colleges, La Fortuna College and Midway Maritime Foundation Inc.
Students from nearby provinces such as Bulacan, Tarlac, Nueva Vizcaya and Aurora flocked to the city for college education.
It is also home to Nueva Ecija High School (NEHS) the largest public school in all of Nueva Ecija. It is also the home of old Nueva Ecija Provincial Capitol.
The city have its own privately owned power distribution company in Cabanatuan Electric Corporation and water utility company Primewater Cabanatuan City (Cabanatuan City Water District).
Nueva Ecija's largest government owned hospital PAULINO J. GARCIA MEMORIAL RESEARCH & MEDICAL CENTER is also located inside the city.
The city is also home to reputable hospitals such as Immaculate Conception Medical Center Of Central Luzon, Inc., Nueva Ecija Doctor’s Hospital, Nueva Ecija Good Samaritan General Hospital, Inc., Premiere General Hospital, Wesleyan University Medical Center.
The city also boast numerous popular shopping malls such SM Cabanatuan City, Walter Mart, Robinsons, NE Pacific Mall, SM Mega Center and S & R Membership Shopping.
You can also find automotive dealers for Hyundai, Nissan, Toyota, Mazda, Suzuki, Ford. Mitsubishi, Honda, Isuzu for sales and service.
Name it and probably Cabanatuan City have it.
Travelling to the city
If you are going to visit the city and you are originating from Metro Manila particularly in Quezon City I would recommend to take Five Star Bus with a sign board Cabanatuan-SCTEX.
head on to Five Star bus terminal in Cubao, Quezon City. Make sure to board a bus with Cabanatuan-SCTEX signage. Buses are operating almost 24 hours a day.
It will not traverse the heart of the province of Bulacan. It will take the route of NLEX, SCTEX and some parts of Tarlac bypassing the busy of roads of Bulacan thereby making your travel faster and less weary.
At the Five Star Bus stop in Tarlac you can find delicious delicacies such as macapuno, tarts, bibingka, piaya, smoothies and rice meals to satisfy your tummy.
Bus travel tip:
Sit beside the window to enjoy the beautiful and eye catching scenery on the way to the city. You'll surely enjoy landscapes that are made by green rice fields (planting season) and orange rice fields (harvest season).
Travelling with your own vehicle
Be sure to lower the windows of your vehicle once in a while to enjoy the fresh air on the way to the city and also to feast your eyes with the natural and beautiful colors of rice fields, trees and houses as you pass by.
Best time to travel to the city to see green rice fields on your way
If you want to see the beautiful lush green rice fields then schedule your travel within the months that fall inside rice planting seasons. These months are: July, August and September (main season or main crop as the farmers called it) and December, January, February (second season or second crop as the farmers called it).
Best time to travel to the city to see orange rice fields on your way
If you want to see also the beautiful orange fields instead of green then schedule your travel within the months of harvest season. These months are: October & November (main harvest) and March & April (second harvest).
Travelling within the city
If you want to stroll around the city you can take the tricycle for short distance trips or jeeps that traverse the city's main road (Maharlika Highway).
Bring cameras for photographs
You'll surely not going to resist the urge to take photos of rice fields so bring with you your favorite cameras or camera enabled devices.
Travelling outside the city
Again if you are in a bus sit beside the window to enjoy the landscapes. If you are driving your own vehicles be sure to open your vehicle's windows once you are outside the city to enjoy the fresh air and enjoy the natural color of scenery as you pass by.
Scenery
If you are going north outside the city you will surely notice the most famous bridge in Nueva Ecija called Valfefuente Bridge. It is a bridge measuring at about half a kilometer. The bridge is worth taking photographs.
If you have your own vehicle do not park on the bridge itself because it will cause heavy traffic. Park your vehicle before stepping on the bridge instead.
Just be careful, sometimes strong winds can push a person if you are standing at the middle of the bridge.
City traffic
The traffic within the city can turn heavy anytime particularly when students are going home.
Food
Aside from food inside popular shopping malls. Food within the city is great, cheap and delicious. You might want to try "lugaw" on a tricycle stall outside SM Cabanatuan City. If you like lugaw you'll surely love it.
Are you a fan of eat-all-you-can restaurants? Visit La Parilla at lunch time. Alternatively, foods are also good on these restaurants: Vicentico's, Joey's, Lamarang, Nitani La Cachette, Caffe La Tea, Alessandra's. Visit TripVisor for more.
Do you love pandesal? Visit FM Bakery at Sanciango street near Cabanatuan City Public market.
Market
Cabanatuan City is also the center or commerce when it comes to vegetables. Visit Sangitan Public Market for cheap and fresh vegetables. Sangitan acts as a convergence for vegetables being exported to Balintawak Public Market and some parts of Metro Manila.
Local products
Cabanatuan is home to the famous "Batutay", a garlic longganisa that I love to eat together with tomatoes and onions. You might want to try "Binabad" a tocino like product that is orange in color but uses salt as a main ingredient instead of sugar.
Cooking
Have you tried "Dinuguan with grated talbos ng sampalok". Wow, this dish is mouth watering, you'll surely consume more than two cups of rice with it. If Pampanga is home to the best tasting sisig in the country, Cabanatuan's sisig is not far away.
Cabanautan's litson manok is by far one of the best that I tried aside from Chooks To Go, Andok's and Baliwag Litson Manok. Visit Burgos Street when night falls.
Desserts
When it comes to dessert Puno's Ice Cream is the most popular among Cabanatueños and Novo Ecijanos. How popular you may ask? In every party or company events Puno's Ice Cream is surely present.
Fast Foods
Jollibee, McDonald's, Shakeys, Pizza Hut, KFC, Greenwich, Ministop, 7-11 are all over the place. You'll surely found one once you are inside the city.
Local Cuisine
We call small restaurants as "Karendirya". Karendiryas that offer cheap and delicious foods are all over the city since the city is a college and university hub you can almost find one wherever you are inside the city. The choice is yours.
Language
Tagalog is the main spoken language of Cabanatueños. A very small Ilocano minority is also existing.
Cabanatueños' Distinction
When they speak they incorporate "eka" on their sentence. Example: Eka ni Pedro eh nadapa daw si Juan. Eka ba naman ni Juan eh hindi daw naliligo si Pedro. They will say "naPiyot" instead of "napipi".
When you hear someone speak like that you are probably staring at a person from Cabanatuan City.