Our Awesome Weekend in Pampanga! (feat. Lubao International Balloon Festival, Best Western Bendix Hotel, & Apag Marangle)

It’s SUMMER VACATION na everybody and first on our mini-adventure travel list is to an awesome weekend getaway! Back in the day, I only get to travel with office mates or my cousins. Today macho kid reached the perfect age where he’s well-behaved, attentive, and obedient. So I can bring him along on trips like this.

We’re so thankful to be invited to experience the Lubao International Balloon and Music Festival 2018 this weekend and here’s all the dish on our experience. Find out why Pampanga is a must visit! ❤❤❤

Here’s another lengthy travel post with a LOT OF PHOTOS from yours truly. It’s definitely worth the read so go ahead read and watch our adventures in Pampanga below! (PS: Towards the end of the post is the most mouth-watering dishes you can feast your eyes and tummies on)

Watch: Our Awesome Weekend Getaway in Pampanga

Best Western Bendix Hotel

My family and I frequent Pampanga as one of our favorite stop-overs when going to my aunt’s rest home in Bagiuo. Because if you don’t know yet, the Kapampangan’s are one of if not the best cooks in the Philippines. While we always pass by, we never stayed long enough to spend the night. Being a first timer, I was silently wishing that we get to stay in a nice hotel. And oh boy, did Best Western Bendix exceed my expectations!

Best Western Bendix Hotel is located at MacArthur Highway, Dolores Intersection (34.52 mi)
San Fernando, Pampanga.

Watch Our Room Tour

We arrived in a spacious room with high ceiling. The bedsheets are pristine and the pillows ergonomically soft! My sleep has never felt this relaxing. Considering I suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. Si macho kid din ang sarap ng tulog.

The room is clean, lit, and well-maintained. I love that the CR has an ample supply of soap and shampoo in the shower. Besides your usual toiletries.

The staff well trained and accommodating. This hotel is perfect lalo na malapit na mag Visita Iglesia.

Room Rates: 3,000php++ – 6,000php++

Facebook: Best Western Bendix Hotel Facebook Page #ExperienceBendix

Lubao International Balloon and Music Festival 2018

Hot air balloons from countries around the globe are scheduled to fly this weekend for the Lubao International Balloon and Music Festival 2018 (LIBF). The highly-anticipated annual event at Lubao, Pampanga. Unfortunately strong winds halted the flight of the balloons.

Aside from the giant balloons, the event is also a grand festival featuring car shows, rides, Zoocobia, inflatables, Kite Flying, food festival, bazaar, and musical performances by some of the country’s top artists like Ex-Batallion, Moira, and Sarah Geronimo.

Small kids like macho kid may find the stage area a bit crowded. So we decided to fly kites and do the kid-friendly activities in the area instead. Check out our photos below:

Let your kids experience trampoline – 100php for 2 minutes

Let kids enjoy the bouncy castle while they’re still young! It’s 100 pesos for 30 minutes and 200 pesos for unlimited time. It’s open til 10PM too!

Can’t go to the zoo? Zoocobia brings the zoo to you!

Kids can even enjoy a camel-back ride

Macho kid enjoyed flying his kite the most. Go ahead and let your kids run around, play, and get dirty. They are only young once, so better let them experience the best. Go hide their gadgets for a while.

The Balloon Night Glow was a sight to behold! Macho kid was enchanted seeing everyone who participated lighted up their balloons at the same time (almost hehe). He even told me it was one of his best days ever.

Apag Marangle Kapampangan Restaurant

Speaking of Kapampangan food, our final stop before going back to manila was a feast at Apag Maragle Restaurant as it was also their 10th year anniversary on April 8!

A Kapampangan Restaurant situated in the middle of a fish pond, APAG MARANGLE (hain sa bukid) is a restaurant that offers an authentic medley of mouth-watering Kapampangan dishes.

Apparently, kampampangans are best known for being proud of their cooking and I don’t doubt it one bit. OMG SOBRANG SARAP! Made with only fresh ingredients and no artificial flavoring, their food tastes prepared with pride and love. Take a look:

Their Nasing Marangle showcases pinakbet and lechong kawali transformed into a unique fried rice you can on its own

Slightly sweet and spicy sizzling balut! Yum!

Of course who can forget the sisig? An all-time Pampanga favorite!

This is the place to be if ever you’re craving for authentic pampanga cuisine! Visit them at Bacolor, Pampanga. #TaraNaSaApag http://apagmarangle.com

That sums up our #VisitPampanga. We’ll be going to a few more places in the Philippines this summer. Stay tuned for more of mama and baba adventures!