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Mexico is a town in Pampanga, the Philippines. A satellite town of the provincial capital, San Fernando, it is one of the province's leading cultural and economic centers.
Understand
[edit | edit source]According to local legend, Mexico was established by soldiers from Mexico deployed by the Spanish colonial regime to the Philippines. It became the first capital of Pampanga at the beginning of Spanish rule in 1581, but lost the title to Bacolor in the 1660s. Despite this, Mexico prospered as an agricultural and trading town on account on its location in the middle of Pampanga and is now slowly being integrated with the urban sprawl from San Fernando.
Get in
[edit | edit source]From Manila, take the San Fernando exit along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) leading to the Gapan-Olongapo Road, also known as Jose Abad Santos Avenue (JASA), then turn right past Robinsons Starmills and SM Pampanga, which sits at the boundary between San Fernando and Mexico. Mexico also has an eponymous exit on NLEX 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) north of San Fernando exit, but is only useful for travelers heading to the northern barangays of the town. Around 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) south of San Fernando, NLEX San Simon Exit leads to the eastern barangays of Mexico and merges with JASA and the road to San Luis at Santo Domingo Circle.
From San Fernando, there are jeepneys servicing Mexico, costing P15. It is also traversed by the jeepney and minibus routes running between San Fernando and other towns of northern and eastern Pampanga, as well as Gapan in Nueva Ecija. The northern barangays of Mexico are directly connected to Angeles City by jeepney. The main terminal in the area is at Barangay Pandacaqui.
Buses running from Metro Manila to San Isidro in Nueva Ecija also pass by Mexico via JASA. Some buses traveling from Metro Manila to Bataan and Zambales make stopovers at Robinsons Starmills, across the highway from SM Pampanga, or at SM Pampanga itself. There are also minibuses and vans connecting SM Pampanga with Balanga in Bataan as well as with Baliwag, Bocaue, Malolos, Marilao and Meycauayan in Bulacan. From SM Pampanga, take jeepneys or tricycles heading to downtown Mexico further north.
Get around
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Downtown Mexico is at a junction leading to eastern Pampanga and Gapan via JASA on one side, and the road leading to western Arayat, Magalang and other towns of northern Pampanga and Tarlac on another. Tricycles are the main form of transportation between barangays, but a jeepney/minibus heading to Arayat is more ideal when traveling between downtown Mexico and Santo Domingo Circle.
See
[edit | edit source]- 1 Santa Monica Parish Church (Mexico Church), Jose Abad Santos Avenue, Parian. Mexico's main Roman Catholic church, built during the Spanish period but rebuilt in a modern style after an earthquake in 1880 that destroyed the structure save for its belfry. P20 parking fee for cars (first four hours), free Su.
- 2 Sky Ranch Pampanga, ☏ +63 45 963-7681. M-F 3PM-midnight, Sa-Su noon-midnight. Part of SM City Pampanga, it houses Pampanga Eye, a 65 m (213 ft) high Ferris wheel providing a 360-degree view of Pampanga, including San Fernando itself, Mount Arayat and Mount Pinatubo
- 3 Sabanilla Chapel, Sabanilla. A rare Spanish-era chapel.
- 4 Lazatin-Henson-Katigbak Mansion, 2nd Street, Parian (at the back of Jollibee). A Spanish-era residence belonging to one of Pampanga's elite families.
- 5 Rivera-Panlilio Ancestral House, Arayat Road, Parian. A Spanish-era residence belonging to one of Pampanga's elite families.
- 6 San Jose Matulid Chapel, San Jose Matulid. Said to be the oldest Roman Catholic chapel in Pampanga, built in 1581.
Do
[edit | edit source]Buy
[edit | edit source]- 1 SM City Pampanga, Jose Abad Santos Avenue, Masamat (Near NLEX San Fernando Exit). 11AM-10PM. Giant SM mall opened in 2000, with hundreds of shops and restaurants, and the Sky Ranch Pampanga theme park.
- 2 Mexico Public Market, Jose Abad Santos Avenue, Parian.
- 3 Puregold Mexico, Jose Abad Santos Avenue, San Antonio.
Eat
[edit | edit source]- 1 Kusinang Matua ng Atching Lillian, 174 Jose Abad Santos St, Parian, ☏ +63 915 773 0788, toll-free: +63 45 9660211. Reservation required. Minimum of 10 people needed.. A heritage restaurant serving Kapampangan cuisine set inside a colonial-era residence. Meals involve a buffet and cooking demonstration by proprietor Lilian Borromeo, one of the leading masters of Kapampangan cuisine. Walk-ins are allowed for those seeking Atching Lilian’s San Nicolas Cookies, which are sold in individual boxes with 12 pieces. P320 for San Nicolas Cookies.
- 2 Dandy's San Nicolas Cookies, 101 J.P. Rizal Street, Parian. A bakery selling various local pastries including the Panecillo de San Nicolas (San Nicolas cookie), a buttery shortbread made with arrowroot flour, egg yolk and coconut milk and then shaped into molds featuring depictions of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine. The cookies are said by locals to have miraculous powers.
Drink
[edit | edit source]Sleep
[edit | edit source]- 1 Hotel Sogo, Jose Abad Santos Avenue, Lagundi (in front of SM Pampanga).
Stay safe
[edit | edit source]Parts of southern and eastern Mexico are highly susceptible to flooding during the rainy season.
Connect
[edit | edit source]Go next
[edit | edit source]| Routes through Mexico |
| Olongapo ← San Fernando ← | W  E | → Santa Ana → Gapan |
| Manila ← San Fernando ← | S  N | → Angeles → Baguio |