Top 9 Things To Do In Cabanatuan City: Make This Your Next Family Trip

Where to stay in Cabanatuan City

Cabanatuan City is quickly becoming one of the popular destinations just a few hours north of Metro Manila, and for good reasons, too. With the opening of nearby attractions and an array of affordable Novo Ecijano products and restaurants, you will surely find yourself having the time of your life in the city.

Often shortened to “Cab City” by its residents, Cabanatuan has plenty of modest accommodations for every kind of traveler. Most are conveniently located within the city. Shops where you can get basic supplies are a stone’s throw away and you don’t have to travel far to cross out every destination on your itinerary.

Here are our top recommendations on where to stay:

• Microtel by Wyndham Cabanatuan

• Fully furnished townhouse

• Polished studio apartment

1. Go on a family adventure at Minalungao National Park

The first on our list of what to do in Cabanatuan is a trip to Minalungao National Park. The park is one of Nueva Ecija’s natural wonders found at General Tinio, Nueva Ecija. It features the 16-meter (52.5 ft) high limestone border that the narrow Peñaranda River. Aside from sightseeing, river rafting is definitely a must-try! You can snack and listen to your favorite music while enjoying the calm and refreshing nipa hut and table on the raft.

Jumping off a cliff is also one thing to do for the thrill seekers. The only thing to be careful of is to choose which cliff to dive off from. Ask a park guide for expert advise. Spelunking and hiking are also something to enjoy at Minalungao National Park. If those aren’t enough, then go zip-lining. Seems to me like the perfect place to head with some friends as well!

To get to Minalungao National Park, you can take the bus from Cubao, Manila to Cabanatuan City and get off at Gapan City. From there, get a tricycle ride to the Park. The whole commute from Manila only takes around an hour and a half.

Minalungao National Park

Address: General Tinio, Luzon 3104, Philippines

2. Learn about history with a visit to Camp Pangatian War Memorial Shrine

Two decades before the Japanese war, Camp Pangatian Shrine was an American military camp. When the Japanese occupied the country, it became a concentration camp used for allied prisoners. It was then the largest prisoner-of-war camp in the Philippines. For veterans, this is a go-to place as a patriot and as a Filipino. The Shrine is a memorial for Filipino heroes who stopped the Japanese troops from advancing to the Pangatian Concentration Camp, an act that led to the freeing of 516 prisoners.

Memorabilia, monuments, and a mural of the Filipino-American soldiers carrying each other are displayed to further instill the appreciation of the Philippine heritage. Camp Pangatian is found in the Nueva Ecija-Aurora Road Cabanatuan City. No entrance fee is needed to visit one of the most historical places in Cabanatuan City.

Camp Pangatian War Memorial Shrine

Address: Aurora Rd, Pangatian, Cabanatuan City, 3100 Nueva Ecija, Philippines

3. Enjoy an authentic Novo Ecijano family meal at Hapag Vicenticos

According to the Novo Ecijanos in Cabanatuan City, if you don’t enjoy a native meal in Hapag Vicenticos, you have not really visited Cabanatuan. The restaurant is famous and highly recommended for being the only restaurant that offers the all-inclusive Pinoy-style dining experience otherwise known as “Hapag Kainan.” I’d suggest spending an entire afternoon at this eatery!

Up front, it looks like a classic building making it feel like any Filipino home. Enjoying the hearty meals prepared by its seasoned cooks and chefs will definitely be comforting. Among its many specialties include crispy kare-kare, bulaklak kinilaw, crispy binagoongan and chicken binakol. Hapag Vicenticos always makes sure that every item on the menu suits every palate and budget requirement.

Hapag Vicenticos

Address: 1077 Del Pilar Street, Cabanatuan City, 3100 Nueva Ecija, Philippines

Website: Hapag Vicenticos

Opening hours: 10am - 8pm (daily)

4. Satisfy your creamy cravings at Milka Krem and Puno's Ice Cream and Sherbet

These two sweet stops are for every sweet tooth seeking a new dessert experience. Milka Krem’s dairy products are made from fresh Carabao’s milk. They have a wide array of yummy and flavorful treats like blueberry yoghurt, strawberry yoghurt, chocolate milk and coffee milk. The shop opened to give avenues for dairy farmers to have access to the commercial market for more gains. Milka Krem’s tagline, “Fresh and Natural,” comes from the assurance that their products are developed through science-based practices. It seems to me like a fun souvenir to take back home!

Puno’s Ice Cream and Sherbet is Cabanatuan’s famed ice cream brand. The ice cream factory manufactures its delicious creamy desserts using imported Italian machines. Puno’s product line includes their frozen yoghurt, frozen custard, gelato, sorbet and the simple and beloved ice cream. They have interesting flavors, too, like sili (chili), malunggay, tinutong na rice, calamansi, sapin-sapin, champorado and dilis, and mangga and bagoong at Alamang. The brand has a total of seven branches in Cabanatuan City alone and one in Aurora, Baler. Visit the one on Maharlika Highway to cool off and enjoy a delightful treat.

Milka Krem

Address: Philippine Carabao Center, Science City of Muñoz, 3120 Nueva Ecija, Philippines

Website: Milka Krem

Opening hours: 8am - 7pm (daily)

Puno’s Ice Cream and Sherbet

Facebook: Puno’s Ice Cream and Sherbet

5. Learn the history of the rice industry at NFA Grains Industry Museum

If there’s one thing you should know about Filipinos and their food, it’s that they love their rice. A lot. Rice is the staple food of the agricultural country, and it just makes sense that the food grain’s history is as rich as it can get.

Situated by the National Food Authority (NFA), NFA Grains Industry Museum showcases the evolution of the rice industry. If you’re coming from a place where eating rice isn’t common, you may find this museum particularly interesting, and it could provide you with a layered insight into the Philippine culture!

NFA Grains Industry Museum

Address: NFA Compound, 1, Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, Philippines

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9am - 5pm (closed on Sat & Sun)

6. Take your kids to Freedom Park Cabanatuan

Anyone who’s travelling with their little ones in Cabanatuan City must bring their family to this park. Located in front of the Old Provincial Capitol and aptly named Freedom Park, it is designed by American colonization-era architect William E. Parsons. Your children will have the time of their lives running around the park and taking in the quiet charm of Cabanatuan City.

One of the attractions in Freedom Park is a monument dedicated to Antonio Luna, a famed Filipino army general who was assassinated in Cabanatuan City.

Freedom Park Cabanatuan

Address: Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija

Opening hours: 6am - 9pm (daily)

7. Attend Mass at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Parish Cathedral

If you happen to pass by Cabanatuan City and wish to reflect upon your days, St. Nicholas of Tolentine Parish Cathedral welcomes you with open arms. This Catholic cathedral is the primary church in the city and the go-to of its locals.

If you practice Catholicism, make sure to stop by the historic church and say a little prayer. St. Nicholas of Tolentine Parish Cathedral is also an ideal place to take your family and attend Sunday Mass before you head out for a day of adventure in the city.

St. Nicholas of Tolentine Parish Cathedral

Address: Del Pilar, corner General Luna Street, Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, Philippines

Website: St. Nicholas of Tolentine Parish Cathedral

8. Experience a tricycle ride around the city

If you’re unfamiliar with the creative modes of transportation in the Philippines, you might find this one amusing! Motorized tricycles are one of the most commonly used public utility vehicles in the country, especially for short distances and remote roads that are not accessible to larger vehicles. Cabanatuan City is no stranger to tricycles! You’ll find them lined up outside crowded areas, ready for faring.

To make your trip to Cab City much more memorable, participate in the local culture and hire a tricycle to drive you around for the day.

9. Bring home some signature batutay from Cabanatuan's Finest Longganisa

In addition to bringing home souvenirs from your trip to Cabanatuan City, stop by Cabanatuan’s Finest Longganisa for some batutay! Batutay is the city’s term for the famous Filipino sausage, longganisa. Longganisa is commonly made with pork, and many cities and municipalities in the country have their own twist and take on the sausage. Cabanatuan’s batutay is unique in that their longganisa is beef-based.

You can get your batutay sweet or garlicky, although I’m sure either will delight the family!

Cabanatuan's Finest Longganisa

Address: 6 de Guzman, Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, Philippines

Website: Cabanatuan’s Finest Longganisa

Opening hours: 7am - 8pm (daily)

Cabanatuan City is a great destination for families

With this variety of tastes, any family visit to these tourist spots in Cabanatuan City will be an unforgettable one. If you want to go on a family excursion, the exciting Minalungao National Park is there to enjoy. If you want to travel back through memory lane, Camp Pangatian War Memorial Shrine is within reach. For those food cravings, don’t miss out on Hapag Vicenticos, Milka Krem and Puno’s Ice Cream. Finally, for some nightlife, visit Egypt at Khaliblu Palace. Nothing else keeps the family stronger than going on adventures together. It is the perfect way to celebrate the essence of home in a most tangible way.