Mexico is a town in Pampanga, the Philippines. A satellite town of the provincial capital, San Fernando, is its one of the province's leading cultural and economic centers.
Understand
[edit]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]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.
From San Fernando, there are jeepneys servicing Mexico. 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.
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 Malolos and Meycauayan in Bulacan. From SM Pampanga, take jeepneys or tricycles heading to downtown Mexico further north.
Get around
[edit]
Downtown Mexico is at a junction between JASA leading to eastern Pampanga and Gapan, and the road leading to Arayat and other towns of northern Pampanga. Tricycles are the main form of transportation between barangays.
See
[edit]- 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.
- 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]Buy
[edit]- 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]- 1 Kusinang Matua ng Atching Lillian, Parian. A heritage restaurant serving Kapampangan cuisine set inside a colonial-era residence.
- 2 Dandy's San Nicolas Cookies, 101 J.P. Rizal Street, Parian. A bakery selling various local pastries including the San Nicolas cookie, a buttery shortbread made with 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]Sleep
[edit]- 1 Hotel Sogo, Jose Abad Santos Avenue, Lagundi (in front of SM Pampanga).
Connect
[edit]Go next
[edit]| Routes through Mexico |
| Olongapo ← San Fernando ← | W  E
|
→ Santa Ana → Gapan |