If ever the 311-year-old municipality of Capas, Tarlac in Central Luzon rings a bell, it’s unanimously about the “Death March” which started in Mariveles, Bataan dragging Allied soldiers marching towards their death at Camp O’Donnell in Capas during World War ll.
Thus a 70-meter-high monument of black obelisk and marble structure was founded by the national government on some 54-hectares Capas farmland, planted with rows of trees representing the fallen Filipinos’ lives to honor their bravery in resisting the Japanese invaders at Bataan in WWll.
Visit Capas
Fast forward and we now see a burgeoning Capas being hailed as the Tourism Capital of Tarlac with the mighty 1,486-meter-high Mt. Pinatubo as the stellar attraction gathering crowds of mountaineers and visitors year-round.
Capas’ other attractions include the 630 meters Mt. Telakawa nestled along Crow Valley at the foot of Mt. Pinatubo, an alternative trekking spot, both peaks can be accessed via Tarlac and Zambales.
For those who are inclined to retreat and enjoy the tranquil mountain top view, there is the Monasterio de Tarlac in San Jose. It’s a monk’s hermitage with a baroque-style chapel and a 30 feet relic statue of the Christ that draws foreign and mostly local tourists from all over.
Trekking Pinatubo
The Mt. Pinatubo Base Camp is a jump-off point to trekking the Mt. Pinatubo trails. For those who would like to spend a few days and drive an ATV around the Pinatubo sand dunes, they may opt to stay at Casa Hermogina or Alvin Bognot’s Mt. Pinatubo Guest House and Tours.
And interestingly, the Bueno Hot Spring and Spa Garden is getting popular each time. The hot spring may appeal on nippy days but not during hot Shawarma and Kebab scorching days.
Still if you’re bringing along some fresh eggs, you can boil them there to eat afterwards while on the way to a trekking trail.
From the Base Camp, there are available Aeta tour guides for a minimal fee and you can even tag along another to carry your backpack and drinks but of course with a token of gratitude.
Another Hidden Gem
Know what another hidden gem rests within Capas? Café Josefina.
Cafe Josefina 1
Established two years ago under L Cuizine Food Enterprises, OPC, Café Josefina was conceptualized by the Catacutan family, the most prominent member of the family being the immediate past Mayor Reynaldo Catacutan. It’s a tribute to their grandmother named Josefina.
Snuggled in a 4.5-hectare property, Café Josefina occupies a hectare, with the rest of the open space divided into a sprawling al fresco garden café with a man-made lake and lush greens with various structures like gazebo, tents, wooden swings and carriage like bench and table, as well as age-old trees and other natural ornaments to cater to any special outdoor events, big and small.
Cafe Josefina 2
There’s the ample and secured one-hectare parking space after the sign Kastelo Verde heralded by the Café Josefina entrance.
With its interiors and landscape architecture executed by Architect Menchie Manalo, the coffee shop alone can sit in about 300 persons. It has a pavilion that can accommodate 600 persons and a conference hall good for 70 persons.
Aside from a wide variety of ala-Starbucks coffee concoctions and refreshing drinks, the Café readily serves appetizers, pasta, rice meals, pizza, burgers, steaks and cakes. Very soon, it will have its own bake shop to whip up its signature cakes.
The Café can handle as well all-in packaged special events, meetings and conferences complete with audio-visual set-ups, deejays and hosts. “We are connected with networks of photographers, videographers, event planners and stylists, said Café Manager Lusito Dizon.
By the way, Café Josefina is my favorite pit stop when visiting Capas. I can literally stay there the whole day with an all-verdant backdrop, man-made lake, al fresco dining and delectable foods, from quick bites to a full meal course, and the price is reasonable, the service is just as good.
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