Attractions
Pampanga State Agricultural University, Magalang
Historic agricultural university founded as La Granja Modelo de Magalang in 1885, known for its Aglibut sweet tamarind.
Magalang
Town
Magalang
Town on the northern side of Mount Arayat, with the trail to its highest peak and the Sweet Tamarind Capital nickname.
Magalang is a municipality of 27 barangays with about 124,000 residents at the 2020 census. The northern half of Mount Arayat, including its summit, lies in Magalang, and the trail to the higher northern peak starts at Pampanga State Agricultural University.
The town was founded by the Augustinians in 1605, and its San Bartolome Parish Church was built in 1866. The Magalang Municipal Hall and the Heliograph Towers at Cariyana are Important Cultural Properties. In barangay Ayala, the Banal a Bunduk Stations of the Cross climb the foothills of Mount Arayat.
Magalang calls itself the Sweet Tamarind Capital of the Philippines. Its town fiesta, the Camaru Festival, is on August 24.
Good to know about Magalang
Can you hike Mount Arayat from Magalang?
Yes. The trail to the higher northern peak starts at Pampanga State Agricultural University in Magalang, passing the Arayat Amphitheatre and White Rock, in about three to four hours.
What is Magalang known for?
Mount Arayat's northern peak, its sweet tamarind, the San Bartolome Church and the Banal a Bunduk Stations of the Cross.
When is the Magalang fiesta?
The town fiesta, the Camaru Festival, is on August 24. Foundation Day is April 30.
Things to do in Magalang
© Louiealdrin on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SAAttractions
San Bartolome Parish Church, Magalang
Magalang's parish of Saint Bartholomew, moved to the present town in 1863 after the Parua River swept away the old settlement.
Magalang
Attractions
Magalang heliograph towers
Two Spanish-era signal towers from 1863 in Santa Cruz and San Isidro, regarded as important cultural properties.
Magalang
Adventure
Banal a Bunduk, Magalang
Holy Mountain Way of the Cross on Mount Arayat's slope: 14 life-sized Stations along a 1.6 km trail to a 35-foot Risen Christ.
Magalang
Where to eat in Magalang
Bakeries
Carreon's Sweets and Pastries
Magalang sweets shop known for pastillas de leche, the town's classic pasalubong.
Magalang
Itineraries & guides in Magalang
Travel Guides
Where to stay in Magalang
Magalang's farm resorts at the foot of Mount Arayat, from Abe's Farm to smaller family-reunion spots.
Magalang
Travel Guides
Magalang pasalubong: pastillas and tamarind
What to take home from Magalang: pastillas de leche, tamarind candies and shakes, and PSAU's tamarind products.
Magalang
Itineraries
A day in Magalang: Holy Mountain, heritage town and lechon
One day in Magalang: an early walk up the Banal a Bunduk, the 1863 poblacion and its old houses, lechon and pastillas.
Magalang
Getting Around
How to get to Magalang
Magalang is 11 km from Angeles and 92 km from Manila, reached by the Magalang-Angeles and Magalang-Mabalacat roads.
Magalang
Latest stories in Magalang
Community
The white lanterns of Magalang
Every Christmas, Magalang's barangays carry traditional white lanterns in a nine-day novena that won a national tourism award.
Magalang
© Armanbarbuco on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SAHistory
Balen Melacuan: the Magalang that moved
Magalang began somewhere else. How a river flood in 1863 made a town pick up and start over at the foot of Mount Arayat.
Magalang
© Thomas Schoch on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SACulture
Camaru: why Magalang celebrates the cricket
Crickets were once a farm snack sold to Angeles buyers. Now they are the emblem of an award-winning Magalang festival.
Magalang
© Ivar Leidus on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SAFood
Aglibut: Magalang's sweet tamarind
At PSAU in Magalang, a sweet tamarind variety is being grafted to make the town the tamarind capital of the country.
Magalang