ANVIL VISITS TARLAC

It was another illuminating adventure for the Association of Young Filipino-Chinese Entrepreneurs (Anvil Business Club), as an intrepid group of thirty wended to the heartland of Luzon, the City of Tarlac, for a two-day goodwill tour and business mission. Organized by Anvil members Nikko Lim and Joy-Anne Lim, both homegrown third-generation Tarlakeños whose families have long been established industrialists and philanthropists in the area, the experience was nothing short of breathtaking.
After rendezvousing in Banawe, Quezon City, the group engaged in a convoy of six cars and reached Tarlac City in an uneventful, two-hour cruise via the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx). The first stop in the itinerary was a visit to the Aquino Center and Museum; a non-profit, non-government owned facility located in Tarlac City, which houses a gallery containing memorabilia of the late Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. and President Cory Aquino. Joining the delegation on their visit was Ms. Karen Nina Lacsamana Carrera, manager of the Aquino Center (who also happens to be Joy-Anne's cousin). She patiently walked the group through each section of the museum detailing different time lines in the lives of Ninoy Aquino and Cory Aquino: from their childhood in Tarlac, to their marriage, to the rising political career of Ninoy. It continues to the declaration of Martial Law, to Ninoy's imprisonment in Fort Bonifacio and Nueva Ecija, his exile to the United States, up to his return to Manila where he was assassinated in 1983. The uprising of the Filipino people, the subsequent EDSA Revolution in 1986, the presidency of Cory Aquino, and finally to the death of Cory in 2009, were also showcased. One of the most important artifacts of the museum include the bloodstained white safari suit that Ninoy wore when he was assassinated, which was preserved and enclosed in a glass case. The museum also houses some of the most valuable gifts given to Cory by foreign dignitaries during her presidency.
The group then proceeded to Fortune Hong Kong Seafood Restaurant for an eight-course lariat lunch, where no less than Tarlac City Mayor Gelacio "Ace" Manalang warmly welcomed them. The good mayor – who cut short his usual weekend sojourn to Manila just to be with the Anvil group – was joined by Tarlac City Councilor Diosdado "Jojo" Briones and Tarlac City Administator Godofredo "Fred" Sabado who supported the Hizzoner in encouraging the Anvil members to invest in the City. Citing a "much improved" peace-and-order situation, as well as a host of very attractive tax-free incentives, Mayor Ace declared that, "now is the best time to invest in Tarlac, since the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEx) is already under construction which will definitely increase the value of doing business (here) soon." The young Chinese-Filipino businessmen of Tarlac City were also invited to take part in gladly receiving the Anvil members and exploring possible business ventures with the group.
After the hearty luncheon, the party advanced through the Monasterio de Tarlac located in Barangay Lubigan, San Jose, an hour's drive from the city proper, to visit the 30-foot statue of the Risen Christ, overlooking the vast lands of San Jose and its heart-stopping mountain views, for a photo opportunity. A few dozen meters from the statue is the actual Tarlac Monastery, where the Reliquary of the True Cross of Jesus Christ is kept. The Anvil delegation found this opportunity to be very auspicious, as the said relic – which is only open to the public only for viewing and veneration only two days a year, in January and September – happened to be open on the day when the group visited the locality.
Those who were able to stay in the evening were treated to the thrill of racing in the circuit of Kart City Tarlac (KCT), located along McArthur Highway, San Roque. Anvil members enjoyed the fun and adrenaline rush of karting, especially for the beginners and fun riders. After hitting the track for five rounds, the fastest racers included, (Ladies' Division): Ian Cheng (first place), Val Hernandez (second place), and Hillary Ang (third place); (Men's Division): Earl Chua (first place), Jac Licauco (second place), and Ace Olano (third place). Subsequently, the group proceeded cap the day's itinerary by belting out their favorite numbers at the nearby KCT Karaoke Bar till the wee hours of the morning before they decided to call it a night at the Central Park Hotel.
The following day, September 20 (Sunday) was especially fruitful as the group visited multi-hectare modern swine farm of Nikko Lim's family, where more than a thousand pigs were being bred and nursed. In confinement buildings, pigs are often rotated between sow pens to make sure that all sows are bred while they were in heat. Just before giving birth, called farrowing, sows are normally moved into a "farrowing room." Sows typically farrow from eight to twelve piglets, which as a group are called a litter. Most confinement operations place the sow in a temperature-controlled environment and usually in a farrowing pen or crate which restricts the mother pig's movement to protect her baby pigs. After weaning, pigs are normally placed in a "nursery" where they are kept in a temperature-controlled environment, usually on slotted floors.
The final activity was a sendoff lunch held for the Anvil members at Nikko Lim's palatial mansion in St. Mary's Subdivision in Binauganan, Tarlac. The luncheon was made more special when the Anvil delegates were joined by Tarlac City Vice-Mayor Anne Belmonte who reassured them of the local government's support for those wishing to invest in the City.
Tarlac is the most multi-cultural of the Central Luzon provinces. A mixture of four distinct groups, the Pampangos, Ilocanos, Pangasinense and Tagalogs, share life in the province. Tarlac is best known for its fine food and vast sugar and rice plantations. That it has fine cooking to offer is due largely to the fact that it is the "Melting Pot of Central Luzon." It offers some of the best cuisines from the places of ancestry of its settlers, the province of Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Zambales, Pangasinan and the Ilocos Region. Historical sites, fine food, vast plantations, beautiful landscaped parks and golf courses, and so many other attractions – all these make the province of Tarlac one of the best places to visit in Central Luzon.
Kudos to Nikko and Joy-Anne for spearheading an awesomely-organized and immensely pleasant visit; Special thanks also goes to Nikko's dad, Mr. Ramon "Jojo" Lim for leaving no stone unturned in ensuring an unforgettable Tarlac experience!