Nueva Ecija, Rice-producing province in Central Luzon, Philippines
Nueva Ecija is a province on the island of Luzon in the central part of the Philippines, belonging to the Central Luzon region. The landscape spreads across broad plains with numerous rice paddies, onion plantations, and smaller towns connected by a dense road network.
The province was established in 1801 through a royal order from Carlos IV of Spain as a military commandancy, with Baler initially serving as the capital. During the 19th century, the administrative center shifted to Cabanatuan, while the territory solidified its role as an agricultural zone.
The name comes from Spanish and recalls a region on the Iberian Peninsula, while residents today go by the term Novo Ecijano. In many towns, you can see rice bundles drying along the roads during harvest season, and local markets offer freshly picked onions and other field crops.
Travelers reach the area via the North Luzon Expressway and the Central Luzon Link Expressway, which connect Manila to Cabanatuan in roughly three hours. The best time to visit falls outside the rainy season between November and May, when roads are easier to navigate and fields show different stages of cultivation.
The Taong Putik Festival in Aliaga takes place during the feast of Saint John the Baptist, when participants cover themselves with mud and perform religious acts. The procession moves through the streets of the town, and locals and visitors can join the mud-covered participants to ask for healing or blessings.
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