General Information

Central Luzon (or "Gitnang Luzon" in Filipino) , also known as Region III (or Region 3), is an administrative division or region of the Republic of the Philippines, The Region contains the largest plain in the country. The Region produces most of the country's rice supply. That is why it is called the "Rice Bowl" of the Philippines. Its provinces are: Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales. Central Luzon was the third biggest region in terms of population size among the 16 regions in the Philippines,

Economy / Resources

Central Luzon has both timber and mineral resources. Both metallic and non-metallic resources are found in the region. Bataan is known for its copper deposits while refractory chromite, gold and marble may be extracted from Zambales and Bulacan. Fertile rice lands, melon patches and fishponds can be found along rivers and tributaries. It has a long coastline rich with marine resources in western Bataan and Zambales. The region accounts for the third largest aquaculture production in the Philippines.and Pacific Ocean to the east.

The Philippine Republic's Province of Aurora is as small and thinly populated as Quezon is large and populous. It is located just north of Quezon on the east coast of Luzon, known to the Spanish as the "contra costa." Its population is 173,000 in eight towns. Aurora is named for Aurora Quezon, the wife of President Manuel Quezon of the Commonwealth of the Philippines; both were born in the capital town of Baler, now apparently renamed Naval. The Catholic church of the town was defended by four Spanish officers and fifty men for nearly a year, June 1898 to June 1899, and was the last Spanish outpost in the Philippines to surrender. The Filipinos admire this heroic defense, and have set up a monument to it. Aurora became a sub-province of Quezon in 1951, and a full province in 1979, so the image above is very likely obsolete. Aurora is heavily forested, and the cleared land is used mostly for farming; there seems to be no industry. On the other hand it is a fine place for surfing, as well as scuba-diving and snorkeling, though local support services are not readily found. It also has dramatic scenery on the side of the mountains. The principal products are copra, rice, banana, coffee, pepper, and citrus, plus various wood products and fish. There is some cottage weaving, and the provincial government is trying to develop food-processing and wood-processing industry.

Climate

Dry season in the Region is from November to May. Rains normally occurring during the months of July to October.