Cabanatuan is a city of over 327,000 people (2020) in Nueva Ecija in the Philippines. It is the "Gateway to the North", a secondary commercial center of Central Luzon, and the former capital of the Philippines' "Rice Granary".

Understand

It was the capital of the Philippines after Manila fell to the Americans, and during World War II, the city, then a rural municipality, was the site of one of the largest military operations on the Pacific theater.

Cabanatuan served as the economic center of Nueva Ecija, and a major stopover to Cagayan Valley.

The city once formed a barrio of the then-municipality of Gapan during the Spanish colonial period. During the Philippine–American War, it became the temporary capital of the nascent Philippine republic, and the place where general Antonio Luna would be assassinated by a soldier of his own battalion. The city also served as a battleground for one of the major encounters in the Philippines at the end of World War II, the raid at Cabanatuan, better remembered in the Hollywood film The Great Raid. Cabanatuan served as the capital of Nueva Ecija until the new capital is established at Palayan.

The city has tricycles the most popular mode of transportation, and there are more than 30,000 in the city, giving its nickname "Tricycle Capital of the Philippines".

Climate

Cabanatuan
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D       17     32 21       17     33 21       18     34 22       47     36 24       179     36 24       194     34 24       371     33 24       372     32 24       320     33 24       186     33 23       90     33 23       43     32 22 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation+Snow totals in mm
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D       0.7     90 69       0.7     91 70       0.7     94 72       1.9     97 74       7.1     96 76       7.6     94 76       15     91 75       15     90 75       13     91 75       7.3     91 74       3.5     91 73       1.7     90 71 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation+Snow totals in inches

The city has its reputation for very hot summer days, making it the second hottest city in the Philippines after Tuguegarao in Cagayan Valley. The climate is the usual tropical climate influenced by the monsoon, but its inland location further gave the possibility of extremely high heat indices, enough to give you heat stroke on a short walk. Daytime highs are generally in the 30s. The highest temperature recorded is a 40.4 °C (104.7 °F), and heat indexes above 50 °C (122 °F) are not uncommon during the dry season.

Get in

By bus and minivan

There are air-conditioned buses going from Cabanatuan to Baler at 8AM and 9:30AM. The trip takes around 4 hours and cost ₱247.

Vans also go from Cabanatuan to Baler for ₱200 but take time to fill up.

• 1 Cabanatuan City Central Transport Terminal, Circumferential Road. Open 24 hours. There are food stalls, a restroom and convenience stores (7-Eleven and Alfamart). There are transfers to UV Express and jeepneys. Beware of scammers who will bring your baggage and lead you to overpriced shops. (updated Jul 2019)

By car

The main highway to Cabanatuan is the Maharlika Highway (Rte 1), which passes through the denser areas of the city. From Tarlac, it is on Rte 58 (Santa Rosa-Tarlac Rd), which terminates at Maharlika Hwy at the suburb of Santa Rosa.

Get around

Tricycles from ₱15 per person most rides ₱20-30.

There are also jeepneys from ₱8 for the first 4 km.

See

• 1 Camp Pangatian (Cabanatuan American Memorial). A former American military camp turned into a Japanese concentration camp for American and Filipino prisoners of war, it was known for the raid at Cabanatuan, one of the largest military operations of World War II in the Pacific. The camp has been turned into a memorial for the prisoners of war detained here, and is also part of itineraries for American war veterans. 
• 2 Plaza Lucero, Rizal Street and Del Pilar Streets, Nabao. Open 24 hours. A little plaza built on where Antonio Luna, a Filipino general during the Philippine-American War, was assassinated. A statue of Luna in horseback is erected on the spot where he was killed. Free. (updated Apr 2020)
• 3 Nueva Ecija Old Provincial Capitol, Burgos Avenue, Padre Burgos. A neoclassical capitol building designed by the American architect and urban planner E. William Parsons. It used to house the government offices of the Nueva Ecija provincial government until it was relocated to the new capital at Palayan. (updated Apr 2020)
• 4 Freedom Park, Del Pilar Street. 6AM–9PM. Free. (updated Sep 2023)

Buy

Malls/Markets/Supermarkets

• 1 WalterMart Shopping Center - Cabanatuan, Maharlika Hi-way. 10AM–9PM. Shopping mall & supermarket. (updated Sep 2023)

• 2 N E Pacific Mall, Maharlika Highway. 10AM–8PM. Shopping mall. (updated Sep 2016)
• 3 Puregold Supermarket, Maharlika Highway. 8AM-9PM. (updated Sep 2016)
• 4 Robinsons Townville Cabanatuan & Robinsons Supermarket, KM #111, Brgy. H. Concepcion, Pan-Philippine Hwy. 9AM-9PM. (updated Mar 2015)
• 5 SM CityCabanatuan & Savemore Supermarket-Cabanatuan, Maharlika Hi-way. 10AM-9PM. (updated Mar 2015)
• 6 SM Megacenter Cabanatuan, General Tinio Street. 10AM–9PM. (updated Sep 2023)
• 7 S&R Membership Shopping - Cabanatuan, Felipe Vergara Hi-Wa. 9AM–9PM. (updated Sep 2023)
• 8 Cabanatuan City Public Market, Circumferential Road. 5AM–7:30PM. Very big public market with stores selling meat, fruits, vegetables and dry goods. The famous Longanisa of Cabanatuan is available inside. (updated Sep 2023)

Eat

• 1 Kinnobuta Ramen House - IEKEI Ramen, #31 General Tinio Street Extension, corner St Joseph Avenue. noon-9PM. If you want to eat an authentic Japanese cuisine, this is the best place to go! (updated Sep 2023)
• 2 KC's Grill & Restobar, Gabaldon Street Extension, ☏ +63 9358603972. 9AM–1AM. The ambience is relaxing, and the service is good. The ihaw ihaw food is delicious. (updated Sep 2023)
• 3 Manong Ricky and Arni Eatery, #538 Enriquez Street. 9AM–5PM. (updated Sep 2023)
• 4 Kuys' Avenue - Snack Bar and Sizzling House, Mabini Street Extension. (updated Sep 2023)
• 5 Kumpares Cabanatuan-Mabini St., #3100 Mabini Street Extension, Quezon District, ☏ +63 9178084769. Open 24 hours. Filipino eatery. (updated Sep 2023)
• 6 Vicenticos, #1077 Del Pilar Street, ☏ +63 9175657860. 10AM–8PM. Great filipino food showcasing the best of Cabanatuan. Food is authentic. It tastes as if it has been prepared the way that your lola would prepare it. (updated Sep 2023)
• 7 Hola Cabanatuan, Nambawan Building, M. De Leon Avenue, Kapt. Pepe Subdivision. 10AM–7PM. Cheezebread, pasta, salads, milk & fruit shakes. (updated Sep 2023)
• 8 Kamayan Food Park Main Branch, between 19th and General Tinio Street Extension. 11AM–10PM. Authentic Filipino foods. The restaurant is completely outdoors and good for large groups and boodle fights. Also serving hot coffee, iced coffee, and milk shakes. (updated Sep 2023)
• 9 Yolky Toasty by Berean's-Cabanatuan, St Joseph avenue, corner Santander, Kapitan Pepe. 10AM–10PM. Korean sandwiches, salads, Japanese rice dishes. (updated Sep 2023)
• 10 Maki Moto Ramen Bar Cabanatuan, M. De Leon Avenue. 2PM–9PM. (updated Sep 2023)

Drink

• 1 N.Y.O.R.K. Café, M. De Leon Avenue corner General Tinio Avenue Extension. 6:30AM–10PM. Good food and coffee drinks. (updated Sep 2023)
• 2 Tomo's Bar and Restaurant, General Tinio Street Extension, Kapitan Pepe. 11AM–9PM. Amazing place with wide variety of food and drink choices of excellent quality. (updated Sep 2023)
• 3 Bar Rocks, Valeriano Street. 11AM–midnight. (updated Sep 2023)
• 4 Ben and Jessa, #252 Melencio Street Extension. 10AM–9PM. Bakes & coffee. (updated Sep 2023)
• 5 33rd Bottle Shop, 33rd Street corner General Tino Street Extension. 8AM–2AM. (updated Sep 2023)
• 6 CCLAND Cafe (World of Sweets), Pan-Philippine Highway, Santa Rosa. 11AM–9PM. Pasta, iced coffee. (updated Sep 2023)

Sleep

• 1 Hotel Sogo - Cabanatuan, Maharlika Hi-way (not far from the new SM mall and Robinsons). A good deal is the ₱300 rooms from 8PM till 6AM. (updated Mar 2015)
• 2 Microtel by Wyndham Cabanatuan, Mabini Street Extension, ☏ +63 632 671-7171, fax: +63 632 671-7172. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. The only international brand of hotel in Cabanatuan City, Well-maintained and comfortable rooms.  
• 3 Harvest Hotel-Cabanatuan City, #1179 Del Pilar Street, ☏ +63 449508888. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. A 4-minute walk form the nearest bus station, this informal hotel is a 7-minute walk from Freedom Park and a 12 minutes on foot from the Antonio Luna Death Place Marker, which commemorates the 1899 assassination of a famous general. (updated Sep 2023)
• 4 Sky Ranch Apartelle, Maharlika Hi-way. (updated Sep 2023)
• 5 Top Star Hotel Cabanatuan, PCG Building, KM 114 Maharlika Highway, Brgy. H. Concepcion,. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. (updated Sep 2023)
• 6 Acropolis North Water Camp & Country Club, Pan-Philippine Highway. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. (updated Sep 2023)
• 7 Citi Style Spa and Hotel, Phase 2 Kapitan Pepe Avenue. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. ₱₱. (updated Sep 2023)

Go next

• Baler
• Angeles
• Manila
• Solano (Philippines)

Routes through Cabanatuan

Gapan ← Santa Rosa ←

N  S

→ Talavera → San Jose