CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija — The Department of Tourism (DoT) Central Luzon is banking on religious and historical sites to boost the tourist destinations in the provinces of Aurora and Nueva Ecija.

During the DoT Central Luzon validation tour called “Journey of Faith and Renewal for the Jubilee Year of Hope,” Regional Director Richard Daenos said that the endeavor aims to support the Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year celebration, which carries the theme “Pilgrims of Hope.”

The two-day tour brought together tour operators, tour guides and content creators to explore the shrines and parishes of Nueva Ecija, as well as the historical landmarks of Baler, Aurora.

On the first day of the circuit, participants visited seven Jubilee Churches under the Diocese of Cabanatuan in Nueva Ecija.

These included the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of St. John the Baptist and the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Nuestra Señora de las Saleras, both in Aliaga; the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Anthony Abbot in San Antonio; and the Diocesan Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and St. Augustine Parish in Jaen.

Also, the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of La Virgen Divina Pastora and Three Kings Parish in Gapan; the St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Peñaranda; and the St. Nicholas of Tolentine Cathedral Parish in Cabanatuan City.

Daenos shared that pilgrims were provided with prayer cards and Diocesan pilgrimage “passports” that were stamped at each church as part of their spiritual journey.

He added that devotees were encouraged to walk through each Holy Door with solemn openness to conversion and renewal for the Jubilee Year.

Meanwhile, the second day of the circuit focused on historical sites in Baler, Aurora.

These included age-old favorites such as the Doña Aurora House and Baler Museum, along with understated historical sites like the ancient Baler escape tunnel and Ermita Hill.

“Our religious heritage is only enriched by our distinctly Filipino Catholic traditions, magnificent old churches, and stories from a time that may seem long past but are the building blocks of our contemporary world,” Daenos remarked.