10/10/2026
๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ฎ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฉ๐จ ๐๐๐ซ๐ญ
Nepo Mart, the first shopping center in Angeles City to sell PX goods, opened a new chapter with the launch of Pasalubong Avenue, a destination for well-known Filipino heritage local products, on October 9, 2026.
The ceremonial launch and ribbon-cutting was held at the Nepo Mart Building of the Nepo Center in front of Newpoint Mall as part of the grand relaunch of Nepo Mart.
A project of the JDN Realty Group, Pasalubong Avenue aims to give the commercial space a distinct identity as the home of Pampanga's culture, tourism, and entrepreneurship.
The event was led by JDN Realty Group Assistant Vice President for Administration Maribel Ronquillo and JDN Commercial Spaces Manager Rocky Torres with Angeles City Tourism Officer John Montances extending support.
โFor us, Nepo Center and JDN have always been more than a commercial address. More than building spaces, we believe in building relationships with our community that create opportunities for our local businesses to be discovered, appreciated and to reach more people and for all of us to grow together,โ Ronquillo said.
Ronquillo said they also launched "The Pasalubong Visionโ video featuring Miss Nepo 2026 Arielle Cabatana to promote the facility.
Meanwhile, Torres explained that seven local vendors who have been in the pasalubong business for decades compose the pasalubong strip.
The stores offer local products such as cookies, breads and pastries and delicacies, including peanuts, kasoy, chicharon, vinegar, mushroom chips, hopia and otap as well as chili paste, shrimp paste, crab paste, and fermented shrimp in rice or buru, among others.
For those with a sweet tooth, a variety of products are available, such as boat tarts, pastillas, polvoron, banana chips, strawberry jam, dried mangoes and fresh fruits.
There's no need to go to Baguio City to buy strawberry or ube jam, the chichacorn of Vigan or the dried mangoes of Cebu โ these and more, to satisfy sweet, spicy or salty cravings, are available at Pasalubong Avenue.
Balikbayans now have a place to buy local products that not only help local businesses but also the personnel these retail store owners employ to produce their products.
โDespite the proliferation of malls and big shopping centers, Nepo Mart is still here as it holds a special place in Angeles City retail history as the place where PX goods were sold. Pasalubong Avenue writes the next chapter of the upcoming relaunch of Nepo Mart as it provides a space now dedicated to local products, culture, tourism, and entrepreneurship,โ Torres said.
Rowena S. Ayson, the owner of Rowena's Pasalubong Shop that offers a variety of items, shared that she has been in the business for 10 years and her store was chosen as a One Town, One Product (OTOP) kiosk that supports local MSMEs.
Rowenaโs Pasalubong Shop sells products from Sasmuan, Minalin, Porac and Magalang and Bulacan as its way of supporting fellow entrepreneurs. She also accepts resellers and gives special discounts.
With the theme "One Destination, Many Local Storiesโ, the landmark has been reimagined from a PX store into a showcase for Kapampangan craftsmanship โ inviting visitors to discover local products and bring home a piece of Pampanga.
Pasalubong Avenue at Nepo Mart, Nepo Center is open daily, from 7am to 7pm.
Text and photos: ERLIN M. DUE
