Category: Food

"Hassle-to-bring-Home" Pinoy Pasalubong

Updated September 2014

I was at my desk at work when Arvin, an officemate, arrived carrying a long bulky item wrapped in brown cardboard and masking tape.

“Ay naku, galing akong Baguio nung long weekend. So syempre may nagpabili ng walis.” (I just came from Baguio during the long weekend, so of course someone asked me to buy a broom).

This scenario got me thinking of items that are really such a hassle to take home as pasalubong (souvenirs), but we still buy for the sake of friends and family when we travel.

BAGUIO BROOMS

baguio brooms

Continue reading “"Hassle-to-bring-Home" Pinoy Pasalubong”

Bread, Salt and a Business Hotel

It’s said that bread and salt are ancient symbols of hospitality. For some countries, greeting one’s guests with these two basic food items is a sign of trust and friendship. It’s only fitting that we got to experience how both are produced the same morning during our trip to Ilocos Norte where we were warmly welcomed as guests of the Lakbay Norte media tour earlier this year.

Our pit stop after the rough adventure at Adams Village was the elegant Ilocos Norte Convention Center (INCC) in Laoag City. The hotel is quite large and ideal for gatherings and business functions. Continue reading “Bread, Salt and a Business Hotel”

First Aeta Forest Food Festival

“1st Aeta Forest Food Festival. Capas Tarlac near Mt. Pinatubo. Aetas will show how to hunt bayawak, snakes, wild boar & cook food using traditional methods of the forest through customs, dances & rituals. Will also share traditional food customs with Agta, Dumagat tribes from Zambales, Quezon, Rizal.”

The text message invitation forwarded by Dondi Tawatao, a photojournalist friend who shoots for Getty Images, had me interested at once. Early the next morning we were headed to Capas, roughly 3 hours away from Manila, via a Victory Liner bus and then on a tricycle bound for Barangay Sta. Juliana. Though we initially planned to return to Manila the same day, the long tricycle ride through a winding mountain road where houses were few and far between, gave us a clue that we were probably going to be spending the night there. Continue reading “First Aeta Forest Food Festival”

Discovering Bontoc in Batangas

After covering a biodiversity expedition in the Verde Island for a news story, I got to visit this really cool diving resort called Bontoc in Batangas Bed and Breakfast (BBBB) to interview Romeo Trono of Conservation International. The cozy resort definitely warranted a feature of its own. For more information on the place itself, please read the feature published in Sunday Inquirer Magazine, Bontoc or Batangas? Both! Below are a few more photos of the place.

View of Mt. Gulugod-Baboy from the BBBB’s balcony Continue reading “Discovering Bontoc in Batangas”

Adventure in Adams, Ilocos Norte

Nestled deep in the mountains, surrounded by forests, streams and rice fields, Adams Village in Ilocos Norte is just one of those places that remind you of the rural town that most RPG heroes start their adventure from.

The community hidden from the world has all the elements of your basic mountain town – rolling hills, narrow dirt trails you can only navigate on foot, rickety bridges hanging over rivers, as well as the occasional wild beast blocking the path. Continue reading “Adventure in Adams, Ilocos Norte”

A Garden Wedding at Casa San Pablo, Laguna

About a month ago, environmentalist friends Rina and Don tied the knot at Casa San Pablo in Laguna. I found their wedding venue so great that I ended up interviewing owner Boots Alcantara after the dinner reception for this article published in Sunday Inquirer Magazine.

It was our first time to visit Casa San Pablo, which is one of the destinations in the famous Viaje del Sol route, a popular art, culture and foodie destination tour. Continue reading “A Garden Wedding at Casa San Pablo, Laguna”

Eco-friendly Kapuluan Vista Resort in Pagudpud

Lakbay Norte 2, Night 3: Kapuluan Vista Resort

Our stopover in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte was Kapuluan Vista Resort (KVR), a laid-back resort owned by surfer couple Mike and Alma Oida. Everything about KVR was so cool and eco-friendly, that it was a pity we only got to stay one night.

KVR exudes an aura of ultimate relaxation and just all around happy vibes. Though it was far from beach weather during our stay, I could see that this is an ideal vacation spot not just for surfers, but for families and friends looking for a great place to stay. Continue reading “Eco-friendly Kapuluan Vista Resort in Pagudpud”

On the Road to Ilocos Norte: Buguey and Claveria

Day 3: On the road to Ilocos Norte: Buguey and Claveria 

Our first stop on the bus ride from Cagayan to Ilocos Norte was at the coastal town of Buguey, also known as “the crab capital of the north.” We were warmly welcomed by our hosts with fresh buko juice and crab sandwiches as an appetizer to a sumptuous seafood feast at the El Presidente Beach Resort.

Continue reading “On the Road to Ilocos Norte: Buguey and Claveria”

Eastern Hawaii Hotel in Cagayan

Night 2: Eastern Hawaii Casino and Resort

Eastern Hawaii Leisure Co. in the CEZA complex in Sta. Ana is another option for those looking for a relaxing place to stay while visiting Cagayan.

Like Sun City, the hotel mainly caters to Chinese tourists who play in the casinos. Despite our brief stay, we found the service quite good and staff very friendly.

Continue reading “Eastern Hawaii Hotel in Cagayan”

Cagayan Food-Trip + the Luxurious Sun City

Earlier this year, I joined the second leg of Lakbay Norte 2, a media tour around provinces in the North. The six-day tour, organized by the North Philippines Visitors Bureau (NPVB) took us to the provinces of Cagayan and Ilocos. I’ve written about the whole trip for Sunday Inquirer Magazine titled 10 Things to do in Cagayan and Ilocos so now I’ll be posting a series of blogs and more photos from the trip.

Day 1: Cagayan food-trip

A delay in our morning flight to Tuguegarao from Manila caused what was supposed to be a leisurely morning snack, lunch and dinner spread out during the day to be jam-packed into a series of meals after our mid-afternoon arrival. Continue reading “Cagayan Food-Trip + the Luxurious Sun City”