Before Ever After: The Slight Detour

Image from http://samanthasotto.com

You might be wondering how a novel found its way in a travel blog.  While it is brimming with romance, the more than hundreds of pages of Before Ever After are screaming TRAVEL.

This Is What Travelling Is All About

Last Friday, these three videos made the rounds on the internet and in social networking sites. It was indeed a triple treat heralding a beautiful weekend for me. I love the concept, the shots and the music.   Travelling is not about covering numerous cities or countries. It's about immersing in different cultures, breaking free from comfort zones, learning from the locals, enjoying home-cooked meals, and loving the thrill in visiting old familiar places and getting lost in new territories.

MOVE from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

LEARN from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

EAT from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

Canigao Island: A Gem in Leyte

I never heard of Canigao Island until my mom brought me to this place.  It was February of 2010 when we attended the Sto Niño fiesta in Brgy. Tab-ang in Matalom, Leyte. Per tradition, the locals would hie off to a nearby island with white sandy beach a day after the fiesta and on Easter Monday.  

That nearby island is Canigao. On the scheduled trip to the island, we woke up before the break of dawn. But the guy who was supposed to ferry us to there had to catch some sleep after a night's dancing. Finally, at seven in the morning, we embarked on our excursion. It took us twenty minutes to get to the island.

On our way to the motorboat

Dining the Taitong Way

I first heard about Taitong through an article in a local daily. My friend and I have been wanting to try it out but it always got shelved. Last week, we finally freed up our schedule on a weekday and devoted one night to Taitong. 

Nalusuan Island

I just got back from a work-related meeting which brought me to an island in our beloved archipelago. A few people I know have been raving about this island which is a good spot for snorkeling.

Sunrise at Tonggo wharf

Nalusuan is a marine sanctuary off Mactan, a part of the municipality of Cordova. We were at the Tonggo wharf at past 6:00 in the morning to have a good headstart with our day's activity and then have the R&R for the rest of the day. But then the low tide didn't permit us to go the island as scheduled. So we got to serious business mode at the wharf instead. We started before 7:00 a.m. and had everything done by 7:30 a.m. 

Weekend in Dapitan and Dipolog

Finally, thanks to a wedding invitation, I had an excuse and opportunity to set foot in the cities of Dapitan and Dipolog.  What even made this weekend vacation worth looking forward to was the time that will be spent with dear friends and coincidentally, celebrating Jose P. Rizal's 150th birthday in a place where he was exiled for four years. 

Rizal @ 150 in Dapitan and Dipolog

On June 19, the Filipinos celebrated Jose P. Rizal's 150th birthday.  Some trooped to his home in Calamba, Laguna while others braved the the rains in Fort Santiago.  My mom, my friend JRTU and I did our own commemmoration by tracing Rizal's steps in Dipolog and Dapitan in Zamboanga del Norte where he spent four fruitful years and made great and lasting contributions to our nation before he was executed in Bagumbayan in 1896.

June 17, 2011

From Dipolog, we took the Evergood bus to Dapitan (Php 20.00/pax) and got off near the Liwasan ng Dapitan which was our first stop of the Rizal trail. Just seeing that vast green plaza reminded me of Kasaysayan I and P.I. 100 and our discussions during those classes. From my Kas I class, I learned that most of the towns and cities in the Philippines are characterized by the plaza complex --- a very big plaza surrounded by the church, school, town hall, and other edifices of important institutions in the community.  In Dapitan, the plaza was surrounded by the St. James Church, the parochial school and the city government offices. 

Casa Empanada

I love empanada, that crescent or half-moon shaped pastry filled with meat or veggies or mix of everything, which I have either in between meals or as a dessert. In the Philippines, we usually stuff our empanadas with ground meat, diced potatoes and carrots, egg, peas, cheese and raisins.

When my friend told me that she has engaged in a new venture, that is rolling out empanadas, I immediately placed an order. I got my goodies on a recent trip to Manila. I had a pack each of the following flavors: bacon and chocolate, strawberry and cream cheese, golden corn and cheese and herbed mushroom and cheese.

Sommar i Gröna Lund*

I was sifting through mementos in my travel shoebox when I saw this:

Gröna Lund Ticket

It reminded me of that summer four years ago when a mixed bunch of us (I, together with Philippine Embassy kids CPM and JPM, fellow exchange student RGI and DLSU exchange professors TG and AN) welcomed the sunshine and warm bright day after several grey, chilly and snowy months in Stockholm. So off we went to Gröna Lund, Stockholm's oldest theme park (built in the 1880s) by the sea located on Djurgarden island.

All Blogging Roads Lead to Cebu Blog Camp 2011

In a week's time, bloggers in Cebu and maybe even across the country will be converging at the Cebu Blog Camp 2011 and I am thrilled as I count the days to the event. Here's my take on why I am excited to be one of the happy blogging campers.

5. The Emily Post in Blogging

In the past three years or so, we've seen the blog as a new form of media, and bloggers have utilized this platform either as an avenue of expression, a source of information or for profit. With the changing media landscape and all that buzz about the big bad blogger, it is high time for the blogging community to display some sense of decorum not just in media events but in carrying out day-to-day activities.

A Dose of Spanish Jazz on a Friday Night

My friend CM and I spent our Friday night listening to una cuarteto español at the Fernan Press Center in Cebu City. The small auditorium was packed with diplomats, expats, Cebu's who's who, students and those (like us) who just wanted to unwind and enjoy some beautiful music after a long workweek. Plus it was for free thanks to Arts Council of Cebu, the Spanish Embassy in the Philippines, Agencia Español de Cooperación Internacional and Amigas de España en Cebu.

Windy and Rainy Fiesta in Tapilon (Daanbantayan, Cebu)

It was a rainy Saturday morning. Several CLAWees and I answered an invitation for an overnight stay in the north. We headed to the Cebu North Bus Terminal and by 10:00 A.M. we were already embarking on a four-hour trip to Daanbantayan, in the northernmost part of Cebu island.

Jo-Ed's + The Pantry = Birthday Treat for a Friend

Yesterday was CM's birthday so I treated her to a dinner this evening at JOED's Lutong Hapon, a hole-in-the-wall Japanese carinderia in Mabolo which she has long wanted to try out ever since I mentioned it to her.

We both had beef teriyakidon, kani salad and sushi mix. 

Beef Teriyakidon

Holiness, Highness and Majesty

Today, the world witnessed the beatification of Pope John Paul II. Two days ago, the world swooned as Prince William and Catherine Middleton took each other as husband and wife and were declared Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

I wasn't anywhere near Vatican City nor the Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace the past two days. But I had my share of paying homage to the Pope and getting a glimpse of the royalty (the Swedish monarchs, not the British royals).

At St. Peter's Square in Vatican (December 2005)

Easter Feast

Sharing with you our Easter Feast.

We had shrimps, sinigang na lapu-lapu, crabs (steamed and in coconut milk), baked scallops, lechon and seafood pasta.

Red Box-Ayala Cebu: Food and Sound Trip

In March, my dorm mate and I celebrated our birthdays together. So we decided to treat our friends to the latest hang-out in Cebu --- Red Box at The Terraces, Ayala Cebu.

We availed of their buffet lunch promo. For Php 299.00/pax, we had a six-course meal plus a couple of desserts and a three-hour music mania (drinks not inluded). The dishes were delivered straight to our assigned room. If we wanted a refill, we just had to buzz and their attendant will bring in additional servings of our requested dish.

Postscript Ilocos

Pasalubong

A trip to Ilocos won't be complete without bringing home some goodies from the north. Up for grabs are bottles of basi, onions, garlic, bagnet, longganisa, tobacco cigars, cornik, biscocho, towels and blankets made of abel and clay pots.

Of course, we hoarded groups of garlic and onion, several kilos of bagnet and longganisa, pile of towels and blankets made of abel and packs of balicotia (sweetener), biscocho and cornik.

Holiday in Blue Lagoon and Around Pagudpud

March 27-28, 2011

On the northernmost part of the Ilocos lies the town of Pagudpud. According to tales, there was a guy from Batangas who reached this part of Luzon. He was so tired that he blurted out, "Ako'y pagod na pagod at ang sapatos ko'y pudpod." From that statement came the word which later on became the name of the town Pagudpud.

First, we went to Saud where we had lunch at the Terra Rika resort. The long stretch of white shoreline was dotted with resorts, tourists and walking peddlers.

The Sandy Crests and Troughs in Ilocos

March 26, 2011

Apart from the centuries-old churches and houses and the healthy and sinful dishes, one spot which has made this northern region famous is its sand dunes. It is not as imposing nor its sand as fine as that of the dunes in the Sahara Desert but it surely has won the nod of many filmmakers.

Dine Back in Time at the Arce Mansion

March 25, 2011

Walking down a long stretch of cobbled street, admiring the rows of bahay-na-bato, listening to the clickedy-clackedy of the horses while viewing the street scene from the azotea. And then bubble thought: How is it like to live in the nineteenth century?

Thanks to Ivan Henares, I just found out the best way to level up this vacation in Vigan. I signed up for the Colonial Dinner Experience at the Arce Mansion.

Vigan: Heritage Houses, Pottery and More...

March 25, 2011

This was how we spent our afternoon in Vigan.

Syquia Mansion

From Villa Angela, Steve drove us a few meters down the road to Syquia Mansion. Although sometimes referred to as the home of the Quirinos, the house actually belongs to the family of Alicia Syquia Quirino, the wife of President Elpidio Quirino. Ferdinand served as our guide as we explored the mansion that stood the test of time since 1830.

Upon entering the house, we saw a black carriage owned by family. Then we were led to the stairs leading to the main area on the second floor. Our guide pointed to us a circle on the floor which served as a peep hole to screen the visitors the family would like to receive in their home. There was also another peep hole on the wall of the master bedroom.

On the Road from Laoag to Vigan

March 25, 2011

We started our day by having an outdoor breakfast at Balay da Blas. I had longanisa, fried rice, egg and tomatoes. My companions had dilis and tapa. The longanisa was a bit bland and had less fat. I had to add KBL (kamatis, bagoong and lasona) to enhance its flavor.

By 8:30 a.m., Steve picked us up and we were on our way to Vigan. Upon leaving Laoag, we passed by the Gilbert Bridge, named after the Governor-General Gilbert. From the bridge, one can see the Hollywood-esque letters of LAOAG on top of a hill. Then we were on our way to our first stop which was Currimao. It was a long ride but Steve had a bag filled with stories so we were never bored.

Ilocos, Here We Come!

I've always dreamt of going to Ilocos. Snapshots of Vigan has fueled my yearning to visit this side of the archipelago. I almost had the chance of going to Vigan back in college but I had to pass up that opportunity because I was busy with academic stuff. As the years passed, I never let go of that dream vacation, wishing and hoping that one day I'll find myself in the northern part of the Philippines. Finally, thanks to an airline promo, I booked Laoag tickets for myself, my mom and my friends. 

And I'm back from Ilocandia!

I had one of the best vacations the past week. Ilocos region is definitely rich in culture, tradition and culinary delights.

I have planned this trip for months, googling for the places to go, things to do and dishes to savor. I also made reservations ahead of time because I know Ilocos in March will be teeming with guests from around the globe.

The trip went as planned, thanks to the tips that I got from Trip Advisor, Ivan Henares, Anton Diaz and Calvin's Hub where I got the number of our tour guide-cum-total performer Steve Hardin B. Maximo. Plus, I was in the company of cool and fun-loving people which made the trip even more memorable. Thank you so much for making this vacation one for the books: to my Mom, my dearest friend 'te Che and her mama Tita Falda Cabutihan, my couple friends Mera Jane Ragay and Edward Arreza and Oliver and Sheila Vinluan, and my college classmate Lulu Mislang.

I'll write more about our trip in the coming days.

Feel at Home at Abaseria

I've been in Cebu for years but there is one restaurant which has been recommended to me but which I haven't tried till this month.  On my birthday last week, I decided to have dinner with my friends at Abaseria Deli and Cafe.

Vamos a comer en Arano

Tucked in the middle of a roundabout in a small, quiet subdivision in Cebu City is an al fresco dining where Spanish dishes are whipped up by a man rooted to the Iberian peninsula but has been living pretty much of his life in the queen city of the south, long enough to be able to converse in Bisaya. 

Arano. 

Señor greeting the diners

Dutch Treats

At the Schiphol Airport

My adventure in the land of the famed Red Light District, space cakes and tulips came earlier than planned. My brother broached the idea of us meeting in Amsterdam where he was to attend a weekend conference.  We haven't seen each other for more than a year and it seemed a perfect time for us to have our pre-birthday celebration.  As soon as my brother freed up his schedule, I booked a flight from Stockholm to Amsterdam which came with a hefty price tag since I bought the ticket a few days before the trip. 

Sutukil in Taloot (Argao, Cebu)

Yesterday, work brought me to the Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth in Argao, Cebu for the third time. After our meeting with the center head (which lasted till noon), the group decided to have seafoods for lunch. So we went to Taloot Wharf, also located in Argao. Tall mangroves were quite a plenty in this part of Argao. Then we came to stop in front of a hut. Behind it was an L-shaped bridge on stilts. We were looking for the restaurant but we were told that it was at the other end of the bridge. That meant having to cross that long narrow bridge. So we catwalked down the new planks. At least there were bamboo railings which you could hold on to in case you'll get dizzy from the height or just wanted to feel secured.

Desperate Moment Needs Chill Out Measures

In my previous entry, I talked about our quick stop at the Molave Milk Station in Barili, Cebu. Apart from putting our hunger pangs at bay, we also had to relieve our bladders during that long trip. We made our way to the toilet but before we could enter that little room, something caught our attention.

Funny and cute yet it rings true for most, if not all of us.

*edit: I stopped by Molave Milk Station recently and this sign post is no longer there.

Milk + Footwear in Cebu

Last weekend of February, my friends and I travelled all the way to Moalboal in Cebu to attend a friend's wedding. On our way back to Cebu City, we made a couple of stops.

First Stop: Molave Milk Station in Barili.

Mambukal Resort

I first heard of the Mambukal Resort on the TV program Sports Unlimited. Since then, this mountain resort in Murcia, Negros Occidental has been on my must-visit list. Finally, thanks to my work, I found myself in Mambukal early this year. You see, we were scouting for a venue for our team building activity and Mambukal Resort was the "IT" place for us.

Day 1

We took the earliest flight to the Silay-Bacolod Airport. Nick (of Talisay City government) fetched our group at the airport and brought us straight to Mambukal Resort. It was a long ride. We passed through the major thoroughfares of Bacolod, caught a glimpse of the grand Bacolod City Hall (it reminded me of the White House) and feasted our eyes on the vast sugarcane plantations. It was very rural with all the greens and the view of the mountain. After over an hour, we were entering the quiet town of Murcia but the resort was still far from the town center. Conspicuous signs leading to Mambukal abound so you won't definitely get lost. We passed by a military camp, more and more sugarcanes and more and more greens before we reached our final destination.

Cebu Trivia Night Turns ONE

Exactly a year ago, Wednesday nights in Cebu have changed. Thanks to Jewel Jalandoni, Leica Cruz and Alexis Yap, collectively known as the Trivia Girls, being a geek is fun and cool.

Iloilo Once More

My travels have brought me in and out of Iloilo, usually a day or two. Most of the time, these were quick stopovers to my next destination. But my longest stay was during my first visit to this city in 1994. I was a high school sophomore on my first school trip outside of the Eastern Visayas region attending a week-long leadership conference at the Punta Villa resort in Arevalo.

Last weekend, I found myself again in Iloilo to visit my friend TSC who will now be working in their Iloilo branch. (Segue: TSC, you've been on three islands for the past three years. At least now you're home.) With me was my friend and now co-worker JPM who was stepping on Iloilo soil for the first time.

We took the Weesam fast craft from Bacolod to Iloilo (Economy ticket was at Php 350.00). After an hour of slightly choppy ride, we disembarked and took a cab to the Sacred Heart Subdivision in Mandurriao. When I looked at the taxi meter, it was already calibrated to the Php 40.00 flag down rate. What would normally cost under Php 100.00, the taxi ride was now almost Php 170.00. While inside the cab, we chatted with the driver and we were proud and happy because we managed a conversation in Hiligaynon.

We stashed our belongings at TSC's place and then headed off to Mangay's at the Boardwalk for lunch. While waiting for our order, we enjoyed the strong breeze from the river (Mangay's was a few steps from the river). Nanay Bec (TSC's mom) and JPM were in GTKY mode while Tina and I updated each other with the goings-on in our lives picking up from where we left off the last time we talked on the phone.

A Lagawan's Sleeve

Look what I scored in Iloilo. A 13-inch laptop can fit into this sleeve which has colorful letter prints of six cities and one island paradise in the Philippines. It’s not sleek but it is a cute must-have for techie travel bugs. And I got this for under Php 350.00 at the department store of SM City Iloilo.

The Ruins in Talisay City

Right in the middle of a vast sugarcane plantation stands a stately structure which has seen grander days but has been reduced to what is now called The Ruins.

The Ruins is what is left of the mansion owned by Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson. It was built after the death of his wife Maria Braga. It became the home to the unmarried children of Don Anoy. The posts and walls were made of A-grade concrete giving a marble-like feel to the structure. And the initials of the couple served as designs on the posts. Thick hard wood measuring 1 x 20.5 meters long were utilized as floors. And talking about green architecture, the canal-like gutters transported the rainwater to the steel pipes and the collected water was utilized in the washing of clothes. 

The Lacsons

Silay City

This entry is long overdue. It was supposed to be posted three months ago but then I got caught up with a lot of things in between, including another visit to this city.

Deemed as the Paris of the Philippines, Silay was once considered the center of the culture and the arts in this side of the country. It also boasts of having the most number of ancestral houses, forty-three (43) to date, according to the guide of the Jalandoni Ancestral House.

I had the opportunity of visiting Silay twice, first in October 2010 and the next trip came three months later. The first time in Silay, my mom and I took a van (Php 50.00 per pax) from the airport to Balay Negrense. We were entertained by Ms. Myrna, one of the tour guides of the ancestral house of Don Victor Fernandez Gaston and Ms. Maida Jison, the museum director. From our conversation with these two ladies, we learned that the house was built at the turn of the century. In the 70's, the house was abandoned by the family, slowly going to waste. In the 90's, a group of Negrenses decided to save this piece of gem from further dilapidation and restore it to its grandeous beauty. Now, this has come to be known as the House of the Negrenses. Some of the pieces on display are by the Gaston family, the others owned by locals and are now being taken cared of by the museum.

Facade of Balay Negrense