Monday, February 27, 2017

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL: Foodtrip and Pasalubong



When I hear of Negros, especially Bacolod, delicacies that come to my mind are inasal and napoleones. First one is due to being commercialized by a fastfood chain and spread all over the country. The latter one is because my officemate lives in the nearby Talisay City where he brings boxes from Pendy’s everytime he gets back to Manila. With sugar plantations abound the island, no wonder they offer the sweetest treats and as we landed in Sugarlandia, we listed our must-eats. It was a food trip indeed and exclaimed “Namit gid!” Here are some of the delicacies we’ve tasted:

1. Napoleones
This sweet treat is a version of French mille-feuille, made up of layers of puff pastry and filled with custard. The recipe was brought here in Negros and soon made in the kitchens of rich sugar barons. Now, you have different brands to choose from. Among those napoleones I’ve tried, I prefer Pendy’s due to its custardy filling.

2. Piaya
You can buy this in different sizes and flavors, too. The original filling is muscovado tucked in a crisp flaky flat bread. When I first time heard of mango flavored-piaya, I immediately bought few packs and took back home. You can taste the sweet mango filling and best eaten when hot.

3. Inasal na Manok
I’ve tasted commercialized inasal but when if want authentic one in Bacolod, head to Manokan country to taste their chicken offerings. We went to Aida’s as recommended by TripAdvisor as one of top-rated restaurants in the vicinity. Price of dishes are below Php100. We ordered pechopak (chicken breast with wing), tina-e (intestines) and some isol (chicken butt). Taste was utterly different and since I’m a chicken lover, I devoured all the meat until the inedible bone is left. Sarap to the bones!

4. Bicho-bicho
The bicho-bicho I know is a sponge-like elongated donut sprinkled with sugar and eaten hot, until we went to Talisay City public market to grab some breakfast. I looked into little sugar-coated treat and asked what’s called: bicho-bicho. We ordered few pieces and I ate one. At first, it reminded me of carioca but sweeter and rich in coconut meat fillings. The sesame seeds add crunch to every bite.

5. Bingka Pie

Another must-try that we bought in market is this pie. It is a round fluffy pie with coconut meat strands inside, topped with cheese and baked to perfection. We bought a piece for sharing at it was very fulfilling. Our hungry tummies were satisfied as this breakfast gave us energy for our itinerary for that day.

6. Guapple Pie
The heritage El Ideal bakery stands along the highway so it was perfect for our morning arrival at Bacolod-Silay airport to grab some breakfast. This pie is similar to apple caramel crumble pie like from Banapple’s, only the core is made up of tart guapple (large variety of guava) slices. The lightly sweetened crumbs at the top complements with the rich pie filling. I ate it with order of unlimited brewed coffee and milk for sweetness.

7. Baye-baye
I would call this “naked espasol” as this bar is made of pound malagkit (glutinous rice) and sweetened with absence of flour, where espasol is rolled into prior to packaging.

8. Kansi
It was time for lunch that we decided to grab it at Sharyn’s in Bacolod City. We got lost at first but after asking the locals of the vicinity, we found it and saw people lining up for orders. We got our table and ordered a bowl for sharing. The aroma of the dish engulfs this hole-in-the-wall eatery and we’re famished already. This Ilonggo dish is a cross between bulalo (beef stew) and sinigang (sour stew). The souring agent used is called batuan, a local fruit used in their home-cooked dishes.

9. Half-Moon
Pendy's bestseller is a light and fluffy sponge cake that is topped with a creamy bright yellow egg custard.  Being cut into crescent shaped—hand sized snack, they called it half-moon. The custard was smooth and creamy and served as a nice foil to the airy chiffon cake.

10. Grilled Ensaymada
Another Pendy’s offering is their ensaymada that was grilled on top, making the color burnt brown. The taste of butter complements with fluffy brioche, and really melts in your mouth

11. Cakes from Calea
I would say that the flagship Bacolod pastry shop is Calea. Their cakes and pastries are must eats especially the bestsellers Chocolate Mud Pie, Blueberry Cheesecake and White Chocolate Cheesecake. Conveniently located along the national highway, some tourists even take out cakes to be brought back to Manila and other places.

12. Snacks from 21 Bar and Restaurant
After basking on a rainy afternoon, we sought refuge and dinner at 21 Bar and Restaurant. We would like to order their bestseller batchoy but because it was out-of-stock then, we opted for Chicken Oriental Salad, Pancit Molo and Mushroom Cheeseburger. They have hefty servings and we even shared as they can’t finish it all.
Chicken Oriental Salad
Pancit Molo
Mushroom Cheeseburger

13. Paluto at Hyksos Tulahan
It was dinner time when we checked the paluto restaurant at Bacolod City. We bought first the ingredients at neary market good for 3: fish for tula (clear soup with scallions) and shrimps for halabos (pan-cooked with little oil). I love the comfort soup of tinolang isda and crunchiness of hipong halabos. Perfect to end the tiring day.
 Tinolang Isda
Hipong Halabos

14. Homecooked meals
Our dear friend brought us to Victorias City to have a day tour. Then after a tiring day tour, we were served Ilonggo dishes such as linaga (beef stew), KBL or kadyos-baboy-langka (pork stew with pigeon peas and raw jackfruit), chicken adobo with pineapple tidbits, and grilled meats. I got curious and asked our host the ingredients of each dish.

What a great Ilonggo hospitality! Madamo gid nga salamat! Namit gid sang ginluto. J


I wanna try other delicacies but due to limited budget, for sure when I get back, I’ll try more of what I missed. Before departure, make sure to take home sweet treats from Sugarlandia! Stores below are just in the airport. J

From Bacolod to Manila with love!



Visita Iglesia in Zambales

Zambales province used to include western coastal towns of Pangasinan up to Bolinao. Hence, heritage churches share similarity with the ones in adjacent eastern coastal towns of the latter.


Here is my list of heritage churches visited in the province:

1. Saint Michael the Archangel Parish
The coral stone church of Santa Cruz has a triangular pediment with patron saint’s niche at the center. Interior was heavily renovated. Recent addition is the bell tower at the rear side.


2. Saint Andrew Parish
Located at the Masinloc coastline, this coral stone church was declared as a National Cultural Treasure due to its rare characteristic. Somehow similar to Santa Cruz church’s façade but its bell tower pops out at the right.

 3. Saint Augustine Cathedral
This is the seat of Diocese of Iba covering the parishes within the ecclesiastical province of Zambales. Coral stones were also used as evident in side walls.


4. Saint Monica Parish
The coral stone church of Botolan has a unique façade built in 1700 where the top of pediment has bell tower and 3 bells side-by-side.



5.  Holy Infant of Jesus Parish
San Antonio has relatively new church located near the public market.

6. Saint James Parish
Subic town’s church is tucked a few kilometers away from national highway.

7. Saint Joseph Parish
The flagship church of Olongapo City is located within city proper.



Zambales North-South Route: Santa Cruz-Masinloc-Iba-Botolan-San Antonio-Subic-Olongapo City


Have a blessed trip everyone!

Saturday, February 25, 2017

ILOILO: The Heart of the Philippines

The main reason why I want to go to this province is to visit the UNESCO-listed heritage church in Miag-ao. I feared that if I don't visit sooner, another earthquake in Bohol might level these historic churches and it's too late for me. Then a piso fare from an airline last week of January 2015 brought me to this Western Visayan itinerary.

Iloilo province is the glory of Region VI where it occupies most of the Panay island. Old rich families flourished in its city capital where religious, commercial, and administrative centers are within its vicinity.

On my three-day stay at Panay Island, I visited the Iloilo towns of San Joaquin, Miagao, Janiuay and the premier Iloilo City.

Please click below titles to see my stories.