After a long hiatus, am gonna try to post my foodie and travel adventures from 2010-2013. My itchy feet and hungry tummy has been on attack during the hiatus and I am guilty of not posting it due to lack of time or sheer laziness. Watch out for more mouth watering food trips and informative (I'll try to make it as informative as I can) backpacking adventures of yours truly.
Let the blogging resume! ;)
2013 Comeback
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Rated_PG goes "Sa Birhen!"
Last September 12 and 13, 2010 me and my Rated_PG team invaded my home town in Pakil, Laguna to experience the Turumba, a commemoration of the seven sorrows of the Nuestra Señora de los Dolores.
Our trip started at around 8:00 a.m., entrusting our travel safety to Bogs, our designated driver. Since we are from Caloocan North, we chose the East travel (the road that leads to Antipolo and other Rizal towns), since my home town was at the part of Laguna nearer to Rizal province.
We arived at Laguna at around lunch time, and to fill our hungry tummies, we satisfied our cravings at the famous Exotic Restaurant at Longos, Kalayaan.
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| The Exotic Restaurant |
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| Adobong Sting Ray |
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| Ginataang Pating |
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| Me and my gang |
For our next stop, we headed to the Tsinelas capital of Laguna, Liliw. We toured around the town and stopped by the Saint John The Baptist Church.
Since its getting late already, we headed to my crib to relax and have some drink.
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| My Rated_PG homies together with my cousins. |
The next day, we continued our journey to the town of Pakil as we joined the Ikapitong Lupi Turumba Procession. The procession is the last of the Seven days of Sorrows also known as Lupi Fiestas in honor of the Nuestra Senora de los Dolores de Turumba (aka Our Lady of Sorrows of Turumba).
The procession is not your typical Marian procession. The image of Nuestra Senora de los Dolores de Turumba encased in a glass palanquin is being carried ang swayed by men followed by the dancing and clapping of devotees chanting "Sa Birhen".
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| The Nuestra Senora de los Dolores de Turumba |
Alas the Lady has finally returned.
The church was filled with devotees waiting for the Turumba's return. Rosaries, flowers and other memorabilia were showered to the devotees after the image has been returned.
After the procession, I had my gang sample Abnoy or Bibingkang Itlog. Its main ingredient is "nabugok" na balot, which can be a bit smelly, baked like bibingka served with vinegar and salt. For Pakilenos, Abnoy can be described as "mas mas mabantot, mas masarap." I am used to eating this and this was my gang's first time.
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| Sampling Abnoy |
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| Various reactions while tasting Bibingkang Itlog |
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| May Take Out Pa! |
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| Our gracious host Tita Emilie and her cute apo (my inaanak) Sommer |
After our hearty lunch, we headed back home to Caloocan. But before we cap off the night, we stopped at Mushroom Burger in Katipunan to have a quick dinner.
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| Mushroom for dessert, anyone? This looks weird but sweet, gummy and mushroomy :D |
Indeed it was a fun adventure with my Rated_PG gang. Till the next food trip! :)
Good Groove+Good Drink+Good Meal: Superb Weekend
Since me and my girls missed grooving to the coolest music, we hopped into one of the most happening place within the metro. Situated in the posh Eastwood City, Manor boasts of good music and overflowing drinks perfect for the party animal in you. And since my best friend got us in the guest list, we had strut our way in without dishing a single centavo (well except for the booze we got for ourselves). How's that for fun?
With wide array of drinks to choose from, one can get the booze he craves. The dance floor is heaping with young adults and yuppies of all race and colors. The DJ's mixes and music will surely make you shake your a**, which is evident in the jam-packed dance floor.
Me, My Bestfriend Rae, Cielley with Jojo, Matthew and Morris (thanks for including us in the guests list)
Enjoying the music and booze with my girlfriends Rae and Cielley
Work hard, party harder!
The next day, Cielley and I decided to avail the new Christmas offerings of Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (which they offered at a discounted introductory price of PhP 50.00 for its 12oz size). Indeed, the Apple Pie Tea Latte and Apple Caramel Ice Blended surely will satisfy your craving for apple-flavored teas. A perfect treat to warm (or cool) our senses during the Holidays.
At lunch, we hit David's Hot Pot and Tea Bar. We sank our teeth on a yummy treat of hot steaming bowl of noodles and a basket of assorted dumplings. The verdict: a sure way to fill hungry stomachs with all of China's unique flavors.
Beef Brisket Noodles for PhP180.00
Beef and Wanton Noodles PhP180.00
Assorted Dumpling Basket PhP 2++
The dumpling treat consists of 2 pcs of each variety: sharksfin, wanton, beef balls, four-season scallop dumpling, kuchay dumpling (consists of kuchay leaves, sotanghon, ground beef and shrimp) and lumpia (which Cielley touts as "Hallelumpia" because it was crispy fried but with a melt in your mouth meat filling that was perfectly complimented with a spicy vinegar dip)
Cuapao with Condensed Milk Dip PhP 70.00
Overall, the experience was fun and filling. Till the next food adventure!
Do you know the way to San Juan? (Batangas that is)
Running away from the threats of a storm that would possibly hit Manila anytime that weekend of August 7 and 8, me and my Rated_PG barkada boldly braved the roads leading to our first out of town destination: Laiya, San Juan, Batangas.
Beach on a stormy season? Maybe ridiculous for some but not for my gang. And we tried to go and experience everything on a budget, an added thrill to our latest road trip.
With our bags packed, we started to take off from Caloocan at around 8:30a.m. in a van we rented for PhP 5,000.00. Expensive? Nah, the fee includes diesel, toll fee (SLEX and Star Toll). Also, since our designated driver is of the same age and wavelength, it ended up as the barkada outing we really wanted.
Our first stop was at Boni, where we fetched a friend who just got off from work. To get to San Juan, we cruised EDSA then headed to South Luzon Expressway were we exited at Batangas Exit. We went straight ahead to the roads leading to Sto. Tomas, Batangas and entered the Star Toll Plaza. We took Lipa Exit then followed the signs to San Juan. After almost 3 hours, we were already cruising San Juan.
At San Juan, we stopped by at Per-Sons where my bestfriend Rae got us a bilao of pancit good for 10 for 300 pesos then headed on to Naranja Orange Grill. For PhP500 we got ourselves a hearty lunch of Sizzling Pork Sirloin, Sizzling Beef Teryaki, Sizzling Beef Tenderloin Steak and the house's specialty, Sizzling Orange Chicken. The verdict: Yum! Yum! Yum!
Then we divided the gang to do the groceries and invade the market for our dinner and breakfast at the resort. The challenge, a complete dinner and breakfast plus alcoholic drinks and pulutan for PhP 2000.
At around 4 p.m., we reached our destination, Lola's Resort in Balacbacan, Laiya, San Juan Batangas. The house we rented consists of 2 fan rooms good for 4 to 5 persons each, a comfort room, kitchen with free use of stove and poso where you can do your laundry. The cost: PhP 2,000.
Metro Manila's weather situation however that weekend has taken its toll on the seas of San Juan. Though it was sun shiny throughout the day, tides were humongous. But that didn't stopped us from enjoying the beach.
During dinner, we have proven to surpass our PhP2000 challenge and even have some change to keep (thanks to 'tawad' system). Our menu: Steaming hot rice, Kilawing Maskara ng Baboy, Tinolang Manok, Inihaw na Liempo, Talong at Tilapia with Enseladang Pipino. We also got ourselves 3 liters of lambanog to chug down. While the others are cooking, some of the fellas provided entertainment c/o the trusty PhP5.00 powered videoke machine. However, we have to follow the machine's curfew of until 10:00p.m.
On our way home the next day, we stopped by at San Juan's public market to buy, you guessed it right, pasalubongs for our loved ones. The market boasts of wide array of balisongs or butterfly knives in different sizes and shapes. There are also pen knives, which can really function as a writing tool and deadly weapon at the same time, and balisong key chains. Kapeng barako, fresh beef, fish and seafood were also some of our "bit-bits."
For meryenda, we stopped by at Cafeno still in San Juan. It is situated in an old house that happens to be a gasoline station before. Cafeno boasts of Kapeng Barako Float (kapeng barako frappe with vanilla ice cream), Mocha Float, their signature Chocolate Cake, Kapeng Barako Sundae (2 scoops of Kapeng Barako ice cream with pinipig, marshmallow and tamales) and Churros with Spanish chocolate. Prices range from Php 65.00 to Php100. What a way to get barako-loaded!
A few meters away from Cafeno was San Juan's Pasalubong Center were we got ourselves lambanog (coconut wine) infused with apples, pears and lychees. A 1.75 liter jug of class A lambanog costs PhP250.00 for flavored and PhP 180.00 for the unflavored one. And we got an extra treat, a glass of lambanog for us to share and taste. ;)
Finally, upon reaching Calamba, my friends got a box of a famous Laguna treat, buko pie!
On our way home, we already felt the storm that we left behind in Manila that weekend. Our drive along C5 was showered with hard rain. But overall, that short out of town trip was indeed fruitful and definitely fun. And we have proven that on-the-budget trips can still be fun filled. Till the next journey...
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