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.

The Exotic Restaurant

The restaurant, as the name denotes, serves exotic dishes like crocs, sharks, frogs, snakes and the like. For lunch (and less than a thousand bucks) we had the following:

Adobong Sting Ray

Ginataang Pating

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.

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".

The Nuestra Senora de los Dolores de Turumba

 While waiting for the procession to finish, we went ahead at the  St. Peter of Alcantara Parish, which enshrines the Nuestra Senora de los Dolores de Turumba. We toured the inside of the church and looked for a spot wherein we can view the return of the Marian image.











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

Various reactions while tasting Bibingkang Itlog

For lunch, we had a free lunch from Villa Someros owned by a family friend, Tita Emilie Martinez-Someros.

May Take Out Pa!

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.

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! :)