It's unusual for Tutubi to come a place unprepared i.e. without his usual list of interesting places or noteworthy restaurants featuring local specialties and delicacies since he found out that the still promoted yet already extinct Salinas Salt Springs is not worth a visit. In a recent visit to Solano, Nueva vizcaya, he was taken to this place, called Jordanian by the locals, that turned out to be a newly-built shrine in honor of Jose Rizal and 15 other national heroes located in barangay Casat, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya near the road that leads to Mt. Pulag.

The Jose rizal Shrine features a nice hillside park with a fountain, some retail space, winding road (that puts poorly-maintained national roads to shame), nicely manicured garden, an obelisk, helipad and some sort of clubhouse, still unfinished in front of the Jordanian's mansion. The centerpiece of the Rizal Shrine is the (now second) largest Jose Rizal monument built with fiber glass covered by a bronze-colored metal layer. The body weighs 1.2 tons while the base weighs 1.3 tons, according to Mahmoud Asfour, the naturalized Filipino developer of the park.

Jose Rizal Shrine in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya:


a national heroes obelisk

the now second largest jose rizal monument covered in bronze-colored metal. Note the presence of a NHCP (National Historical Commission of the Philippines, formerly NHI) marker

the huge Rizal Monument with a person on the frame to add scale

a nice view of the green fields of Bayombong from the hillside park

About Mahmoud Asfour:

Mahmoud Asfour was former vice president of Citibank International and a former official of the International Monetary Fund.

His "utang na loob" to a Filipino was rooted sometime when he was stranded for two days in middle of the desert in Saudi Arabia before the Gulf War without food and water, when he was found and rescued by a "good samaritan" Filipino truck driver.

He has since married a Filipina and settled in Nueva Vizcaya (Tutubi even met the good man and his son, a newly-minted computer engineering graduate) and helped put up business and charitable works in addition to the new Rizal Shrine. He was granted Filipino citizenship in July 2005.

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The Jose Rizal Monument in Nueva Vizcaya held the title of "largest Rizal monument" for a short time only due to the construction of the giant Jose rizal monument in front of Calamba City Hall in Laguna, the birthplace of Jose Rizal, which was made taller by about 5 feet from this monument upon the orders of local politicians who've heard of the presence of this monument.

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Tutubi, in one of his lucky days, chanced upon Mr Mahmoud Ashfour, sporting a Rizal t-shirt, personally supervising workers of his Rizal Shrine. He asked him his nationality, to which he promptly replied Filipino, and why was he building such a nice place. His reply turned a quizzical look on Tutubi and is not worth publishing here.

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Jose Rizal Shrine and Monument
Barangay Casat, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
Coordinates: N16 31 07.6 E121 08 30.2
road map here with the POI and road network personally added by Tutubi (mapping places is another one of his advocacy and worthwhile pastime)

Other Jose Rizal related posts (you may also click the Jose Rizal Category on the navigation pane):

How to Get to Fort Santiago
Jose Rizal Shrine Dapitan
Jose Rizal in Hong Kong,
Jose Rizal in Paco Cemetery

Labels: Cagayan Valley, Jose Rizal, Monuments, Nueva Vizcaya

Standing 101 feet high, Cape Bolinao Lighthouse is the second tallest lighthouse in the Philippines, next only to Cape Bojeador Lighthouse. Located in Patar, Bolinao, Pangasinan, it guides sailors and fishermen from the coast of Cape Bolinao. It was built by the Americans some time in 1903 (thus it's not really an old Spanish Lighthouse)

Like most lighthouses in the Philippines, it's operated by the Philippine Coast Guard and now running on solar power.

Cape Bolinao Lighthouse with Scarlett, Tutubi's new travel buddy in view




a crude attempt at framing the shot behind a flower with the camera held so low without even looking at the viewfinder...turned out fine though

Cape Bolinao Lighthouse offers a sweeping view of Cape Bolinao passage, the iconic Treasures of Bolinao beach resort with its lighthouse logo and the backpacker-friendly white sand beach of Patar.

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Cape Bolinao Lighthouse
Coordinates: N16 18 25.6 E119 47 07.8

Labels: Ilocos Region, Lighthouses, Pangasinan

A few hundred meters from Puerto del Sol Beach Resort and Spa, along the road going to Cape Bolinao Lighthouse and Patar white beach, are several underground caves with natural swimming pools where tourists go to after beach bumming on the white sand beach of Patar.



One of the more popular, and promoted by Bolinao Tourism people, is the so called Enchanted Cave, a privately-owned resort/park with the underground cave and a natural pool of cold, refreshing fresh water.

On the way to the cave entrance, near the parking lot are coral stones, testament to the fact that Luzon Island, not just Bolinao used to be underwater (did you also notice this in Sagada? way up in the mountains of the Cordillera?)

these rocks are actually dead corals, proof that at least this part of Bolinao used to be submerged under the sea

fossilized giant clams probably millions of years old though no carbon dating of scientific way to verify the claim

the underground natural swimming pool of Enchanted Cave beckons to swimmers

Review and Comment on Enchanted Cave:

This cave reminds Tutubi of Bohol's Hinagdanan Cave, something overrated and bordering as a tourist trap with expensive entrance fee plus the fact that it's being promoted as something enchanted or mystic just to lure tourists. Near Enchanted Cave are other pseudo-spelunking attractions e.g. Wonderful Cave then Cindy's Cave.

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Enchanted Cave:
Contact Numbers: +63.928.783.9890; +63.939.5709907
Coordinates: N16 20 35.5 E119 48 13.6

Enchanted Cave Entrance Fee:

Entrance Fee: PhP50.00
Swimming: PhP70.00 (PhP50.00 + PhP20.00)

Parking:
4 wheel vehicle: PhP25.00 (cars, jeeps, vans)
3 wheel vehicle: PhP15.00
2 wheel vehicle: PhP10.00

How to get there:

Ride a tricycle from Bolinao town proper. Bolinao is a bus ride from Manila (e.g. Victory Liner) and about 1 hour from Alaminos, Pangasinan

Labels: Caves, Ilocos Region, Pangasinan

For those who'll be "stuck" in Metro Manila on New Years eve, herewith is information found by Tutubi in an underpass in Makati with the countdown party schedule, location, with live entertainment for the New Year 2012 countdown in Makati.


Makati New Year Countdown 2012:

The Magical, Musical Makati:
Schedule:
December 31, 2011 at 5:30pm onwards

Live Bands: Antimano, Bloom Brothers, Silk, The Company, and the Dawn

Brought to you by City Government of Makati plus Makati Turismo, Ayala Land, MACEA, BPI TV5.

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there are similar New Year Countdown 2012 Manila probably in Luneta (Rizal Park), Libis (Quezon City), Cebu, Davao, Boracay, Baguio and at various restaurants.

The most famous new year countdown party still in the world is the one held at New York TownSquare

For those thinking of watching live the Grand parade of floats for the Metro Manila Film Festival 2011 on Roxas Boulevard, herewith is the MMFF Parade Route and Schedule.

MMFF filfest parade of Stars to start at 2pm on December 24, 2011.

Parade aroute: start at the back of SM Mall of Asia, EDSA, left to Roxas Boulevard and into Quirino Grandstand
at the Luneta (Rizal Park)

Guest which among the filmfest participants will parade the best float and stars with them. List of Movies:
1. Ang Panday 2 (Ramon Bong Revilla Jr.)
2. Enteng ng Ina Mo (Vic Sotto, Aiai delas Alas)
3. Asiong Salonga Story (George Estregan, Carla Abellana)
4. Shake, Rattle and Roll 13
5. My House Husband (Judy Ann Santos, Ryan Agoncillo
6. Segunda Mano (Kris Aquino, Dingdong Dantes)

(Tutubi doensn't have the complete list of movies for MMFF 2011, feel free to leave comments)

Who will be the The Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor and Actress?

Tutubi's bet is that Asiong Salonga will be the bottom dweller, if not a flop :(

December 25, 2011 (Christmas Day): start of official screenings at your favorite movie theaters

December 28: Awards Night at the Resorts World Performing Arts Theater with hosts Ai-Ai de las Alas and Cesar Montano.
Watch it on Jan. 1, 2012 at 10:30 p.m. ABS-CBN.

Labels: Floobydust

Locals, when asked about their own place, can only be of two types-- informative or the clueless. Tutubi asked his officemate about the famous Tanauan bibingka, some kind of cheese bibingka of Tanauan famous pasalubong sough after by tourists and visitors but was rather clueless. He asked another friend from Tanauan recently and pointed him to the place with pinpoint accuracy.

Tita's Delight Bibingka is a variant of the cheese bibingka of Tanauan, soft and fluffy, not unlike bibingka galapong. It's more of a cross between Vigan Royal Bibingka and egg pie in texture and taste.





Tita's Delight Bibingka and Pastries
Address: #19 Akle St.
Mt. View Subd., Tanauan City, Batangas
Telephone Number: +63.43.778.1735
Contact Number: +63.915.992.7025
Location details: at the back of Daniel Mercado Medical Center
(beside Aling Denang's Bibingka and Cassava. There's also famous Aling Atay's Bibingka at Tanauan public market)
Coordinates: N14 04 47.6 E121 09 04.2

Prices of Cheese Bibingka:
Extra Large: PhP570.00
Medium: PhP370.00 (about 10 inches diameter, 1.5 inches thick)
Small: PhP240.00
Oval: PhP150.00
Mini: PhP70.00 (about 4 inches diameter, 1 inch thick)

Btw, Tutubi's friend actaully lives a walking distance from Tita's Delight Bibingka and pastries shop, just at the back of Daniel Mercado Medical Center (DMMC, sarcastically called Dito Maya't-Maya Charged). It's probable that Tutubi asked the wrong question thus got the wrong answer. Asking around Tanauan City didn't do much but there's always the joy of finding something fantastic after having a hard time looking for it-- the joy of discovery!

You might also be interested in these:

Vigan Royal Bibingka
Original Buko PieBibingka Galapong
Vjandep Pastel

Labels: Batangas, Calabarzon, Pasalubong, Specialties

A visit to the local market is always recommended by Tutubi for first time visitors to a place. There you can see various delicacies and local specialties unknown to Manila denizens that locals are not aware are sought after by "intrepid" explorers like Tutubi always on the lookout for something fresh and new. In front of Bolinao town hall and Bolinao church, there are several stalls chanced upon by Tutubi selling Pangasinan's version of suman: binungey



Similar in manner of cooking to the tinubong of Ilocos, binungey recipe involves cooking sticky rice and coconut milk inside bamboo tubes roasted in fire. Prices range from PhP20.00 each to PhP33.00 (3 for PhP100.00) depending on size of the bamboo tube container.



How does binungey taste like? It's something similar to the sinaing sa gata of Paete, Laguna without the chocolate dip. Binungey though has the slight taste of bamboo, unlike sinaing sa gata cooked in metal cookware and dipped in hot chocolate, often served for breakfast at Paete Public Market.

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How to make Binungey (Source: Alaminos government website):

"1. Soak glutinous rice in coconut extract for a few hours.
2. Then, fill the bamboo tubes with glutinous rice, ¾ full.
3. Top the glutinous rice either with a banana leaf or the coconut shavings that was extracted for the coconut extract.
4. Arrange bamboo tubes in a row in an upright position. Then, lit up a fire on each side, using either wood or coal, just near enough to allow the heat to reach the tubes.
5. Let it steam for a few hours. Then, you can either top it with sugar, nuts or milk upon serving"

Related posts on Bolinao, Pangasinan:

Bolinao Catholic Church
Puerto del Sol

Labels: Ilocos Region, Pangasinan, Pasalubong

Just two drive-by pictures of two landmarks in Bolinao, Pangasinan: The old stone church of Bolinao, formally called St. James the Great Parish (same with Paete, Laguna making July 25 the date of Bolinao town fiesta) and the red brick Bolinao town hall.

The Bolinao Church was built by the Augustinians in 1609 and still stands to this day. Behind the church is Bolinao Public Market where you can buy danggit at just PhP250.00/kilo (similar danggit in Cebu costs around PhP750.00) but at limited supply. There several hotels, bars, restaurants and hotels in town, and a 24 hour eatery.



Across the church is the red brick Bolinao town hall. In between the two structures is the main road where you can also see stalls selling binungey. Near the town hall are several banks (one of them with an ATM), and a handful of bus companies going to Bolinao either from Manila, Alaminos or Dagupan: Boltex Express, Bolinao Express, Mhel Ben, Dagupan Bus Company, Victory Liner, Santrans, et al.



Related posts on Bolinao, Pangasinan:

Binungey
Puerto del Sol

Labels: Churches, Ilocos Region, Pangasinan

With his family in tow, comfortably seated in a shiny, new red Toyota Innova, which he christened Scarlett, Tutubi went to visit the tip of Pangasinan peninsula north of Manila on a roadtrip to celebrate his nth birthday. His destination, one of the three high-end resorts in Bolinao, Pangasinan: Puerto del Sol, Punta Riviera and Treasures of Bolinao. He chose Puerto del Sol (meaning: "gate of the sun" in Spanish) for this one though he intends to visit the latter two resorts in the future.

Located about an hour drive from the Hundred Islands city of Alaminos, Bolinao stands at the tip of Pangasinan peninsula with a string of resorts in Barangay Ilog Malino up to Barangay Patar (with it's white sand beach). Welcome to Puerto del Sol: Tutubi's home for 3D/2N for his birthday with loved ones.

Pictures of Puerto del Sol Beach Resort, Bolinao, Pangasinan:

the comfy room of mansion villa where Tutubi spent 3D/2N in

no other people using the pool as it's a weekday and few guests besides Tutubi. In fact, Tutubi had the resort entirely on his own the first day he was there

guests gamely pose for pictures with picturesque palm trees inside the resort

Review of Puerto del Sol Beach Resort:

Facilities: excellent and family-friendly. Large swimming pool with a lighted jacuzzi you can enjoy for a few hours everyday.

a washroom featuring clams, just hope they're not the endanged tridacna gigas. this room, near the beachfront, needs maintenance

Room Rate: Expensive. You get your money's worth but not fit for backpackers who opt to explore places, not stay in expensive resorts. Tutubi rented two rooms for 3D/2N and imagine how much he spent for his family (9 in all including his sister and nephew) but family bonding time is simply-- priceless!
Parking: free parking in front of the resort, open yet guarded by resort security

Food: nothing to rave about, breakfast is ok but the food is so-so. Restaurant menu prices will easily cost you about PhP300/person. Tutubi went out of the resort to enjoy cheaper meals for his big entourage.

Beachfront: Ilog Malino Beach is nowhere near Patar White Beach in terms of sand quality but the presence of a breakwater makes it safe even for children to play around (though they still have to closely guarded)



Lastly and as always, this is not a sponsored post and thus an independent review of Puerto Del Sol Beach Resort in Bolinao, Pangasinan.

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Puerto del Sol Beach Resort
Coordinates: N16 21 18.1 E119 48 46.1

Booking Office is on Meralco Avenue at Rennaisance Towers, Pasig City

PLease contact Puerto del Sol Beach resort directly through their published contact numbers or visit their official website for promos, bookings, events, current room rates and other inquiries (like: No, you can't bring food and drinks inside the resort)

Related Posts:
Directions to Pangasinan
Bolinao Beach Resorts
Pangasinan Beach Resorts
Enchanted Cave Bolinao Pangasinan
Cape Bolinao Lighthouse
Bolinao Church
Binungey
Patar White Beach

Labels: Ilocos Region, Pangasinan, Resorts

Just beside Palawan Cathedral (Immaculate Conception Cathedral) in Puerto Princesa is a walled park where grim history of American prisoners of war (POW) haunts every visitor curious about the past great war.

The history of Plaza Cuartel is a must for students of history and every Filipino who wish to know the heroism of many who died and suffered for our freedom.

entrance to historic Plaza Cuartel with the NHI historical marker installed



the National Historical Commission of the Philippines marker states, in Filipino, of the history of Plaza Cuartel

"Sa pook na ito na dating tanggulang militar noong Ikalawang Digmaang Pandaigdig naganap ang pagsunog ng mga sundalong hapon sa humigit kumulang 150 Amerikanong bihag ng digma noong 14 Disyembre 1944. Ilang nakaligtas ay lumangoy sa dagat patungong Iwahig. Ang mga labi ng nasawi ay dinala at inilibing sa St. Louis County sa isang panlahatang libingan sa Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Missouri, United States, 1952."

the Palawan Massacre Monument, created by one of the POWs who spent time at the Japanese garrison.

the commemorative Palawan Massacre marker partly reads:

"American WW-II POWs were massacred in this place on December 14, 1944.

On that day Japanese guards stationed here in Palawan ordered the American POWs under their control into the air raid shelters.

Japanese soldiers suddenly poured gasoline on and into the American POW shelters and set them on fire with the flaming torches, followed by hand grenades. As the American POWs, engulfed in flames broke out of the fiery death traps, their Japanese guards machine gunned, bayoneted and decapitated an clubbed them to death.

Of the American POWs, only 11 survived the massacre. This memorial is by artist Don Schloat, a former POW of the Japanese at Palawan."

It was due to this unfortunate incident that advancing army of the returning Gen. MacArthur (who had just landed on October 20, 1944 somewhere near Tacloban, in a place now known as MacArthur Park in Palo, Leyte) decided to free remaining POWs still incarcerated in three POW camps in Luzon were sprung in three separate and simultaneous raids: University of Sto. Tomas, University of Los Banos (UPLB) in Laguna, Camp O'Donnel in Tarlac and the so called Great Raid in Cabanatuan.

Other World War II History posts:

Corregidor
Kamikaze Field in Pampanga
Dambana ng Kagitingan
Bataan Death March

Labels: Palawan, Puerto Princesa, World War II

Locally called tajom in Surigao, Tutubi's friends brought a plastic bag full of the sea urchin for just PhP20.00 at Cantilan market and was served, what else, but kinilaw style.

These sea creatures are considered delicacies in many cultures, called uni in Japan (expensive or as the Japanese say it in Nihongo: takai!), ricci di mare in Italy. If you're unfamiliar what are sea urchins, they're the small balls with spikes you see on your snorkeling trips to the islands. (Sea Urchin photo from Wikipedia creative commons)

Tutubi has been looking forward to eating them just to taste for quite some time now but his wish was granted, without him asking for it, by his friends who informed him it's a usual part of daily fare, uncommon in urban jungles of Manila though.

kinilaw na tajom/kilawing tayom (served raw with vinegar and spices

As they always say, the sea urchin is an aphrodisiac though there's really no scientific proof to it. Sea urchins dont' actually taste slimy, has a unique texture to it and are, actually, good.

Now where can we find the urchin served in Manila restaurants, anyone? Japanese restaurants have it as uni, but not popular even in Makati in other forms, probably due to supply problems.

Labels: Delicacies, Filipino Cuisine, Filipino Food

Food historians said that the truly Filipino food devoid of any foreign influences is the kilawin (kilaw or kinilaw) where the food is not actually cooked but soaked in vinegar and spices. It's also the local food particularly liked by Tutubi's friends from France that they intend to duplicate at home later.

Nope, this is not the actual Kinilaw Festival celebrated annually on October 2 in Surigao City. This is the "fiesta" prepared by Tutubi's friends from Cantilan while in Inijakan: a kilawin feast with the freshest ingredients

Tutubi just watched as his friends took out the goodies they bought from Cantilan public market and the others gathered fresh seaweed, called lato, also to make kinilaw, the almost equivalent of the ceviche of central and south America, which uses lemon instead of vinegar.

the freshest ingredients of a kilawin recipe: onions, ginger, garlic, bell pepper and chili pepper. In some parts of Mindanao, coconut milk is added to the recipe

freshly-caught fish kilawin

freshly-gathered seaweed, locally called lato. You eat it by dunking the green thing in spiced vinegar

Now, what are the secrets of the best kilawin recipe? The best way "how to make Kilawin" is to use the freshest ingredients, the right vinegar that's not too sour (tip: don't use commercially available vinegar, try the local ones), prepare it fresh, consume immediately (don't let it stand for more than an hour, and lastly, prepare it with love!

tags:
how to make kilawin, how to prepare kilawin, kinilaw preparation, kinilaw recipe, kilaw ingredients, how to make kinilaw, how to cook kilawin

Labels: Caraga, Filipino Cuisine, Filipino Food, Surigao del Sur

Just a few days when the "catalysts of progress" NPAs swooped down on the mining companies of Claver, Surigao del Norte, Tutubi visited Cantilan, Surigao del Sur and passed by the still smoking dump trucks and heavy equipment of several mining companies burned by the "beneveloent" bandits pretending to be friends of the masses.
Of course, when Tutubi got there, military men were already there while mining companies did not permit even taking pictures of their burned mining facilities and equipment.

a bay in Claver near the boundary of Carrascal where you can see a barge still billowing smoke

a mining company in claver town, looks like they're really flattening the mountain, full of red earth...hoe the rains never come to wash them all away


the road and bridges are all reddish due to the pulang lupa hauled from the mountains

As reported by Tutubi's contact, the NPAs struck in the middle of the night. Blocking forces waited at a bridge ready to blow up reinforcements from the army. Pity, the army doesn't have airlifting capabilities and thus were outsmarted by the NPA.

The NPA also reported blocked passenger buses from travelling, got their cellphones, but returned them after their "arsonic" ways was finished. No casualties/fatalities but the damage to economy due to lost investments and a shame to the international community again to the longest active maoist insurgency in the world, fighting for an ideology that already failed.

Mining companies definitely bring jobs to the local community but the worst part about the trip was that Claver town, with numerous mining companies in operation remains poor, even the main road, about fourteen kilometers of road from Claver, Surigao del Norte up to Carrascal, Surigao del Sur is still very rough road that only heavy duty trucks, buses and 4x4 vehicles can navigate.

Now, where have all the mining money went to?

Labels: Rants

While cruising along Congressional Avenue in Quezon City on his way home as the professional passenger, not the driver, he noticed the sign of a small food cart advertising this authentic "pekeng" duck and authentic Persian cuisine. He took out his iPhone to take a drive-by picture.




are they advertising authentic peking duck or a fake (peke) one? how about the authentic Persian food?

btw, Tutubi came from official duty in Marikina and spent an hour for a mini-Marikina Food Trip that will be featured in future posts...too many backlogs for the busy Tutubi :(

Labels: Signspotting