Celebrated annually in the town of Balayan, Batangas on June 24th, the feast day of John the Baptist, Parada ng Lechon fiesta has the unique combination of roasted pigs paraded around town on colorful carrozas and makeshift vehicles while people and spectators splash water on one another, some sort of emulation of St. John baptising Jesus before the start in the river Jordan.

Pictures of Parada ng Lechon, Balayan, Batangas
(a bit hazy, taken with an iPhone 4S wrapped in ziplock to protect it from water)

Parade participants and spectators splash water on one another

the float of MacDonalds with yellow and orange baloons

a nice roasted pig with shades hat and wig costume

roast pig pharaoh of Ancient Egypt

Parada ng Lechon:
Schedule of Parade (start): June 24 around 9am (probably after the mass at Balayan Church (Parish of St. John the Baptist (San Juan Bautista)

Travel Tips:

1. If you have your own vehicle, be there early as you will just get stuck in heavy traffic and won't enjoy the celebration.
2. Bring extra clothes as you will get wet, unless you will just witness the parade from afar or inside your car
3. Protect your gadgets with plastic bags or ziplock
4. Recommend a waterproof camera if you have or just use plastic cover/case for your camera
5. Don't get angry when you get wet, you went there so you at least expect to get wet
6. Close your car window, even of the highway, you may be surprised some kids and people splash water on passing vehicles

How to Get to Balayan, Batangas:

If you intend to commute to Balayan, there are buses on EDSA, Cubao or taft Avenue corner Buendia to take you directly to Balayan. There are vans/fx/shuttle service to Balayan on Zamora St at the back of Kabayan Hotel near Metropoint Mall at the corner of EDSA and Taft Avenue in Pasay (fare: PhP180.00) with travel time of about 3 hours via Tagaytay.

Driving directions to Balayan, from Makati, take SLEx then exit at Sta. Rosa, pass by Tagaytay, turn right at the end of Tagaytay - Sta. Rosa road, drive all the way until you reach the junction of the road the either go to nasugbu or Balayan. Turn left to get to Balayan then turn right to Balayan main road.

Other Water Festivals in the Philippines:
Basaan San Juan Water Festival
Salibanda Festival of Paete, Laguna

Note:
pictures taken during parada ng lechon 2012, almost a year of backlog of Tutubi

Labels: Batangas, Calabarzon, Festivals, Fiestas

Featured on various TV shows as serving "very good" and "to-die-for" halo-halo, a Filipino dessert of various sweet ingredients mixed with shaved ice and milk, it litterally means "mix-mix" and is one of Filipinos favorite desserts during the hot summer months.

Tutubi, when he visited the town of Kawit, also passed by Barangay Digman in Bacoor town to sample this famous ice concoction named after the village of its birth (and you thought it's named after the owner of the place?)

There are actually two of them "holes in the wall" in Digman claiming to be the original (plus another 2 or more beside them) and you guessed it right, they both have the name "Original" appended on their registered name (much like the Original syndrome on buko pie shops in Laguna): The Original Digman Halo-halo and BC2 Original Halo-halo. One of them even had the name patented but not enforced (a patent holder doesn't necessarily mean the original, just the first to legally claim the name or idea or innovation)

Tutubi chose "BC2 Original Digman Halo-halo Talk of the Town" as it's the one with parking space (read: vacant street parking in front, unlike the other "Original" halo-halo parlor) and this is his take on the famous dessert this side of town.

BC2 Original Digman Halo-halo costs PhP55.00 (with ice cream), regular variant costs PhP45.00 on the menu

Digman Halo-halo ingredients (sangkap/sahog):

Tutubi counted twelve ingredients on the counter:

Beans, corn, ube halaya, mongo (mung beans), minatamis na saba (sweetened banana), green and red gulaman (gelatin), langka (jackfruit), nata de coco, macapuno (mutant coconuts), sago. Note the usual suspects: shaved ice, leche flan toppings then ice cream for special halo-halo orders. (Does it have lambanog (coconut sap wine) as secret ingredient?)

Review of Digman halo-halo:

One word: overrated! Sometimes, simple is better probably why Razon's halo-halo (or it's derivative Teresita's) stands out from the rest. Yes, there were many ingredients but even with that number of ingredients don't make it sweet and creamy, in fact it lacks creaminess factor even if Tutubi tried to add more milk to compensate.

The beans, yes the beans, Tutubi's favorite halo-halo ingredient (or sometimes he prefers just the beans with shaved ice and milk) were not cooked right-- not tender and bit raw. If they're in business for quite some time, how come they don't know how to properly cook the beans?

Is it worth going all the way from Manila just for this? No, but if you're the area, probably near Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine, it's worth your try if you just need to sample it yourself. Tutubi prefers just going to Hidden Tapsi for tapsilog frugal food find, even taking out half-kilo of tapa, which rumors say are horse meat (tapang kabayo) and not beef tapa.


How to get there:

GPS coordinates: 14°27'37"N 120°56'34"E

If you're still looking for some kind of Bacoor Food Trip or even Cavite Food Trip that includes Digman Halo-halo in your itinerary, here's a map of Bacoor town proper where you can see old stone church of Bacoor upper left and Digman Halo-halo upper right. Manila is to the right while Cavite City and Kawit town is to the left.

If you have a private vehicle, you can get there fastest from Manila via Cavitex but you need to exit via Bacoor then turn left towards Bacoor town. Look for a road after passing Bacoor Church where you turn left.

If you're commuting, you can get there via buses from Baclaran and drop by just before you reach Bacoor Church (Church of Saint Michael the Archangel)

Labels: Calabarzon, Cavite, Filipino Food

The new Laguindingan Airport is not in Cagayan de Oro City unlike the old Lumbia Airport which it replaced. In fact, it's west of CDO where you need to budget at least an hour travel time to/from the airport.

Here's a guide how to get to Laguindingan Airport from Cagayan de Oro and vice versa.

Map of Laguindingan Airport (via OpenStreetMap) showing the neighboring town of Alubijid. Going right (east-bound) is Cagayan de Oro, while to the left (west-bound) is Iligan City.


From Laguindingan Airport to Cagayan de Oro:

From the airport arrival gate, public transporation is avilable by taking a PUV to the highway of Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental (PhP20.00 fare) On the highway, wait for buses plying the route Cagayan de Oro to Iligan City (24 hour bus service). The buses are available at Cagayan de Oro West-bound Terminal

There are available shuttle service vans from Laguindingan Aiport to Cagayan de Oro with fare PhP249.00/person
going to Centrio Mall on Corrales Street via Laguindingan Airport Express or via Magnum Express to/from Bulua Terminal. There are also vans inside CDO city proper going to the new airport particularly in the Divisoria and SM City Cagayan de Oro area.

Laguindingan airport taxi: seems many taxi drivers are beginning to behave like their "beastly brothers" in Manila. They will charge
you about PhP1,500.00 one way instead of using the meter.

Laguindingan Aiport terminal Fee:
PhP200.00 for domestic flights; PhP700.00 for international flights

the other towns of Misamis Oriental are Alubijid, Balingasag, Balingoan (where you can take the ferry to Camiguin), Binuangan, Claveria, Gitagum, Initao, Jasaan, Kinoguitan, Lagonglong, Laguindingan, Libertad, Lugait, Magsaysay, Manticao, Medina, Naawan, Opol, Salay, Sugbongcogon, Tagoloan, Talisayan and Villanueva

Note:
ths information was provided by Tutubi's friend who now lives in CDO. How Tutubi wishes to escape from the grit and grime of Metro Manila and live elsewhere.

Related Posts:
Airport terminal Fee List
How to Get to NAIA Terminal 1,2,3 and 4

Labels: Airports, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao

This is Tutubi's personal list of Filipino restaurants he visits in Quezon City, with native restaurants at least and some Asian cuisine at most that caters to all budgets (except the exclusive and super expensive) from hole-in-the-wall, frugal food finds to "fun dining" place. Some were his own discoveries, while a few were from travel or food TV shows like GMA's Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho, GMA News TV Pop Talk, Biyahe Ni Drew, Ang Pinaka, et al for your own version of Quezon City food trip.

As always, Tutubi paid for all his meals at these restaurants, no "pay to praise" posts here nor glowing reviews due to freebies or free meals. The list does not include native restaurants that has gone mainstream (too many branches) outside Quezon City.

If you know of other places, frugal food finds, vegetarian food, halal restaurants in Quezon City, or any recommendation, please leave a comment as Tutubi knows there are many others out there still waiting to be sampled:

List of Quezon City Restaurants (Native Filipino or Asian at most):


Alavar Seafood Grill and Restaurant (
Address: Timog Avenue, Quezon City
Remarks: try Zamboanga City's curacha and Alavar Sauce)

Aling Conching Native Chicken and Fast Food
Quezon Avenue
Remarks: closed down

Bagoong Club
Address: Scout Dr. Lazcano near corner Tomas Morato
Remarks: Bagoong themed
Specialties: different versions of bagoong, Bulalo with mongo,
Budget: PhP175.00 up

Carinderia Buffet
Address: V. Luna Avenue corner Mabilis Street, Diliman
Remarks: the cheapest buffet with native Filipino dishes
Budget: PhP149.00/person

Casa Naimas
Address: Tomas Morato near corner Kamuning
Remarks: Ilocos empanada and other Ilocano cuisine

Countryside Grill
Katipunan Avenue, Barangay Blue Ridge
Specialties: pork barbeque, crispy dinuguan, calderata

Dannylicious Barbeque
25 Rajah Matanda St., Project 4, Quezon City
Telephone Number: +63.2.440.7996
Specialty: pork barbeque
Remarks: frugal food find

Farinas Ilocos Empanada
Locations: West Avenue, Visayas Avenue
Specialties: Ilocos Empanada, Bagnet, Pinakbet
Remarks: frugal food find

Gayuma ni Maria
Address: 123 V. Luna Extension (Maginhawa Street), Sikatuna Village, Quezon City
Open 10am-11pm on Monday to Saturday; 10am-10pm on Sundays.
Telephone numbers: +6.32.441.4872; +63.921.681.8989

Jek's Kubo Bulalo at Ulo-ulo
Location: Maginhawa St. UP Teachers Village:
Specialties: bulalo

Kanin Club
UP-Ayala Technohub
Remarks: recommend the sinfully good crispy dinuguan
Budget: PhP300.00+

Lechon Capital of Quezon City
La Loma with lechon (roasted pigs) shops and restaurants led by Ping-ping Lechon

Little Quiapo
90 Malakas St, Brgy. Pinyahan (back of SSS)
Diliman, Quezon City
Specialties: palabok and halo-halo

Mang Jimmy's
Balara (near Balara Water Filtration Park)
Specialties: Tapa mix and sizzling pork sisig

Mang Jimmy's best-seller: the Tapa Mix served on a sizzling plate: yummy and tender at PhP120.00 per order


Mixxx CP3 Vigan's Best
Branches: Maginhawa Street and C.P. Garcia (Bulalo at Inihaw)
Remarks: Ilocano food e.g. Bulalo iloko, poqui-poqui, dinakdakan

Myrna's Bulalo Haus
Address: Tomas Morato corner Kamuning
Specialty: Bulalo (of course)

Nena's Special Bibingka and Restaurant
Address: Gen Romulo St., Cubao, Quezon City
Specialties: native filipino delicacies: bibingka, puto bumbong, puto kutsinta

O'ini Taste of Kapampangan
Address: 63 Xavierville Avenue, Quezon City
Telephone Number: +63.2.238.2521; +63.927.931.7360; +63.947.554.5502

Pan de Amerikana
Location: Katipunan Avenue near Boni Serrano
Remarks: sports the inverted house design, with chess tables similar to
the original chess-themed Marikina restaurant

the inverted house cum restaurant has a real red range rover with functioning headlights (photo taken by Tutubi's friend using a newly-acquired Nikon D90)

Pares Mami House (Quezon City)
Address: Amoranto (Retiro) corner Dr. Alejos
Coordinates: 14°37'38"N 120°59'34"E

Partners Pares
Location: Roosevelt Ave, near the San Francisco bridge
and Quezon Avenue

Robina Chicken House
Munoz, Roosevelt Avenue
Remarks: in front of Munoz Market, serves roast chicken for more than 30 years already amidst all the competition

Rodic's Diner
Locations: University of the Philippines and Maginhawa Street, UP Teachers Village
Specialties: beef tapa (tapsilog)

Romulo Cafe
Address: Scout Tuason cor. Scout Dr. Lazcano Quezon City
Telephone Number: +63.2.332.7275
Remarks: homey restaurant owned by the family of Carlos P. Romulo
Budget: PhP400.00 per head up

Sabroso's Lechon
Address: E. Rodriguez corner Tomas Morato
Specialty: pork lechon

Satti Grill House
Address: SM City Fairview food court
Quirino Avenue corner Regalado

Shabu-Shabu sa GW
Anonas Extension (between V. Luna and Kamias Road)
Telephone Number: +63.2.343.0178
Remarks: serves shabu-shabu with Filipino ingredients, featured on Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho (June 9, 2013 episode)

Snackaroo
Matalino St. near Sulo Hotel

Spicy Tongue
Location: Timog Avenue
Specialties: Bicolano cuisine kinalas, laing/pinangat, bicol express et al

TatyStar Bakery
Address: 45 Anonas Extension, Brgy Sikatuna, Quezon City
Specialties: Toasted siopao (Naga specialty) (they even sell frozen tinuktok, sort of like laing)

The Alaskan Salmon Ulo Ulo House
98 D. Roces Avenue
Contact Number: +63.2.411.5391

Parilla
Address: Scout Reyes corner Scout Gandia Street
Specialties: Chicken Inasal, Kansi (Ilonggo version of Bulalo)

Umbul Satu Cuisine.
154 Maginhawa St.
UP Teachers Village
Status: The only halal restaurant in the area. Closed down 2012

Vieva Satti Haus
Address: 9 BMA Ave cor 94 Katinlad St., Tatalon, Quezon City
Telephone: +63.2.473.2591
Remarks: serves satti and other Tausug delicacies from Zamboanga. located near corner E. Rodriguez

Tutubi is not in any way connected with any of these restaurants/eateries listed here nor did he received freebies/free meals in exchange. For reservations and appointments, sample menu prices, events parties, please call the restaurant contact numbers or visit their official website.

Labels: Filipino Food, Metro Manila, Quezon City Restaurants

What would you do with three hours to spare in a place where you have to leave and probably not re-visit again in the near future?

Well, maximize the stay, go out and explore, of course! This was what Tutubi did when he visited Bato, Leyte, having heard of the Cuatro Islas, part of the towns of Inopacan and Hindang, north of Bato town, one late afternoon.

Tutubi asked around Inopacan Barangay Poblacion where people let him to the barangay hall where friendly locals assisted him and pointed him fishermen who rented out their boats for PhP1,500.00 to do the island hopping tour of Cuatro Islas, literally meaning four islands consisting of Apid Island, Mahaba Island, Digyo Island and Himokilan Island touted as Leyte's "Hidden Gem" or Secret Hideaway.

Is there any truth to the claim?

Boat launching bayanihan-style on the beach of Inopacan, Leyte

Images of Cuatro Islas, Inopacan, Leyte:
(pictures taken early dusk at low light thus you can't see how white is white here like the sand)

Digyo Island "beach resort": you can pitch a tent to camp overnight here if you're looking for a place to stay

The most popular due to the most picturesque among the four islands is Digyo Island. It's also the smallest, you can actually circle the island on foot for about 30 minutes. It has a long beach tail that looks like a sandbar during low tide, with white sand a bit coarse but still something very good as it's not
developed (there's no entrance fee/environmental fee to be paid on the island (or the collectors were no longer around when Tutubi got there as it's already late)

the white sand of Digyo Island is a bit coarse (shown here is Tutubi's hand, rare appearance)

Late afternoon on Digyo Island white sand beach, no other people as it's getting dark

Mahaba island features a long beach and island form, thus the name which means long in Tagalog (Tagalog visitors named the island). There you can see white sand beaches fringed by limestone cliffs while under the water live colorful corals and fishes worthy good for snorkeling, and diving

Boats docked on the beach of Mahaba Island where several families live

Himokilan Island, is the fourth and last island visited, the nearest of the four to Inopacan town but is politically part of Hindang town. Quite a number of families live on the island, mostly fishermen. The beach here is surrounded with images of saints, perched on poles, and sort of take the role of guardians of the fishing village on the island.

Himokilan Island, part of Hindang town, has images of saints guarding the beach

Tutubi would love to re-visit these islands in the future, should the waves or the wind take him to that part of the world again. But next time, he wants to explore the underwater citizens around the islands

------------------

Notes:

there are numerous dive sites near Cuatro Islas that can be explored by divers/snorkelers. No beach resorts but you can try asking local fishermen for homestays or you can pitch your tents for overnight camping. For hotels, there are some in Inopacan town, Hindang, Hilongos or Bato

The following day, Tutubi visited Canigao Island for lunch before going back to Tacloban to catch his flight back to Manila. He was also told about Calanggaman Island (Kalanggaman) further north in but it's too far to be visited, someday maybe, someday.

Boat rental rates start at PhP1,500.00 up depending on the size of the boat, how many you are in the group and, of course, how good your haggling skills are.

These islands are sometimes spelled as Quatro Islas, Digyo Island as Digjo Island.

Apid Island is not featured on pictures here as Tutubi didn't realy land there, farthest from the four and there's just no time left before the sunset. Pictures were blurry due to the shaky boat and low light conditions.


How to Get to Cuatro Islas, Inopacan, Leyte:

map of Cuatro Islas in the Camotes Sea between the islands of Cebu and Leyte (map via OpenStreetMap)

It's basically a flight to Tacloban Airport, or ferry to the Port of Tacloban, then a jeepney to Tacloban Transport Terminal, followed by a van/jeepney/bus to Inopacan (Duptours and Van Van comes to mind).

From Araneta Center Bus Terminal in Cubao, Quezon City, there are also overnight RORO bus to Leyte (CUL Transport, Ultrabus, Eagle Star etc.) if you don't have the moolah but lots of time and your butt can endure long bus trips. (Fare is around PhP1,200.00 travel time about 24 hours)

You can also take the overnight ferry from Cebu to Bato Leyte then board a jeepney to Inopacan or alternatively take the fast craft from Cebu to Ormoc, Leyte then take a jeepney to Baybay City followed by another jeepney to Inopacan town.

Labels: Beaches, Eastern Visayas, Islands, Leyte

One of the more expensive beach resorts in Laiya Beach in San Juan, Batangas, Estrellas de Mendoza playa Resort has probably the most number of hotel rooms in the area that can accommodate big company summer outings and even conventions, more than the more expensive Acuatico Beach Resort who also has its own infinity pool.

Tutubi first visited Laiya Beach in 2005, at Laiya Cocogrove, on the other end of the long beach where La Luz is located, the rocky part of the beach yet teeming with corals and fishes good for snorkeling and newbie dive site. This second visit is at the upscale Estrellas de Mendoza Playa Resort which is inside a seaside condominium development.

(Note: there are three photos here, one's taken by Nikki (Nikon D80), another by Ipe (iPhone 4S) and the other by Flare (Cherry Mobile Flare, can you guess which picture was taken by which camera?)

Images of Estrellas de Mendoza Playa Resort:

The infinity pool, cabanas, beach front view from the hotel rool

Review: Estrellas de Mendoza Playa Resort

Facility/Amenities: Relatively new beach resort, nice infinity pool with ever-present lifeguards, spacious parking lot, the main hotel building has a picturesque fountain. The beachfront has brownish slightly coarse sand, the coastline extends about 50 meters during low tide. Beach is safe and shallow for kids/toddlers to play (but of course should always be guarded and have vests for safety)

the placid infinity pool early morning makes a good reflecting pool with some cabanas

Rooms: hotel room high-rise building has an elevator with glass window facing the infinity pool, beach and the sea. Includes one queen size bed and a double size bed. There's a 32" LCD TV and cable TV (note: remote control has low battery in Tutubi's room and erratic cable TV reception. it was promptly replaced. The erratic TV signal was caused by a missing antenna plug, it was "repaired" temporarily by splicing the co-axial cable. Tutubi later found this out that he used the whistle in oen fo his backpack to hold the cable to the jack thereby fixing the TV signal). The bathroom has a nice shower head, the toilet with bidet (nice, they really cater to Filipinos who uses "tabo" to wash their arse). No bathtubs in this expensive room though

the hotel room with a queen size bead and a double size one

Food: serves Filipino food (which should be) in all buffet at the restaurant. Sample menu prices are comparable to
many 5 star hotels in Manila. There are not so good dishes mostly beef. Stand-outs are roast chicken (very tasty), sinampalukang manok (chicken and tamarind sour soup, something Tutubi usually doesn't eat). There are soups, simple desserts, bottomless juice/coffee/ice tea but no salad station

Room Rates:
Superior Room (high-rise hotel, with 1 queen size bed and 1 double size bed): PhP6,000.00
Cabana (poolside, 2 rooms, each with 1 queen size bed and 1 double size bed): PhP16,000.00

Day tour rate/Entrance fee: PhP1,500.00

Watersports/other rates/prices:
Banana Boat: PhP1,500.00/five persons
Jetski rental: PhP4,500.00/hour (now this is expensive, make this cheaper so more people will try)
Bamboo raft rental: PhP300.00/hour
Boat rental (snorkeling, island-hopping): PhP1,500.00 (ten persons) this, again is expensive considering the area was very near the resort and the shore

Estrellas de Mendoza
Contact Number: +63.2.819.6050

How to get there:

Refer to this post on how to get to Laiya, for the best route for private vehicles or bus commute way. Click the following link for a list of Beach Resorts in Laiya

Tutubi is not in any way affiliated with Estrellas de Mendoza nor received freebies of any kind for this review. Please get in touch with Estrellas de Mendoza by visiting their official website or calling their telephone number for reservation, inquiries, parties (wedding debut, et al), summer outing, team building, room rates, promos, discounts.

Labels: Batangas, Batangas Resorts, Beaches, Calabarzon, Hotels and Resorts