Cebu For A Day (and A Promise Fulfilled)

This was the only photo proof that I was in Cebu for a day. 

I took this shot as I settled on my seat on my flight back to Manila.

July 28 proved to be quite a busy day for me. I (as in literally alone, by mysellf) flew to Cebu to attend to a couple of meetings for work and I had to rush back to Manila that same afternoon to catch the second leg of the Azkal's game vs. Kuwait as part of my promise to my girls to join them.

I took Philippine Airline's first flight out to Cebu at 6:00 am. I left home at 4:20 am and got to the Centennial Terminal's check-in counter barely a few minutes before it closed. I heaved a huge sigh of relief when I made it on time as I had a previous experience when I was five minutes late and the check-in counter had closed up on me and the airline staff wouldn't budge on my pleas. Since then, I have learned my lesson and feel so tense whenever traffic builds up in the roads leading up to the airport. I am never at ease until I get my boarding pass. Trust me, it is never a good feeling to be always running late. Still, waking up so early is such a daunting task for me and I always find myself making it to the counter with just a few minutes to spare.

Back to July 28. The plane touched down in Mactan after an hour and 10 minutes of flying time. I took a cab to Cebu City and was quite early for my first meeting. So I grabbed some breakfast which later on proved to be my only rice meal for the day. By 9 am, my first meeting was underway and it lasted for a couple of hours.

After the meeting, as a breather, I went to Banilad Town Center in the hope of getting a pack of Zubuchon to take back home. Alas, I was greatly disappointed to find that the stall had moved to another site near Fuente Osmena. As my next meeting was to be held near Banilad, I decided to simply cross my fingers that their stall inside the Mactan International Airport was still there. 

Chains inside Banilad Town Center
(this photo was taken November 2010)

I strolled around the little mall and hoped for some good buys. I went inside Chains, an assortment of bazaar like stalls selling just about anything, and headed straight to Isabela, a supplier of little girls' dresses for Rustan's back in Manila. Their prices were 50% cheaper. I grabbed a simple party dress for my littlest girl.

And then I was off for my next meeting which lasted for an hour. Next, I met up with one of our staff who was based in Cebu. Very quickly, I was given updates and then I was off again for the airport. I haven't eaten lunch  and decided to just get something to eat at the airport. Check in was a breeze and I was eager to catch my 5:35 pm Cebu Pacific flight back. I lounged at a restaurant to kill time. Then I went inside the waiting area and looked for the Zubuchon stall. 

Zubuchon stall inside waiting area
of Mactan International Airport

fresh and frozen lechon packs

(again, both photos were taken November 2010)

Luckily, it was there and I got Anthony Bourdain's raved lechon to take home.

I wasn't so lucky with my  flight back though. It was delayed for almost 30 minutes. The staff said something about a delayed turn-around time. I sulked in a corner and called my girls and told them of my fate. I could hear their excitement as they were already on their way to see the Azkal's game.

The plane landed in Manila at way past 7pm. I easily got into a cab outside NAIA 3, quite thankful there wasn't a line at all this time. As expected, traffic was bad. I got off in the vicinity of Century Park Hotel and brisk-walked all the way to the stadium. I could hear the watching crowd roar, the excitement was palpable, and I walked as fast as I could, unmindful of the dark and the fear of getting mugged. I literally short of ran all the way to Gate.

By the time I got inside the Rizal Stadium, "the goal that Schrock-ed the world" had happened. It was 10 minutes into the second half of the game. The Azkals may have lost the game to the better Kuwait team, but they surely won the hearts of many Filipinos, football fans or otherwise. Filipino pride shone through that night. 

I, on the other hand, prided myelf in having my "mission" in Cebu accomplished. But more importantly, I took pride as a mom who flew back on the same day to fulfill a promise and simply be with the family.

On "The Best and Tastiest"

In last Sunday's issue of the Inquirer Magazine, I read Margaux Salcedo's article called "The Best and Tastiest" which listed our very own Filipino dishes and restaurants found throughout our archipelago.

Cebu's famed lechon (roasted pig) was the first to be mentioned. The last time we were in Cebu, HB and I stumbled upon the Zubuchon stall inside the Banilad Town Center, which is one of only two outlets in Cebu City, with the other stall inside the Mactan International Airport.  

This was the lechon which floored Anthony Bourdain, an American  food and travel author and tv personality. Sinfully delightful, the skin is crunchy and punctured so that it actually resembles that of lechon kawali (deep fried pork belly) while the meat is flavorful and absolutely tender. Another plus point is that this particular lechon is MSG-free.

Next up was Ilocos' empanada (meat turnover pie). While I have yet to taste the empanada from Batac, I am already enamored with the taste of Vigan's empanada. With its deep-fried crisp yellow-orange wrap, this dish is best enjoyed with the famed sukang Iloco (Ilocos Vinegar) which goes well with the flavors of Vigan longganisa (sausage), egg and monggo (mung bean) sprouts.

Vigan empanada and okoy

The famed kakanin (sweet delicacies from rice, root crops and/or fruits) of Bulacan and Pampanga was mentioned next and I must say that I am a true fan of these sweet delicacies from these provinces in Central Luzon. My favorites are those from Nathaniel's and Dolor's.

Ka Laui's Restaurant and the Badjao Seafront Restaurant in Puerto Princesa were cited next. I'm glad to  have dined in both restaurants the 2 times I've been to this renowned cleanest and greenest city in our country. Both restaurants offer fresh seafood fare and unique dining experiences. In Ka Lui's, guests are asked to leave their shoes/slippers upon entering the dining area. Yes, diners eat barefoot in Ka Lui's. On the other hand, Badjao Seafront is in the midst of a lush mangrove and is actually built on stilts atop the water. This restaurant accords guests a fantastic view of the sea and the fresh breeze blowing in truly whets one's appetite. To read my previous blog posts, click here for Ka Lui Restaurant and here for Badjao Seafront Restaurant.

The diwal (angel wing) shellfish from Roxas City was also in the roster. Ahhh, so here is one delicacy that I have yet to taste. If the oysters and the crabs from this city (the oysters, I never fail to have whenever I am in the neighboring province of Iloilo) are any indication of the sweet taste of their sea catch, then that should be a good enough motivation to schedule a trip soon to this famed seafood capital.

Abuhan's Pochero in the "queen city of the south" was next on the list. HB and I had a taste of Cebu's version of bulalo during our trip. I previously blogged about my review of this popular dish and gave good raves.

Ted's Batchoy in Iloilo was the next favored dish. Before setting foot in Iloilo, I always ordered batchoy (noodle soup garnished with pork organs, pork cracklings, vegetables and egg) from Ilonggo Grill, a food stall found in several food court malls all over the metropolis. Upon tasting Ted's Batchoy, I instantly tasted the difference in the broth. Suffice it to say that I now know the authentic Ilonggo taste. And I'm happy to learn that Ted's Batchoy now has a branch in Ali Mall in Cubao so I can easily get another bowl of batchoy when I crave for it. 

Davao's Ah Fat Seafood Restaurant is one that I have yet to try. In the 3 occasions that I've been to Davao, I favored the city's chicken barbecue and tried both Banok's and Penong's. 

Finally, the article rounded up with a mention of the curacha from Lab-as Restaurant in Dumaguete. The curacha is a "sea cockroach" but is actually a cross between a crab and a lobster. During our trip to Dumaguete last year, I knew I had to try it when I saw it listed on the menu and I was not disappointed. 

Lab-as Restaurant offers other fresh seafood dishes as well and is a must-go-to restaurant. Click here to read my previous post about our dining experience.

Hmm, that's a score of 8 out of 10 for me! With my skinny frame, it would be quite a stretch to say that I am a foodie fan. But I love Filipino dishes tremendously, so I urge you now to go out and explore our islands and have a taste of what is called uniquely Filipino.

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For an online version of Margaux Salcedo's article, please click here.