Island Hopping in Bohol

Back-blog

Date of Trip: April 1, 2011

On my last business trip to Bohol, I was luckily joined by HB. When I found some free time in between meetings, we debated whether to go to the usual tourist spots (Chocolate Hills, Loboc River, Bee Farm, etc.) or go island hopping. Hands down, the prospect of setting foot on a couple of islands won.

We rented a banca for PhP 1,300 which took us to two islands a few kilometers off Panglao. About 40 minutes after departing Alona Beach, we got to the first island on our itinerary, Balicasag Island.

shore line of Balicasag Island

corals on the shore amidst the blue sea

Laden with broken corals which were washed ashore, the island boasts of a marine sanctuary which was ideal for snorkeling. For this, tourists would need to shell out PhP 200 more because we were told that the sanctuary can only be accessed by non-motorized boats to preserve the marine life. Since we were pressed for time, we skipped the marine sanctuary and opted to head on to the next island.

The drama with my BlackBerry phone then took place but it didn't stop us from appreciating the magnificent views of Virgin Island.

As soon as the boat docked, we were met by a vendor selling fresh sea catch:

Locally called taklobo, these were boiled until the meat inside these shells were tender. The taste was surprisingly good. I gladly threw away my squeamishness aside and delighted on the new experience.

Next, my palate tried these sea urchins:

The manong (general Filipino term of respect for an older man) opened the urchins in half and poured the soft, yellow liquid contents onto the palm of my hand. He then instructed me to put some pepper-seasoned vinegar and stuff the concoction in my mouth. Once again, I enjoyed this treat and easily "ate" 3 urchins before I even got off the boat. 

As we walked on the shore, I saw these empty shells being dried out. The shells were sold to tourists as souvenirs. I picked a couple to add to my collection at home. 

At the far end of the island was this beautiful sand bar which was bordered on both sides by blue sea.

We were told that this sand bar would be more appreciated at certain times of the year (particularly on January) when the tides are low.

With that, we walked back to our boat for the return trip to the main island of Panglao. If only we were on vacation, we would have stayed longer, packed some food and relax by alternately dipping in the blue waters or lying in the fine sand.

As I looked back with the thought of planning a return trip, this sight of Virgin Island reminded me of how Boracay Island was way before the crowds and the party scene came to be. If the local government of Bohol learns from the success and troubles of Boracay, then Virgin Island will continue to live up to its name.

serenity at its best in Virgin Island

Photo Op: The Alona Kew White Beach Resort

Located in Panglao Island in Bohol, the Alona Kew White Beach Resort lies smack in the midst of Alona Beach. Its ideal front beach location is perfect for vacationers and wanderers alike. 

beach front of the Alona Kew Beach Resort

grand staircase by the resort lobby

the resort's pool

native room types

native bungalows

Villa Catalina building with Superior and Executive type rooms

a different view of the Villa Catalina 

For information on room types and rates, visit their website www.alona-kew.com.

In and Out of Bohol

I got the chance to visit Bohol for the first time courtesy of a business trip earlier this month. My entry to this province was via "back door" as we originally flew in to Cebu (where we stayed overnight) and took the ferry to get to Tagbilaran City, the capital of Bohol. 

There are a number of domestic companies which ply the route of Cebu to Bohol (and vice versa) and we chose OceanJet. We purchased the ticket at an outlet in Ayala Town Center (which came with an additional handling fee) and saved ourselves from the hassle of rushing and lining up at the ferry port. 

It was a bright and sunny day when we crossed the Cebu Strait. The blue sea and sky brought an instant tranquil mood in me. 

The ferry ride took about an hour and a half. As soon as the passengers alighted the ferry, this billboard came to view:

There are cabs and tricycles lined up outside the port, all ready to take passengers to their chosen destination in the province. Tourists usually end up in Panglao Island which boasts of white sand beaches and diving spots. But other must-see spots in the province are aplenty. Taxi drivers entice travelers to go around and set foot in the city's historical Sandugo Blood Compact landmark and Bohol Museum, visit Baclayon Church,  board the floating restaurant and cruise down the Loboc River,  experience crossing the hanging bamboo bridge, pass by the Mahogany-lined road in Bilar, discover their province's famed Chocolate Hills, and finally see the Philippine tarsier. Other noteworthy spots to visit are the Punta Cruz  Watch tower, Mag-aso Falls and the Bohol Bee Farm, which I heard offers a unique dining experience.The drivers may be contracted by the tourists to take them around for a day or two.

But with business to do, I passed up on those destinations and  went straight to Panglao Island to attend a number of meetings.

The following day, we were back in Tagbilaran City. It was time to leave for Manila. The airport was just a few minutes away from the city proper. Albeit small, it was bustling with much activity.

My time in Bohol was quite short and left me wanting. I vow to be back for another time to enjoy the different natural and cultural sights and experiences that Bohol has in store. 

Credits:

http://www.bohol.ph for the comprehensive article on What to See and Do in Bohol.

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.

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

Bag Organizer from Beabi

Been on the hunt for a new and bigger bag organizer since the start of the year ( ... hmmm, an attempt to start the year right, lol) and last week, I chanced upon Beabi, a store selling travel essentials such as bottles, kits, organizers, etc. while taking a stroll in Robinson's Galleria.

I found one that would suit me, but alas, the only color available was light blue. I asked the sales staff if they would have new stocks coming in, and she told me to come back after a week. So yesterday I was back, but they still didn't have what I wanted. I asked the staff which branch had it on stock and she called ... she called all but one of their branches to find out if they had that large black organizer on their shelves. Negative. 

I was frustrated and at the same time I laughed at myself silently for exhibiting an "OC" (obsessive compulsive) trait. So I decided to "settle" for their Caddy which was the right size and color but a tad heavier. I paid for my choice and thanked the staff profusely for her efforts.

Once I got home, I was very glad to have bought it. I was so happy with all the compartments! Now all my stuff fits! :) 

black caddy from Beabi, PhP 395

With this, I am hopeful that I would no longer spend much time rummaging around my bag. 

In addition, it fits perfectly inside my Longchamp! :)) 

perfect fit!

_____________

Beabi

Branches:

Level 1, Greenbelt 5

Ayala Center

(632) 298.5668

R2 Bridgeway 1

Power Plant Mall

Rockwell Center

(632) 399.1388

Level 2, East wing

Robinsons Galleria

(632) 399.5650

Lobby Level, Mindanao Level,

TriNoMa Mall

(632) 916.8008

Level 3, Main Building

SM City North Edsa

(632) 355.4651

Level 3, Eastwood Mall

Eastwood City

(632) 399.5868


Ground floor, The Annex
SM City Fairview
(632) 352.3905


Level 2, Entertainment Mall
SM Mall of Asia
(632) 556.0286


Level 1, Midtown Wing
Robinsons Place Manila
(632) 399.1368

Looks Like A Good Deal from MetroDeal

Got an email earlier with the subject as: 

70% off Shui Hilot Triple Combo Massage / 75% RF Slimming Sessions

.

Normally, I ignore such mails and treat it as spam. But for some reason, I decided to open it. 

I called up Shui Spa to verify if they had this promo/tie-up with MetroDeal and the guy at the other end confirmed. So I continued to click and chose a payment method which I felt was the "safest". (I am still not comfortable divulging credit card details over the internet specially for new deals.) 

Now all I have to do is pay over-the-counter and wait for the voucher in my email. And with this, HB and I will be off to another "spa date". :)

P.S. MetroDeal claims to have a referral program so if you would also like to "avail" of this deal, please click here. 

Seafood Galore

With the success of the original Dampa in Paranaque, various Dampa "outlets" have sprung up all over the Metro. This concept of buying fresh seafood from the market and having them cooked in one of the palutuan restaurants has been a hit with groups of families and friends and has led to more Dampa branches. Currently, I know of  Dampa in Libis, Farmers in Cubao, Metrowalk in Ortigas and Macapagal in Pasay.

A couple of weeks ago, I had the chance to try out the Dampa experience in Macapagal Avenue with my co-workers. 

I was mostly impressed with the cleanliness of the market 

aisle of the seafood section

and the array of fresh seafood:

fish

shells

oysters

mussels

shrimps

lobsters

I think the prices were regulated as they were more or less the same for all the stalls. We bought 5 kilos of shrimps, 2 kilos of mussels, 2 kilos of kohol, a kilo of bamboo shells, 2 kilos of ulo ng maya-maya, and 3 kilos of liempo (pork belly) which we hoped would be good enough for the 25 of us :)

We opted to have our food cooked at 

G Squared Palutuan sign

Cooking charges were reasonable and there was a 10% service charge on top of our bill. The waiters were very attentive and anticipated all our needs, from the toothpicks for the kohol to the condiments for the sawsawan for the other dishes. 

We had the shrimps cooked in chili and garlic sauce, the mussels baked with garlic and topped with cheese, the kohol cooked in coconut milk (gata), the bamboo shells in chili garlic sauce, the maya-maya in sour broth (sinigang), and the pork belly grilled. We had a feast and we all pigged out on the fresh seafood fare.

bamboo shells and shrimp

baked tahong (mussels) and ginataang kohol

All that good food, coupled with good company (uhm, pun intended?) hopefully make for a good start for this year. May all that fresh seafood usher in abundance for all of us!

Photo credits: the last 4 pictures are courtesy of Ms. Majah Flores, downloaded from her FB album.

A Baby No More

Fifteen years ago today, I welcomed a tiny baby into this world for the first time. A few moments after I first heard her cry out loud, she was put into my bosom and she stared at me with those little almond-shaped eyes and I couldn't help but shed tears of joy ... for she is ours to love, cherish and care for.

Fifteen years later, all we still do is love, cherish and care for her as she grows and soars into her own. She sure can be hard-headed and obstinate and she sure does test our patience's limits, but we are mostly proud of how she is at school and with her younger sisters and her friends. 

To my firstborn baby who is fast becoming a lady, Happy Birthday! And remember that your Dad, sisters and I will always be around to love, cherish and care for you.