BikolBuyBlog and Baguio Blooms

I know that my blog is supposed to about the Bikol Region, but since Bikol products were brought to the Panagbenga Festival, I’ll use that as an excuse to write about the trip to Baguio City, Philippines.

Baguio is known as the “Summer Capital of the Philippines” because it is the coolest place to be (literally, at 15-21degC) during the summer (March-May) where temperatures rise to 33degC and up in the lowlands.

Flower floats were a beautiful sight.

     

My sister took pictures of colorful flowers, most of the names were never in my memory bank. Will you name them for me?

1 Cactus

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45 Rose

See? I was only able to identify three.

What we did in Baguio:

Photo-0p at Mine’s View Park (panoramic view of the Benguet gold and copper mines as backdrop for free, horseback riding for P10 per shot, and wear an Igorot costume for P10, unlimited shots; cameras not included)

Burnham Park Boating (it’s not Baguio without the swan boats)

Burnham Park Mini Amusement Park (This is a happy discovery– skating and bump cars)

5-minute bliss

Strawberry-picking at strawberry farm (I suggest, do this during your last day so you get to bring home your freshly-picked strawberries. P300/kg if you want the picking experience; P120/kg if you just want photos and they pick for you. P120/kg is still cheaper than the ones in the market at P150-180/kg. Souvenirs are also more affordable in the shops here. Keychains at 3pcs for P25. Shirts at 2 for P150/180.

Dropped by at the only non-air conditioned SM mall

View from the Burnham Park, SM in the background

Walked down Session Road (Session Road in Bloom is a yearly one-week event that features food and crafts of Baguio and other Philippine provinces; the Bikol booth sold Escaro’s Dried Fish Products, pinangat, Chef Nori’s bottled specialties like sinarapan, sinantol, laing, pili pesto, dinailan, Aronda’s tablea and champorado, coco sugar, pili tarts, and Don Ramon Tropical Wines)

My Mama, the woman behind Don Ramon Wines

Trekking at Tam-Awan Village Garden in the sky (Entrance Fee is P50, if you love art you’ll definitely enjoy the work of the Filipino artists here)

Attended mass at the pink church on top of the hill, Porta Vaga

What I enjoyed eating in Baguio:

Dragon’s Breath Mallow Blast sundae

Solibao’s Shawarma

Footlong hotdog with veggies

KFC’s mushroom soup

Fresh Strawberries

Strawberry Taho

Strawberry Ice Cream

Strawberry Shake

Sinigang na Lechon Kawali at the overlooking resto of strawberry farm

Boiled Sweet Corn

Crispy Crepes by Louis, Pinikpikan, and coffee and cream puffs at Tam-Awan Village Garden in the Sky Cafe

I won’t go to Baguio without these:

Enhancer Skin Conditioning Gel (locks in moisture and keeps my skin supple) and Sunright Sunblock (effective protection from harmful UV rays) both by Nu Skin.

What to do when I go back to Baguio:

Overnight stay in the Ifugao houses at the Tam-Awan Village Garden in the Sky; Visit Good Shepherd Convent; View Arko ni Apo Art Gallery; Bump cars (again); Look for the view  of the sea at Garden in the Sky; eat what I enjoyed eating and add a few more based on Krish’s recommendations at EatsinBaguio; discover something great; be able to name at least 10 flowers; buy a barrel man just for fun.

Tips:

–Please book your tickets for your return trip the moment you arrive, especially during the peak seasons (November – May). We had to wait in line for a chance passenger seat for 3 hours.

-Please please please wear sunblock.

A tiny note of appreciation:

In my trips to Baguio, I always liked taxi drivers. They seldom complain, don’t ask for tips, and give an exact change, which of course make me always say, “Please keep the change”

I hope this will be helpful in planning your trip to the City of Pines.

Mama’s Garden 2

The other day, I woke up, walked to the kitchen, and I see this:

It’s one of my favorite fruits and it came right out of Mama’s garden. How cool is that?

It weighed more than 2 kg and I ate about 1/4 of it.  I did not get to take a picture when it was opened because I was too excited to eat it.

It’s called the guyabano fruit or soursop. Its flesh is white, its seeds are black. It has a distinct aroma and flavor, and the flesh just happily slides down your throat.

This fruit is not only yummy, it might also have certain anti-cancer properties according to (in vitro) studies.

Guess what Mama can do with this fruit. Wine!

The white wine tastes good on its own, chilled.  I also enjoy it as a cocktail, when mixed with mango juice or orange-calamansi juice.

Summer is only two months away. It’s the time of the year when a lot of fruits are in season. I’m looking forward to (eat) what else comes out of Mama’s garden.

Like A Child 2

SMS to B:

“Guess what. I’m eating authentic nilupak. Woohoo.”

I went to the market the other day <Yes, it’s the same day I talked about in my BYOB post>.

And I was happy to re-discover 2 of my favorites:

1. Nilubak: mashed cassava with milk and butter topped with margarine, sprinkled with crushed peanuts and sugar

Ingredients are mashed and mixed using a huge wooden mortar and pestle, which hole can fit a basketball.

According to legend, nilupak will taste better if the ”manong” mashing the cassava is shirt-less.

2. Pacencia Cookies

These cookies made from flour, egg whites, and sugar made me giggle after the first bite.

<How to Make Pacencia Cookies>

Certain fragrances and music often bring back memories.

These delicacies made me feel like a child again, even for just a while.

Like a Child

July of 2011, I had this post: Like a Child.

Now that I have returned to the place where I grew up, it’s comforting to know that I can still enjoy the same treats that I loved.

It’s really surprising that after 20 years, these food taste the same.

Some of Bikol’s merienda I enjoyed recently:

Biniribid: twisted, fried and sugar-coated malagkit <glutinous rice> Crunchy and sweet on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside.

Toasted Siopao: bread with ground pork. Really yummy especially when it’s freshly-baked. <Coming Soon: Hunt for the Best Toasted Siopao in Naga>

Pancit Loglog: noodles in beef stock, with special/secret loglog sauce, toasted garlic, and spring onion.

We eat loglog almost everyday. Even during weekends when Mama’s canteen is closed.

Merienda all best served hot and will be most complete when enjoyed with a glass of ice-cold soda.

Soda seem to taste better here in the province.

Actually, everything tastes better because I’m home. 😀

Hello world!

Yesterday, I went to the Naga City People’s Mall to look for wine bags I can use for a friend’s wedding.

I found these:

Which I made into these:

And into these:

Then I thought, why not share about the Bikolano ingenuity and creativity? Why not share about the Bikolano culture? Why not let the world in on my discoveries of those which are rare, lush, and beautiful about the Bikol region?

Come with me as I sample Bikolano dishes, discover unique products, immerse in Bikolano festivities, and explore the seldom-visited spots.

And as you read, may you be encouraged to visit, buy, and experience Bikol yourself.

If, and when, I’ll be happy to assist in any way I can.

See you.