Roxas City, Capiz: Seafood Trip and Architecture

I wanted to go to Roxas City, Capiz not to explore the unknown. Despite its riveting background and mysticism, when I visited the province, I just wanted to indulge in their seafood offering. My mission was simple: I wanted to dine along Baybay Beach.

Capiz was our last minute re-route in our Panay Island roadtrip. We were supposed to head back to Iloilo after visiting Aklan but realized that the food that Roxas City has in store is too tempting to skip.

We rode the van from Kalibo and alighted at the city center. The very first thing we noticed is how collectively obedient the people of Roxas City are. Everyone followed pedestrian signs. In fact, when someone tried crossing on a red pedestrian light, passers-by (civilians) were quick to put the man in place. This does not happen in Manila. We rationalize our disobedience by the number of people doing the deed. Sad.

There were also a lot of army officers around Roxas City. This made me feel secured. If there is one thing I abhor most about traveling, it’s being ripped off by my fellow kababayans. I took advantage of their presence and asked directions, and also how much fare I should pay. Not only did they answer my inquiry, they even hailed a tricycle for me and instructed the driver where to drop me off. I really appreciated that.

When we arrived at Baybay, an array of food stalls, reminiscent to Manila’s Dampa, welcomed us. And just like any Dampa experience, I had a hard time choosing what to eat and where to eat. Thank goodness though for this very bubbly tindera who welcomed us with all her flamboyant will. She was also very considerate. She knew we wanted to try everything so she suggested that we order Diwal (angela wings clam) half of it baked, while the other, sigang-ed. It was a great bargain because she didn’t charge us extra! We also ordered grilled hito and liempo and ate to our heart’s content.

We also met one of the restaurant’s most loyal patron. It was a black stray dog who took shelter in their food hub. The fur-baby was well-behaved and only ate when given food. Of course, we did give him liempo and in return, he allowed us to play with him and take photos by the beach! The Sibuyan Sea was restless when we were there but the wind was the perfect prelude to the sunset. Within our eye’s reach was also Mantalinga Island. According to the locals, this island is dubbed as “Good Luck Island” because it is believed to give good fortune to fishermen. In fact, it has been the local tradition to have the names of the boat etched on the rocks on the side of the island before they set out to sea for the first time. We wanted to go to the island so bad because we heard that it’s also a great dive spot however, time wasn’t on our side. We had to take the next bus back to Iloilo.

Instead of trying our luck in crossing the Sibuyan Sea, we just walked around town and hunted for souvenirs. Being at the center of the Roxas City Plaza is humbling. We, Manilenos, brag too much about what we have back home without realizing that the provinces has so much better to offer. Roxas City is known for its Eight Heritage Monuments on its plaza alone. Among the eight is the Immaculate Conception Metropolitan Cathedral which is the oldest , having been built at around the 1870s.

Sitting on its right is the Capiz Provincial Capitol Complex that is said to have a simplified take on the Spanish-Filipino architecture. It was designed by an American architect, William Parsons, which could be the reason why art enthusiasts can detect a hint of the bright and clear California feel on the building.

Right at the entrance of the Capiz Provincial Capitol Complex is also an American-era inspired statue of our National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. Although it stands on the center of a parking lot, the capitol building gives it a good backdrop when viewed from afar.

The last photo I took of the Eight Heritage Monuments was the gazebo (the very first photo on this blog). It was a bit frustrating since we were caught in between the late afternoon rush hour and there were a lot of foot traffic around the structure, thus making it hard to take a photo, so I had to make do of what I have. The gazebo was designed by Architect Jose Roldan who was then the founding director of Capiz School of Arts and Trade, or the now Capiz State University.

I liked Capiz. It was just sad that I didn’t have much time to explore further. We were able to secure souvenirs from the tiangge at the side of the church, though. Hopefully we’d back soon to see what this beautiful province has to further offer!

***Roxas City, Capiz is part of our independently-arranged Panay Backpacking Adventure in hopes that we finish Project 81 (Or visiting all the 81 provinces of the Philippines)!!! You can read our adventures around the Panay Island by clicking the links below:

Antique: La Escapo Mountain Resort

Guimaras: Island Hopping and Trike Tour

How to go to Roxas City, Capiz:

There are Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific flights that cater the Manila-Roxas City route. You can check their latest fares at their respective website. Also watch out for fare promos!!!

From Iloilo City, there is a bus or van that can take you to Roxas City, Capiz. Travel time usually takes 2 to 3 hours.

From Kalibo, Aklan (our route), we paid around 100 Php to get to Roxas City via Van. The travel time is pretty short at more or less an hour to hour and a half.

Kamayan sa Palaisdaan: An Adventurous Dining Experience

Dining out proves to be a pretty monotonous celebration: we gather our loved ones, decide what to eat, get to a traditional restaurant, eat, and pay the bill. When was the last time a restaurant excited you? Me? I was ecstatic discovering Kamayan sa Palaisdaan in Tayabas, Quezon.

From the outside, the place seems like one of those grills showcasing the provincial fee but when you tread further down the stairwell, pass their bucolic pavilions, you’re in for a treat! There were nipa and bamboo cottages ready to receive you for your meal. Get this: they’re not just ordinary cottages…they’re floating on water! It all made sense! The place is called “Kamayan sa Palaisdaan” because you get to experience grilled delights in the middle of a makeshift fishing lagoon!

When the waiter came to take our orders, he mentioned about the possibly long wait time. He explained to us that they only cook and prepare dishes as orders come to maintain freshness and quality. For some, this can be a deal-breaker but we were totally fine with it. We perfectly understood.

While waiting for our food, we explored the restaurant and was even more impressed. We found out that there were actually 3 Kamayan sa Palaisdaan built almost next to each other, each having a slightly different theme and function. The one where we were in is where families usually dine and enjoy the essence of the fishing village theme. Parties can be held here since they have a spacey function area that is picturesque and can entertain a large number of guests.

We were not able to go in the second Kamayan sa Palaisdaan branch that time because of an exclusive event being held in the premise. From what I can see from the outside though is a giant clay pot and a very native-themed site.

Of all the branches, the third branch thrilled me the most. From the roads of Tayabas, you can see the nosecone of an airplane peeking from the inside of Kamayan sa Palaisdaan’s lot. You might be thinking, “Nah…it can’t be a real plane”…but it is! It’s an actual Boeing 737! According to the staff, the Air Summit Gourmet is where Kamayan sa Palaisdaan serve their fine dining course. Sadly, though, it was too late for us to transfer here because we were already waiting for our order. Also, reservation is highly appreciated.

After roaming from one branch of Kamayan sa Palaisdaan to another,  we went back to enjoy our lunch. We ordered Camaron Rebusado, Inihaw na Tilapia, and Sinigang na Spare Ribs. They were all nicely cooked and well-prepared. We just noticed crickets on our fish so we called the waiter who humbly apologized and provided us a new serving of Inihaw na Tilapia. Hey, I’m Ilokano and I know crickets are clean so I wasn’t bothered by it. We eat bugs occasionally. LOL!

The overall experience in Kamayan sa Palaisdaan is a pleasing one. If you are heading to Quezon, it is a must to make this your stopover. Oh, by the way, Kamayan sa Palaisdaan is also a resort and they have rooms and pools, not to mention outdoor activities such as zipline! Bring your family and friends along!!!

Here is how you get to Kamayan sa Palaisdaan! You can also like their FACEBOOK PAGE by clicking the link!

Rambull’s Bakahan sa Tanay: For the “COBOY” in You.

The road of Tanay, Rizal is often ventured by the adventurous. It is the portal to many natural wonders such as the Daranak Falls, Palo Alto Falls, Masungi Natural Reserve, Calinawan Cave, and so much more! Tanay is also known as the refuge of art and culture. You will see man-made wonders like the 71-foot high statue of the Queen of the Holy Rosary, the Tanay Church, and a dozen more art galleries that prove how the people of Tanay are not only talented but persevering in the preservation of their work. The roads of Tanay Rizal can also induce an elaborate feeling of hunger. Really! And what would be more strategic than finding Rambulls Bakahan sa Tanay along the road’s shoulder?

Rambulls Bakahan sa Tanay is so hard to miss. The place looks like a saloon that just popped out of a Western Cowboy movie.  With it swinging doors and an endless display of cow skulls, you would know from the outside that you are in for a treat. Plus, it is so hard not to be drawn to it with its numerous vehicles parked outside. That in itself is a sign that they serve good food.

We were seated on the far right side of the restaurant. The place was buzzing with excited chattering and we were all caught in anticipation. We stood in line and patiently waited for our orders to be taken. Rambulls Bakahan sa Tanay adopts the turo-turo restaurant format. This adds to the place’s appeal. You can see the food about to be served. I was staring at the Balbakwa for the longest time!

We ordered Bulalo, Beef Steak, and Kalderetang Kambing. The taste was absolutely commendable. We even concluded how the meat is slowly cooked under crisp firewood. It almost melts in your mouth! We paired it with a tower of iced tea and were more than gracious for the good food.

Rambulls Bakahan sa Tanay offers both the healthy and the mouthwatering. Just beside the Lechon station is an ad about Lemon Grass and its benefits. You will also see the seedlings that they are tending in their backyard.

I loved how the staff is always jolly and willing to help. We gave them a generous tip and I suggest you do too!  We also found out that they also compete in the annual Tanay Rodeo Festival and that in itself is another reason to admire them!

The next time that you are bound to Tanay, take 5 and visit Rambulls Bakahan sa Tanay. You will not regret it! It is slowly becoming a tourist spot so assure yourself a seat and savor their hearty Bulalo and Balbakwa!!!

**Rambulls Bakahan sa Tanay is located at Manila East Rd., Brgy. Plaza Aldea; 1980 Tanay, Rizal …Rambulls Bakahan Sa Tanay, Tanay, Rizal. **

 

 

 

 

Baguio: I Miss You Right Now

Low temperatures trigger my asthma. Yes folks, I don’t get asthma attacks when it’s hot. However, with the scorching heat that the Philippines is experiencing right now, I wouldn’t mind risking it all.

These photos were taken years before the La Presa Fever and this was also the trip where we did a rescue mission on a small puppy that was being sold by a puppy mill along the streets of Session Road. That furball is already 4 years old, living a good life, and is reigning the Marquez’s household together with the whole pack 😀

Pulong Niyugan – Lopez, Quezon’s Hidden Sanctuary

***Erratum: It was brought to my attention that Pulong Niyugan is part of Hondagua and not Lopez. This was commented on by the locals at the end of this post. I sincerely apologize if I was not able to research on this further. According to the Quezon’s Local Government Page, Hondagua is part of Lopez and this was what I believed in up until it was corrected. Thank you for the feedback, I appreciate it sincerely. I hope no one would get offended further as this was an honest mistake, –something that someone who’s not a local, and is looking from a tourist’s point of view, would not know (I cannot change the title of this blog as well, as the URL of the blog is dependent on the title. If I do this, all links will render futile. I hope you guys understand.)

Even research could not provide this information as it is an internal dispute as stated from the words of Maymiskem on the comments:

“For so long, my barangay has never been transformed into a town and we were living under the shadow of Lopez. But my barangay, from 1960s brings more than 50% income to Lopez, and that maybe the reason why we were not allowed to be a town.”

Thank you, whole-heartedly. For me, these are opportunities to learn more. Thank you!!! ^___^

—with so much love, Janni

It all started 2 years ago, when I first visited Lopez, Quezon. According to my partner, growing up on that province is as typical as it can get…and…of course, I needed to prove that otherwise. There are no dull places in the Philippines. There’s always a beach to build sandcastles to, a mountain to climb, falls to rappel on, and a cave to discover.

I started researching through the world wide web. It even came to a desperate point of plotting using Google Maps! In the end, I came up with this interesting town name, Barangay Hondagua.

It took me 2 attempts to reach the place, the interval was a year or so. Whenever we would try asking the locals in the capital, they would say the town’s not really familiar. Hmm…a bit odd, right? This is the same reason why I itched relentlessly to look for the place. My very own treasure hunt!

While Typhoon Chedeng was threatening the Quezon Province, we were on a bus ride crafting our plan. The objective was to not ask just any local, but the older ones–those who have been residing in the place for a very long time. The plan was a success. We found a local fisherman who gave us directions to the paradise.

The first step to getting there was to ride the tricycle to Barangay Hondagua. The terminal for this route is situated at the back of the market, familiarly known as the “Bagong Palengke“. The trike is for sharing and once it’s filled, you’re good to go. The ride is around 30 minutes wherein you will be passing steep roads and a nice view of treetops that would make you wonder if there is really a beach nearby.

Ask the tricycle driver to bring you to the port, and once there, you can rent a small fishing boat to bring you to the island. Turns out, Barangay Hondagua was just a jump off point! The ride to the island is fairly fast. Kuya Tet, our bangkero, showed us the beaches that most locals go to before we got to our destination. According to him, we were off to Pulong Niyugan. This place is not as famous as the common beaches around but it’s a beautiful place with epic rock formations, sandbars, and tons of shells and corals.

We got there thinking we’ve heard it all. There were several people at the front of the beach so we decided to explore the island first before joining them. We walked to the opposite side of the island, and lo and behold, a sight that makes travelling worth the exhaustion and fatigue.

Mangroves, rocks, deep teal waters, white sand… it was every beach-goers’ dream! It was undisturbed, secluded even from your thoughts of the city. The silence was loud enough to amplify nature’s song of monkeys and parrots. It was to a point, frightening because the peace envelopes you that you would not want to go back.

There were day cottages around, crafted by the locals so they can spend time relaxing on the island. Should you wish to bring food, or mag-ihaw, by all means, you can do so. Just remember, CLEAN AS YOU GO!!! It’s very unfortunate that there are some people who leave their trash behind and carve their names on the stone formations. This makes me angry.

I went batshit crazy hunting for beautiful shells to bring back as remembrance and ended up with a handful. There were also hermit crabs that I sang to (♫ labas labas umang ♫ — my mom taught me this when I was a kid ☺) and played with while my partner headed for a swim.

At this point, I knew the typhoon was too chicken to come. Quezon may be every storm’s favorite target but this just shows how resilient the people here are. No tempest too savage!!!

We decided to leave early and take on Kuya Tet’s kind offer of showing us around. We went to Pulong Ulong Pato, believing all the while that it was just 1 island that looked like a duck’s head and beak. Turns out, it was made up of 2 islands next to each other. There are some residents on the “beak part” of the island, and believe it or not, they have electricity.

The next island we headed off to was Pulong Barko. Unlike the previous island, this one is deserted. What’s amazing about this isle is that if you’re not from around the place, you can easily mistake it as a real cargo ship from a distance. Just a thought, actually.

We went past the fishing posts the communities leave in the middle of the ocean. The place is very abundant in marine life and the local government is extremely vigilant to excessive fishing. They have strong laws against dynamite fishing and the locals equally and honestly follows this. According to Kuya Tet, this is their main source of living and something they cannot do without. There is no point in abusing it.

There were also sea urchins around and my stomach craved for Uni Sashimi that instant. Suprisingly, the locals didn’t know they’re edible. They avoided it, as a matter of fact.

We plan to go back this July 4th for the Fishing Festival where bangkeros will compete for the fastest boat title. Or probably, we can go back in June for the Butanding’s annual scheduled visit. The locals mentioned that this brings them good fortune as the whale shark brings in thousands of smaller fishes, that they promise not to harm it and leave it be. I sincerely can’t wait!

As we were heading home, I kept on thinking whether or not to make this blog entry. The islands near Barangay Hondagua were all beautiful and far from careless and irresponsible tourism. I know that my blog isn’t that influential and wouldn’t bring as much traffic on the place however, exposing the virgin islands proposes a risk of having it discovered and eventually exploited. However, not writing about the place would kill me inside. The attraction is too much to selfishly own it for myself. Besides, this could be an opportunity for the Hondaguans to earn more for themselves and for the preservation of their paradise.

I leave the responsibility to the local government. Should this blog reach views to bring tourists on the place, please take control of the situation and never succumb to greed. It’s a long shot but this heaven deserves to live.