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Summer Special

● I Love Philippines -
Summer Special
● Dazzling Davao - By Armie
I love Ilocos Marie Chiu Bausas
By Gino C MATIBAG ● Bohol Escapade - By Armie
Thursday, June 5, 2008 Marie C. Bausas

● Finding Paradise - By Marlies

It was south to north trip for me yesterday. From Davao, I headed R. Bosch, M.D.
straight to Laoag, Ilocos Norte via Manila. I was so exhausted
during the entire night bus trip that I slept during the 9 hours ● Taal Trek and Tagaytay Trip -
journey. Along the way, I ate balut and hopiang mungo during the By Ari Luis C. Halos
30 minutes stop over in Pangasinan. ● Backpacking Baler - By Ari
Luis Halos

● Captivating Camotes - By
Jesson Jumao-as Morata
I arrived at 7am and was fetched by my friend at the bus station. ● A taste of Bicol’s treats - By
Jennifer B. Legaspi
After freshening up a bit, we headed for the church and had a
McDonald's breakfast nearby. The road to Ilocos and the province ● In search of the Whitebeach
in Negros - By Irene Catalbas
itself was impressively clean. Like Davao, it was safe to stroll along.
● The beautiful, loyal Los Baños
I love - by Frank A Hilario

● CompostelaValley’s hidden
treasures… islands to the
highlands - by Christine
Dompor

● Mania in Manila! - Gino C

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Matibag

● I LaB eLBi - By Ari Luis C.

Halos

On the way to Pagudpud, I saw places of interest like the light ● Antulang Beach Resort - By
Arnold Galela
house in Burgos area and the windmills that supply electricity to
● The Travel Buddies
some parts of Ilocos. The more than 100 kilometers highway by the Dumaguete Bonding - by
mountains is well paved. I just wonder if we could instead create Irene Patricia G. Catalbas

tunnels that would traverse under these mountains so that we ● Sleepless in Siargao - by
Jesson J. Morata
won’t have to cut trees. I think that that would be more eco-friendly.
● Captured by Coron - By Ari
Luis Halos

● Doon po sa Davao - by Gino C

Matibag
The food here is really fantastic. After the opening salvo of ● The "Iba, Beach" - By Mario
McDonald's longganisa, we went to Pagudpud which is a bit less E. Orosa

than 2 hours drive from Laoag. Wow, the foods were fabulous. ● In My Country - By Venice Joy
P. Gutierrez
Pinakbet was a run away winner. It was laced with bagnet and I
● Hittin' the shores of
truly marveled its taste. The Ilocano's pork adobo and sinigang
Calatagan! - By Raiza
were good too. I also enjoyed the traditional halu-halo. The Michaella Kasilag

ingredients are much simpler unlike the commercial ones available ● Mt. Pinatubo - My take on the
beauty of the Philippines - By
in food chains. No complicated taste, just the home grown halu- Frances Billano
halo that we know since childhood. And I enjoyed it in the sea side
● Beautiful Bohol - By Gino C
while watching fishermen doing their nets. It felt so nice to eat by MATIBAG
the beach. hmmmm You bet I’m back to my native brown skin. For dinner, I enjoyed Ilocano pinakbet once more ● Farewell Philippines - By Gino
C MATIBAG
(minus the kalabasa), bagnet, pokpok (seeweeds with tomatoes), and lakatan saging. I was told that they have haba
titi. I wonder what it is? I'm interested to know hahaha

We watched Mel and Joey after the dinner and they featured the
pinakbet pizza in my friend's restaurant called Herencia Café. I'm
excited to have a taste while I'm here.

***

I visited Batac where the remains of ex-Prexy Marcos, in his full

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regalia, lies. I learned that his body has been waxed and the
controversial air-conditioning units are nothing but the usual a/c
units that we see. But the 24-hours maintenance since 1989 would
be too much to be borne by whomever. I’m not sure of the material
of his barong, but I could see that it is well maintained save for the
very minute dirt that I saw. I think it would have been wiser if they
molded his face in clay, just like how the French saved a copy of
Louis Pasteur’s face.

The old house now turned into a museum is very big and the capiz shells are still complete. I saw various memoirs
of the late Prez like his cars' plate numbers, the newspaper when he topped the bar exams until he became a lowly
public official, to his being the President. His diary of his current thoughts during the last hours of his regime is
shown for public viewing.

Since it was Monday when I visited, the hall where they show case more of his photos was closed for cleaning, so I
wasn't able to see much. Not many Pinoys went there. I heard one
group of young visitors commenting and comparing the current
administration.

Nothing new in terms of what I ate. It was a replay of pinakbet, pork

adobo (dry type) and Royal tru-orange this time. Halu-halo for
dessert. I look forward for the exotic pizzas. Will go to Vigan
tomorrow and leave for Manila. Next destination, Bohol!

Tid bits: Surf's Lumeng has 2 children now. The twin's of Aga and Charlene are now talents of Jollibee. Ang Cute ng
Ina Mo starring Ai-Ai is now showing lolzzzz Pagoda Philippines na sa byahe.

***

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This is my last day in Ilocos Norte. Today I went to Vigan, Ilocos

Sur and Paoay, Ilocos Norte. But right now, I am in Batac, Ilocos
Norte again. Don't be confused because these areas are not so far
from each other. If I am not mistaken, Vigan is only one hour away
drive from Laoag. On the way to Vigan, I saw big houses of
politicos and very influential families like the Marcoses, Fariñas, et
al.

Vigan is simply amazing. The Spanish influence is still present in Crisologo Street. This side of the country is a world
heritage, I was told. The old houses remain although some are with touch of modernity. As I walked along the
cobbled-stone streets, I could imagine Doña Victorina and Ibarra in their costumes. Did I see Sisa pass by? hahaha
Only calesas are allowed to pass by in this street. The place is clean, and if you were a smoker, ashtrays can be
found in every corner to throw cigarette butts.

I saw the ABS-CBN crew of the TV sitcom Let's Go! while they were preparing for their shooting. Although I did not
see the stars, because I think I was early, I saw their director Edgar Mortiz. I have footage of him in my cam but I
could not upload them yet because I did not bring my gadgets with me now.

I also went to Chavit Singson's Baluarte were I had a free short pony ride. hahaha Kind of weird but the 9 year old
pony driver tried to persuade me to pose beside Chavit's submarine. I thought it was awkward to do so hahaha A
submarine? In this zoo, I saw swans, ostriches, tigers, monkeys of all sorts, reptiles, butterflies. It is not a big zoo as
you may think. I think it is more of a personal collection made public and the entrance is for free!

For breakfast, and I know you are waiting for this, I enjoyed bangus sisig of Jollibee. When I felt a bit
hungry touring Vigan. I savored Max's halu-halo. The Vigan branch of this restaurant serves Vigan longganisa,
dinuydoy and the famous bagnet. For lunch, I went to Herencia Café in Paoay were they serve the pinakbet pizza.
This pizza is really unique. It is filled with mozzarella cheese, the usual ingredients like okra, sitao, and talong were
there. Pinakbet talaga! I ate it with rice hahaha I also relished the bagnet. I almost forgot my name with its crunchy
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feel. Dinuguan was another winner. The food presentations were also outstanding. My soup was tinolang manok.
hmmmm What a very hearty meal!

A few snap shots of the famous Paoay Church right across the
restaurant completed my day. Later when I get back to Laoag, I
shall prepare for tonight's journey back to Manila.

This is part of a series of stories when the author visited the

beautiful islands of the Philippines from 28 March until 25 April
2007, his first local trip in 4½ years after earning his PhD degree in Japan. He is now a post-doctoral fellow, also in
Japan.

Let’s travel with him and enjoy seeing our beautiful country through his stories, photos, videos. To view videos and
more photos, please visit: http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-HWTFWtI2cqiBwueR1iG9?p=340

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