Philippine Travel Notes

It has been some while since I had my last taste of Vietnamese food! Thus, when I happened to pass by this restaurant while roaming around Robinson's Galleria, I immediately went to look at their menu!   Of course, I salivated.., And I took 'excruciating time' deciding on what I should order (I wanted them all, arrrghh)! Well.., (nainis na yata maghintay yung waitress na naka-Ao Dai pa man din).., I ended up with this.., And of course this.., Ahh... that just made my day!

This is a new bar, I think. Well, after Yolanda, everything seems rather new in Tacloban anyway, right?! This one called Club Diplomat, I saw a few nights ago on an evening stroll, since I live at a hotel nearby. I sat at one of the outside tables and had a bottle of beer . Hmm, they have live music interspersed with DJ music. All I could say was "pwede"! Tonight, after posting my previous story , I had dinner at Andok's, and walked to look and see more of what Club Diplomat is. I wanted to listen more as to what kind of music do they generally play and what is the 'tone' and 'feel' inside.  I didn't expect much since tonight (Tuesday) was the second of their "Videoke Nights" (Mondays & Tuesdays), while "Acoustic Nights" are Wednesdays down to Saturdays of every week. Can't wait for tomorrow as I'm back to Manila (again)in the morning, and would only be back probably by Monday - which would then be "Videoke Nigh

Craving for 'meryenda', I walked out of DWU Hospital after visiting a colleague who had a minor ailment but needed confinement. I crossed the street, and after Chowking I found some cafe that looked like a restaurant (and I think a dorm too.) Whatever, basta I saw that the name was "cafe". When I was given the menu, I saw 'coffee' but I couldn't find fraps or iced coffee. I asked the waiter if they had any. The reply was "aw puydi man sir, an 3-in-1 bubutangan ice". Whatever he meant with that, it offended me - because I thought he was stupid (taga huron, he did not really know what I was asking for) or they're not a "cafe" after all, or both. So I bolted out murmuring some 'invectives' hehe! I thought I might as well walk to Jose Karlo's. But as I turned right at Metrobank, I saw a curious reddish pinkish signage of a cake shop that looked like they have coffee. When I entered, I said "ayayay" to myself! T

Intro muna: I have been in Tacloban for sometime now, but this is my first time in this eatery. I guess I'll be back to this place more times in the future. Why? Because there are many choices - from the turo-turo style food, to fusion specialties. Everyday! So this is Cosina Juan Luna, an old era property converted into a restaurant. There are actually two eating areas with corresponding menus, ambiance, and prices, of course! This here is the inside of the above facade, a rustic turo-turo style eatery. We might as well say, this is a 'sosyalin' kind of turo-turo hehe. Just look at the setup! Cozy and clean. Plus the food they offer, which are mainly Pinoy fares, are served in neatly arranged rows of either clay pots or tempered glass cooking trays or pots! They serve dinner too, with a new set of equally delectable fares, mainly from their grills. Plus the ambiance with those yellow lights above and around you, accented by lighted decorative bottles on your table, e

I have seen this place a number of times, but from afar. This can be seen as you cross the San Juanico Bridge from Samar to Leyte. Of course, just a hint that this is some building far out and up on some hilly outskirts of Tacloban city. This was never in my bucket list. Yet, I visited for a succession of "3days 0nights", because I needed to! Here's my story... There was a 3-day seminar being held at this place, that required my presence and a few words. On arrival at the Tacloban DZR Airport, I was immediately whisked to this place so I could already say what I needed to say, hehe, before I could even get to my hotel. What is this place? Ah, it's a golf course! And as golf courses would usually have, there is their 'attempt' of a country club (restaurant, swimming pool, lockers and recreation, lounging areas). But do not expect it to be like the clubhouses at golf courses elsewhere. This one is 'wanting', at least at the time of my visit - whic

This was the Manila Domestic Terminal, that became the Manila Old Domestic Terminal and is now fondly called 'NAIA Terminal 4' - am not sure yet if that is official. Quite some time already since I have last used this terminal as I often fly with PAL. Only the newer budget airlines and/or the domestic charter airlines still use this. It now has an "identity" from the inside. Yes, me 'concierge' pang nalalaman... oh ha?! I was excited coming to this airport for check-in. Why? Ah well, maybe for the nostalgia as this was the only domestic airport in Manila that I have known and used all my childhood life, up until college, and even when I started to be 'gainfully employed' as they say - ayan lumalabas na ang mga edad hehe. Part of that excitement was a chance to experience less crowds or long lines to the check-in counters since there are only a few flights that use this terminal nowadays! But I was wrong... What a line! Even longer than those I ex

Am back in the metro for 3 days of successive meetings! No worries on traffic. Am staying at this hotel near clients' offices... This hotel is fairly new. The latest addition on what seems to be a growing chain of budget hotels strategically positioned all over the country. Well, if 'just rooms' will be the basis, since they are immaculate clean (bago kasi), though rather small, I think, (for now) this can be a good alternative in the Ortigas area. I needed to be in the Ortigas Center for a succession of business meetings, and a colleague told me she saw a new hotel just recently inaugurated behind Robinson's Galleria. So I searched for it via google maps, and long story short here I am! This is some kind of a 'budget hotel' venture by the owners of, yes you guessed it, Robinson Land - y'know, the owners of Robinson's Galleria, Cebu Pacific etc., etc. But...There are weird things! Like: 'no food or drinks in the rooms' - you can do it th

Yolanda's Eatery in the Yolanda-stricken area of San Jose District in Tacloban City, near the airport! I have been to this place two years ago and posted my story on this blog. Read that ? Well yes, this eatery precedes the typhoon both in name and occurrence! I went there this afternoon, not really to dine, but just to see if it was still there, or if so, how it was affected by the super typhoon, since I remember it is/was on the very beach. Well, it was wiped out, but alive again at a new location a few meters away... This is right side of the barangay hall (if you're facing it). The original was to the left. Where that UNHCR tent now sits on, is/was the original location of this eatery... This pink building with a Philippine flag, on the right edge of the photo, is the Barangay Hall. To the right of this building is the new location of Yolanda's Eatery (1st pic above). I learned further that: Mana Yollie (Yolanda), the owner/proprietor died a year before the sup

It's a small wet market by the southern edge of Cancabato Bay. On 'google maps', it is the Talipapa behind the St. Joseph Church in Brgy 85, San Jose, Tacloban City. There is (now) a breakwater, considered a promenade by the locals, because of a wonderful sunset view. Many folks call this place Talipapa - that Tagalog term is starting to get "nationalized" haha! But today I found out, this place is a good alternative source of fresh sea produce! Not that I particularly needed to buy fish nor anything food. I just tagged along with one of our drivers in Tacloban, who incidentally is a very good cook. He was on the prowl for the freshest fish and other seafoods. I said "let me go with you" (to catch some sunset)! Cloudy day. The sky did not show much of its usual golden hues (see pics above)... But some of the fish I saw were gold! Wow! They must look fantastic under the sea! I learned, that most of the produce sold here, arrive late afternoons to e