Philippine Travel Notes

I was passing-by, and saw a number of tourists walking towards this house / store / spectacle. Known more popularly as the home of Lumen's Pastillas and Delicacies , I know it's also 'home' to some birds. I have seen this "interestingly weird" house sometime in 2009 (maybe 2010) so I asked my driver that we drop-by for a moment to buy delicacies and to see how this house is doing - with its resident birds. Well, it's still generally the same. Oh, for those who don't know yet, Lumen's is an old residential house, where the owner concocts baked and other sweet delicacies -and they are quite popular in this region. They have pastillas and things like roscas, uraro banana/camte chips, tablea and so on. I learned they even also sell 'queseo' (do you know what that is?), soon other things like jams (sabi ni Mana Lumen)! Now... The other thing that make this place a tourist-draw is the living-room ceiling. Birds made it their home too...

This was still on my joyride from Calubian to Tacloban, we naturally had to pass by Carigara. This time we "stopped-to-shop" oh ha?! My driver promised his three lovely daughters that he would bring home some pasalubong from Carigara, thus the 'shopping'. He went (I followed) to only this roadside store.., Well, he's been a driver for so long a time, I cannot contest his knowledge on where to buy the best of these pasalubongs! There are many stores on this highway strip, and I think they sell the same things! As the driver picked what he had to pick (and haggled with the vendors for more] I clicked hehe! Here's the honest deal about me and these sweets from Carigara - or other sweets from anywhere for that matter: I am not really too keen on any of them, such that I'd crave for, or plan to specifically seek them out. BUT - when I get started with ANY of them, there's no telling when I will/can stop. IF at all! I do not even know or care to know wha...

Just six days ago, I said I would come back to this place. But I did not expect it would be this soon! Anyway, I do not have much to say other than, the Lolas were friendlier today, not so busy since we there are (ate lunch) at 11AM. I took pics of the "aparador" where they put/keep their food on display! Oh okay, Mano Sepring, my driver today, says this is called a "lansena" (lancena?), not "aparador"! While I seem to have "expertly" avoided the glares and reflections on this shot, let me clarify that the cabinet (okay fine, lansena) is glass all over. So, no langaw or other insects whatsoever. Hygienic!!! The lowest shelf (lower than my knee) contains mostly sweets (desserts) like "torta", "bukayo", "biko" - although there is also "tableya" for sale (right front corner). Second level shelf (about the height of my stomach) are mostly the yummy fare for the day! Top shelf are Carigara delicacies like ...

I have been curious about this place for some time now. And I said last June I really want to see what this place is all about, right? So, today was my chance as I was going back to Tacloban from Kananga! Oops, lampas! Haha, this picture I took as we turned back because my driver missed that corner! We were facing back at Capoocan this time and took a left turn to where the arrow points to! Wha! We joked we were already in Iraq! Then again, this zone may have been named after another place as the capital of Iraq is Baghdad. Whoa again... a gated compound in a wide farm... mala-hacienda! Like anywhere, this gate does not really exclude outsiders. It's more of just a status symbol art (arte)! Chadaaan! And I said to my self, parang hacienda nga... This compound is in the middle of vast ricefields, about a kilometer away for the highway (pic above). The café / bar area. Inviting... It connects to a spacious outside dining area - can be good for meetings even parties a...

We were just halfway on a trip from Basey to Kananga. This was a long drive, even if via Barugo. And lunchtime caught us at the town of Carigara. So I requested the driver to find us a nice cozy place that does not teem with people (like fastfoods) but with good food! Without hesitation he brought us here! Driver says he had been eating in this place even during his previous stint as delivery truck driver. But he cautioned me, that food here is a bit pricier than the usual turo-turo. Hmmn, 1965, I was intrigued! Their food is nothing fancy nor gourmet. Just simple and usual daily family fare. But yes, marasa! This one on foreground is a big fried fish, that whitish thing on the right is "kinilaw", and the other fish is "bulad" (yummy, not salty)! Of course paired with "hinatukan nga karubasa" (squash with cocomilk)! Burp! Yes, very "tastes like home" food. But did you know those are not the bestsellers in this place? Ah the thing that almost ...

I was returning to Tacloban from Palompon after a visit of Kalanggaman Island, and here are some interesting views that invited the curiosity of my camera along the way... First up, while wading our way out of Palompon... Red arrow points to an uncommon (rare actually) pedicab with a driver's backrest! I have seen many pedicabs since yesterday, but, only this one sports that 'luxurious' backrest. Why and when needed? I can't imagine! Driver needs to rest while on a "long drive"?! Blue arrow points to a motorbike loaded with a big fish container. Well, at least this one is a common sight in this country, but just the same, it amazes me that such a wobbly unstable mode of transport can carry that heavy a load. What if it topples? Fish spread! Here's another one. Ah, blue arrow is the same dude as above... But red arrow points to another rider carrying a lighter load (I guess). However, those are TWO styropore boxes, one on top of the other, AND not at ...