Philippine Travel Notes

I have been passing by this place a number of times, and never tried them yet. Yes, I heard what it is, a Korean fastfood-style restaurant with a signature tasting chicken! After Mactan with some transactions at the airport, friend and I caught ourselves at SM Cebu. She wanted to try other BonChon items as she's already tried the chicken. Okay done. Masarap nga. Kakaiba ang lasa. I think it is not just the glaze (as others claim), but how the chicken is cooked. Better than Jollibee? Hmn, magkaiba sila eh! Basta masarap. We were even wondering what took us long to try BonChon! Maybe because it is always crowded, especially the branch at Ayala Mall! #bonchonchicken #TravelPhilippines #CentralVisayas

Many of you, dear readers, won't anymore know what this instrument is! I mean: 'di nyo na yata inabot' ! That is why I took this picture. To capture the recent-past ! Oist FYI pinagtitinginan ako while I shot that pic ! People curiously glanced at me as I stood there, take aim, and clicked! Ahh hehehe, the PLDT Payphone - one of the few that still remain. I was even surprised to have encountered one, today March 30, 2014! Sa SM City Cebu yan. Syempre wala nang gumagamit. Oy, aba me dial tone pa! Buhi pa! That gadget, once-upon-a-time the lifeline of many humans in-love or in-business, is now forgotten, overshadowed by the cellphone ! I should know... because I incidentally come from a generation of Pinoys born and raised during its prominence, until imminent death! Bakit, patay na ba ang landline? Well, naghihingalo na, di ba?! I can anyway tell you, that until the late 1990s or even the early 2000s, it was essential for us travelers to know how to u...

What a long story title, 'no? But, do you know those places? Read on! Too many more things to talk about (kay mga turaban) , but I needed to be at Mactan Airport by noon. So we agreed to meet for brunch at Mactan Marina Mall [sa Timex ]. Where's that? Sa Timex nga! Timex Many people from other places who frequently go to Cebu by air, have been used to calling that corner of Airport Road and MLQ Hi-way in Pusok, Lapu-lapu City as Timex , because of the clock tower, where the four big clocks sport the brand Timex Indiglo ! That location is actually just a road intersection island, but it's big - about 4,000sqm says my engineer-friend rom Pusok. There is even a building - with that clock-tower. Timex, as you would probably know, was the 'first international brand locatee' to the original Mactan Export Processing Zone (now MEPZ1) - its gate is a few feet away. They have a big facility at MEPZ1 composed of several buildings, and it is said that maj...

Another benefit of roaming around (even if aimless hehe), familiarization tour! Walking by the side of Consolacion Public Market this morning, and I saw this: I asked the manang what it is called. She said "Bagongon" (I hope I heard that right) . A tindera beside her said lami na tinon-an . I asked permission to take a photo. Done! And until I got home, my curiosity on that shell did not stop. So, I asked around, and curiously searched the world wide web for anything other than "lami na nga tinon-an". So, it's generally called Bagongon in the Visayas, Mindanao and even some parts of Luzon. It can be called "Susong Pilipit" by Tagalogs, though it's a very generic name. I'll stick to Bagongon . And, I conciously encountered it only today, I think! Hey I asked if that is the same as the Dalodalo or Sihi in Eastern Samar, No to both! Laag pa more! #Visayas #TravelPhilippines #bagongon

Circumstances are as if leading me to prove what I have been saying all along... that there will always be something notable, even on the common routes we take often ! Take this route I keep traveling: Catbalogan-Tacloban-Ormoc-Cebu . Here I was again, passing-by, like I did 2 weeks ago. And I've seen things 'worthy of space' in my brain. Oops, let's clarify that last pronouncement ... yes worthy of space in my head , but, the human brain forgets, therefore let me rephrase that into: worthy of space in my blog ! My title says "Tacloban to Ormoc". What ever happened to "Catbalogan to Tacloban" before that? Aw, 2 things: 1) nothing much caught my attention ; and 2) nakatulog ako ! Maybe that satisfying 'silog' lunch at Cafe Maria Rosario made me drowsy! Anyway... It was the same old route as before: 1) Catbalogan-Tacloban on a Grand Tours van ; 2) Tacloban-Ormoc on a Grand Tours van ; 3) Ormoc-Cebu fastcraft via Weesam this ...

We had dinner last night at a place where many Catbaloganons would probably raise an eyebrow (or both) if they hear this name: Twins Resto . Well, things have changed! It has been upgraded, and there's a new kind of service - turn left and go to the end. You will stumble upon this enclosed and air-conditioned "private dining area". Ayos! If you look at that photo intently, you will realize I took it while already seated inside the room, yet I could see all the goings-on outside. I could hear the band but faintly. It's an "exclusive" meeting room complete with projectors and the works. Of course you can dine in this "function room" if you wish. We did. They even arrange buffets! Aw, you just go out to the main hall, if you want to sing and/or dance with the band. Ay, even the food they serve has also seen upgrades - in presentation and in taste! There was a dozen of us, but I think that room can fit more. I also didn't 'investi...

Arrived by boat in the morning and found my self hearing mass in the afternoon. On a Saturday?! Yep. Anticipated, as I have have lots to do tomorrow (mamaya na yan)! Significant day anyway. I have not been to this church for some time. Matagal na. Equally worth noting that this was (still?) the First Week of Lent (yata) because last week (10 days ago) was Ash Wednesady. Not to mention, Holy Week after Yolanda! Speaking of Yolanda, wasn't this church also affected like many others? Apparently not, based on everything around - even if my photo is blurry - especially the retablo. It's (now) so grand looking. Way far from what it had been during my younger years. I smiled imagining 'this time, I could actually get lost behind that retablo' ! Oy btw, our new pope has just turned 1 year as such. And like anywhere, priests are quite active mentioning the Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel) . Nice of them. #EasternVisayas #TravelPhilippines #catbalogancity ...

I have done this before , right? Yep, also on Cokaliong, but that was on M/V Filipinas Dinagat. This time, my ship's name was M/V Filipinas Maasin . So, was it the same? I would say 'generally the same'. But you know me, every trip is a new experience. It will always have something worth remembering , na dapat isulat. For memory's sake! Aw ah, te isulat eh! Yes, like in 2011, I was on my way to Catbalogan, with a fair lot of "props" heheh, so barko was my best way! I actually have no issue with riding a plane to Tacloban but the commute from TAC airport to city, then onwards to Catbalogan is discouraging! To say the least. It was easier this time (I hope this is not forever), to commute from Calbayog's Maguino-o Port, 21kms to Calbayog City, then 70kms to Catbalogan City. Here I go! Where to buy tickets From previous trips, I came to know that Cokaliong also has a Ticket Office outside of Pier 1 ( in front of the gate ) together with...