Oasis in Babatngon

A rowboat ride by the pond, anyone?

In a spur of the moment's fancy my friends and I decided to take a visit to Rafael's Farm, a mere 25 minutes drive from the city. I've already heard about this place from friends and have seen pictures of it in their Friendster accounts. They had but wonderful words and my curiosity was piqued. So that night, at a moment's notice off we went to Babatngon, the immediate neighboring town of Tacloban to the south, just short of the San Juanico Bridge. A few minutes after we left the outskirts of the city and the last barangay, we slowed to a stop in front of a wooden gate. We were just in time as the place closed at 8:30 p.m., so we were told by an ebbulient guard who opened its entrance. We went down a winding wooden path traversing over a large man made pond. Uhhmm. So far, everything was just as it looked in the pictures, even better.

The tree house

All twelve hectares of this estate is landscaped with lily ponds and artifial springs strewn all over. The largest pond has small rowboats which you could rent for the small price of P50.00, unlimited hours a delight for the kids which makes it an ideal place for a family outing

I am not much of an expert on architecture much more on landscaping,but I venture my two centavos worth of opinion on Rafael's and what makes it worth visiting. My over-all assessment is that it is the perfect millionaire's getaway. It is what my ideal rest house would look like if I had millions of bucks to spare. It is clear that the owner loving had his hand in the final look for it maintains that homey touch that must come only from the non-expert. But make no mistake, the whole place shows the stamp of a professional interior designer, one can see it in the symmetry and put-together finish of the design.



The restaurant as viewed from the entrance

For the millionaire (could be) that is Rafael's owner, he just was generous enough to share to the public his perfect sanctuary.

The focal point of the farm is the restaurant, which is not quite large but we were told that it is big enough to accomodate 100 persons. Antique chairs and wooden furniture dominates the interiors. Diaphanous curtains serve as soft dividers between the main dining hall and the side lanais. It is usually tied so as to let the fresh air in. Surrounding the building are mini wading pools with urns spouting water from pressurized pumps underneath. The design is an eclectic mix of native Filipino and old European touches. I do love the old kerosene lamps, a reminder of my childhood when emergency lights was then unheard of. It came in handy too as a brown out occurred a good ten minutes after we arrived.

Scatterred a few meters from the restaurant are small cottages you could rent for the day where you could bring in your own food plus corkage. There is also a tree house which, unfortunaltely could not be seen in nightime. All in all, Rafael's Farm provides the perfect ambiance for the weary soul tired of the usual city fare of smog and concrete. The food was reasonably priced for a restaurant of this caliber (settings-wise). We ordered crispy enough fries and cheesecake that, while unremarkable, is pleasing enough to the palate. But that is not always the lure of place. Just being there and savoring the sights is enough. Enough reason to return and bring along a friend.

(photos courtesy of Atty. M.N.A.)

One Way Bike Club

The group posing in front of the Balangiga Massacre Memorial



The banner says its all






A group of health conscious individuals have banded together to form what is now called the
One Way Bike Club. An organization of mountain bike enthusiasts, their members have pedalled their way in and around the region, rediscovering Leyte and Samar's beautiful spots along the way. THeir trips have taken them to Calico-an, Guiuan; Naval, Biliran, Baybay, Leyte; Ormoc City and Hinabangan, Samar, all on the strength cycling legs. Which is why a hefty dose of stamina is a requirement for one to be a member. Don't look now but a 70 year old lolo joins them on their bike jaunts and he is never the worse for wear. Of course a good sense of camaraderie is part of the package as it is more than just organization, it is a coming together of like minded and fun-loving persons with the common goal of healthy living who have all decided: POTBELLIES MUST GO! (Yah, the pictures tell a different story, but d hubby says they're getting there, from a size 36" he's now down to 33" and counting)

You could find most of them at their favorite haunt, "Washingan", a car wash service center-cum-dining outlet with a semi-retired chef at the helm. So expect your spaghetti and chicken teriyaki cooked here ala carte with hotel style finesse. Its just along Gomez St., a few meters away from the Sto. Nino Church.

So who said biking had to be a bore? Definitely not for the One Way Bike Club.

Bartolo's kinilaw

My love affair with the "kinilaw" began when I tasted it during a trip to Calico-an, an island in Guiuian, Eastern Samar. Since then I have been on the look out for even tastier conconctions of this raw fish salad cooked by the fermenting action of local vinegar. I needn't have looked very far, as the hubby whipped up a very tasty one four weekends ago. Under pain of sleeping outside the kulambo (hehehe), he cooked one again for me for this piece, this time slowly demonstrating to me the process of soaking the fish in suoy in just the right amount of time, not to little as it would come out raw and not too long such that it becomes overcooked. They key here is watching out for the color of the fish such that when it turns from slightly pink to almost white, it is already "done" and you must now add the coconut milk. I say almost 'cause if it is already white, then the suoy has been "overstaying" already. The hubby loves to eat it with his bare hands but I prefer it the "American" way, with spoon and fork. Any which way it still is a hearty meal filling enough after a second serving.

They say the kinilaw is not something that the region can call its own as the dish is present all over the country, but I beg to disagree. A major ingredient is coconut milk for which Eastern Visays is abundant and I have heard of the tale of how kinilaw came to be, it goes like this:

One day a fisherman left his day's catch just below a coconut tree while he went back to his boat to retrieve something. In the meantime, sap from a coconut slowly dripped into the fish left by the fisherman. It took quite sometime for him to go back for his catch but when he he did, lo and behold, the fish had turned white. Thus, was born the country's first kinilaw.

You won't find it in any history book. Why? Because its urban legend......one made up by this wacky blogger (gotcha!, you actually believed that, didn't you?)

Seriously, some of the finest version of kinilaw can be found here, in the islands of Samar and Leyte It is a favorite pulutan and goes well with the native tuba, island red wine which is actually aged juice of the coconut colored red from the bark of the same tree. Indeed the coconut is the "tree of life".

Anyway, let me share with you a recipe of "kinilaw" that I got by way of verbal torture from the hubby (hehe) . I call it Bartolo's version of the ubiquitous philippine sashimi.

Bartolo's "kinilaw"

Ingredients:

1/2 kilo of the freshest fish available (kirawan or tangigue is most preferred)
1 cup local vinegar
1 and 1/2 cup of coconut milk
calamansi extract
two heads of onions, finely diced
2 or three tomatoes, finely diced

1 bell pepper, thinly sliced into strips
ginger, finely diced


1.Take out all the innards of the fish (gills, etc.)

2.Cut the fish into bite sized pieces, place in a bowl and add the vinegar.
3.Mix the onions, tomatoes, ginger and garlic into the fish. Leave for ten minutes, have the vinegar ferment all the ingredients, especially the fish.
4.Add the coconut milk.
5.Toss all the ingredients into the bowl until its finely mixed. Leave for five minutes.
6. The "kinilaw" is now ready to eat.

This Made Me Laugh

A good dose of laughter is indeed the best medicine. Came upon this post in a "Waraynon's" blog. Made some translations so the non-waray could get the drift. A lot of the nuances though is lost...

Kay Rico man
- lifted from benny2pm.blogs.friendster.com/my_blog (translation is that of the blogger)

Rico (Rich): May migrain ako (I have a migraine)
Pobre(Poor): Agi ka-ulul hit ak ulo (My head is aching)

Rico: You are depressed
Pobre: Gin sangkayan ka (You've been enchanted)

Rico: Wow tan na tan ka (Wow, you're tanned)
Pobre: Agi gi-iitumi ka baga hin agta (Your so black, like a squid)

Rico: Kinahanlan mo na mag-pa-cleaning (You need need to have an oral prophylaxis)
Pobre: Agi kiki-on ka dulaw-dulawan (Sorry, no equivalent in English)

Rico: Tama la imo pagka-chubby
Pobre: Agi daw katatambokan mo

Rico: Oy Chinese it hiya
Pobre: Agi kay bugsok

Rico: Medyo slow it hiya (he's slow in learning)
Pobre: Bulok (Stupid)

Rico: Herbal Medicine
Pobre: Hudim-hudim (No translation, too)

For more of this guy's laidback humour, visit his blog. (Recommended: "An Salbabida")

Waraynon Talents

Waraynons have had their share of talents that have gained fame and accolades beyond the San Juanico Bridge. Some have gained national prominence such as Boy Abunda, a famous television personality who hails from the island of Samar. What I like most about him is his penchant in acknowledging his humble beginnings. He always emphasizes that the prosperity he now enjoys is the fruit of his labor and perserverance to rise above his circumstances. He is also known to accept and grace gatherings of Leytenos and Samarenons in Manila which has endeared him even more to his fellow"waraynons".

Another name that comes to mind is the Kalipayan Dance Troupe, a dance company that has mesmerized audiences worldwide. "The Leyte Kalipayan Dance Company is one of the best folkloric dance troupes in the Philippines today and has been performing since 1961 in the local as well as international scene. Its repertoire consists of Philippine traditional dances and music showing a kaleidoscope of Philippine culture through the performing arts.", so goes the primer of its history as stated in its site and I couldn't agree with it more having witnessed the dance company in action during local festivals. Grace and fluidity of movements are the earmarks of the troupe's performances and their colorful costumes representative of the country's culture serve as the perfect backdrop. But the Kalipayan cannot be where it is now were it now for the grit and determination of its mentor and founder, Ms. Pil, who has institutionalized the rigid training that has produced dancers and alumni who have gone on to be successful in their respective fields (for more on their members, visit their website click here).

Likewise, slowly making a name in local literary circles is Voltaire Oyzon whose book of poems, "An Maupay ha Mga Waray" (for reviews on this tome, click here). Hopefully, it could help stem the slow death (as what one reviewer has said) of Waraynon literature.

On a more personal note, I would like to mention a good friend, who has discovered a calling quite late in life (no, he's just in his early thirties). We would never have thought of David pursuing this profession when we were in college, but then life indeed is full of surprises. If you would like to immortalize your precious moments then the man to call is him. His photograpy has earned him many a satisfied clients. See more of his works click here and judge for yourself.

Waray means "nothing" in the local dialect, but definitely that does not apply when it comes to talents here in the waray-waray region. Goes without saying, the world do owe us our place in the sun.

"...Reasons Why I LOve the Philippines"

There is something about lists that can be quite addicting (Apart from the fact that its so easy to make,he hehe) and I've just made up another one.

In these days where everything you would want to go down just defies the law of gravity and would rather follow the thermal path of hot air (up,up ,up and away, see Prof. P., I actually learned something in Physics), example:price of rice,gas, taxes,crime rate, tution fees...the list goes on and on..., let me wax nationalistic and try to convince you that staying in the Philippines is worth your while. Yeah, I know its a losing battle, but you can't fault me for trying. Seriously, notwithstanding the opinion of the diaspora of OFW's,brain drainers,outward immigrants making a beeline for the country's exits to the contrary, there is still a lot about my dear Philippines that would make me think twice about making that "greener pastures thing". Its wishful thinking-cum-patriotism-cum-"the glass is full not half-empty" mentality-cum-pure optimism. After all,I've been here thirty four years and I have'nt yet caught the"come let's leave the country bug." But then, things can change, so, read me up after five years and maybe three kids later.

".... REASONS WHY I LOVE THE PHILIPPINES DESPITE OF..."

1. The neigborhood sari-sari store where you can buy everything "tinga-tinga" and not get the owner's contemptuous stare;
2. The fact that I get invited to lunch when my visit clocks in mealtime (believe me, I don't do that intentionally and it rarely happens, but I know I would feel really bad if I were made to sit while dinner is served, or lunch for that matter. This form of hospitality you don't find anywhere,its something uniquely Pinoy);
3. Growing old is an at-home experience surrounded by family and not a "home for the aged" thing as in other countries. A reversal of roles which is more in consonance with the universal law of good karma. We get taken cared of when we were young, now its our turn to do the same thing;
4. The good supply of temporary unpaid "yaya's" who comes on a short notice when the paid ones just goes up and leaves; there's the sister-in-law, the mother-in-law, the ate, the bunso, the kuya,the mother,the father, all too willing to watch over the little "pamangkin" or "apo"while mama contributes to the family income;
5. "Kinilaw" - yes, I haven't yet come across a similar dish in other cultures (as if I have been exposed to other cultures, haha). Actually, its an improvement over sashimi cause the vinegar in it cooks the fish. More hygienic even, but as to whats better I leave to your individual taste;
6. Hired help;
7. Women power(we had two woman presidents yet);
8. Propensity of Pinoys to connect (we have the liga ng barangay,liga ng kabataan, liga ng mga homeowners,liga ng parents teachers associations, not to mention the leagues of mayors, vice-mayors, governors, vice-governors and so on and so forth). Everyone is part of at least one community;
9. "Kamag-anak hotel" where you get homegrown hospitality for free;
10. A "salt-eating" bundy clock (ha, ha, ha, office truants,you know what I mean);
I would want a much longer list but try as I might, nothing comes to mind anymore. 'Tis a sad thing, really for all the hype of a big adventure, it still is a truism, there's no place like home. Now, if we could get our act togther, maybe we could have a much longer list.

Welcome, welcome, welcome

Welcome to my newest blog. Whew! I thought setting up a second blog was easy. I now have to contend writing for two sites. Would I be up to the task? Let's see. Before anything else let me state what this new blog of mine will contain. More than just personal thoughts and musings, I have grander plans (ahem). So expect topics that would appeal to a broader demographics, but nationalistic that I am, things would be confined to everything distinctly Pinoy (as much as possible). In time, when I have discovered my target niche, my posts would be more specialized. Already brewing in my mind is a site dedicated to promoting everything about being a native of my beloved city, Tacloban. Soon I'll be writing about dining places, tourist spots and everyday harmless chismis and goings on in the city. For now, everything is just treading along, testing the waters, feeling the vibes, etc.

Newest Restaurant Row (or is it circle) in the City

Don't look now, but mushrooming at the Tacloban Convention Center are new resto's and dining places. One thing going for them is their location: right beside the refreshing waters of the Bay. Their customer base has slowly grown and this blogger and her friends had tried out at least two of these food haunts. The first one we went into is basically a pasta and pizza place (No names here yet, no plugging allowed, for now). We ordered fresh salads and a pasta dish, "blanco______", fettucini with white sauce. The latter was quite scrumptious with its hefty servings of carbonara. But what makes the place stand out is it interiors: beautiful paintings and a creative mural decks it walls. But then, I wouldn't recommend it for dinner, not if your of the voracious kind. Why, because they don't serve rice, perhaps it really is a pasta and pizza place. As for the other resto we went into ( we had to, we still had a grumbling stomach), we had sisig and their house specialty, steamed lapu-lapu (grouper). Service was fine and the staff friendly enough, just one suggestion though, more ice please for your drinks.

We still have to try the others in the Circle but maybe at another time, our tummy have had enough for now.

Tacloban Fiesta 2008

Pintados Kasadyaan, '08-the winning delegation, "Buyogan"
of Abuyog, Leyte



Pintados Kasadyaan 2008

Sangyaw 2008. invited delegations from Makati, Marikina and Bacolod

Sometime more is not always better especially if the increase in number is brought about by a great political divide. So it was that the recent Tacloban City fiesta was celebrated last June with two organizers, two festivals, two main venue and two parades. There was the Sangyaw Festival which was spearheaded by the city government headed by Mayor Alfred Romualdez on one hand and the Pintados Kasadyaan Festival of Festivals each claiming to be the true and the best. The venue for the former was the Balyu an Tower while that of the latter was the RTR Plaza. Each tried to outshine the other in terms of gimmicks and nightly fanfare. While it could be said that the rivalry was divisive, the result gave the city two occasions to showcase its rich culture. As to which was better, the answer would depend on which political side you were on.

As the pictures show, the Pintados and Sangyaw Festivals indeed have gone a long way from its humble beginnings as the costumes of the diffrent delegations are now more colorful and the dance steps more intricate. Just imagine how much grander it could have been has the celebration been a joint one.

Waray ako

Writing about what makes me distinctly a Waraynon, is quite hard. This is most especially true in a world that has made Western brands a byword and where identity among Filipinos as to their roots and culture an almost lost cause. What makes it doubly difficult is being part of the MTV generation whose attention span is comparable to the music videos regularly churned out in our time. But still, the task is not impossible. So let me cull from my lifetime of experiences and my lifelong stay in these part of the Philippine archipelago collectively know as the Eastern Visayas. One word for each representation.

The coconut tree - Perhaps this is where we got our name, waray-waray. Pop culture has it that because the coconut tree was abundant in our land, people just sat and waited for its fruits to fall, without any effort on our part. ("Waray-waray, waray labot, waray pakialam");

Imelda country - Arguably, the region's most famous contribution to recent history;

San Juanico Bridge - longest bridge in Asia.....

Grrrr. Im no historian so I better stop pretending to be one. Let me just say this. I'm a Waray-waray and proud to be one.