When you’re in the town proper of Vigan, besides the new McDonald’s and the Vigan Cathedral is a small cluster of eateries where local townfolks and tourists converge during lunch or merienda time. Vigan folks call this place, “empanadahan.” Obviously the reason for the name is because it is in this place where you will find the best empanada in Vigan. Empanada is a famous delicacy/food fare in the Ilocos region. In fact both Vigan and Laoag have their own versions of the empanada.

For P35 (approx. less than a $1), you’ll have a hot empanada which is actually a mixture of vegetables with one whole egg on the center and wrapped in locally made dough. The dough is then dip fried in a boiling hot cooking oil. Right after the dough turned orange, it is then taken out of the frying pan and served on a platter with the famous Ilocos vinegar (vinegar mixed with various spices - onions, sili, ground pepper).

Vigan’s empanada is definitely for the health freak, as you could just imagine the amount of calories you’re going to take per a piece of the Empanada. But if you just happen to be on a tour of Ilocos, one or two empanadas would not do your diet any harm.

And this is how they make this famous empanada. Enjoy!

The Famous Bell Tower of Vigan, Ilocos Sur

Calle Crisologo in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur

Fort Ilocandia in Laoag, Ilocos Norte

Paoay Church in Laoag, Ilocos Norte

Cape Bojeador in Burgos Ilocos Norte

Bangui Windmill Project, Ilocos Norte

Vigan Cathedral, Ilocos Sur

Pagudpud Beach, Ilocos Norte

Left Antipolo City around 3 a.m. This is our first stop, Binalonan Pangasinan. Took us 4 hours.

Taken at the Fontana Water Park in Clark Field, Pampanga. The Water Park features a wide swimming area with a 15 minute “waving pool” every after 30 minutes.

It’s definitely summer time in paradise Philippines as depicted in the above photo. Fontana Water park a big water-theme amusement park. Entrance fee is P300 per head, including kids. Food and drinks not allowed inside the park. Food items at the food kiosk inside the water park is reasonably priced except for sodas and drinks which cost around P70-100.

If you are looking for a not so expensive place to spend the excruciating heat of the summer sun, Fontana Water Park will definitely please you.

Note: The back of the entrance ticket says that only members are allowed to buy tickets for extra guest. But I don’t think this is still applicable though, as I was able to buy 2 extra tickets even if I am not a Fontana member.

Manila Ocean Park in Roxas Blvd, Manila Philippins is the latest craze in town attracting throves of Filipinos day in and day out. For P400 (adult price, P350 kids below 4 ft.), you’ll get to see some nice looking fishes, a sharklet (mini shark), pa-ge (what’s the english word for this?). If you’re lucky you might get to see Dora and Nemo, or Francince Prieto or Fidel Ramos.

I wanted to make this my usual long post about a place that I’ve visited. But I am afraid I could not do it this time, because a friend used to tell me - “if you can’t say anything notice, better say nothing at all”.

In other words - Manila Ocean Park may is not worth the price you have to pay just to see some nice looking ocean creatures trapped in several giant aquariums.

But if you still want to visit it, better do it on weekdays. You won’t enjoy it if you go there during weekends. The place is small and gets too crowded easily. You will be able to see everything in just a few minutes. In fact, the time you would spent lining up to get tickets is even longer than the time you would spend inside.

Hopefully, the management of the Manila Ocean Park comes up with something new and better when the Park is fully finished. Ok. enough said. Here are some pictures I took when I went there last Holy Thursday.

During summer, the most anticipated period among Manila urban dwellers is the Lenten Season. It’s a good four non-working days event, so it’s the perfect time to catch up with family members, bond with the family and simply relax, reflect, and enjoy.

It’s a few good weeks before Holy Week, so better start planning your Lenten season getaway trip. Here are 5 suggestion where you can possible spend the Holy Week without burning your budget too much.

1. Balay Laiya Resort - Actually, the whole strip of San Juan coast in Batangas offers several affordable beaches with nice cottages and food selections. But Balai Laiya is higly recommended because there are few cottages available. This means, the resort would not be too crowded during peak season. But if you don’t mind having too many companions on the resort, then you can opt to book your stay in some other beaches nearby.

2. Golden Sunset Resort - Located on the other side of Batangas (Calatagan area), Golden Sunset Resort is a good place for swimming, parties, fun and eating. If you don’t mind not having a beach to swim into, Golden Sunset resort would suffice to your relaxation needs. It has several swimming pools and a giant slide which would surely be big hit for kiddies and youngsters as well.

3. Cattleya Farm Resort - Not too far away from Manila, this resort is located in the heart of Antipolo which is a few minutes drive from Pasig City.

4. Paradise Ranch/Nayong Filipino sa Clark - Clark offers you two good places to spend your Holy Week vacation to. Paradise Ranch goes well with nature lovers. Plus their house-for-rent is perfectly located on top of a hill. Perfect for meditation and soul-searching, that is (if you don’t have kids with you). While Nayong Filipino offers something different in terms of accomodations. They have man-made Aeta kubos where you can rent for an overnight stay. You’d have a change to cook and sleep the Aeta way.

5. Visita Iglesias - If beaches, swimming and having fun is not your way of spending the Holy Week vacation, and you prefer to spend it the Catholic way, then you’re best bet would be to have a Visita Iglesia on Good Friday. The best route to follow is the Laguna area, passing through the Rizal route. There are several churches along the way which would complete your 12 Churches to visit which is a practice during Holy Week.

There you have it, 5 suggestion on how to make the most out of your Holy Week vacation. If you have other suggestions, feel free to leave a comment. As I myself is stil scouting for a good place to spend my Holy Week break as well.

I first visited Crescent Moon Cafe ten years ago during a planning session of our alumni association. I wouldn’t forget the Cafe’s signature appetizer which is a mixture of various Filipino spices such as grated peanut with sweet sauce, diced onions, ginger, fried shrimplets, Filipino green sili, diced Kamias, shredded coconut, all wrapped in alagao leaves (edible leaves of a plant which has a pungy after taste). That appetizer still taste the same when I visited Crescent Moon recently.

Crescent Moon cafe is owned and managed by Lanelle Abueva-Fernando, daughter of national artists Napoleon Abueva. The place is still the same as ten years ago. The soothing landscape surrounding the cafe still holds the same tranquility and serenity of the place.

Full set lunch meal at Crescent Moon cost P400/head (approx $10) consisting of Pumpkin Soup with coconut meat (Yummy!), Chicken curry (that I swear doesn’t contain any MSG or salt but is tasty nonetheless), Asian noodles (with a bit of sweet taste), Native vegetables, fried fish (tuna and tambakol) and for dessert, Crescent Moons special suman (rice cake) with sweet mango.

It was indeed a great lunch. Simple and yet unforgetably delicious! Crescent Moon is another good reason to take a day visit to Antipolo. Its the perfect place to dine after a soothing and relaxing massage treatment at the nearby Callospa Resort.

How to Get to Crescent Moon

If you are coming from Sumulong Highway, go straight past the Ynares Rotunda. You’ll pass by Unciano Hospital, and Shopwise Antiplo. A few meters away you’ll see Flying V gasoline station which is on the left side of a three forked intersection. Take the right most road a watch out for a Shell station, then the Milagrosa Subdivision. A few meters from the subdivision, you’ll see the Crescent Moon signboard. Take that road, and enter the Crescent Moon compound on the left side of the road.

A visit to Callospa and Resort in Antipolo could probably be the best treat you could ever give to your self. Callospa is a unique garden spa nestled deep into the heart a small community in Antipolo. Inside this simulated rainforest resort are relaxing facilities and services that you would make clamor for more and more hours of tranquility and peace.

Callospa Services and Facilities

Ok, enough of the poetic description and lets go on with the specifics. Callospa as a getaway place in Antipolo has the following amenities and services:

• Full service spa with signature massages, body and facial treatment and steam and sauna booths,
• A small swimming pool where you can dip into before giving your body that much needed massage treatment,
• A badminton court which also doubles up as function area,
• A man-made fishpond

Massage treatment and body detoxification treatment are easily affordable and coupled with the nice services rendered by the Callospa staff, are certainly worth the bucks you have to pay.

Entering the Callospa and seeing its lush green surrounding is a pleasure in itself. The place speaks of tranquility and mistiness that would make you stay for as long as you can.

My only gripe is that Callospa doesn’t have a cafe that serves food and concoctions. A hot cup of tea and pastries would have been a nice way to end a massage or body treatment.

How to Get to Callospa

Callospa is open from 10 am - 10 pm and is located in Brgy. San Roque, Antipolo City.

If you are coming from Ortigas Avenue, Go straight all the way passing through Cainta Junction and take the road that leads to Taytay Rizal. You’ll eventually reach a junction with the left side leading to Tikling and the right side leading to Taytay. Take the the road leading to Taytay and quickly make a U-Turn near Chowking. Take the corner right after Chowking and go straight. Watch out for the sign that leads to Callospa. You won’t miss it because of these signs.

If you are coming from Sumulong Highway, go straight until you reached the Circumferential Road, go straight again and turn right at the road where Petron is. This will lead you to Ynares Center, Tikling. Take a left from the Ynares junction and watch out for Unciano Hospital to your right. Take a right turn to Marimag Street. From there, its a straight drive towards Callospa. Take note of the signs, again it will lead you to Callospa.

Golden Sunset Resort, located in Calatagan Batangas, is great a place where you can enjoy a respite from the hustle and bustle of the city life. It’s the perfect getaway for Manila dwellers as it only takes a 3-hour drive from Manila to get there. The road to Calatagan is not that bumpy compared to the road going to  Laiya on the other side of Batangas.

Golden Sunset Resort offers many amenities which you and your family can enjoy. Four kinds of  swimming pools awaits you and your  kids. One of the pools has a giant slide where one can enjoy the adrenalin rush of sliding towards the cool water of the pool. Another pool has a jacuzzi, perfect for lovers who are into night swimming. If you want to have a water message, one of the pools has a high pressured water pipe covering one area of the pool. Below it are several concrete pavement where you can lie down as you feel the pressurized water flowing down to your back. It’s the next best thing to a water spa, I would have to say.

Other amenities of the Golden Sunset Resort are:

• Serendipity Spa
• Volleyball Court with sand flooring
• Various restaurants and bars
• Videoke Cottage
• Butterfly Sanctuary
• Outdoor Museum
• Mini-Lake for Boating
• Fishpond
• Various cottages available at various affordable rates

To get to Golden Sunset Resort from South Luzon Expressway, exit to Sta. Rosa and head straight towards Silang then to Tagaytay. From Tagaytay Rotonda, head towards Nasugbu. From Nasugbu just follow the Golden Sunset Resort sign boards with the smiling face of Golden Sunset owner, Ricky Reyes. It will pop out every now and then to remind you that you are still on the rigth path. You’ll pass by the town of Lian, Talisay, and Calatagan.  You’ll know that you are near Golden Sunset Resort, when a gian tarpauline, again with the smiling face of Ricky Reyes, telling you to turn right towards his paradise.

For more details, check out the Golden Sunset Resort website. And for more pictures, please visit Golden Sunset Resort Photos.

Have fun under the sun!

February is going to be a pretty busy month for Paradise Philippines. There are several events both within Metro Manila and outside as well. Aside from February being the start of the Chinese New Year, there are also other special events that would happen this coming February in Paradise Philippines. Here are five of them.

Panagbenga Festival of Baguio - February is the month of lovers and the month of flowers. Mark your calendars, flowers will bloom and go at the centerstage in Baguio City, third week of February. Expect the Session Road to come alive again as the City of Pines celebrates in famous Panabengga festival. I would definitely not miss this one this time.International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta - From Feb. 7-10, Clark Field in Pampanga’s skies will be sprawling with colorful and gigantic hot air balloons as the 12th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta comes to life once again. Better leave early as the hot air balloons usually start flying as early as 5 am.

World Pyro Olympics 2008 - For awhile there was a rumor that there won’t be a Pyro Olympics anymore. But from February 16, 23, Marc 1, 8,15 be sure to head out to the Mall of Asia baywalk area and witness yet again a grand show of pyrotechnics and display of lights.

So gear up as early as now. These three events would surely give your digital cameras some nice photo opportunities. See all there!