Blogs from Rizal, Philippines, Asia
Angono: Exotic Food, Taka and Petroglyphs
Published: July 2nd 2011Asia » Philippines » Rizal » Angono
July 1st 2011
They make for a very strange combination. Exotic food, as in "bizarre" in the words of Andrew Zimmern. "Taka" as in the art of papier mache. And the Angono Petroglyphs. It wasn't my first time in Angono's Balaw Balaw Restaurant. And even before my first visit, I have heard enough about the exotic cuisine offered in this specialty restaurant cum art gallery. Artist Perdigon Vocalan has long gone; but his wife carries on the tradition so to speak. Angono is famous for its artists and Balaw Balaw seems to have lured many of them to this dining place for both eats and art talk. Around 100 of Perdigon Vocalan's paintings and those of other folk artists are displayed in the 2nd floor Museum above the specialty restaurant along with various sculptures and woodcarvings representing the rich ... read more
When things don't go as planned, it's a lot more fun
Published: April 26th 2011Asia » Philippines » Rizal
April 26th 2011
Then I heard him rolling down and Barbie screamed. "Oh my God! Renz!" I screamed back. There was a moments silence. I thought of how I can bring him back to town without a stretcher. What would his mother say to me? The one responsible for bringing her kids there. It was dark and we only had pen lights. Only three of us were hiking back to town. It was the dangerous part of the trek. The one where we had to climb big boulders one on top of the other. If you fall you're seriously injured, if not dead. Renz was pulling his sister up the rock. He wasn't sure footed so he got dragged down. Luckily his sister was holding his arm and managed to stop his fall. He seriously could have died. After ... read more
April 13th 2011
“O MY GOD O MY GOD O MY GOD!!!” I screamed like a girl and then all three of us turned back and scurried out of the cave faster than I could say “there’s a bat near my head and its making threatening noises and I think it’s going to attack me!” I just got back from trekking in Rizal province today. It was just a 45 minute trek but one of the most challenging and most fun treks I’ve ever done! The river was squeaky clean and we refilled our water bottles from one of the streams that contributes water to the big river. There were no impurities of any sort and I don’t feel my stomach grumbling until now! I loved the huge boulders in this river, and how clear the water on the ... read more
May 16th 2010
It seems that my internal clock has no regard for the state I am in when I go to sleep. A few evenings ago my uncle Eddie took me and my cousin Chris to my second cousins' (I'm not good with family terminology. They're basically my mom's and my uncle's cousins) to get his van fixed. I knew we were going to see my cousins, but what I was unaware of was the copious amounts of alcohol that was going to be consumed. As it always is whenever I get together with a group of people here in the Philippines, my naivete in the native language is taken advantage of as they teach me phrases that are rather inappropriate. What surprised me, though, was the fact that this was coming from my auntie, who I soon ... read more
May 7th 2010
Ah, yes. Inside jokes as titles. To be explained later. This post is dedicated to you, mom, and if you get a chance to read it I want you to know that I love you and will be praying for you over here, on the other side of the world. Though I cannot be there with you, I hope my words can reach you and give you some comfort knowing that I am, of course, still thinking about you. It's the night following my return to Pasig from the city of Daan-Lungsod located in Alcoy, Cebu, and let me tell you, I'm rather torn about it. On one hand, I step forward in my journey in the Philippines; on the other, I leave behind a place whence I experienced many unforgettable moments. I suppose that's what ... read more
April 24th 2010
Another day, another excuse. I intended to get a post up when I reached my uncle Eddie's house, but unfortunately Erik's (my other uncle who's only a few months my junior, not going to bother getting into it now) laptop didn't get very good reception from the wi-fi here. Anyway, all that matters now is that we discovered going elsewhere in the house gave us excellent reception and I'm now capable of getting on. On the connecting flight from Seoul to Manila, while I was eating lunch, I thought about that Korean girl Min-ji I met on the flight from Toronto to Seoul. The reason why? The lunch I was eating was the same meal I got for dinner during that flight, and it was Min-ji who taught me how to eat it. It was some ... read more
December 16th 2009
Week Two This second week has been so much of a whirlwind that I have been putting off writing this blog- for lack of words, lack of explanation, Ive been racking my brain trying to figure out how to fit all ive seen into words. so i apologise if my ramblings do not make sence! When you arrive home from a trip such as this one (although no trips are alike) you tend to recieve the same kinds of questions. "what was it like?" "was it heaps different?" "what was hard?" "did you struggle because x was different?" How can two worlds of rich and poor exist together and yet be miles apart? The last week the food for thought has been the divine spark in each of us, the one thing that connects all ... read more
December 9th 2009
Week one Today was officially the last day of week one. Probably one of the hardest, most challenging weeks of all my time overseas. I experianced something that i have never ever experianced before. Something that i usually shrug my shoulders at, pretend to understand and then repeat some form of a comforting cliche "naw dont worry.." etc. Homesickness. The Philipines, drew me in the moment i arrived, the bustling crowds, the hot sticky air that clings to you no matter how much you attempt to fan it away. I arrived at 2 am and yet there were full families lining up at the local Jollibee (takeaway) store for dinner.. or breakfast.. I was so anxious for the next day to arrive that i fell asleep as soon as i arrived to my destination. Mango House ... read more
June 22nd 2009
Emie and I decided to visit the Tinipak River in Rizal province. We didnt really know how to go there. We just asked for directions along the way. It's not that we like it that way. We just didnt really know how to get there but we knew we'd find our destination somehow. We heard about this place from some friends who went there. Emie and I love to swim and hike so off we went even if it was just the two of us. After about two hours of jeepney rides. We finally got to the Tanay station where there was a jeepney that could take us to Daraitan. Unfortunately, we got there a little late, about 9 AM. We didnt know that there were only two trips per day. The next trip leaves at ... read more
Bakun Benguet, Philippines Holy Week '08 Climb
Published: August 17th 2008Asia » Philippines » Rizal » Antipolo City
August 17th 2008
It was my first major climb. It lasted for 4 days and 3 nights. Originally the itinerary included assaulting the summits of Mt. Mabiling, Mt. Lobo, and Mt. Tinglawan. Unfortunately, I was only able to assault until Mt. Lobo. The rest of the guys conquered Mt. Kabunian (it was a night trek and I was afraid to be a liability to them coz of my visual impairment).We were not able to reach Mt. Tinglawan coz we ran out of water and food. Check out the pictures. Will upload more soon. I hope.... read more
