Would you choose a classic Walkman over today’s take-everything-everywhere iPod’s? Would you limit yourself to a sandwich when you could grab a combo? Would you settle for your usual tea drink when there’s Real Leaf Green Tea?

I bet you won’t! Why would you when Real Leaf is not only made from natural green tea leaves but is also deliciously blended with the natural goodness of honey? It’s the one-of-a-kind combination that helps revive both mind and body, made even more luscious by infusing fruit flavors. And this is what your green tea could be!

Taking your tea-drinking experience to a whole new high, this quality product from The Coca- Cola Company packs the rewards of refreshing green tea and real honey in one great-tasting beverage. Whether in school or at work as you scurry to fulfill your dynamic everyday life, it’s that perfect perk-upper to help take you away from all the stress and keep you right on track.

If you’re not convinced it’s not your average tea yet, why not try any of its three delightful flavors- Honey Apple, Honey Lemon and Honey Lychee? And with every sip, be refreshed, boost focus and alertness whenever you get a good dose of theanine, an amino acid that is naturally found in tea plants. At the same time, fill your senses up with thathint of gentle sweetness that only yummy honey brings. Both these make up Real Leaf’s deliciously reviving* formula, just what you need as you continue relishing life on the fast lane.

Now that you know just how amazingly Real Leaf puts a spin to your typical green tea drink, it’s time to get to know your “brew” it a little bit more. The brewing process used to produce Real Leaf follows only world-class standards based on years of experience and expertise of The Coca-Cola System. The result? Optimum freshness, quality, aroma and all the rewarding benefits of natural tea are unquestionably retained. Not to mention that green tea leaves used are sourced all the way from the Zhejiang region of China, the country that produces more than 70% of the total green tea output in the world.

Finally, it’s time for one last fun fact you might find handy the next time you’re in the grocery store to pick the right tea beverage for you and your friends. Honey has a low calorie level. It contains vitamins, minerals and amino acids and can even help prevent your seasonal allergies and is a good source of antioxidants. Who knew it could be that unique ingredient that would spell out that delicious difference? Real Leaf did and it’s here to let us experience a revitalized standard on what could be healthy and tasty too!

Would you settle for your usual tea drink when there’s Real Leaf — Real Tea. Real Honey.

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La Caviteña’s restaurant is perfect for budget tourists looking for meals that you can share with your pals. Right in front of the restaurant is a big banner offering a meal for four called ‘Barkada Package’.

The package is a mixture of sea weed salad, chicken inasal, barbecued squid, baked mussels, buttered shrimp, barbecued pork and some fish fillet. It also includes ‘four half-rice’, all at a low price of P450.

La Caviteña is walking distance from Dumaguete bay and is just beside  Siliman University.

Continue reading here for the must-try food in Dumaguete, including the unique fried Ice cream.

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One of the must-see places if you’re going on a vacation to Bohol is the Loboc river. The famous Loboc River Cruise takes tourists to a lunch buffet while cruising into the Loboc river on a floating raft pushed by a motorboat (banca).

The one-hour cruise takes the diners to an hour-long lunch buffet with the great view of the Looc river. Onbard the covered raft, a sumptuous Bohol-inspired dishes paired with a pair of musician and singer combo for entertainment. 

The cruise will pass thru and dock on another flaoting raft (balsa) with an orchestra of ukolele players and dancers singing local songs while tourists are enourage to join in the revelry. One of the more challenging dance moves include the tinikling. 

Loboc is a 5th class municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines. It is mere 24 km away from Tagbilaran City, the provincial capital of Bohol. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 16,299 people. It is the Music Capital of Bohol.

Loboc is known for its floating restaurants along the scenic and winding Loboc River. Tourists also come to see the tarsier, a small nocturnal animal with large eyes, one of the world’s smallest primates in the world.

You might wonder why the river water looks yellowish-green. This is because of the soil content that’s mixed with rainwater flowing down the mountains (some sort of algae that turns greenish when exposed to the sunlight).

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Batanes will never be complete without the freshest seafoods. The province is known to be a good source of various seafoods, some of tem are even flown to as far as Manila. Lobsters, Coconut Crabs and and a wide assortment of fishes are readily available at the wet market.

Continue Reading here in Travel Batanes

Upcoming Events

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This is our first attempt at doing a travel video podcast or vidcast. All scenes were shot at Batangas during the recent Holy Week. Armed with a Nokia N95 and a Canon EOS D40, we spent 3 days and 2 nights at Nasugbu, Batangas visiting Terrazas de Punta Fuego, Pico de Loro in Hamilo Coast, Munting Buhangin Beach Resort and Lago de Oro in Calatagan.

We call our YouTube vidcast Xplore Pilipinas! This is our debut episode and we’ll be doing more of them each month.

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Visit the best kept secrets of Batangas, Laguna and Quezon:

Organized by the country’s oldest orchid and plant society, the exposure and wellness trip aims to treat the members as well as guest to one of Southern Luzon best kept secrets that few people knows.

Itineraries: Gintong Talulot Orchids and Ornamental Plants Farm (Laguna). This farm is one of the largest producer of semi-terete and quarter terete vandas for cutflower and top cuts in Laguna, the farm is also known for its high quality ornamental plants.

Golden Petals Orchids and Ornamental Farm (Sto. Tomas, Batangas)

One of the leading supplier of strap-leaf vandas in Batangas and adjacent areas, The farm also boast of native orchids such as Phalaenopsis schilleriana or Tiger orchid as well as other rare ornamental plants such as anthuriums and birds nest fern .

Earth Keepers Organic Farm and Garden (Tiaong, Quezon)

The farm boast of organically grown vegetables, fruits and organically grown farm animals such as pigs. Experience how traditional massage relieves tensions and relaxes your mind and soul.

Ugo Bigyan Potteries

Traditional Filipino potteries and the art of making these pots. Exported to Japan and other parts of the world. See and experience how these magnificent pots are created.

Fee: P 800 for Philippine Orchid Society members and P1,000 for non-members
Tour Date: March 29, 2008 (Saturday)
Assembly Place and Pick-up Points: Manila Seedling Bank Compound at 5:30 to 6:00 am
Magallanes Station at 6am to 6:30 am

Trip is inclusive of breakfast, lunch and merienda

Contact information :
THE PHILIPPINE ORCHID SOCIETY Headquarters
Unit 209 Delsa Mansion, Scout Borromeo corner Scout Torillo Streets,
Barangay South Triangle, Quezon City, Philippines
JENNY RIVERA – Executive Secretary at (0917)848-5468
or (02)929-4425
Lawrence Chan- Corporate Secretary (0919)390-1671
Email: philorchidsociety@yahoo.com

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Dalaguete: Pueblo Antigo

As the music of the wind plays, passing by the scenic coastal road and lush vegetation of southern Cebu, we passed by the siloy (a black bird endemic to Cebu) town of Alcoy on our way to Dalaguete. The town known for being the Vegetable basket of Cebu and melodic way of speaking Sugbohanon (perhaps quite to Hiligaynon).

Seeing the casa real (municipal hall) of Dalaguete, I’ve noticed that it has quite a number of old houses, mostly of bahay na bato architecture or as popularly stated as “Antillan” by some. It was quite hot and humid by that time, so we decided to buy bottled water. Inita pud oi! As we went deeper to the poblacion, there’s our main destination: Iglesia de San Guillermo el Hermitanio. Another church fortress with a watchtower. Its more like a twin of Argao’s Iglesia de San Miguel but quite minimalist in nature. It has also a watchtower in front of the plaza and along side the church is the convent.

After having a relaxing time by the town’s seaside promenade, its time to move on towards our next destination: Argao. And we’re quite hungry and the sky has started to be gray.

Argao: Viaje Comida y Herencia

Gutum na gyud mi nya kapuya na dyutay. Our stomachs are grumbling in disgrace as we rode the bus going to Argao. Its a 15 minute ride from Dalaguete though, so its quite near than Boljo-on to Dalaguete. The sky dimmed in grey and we disembarked on the town’s designated waiting shed.

We were searching for a place to eat, and found a lechonan along the highway. Gees, the lechon for half a kilo was just around P140! Thats already good for 4! And boy, the lechon was tasty! Sulit! Finished our Lechon de Cebu comida, then its time to go visita iglesia again.

La Iglesia de San Miguel de Arcangel is one of the most impressive church structures in Cebu island. Oozing its baroque and rococo aspects, the facade is intricately carved and the belltower that is imposing. Surrounding the “walled town” is the Civil Government buildings of Argao, which sits across the plaza. As usual, the convent sits beside the church. But what is saddening though is that what the priest did to the beautiful retablo. Someone has just have this urge to paint all the retablo saints into gold! Ano ba yan! Walang art! The rest of the church interior was awesome except for the tragic fate of the retablo-altar.

It was already drizzling and I was seeking for Argao’s famous delicacy, torta. We passed by Chingays and bought some pasalubong for just P30 per torta. Its more like a sweet bread with sugar, cheese and raisins, raised by cocunut wine or tuba instead of yeast, making its distinct aroma and flavor.

We’re tired already, we’re heading for our last destination: The heritage city of Carcar.

Torta

Carcar City: Destinasyon Ultimo de Herencia

Noticing Carcar’s narrow streets and age-old houses along the highway signifies the wealth that this town posseses. Carcar has numerous old structures in its poblacion area but endangered due to urban traffic encroachment. We set foot from the marketplace, crossing the Carcar rotunda and went to the church plaza immediately. Oh my! Nahutdan na battery ang camera! So I bought batteries while Arnold and the rest of the gang waited.

After a few minutes, we set off to Carcar’s Plaza. Surrounded by vintage houses, P Del Corro Building, the Convento and the uniquely Moorish-Orthodoxic architecture of Iglesia de Santa Alexandria. It was a Sunday so the plaza was busy. The design of the church is quite unique in our country. It looks more of a Russian Orthodox church rather than a Roman Catholic church, some believe that it made the marauding Moros thought that this was a mosque in order for them to evade invasion of the town.

The church still maintains a beautiful interior altar and the walls still intact. The ceiling with its antiquated azure paint signifies its majestic past yet what destroyed this beautiful edifice was the screen doors in the main door. Unsa man na oi, morag canteen! (What the heck, its look like a canteen!) The reason: to prevent birds from entering the church. Susmio!

After an exiting day of traveling south, we have nearly traveled more or less 200 kilometers already. Quite exhausted but the tour was unforgettable. We were stuffed with amazing vistas of the sea, the aroma and the grandeur of the antiquity, savoring the delicacies and embraced by the warm Cebuano hospitality, the suroy-suroy that we had that one Sunday was truly an experience.

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It may be the notion of generally most of the Filipinos. Saying Capiz is generalizing to poltergeists and “aswangs” and more carnivores, no thanks to media who brought stereotyping to this laidback beauty in northern Panay. Roxas City, the capital of the northern Panay province of Capiz, its the main agro-industrial hub of the province. Dubbed as the “Seafood Capital of the Philippines”, it is blessed by bountiful harvests from both the sea, rivers and the land.

The city of more than a hundred thousand souls, it has a swampy area in the northern area and a hilly section in the southern area. Panay River runs through the downtown, giving a romantic scene in the city. Daw wala man kahaladlukan man di! Media!

I took Ivan and his friend JQ for a quick trip to Capiz for a heritage tour. This city was formerly known as Capiz, known for its shell industry of Capiz and the hometown of the former President Manuel Roxas. Just a few kilometers away east is the largest bell in the country.

Anyway, Ivan and JQ were craving for fresh seafoods so I brought them to Baybayan Plaza Seafood Stalls. And boy they’re into surprise. For then being Manileños, they were awed by the size and the price of the seafood, very affordable and delcious! Sulit!

After that sumptuous meal, we head on to the city plaza in which the City Hall, the Cathedral of Immacualate Concepcion and the Capitol are all located in a plaza and a fountain with fish heads besides the river of Panay.

Plaza

The Plaza was busy under the searing afternoon sky. This is a very fine example of Spanish colonial administration over the Philippines. Basically the church and the state is here.

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Concepcion was painted blue in honor of their patron saint. The only thing that seperate the church and the state is the narrow Paseo de Catedral in which is lined up with retail stores.

Just accross the city hall is the “Panubli-on” or the Roxas Museum. Built in 1910, it primarily served as a water storange tank. A good example of adaptive use. It is now a museum featuring the historical and cultural manifests of Capiz. Unfortunately, the museum was closed at that time, although managed to get a glimpse inside.

The 2nd leg of our journey in Capiz takes us at the site of the oldest Spanish settlement in the island of Panay. Site of the bell of enormous size.

More of Roxas City Pictures, click here.

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Youth Tourism Response – Philippines (YTRiP), with the help of Alquimista, Inc. and the Sleepy Traveler is organizing a food trip to Pampanga this July.

Dubbed Viajeng Cucina Matua (The Old Kitchen Tour), the food trip is slated this July 22, 2007.

The Kapampangan cuisine is highly regarded as one of the most delicious in the Philippines . Discover their age-old secrets and explore the rich culture of Pampanga through this one -of-a-kind cultural culinary experience.

Itinerary

Departure from M.M. (6:30 )
Breakfast – Cucina ng Atching Lillian Borromeo
Merienda – Betis Crafts
Lunch – Cucina ng Kong Andy qng Alvis Farm
A Glimpse of Betis Church – dubbed as the Sistine Chapel of the Philippines
Merienda – Villa Epifania

Ocampo-Lansang Delicacies

Dinner – Cucina nang Atching May qng Gosioco House
Departure from Pampanga
Arrival M.M. ( 10:00PM)

Like they always say, the best dishes are the ones made at home – and we will bring you straight there.

Tour Fee is at Php 2, 500 for the whole food trip and cultural tour inclusive of the transportation and travel insurance.

* This also serves as a YTRiP fundraiser. If you would like more details and for reservations, please email youthtrip@gmail.com, clareamador@gmail.com, or text 0918-521-1087. Thank you!

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So all the rumors are true.

I recently went to Amici di Don Bosco. It’s a trattoria located right inside the Don Bosco Technical School Compound in Makati City. Amici di Don Bosco is an Italian word for friends of Don Bosco. So what’s with Amici, anyway?

Penne in Cream Sauce with Smoked Salmon

Oh well, Amici di Don Bosco serves authentic Italian pizza, pasta and gelato. It’s an Italian dining experience at Pinoy prices! Their pasta is perfectly cooked. Al dente. I ordered Penne in cream sauce with smoked salmon. Goodness! I almost forgot my name when I first tasted it. The servings are so large that is almost good for 2 persons. My friend ordered Spaghetti ala Carbonara, and it was good as well.

Spaghetti ala Carbonara

After pasta, we had our gelato (Italian for ice cream). Their ice cream is so delicious! I ordered blueberry gelato, and yeah, you can really feel the texture of the blueberry fruits on the ice cream. It’s not your usual ice cream from the supermart.

Blueberry Gelato

One thing that makes this eatery unique is that, uhmm, everything is self-service. There are three counters where you can order your food. There a separate counter for sandwiches, pasta, pizza and gelato.

counter for Pasta

So if you would ask me if I’d be back in Amici? Definitely. Just look at the photo below. Clean plate, not even a hint of pasta was left.

Amici di Don Bosco is located along Pasong Tamo Street, near the Walter Mart. They’re open Mondays-Saturdays. Closed on Sunday. And I’d be back there soon! Bon Apetit!

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