Around Pangasinan in a Day

One of the more popular tourist destinations in the Philippines is the province of Pangasinan. Its attractions cater to historical enthusiasts, beach bums, and food lovers. Here are snippets on what you could do in the celebrated province.

To Your Liking: French Culture and Cuisine

Just by going around the metro, you could easily tell that Filipinos have a special kind of fondness with food. The great number of restaurants you could see in shopping malls and on the streets is a clear manifestation to that. Whether the food joints serve fast food, a special variety or foreign cuisine, or fine dining, their presence still vividly express how much Filipinos love to eat.

The weight of this fact does not stop to be merely as a rare observation. Just when you thought these food establishments are only there for business reasons, you are wrong. The fondness to food by people reflects how the culture of a certain country is. Since the Philippines showcase a lot of restaurants serving authentic Filipino dishes, you could assume that their food is a huge part of how they are as a nation, and how they value and promote it locally or internationally.

It’s a similar approach when a tourist wants to learn and understand the culture of foreign countries without having to fly thousands of miles to do so. Among the popular countries that people across nations probably have in their bucket list to visit, France might just be one of those on top.

Though France has often been romanticized with the intimate ambiance in Paris and the Eiffel Tower as its main attraction, there is actually more to the beautiful country than that marketed image.

Over the years, France had the reputation of having a sophisticated yet classy culture. This is obvious with the way the people go about their daily routines, especially in the huge cities. But even in the small towns, a lot of travelers say that there is a unique French vibe that will just make you absorb their culture and still crave for more. That’s not even the best part. To top it all, there’s no better way to keep the practices flourishing than have overly supportive locals.

“I have noticed how much they are proud of their country – their language, their food, their traditions,” said Agnes Ramos, who lived in Paris for six months during her internship at Ecole de Cuisine Alain Ducasse under Chef Franck Geuffroy.

When asked about a particular practice she got accustomed with during her stay, the energetic lady gladly recalled the bisous – a way of greeting family and friends by kissing them on both of their cheeks. “A common tradition I see each day is the bisous. I really enjoyed the bisous that my friends and I practiced it, especially because we had met quite a lot of people. And I learned that when two people kiss three times (usually only two times) on both cheeks, it means those two people are very close to each other.”

But the lovely chef had more to say about the French’s way of caring for their culture and traditions, and this time it’s about their food.

“I love how they protect their products. There is such a term called AOC or Apellation d’Origine Contrôlée. An example of this would be Poulet de Bresse, chicken that has blue feet only from Bresse, France. No other place can sell or name their chicken as Bresse. Only those from Bresse can be called that because those chickens have been fed in a certain way, and they have a certain flavor that comes from the soil and grain of the area. In the food packaging, it always says there AOC, which means it’s protected. It’s not only for chicken, but also with dairy products, wine and more.”

Among the other French delicacies that she loves are the Speculoos, a spiced cookie that was traditionally prepared for the Christmas season but is now commercialized, the macaroons by Pierre Hermes, the Croissants and Pain au Chocolat, and of course the famous crêpes.

 “What I love most about their food are the pastries. I can say France is the perfect place to go to learn pastry. They practice perfection in any way with their food. I look up to the French, because I know they are always a step ahead with food,” the current Commis 3 at The Peninsula Manila’s pastry kitchen also attested with how the French’s culture with food contributes to their exquisite tradition and to the rest of the world.

She also added, “Most of the things practiced in school originated from their methods. Culinary terms used are in French as well. French cuisine is simple yet intricate at the same time. It appears simple, but the way food was prepared before putting it on the plate is rather complicated.”

With these being said, it is inevitable to admit how the French cuisine and practices dominate aspects of their way of living. It also proves how influential they are in the field of culinary.

For those who want to have an intimate dining experience but cannot afford to travel all the way to one of Europe’s finest country, there are restaurants around Metro Manila that will certainly satisfy your palette’s cravings. One fine French restaurant in Quezon City is Café Breton. Try out their crêpes, galettes (savory crêpes) and coffee.  You could also check out Brasserie Cicou at Greenhills.

(P.S.: This is the fourth article requirement in J 195)

SM Mall of Asia

It's almost summer season, and I'm quite certain people are looking for new places to visit. Here's a peek to what SM Mall of Asia offers it customers. 

Tales of Binondo

Year after year, thousands of people troop to the City of Manila to have a distinct experience. Aside from the historical landmark located around the suburbs, the city also boasts of its rich culture and tradition. From the Spanish relicts preserved within Intramuros, the sites then diversify as tourists turn into Ongpin Street in Binondo.

Known as the Chinatown of the Philippines, Binondo is the ultimate destination for travelers who want to absorb and experience the Chinese culture even without flying to China. Aside from the great number of Chinese people transacting there, it is also the home of various Chinese goods and merchandise. These products range from the famous authentic cuisine and food products to lucky charms and garments.

It is during the month of February that the culture is most highlighted among the hundreds of days of maintaining the abundant culture. The practices is attractive not only to the Chinese and the foreigners, but to the Filipino nation as well. Locals and visitors alike are usually enticed to roam around the busy commercial street of Ongpin when traditional Chinese festivities are held in anticipation of the Chinese New Year.

The Chinese New Year is considered to be the most important holiday of the entire year. This part of their tradition showcases the unique but strong traits of their race – close family ties and togetherness.

Over the years, a lot of friends and colleagues showed interest in going to Binondo during the weeks of festivities. Though I was hesitant to visit the place at first, the chance presented to me was just hard to pass. It was already forecasted that Binondo will be filled with lots of people even on the 9^th of February, a day earlier than the actual celebration of Chinese New Year. True enough, I saw thousands of enthusiastic locals and foreigners who joined the festivities upon going there.

Beatrice Felix, a third year student of University of the Philippines Diliman, goes to Binondo to attend the Chinese New Year festivities annually. She usually enjoys the lighting of incense, eating of Chinese cuisine, and buying pasalubong such as tikoy and lucky charms.

Although she admitted not having any Chinese lineage, her family still continues to visit and celebrate at Chinatown. Bea, as she is fondly called by her friends, insisted, “They say it was for good luck and for the family bond to strengthen.”

Though many find it fascinating for Filipino families to practice Chinese traditions, others oppose it because they really find it irrelevant to celebrate the coming of a brand new year twice. It must be remembered that Chinese New Year follows the Lunar Calendar.

Bea dismissed it by saying, “New Year’s Eve is more family oriented while Chinese New Year is more of a socialization event for us who don’t have Chinese blood.”

“It is a must try. Celebrating Chinese New Year can help the ordinary Filipino family to learn more about the Chinese cultures and hopefully learn some values from them,” she added.

Though Bea’s story is fascinating, not everyone comes to Binondo to merely enjoy the festivities.

Jonathan, an accommodating yuppie who visited Binondo on the same day, is a perfect example. I spotted him in a jewelry store while looking around in a street filled with lucky charms and crystals vendors.

“I was trying to canvas the wedding rings here,” he said with a shy yet radiant smile.

           

 Since the celebration is highly regarded in the country, Jonathan was expecting that the jewelry stores in the area will be having their mark down sales just like during the Holidays. It was his main reason for going to Binondo, aside from his partial hope of catching luck for his and his fiancé’s future together.

“I was really hoping that they will have a sale, but this is just a canvas anyway. It just so happened that today is my free day, but I still find the festivities as both fun and entertaining,” he explained.

Though Bea and Jonathan had different reasons for going to Binondo during the Chinese New Year celebration, it is still a must see destination for local and foreigners alike. For travelers, nothing beats being given the chance to immerse into the culture of any race and/or destination.

(P.S. This is the third article requirement for J 195)

Philippines' best on Christmas Season in Seven Points

Many believe that aside from summer, the holidays is a perfect time for explorers to venture to new destinations. Aside from enjoying the rush and thrill of consecutive celebrations on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, people also get the chance to reunite and experience the various festivities and wonder across nations.

If you are looking for a new adventure with your family and friends, the Philippines might just be the perfect destination for you. Known for having one of the best Christmas celebrations around the world, it prides itself with rich traditions, marvelous tourist spots, and hospitable locals.

Since the country is composed of 7,107 islands, it might be best to choose the island and/or province you wish to specifically go to before flying in. But in case you want to explore most of it, here’s an A-list of the things you should do to maximize your trip over the holidays:

Amaze your senses with bright lights and artistry. You are not to be disappointed if you expected a very festive atmosphere in the Philippines in December. Wherever you go, Christmas decors hang beautifully on the streets and outside houses. Some shopping malls and parks in the metro even put up artistic Christmas lights shows. One of the most famous of such is the Ayala Triangle Christmas Lights and Sounds Show in Makati.

Hooray to Lantern Parades! Christmas in the Philippines won’t be complete without lanterns. Before the fad of flying sky lanterns, there were traditional lanterns meticulously made to be decors in the streets, houses, and establishments. Gigantic lanterns of various artistic designs parade the Academic Oval of University of the Philippines Diliman and the streets of San Fernando, Pampanga for its annual lantern parades respectively.

 Misa de Gallo. Since majority of the population are Catholics, religious practices are observed during the Christmas season. Aside from the usual attendance of Holy Mass on Christmas Day, Catholics also strive to complete nine dawn masses from December 16 – 24 as a preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ. It is also believed that if someone completes the so-called Simbang Gabi, his or her wish will come true. Parishioners are also often enticed to eat rice cakes such as bibingka and puto bumbong after the mass.

Treat your taste buds to Filipino delicacies. Make sure that you try the delicious Filipino dishes during your stay wherever you are in the country. Some of these delicacies are chicken or pork adobo, dinuguan, and sinigang. When you go out in the streets at night, don’t miss out on eating street foods like isaw (either chicken or pork intestine), betamax (chicken blood), pork barbeque, and of course the world-famous balut. Feast with the most impeccable dishes as you enjoy the festivities on Christmas Eve’s Noche Buena.

Shop ‘til you drop escapade. Reward yourself from the hard work you put in for the entire year with cheap bargains in a shopping spree. From mall markdowns to “ukay-ukay” or bargain shops, you could surely afford the items on your Christmas wish list. Enjoy searching for the latest fashion trend pieces and the top of the line gadgets in Greenhills Shopping Mall and Divisoria. With a little charm and patience, you’ll surely find quality pieces in incredibly low prices.

Lure yourself with beaches and other kinds of water adventure. The Philippines is home of some of the best beaches and water wonders in the world. On top of the list is the famous white sand beach of Boracay Island. Also enjoy the beauty of Puerto Princesa, Palawan’s Underground River, one of the new Seven Wonders of Nature. Ride the perfect breaking waves in the country’s surfing capital, Siargao Island. Raise the bar of your adventure level for water-sports activities in Camarines Sur and white water rafting in Cagayan de Oro City.

Go down memory lane and visit historic landmarks. Behind the rich culture and traditions of the Philippines is the deep and colorful history of the provinces and its people. The tour around the country won’t be complete without quick visits to its historical landmarks. The famous destinations such as Intramuros in Manila, Shine of Valor in Mt. Samat, Bataan, Biak na Bato in San Miguel, Bulacan, Stone Houses in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, and Magellan’s Cross in Cebu will give you snippets of what transpired hundreds of years ago.

Have these holidays travel tips enticed you yet? What are you waiting for? Contact your family and friends, book the cheapest flight, plan your itinerary, and experience firsthand why “It’s More Fun in the Philippines.”

(P.S. This is the second article requirement for J 195)

Soaring to Higher Expectations: Children's Environmental Awareness

“We have great environmental laws. It’s the implementation of these laws that is the problem,” Asst. Professor Jeanette Yasol-Naval of University of the Philippines told her students in a lecture on Environmental Ethics.

In a wider perspective, the problem on implementation might have rooted from the citizen’s lack of awareness. It seems as if environmental problems have been taken for granted. This is easy to notice as it is often overshadowed by other national concerns.

But like the way Philippine national teams invest on their grassroots program to enhance the quality of athletes competing abroad, the same should be done to promote awareness in this issue.

Mayor Jose Enrique Garcia III of Balanga City, Bataan had that idea in mind when he led the municipality in celebrating the 3^rd Ibong Dayo Festival last December 6, 2012. He said, “This festival is really for our children. If they are environmentally-friendly children, once they grow older they can understand why we have certain policies and certain policies and laws with regards to nature, to conservation, and to cleanliness in the city.”

Aside from a sudden weekday trip to Bataan, nothing could be more pleasing to the ears than the affirming words of Mayor Garcia. It is important for an environmental advocate like me to know that the youth is being educated about these issues.

And surprisingly, my expectations were greatly surpassed.

Though children are usually more interested to wander around places far away from their hometown, my eyes witnessed a rare gape of youthful enthusiasm and affirming curiosity from the young locals of Bataan.

The city prides itself for being tagged as having the most number of migratory water birds in the country by the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines. The government uses this advantage to catch the interest if youngsters about the environment.  This is why the whole day festivity held at the Balanga City Wetland and Nature Park catered to the amusement of bird watching enthusiasts and locals alike.

While journeying to the venue, everything seemed typical. It was business as usual at the heart of the city. As we reached the residential alleyways in the Eastern-most part, some dwellers gazed in pleasure as the bus turned the tight corners heading to the park with ease. No matter how unlikely that is with its size, everything seemed to be normal. It did, until the arrival at the park.

Being wanderlust myself, not once did I witness such fervor from the youth about loving the special treasures of their homeland. More than the shining prowess of the sun, the children’s radiating smiles exudes their lively demeanor. Their energy electrified the park’s gallery as they push their way through a crowd of mere spectators. Each piece of work hanging in the white unblemished walls was striking in its own delicate and youthful artistry, but the innocent yet inquisitive faces of the students made it more meaningful.

It all seemed to be surreal. But as I continue to immerse myself with them, it slowly became more realistic as the children unconsciously gave me signs of hope.

The youngsters were impeccably enthusiastic as they participate in activities related to bird watching – bird coloring, bird-kite flying, face painting, draw-a-bird, bird watching, and origami making. For decades, it has been a struggle for environmentalists to elevate the passion and interest of the populace to aid in conserving nature. But there it was, a relatively new bird watching festival surrounded with the children who are actively interacting with nature. To witness such fervor with my own eyes reassured my inner hesitancy and doubts – that environmentally, the Philippines will at least be in good hands in the next two decade.

Is this real? Do these attentive kids really understand the meaning of this festival? Or is their enthusiasm merely a result for escaping a typical school day in a classroom?

These inquiries were soon answered as I strolled around the vicinity. This was more than just a fad. The children in the park knew what they were into, and they understand what it was supposed to be. It was their active participation in the fun activities that affirmed my observation – they are environmentally aware of what is going on. It was having fun while learning that made it easier for them to understand it.

The trip was certainly a treat for an environmentalist and wanderlust – because in that journey, I got a flicker of optimism. There is still hope for environmental awareness and sustainability to prosper, and someday implementation of our laws will no longer be a problem.

(P.S.: This is the first article requirement for J 195)

IMMERSED IN BAGUIO: A Memorable Travel Experience

The cool breeze wrapped the busy urban streets. The lovely flowers and greens calmed the pacing populace, and the soothing fragrance of pine trees comforted the gloomy afternoon. Baguio City, dubbed as the “Summer Capital of the Philippines,” is the ideal tourist destination.

As it prides itself with its chilly weather, delicious strawberries, beautiful flowers, and unique culture, the city became a constant favorite to foreigners and locals alike. But as these tourists head to the mountainous paradise to unwind, I set off to a two-hour travel from Pangasinan to Baguio City not to enjoy its wonderful scenery, rather to begin a new personal journey.

As an incoming freshman at University of the Philippines Baguio, the trip to a destination I was very familiar with suddenly became so alien – it was unlike the several sprees to the mountains in my childhood.

The vehicle zigzagged its way to Kennon Road. As it reached Baguio City General Hospital, it donned upon me that the landmark of arrival at the City of Pines suddenly became a neighboring establishment to my housing, St. Francis Ladies Dormitory.

As days passed after settling in, changes in perspective came in domino effect. The crowded Session Road was the landmark of the rally my bloc participated in, and also my personal thinking place. SM City Baguio has been an alternative cafeteria. Burnham Park and Camp John Hay became a dating area and a barkada hangout place. Magsaysay Street, where the public market is, was a bloc lunch destination. He-Brews Cafe beside Baguio Cathedral then became my study den.

And soon after, the unconventional travel immersed me to the culture and soul of the city. Thus I realized – even for just a year of stay, Baguio City is no longer a tourist destination for me; it was and will always be my second home.

PS: This is the first writing exercise (300 words) for J 195.