Tagum’s pride: Arman’s Café and Restaurant

If you find yourself in Tagum City, there is a local eatery called, Arman’s Cafe and Restaurant. It was once a small turo-turo joint in 1975, where you point (turo) at what you like among an array of viands inside cooking pots. Arman’s has been a favorite stop for people traveling the Davao del Norte

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Secret’s out: When I was in the Ilocos, I ate. A lot.

Note: This is the 3rd installment of a three-part post about my trip to the tip of Luzon. Check out Part I: Ilocos Sur and Part II: Ilocos Norte by clicking the links. Tip: I am promoting a knowledge-based, in-depth, immersive traveling, so take time to learn the history of the places you’re visiting. You

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Kalui Restaurant: Excitement for the Eater

I feature a local restaurant serving local food in this blog. Particularly those that are creative and covers culture. I want to support our local food industry to give them a fighting chance over large food chains like McDonald’s. Encouraging readers to dine in these places increases their love for Filipino culture and cuisine. It

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The Islands of Gigantes Live Up To Its Name

It was a trip devoid of a single regret. I heard about the group of islands across the town of Estancia in Iloilo from Bok Pioquid, a faculty member of the Ateneo High School’s Christian Service Involvement Program. He and his wife would go on a “couple” backpacking tour every now and then. Until today,

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Cheap Eats Made Gourmet

Featured photo: Century Egg and Jellyfish Strips *** I love pictures. I follow the photos of National Geographic @natgeo , Fantastic Earth @fantastic_earth and Abandoned Earth @abandonedearth and many great photographers on Instagram. I have been taking photographs since acquiring a point-and-shoot camera when I was a young priest to document spiritual activities (to say

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Discover Camalig: a 16th c. town, a lake, and food as fiery as its volcano.

See Camalig, Albay: a 16th c town, Sumlang lake, ancestral houses and authentic Bicol dishes.

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In Daraga, you will find a café you’ll fall in love with: Café 528 Ilawod.

About the Featured Image: The Parish Church of Our Lady of the Gate, Daraga, Albay. This church of stone was built by the Franciscans in 1773. Its design is baroque after the skills of the labourers during the Spanish Period. When Mayon Volcano erupted in 1814 and destroyed the Cagsawa church, it became the refuge of

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Unwind In These Three Baguio Cafés

I always feature community cuisine – and promote local restaurants. Patronizing them will give them a fighting chance over big businesses like malls and international food chains that are killing small Filipino entrepreneurs slowly. Dining in these oftentimes family-run eateries also leaves a minimal carbon footprint. Café by the Ruins. At the end of my

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A Day In Iloilo Is More Than Enough

I have a day to spare. After the Jesuit Basic Education Commission meeting about focusing on Mindanao as the way to go for the Philippine Province Jesuits and reflecting on translating into concrete actions Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si, I decide to explore Iloilo. I know there is much to see and learn from the

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Avocados and Diabetes

Enjoying what you harvested from your backyard is rewarding. The avocados that are featured here (above) come from the avocado tree outside of the Immaculate Concepcion Chapel of the Ateneo High School. The tree stands within the grounds used for prayer and reflection, a sanctuary in the high school for those who would like to

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My Top 10 Comfort Foods

After our mom passed away, my siblings now yearn for the food she prepared at home. We long for her lauya (pork stew with local vegetables), paired with any vegetable cooked in coconut milk, long pepper and lada (siling labuyo in Bicol). Lada is our small local chilli pepper that packs a lot of heat.

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Part IV. Why You Will Love Siquijor – The towns of Enrique Villanueva, Larena and Siquijor

The trip to the town of Enrique Villanueva is enjoyable. Along the road is the Cang-isok House that dates back to the mid-1800s. However, seeing its present state, I know that this is probably the major disappointment of the coastal tour of Siquijor. Cang-isok house, Brgy. Libo, Enrique Villanueva. Its name comes from the seaside

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Cagayan de Oro City: In Search of the Old

Cagayan de Oro today is not anymore the city I knew in the late ‘80s. So, I thought I should go around and look for landmarks that reminded me of the past. In the ‘80s, Plaza Divisoria was the centre of the city. It was the place where people would usually meet and congregate. Also

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Tagaluto ka ba o Tagakain?

Nakapaghanda ka na ba dahil birthday, anniversary, o promotion mo? Nagluto ka na ba para sa mga kasama mo dahil nakapasa ka sa board or bar exams? Kung oo, may mga pumunta bang nag-eat and run? Dalawang uri daw ang isang tao: may mga tagakain at tagaluto. Ang taga-kain ang nakikinabang sa inihahain. Ang iba

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What Satisfies the Soul

I look out the huge glass window of the Legazpi Domestic Airport and see passengers queuing to depart for Manila. A lady is in tears. Her right hand is holding a wet handkerchief like the one Veronica used to wipe the face of Jesus; except that the image on her hand was probably the face

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