Sail on Boracay

It used to be that boats were allowed to "park" anywhere along the shoreline of Boracay. That it got to a point that this beautiful beach became one large parking area for local outrigger and motorized boats posing great risks to safety of Boracay tourists.

Thankfully through the efforts of the local government and the Department of Tourism boats are no longer allowed to go into the main beach of Boracay but have been provided with a jetty specifically for the purpose of embarkation and disembarkation of tourists. This was despite the strong protests of misguided resort owners and tourists. The beach is now earmarked for the use and enjoyment of the growing number of Boracay visitors.

The only boats now allowed to park but only in a specified area of the beach and to sail on the shoreline on late afternoons are the local sail boats called "Paraw". Watching Boracay sunsets therefore has become more enjoyable with Paraws sailing in the horizon as the sun sets in the beautiful Boracay coastline.

Wow Peanuts!

For peanut lovers, a must try is Wow Mani which another outstanding food product from Pampanga. This brand of peanuts lives up to its promise in its label of peanuts so crunchy, garlic so crispy and taste so good ... Guaranteed!

A 400 gram jar cost P130 (US $3.00) at Suzies in Dao, Pampanga. It is also available in Everybody's Cafe ( in Pampanga) and at a halo halo joint at Alfredos Restaurant along Tomas Morato, Quezon City.

Try Wow Mani. Peanuts have not tasted this good!

Discovering Pako Salad

An interesting discovery during a recent trip in Pampanga was the Pako Salad. This salad was highly recommended by one of the food attendants of Cely's Restaurant in Dao at the Nepo Mart. If not for her insistence I would not have tried this dish.

Thanks to her, I discovered the Pako Salad. This is made of fresh wild fern mixed with fresh tomatoes and onions and salted egg. Dressing is a special vinegar concoction which made the salad truly delightful. I also tried the Pako Salad at Everybody's Cafe (along MacArthur Highway in San Fernando with a branch at Nepo Mart, Dao) but I prefer Cely's Pako Salad. It is the vinegar dressing that made the difference.

One serving of the salad cost P70 (US$1.63) at Cely's and P75 (US1.74) at Everybody's Cafe.

Heavenly Tibok-Tibok

Heavenly is this milk pudding which I discovered recently during a trip to Pampanga. The sweet dessert is called Tibok-tibok, which is made from white rice and carabao's milk topped with latik (made from coconut meat). The dessert has the right amount of sweetness and melts in your mouth. It counts as one of my favorite Filipino delicacies.

Tibok-tibok is available at Suzie's Cuisine at Nepo Mart in Dao Pampanga. This is a short one hour drive from Balitawak, Quezon City if you take the North Expressway. It cost P25(US$.58) for a small slice and P100 (US$3.32) for a small box.