Tilapia and Chips: Boracay's Hot Ribs Place

There's a very good restaurant in Boracay  located at the Mall's entrance near the main road named Tilapia and Chips.  It specializes in fish and chips and baby back ribs.  But according the owner, their best seller is the baby back ribs.  The place is clean, and service, warm and friendly!

I tried the half slab order of their baby back ribs which is priced at a reasonable P460 (US$11.00) and this comes with a glass of iced tea, french fries and salad. The ribs is sweet tasting and is good except that even if the meat is tender it is a bit dry.  The baby back ribs at Texas Joe House of Ribs in Subic is better since their ribs are really  tender and juicy.

Nonetheless, I enjoyed this meal and next time I go to Boracay would most likely eat here again and try their other specialty, the tilapia and chips.

Panay Town: Quaint and Charming

Panay town in Capiz is a short 15 minute drive from Roxas City.  In this quaint and charming town, you will find the oldest church in Panay, the Santa Monica Church. This 17th century Church is made of coral stones with the interiors baroque in style. Other attractions are the church bell (which was made from 70 sacks of silver and gold coins donated by the locals), a traditional water well, and the town hall.

Roxas City: Seafood Capital???

The reason why I decided to pass by Roxas City on my way to Boracay was their fresh and reasonably priced seafoods which I have read about.  Afterall, Roxas City prides itself as the seafood capital of the Philippines.

However, I was in for a major disappointment.  Not only were there not a lot of seafood choices but the prices also were not reasonable.  At the Seafood Court in the People's Park Plaza, they were selling steamed small crabs for P100 (US$ 2.32) per piece and  a small slice of blue marlin at P150 (US$3.40). A bit reasonable was the sea shells in a small soup bowl for P80 (US$1.80).  The prices were a lot more expensive than in Manila. No wonder there were very people dining at the place during the lunch hour that I was there. 

For this reason I decided to stay for just a night instead of 2 nights as I originally planned.  The title "Seafood Capital" is undeserved!

Roxas City Shines

If Roxas City is pretty at daytime, at night, it shines.  It is one of the few cities in the Philippines that are beautifully lit at night.  The other one that comes to mind is Laoag City in Ilocos Norte.  Good to know that scions of prominent political families, in this case Roxas family in Roxas and the Marcoses in Laoag have taken very good care of their hometowns.

Roxas City: Jewel in the South

I was glad that I went to the charming and quaint city of  Roxas in Capiz province located in Southern Philippines.  Instead of taking the usual flight either to Caticlan or Kalibo, I decided to instead go to Roxas enroute to Boracay.  The city boasts of well paved streets, beautifully maintained plaza, and generally clean and peaceful environment.  So unlike most towns and cities in the Philippines which are dirty, dusty and crowded. Roxas City also has a huge bus terminal located outside of the city which is probably the best in the country.

Its the hometown of controversial Secretary Mar Roxas and if the condition of Roxas City is  any indication,  then should he become the next President of the Philippines, there's a good chance that the country is destined for better things!

Singing Cooks and Waiters Restaurant: A Feast for the Senses

Current hit among foreign tourists and locals alike is the Singing Cooks and Waiters Restaurant at Roxas Blvd. corner Gil Puyat Avenue.  The place has been renovated and sports a more modern and cleaner look similar to a Japanese teppanyaki restaurant but done with a Filipino touch.

It is a delight to dine in this Filipino restaurant as you do not only get to enjoy traditional Filipino food at its finest ( The place is actually part of the famous Barrio Fiesta restaurants) but get to be entertained by the cooks and waiters who sing and dance to yours and theirs hearts' content.  The cooks also get to display their cooking skills in a theatrical fashion similar to what skilled bartenders do to entertain customers.  The owners of the restaurant have added a new twist by having actual cooking done in front of the diners following the concept of Japanese teppanyaki restaurants.

This is a must place to bring your foreign based family and friends to a feast for the senses to savor the sound, sight, taste, and smell of a truly unique Filipino dining experience.

Boracay in June

Boracay is so much prettier in June. At this time of the year the beach and the sea is clean. And the color of the ocean in varying shades of blue is awesome! This is also the month when you can experience a quieter and less crowded Boracay.

Of course, there is the risk of heavy rains because it is the onset of the rainy season. But rains or no rains, Boracay remains a real paradise in June!

My Favorite Take Home Dessert

A favorite take home dessert of mine is the almond gulaman of Salazar Bakery in Binondo Chinatown.  This jelly based dessert has the right sweetness and moisture that makes your sweet taste buds go asking for more. It cost only P39 (US$.95) per plastic container.  I have brought this to several gatherings and is a hit among the guests.

Food to Relish

Another good restaurant in the Tomas Morato area is Relish located at Scout Limbaga near corner Tomas Morato. Apparently, food lovers have discovered the place with the restaurant full during the time that we dined there.

We tried the pumpkin soup, pasta with wild mushroom and truffle oil, and prawns thermidor, and they were all great. Prices range from P300 (US$7.31) to 400 (US$9.75) per dish and the servings are generous.

However, just like Romulos Restaurant also in the Morato area, the place suffers from bad acoustics. You can hardly hear your conversation with your companions because the chatter from all the other diners is audible at each table. This in a way makes your dining experience at Relish less pleasant. Best to dine at the second floor where it is a bit quieter.

Ace Water Spa: Alternative Massage

An alternative to the typical body massage done by hands is the hydrotherapy massage. This is a water massage that utilizes ultrasonic jet system that massages specific parts of your body.

This hydrotherapy massage is currently available at Ace Water Spa which has two locations, at United St. in Pasig City and Del Monte Avenue in Quezon City. This water massage provides for a truly relaxing experience with various aquatic jets that soothes tired and aching muscles while dipped in warm waters. Ace Water Spa also has lapping pool, steam and sauna rooms, and herbal pools to complete the spa experience.

I always have a relaxing time during the few times that I have been to Ace Water Spa. I brought my US based nephew and niece here and they rated it as one of the best places where they had a real good time during their Philippine holiday. A four (4) hour stay at the spa cost P550 (US$13.75) per person.

Ketchup Community of Restaurants

Right in front of Wright Park in Baguio City is the Ketchup Community. This is a community of five restaurants specializing in dishes ranging from Filipino exotic food, to Thai, Mediterranean, Indo Malay, and American dishes. I tried the pork ribs (P200 or US $4.87) at Canto. The best selling point of the ribs is its tender meat. The taste was just okay. Based on my experience with Canto, expect reasonably priced not so great food at the Ketchup Community.

Baguio's Star

Star Cafe one of Baguio city's oldest Chinese Pinoy restaurants along Session Road continues to be a favorite among locals and tourists. Hungry for a simple comfort food, the waiter recommended that I try their Star rice. This rice dish is actually chopsuey rice with a sunny side up egg topping.

At P110 (US$2.60), it was a great meal. It was served hot and the "chopsuey" of baguio vegetables was generous, and the special sauce that came with it flavorful! The dish was real STAR!

Baguio Bounty Salad

The pride of one of Baguio's most celebrated restaurants Cafe by the Ruins is its Baguio Bounty Salad. This is a lettuce salad with watercress, shrimps, chicken and assorted fruits which includes strawberries, bananas, and mangoes and bathed in strawberry vinaigrette dressing.

While the salad is good it falls short of expectations. Priced at P300(US$7.30), serving is generous and can be shared by four people if you are ordering other dishes. Italiani's Sicilian Chicken Salad which is also a vegetable salad with fruits and chicken taste a lot better but cost P425 (US$10.36) good for two persons.

Romulo Cafe's Crispy Pork Binagoongan

Turning out to be an all time favorite of Filipino food lovers is Romulo Cafe located in Scout Tuazon corner Dr Lazcano St near Morato in Quezon City. It also has a branch in Makati at Jupiter St.

I have eaten at the Quezon City branch a number of times and the place is still always full after 2 years of operation. This is a testament to the quality of food in their menu. Last time I ate in Romulo Cafe what stood out was the Crispy Pork Binagoongan. The pork skin was really crispy and the meat tender. The pork was sauteed with tomatoes, onions, kangkong (water spinach) and bagoong ( shrimp paste), and was served on top of a steamed eggplant. The dish is priced at a reasonable P355 (US$8.65).

Azul Spa: Great Value Body Massage in Manila

One of the truly relaxing things that I enjoy is a body massage during lazy afternoons. Fortunately there is a spa very near my place which offers a relaxing massage at a very reasonable price of P250 (US $6.00) for a 1 hour body massage between the hours of 12 noon till 5 pm. After 5pm, the price goes up to P300 (US $7.30) which is still a treat at that price. The massage is done in a private cubicle with soothing music to further enhance your relaxation. They also provide you with warm salabat tea after the massage.

The massage place that I go to is Azul Spa and their signature 1 hour body massage is a combination of shiatsu and swedish massage techniques. Azul Spa is located in Shaw Blvd Mandaluyong near Edsa and right beside the Philippine National Bank Branch. They have branches at Edsa Boni, Libertad St. in Mandalauuyong, and in Quezon and Pasig cities.

Wooden Spoon: Wonder Foods

Reyna Blanca:

Stuffed Pechay:

Current hit among food lovers is Wooden Spoon on Katipunan Avenue in Loyola Heights Quezon City. Prices are reasonable with most dishes priced below P200 although servings are not really generous. But the good thing is that their food is great! The place is owned by Sandy Daza who has a column of course about food and restaurants in the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

I have tried a number of dishes in this restaurant which specializes in Filipino cuisine. Lumpiang sotanghan (P95), wansoy shrimp balls (P95), binagoongan (P195) lemon grass chicken (P185) are good. A disappointment is the new addition to their menu, crispy fish which is actually a seafood take on crispy pata but this time using tuna. The fish skin with meat came out tough instead of the crispy skin and tender meat of the really good crispy patas.

What stands out is their stuffed pechay(P155) which is smokey tinapa wrapped in pechay and swimming in really flavorful spicy sauce. You can end your meal with the delightful reyna blanca (P65) which is a milk gelatin topped with pinipig and milk cream.

There are a number of dishes which I heard are also great so another visit to this restaurant is in my To Do list.

Pagudpud's Blue Lagoon Beach

Maira-ira Beach which is better known as Blue Lagoon Beach is about 30 minutes away from Saud Beach in Pagupud. I was really excited to go to this place because of the glowing reviews that I read in magazine articles and travel blogs.

Since I came with such high expectations, I was very much disappointed with what I saw. It was white fine sand alright but the surrounding beach area reminded me of a better version of the beaches in Cavite. There were vendors with tables along the main beach area selling food and other souvenir items. It was like a tiangge by the sea with litter all over the beach. Also, cheap looking nipa huts dotted the shoreline. Overpriced price resorts are also operating in the area.

I had intended to stay in Blue Lagoon Beach for 2 nights but opted instead to go back to Saud Beach which is much cleaner and where there is better management of the beach area. In Saud Beach, there are designated areas where vendors can sell souvenirs and the beach is always kept clean.

Pagupud Northern Sights

View of Bantay-Abot Cave

Dos Hermanos Islands

Lagoon in Saud Beach

View of Coastline from Bantay-Abot Cave

Pagudpud is blessed with beautiful natural scenery. The pictures above are some of the pretty sights in this part of Ilocos Norte. These places are part of the North Loop Tour of Ilocos Norte.

Picturesque Patapat Viaduct

Patapat viaduct is a 1.3km long concrete bridge that connects Ilocos Norte to the Cagayan Valley region. It snakes along the Cordillera Mountains on one side and the South China Sea on the other side making it picture pretty.

This impressive infrastructure was built during the administration of former President Ferdinand Marcos.

Kaibigan Falls Refreshes

Good thing about traveling in Ilocos Norte is that they have organized tours around the province. There is the South Loop tour which will take you to Bangui Windmills and Cape Bojeador lighthouse and the Kapupurawan Rock Formation. The North Loop covers more sites including the Patapat Viaduct, Paraiso ni Adan, Lover's Rock, Blue Lagoon, Agua Grande and Kaibigan Falls. Both tours cost P600 (US$14) on tricycle good for 3 persons.

On the North Loop, the best part is the Kaibigan Falls. Its is a 1 hour walk to and from the Falls. There is a P10 (US$ 0.23) entrance fee and a P100(US$2.32) fee if you opt to take a guide.

The walk at first is tiring because of the humidity but as you enter the tropical forest close to the falls, you will feel refresh by the relatively cooler temperatures and the sight of the clean stream originating from the Falls. Kaibigan Falls pours really clean and cold waters into the natural pool by the Falls.