Part 3: The Philippines Travelogue
Tasty Delights and Visual Feasts Galore!
Greetings from the Philippines and Happy Valentine’s Day!
We are well into our last few days here in the Philippines. I have taken in as much of the culture as I possibly could during my stay here. There is not a morsel of food I have turned down. My phone is full of new photos and video clips. I even have a new list of dishes I want to learn how to make. This has been an extraordinary trip thus far, and I will hold these memories close to my heart for as long as I can.
Our Biannual Family Reunion
On Saturday, February 8, we attended a family reunion of relatives from my maternal grandmother Socorro’s side of the family in a neighboring town called San Antonio. With over 100 cousins, nieces, nephews, siblings, uncles, and aunts in attendance, there was an abundance of yummy food and desserts, bingo, dancing, a DJ, and a warm, rain-free sunny day outside.
In the middle of watching the festivities and talking with relatives, I discovered a little Filipino delicacy. My Uncle Ante called me over to the dessert table and told me to try Bibingka. Apparently, Bibingka is only eaten during the lengthy Christmas holidays, but the caterer made them for this special occasion. When I took my first bite, my head exploded. It was an understated piece of perfection. Roasted on banana leaves, this lightly sweet, eggy, muffin/pancake enigma, is the combination of many wonderful things put together, and I am OBSESSED. I kept asking myself “Why haven’t I heard of this or eaten it before???!!!!!” UGH!
Needless to say, I want to learn how to make this ASAP!
Later that day, I was scooped up by some relatives and taken to a beloved local attraction called Farm Villaronte. This place is a farm brimming with seemingly endless rows of flowers! This unexpected detour was absolutely magical!
Our next big adventure was a day trip to the heritage province of Ilocos Sur in the northwest region of Luzon Island. We went to Vigan City, which is a historic preservation site lined with cobblestone streets and numerous buildings and churches that were built during the Spanish colonial era.
Though I am personally not happy about Spain’s colonization of my motherland, I have to admit that they built some incredibly beautiful structures. For better or worse, this is part of our history that we cannot undo.
Vigan City is known for its unique empanadas, and we stopped at a local eatery to give them a try. Sure enough, they were quite filling and delicious!
It was during this day trip that we stopped to visit the ocean. We took pictures at the beloved Beluarte Watchtower in a tiny oceanside town called Luna.
The interior of it is so cool!
Of course, I love any chance I have to be by the ocean. It always feels like home. In the photo below, you can see the majestic Kalinga Mountain range in the distance. This beach sits on the northeastern side of Luzon.
We also visited the Baluarte Zoo, which is an interactive wildlife sanctuary in Vigan City, and we got to see big, beautiful cats, ostriches, tortoises, deer, goats, ponies, big snakes, crocodiles, peacocks, and tropical birds.
We drove through several small towns along the way, including Narvacan, Nagbukel, San Esteban, Tagudin, Bangar, and many others.
There’s more to come before we head back to Tennessee, including a visit to the summer capital of the Philippines, a family feast in Manila, and my first ever piano performance in the motherland.
See you again next week as we wrap up this glorious trip from the Pearl of the Orient Seas!
—Roqué
UPCOMING SHOWS:
Jane’s Hideaway
Nashville, TN
Tuesday, February 25, at 8 PM
Writer’s Kitchen: Solo Songwriter’s Round
I’ve never had bibinkga either. I look forward to tasting your practices. 😉