A travel & adventure blog by Kara Santos
The town of Lucban in Quezon is celebrating the Pahiyas Festial soon. Known as one of the most colorful festivals in the Philippines, Pahiyas is celebrated every May as a means to give thanks after a bountiful harvest. ‘Pahiyas’ literally means “precious offering,” and the practice dates back to the 16th century. People celebrate it in honor of San Isidro Labrador, the farmer’s patron saint.
The sidequest for beer continues! One of my main motivations for traveling these days is to check out new opened craft beer spots or revisit old favorites. Aside from doing the Taal Lake Loop, one of the main reasons I wanted to revisit Tagaytay was to check out Papa Bolo.
Papa Bolo is a relatively new brewery in Tagaytay City which opened last June 2022. The huge brewpub serves quality Filipino craft beer brewed with local ingredients along with upscale food to match.
Continue reading “Papa Bolo: Cool new craft brewery to drink with a view in Tagaytay”Zamboanga City’s cuisine is just as festive, colorful and diverse as the culture of the region. Because of their location near the Sulu Sea, you get a variety of fresh seafood. With Zamboanga’s rich history as a former Spanish settlement, Hispanic flavors and food preparation have been infused into dishes.
The presence of ethnic tribes from the Sulu archipelago and the Malay peninsula, known for their use of exotic spices, have added a unique touch to the cuisine that you can’t find anywhere else in the country.
Continue reading “Food Trip: Zamboanga City (2023)”The towns of Angono and Binangonan in Rizal offer an alternative destination where you can admire art and enjoy food trips near Manila. Angono, known as the “Art Capital of the Philippines,” is home to quirky folk art museums, art galleries like the Blanco Family Museum, and homegrown restaurants that serve native and exotic cuisine.
The neighboring town of Binangonan is also considered a cradle of arts in Rizal. It’s here where you can find the famed Angono-Binangonan Petroglyphs (the oldest known work of art in the country) and ArtSector Gallery and Chimney Cafe, an art and food spot that’s grabbed the interest of folk from Metro Manila.
Continue reading “Food Trip: Where to eat in Angono and Binangonan, Rizal (updated 2023)”Al fresco dining has really made a comeback in the Philippines because of the pandemic. Since restrictions eased earlier this year and COVID cases are down, families and barkadas are dining out all together again during weekends, but many still prefer to meet up in al fresco spaces for safety. While mall-based restos with open air dining are an option, scenic places near Manila like Tagaytay and Tanay have just boomed with al fresco cafes and pop-up coffee stalls.
But because gas is so expensive these days, nearer destinations are becoming more appealing. For those based in the metro, Antipolo is always a popular destination that has an out-of-town feel and great views, but is still relatively near the metro and easy to drive to if you just wan to to enjoy a quick brunch or coffee with friends. For bikers, Antipolo is also one of the most popular spots near Manila to bike to for coffee or weekend rides.
Continue reading “Food Trip: Where to eat in Antipolo (updated 2023)”NOTE: The article below and most photos were taken during various pre-pandemic visits, but I’ve updated the latest guidelines and rates with information available as of January 2023.
After almost three years of socially distanced dining and making do with home delivery, this is the year to reconnect with family and friends for weekend food trips. While some well-loved establishments along Maginhawa, the “eat street” permanently closed, other restaurants adapted by providing more al fresco dining options or shifting to delivery. Others, which shut their doors, have reopened or branched out.
Here are a few new restaurants and old favorites around the Maginhawa and Malingap neighborhood of Teacher’s Village and nearby UP Diliman in Quezon City where you can go food tripping this 2023.
Continue reading “Where to eat in Maginhawa: Top restaurants to try in 2023”With everything happening in the world, sometimes you just have to count your blessings. And one of the things I feel thankful for is that we live in a great neighborhood with lots of good food options.
Unfortunately, the pandemic has left some casualties in the neighborhood Maginhawa restaurant scene. Sadly, the beloved watering hole Tomato Kick has closed down, with a modern new structure currently being built in the place where the old house used to stand. Maginhawa icon Van Gogh is Bipolar also closed its doors amid the lockdown.
Marilaque, the highway that spans Marikina-Rizal-Laguna-Quezon, has always been our go-to destination for weekend rides. For those based in cities in the North and East of Metro Manila (like Quezon City, Pasig, Marikina, etc.), this highway leading to Infanta through the Sierra Madre Mountains is the favored destination for road trips, much like Tagaytay for Southerners.
Caliraya Lake is a favorite destination among motorcycle riders and bikers based in Metro Manila for weekend rides. Located in the mountainous area of Lumban, Cavinti, and Kalayaan in Laguna, the area surrounding Caliraya Lake has also known as a top destination for outdoor recreation, water sports, retreats, and fishing.
Since travel has eased again after the pandemic, the area seems to be becoming more popular among families for car camping, glamping, and other outdoor nature activities. There are a lot more family-friendly resorts, glamping destinations, and new al fresco restaurants serving wider food options that have popped up in the area in the past two years.
Continue reading “Travel Guide: Caliraya Lake-Pagsanjan Bike Loop”
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