IDYLLIC ILIGAN

Written: October 2007

My two journeys to Iligan involved saying hello and bidding goodbye to a well-loved doctor in the place. In 2004, the 1st time I was there, I was able to go out and meet Dr. Glenn Justiniano who is a very good friend of Dr. Tish Gatbonton. From our very brief encounter, I have come to know him through the colorful stories of his years together with Dr. Tish as batch mates. My second trip to Iligan was sad because it was a journey that took so much from my friend, whom I fondly call Ate – a privilege she gave to me and Malou for many years now - saying goodbye to a beloved friend.

Excerpts from her write-up at the PSEM Update are as follows:
We’ve had to say a more permanent goodbye to Dr. Glenn de Guzman Justiniano. Glenn was a UE Batch ’89 classmate, kasamang Fiel-Lim group mate and boon companion through misadventures in medical school and fellowship, love affairs and life. His elder brotherly demeanor came naturally and was something all who knew him recognized and gravitated towards, inspiring trust, confidence, respect and affection.

Glenn was a bon vivant, possessing a zest and awe for life. He loved good music ranging from classical, opera to pop, his walkman and later on, his Ipod was always with him. He was a “techie,” mechanically inept, but always interested in the newest gizmos and gadgets. He also enjoyed good food, had adventurous taste, liked nothing better than sitting back with friends over beer, wine, and his drug of choice, coffee.

Glenn had a warm and soothing baritone, and stuck in traffic between home and PGH in our daily carpool, he and our classmate, Boyette Edmilao, a tenor, would break into song and sing my (their driver’s) requests. He loved to sing and was always involved in choirs in church and in school. His international singing debut was at AFES Singapore doing a solo representing the society on fellowship night.

Glenn was intelligent, kind, compassionate and caring. A real gentleman in every sense. Most important, Glenn had a deep and abiding faith in God that permeated his entire life. He loved, laughed and dreamt of a happy future with his soul mate, wife Babette, and his two girls, his ‘adopted daughter,’ Joy, and the joy of his heart, his spitting image, Kim.

Glenn’s premature passing at age 44 has left a void in his family, his church, the medical community in his adopted home, Iligan, and among his patients. He left a void in his PSEM family.

I know we, his Batch 95 cronies: Viki, Herbert and our adopted batchmate, Levy, will never meet together without the sense of something missing. The same is true for his Other PSEM Women: Nonen, Beth, Marie, Zon, and Nique who felt his loss deeply.

On a personal note, I knew I could count on him to listen, give counsel, keep confidences, withhold judgment, and accept me for who I was. He was my ace-up-my sleeve friend, who made the prospect of endocrine fellowship less daunting and easier to adjust to. It was my great honor to be his only child’s godmother. His last text message to me the night before his operation was, “I love you, too, Tish.” I’m glad I got to tell him how much he meant to me when I could. And as long as Babette and Kim are around, he will always be alive for me. Even then, I will miss him all my life.

Goodbye, Glenn. See you again, one day.
I will try to understand what lured this “bon vivant” to this place aside from the reason that he found his one true love in this city. His adopted hometown, Iligan, is from the Higaunon word "iligan" or "ilijan," meaning "fortress of defense" against frequent attacks by pirates and other hostile Mindanao tribes. It is also called the “City of Majestic Waterfalls”. It has approximately 20 waterfalls.

Getting There:
Cebu Pacific - 2 flights via CDO 20:15, 21:35
PAL – 4 flights via Cagayan de Oro 5:10AM, 7:30AM, 10:00AM and 13:00PM
There is a 2 hour land trip from CDO to Iligan City.
Where to Stay:
The best hotel to stay is Cheradel Suites. It is new and very nice is a simple way. Stark white walls surround the place. There is something regal in the place in miniscule proportion.
For those on a budget you can try Kingsway Inn, Corporate Inn and Maria Cristina Hotel. But I really don’t recommend these hotels.
Places to Visit:
Maria Cristina Falls is located 8.5 kilometers away southwest of the city proper. The 320- feet high waterfall is also known as the "Mother of Industry" because it is the main source of power for 80% of the Mindanao region.
The second highest waterfall is located in Barangay Rogongon, 54 kilometers from Iligan City. Limunsudan Falls, a two-tiered fall, has a combined height of 870 feet. Its lower cascade alone measures 400 feet, higher than the entire height of Maria Cristina Falls.

Another breathtaking waterfall in Iligan City is the Tinago Falls, located 13 kilometers from the city proper. As its name implies, this 420-foot waterfall lies hidden in a deep ravine.
Timoga Spring is a spring located along the National Highway, Timoga, Barangay Buru-un and is 9 kilometers away from the city proper. It is well-known for icy-cold and crystal-clear springs flow freely to the pools of different sizes. There are around five spring resorts along the highway which is easily accessible by land to all locals and tourists. ( source: Wikipedia )

Initao National Park is a 57 hectare natural forest with diverse flora and fauna. You can go spelunking, swimming and fishing there.


Places to eat:
Gazpacho Foodhaus - a relatively new restaurant serving Italian and Pinoy food.
Café Laguna – Pinoy food at its finest

Trip Tips:
* Chedengs peanuts – a must. These are very minute peanuts which are crunchy and tasty. The best there is in my opinion.

* Visit the Maria Cristina Waterfalls. Make sure that when you go visit the place, you will be given the opportunity to see the “waterfalls show”. Much water isn’t flowing all the time.

* Avoid traveling from Iligan to CDO at night.

* The best time to fly for me is 10:00AM. The airport is situated above the mountain. There is a tendency for fog build-up for very early flights and afternoon flights.

If you are looking for a place depicting grandiosity , Iligan is not your kind of destination. Iligan is solemn and calm. It is almost hypnotic like all the waterfalls that surround it. Take a deep breathe, see the trickling of the water, feel the coolness and hear its calming sound … that’s Iligan. It gives you an immense realization that everything goes down just like losing a very good friend. It is an experience that will shake you to the core but let us be consoled by the fact that he is happy …
For everything there is a season,
And a time for every matter under heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to seek, and a time to lose;
A time to keep, and a time to throw away;
A time to tear, and a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate,
A time for war, and a time for peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

BORACAY'S ISLAND CHARM

Written: 2005

“Boracay” – Features an unadulterated (?) island living in the Philippines, all in a seven kilometer, palm fringed, white powdery sand beach.

Its main allure, one that sets it apart from the best beaches in the world, is its fine sand as soft as talc. It is cool to the feet, even under the scorching midday sun.

The west side beach offers the best sunset view in the country with the splashes of the colors orange, magenta, peach and gold giving you a sense of melancholy and serenity found nowhere else.

The waters’ depth level has along, even gradation where you can clearly see minute school of fishes darting between your legs. The very rare, luminous white “puca” shells, said to be the most premium in the world, can be found here.

Boracay is at its finest during the rainy season and a good “sight-seeing” ground during cold December. It’s a place where people from all generations and cultures converge and party. Perhaps it’s the diversity of nature that made me fall in love with the place.

Getting There

There are four ways to get to Boracay:
1. Direct flight from Manila to Caticlan in Panay (1 hour) via Asian Spirit and SeaAir then by a 30-minute motorized ferry ride
2. Direct flight from Manila to Aklan ( 1 hour ) then a two-hour overland trip to Caticlan and a 30-minute ferry ride
3. Via Our Lady of Lipa from North Pier to Dumaguit ( 18 hours ), then a two-hour land trip to Caticlan and a 30-minute ferry ride
4. Via Ro-Ro from Batangas Pier to Boracay

Take note: Allow a longer time when leaving the island because you have to travel by tricycle going to the new pier at the back of the Island to ride the ferry.

Where to Stay

There are two ways of getting accommodations. First by booking in advance via travel agencies or the internet but you have to pay more for this convenience .Club Panoly – serenity not found in white beach resorts, Fridays, Seawind, Regency-it’s like being billeted in Manila, Willy’s Rock, Boracay Terraces, Sand Castle and Pearl of the Pacific is more on the upscale living. Food is often served by the beach with the complete ambience of Island Paradise. Candles, light torches and acoustic music fill the romantic air.

The second one if you are on a budget, there are options available to you on the White Beach. Get off at Station 3. Walk along the beach and ask around. I can vouch for 2 economical places: Cliffhanger (Station 2) and St. Vincent’s Cottage (Station 3). Both are economical and the owner/staff are hospitable and nice. You can have your meals cooked for a very minimal cost.

Places to Visit

Jonah’s has the tastiest banana peanut shake on Boracay. Great Sunset view. It has improved dramatically from a humble restaurant to a hang-out place cum sunset. It is now equipped with big white tents set-up in a bigger space and a lighted signage that you can see from a kilometer.

Cocomangas is home of the Moondogs Shooters Club, people who drink 15 kinds of alcoholic beverages under time pressure. You’ll get an engraved dog tag displayed on the restaurant wall. An evidence of great valor and spirited bravery … in drinking. Now, Shooters is available in a water jug w/ disposable cups to share it with friends. It is the home of special events and parties. Recently, the “Teaze” – from the makers of C2 Iced Tea- Launch was held there. Incidentally, my husband, Oliver, made the photographs of the award winning label.

Pier 1 – a party place just like Cocomangas.

Boom Boom Bar – a place to hear tribal music.

Mandalay Spa is a high-end relaxation for the upper echelon of the society. An alternative is lying on the beach and calling “manang” to do the Php 200 massage using coconut oil.

D Mall is a shop-a-holics haven. It is now a combination of shops and restaurants with an additional Ferris wheel for the kids. Mongkok and Dimsum, Ice Monsters, Hobbit House, Bacolod Inasal, Andok’s, etc. are the new chow places to go.

D Talipapa is also available for the bargain hunters. Blue Jade Restaurant is a good place to eat. There are also restaurants that you can have your meal cooked after buying them at the Talipapa. Tribal music can be bought for 200 in one of the stores. Available in this place is a special edition Coke with Boracay label … a part of my prized collection of Coke. The collection is now almost a hundred because of the big contribution of my mamu, Dr. Editha Dalisay – renowned endocrinologist at St. Luke’s Hospital and UERMMC – and other good friends who travel the world over.

Aria is a party place for the celebs and celeb-hunters. Serves Italian Food.

Hey Jude – great pizza hang-out. Try Pizza Margherita

True Food – Indian restaurant where you will dine literally in Indian seat.

Zorba – Greek Restaurant. Haven’t tasted their food.

There are lots of things to do in Boracay – relax, shop, man/babe-hunt, island hop to Puca Beach and Crystal Cave (Php 1,500.00), snorkel, dive, banana boat ride, parasail, wall climb and Party! It’s a kind of place that you will come back to even if you’ve been there a lot of times. It offers variety of activities both for the adventurous and the laid-back.

There are two ways to enjoy Boracay: Be with good friends and enjoy the parties and the various aqua rides. Laughs are heartier and nights are longer. It will be more economical when traveling with friends because you can split the bill for food, island hopping and night outs.

Another way is to have a great romantic companion which is a one essential part of this whole package. The sunset is more colorful, dinners are more delightful, and activities are more fun. It makes the getaway more meaningful and worth remembering. It has been said that love is the capacity to feel deeply, to enjoy simply, to think freely, to risk life and to be needed. It needs your significant other to feel this. Happiness is a way of travel – not a destination. This I didn’t edit because I still have my hubby walking by the beach beside me. 

Published: Pro Philippines and Diabetes Watch

Stock photos available.

SURFING SIARGAO

Written: July 2003

It’s a location shoot that will pass the “Fear Factor” standard. Place for the daring, the bold and the wild. It’s a site of high adrenaline extreme adventure. The Surfing capital of Asia. Surfers from all over the globe will converge here for the 6th Siargao International Surfing Cup to be held on September 28-30, 2003. For people with irrepressible desire to conquer new heights … this place is for you!

Getting There:

By ship:
2 days on high seas from Manila to Surigao. Then take a fast boat ride (1 hour) to Dapa on Siargao Island. This passes to the famed Philippine Deep. From Dapa 30-minute ride to General Luna.

By air:
1. Take Manila to Cebu Flight then Super Cat Ferry to Surigao City then follow instructions above.

2. Take Manila to Cebu Flight then take SeaAir direct to Del Pilar, Siargao (45 minutes). Take a shuttle to take you to any resort in General Luna.

3. Take Manila to Butuan Flight. Two hours land trip to Surigao. Follow instructions above. This route took me to the picture postcard surfing location.

Where to Stay:

There are plenty of cottages and lodges to stay within the vicinity. There are modest nipa huts in General Luna which can rent for Php 800-1000 per person per night. There are no telephones, restaurants, supermarkets or hotels except in the mainland. Some prefer to camp and spend the night sleeping inside the tents. It is not commercially developed yet and it is a part of its rustic charm.

Activities:

Surfing – Cloud Nine is the Philippine’s most “famous” wave. The surfing season starts from August to March. October is the month of the International Surfing contest. The surf board can be rented for Php 150.00 per day.

Swimming – 27-mile long white fine sand strip of Gen. Luna is the favorite. There are choices of the beach qualities: cream colored coarse sand (Basul & Sagisi), richly adorned with colorful seashells sprinkled with coral bits & pieces (Danawan) and surrounded by limestone & granite sculptures with pools of assorted shapes and sizes (Pilar).

Snorkeling & Scuba Diving – wide array of marine beauty. Zaragoza rock formation has one hectare beach park of dagger-shaped structures as high as 20-feet arising from waist-deep crystal clear waters.

Seafood Feasts – Marlins, tunas, groupers, crabs, squids, rays and octopuses are succulent food that can be bought fresh and cheap from the vendors. Game-fishing and spear-fishing won’t be disappointing of the bountiful seas of Siargao.

Sailing – island-hopping using catamarans and motor bancas. Boat trip to Sotohon Lagoon is a must. When the tide is low, you can inside the caves and see the bats, orchids, stalactites, rocks and different variety of fishes. Guyam and Pansukian (Naked Island) are worth seeing because of its coral reefs and white sands

Trip Tips:

* Going to Siargao meant passing by the “Philippine Deep” so if you’re not into this adventure; try some other places to visit.
* Always bring drinks and packed lunch when going to the boat trip.
* Habal-habal motorcycles can take you around the island for Php 600.00.
* Seafoods abound and they are cheap. So eat your heart out.
* Never expect for the amenities of the city hotels … it’s rustic.
* Always wear your aqua shoes while swimming.

Siargao is the site of two very different experiences … the adventure of riding the wild waves and the serenity of a rural allure. Despite the utter diversity, the place is an exquisite encounter. Their traits complement each other creating a spectacular display of a truly divine encounter with one of God’s gift to humanity. Siargao Surfing … try it. I dare you!

DISCOVERING DAVAO

Written: August 2004

The word Davao came from the word “daba-daba” which means fire. The primitive populace of the place used to have ritual fires along the river banks. Davao City is the world’s largest city (244,000 hectares). It enjoys a serene, pleasurable climate all year round. Mount Apo which is the 2nd highest peak in the Philippines completes the scenery of Davao.


Getting There:

Davao is serviced by an international airport. Cebu Pacific flies five times daily from Manila (1 hour and 35 minutes) and from Cebu twice (55 minutes).

Key shipping lines service the Davao area from Manila and nearby southern points.

Where to Stay:

It has a splendid selection of choices of hotels, pensions, inns to go well with every budget. There are beach resorts, from opulent to rudimentary. Another alternative is the Home stay Program of the Department of tourism which allows guests the option to be subjected to living with a typical Davaoeno family.

Listed among the best hotels are the following: Apo View Hotel, Marco Polo Hotel, Grand Regal Hotel, Pearl Farm Beach Resort, Royal Mandaya Hotel and Waterfront Insular Hotel


Places to Visit:



Eden Nature Park and Resort – 20 minutes away from the city proper. This cool paradise will take you to a place exquisitely different from the whirling pace of the city. It is 2,500 feet above sea level nestled on the higher slopes of grand old Mt. Talomo with the imposing Mt. Apo peeping behind its shoulder. It offers the most excellent view of the city and the Davao Gulf. This mountain resort is 95% man-made. It started a program for wildlife conservation. You’ll get a close encounter with the amazing Indian peacocks, deers and birds. The fox head or Mickey Mouse plant and jade vine are not to be missed.

Paradise Island Beach Resort – It can be reached via a 15 minute pump boat ride. On the way there, one can see the Samal Houses – these are native huts built on stilts over the waters. The beach that curls around the resort is characterized by fine white sands. Looming in the horizon is the majestic Mount Apo. It has a mini-zoo and amenities of a typical beach resort.

Jack’s Ridge – It is the place to be at night. It sits quietly on top of a hill. Various restaurants of various specialties abound the place. It has an amphitheater which can be used as a venue for events.

San Pedro Cathedral – It is Davao’s oldest church named after its patron saint San Pedro. It was built in 1847. Its old altar was preserved at the right wing of the cathedral exhibiting antique images of saints and that of St. Peter.



Eagle Conservation Center – It takes care of the once known as the monkey-eating eagle. It is endemic to the eastern portion of the Philippine comprising the Sierra Madre Mountains in Eastern Luzon and Mindanao.

Mt Apo National Park – The tallest peak in the country at 10,311 feet above sea level extends from North Cotabato, Davao del Sur and Davao City to Agusan del Sur and Misamis Oriental. Its name means grandfather of the entire Philippine mountain.

Puentespina Orchid Garden – It is located in Agdao, Davao City. It showcases a wide variety of exotic orchids of different species.






Pearl Farm - a must when in Davao. It is very calm and quiet. Day tour available. It is a private paradise nestled in the quiet side of Samal Island, Philippines. Formerly an actual pearl farm where thousands of white-lipped oysters were cultivated for their pink, white, and gold pearls, the 14-hectare resort is just a 45-minute boat ride from the Davao Marina Wharf.


Trip Tips:

* Try the Durian Pie of Cecil’s Snack Inn – it’s a must! If you still haven’t got enough of your durian feast, you can try its durian roll and durian cake.
* Ahfat is one of the best restaurants in Davao. Try their Ostrich Steak, seafood dishes and Pomelo Shake.
* For shopaholics, Aldevinco is the place to be. It is the Mecca of rich colored bags and imported textiles.
* Visit Blu Gre – Davao’s version of Starbucks and Seattle’s Best. Home of the Durian Cappuccino and Cinnamon w/ Cheese and Butter.
* This is a strictly NO SMOKING City.


Discovering Davao is like living with someone for the first time. One can’t help but be awed by the things that one can unravel in the new relationship. Each day becomes extra special because every time you’d wake up … you’d find a surprise. Whether it is nice or irritating, it is something that one has to live with because it makes living more exciting and unique from the other relationships. It is something that we hold on to even if life gets rough and full of ennui. It is not something that you’d give up easily just because the person didn’t live up to your expectations.
It’s a city with two extreme experiences … the warmth of the beach and the coolness of the mountain. It’s having the best of both worlds no wonder it is dubbed as “the most livable city in the Philippines”. Just like a new relationship, it’s a combination of both. Despite its differences, it makes life worthwhile. It is both a challenge and a solace that one can conquer and come home to at the end of the day.

BEDAZZLING BOHOL

Written: January 2003

Even from the aerial view, one can hypothesize that Bohol is on its final approach. It’s obviously because of the famous “chocolate hills “ that were protruding on the earth’s flat surface. But during my visit, they were “green hills” …. still a breathtaking sight to behold. Good feedbacks were given to me prior to my trip to the famed 2nd best place in the Philippines 2002.

Bohol – meaning “many holes” - is a laid-back town with very narrow streets and odd-looking tricycles with religious verses painted at its back. The houses were old but very quaint and clean. Great old churches with amazing architecture and rich history. People were nice, thrifty, shy and honest. This is a place with a very low crime rate. Tradition is deeply rooted. Good family values are inherent and overt. God is the center of the town’s heart.

GETTING THERE

1. Via direct flight to Tagbilaran City
2. Via Cebu flight then a 1 ½ hour Supercat ride to Tagbilaran Pier

WHERE TO STAY

1. Panglao Island Beach Resort – separated from the mainland by a bridge and mangrove. Twenty five minutes away from the city proper. A paradise with white sands, thatched roof huts, island gazebo in the middle of the sea, wonderfully constructed pool and a natural motif found in every aspect of the resort. World class, private and expensive! Two thumbs up.
2. Bohol Tropics – voted as the cleanest resort in Bohol. Favorite venue of conventions. Located in the city yet able to capture the natural beauty of the island. Festive and modern.
3. Bohol Beach Club – long beach front with colorful flags swaying with the tangy breeze of the cerulean sea. For family vacations and summer escapades. Tall palm trees abound. Divers’ haven.
4. Metrocenter Hotel – In the heart of the city. Small and neat. Good food. Nice staff. Sister resort of Panglao.
5. Bohol Plaza Hotel – At the peak of Bohol Island. Perfect view of the whole metropolis.



PLACES TO VISIT

1. CHOCOLATE HILLS – The sleepy town of Carmen is an hour ride from the city. There are 1268 limestone hills in Bohol. It was a product of the uplifting of the coral deposits combined with the action of rainwater and erosion. Awesome view from the top but you have to climb 200 steps of concrete stairs to catch a glimpse of God’s showcase of beauty. Green during the wet season and brown during summer.
2. TARSIER ENCOUNTER - Cute, sweet and cuddly little monkeys with the saddest eyes I’ve ever seen. Life span of 20 years. Nocturnal. Feeds on crickets. Tends to commit suicide should someone bring him away from his habitat. Our very own version of the Australian koala. At the back of my head, I really think they should be left in the forest - where they rightfully belong.
3. MAN-MADE FOREST – a project of the late President Diosdado Macapagal. These are Mohogany Trees lining the way to the renowned chocolate hills. Looming high and proud, full of scary tales as well.
4. BLOOD COMPACT SHRINE – Made in honor of the Treaty of Friendship and Alliance between Capt. Gen. Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and Datu Sikatuna when the Spaniards fleet anchored along the shore in March 1565.
5. BACLAYON CHURCH – established by the Jesuits in the 1600s and finished by the year 1717. Old rumbling house of prayer with a vivid Christian history. To this date, many statues were stolen from the famous gilded altar. Visit Baclayon Museum at the back.
6. PANGLAO ISLAND BEACHES – bask in the sunbeams amidst turquoise waters with the white sand at your feet. Great dive sites.
7. HINAGDANAN CAVES – Entrance Fee: Php 20.00 Humid and dark. A wide array of stalactites and stalagmites with a mini lagoon with crystal blue waters. No bats during the day. Found near the Panglao Island Beach Resort.

TRIP TIPS

1. Bring your swimsuits. Missing Panglao’s beaches is one great mistake.
2. Prepare for a bumpy and zigzag one-hour drive to Chocolate Hills.
3. Hold the tarsier – cutest & softest creature I’ve seen and cuddled.
4. Visit old churches. See the past laurels and immerse yourself in man’s great works of arts.
5. Wear comfy slip-ons and cotton shirts. Too many places to visit in a day.
6. If you’re not used in climbing high places, stretch your muscles before attempting to tread the 200-step stairs or end up with a 3-day muscle pain.
7. Grilled Quitong (Metrocenter Restaurant), Clam Soup & Spicy Scallops (Mira Villa) – try it and discover these absolute delights to the palate
8. Calamay, peanut kisses, peanut stars, baskets, abaca / nipa bags – pasalubong galore

True to its image, Bohol is a great summer getaway for all ages. There are myriads of activities that an adventurer can do here. What somehow moved me is the fact that there are still places with people earning a living honestly. Strong manifestations of intense faith in the Lord and a lifestyle of simplicity and humility can be felt. Good old customs are practiced. It is a place where the beauty of nature and beauty of the soul merged.

ILOILO ... SUGAR ... AND MORE

Date Written: March 2004

This was the last feature I wrote before I united with the one that my soul loves last December. It is only fitting that I give tribute to the person whom I chose to grow old with for the rest of my life. I was like a funny twist of destiny that as I write about the places in the Philippines … I would end up with somebody whose roots can be traced in the heart of this country … Iloilo. It is located at the center of the Philippine archipelago and the gateway to the flourishing region of Western Visayas. And … it hit me right where my soul is.

Iloilo City is set in a graceful repose between Iloilo and Batiano rivers forming the angle of the nose. Hence, its old name is “Ilong-ilong” which means nose like.

One can travel in style going here … by air there are flights daily from Manila which will only take 55 minutes. We met in techno-style … via the short message service. It is a real life cyber-love story which has been going on for the past three blissful years.

Despite being born and bred in Makati, the deep-rooted traditions of his provincial ancestry can be overtly seen. These dependable values are as old as the majestic century-old churches and unspoiled countryside. There is also a side of him that is as sunny and as jovial as the Dinagyang Festival (4th Weekend of January). It was a blending of these traits that enhanced his very pleasant personality which could win him the title “Mr. Congeniality”.

A collector of antique electric fans and appliances, his room has an “old world ambiance” same as Iloilo which is proud of its turn-of-the-century edifices and grand, old houses. Jaro district is like a city in the late 1700s and 1800s. One can find the relics of the country’s first “Millionaire’s Row” – manors of sugar barons ringing the plaza, standing like defensive sentinels beside the Jaro Cathedral, the Archbishop’s Palace and the esteemed St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary. Among the famous mansions there are those owned by the family of Ledesma, Lizares (now known as Angelicum), Montinola and Lopez. Who knows what historical secrets and other ghost stories the walls of these houses keep?

On to a happier note … truly, the way through one’s heart is through the stomach. I was treated to a delight of the palate with his gourmet dishes. Just like Iloilo, it is one of those places that provides exotic delicacies like La Paz Batchoy (famous noodle dish made very tasty by pork broth, fried garlic, onion and pig innards), Pancit Molo (flat noodle soup with spiced pork-chicken meat balls wrapped in thin dough boiled chicken-pork broth) Biscocho Haus’ butterscotch, cream horn and Biscocho, Mama’s Kitchen cashew cookies, pinasugbo (sweetened banana slices in very sticky sugar concoction) and barquillos. Sea foods like oysters, crab and other shellfish abound. Because it is relatively near Guimaras, mangoes of export quality can be found.

Famous restaurants are Conings (oyster, sinugba, and tinola), Breakthrough (aligue rice, inasal, and diwal), Freddie’s (Italian), Ness and Tats (native sea foods), Sibingan, Ted’s, Tatoy’s (inasal and sea foods) and Marina.

In a nutshell, Iloilo is a cultural journey through time. It is the site of stately mansions and unusual treats. Savor the hospitality of its numerous accommodation facilities and restaurants. The Ilonggos will make sure your stay is pleasant, memorable and safe. They make sure you are well-fed, too. Take home antiques, handicrafts and art pieces. The people moves with the gentle sway of the old kundimans are survivors amidst galloping technologies and continue to live a lifestyle of grace and elegance.

Love is a journey. As we manoeuvre along this path called life, occasionally one will find herself a little lost. And when that happens, you should have to let go of the coulda, shoulda, woulda, buckle up and keep going. So many roads. So many alternative routes. So many mistakes. As one speed along this continual road to the goal called “who we hope to be”, we can’t help but complain, “Are we there yet?” Now I found my home. Maybe men and women aren’t from different planet as new age culture would have us believe. Maybe we live a lot closer to each other. In my case, in the same zip code. I was happy to put my single self on a shelf at this point in my life … to be a part of the couple. It was a prayer heard … it took a very long while. But it was well worth it.

“There are some people who meet that somebody that they can never stop loving, no matter how hard they try. I wouldn’t expect you to understand that, or even believe it, but trust me; there are some loves that don’t go away. And maybe that makes them crazy, but we should all be lucky enough to end up with somebody who has a little of that insanity. Someone who never lets go. Someone who cherishes you forever.”
– Ally Macbeal