July 11, 2009 | Prepys' Homepage

After our calorific trip to Bacolod City, it’s now time to hie off to Cebu, the Queen City of the South. There’s just so much one can do on a business trip, but I noticed there seems to be no end to all the eating. It starts, of course, with the free buffet breakfast in the hotel coffee shop. Ugh.

Aside from being able to speak the local dialect, I am actually excited to be in Cebu. As a food tripper, what am excited about is trying restos and eating places that aren’t usually found in Manila. My friends never fail to root for Cebu lechon (and more lechonnn), but there seems to be a lot more to be discovered in this bustling city.

Our host, Ms. Jojo Beltran of PAGCOR-Mactan, took us last night to Laguna Garden Cafe in the spanking new Ayala Terraces Cebu. I was actually wondering why a resto in the Visayas would associate itself with Laguna, a province in Southern Tagalog, but that’s the way it goes.

Laguna Garden Cafe looked every inch like a very popular family-style restaurant. It was simply packed with people on a Friday night. I also liked the tasteful interiors filled with the decor and furniture which Cebu is known for.

The resto started out as a canteen and is now a fine example of a family business which has expanded. Perhaps one secret of its success are its reasonable prices. The dishes range from P95 to P300.

I espied Cebu lechon in the menu for P675, but am glad we ordered instead the crispy pata in its golden glory (P320). Save the lechon for another day!

I liked their version of the Chicken Binakol, a Tagalog dish that’s cooked like tinola – the only difference is that you use buko juice. There’s even buko (fresh young coconut) inside the soup. It’s been a long time since I tasted this.

Laguna cafe does a good version of the Bicol Express, which they call Laguna Express (P205). These are green veggies simmered in coconut milk with chilies, tender slices of pork and shrimps.

More food! Appetizers like Lumpiang sariwa, lato salad, manggang hilaw with bagoong and baked mussels start at P95 each.

Laguna Garden Cafe
Level 1, Ayala Terraces
Ayala Center, Cebu City
Tel. No. (032) 236-4132

Last Thursday, I was able to join a media tour to the house where National Artist Carlos “Botong” Francisco once lived.

Carlos “Botong” Francisco was one of the greatest Filipino visual artists and muralists, best known for his vibrant, sprawling murals specially commissioned by the Malacañang Palace, Manila City Hall, Philippine General Hospital and Fort Santiago.

His masterpieces include the Malacañang mural “Fiesta”, “Code of Kalantiao (private collection), “Blood Compact” (Yuchengco Museum / RCBC Building), “First Mass at Limasawa” (National Museum), “The Martyrdom of Rizal” (Fort Santiago), “Bayanihan sa Bukid,” “Stations of the Cross” (Far Eastern University), “The Invasion of Limahong,” “Serenade,” and “Muslim Betrothal.”

Botong was also a multidisciplinary artist, working in the movies as a scriptwriter and production designer.

But more than anything, Botong was an artist who addressed the issue of national identity. Yet, despite his great impact on Philippine art, his works have grown obscure to the younger generations of Filipinos.

Part of the house has now been converted into a museum which cntains some sketches and memorabilia owned by the National Artist. Another section of the house has also been converted into an art gallery for Botong Francisco’s grandson, Carlos “Totong” Francisco II.

The museum houses an impressive collection of Botong Francisco’s sketches, old magazines, photos and some gifts from friends.

From there we then head to the house of Mr. Salvador Juban who was once his apprentice. Mr. Juban was able to retell his story with the art master citing a few anecdotes which we all love to listen. We got to visualize who Botong Francisco is from the point of view of somebody who has directly worked with him.

The art gallery also has a good collection of painting currently on display.

To rekindle interest in Botong Francisco, Vibal Foundation, Inc. (VFI) introduces a new addition to its Art Series of imprints: The Life and Art of Carlos V. Francisco.

The Life and Art of Carlos V. Francisco is set to be launched at the National Museum on Aug. 19, alongside another VFI Art Series title, Francisco V. Coching, which chronicles the milieu of the popular komiks illustrator, also edited by Flores, and accompanied by the full-color republication of Coching’s masterpiece work “El Indio.”

An exhibit, entitled “Telling Modern Time,” accompanies the launch and showcases a focused view of Botong and Coching’s works in the popular context.

The Botong and Coching books follow VFI’s first Art Series release in 2008, Fabian de la Rosa and His Times.

Listen to Salvador Juban as he recalls his life experiences with Botong Francisco:

You like reading this blog post? You might also be interested in BYAHILO's other adventures at Sugarloaded!

The life and Art of Carlos Botong Francisco

Day: July 11, 2009

Laguna Garden Cafe, Cebu City

The life and Art of Carlos Botong Francisco