Category: Family

Who says that one need to scratch his pocket so deep just to enjoy a feast fit for a king? Since I started this I blog, I have been raving about Dong Bei in Nueva Street, adjacent to Ongpin in Binondo Manila. here, here,.

Dong Bei’s dumplings are just so delicious.Authentic, I may say. Last weekend, Nina and I went to this isde of Manila’s Chinatown to feast on authentic Chinese Culinary delights.

Just as I take my seat, I immediately ordered a mixed dumpling. An order of freshly steamed dumpling is never missed. For one hundred pesos we we served fourteen pieces of smoking hot dumplings. Seven pieces is made of pork while the other seven is made of chives or kutsay.

While we were in the middle of our binge, Nina and I decided to try their other offerings. We decided to order Handiwork Noodles with Soy Bean Sauce. For one hundred pesos a bowl, this cold noodle is already good for two hungry souls.

At first, I find it weird. hand-pulled noodles, topped with cold, thinly sliced cucumbers and bits and pieces of meat cooked with soybean sauce.

The flavor is explosive. Just imagine the cold feeling you get when eating cucumber coupled with the saltiness of the soybean sauce and the al dente egg noodles. An interesting creation, but superbly delicious. A must-try! Two thumbs up for this noodles.

So all in all, two hundred pesos were scratched from out pockets. TWO HUNDRED PESOS for a meal fit for a royalty. We left Dong Bei full and uberly satisfied.

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Feasting on Dong Bei’s goodies in Binondo

I first blogged about this botanical garden three years ago. During that time, the Manila Chinese Garden was still in a better state. Well-maintained shrubs, clearer waters and cooler breeze.

Last weekend Nina and I went to the Manila Chinese Garden to check what in there. It looks like the place is not very well maintained. Although this is way better compared to the conditions of the Manila Japanese Garden.

It looks like the place is also a favourite haven for lovers seeking private moments. I jokingly said to Nina that it must be a requirement for get into the park by pairs! Hahaha

Anyways, I still love the Manila Chinese Garden’s Pagoda and the long canopy overlooking a pond of water. But the quality of the plants is forgettable, really. But trust me, the Manila Chinese Garden is far more better than the Japanese Garden which is just adjacent to it.

The Chinese Garden is located beside the Rizal Park in Luneta. Admission fee is five Pesos.

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Manila Chinese Garden in Luneta Rizal Park

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — A cultural festival that was created by former first lady Imelda Marcos is set to be revived by his nephew, Mayor Alfred Romualdez, and make it one of the highlights of this year’s city fiesta.

City tourism officer Jake Ligan revealed that the “Sangyaw Festival” would be revived in June and would hopefully bring tourists into the city.

Ms Marcos, a native of Leyte, organized the “Sangyaw Festival,” (which means to herald a news) during the rule of her late husband, former president Ferdinand Marcos. It is being held every 29th of June or a day before the city fiesta of Tacloban.

Contingents coming from the different provinces and cities in the country joined in the festivities.

But when the Marcoses were booted out of Malacañang in 1986, the festival was stopped. Instead, a non-government organization organized the Pintados Festival, which is now recognized by the Department of Tourism.

Organizers earlier announced that with the decision of Mayor Romualdez to revive the festival organized by his aunt, the Pintados Festival would be canceled.

But they will continue to stage the Miss Pintados, a beauty search that is one of the fund-raising activities of the Pintados Foundation Inc.

Ligan acknowledged that the Pintados Festival helped in making the city known to tourists, especially from those coming from other regions.

Bernardita Valenzuela, staff of the city mayor, said that Romualdez decided to revive the Sangyaw Festival due to “historical reasons” which she did not elaborate.

“But generally, the mayor wants to get involved with the fiesta celebration unlike previous city mayors. The (Pintados) Festival was not organized by the city government but by an NGO,” she said.

“The fiesta is supposed to be the birthday of Tacloban so it is just right for the city government to get involved,” said Valenzuela.

Valenzuela also helped organized the first Sinulog Festival of Cebu in 1980 while she was in the staff of then Cebu City Mayor Florencio Solon.

Valenzuela also added that the former first lady has already signified her intentions to attend the city fiesta, which honors Señor Santo Niño.

Ligan said the city government would spend “millions of pesos” for the festival. The mayor already formed a group that would compose the “tribe” and would compete with contingents from other cities invited by Romualdez.

Among those that have been invited by the city government are delegations from the cities of Cebu, Talisay and Lapu-Lapu in Cebu; Bacolod and San Carlos in Negros Occidental; and Isabela in Basilan

Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Imelda Marcos’ fiesta to be revived in Tacloban City