PhotoWalk around Binondo with WD MyCloud

Three weeks ago, I joined a food tour/photowalk around Binondo hosted by Western Digital. Western Digital is the world’s leading brand for external hard drives. The aim of the tour was for us to experience the WD MyCloud. MyCloud allows us to store or access our files even if we are in a remote location.

Western Digital MyCloud

Western Digital MyCloud

I have already lost count on how many times I have been to Binondo to feast on dumplings and other Chinese delights but this particular tour brought us to foodie destinations that I have never been to.

Exciting!

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Lingayen Bagoong atbp!

Day Two of my Lingayen escapade. Sort of. I woke up a little bit late. By around 11AM, I walked towards the Pangasinan Provincial Capitol to snap some photos and return to the beach area.

Pangasinan Provincial Capitola

Pangasinan Provincial Capitola

As always I am mesmerized at the grandeur of the capitol. Very elegant. I just can’t take my eyes off the building! Later I went inside to check out its interior where photos of the former governors as well as plaques trophies and recognition awarded to the Province were on display.


From the capitol, I proceeded to the beach. It was scorching hot so I just decided to stay at the food stalls. Hunger is starting to kick in. so I decided to check out the foods at the carinderia. For lunch I had a cup of rice and paksiw na bangus. I dunno, but bangus in Pangasinan especially coming from Dagupan is soooo good!

Pangasinan Provincial Capitola

Pangasinan Provincial Capitola

Sarap sarap!

After lunch I then proceeded to Antonino Café for a cup of coffee. I also found some time to work on some writing projects while at the coffee shop. I love it there. The coffee is good, the place is quiet, with fast Internet access.

Later I got to meet another Pangasinan blogger, Vanj Padilla who also works as consultant for the Office of the Governor. From the coffee shop we went to the Capitol Resort Hotel where I finally got to taste the popular Alaminos Longganisa. It was good. it is garlicky too like its Vigan counterpart, but is much subtle in taste. You would easily recognize Alaminos Longganisa by its appearance: it uses lots of toothpicks instead of thread to divide the sausages. Interesting, right? I dunno why they use toothpicks and not thread.

Longganisang Alaminos

Longganisang Alaminos

After our longganisa treat, we then headed to another surprise. We got to visit one bagoong factory in Lingayen! (JE’s Bagoong: 16 1.864 N 120 12.859 E). This town has been known for its one town one product: Bagoong or fish/shrimp paste.

Bagoong Making in Lingayen

Bagoong Making in Lingayen

Many people would surely raise their eyebrows at its stinky smell. But I bet you would love bagoong! During our visit, I got to discover the different kinds of bagoong being made. There’s the kind which is perfect for cooking like kare kare or bagnet, there’s the sweet type is is a perfect dip for green mango, among others. They also have patis or fish sauce, which is a by product when making bagoong. I am amazed at how tedious the process of making the shrimp paste. According to one staff, they keep their salted anchovies or shrimps in large vats for almost seven months before bottling them. That long. For sure their bagoong is full packed with all the goodness.

Assorted Baggong Products from Lingayen

Assorted Baggong Products from Lingayen

After our short trip to the bagoong factory, we then checked out the Narciso Ramos Stadium where the Palarong Pambansa was held last 2012. Its big, and spanking clean. The stadium reminds of the Panaad Park and Stadium in my hometoen Bacolod City, which was also the hot of the Palarong Pambansa in 1998. It is good that Lingayen has topnotch sports facilities like these where its students and young athletes can train.

From the stadium, our last stop is the Urduja House which is declared as the official residence of the Governor of the Province of Pangasinan. Tourist and guests can enter the house but up to the lobby area only.

Urduja House

Urduja House

It was a quick overnight stay in Lingayen but I truly enjoyed every moments of it. I know this is not the first and last time that I will set foot here. I’d definitely comeback, and shop for more bagoong!

Bagoong Products

Bagoong Products

Overnight in Lingayen!

Lingayen was never part of my travel plans for this year. But at the very last minute, I decided to visit Lingayen since it is just around 30 minutes away from Dagupan.

Upon arrival, Mica and I checked in at The President’s Hotel. We stayed at the hotel for night. It was conveniently located very near the provincial capitol. Just a short walk away.

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From the hotel, we took a leisurely walk going to the capitol and checked out its interior. I was floored at its beauty and grandeur. All the while I thought the provincial capitol of my home province Negros Occidental was the best looking government building already. But I was wrong. Pangasinan’s seat of Provincial Government is the best one for me. I love the every details of the building.

The President's Hotel

The President’s Hotel

From the capitol we then went to the Sison Auditorium for the Salvador Bernal exhibit mounted by the Culturl Center of the Philippines. Salvador Bernal or Badong to his friends is a national artist for theater and production design. Born in Dagupan, he lived his life creating memorable stage designs that has made a lasting impact on its audiences.

During the exhibit, various costumes he designed were displayed as well as the scale model of his stage designs. It was so fabulous. He is truly a legend in his field. Can you still rmember the classic film Oro Plata Mata? Yeah, he was the production designer of that film.

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And the Sison Auditorium is a masterpiece in itself. It used to be an indoor basketball court, but just a few years recently the government decided to reinvent the whole structure to make it more useful. Thus they converted it into an auditorium. An hall that can fit over a thousand crowd, with really good acoustic for the sound and the wood parquet flooring that I truly love which is perfect for dancing. And the crowning jewel of the auditorium? A large chandelier made of Swarovski crystals hanging from the ceiling. Oh God. I want to take home the chandelier! It is just so pretty!

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From the auditorium e took a walk going to the beach. This is one of my favorite part. Large open space with the sea breeze blowing your hair waiting for the sun to set. it’s priceless. I was just watching the locals walk along the beach, enjoying the moment, while some jog along the cemented path. For the hungry souls there were a number of food stalls just a stone’s throw away from the beach.

By sundown, we had dinner. As usual, I had bangus. But this time I ordered the grilled bangus stuffed with tomatoes and onions on its belly. Sarap!

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By night time, we went to Antonino Café for caffeine fix. The coffee shop is located very near the Lingayen Cathedral. Surprisingly, their coffee is good! Later I learned from the owner they he used to work in a popular coffee shop in Dagupan before he put up his own business. They really made sure that their coffee beans are up excellent quality.

This is just the first day of my trip to Lingayen. Watch out for the second part of this series where I got to explore the secrets of the town.

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Quick SideTrip: Dagupan City

A few weeks back, I got the chance to visit Dagupan City in Pangasinan. But I had to admit. I went there without any pans nor itinerary. All I wanted to do there is eat, eat and eat!

Dagupan is known for one thing and they are mighty proud of it: They are home to the country’s best tasting bangus or milkfish! And I can’t help but feel excited to finally sample the original Bonuan Bangus.

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Poro Point La Union celebrates 3rd Sillag Festival

Late January I received an invitation to cover another festival. Without battling an eyelash, I immediately said “Yes”.

Fast Forward: March 7, off we left Metro Manila for a 5-hour drive to Poro Point in La Union for the 3rd Sillag Festival.

Sillag is an Ilokano term meaning moonbeam. And after checking the itinerary and event program most of the events will be held after the sundown.

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© Enrico Dee for BYAHILO, 2014. | Permalink | Be the First to comment! | Add to del.icio.us

WARNING: If you are reading this blogpost outside of Byahilo.com then it is highly possible that this post has been stolen! Report it to us!