What's in a (Business) Name? Treinta y uno

When Jack goes on coffee break.

Spotted in Tigbao, Talamban, Cebu City

For more amusing business names, please visit Go Random.

Hats Off to Iligan Bloggers Society

If I had a hundred hats, I would wear it all one on top of the other and take it off one by one in honor of the members of Iligan Bloggers Society (IBS). These amazing people do what they do, not for the money (what money, anyway?), but for the love of their city—Iligan.

The brilliant minds of IBS have organized the Waterfalling Adventure Tour (WAT) for three years in a row (and other events in between)—no easy feat (what, with complicated logistics, finding sponsors, sending communications, etc), but they have done it, and they have done it wholeheartedly (even with jobs, they have managed to find time to organize events).

Through the Waterfalling Adventure Tour, others have come to know and appreciate the beauty of the city and, slowly, more information about Iligan City and its many waterfalls are now available on the web.

Iligan Bloggers Society, I vote for you to take over your city's Tourism Department... and I think you are one step closer to that—congratulations on being a member of the Iligan City Tourism Council!

To the absolutely incredible (and fun!) members of Iligan Bloggers Society: a hundred hats off to you!

Waterfalling Adventure Tour 3.0 (WAT 3.0):

Hats Off to Iligan Bloggers Society (you're here!)

All in a Day's Eat in Iligan

Dodiongan Falls: Expectation and Reality
The Disappearance of Mimbalot Falls
The Powerful Maria Cristina Falls
The Hidden Beauty: Tinago Falls
Nagkalisod Para Limunsudan
WAT 3.0's Last Supper at Villa Sabarre

Lunch at Bohol Bee Farm

I went to Bohol Bee Farm intending to eat flowers for lunch and then some weird ice cream for dessert.

The trouble with eyes that are directly connected to the stomach, there is no such thing as order. First thing I saw was the ice cream stand and so dessert became appetizer. If I had 500 pesos to spend for ice cream alone, I would have tried each of the flavors. Since I could only afford one scoop (Php 40), I settled with malunggay (moringa) ice cream. My friends had tomato and spicy ginger ice cream. Two unusual flavors that are not for picky eaters. Since I am not a picky eater, I got to finish off their ice cream.

Tomato and malunggay ice cream in cones made of cassava

Connected to the ice cream stand is Bohol Bee Farm's shop. But my friends disappeared one by one around the corner, completely ignoring the shop. I just took a cursory glance at the shop window, then shuffled down the path after them.

To the dining area. Where the floor, columns, tables, chairs were made of wood. With plants all around and the sea down below. If there had been a slight breeze, I would have hung a hammock between columns and fallen asleep in its coziness.

But I had no hammock and it wasn't nap time. It was lunch time.

I did say I wanted to eat flowers. But nobody else did. So I had to give up on getting the salad, which was a bit pricey anyway (Php 190). I got the honey glazed chicken (Php 260) instead. And, whoopee, it had a flowery salad...which tasted...nothing special, whoop dee doo! My friend also had the honey glazed chicken, but from the children's menu (Php 180). The children's portion didn't have the salad and it looked like the portion size of the chicken and rice was the same as the big people's menu (but I could be wrong). Another friend had the spareribs (Php 260), which she said was alright. I have to say for the price, I expected to be blown away by the flavor, but I wasn't. I did enjoy the complimentary squash bread with malunggay and mango spread and the cassava chips with green tomato salsa. The squash muffin (Php 20) was good, too.

On the way out, I went inside Bohol Bee Farm's shop, where I found bottles of different sandwich spreads (malunggay, mango, honey, chocolate, pesto), tea (mango, honey, lemongrass, guyabano, guava), coffee (corn), honey, organic soaps, shampoos, insect repellents, bread (camote, squash), and muffins (carrot, corn, chocolate, squash). The squash muffin in the shop was sold for Php15. (It was 5 pesos more at the restaurant...why? For the use of the plate? Haha.)

I would probably go back to Bohol Bee Farm (or The Buzzz Cafe in Alona Beach) for the bread, spreads, muffins (at the shop, not the restaurant!), and ice cream, but not for a meal (menu here).

Bohol Bee Farm

Dao, Dauis, Panglao Island, Bohol

(038) 510 1822 / 0917 710 1062

The Buzzz Cafe

Alona Beach, Panglao Island, Bohol

Daily 730AM to 12MN

JPark Island Resort and Waterpark Cebu, You Make Me Feel Like...

JPark Island Resort and Waterpark Cebu (whew, such a long name), you make me feel like a P...as in Pig.

First you let me eat breakfast. Not just any breakfast, but a buffet breakfast at The Abalone. Expecting to have an activity–packed (slide, slide, slide, swim, swim, swim) day ahead, I gorged on sushi rolls, spicy noodles, kimchi, fried rice, ham, bacon, eggs, pancakes, waffles, tocino, danggit, bread, salads, fruits, cereals, yogurt...making a total of three trips to the wide buffet. The food was worth elbowing my way through swarms of swim–ready guests.

 

The Abalone

International buffet

Buffet schedule and nett rates:

Breakfast | 6AM to 1030AM | Php1250

Lunch | 12NN to 230PM | Php1530

Dinner | 6PM to 10PM | Php1750

And then you herd me and your other guests to the Triphora function room, where I find out you'd be having a press conference (I thought I was here to slide and swim all day, but beggars can't be choosers, I shall oblige), making me feel very under dressed... like a P... as in Porn star. (I didn't get the memo beforehand that there'd be a presscon in a very formal looking room; I wore nothing but my swimming trunks).

Of course, the presscon was essential for all the important announcements. Announcements that made me ooohhh and aaahhh...
♦ you letting the Imperial Palace franchise go so as not to limit yourself (ooohhh)...
♦ with this comes endless possibilities and new stuff to watch out for, like self check-in, go karts, a casino where only foreigners can gamble (ooohhh why foreigners only? Because JPark is in a PEZA zone where only foreigners can gamble without paying for tax...which is okay by me since I can't afford to gamble anyway, tax or no tax)...
♦ renaming the resort to JPark Island Resort and Waterpark Cebu (a name I find rather meh, but I don't own this place, you do)—a combination of the names of the two big guns of this impressive hotel: J for Justin Uy, same owner as J Mall, and Park for Mr. Uy's Korean partner, Park Young Jun (aaahhh)....
♦ same facility—more than 500 guestrooms, suites, and villas; 8 restaurants; kids' pools; big people's pools; and three water slides—but now with lower room rates for locals (ooohhh have to call 032 494 5255 for room inquiries)...
♦ and that the next item on the agenda was...food tasting.

The food tasting was for the new menu at Olive, your Asian Mediterranean restaurant. Chef Russel Abarquez entered the Triphora function room and introduced his creations. I instantly regretted stuffing myself for breakfast. I wish you had warned me before letting me loose at the breakfast buffet. Now all I could manage was a forkful of each. Regret sure comes in the end. I regret eating breakfast like there's no tomorrow. I regret not being able to eat more than a forkful of the moussaka and truffle pappardelle.

Olive

Asian–Mediterranean ala carte and set menu

Daily, except Wednesdays

Lunch 12NN to 230PM

Dinner 6PM to 10PM

The garter of my trunks was now at its elastic limit. Gratefully, you gave us an hour and a half break—a time for me to mentally push my breakfast and Asian–Mediterranean forkfuls deep into my stomach—before presenting lunch.

Lunch was Chinese food at Ching Hai. You tried your hardest to feed us the sweet and sour pork (ala carte) and the dimsum basket (Php1100 nett, good for two) which included steamed items (4 pieces each of Ching Hai shrimp dumplings, siomai with crab rice, Ching Hai assorted meat buns), deep fried items (4 pieces each of Ching Hai special taro puffs, shrimp shui jiao with mayonnaise, bean curd roll with prawns), yang chow fried rice, braised noodles with assorted seafood and vegetables, and dessert. Try as I might, and as good as the spread was, my stomach refused to take more than one piece of each. If only I could shamelessly stuff the leftovers into my bag.

Ching Hai

Classic and contemporary Chinese ala carte, set menu, and dimsum

Lunch 12NN to 230PM
Dinner 6PM to 10PM

All the food from breakfast to brunch to lunch was now crowding in my colon as I explored the pools of your huge property. From the beautiful blue waters of the Island Pool, to the cute toddler's pool and Captain Hook's pool, to the Amazon River where transparent inflatables await lazy waterbabies; to the Wave Rider (sensation of beach waves at these times: 1030AM / 1130AM / 230PM / 330PM / 430PM) and Beach Pool (both connected to the Amazon River; same depth and open hours as the Amazon River).

 

Island Pool | 3.5 to 5 feet deep | Open from 7AM to 9PM

 

Captain Hook's Pool | 1.6 feet deep | Open from 9AM to 6PM

 Amazon River | 3.5 feet deep | Open from 9AM to 6PM

After inspecting the pools, I approached the huge ominous water slides, and the huge amount of food in my system also ominously approached the end of the colon line. I grabbed a mat, signed the waiver, and marched up the tower to the open body slide (age limit: 7 years old and above)...the less hairy looking of the three water slides. I zoomed along 120 meters of slippery slope in just a few seconds. The end of the line was the scariest—if I didn't close my mouth, I sure could have swallowed a gallon of pool water. Open body slide, check.

Next up, the tube slide (age limit: 11 years old and above). More scary looking than the open body slide since the tube slide is 156 meters of enclosed space. A slide in the deep dark with just a split second of brightness where a portion of the slide had transparent slits letting light in. Definitely not for the claustrophobic. Tube slide, check.

The water slides | Open from 9AM to 6PM | Sliders must be at least 4 ft. tall

Photo by Baktin Corporation

And, lastly, the granddaddy of JPark's water slides: the Space Bowl! Just 48 meters of enclosed space... nothing compared to the tube slide... but that is not where the heart stops. It is at the bowl, where I felt like I was swirling and roiling in slow motion, when in reality I was spiraling in the bowl for just a second, before dropping into 6.4 feet of water. I felt like poop getting flushed in a toilet, which is what the food I had consumed that day wanted to do.

JPark Island Resort and Waterpark Cebu, you make me feel like P... as in Poop(ing).

But in the dandiest way possible.

Thank you from my bottom,
A pooped Mustachio


JPark Island Resort and Waterpark Cebu
ML Quezon Highway, Brgy Maribago, Lapu-lapu City, Mactan, Cebu
(032) 494 5000

Day Use Rates
Php 2500 (adult) / Php 1250 (child 5-12 yrs old)

Includes free use of towel and lunch or dinner buffet at The Abalone or set dinner at Olive / Ching Hai / Maru Korean Restaurant / Coral Seaside Restaurant

A big thank you to:
Baktin Corporation for sharing the registration link for this bloggers event and for the photo of the water slides.
JPark Island Resort and Waterpark Cebu for blindly picking me to take part in this event.
Emjae of ohwemjae.wordpress.com for letting me use his photos of The Abalone and of the pools.

When in Puerto Princesa, Don't Miss KaLui Restaurant

KaLui Restaurant

369 Rizal Avenue, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan

(048) 433 2580 / 0928 753 9621

Monday to Saturday

Lunch 11AM to 2PM

Dinner 6PM to 1030PM

When in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan, eat at KaLui, one of the city's best restaurants, so I have been told. That's if you can score a table.

On my first visit to Puerto Princesa, our big group dropped by KaLui around noon to book a table for dinner on the same day... but were told that a table would be free around 9PM. No discussion ensued, we all knew we would be starving by then. We drove away crestfallen.

A year later, I was going to find myself in Puerto Princesa City for a few hours. Not going to let this chance escape, I booked a table a week ahead, through email (online@kaluirestaurant.com) and was pleased to receive a quick response. The next thing to do was to pray that our flight won't get delayed, or else they'd release the table 15 minutes after the reserved time.

Our flight arrived ahead of schedule. (Thanks Mr Pilot, I bet you have a reservation at KaLui, too.) A short tricycle ride from the airport and we were deposited at the entrance of KaLui Restaurant. A shelf with all kinds of footwear was outside the dining area and we added ours to the pile. (This was the second restaurant I have been to that required guests to enter barefoot; the other one was in Siargao).

The easy breezy feel of the restaurant. The wood interiors. The low tables and pillows. The paintings and artsy stuff. The washrooms. Yes, even the washrooms deserve a visit—the girls swore they could stay in KaLui's washroom all day (even eat their lunch there? I don't think so).

But those were just bonuses. The highlight of this restaurant was, of course, the food. The fresh shrimps! In our sourness–just–right sinigang (Php245). In garlic and butter (Php215)—finger lickin' good, sorry KFC. The seafood sisig (Php215)! Which I could have eaten all by myself. The KaLui veggie plate (Php190)! A good mix of vegetables cooked in different ways. Came with a coconut bowl of fruits, too (plus two more complimentary fruit bowls!). And, not to forget, my tall, refreshing glass of soursop (guyabano) shake (Php70)!

Servings, from my observation, are good for 2-3 persons

(Click to enlarge)

All this for Php1645 (including 10% service charge) for seven persons. That's Php235 per person, which  was over my Php150 per meal budget, but worth the effort of booking a table (thank you for accepting email reservations, the money for long distance/cell phone calls was added to my Php150 budget), exposing my stinky feet to all the diners (this might have caused them to gag throughout their meal while I enjoyed mine), and cutting down my budget for the next two meals (KaLui, you really know your way around...I am stuffed and can now afford to go on a diet...for the next two meals).

The Oriental Spice Gourmet

The blog entry for The Oriental Spice Gourmet, with nothing in it but photos, has been sitting in my drafts for four months. It wasn't because The Oriental Spice Gourmet isn't worth announcing to the world. It's the exact opposite, but I didn't (and still don't) have words to describe their food. Except delicious.

The people behind The Oriental Spice Gourmet are Cyril Sia and his wife, Mary Ann, and just two waitstaff. Cyril, a Malaysian who was head chef of Wagamama in London for ten years, does all the cooking. Mary Ann, his Filipino–Chinese wife, is the chief entertainer—she makes sure to talk to every guest in the restaurant. During downtime, a few hours a day, before the lunch and dinner rush hour, this friendly couple is open for a chat, even sharing a bit of their life story with those who care to ask.

Cyril Sia (in white), Mary Ann, and the waitstaff of The Oriental Spice Gourmet

Photo source

Their modest little restaurant is located on the second floor of a three-storey building, just after MEPZ II and Jollibee. Parking space is just good for four cars. If by the time you visit them, they are nowhere to be found, just inch your way forward if you're driving or take a three–minute walk farther down the street. Their new space—bigger and with more parking space—is currently under construction (they'll be transferring within the year).

The Oriental Spice Gourmet

Maximo V Patalinghug Avenue Jr, Basak, Lapu-Lapu City, Mactan, Cebu

(032) 238 4544 / (032) 406 0814

Mondays to Fridays 10AM to 8PM

Deliveries accepted for a minimum order of Php 750

All main dishes are Php150 only!

(Click to enlarge)

I have not tried everything on the menu, but I shall try 'em all one way or another. Relocate to Basak, Lapu-lapu City? (Haha!) Brave the heavy traffic across the old Mactan bridge after work? (I am not that brave.) Suffer for weeks until the next weekday holiday because The Oriental Spice Gourmet is currently open on weekdays only? (Yes, I shall suffer.)

Hey! Today isn't Saturday! It's a holiday (Happy Independence Day, Pilipinas) and a Thursday! Suffer no more! Okaythanksforreadingbye! :D

January 1, 2015 Update:
The Oriental Spice Gourmet has moved to its new home, just a three–minute walk from the old location. They are now open from Wednesday to Sunday, 11AM to 8PM. Dishes have been repriced to Php170–200. Minimum amount for delivery is Php2000.

ANTHILL Fabric Gallery: Wear Your Tribe with Pride

My mother told me not to step on anthills, but she never told me not to step into one. I didn't have to knock on ANTHILL's door, it was opened before I had the chance to do so. It was none other than the Princess Ant, Anya Lim, who held the door open for my friends and I, enthusiastically welcoming us into her kingdom. Her royal highness led us into the gallery with a short Store Story tour.

The Princess Ant, Anya, sharing the story of ANTHILL

Why "anthill"? Do ants weave? ANTHILL stands for Alternative Nest and Trading/Training Hub for Indigenous/Ingenious Little Livelihood (seekers). The Princess Ant proudly told us that their fabrics are woven by the women of Vigan, Ilocos Sur; of Bangued, Abra; and by the Daraghuyan Tribe of Dalwangan, Bukidnon.

There were so many eye–catching colorful patterns in the gallery, my eyeballs were tugged every which way. There were neckties, bow ties, accessories, bags, passport holders, luggage tags, scarves, clothes, and rolls and rolls of fabrics for those who want customized anything–you–can–create–with–fabric.

A weaver spending the whole day at the loom can produce six yards (no, they're not in ANTHILL, but, as mentioned, in Ilocos Sur, Abra, and Bukidnon). Most of the weavers are mothers and not many of them can spend the entire time at the loom, so I expect these woven fabrics can be quite expensive.

 

Another partner community is HOME (Handcrafters of Mary Enterprise), which is based in Cebu. HOME is composed of mothers making ragdolls from scrap fabrics. There are ready–made ragdolls available in ANTHILL Fabric Gallery, some very cute ones wearing their tribe with pride, others as doctors or some other profession, and others as things, like an injection(!). One can also request for a customized ragdoll (customized dolls start at Php 600).

I walked out of ANTHILL's door feeling proud of this enterprise (kudos to the Queen Ant and Princess Ant!) and wearing my tribe with pride!

 Wearing a Kantarines (pattern from Abra) bow tie!

ANTHILL Fabric Gallery

Pedro Calomarde St. corner Acacia St. Gorordo, Cebu City

(032) 505 4175

Mondays to Saturdays 10AM–730PM

* To request for a Store Story tour, please schedule in advance. A minimum of five persons is recommended.

Cebu's History in Paintings

Standing proud along Osmeña Boulevard is this pre–World War II building, known as Rizal Memorial Library and Museum.

Its ground floor houses Cebu City's public library. I love books, but unfortunately for me, it refuses to open its doors when I'm off work (the library is open from 8AM to 5PM, Mondays to Fridays). And even if I find myself free during office hours on weekdays, I still would not be allowed to borrow anything from the library as I am not a resident of Cebu City. :(

On the second floor is the Cebu City Museum. It is just a small gallery of modern paintings made by Cebuano artists. Most of the paintings in the museum depict Cebu's history. Other paintings are abstract art and portraits of important men of Cebu (Vicente Sotto and Sergio Osmeña Sr., to name two). Some black and white photographs of the city back when motor vehicles were nonexistent are also on display.

The building also has a third floor, called the Sinulog Hall, which serves as a function hall.

I have lived in Cebu more than I can count on my fingers and toes, but, I am ashamed to say, have only been to the Rizal Memorial Library and Museum twice. Both times during the Gabii sa Kabilin (an annual event that happens every last Friday of May and is organized by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc.) when the museum was open til 12 midnight.

Neil, the guide (on the left), explains to guests what each painting in the hall signifies

This year's visit, I was grateful to have been guided through each painting by a very knowledgeable guide, Neil, who answered every question thrown his way.

The guided tour started with a painting of Rajah Humabon or Hamabar (paintings of Humabon in the museum were all based on the writings of Antonio Pigafetta), down to when Magellan found his way to Cebu, to the construction (and even destruction) of churches in Cebu, the railway (we had a railway from Danao to Argao!), revolutions, and to the last painting, which is of Sergio Osmeña Jr., the first Mandaue–Mactan Bridge, a PAL airplane, the North Reclamation Area, and Gaisano Country Mall, with more paintings of important events in Cebu's history in between.

You have to find out how all this ties together because I refuse to write everything Neil shared (but really, it's just that I can't remember everything). There were many "Ahhh" moments during this visit and the guided tour made me appreciate each piece in the museum. I am glad to have learned so much about Cebu's history in just 45 minutes, even if those pieces of knowledge refuse to stay more than twice that long in my brain.

Rizal Memorial Library and Museum
Osmeña Blvd. Cebu City
(032) 255 4997

Library
Mondays to Fridays 8AM–5PM

Museum
Mondays to Fridays 8AM–12NN and 1PM–5PM
Free admission
Tour guide available, but book in advance.

From me to you: Although there is a short description beside each painting, I highly recommend getting a guide. And to bombard the guide with questions.

Aloguinsan Part 2: Hidden Beach

My friends still had half the day to spare and so decided to go to Hidden Beach, but not before stopping by the market, located halfway between Bojo River and Hidden Beach, for a quick lunch. I had to be back in the city by 4PM, but still I agreed to tag along for a look–see of the beach I had last seen more than a decade ago.

I had been to Hidden Beach in college, in the name of education (we had to measure depths at different points and create a topographic map), but mostly just so we could have an outing (we'd do the required activities as fast as we could and spend the rest of the day like wild animals). The highway to Aloguinsan then was rough and dusty. When we reached the point along the highway nearest where the beach was, we had to hike (about a kilometer) barefoot through mud (making the kilometer seem like five) just to get to Hidden Beach, a beach so aptly named....back then.

Today, no hiking necessary, just tell the habalhabal driver to take you to not-so-Hidden Beach, and he'd drop you off in front of the entrance where the following fees are collected: entrance fee Php 15 per person; table rental Php 150; cottage rental Php 300.

That weekday holiday brought in many people to Hidden beach. All cottages were taken and we took ownership (after paying the fee) of the last available table. The tide was in and, despite common sense telling us to stay under the shade as it was high noon, our legs marched us into the water. We didn't have to walk too far on the sandy bed for the water to reach our necks.

Fingers not at all wrinkled, I had to drag myself out and bid goodbye to my friends who, enviously, had the rest of the afternoon to soak in the water.

I spent more time in the bus than in Bojo River and Hidden Beach combined. Next time, it shall be the other way around. 

You might want to know: Hidden Beach has a shower/changing area. But you have to pay Php 10 for a bucket of water.

A little story: I found no motorcycles for hire at the parking area of Hidden Beach. I sat under a tree, debating whether to walk to the highway—it was scorching—or to wait. While the battle in my head went on, I saw a shiny white van slowly move out of the parking area. I quickly walked towards it and asked the driver for a ride to the highway. Kind Mr Teban let me hop in his new van with the AC on at a cool and comfortable temperature (take that scorching summer sun!). We got to talking during the short ride and I found out that he drives for his uncle's van rental business. For whoever needs to rent a van around Cebu, contact Mr Teban at 0915 920 3334.

Aloguinsan
Bojo River
Hidden Beach (you're here!)


How speeding through Aloguinsan sped through Mustachio's wallet:
Bus, Cebu to Aloguinsan Php 80
Habalhabal to Bojo River Php 20
Bojo River tour Php 400
Habalhabal Bojo River to market to Hidden Beach Php 40
Hidden Beach entrance fee Php 15
Hidden Beach table rental Php 150
Habalhabal to Pinamungahan Php 50
Bus, Pinamungahan to Cebu (aircon Ceres bus) Php 100

Aloguinsan Part 1: Bojo River

I am glad we caught the only bus going straight to Aloguinsan a few minutes before its scheduled departure, 7AM. If not, we would have had to take a bus to Toledo then transfer to a jeepney to get to Aloguinsan; or a bus to Pinamungahan and then a tricycle to Aloguinsan.

It was a one–day weekday holiday and I would spend at least five hours on the road to and from Aloguinsan, just to see Bojo River.

After 2.5 hours on the bus, we were ejected near a turnoff where a bunch of motorcycles were parked under a tree, on which a tarp showing the fares was nailed.

For exactly how much the fare was shown on the tarp, Php 20, we were taken to Bojo River, where we paid Php 400 (weekends and holidays; Php 300 on weekdays) each for the tour. We had arrived just as the tide was coming in, perfect timing. (Bojo River tours only happen during high tide. Check the tides when scheduling your tour.) A briefing was held before we were asked to don lifevests and get on our assigned banca.

The starting point of the tour

As we drifted along the river, our guide pointed to different types of mangroves and rattled off scientific names which sounded gobbledygook to me. Half my brain absorbed the scene unfolding in front of me, and the other half struggled to register all the names of mangroves and other information the guide had painstakingly memorized. I commend him for going through months of study and training, just to educate us, but, unfortunately, this student is of the rotten bunch and would only pay attention to the interesting stories and funny jokes he injected in between.

A small clearing where fishermen park their boats

At the inlet, we were given time to jump into the water and swim around. If not for other groups waiting, we would have spent hours in the water, not caring if our fingers turned like raisins—all wrinkled. But time's up, we musn't be selfish, there were other groups to teach and it was their turn to get the Bojo River education.

To Tañon Strait

When there are no guests to ferry along the river, the Bojo River tour guides work as fishermen. Tour proceeds go to the fishermen and their families, and to community projects. If you feel that Php 400 is too much for a short tour (about an hour), think of it as a way of helping the community.

Package tours (minimum of 5 persons) are also available. Advance booking is required. Contact the Aloguinsan Municipal Tourism Office at (032) 469 9034 or (032) 469 9041.

Aloguinsan
Bojo River (you're here!)
Hidden Beach



How speeding through Aloguinsan sped through Mustachio's wallet:
Bus, Cebu to Aloguinsan Php 80
Habalhabal (motorcycle) to Bojo River Php 20
Bojo River tour (walk–in weekend/holiday rate) Php 400
Habalhabal Bojo River to market to Hidden Beach Php 40
Hidden Beach entrance fee Php 15
Hidden Beach table rental Php 150
Habalhabal to Pinamungahan Php 50
Bus, Pinamungahan to Cebu (aircon Ceres bus) Php 100

Mustachio Loves Animals

Mustachio loves animals. Some animals he loves best as eating buddies. Pigs especially. Why? Pigs eat with gusto and are not ashamed to eat like, well, a pig.

A pig (Babe for Food) and a dove (10 Dove Street)

Mustachio loves animals. Some animals he sees fit as eating destinations. No, he can't eat in a whale and he can't eat in a monkey. But he can eat in a crab, a crazy one; he can eat in a chicken named Charlie; and he can eat in a dove, one that is a bit confused with its address.

10 Dove Street

Oakridge Business Park, 880 AS Fortuna Street, Mandaue City

(032) 418 1010

Daily 10AM to 10PM

Mustachio love animals. And most animals he loves best in his stomach.

On this particular night, Mustachio had a happy meeting with animals. He was invited by Babe for Food for a date, with a dove as a host, and an assortment of animals on the table. 

Dove, the host, offered her guests two options:  The 10 Dove Street Experience (Php 250), which includes soup, salad, sandwich, and a slice of cake; and the Kitchen Favorites (Php 275), which includes soup, entree, and a slice of cake. Dove, the generous host,  said dinner was on the (bird)house.

Mustachio, on a fitness mission, chose The 10 Dove Street Experience—this was the easy part. The difficult part was picking from a long list of soups, salads, and sandwiches.

Mustachio's 10 Dove Street Experience

The food was served by course, and the first animal to go into Mustachio's maw was the crab...and corn bisque, a creamy soup that made Mustachio want to lick his bowl clean. And then a break for animals: Salad Tropicale, a sweet medley of lettuce, apples, dried cranberries, candied walnuts, red onions, feta cheese and poppy seed dressing. For the sandwich, the next animal to be sacrificed was the chicken. The chicken was chopped and made to squish in with apples, walnuts, lettuce, and mayo-yogurt-honey mustard between slices of wheat bread. According to Babe for Food, it's a salad put between two slices of bread, and Mustachio laughingly agreed. Lastly, the dessert. Was it a fitness mission Mustachio was on? Clearly, this guy was pretending. Who on a health mission would eat a sinfully moist chocolate cake, smothered with icing and strawberry sauce? Maybe it was a typo...maybe it was really a fatness mission Mustachio was on.

Mustachio did pretty good on his fatness mission, thanks to that last part of his 10 Dove Street Experience. But he has to do eat more. His date, Babe for Food, does the mission with ease. Babe for Food had the Kitchen Favorites and then some.

Babe for Food's Kitchen Favorites plus Pancheco Salad plus Old Fashioned Lasagna

Mustachio wonders how his date does it. He suspects Babe for Food has an extra stomach hidden in her purse. While Mustachio investigates this case of the bottomless pit, read about Babe for Food's Kitchen Favorites plus plus, and tell him if you find a clue there.

Wisdom from the Road #16

On roads less traveled

Or alleys and pathways off the tourist path...

Explore an alley (but be safe).
The alley could be dingy,
but there might be a pot of gold at the end of it.

A pot of gold...or maybe not.

 

While wandering in Hong Kong, my friend and I spontaneously decided to turn right ("Hey, let's see what's in here!). At the end of the alley, we made another right turn and, lo and behold, found a cluster of restaurants filled with locals! A terrific dinner, thanks to our brilliant decision making skills: restaurant selected based on eenie meenie miney mo and dinner chosen based on pictures since we couldn't read Chinese. It was one of our best finds that trip. (But don't ask me where it was...I couldn't remember. Unfortunately.)

For more lessons from the road, please visit Go Learn.