LAGUNA DIARIES: Pagsanjan

Laguna is one of the most accessible provinces near Manila. Tourist spots are abundant and these places encompasses the rich culture and traditions of the province.

I got the opportunity to go to one of Laguna's greatest pride which is the town of Pagsanjan, for work, during the 11th Bangkero Festival. I was so ecstatic! The last time I went here was when I was still 7 years old, such a long time ago already. I'm in my late 20s now. Haha! I went here for 3 days in just a week, each time returning back to Manila then going back to this quaint town again. I loved the travel so I had fun.

Pagsanjan is 92kms south of Manila. Around 2-3hrs travel time depending on the traffic. Its nickname is the "Tourist Capital of Laguna". They have here the famed Pagsanjan Falls (old name was Magdapio Falls) and the century-old ancestral houses that line up along J.P. Rizal St. A trip here is like transporting to a different time, back to the era that is said to have vanished already.

Let me share what I did during my quick trip here:

The town's Puerta Real (stone town gate) which is so old and weathered already. This great location start marks the ancestral trip so much more because you feel the old vibe of the town. It really is charming. For me. this is what I appreciate in trips, a cultural significance. It was built in 1878-1880 by the town's locals and it was made from adobe, lime and carabao's milk. History states that in December 8, 1877, bandits came to loot the town  but it was said that they were stopped by an apparition of a beautiful lady holding aloft a shining sword. That's why this stone gate was created, to express gratitude for the intercession.   

I asked for permission from the group of policemen who were on duty at this old stone gate. There were vehicles of all sorts passing around and I would not like to be interfere in their regular jam.

The town's history

The ancestral houses along JP Rizal St.

True! Also, the people are so kind and welcoming. An easy smile is easily given to an asking tourist or passersby. The people also makes the place good or bad.

The Ejercito's has ruled the town for quite a long time now. This is what you will see at the town plaza. As long as they are doing a good job then I guess, that's alright. Everyone happy, right?

The town's municipal hall is also a historic site declared by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. Truly a town with historical relevance.

During the 11th Bangkero Festival, they held a painting contest. I took a peek at the entries and there was a lot of good ones. Shown above are the works of art that I just compiled in one frame.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish

Per Wikipilipinas, Our Lady of Gudalupe Church was made with nipa and wood by Fr. Agustin de la Magdalena in 1687, reconstructed in 1690 , improved in 1853, added transept in 1872 and damaged during World War II. It has a three-level early -Renaisssance facade with semicircular arched main entrance and choir loft window. The church houses the image of Our lady of Guadalupe, a gift from Mexico.

Silent as a tomb yet peaceful like day.

This is a unique chandelier for a church. The first one that I have seen and I have seen quite a number already. I liked it.

Inside the parish, there is a small entrance leading to the side chapel and this is the sight that you will see once you step inside it. It's like a feeling of discovering something important. I felt like , a la Indiana Jones. =)

This is the side chapel that I entered all by my lonesome, with only the cleaning guy doing his task near the entrance, so in short,  I was just alone. I felt a spooky feeling, maybe because the lighting was a bit poor inside, and my thoughts are running wild. Haha! But I liked the interior.

Sorry but I got a bot spooked by this image. It's not that saintly for me. =)

Old but well-kept. Simple yet rich.

Too bad I was not able to go to the falls because of lack of time since I went here for official reasons, but that's alright since if I go, I want to savor the experience. Next time, I sure hope so. I really want to go to the Devil's Cave which is behind the Pagsanjan Falls. Oohh, I can just imagine it now. =)

FOODIE THOUGHTS: Dulcelin Gourmet's pride..the famous Mango Torte!

The first time I tried this Mango Torte, I nearly forgot my name! Kidding, of course. But truthfully, it was so good that it made a permanent mark on me. It left a mark on all of us who had a slice or two of this superb dessert.

This is the photo of the 1st slice of Mango Torte  that I had from Dulcelin Gourmet. Looks delish. right?

Just last night, me and my friend planned to go to Baclaran Church for a visit but opted to have dinner first before proceeding to our destination. We chose to eat at Glorietta's Food Choices. We had chicken for dinner. The last time I was there at the Food Choices, I saw Dulcelin's stand and I got ecstatic! I will not be having a hard time to have the Mango Torte, they're so close now. And so, after our dinner, we shared a cup of this sinfully yummy dessert.

1 CUP of MANGO TORTE for P80.00. Not bad!

 This is how we enjoyed our Mango Torte..

Snap a visual photo of this dessert in your mind. Well me, I just had to take a photo using my cp's camera. Ain't it pretty? Sweet mangoes sandwiched in between cream on top and sweet nougat-ty crust that has absorbed already the fresh mango taste. 

Take the first spoonfuls and relish the taste. So good! It was a bit too frozen but we did not mind that much. But yeah, a bit over-frozen. Getting a small chink of the crust was an extra challenge. But I guess that makes it more exciting. Haha!

Finally, breaking off the hard crust. Combine all 3 layers in one mouthful and its a burst of pure pleasure. It was served to us very cold so my gums experienced a quick jolt but subsided quickly (thank goodness!). 

The finality is so visible! Good for just one more bite. I took it. Haha! Life's sweet pleasures. =)

Overall take, I loved it! A wee bit frozen, I hope they change the temp of the freezer as we tasted the mango   like an ice pop, too cold. Good thing, we were looking forward to the eventual taste so we did not mind it that much. Sweet tooth satisfied! Mission accomplished! =)

RESTO FACTS:
Dulcelin Gourmet
www.dulcelin.com (for their branches)

FOODIE THOUGHTS: Awesome Food = PenPen Restaurant in Cubao X

PenPen Restaurant is something that I have wanted to try out for so long already but did not. Just recently did, after a year or two of just thinking. Haha! Owned by actor Ping Medina, they were originally located in the Morato area, specifically Sct. Castor but eventually transferred to Cubao X (formerly Marikina Shoe Expo). Now Cubao X is truly an eclectic place! You can find shoes, Janylin to name a few, at bargain prices. There are also dress shops, bookstores, thrift shops, art galleries and Bellini's Restaurant (another one that is on my list of must-try restos). A nice place to hang out with friends when night falls, you will have a sense of peace amidst the chaos that is Araneta Center Cubao.

My friend and I went home a bit late one night due to work and was so famished but did not want to eat at the usual places we frequent. I suggested PenPen and we hurried over hoping that they were still open and indeed they were. Yey!

So here is what we had for dinner:

CRISPY LIEMPO (P195.00). A sure bestseller! In every blog that I read, it was always mentioned to try this dish out. Yep, bad for the heart but,well, we can indulge a bit sometimes. Hihihi! Anyway, going back to this crispy dish, I superliked it! Like what I've said, it was very crispy and the thin strips are just the perfect appetizer to tease your senses and start to indulge. It tastes like bacon to me and I liked that. A must try!

SMOKED CHEESE DYNAMITA (P140.00). A pleasant surprise to me, I was expecting some sort of spiciness but I found none. But that did not deter us from loving this because it's very good. The cheese-filled pepper is bursting with creamy goodness and the thin crispy wrapper just added to its texture. In short, I loved this as well. 

ADOBO FLAKES SILOG (P168.00). A breakfast meal late at night? Why not? If it looks good, eat it. Like this one. The adobo flakes were cooked just right and not over-the-top crispy like what other restos serve. Just right! We just shared the rice and all our viands are a rice-eaters dream, so we ended up ordering 1 extra plain rice. Its that good. Loved the garlic rice!  

ZOMBADINGS (I think?!?!) COCKTAILS (P99.00). For a big liquid container, this is a winner!  Now this is something meant to be enjoyed on a Friday night, for me that is. It's perfect for  hanging out with friends. It puts you in the mood to just enjoy the moment. Too bad, it was a weekday for us. But we enjoyed it.

Happy diners! Not much customers that night but we were happy to have that peace while enjoying the fare. 

THE MENU

Like what I've said..laid-back vibe.

The walls are adorned with similar wall art. 

Nice box they got there! Used to serve the bill. 

We enjoyed every morsel on our plate and this is definitely a place to recommend to our friends. A pretty laid-back place where you can just truly relax and enjoy good food.

RESTO FACTS:
PenPen Restaurant
Cubao X 15-A Gen. Romulo Ave. 
Araneta Center Quezon City, Metro Manila
(0916) 6002419
penpens.resto@gmail.com

FOODIE THOUGHTS: Happy eating at Nomnomnom Happy Food

Thanks to buying sites, consumers are the ultimate winners. Just choose wisely and do your research on the products that you are going to purchase before you let your fingers do the clicking.

We celebrated the 24th birthday of my brother and I said that I will treat the family to dinner. I bought 2 vouchers from Nomnomnom Happy Food from Metrodeal. One voucher was good for P250 only for P500 worth of food and drinks. I got 2 vouchers so that was a total of P1,000 worth of happy foods! Yey!

I read a lot of blogs about this restaurant and I have been wanting to try it but did not find the perfect opportunity until I saw the deal and realized that my brother's birthday was fast coming up as well. Now that's a perfect timing!

Here's what we had:

12PCS. FRIED RAVIOLI (P180.00). One of their bestsellers! I loved the combination of all the ingredients..the kangkong leaves, the cheesy goodness and mushrooms. Yes, it has shrooms in it. We shared 3pcs each. I find the price very reasonable for this dish. I really enjoyed it! To enjoy it best, eat it while its still hot!

MANGO-STRAWBERRY ICED TEA (P130.00). A different kind of iced tea for me, served with the tea bag intact and floating in the bottle. But refreshing, nonetheless. I liked the subtle taste and how the flavors of both fruits were infused with one another. A treat, that's what it was for me.

NOM QUESADILLA (P210.00). Another cheesy treat filled with mushrooms as well..shiitake and button mushrooms! The salsa on the side is the same with the other dishes but that's alright, it diverts the palate a little bit from the monotony of cheesy dishes. I'm not complaining though, just a teeny weeny bit. But mind you, this quesadilla is so good!

MALINOMNOM PIZZA LOG (P310.00). Their bestseller amongst their other pizza logs. Very Pinoy in taste, consisting of Tinapa Flakes, Kesong Puti, Red Egg and shallots. A big, or rather, a looong serving size. Thus, the name pizza LOGS. This pizza is soft in texture and the ingredients are put generously and each bite is very flavorful. I will try the other flavors next time. 

A much closer look. Pretty to look at yet yummy to chomp on.

WILD MUSHROOM PASTA (P230.00). The menu describes this dish as a pasta with an assortment of mushrooms served with Veloute. Veloute? Now that was a term that was definitely new to me. I looked it up and it means, per Merriam-Webster dictionary, of French origin, "a soup or sauce made of chicken, veal or fish stock and cream and thickened with butter and flour". Rich indeed. Its all mushrooms but it was oh-so flavorful. Definitely enjoyed it together with the other dishes. Rich and creamy and that's usually how I like it. Haha!

THE GOOD SISIG (P110.00) A healthy choice. The tofu was fried perfectly and the sauce was great. I just wished that I instead ordered the the Good Sisifg Platter for the same price and got much more tofu than the rice crater. When this arrived, we were up to our throats in food. So full! But the rice was great, if we weren't so full then. I know I can cook a dish like this at home, just got to experiment with sauces more. =)

THE MENU:

MIA FAMILIA! =)

Thanks for the nice dinner! =)

Our grand total, P1,170 but since my vouchers were priced at P500 good for P1,000 of food and drinks, I just added P250 more (tip included). Total cash I paid for, just P750. All those dishes for that price, winner!

Next time, I will choose dishes that has a variety of sauces. We noticed that almost all our orders were cheesy and creamy and it could get a bit too much. Not that we have anything to complain about the food, but maybe a dish with red sauce or anything else, could have enhanced the whole dining experience. Oh well, there is always a next time and I definitely see myself going back here in the near future.

If I may mention, the ambiance of Nomnomnom was very laid back. Relaxing conversations with family or friends or with a date is the perfect companion to their foods. The waiter/waitresses are very kind and accomodating. Dining here made us feel...happy! =)

RESTO FACTS:

Nomnomnom Happy Food

LG/F GYY Bldg. 1 Tomas Morato cor. 

E. Rodriguez Ave. Quezon City

(02) 502-2919