Siquijor, Dumaguete and Lake Balinsasayao

It’s been months since my last post! And I apologize to my three readers that I took so much time posting the continuation of my Siquijor sojourn that I did in September!

I’ve been busy lately writing this TV show called Wako Wako. It’s a fluffy, feel good, kid-friendly fantaserye which airs in ABS-CBN daily 5:45 pm before TV Patrol.

So before the next deadline hits, let me recount my amazing Siquijor-Negros Oriental adventure that I cannot wait to share with you in full blast soon!

Cambugahay Falls

Black Virgin Mary

SIQUIJOR

Siquijor. I went here September of 2011. A truly magical place. I suggest you come visit this province and spend about three days or more. You’ll enjoy every minute as the place feels so faraway. The isolation transcends. It makes you feel one with nature. I went here alone (coming from Dumaguete) and indeed found the peace, the reflection, the alone time and the self-awareness I am looking for. The place is teeming with natural wonders! From beautiful beaches (I suggest Villa Marmarine resort) and waterfalls ! Everywhere you look, you’ll find God’s work of art.  Reserve an entire day for the island tour. And no it’s not a tour inside a jeepney or a freaking van. Get out there hire a habal habal, slop on sunblock, wear your sunnies and pump up the volume of your Ipod and rip the coastline of Siquijor. That’s what I did! Turquiose water everywhere! I enjoyed riding the habal habal to the point that stopping feels like a hassle.The stops were interesting though. Maria Church (where you can find the Black Virgin Mary).  Lazi convent and others. I also saw and swam in a waterfalls for the very first time! And the waterfalls is a delectable shade of soft teal. Perfect!
 Now if you want to search and discover the sorcery and witchcraft which Siquijor is known for, you can do that (some resorts even have packages that will give you a guided tour) but if you don’t, you won’t actually feel that the province is known for sorcery. Magic maybe because being in the island is purely mystical.

DUMAGUETE

I enjoyed Dumaguete because of the youthful charm of the place. The city is accessible by easyrides or tricycle which cost only around 7 pesos each. What I liked about Dumaguete is the clean and relaxing boulevard! I also loved the artsy cafes and restaurants. I celebrated my Epicurean leanings and sampled the treats in Sans Rival cafe (yummy Silvanas!), Cafe Antonio, Lab-as . I stayed in Honeycomb Tourist Inn and it was glorious. I felt like I was a rich retired businessman who is on eternal vacation. Haha. I could do this forever.

LAKE BALINSASAYAO

While in Dumaguete, I decided to do a DIY daytrip to Lake Balinsasayao. I rode an easyride, then was dropped off at the terminal. I boarded the bus going to San Juan and asked to be dropped off by the highway where there are habal habals waiting for commuters. The fare is 200 one way. Steep huh! Because the road going to Lake Balinsasayao was indeed steep! But I looooved the trip going there. It was bumpy yes, but I didn’t have a single care. I just felt my arms spread wide open! With the cool air I felt like flying. We were literally inside a forest.  And then the road clears, leading us to a cliff! It was quite an exhilarating experience. An adventure which doesn’t feel forced. There must be this little nature lover in me because  I enjoyed this a lot. I lounged around the lake  and found the calm that would satiate me til my next travel.

Up next: Boracay Virgin No More! 

may I interrupt your regular programming

This post is not travel-related, but allow me to share to you what I have been up to. I am writing for this show for ABS-CBN. (weeknights around 9-ish). The series (Nasaan Ka, Elisa?- is a franchise from Mexico and Chile -  countries that I hope to actually travel to someday. (who said this ain't travel-related, haha). Please watch the show, it's a different kind of experience to teleserye fanatics and to those with more, ehem, sophisticated tastes, the show can actually tickle your brain.

Apart from writing, I have been traveling every week, (even bringing deadlines with me). My first jaunt was in Dumaguete and Siquijor during the long weekend, and then the week after was my first time to go to Boracay. Last week was second time in Cebu. It has all been very enriching. I feel so blessed and grateful to get to know these places, and the people I encounter.

Traveling is not an escape, it is a reunion to my once-innocent and excitable, overflowing-with-passion self. And yes, I will be traveling to a lot more places soon! But first,  I need to find time to write these posts. I'm so excited to share them all with everyone.

Curiously, on twitter, people have been asking why did Elisa (played by Melissa Ricks) disappear. Did someone kidnap her? Is she dead? I answer jokingly, Elisa went backpacking alone to some obscure town that's why she went missing.  Haha.

Nah. That's what I would do.

food and travel articles

Aside from the currently airing Judy Ann Santos medical drama Habang May Buhay , (and power-pointing and drafting treatments for upcoming programs) here are some of the stuff i wrote - food and travel articles for Yummy magazine...and writing these almost felt like writing for pleasure, it's almost like a hobby!

Writing for food is fun, plus I've always loved to cook. My father loves to cook but our family's cooking consists of following the time tested family recipes of native Pinoy food. My mom bakes well too and she knows the fancy brownies and cakes recipes while I stuck to simple recipes like salads, some pasta and desserts. But writing for yummy meant delving into all aspects of food by the balls. haha. or what i meant was sampling or even (yes!) preparing fancy global food. The tip here is recognizing and using spices. I believe they make or break a recipe. Or they make dishes distinct from one continental fare to another. Like putting paprika makes recipes more Middle Eastern, and basil and rosemary more Italian. Though I'm not an expert yet but let me say I know my bouillabaisse from my seafood chowder. 

check these out:
Best Local Food Blogs 1
Best Local Food Blogs 2 
Best Local Food Blogs 3 
General's Lechon
21 Plates Restaurant
Sweet Sally Desserts
Taste Traveling
and interview with French Cooking Chef Laura Calder

And in March, we will go juicy! yum