Food: The Empanada Battle

In Ilocos, there is a strong yet hush hush battle of the best kind of empanada - the orange and thicker crust one from Batac versus the pale yellow and thinner crusted one from Vigan.  And last December, I had the opportunity to taste both! Before I give out my verdict...let me describe these two empanadas thoroughly based on my taste.

The Ilocos empanadas are not like the usual empanada we see and buy here in the metro. The chicken empanadas and others here are made of flour/bread like crust which are often baked instead of fried. The filling are a weird yet flavorful combination of papayas, cabbage or mongo sprouts, one whole egg and longganisa. Instead of comparing it to the usual empadanas, I think I could actually compare it to a fried spring roll or lumpia.


Vigan Empanada

Since my first stop was in San Vicente near Vigan, Ilocos Sur, I happened to sample the thinner, paler empanada first from the city center of Vigan. It was my second day exploring the Heritage Village - a name given to the historical Crisologo street  and various surrounding streets- a UNESCO world heritage site. Walking around the old street felt magical as my adrenaline and excitement is on an all time high. There are various souvenirs to ogle and buy.

But one thing I am interested in apart from the semi-obligatory ref magnets and keychains is to take home and sample the food of the place. After buying one too many chichacorns and Vigan longanisa, it is time to chill, hang out and sample the empanada.

There is a certain area in the town plaza called the Vigan Empanada center where many different stalls are selling the yellow empanada.The Vigan empanada has a thin crust and is yellow in color. What's inside the crust are shredded cabbage, sliced green papayas, one whole egg and Ilocos longganisa.

It was crisp, hot because it was freshly cooked. You need to douse it with sukang Iloko to be able to get the right melange of tastes right. I,m salivating right now!


Batac Empanada

En route to Pagudpud from Vigan, I made it a point to make a pit stop at Batac to try their version of empanada.

Before I took the roadtrip to Ilocandia, a lot of people have been telling me to actually try this empanada - it's Batac empanada or nothing at all! Imagine how some passionate foodies defend their choice, what more to actual people who hailed from such places. With no intention in fueling the fire...I actually stopped at Batac in  to sample these orange wonders with the intention of comparing it to the Vigan empanada I tried days before.

Papa and Mommy

My first impression, it looks a lot like the orange quail eggs sold back in Manila. You can see them everywhere. But Batac empanada was colored with natural coloring - atsuete. The dough is also thicker compared to Vigan empanada. What's interesting is that you get to choose between Sukang Iloko or Banana ketchup to go with your empanada. Hmmm.

The filling: instead of shredded cabbage, the Batac empanada uses generous amounts of mongo sprouts or togue, sliced green papaya, one whole egg and longganisa.


The verdict? 

Though Vigan empanada is thinner, I found Batac empanada tastier. It's probably because of the dough. My first impression was that Batac empanada would be a letdown but despite the thick crust I can actually taste a whole lot of MSG in it. Haha. Seriously, the serving was actually quite bigger with generous filling.

However, I hated to pair it with ketchup at first but when I did, it tasted quite better.
Vigan empanada is best enjoyed sitting down and dousing the entire thing with Sukang Iloco for a minute before diving in.
Did I actually cast my vote? Haha. For me Batac empanada is tastier. Of course my father from Vigan would say otherwise! haha. But it is better to try comparing the two when you get to Ilocandia!

To those who already did, which is the best empanada in all of Ilocandia for you?

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some photos sourced from here, here, and here

Bangui Bay

This is not about the One Epic Trip I posted prior, but I just want to take a minute and reminisce about Bangui Bay in Ilocos Norte. 


I was with family when I went here. We took a right from the main road and into the dirt. The sky was blue and limitless. It was bright and the rays were glaring to our direction.

The car inched towards the bay. But it wasn't until a few more prodding to the driver, my father when we finally reached these huge ass big windmills. I got out of the car and immediately ran near it. Faster and faster until I'm at the bottom of one of the twenty windmills. I looked up and used my hands as a shade. I couldn't see what's on top. These machines. They are so big I feel like it'll move and crush me.

How many moments like this in my life when I feel so small vis a vis a natural or man-made mammoth. I have lost count. But in these moments when you feel that you are so small...  You sometime feel a tiny sense of courage to face it,  your monster. Your fear. Of getting crushed and trampled upon.

And it's not just the windmills, it was the whole thing the whole scenario...the whole experience of being dwarfed by the bigness of the world.

These huge powerful waves are so strong and unbending, that if you dare come near, these waves will swallow you whole.

If the wind can swallow me whole, I probably would've let it. It was like a lure, calling me to to mesh with its core.

Excuse me if I went all literary on you.End of flashback and cut to the present time.

Inside my rented pad near my workplace I sometimes cry to avoid these extreme sensations. I sometimes fear to be swallowed whole by the big waves, the unstoppable wind. The dizzying fast spinning of the windmills. They seem to never stop. They gain more power as they spin.

But even as I let it conquer me, leaving me spinning, feeling dizzy. Haunted by the wind, taunted by the waves. I know in my heart that it is I who have emerged.

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Bangui Bay is where the famous Bangui windmills are found. From Manila, you can take the bus going up to Laoag and Cagayan route going to Burgos. Upon arriving in Burgos, watch out for the signage which indicate where Bangui windmills can be found and seen upclose. However traversing the route to Burgos, you can already see the huge windmills from afar.
What distinguishes Bangui windmills is that this is actually the first power-generating windmill in Southeast asia.
Wind turbines are facing the South China sea where the powerful wind triggers the turbines to spin and then generate power.

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Happy New Year!

It's been a great wonderful year for me in terms of travel milestones and professional life milestones but, since I am blogging here in my travel blog, let me talk about my travel experiences!

I know, I know I've been barely to a few local places in the country BUT! i truly cherish everyone of them because they have enriched me. Plus, that's exactly my plan - to somehow explore different places in the country which are not too touristy, so as to have the right to call these places my own. hahaha. Right.
Also, I traveled alone for the very first time this year! Iloilo and Guimaras will always be very special to me because of that!
I ain't a hardcore traveler yet but I am proud of visiting places which I traveled for the very first time - Marinduque, Iloilo, Guimaras, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte!

You must be perfectly aware that my personal travel style is DIY. I have had chance passenger experiences in  Marinduque on a car ferry no less, rode the jeepney to beautiful churches in Iloilo. I've missed ferries, and even rode outrigger boats for the first time! But these experiences are so funny as they are stressful haha.

Second, I visit places with so many places of interest like churches, world famous heritage sites like what I saw and experienced in Ilocandia and Iloilo. I think I'm a history and culture nut like that.

Third, this year, I've completed my pilgrimage to the 4 UNESCO World Heritage Churches in the Philippines! San Agustin Church (Manila), Miag-Ao (Ilo-Ilo), Paoay (Ilocos Norte) and Sta. Maria (Ilocos Sur)! What a feat!

And lastly,  I've experienced the food no less!!! And I know I will always be on a hunt for local food whenever I touch down a new destination!  I always sample the local food, because to me, the best way to get to know the culture of the place is through the palate!

This year, I shall experience life more with more travel opportunities and adventures! Happy 2011 to all!!!

I love Ilocandia

I have been traveling all over with friends, and even alone. And so now I'm primed to usher my family's travel adventure for 2010! And it was soooo much fun!!!! I love the holidays and I love Ilocandia!

Unlike most travelers who make a beeline to Laoag first, our journey led us first to Vigan Ilocos Sur because my father was hailed in San Vicente, a town near Vigan.  Holidays is all about family right? What could be a perfect reason to travel with the fam than to spend the holidays with my relatives on my father's side?

 parroting Baluarte

 me in the Heritage Village in Vigan

 Papa and Mommy infront of Sta. Maria Church in Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur

Batac Empanada

Before reaching Vigan, we made stops along the way. The most noteworthy is the Sta. Maria Church located in Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur which is a UNESCO World Heritage Church in the Philippines - (we only have four in the Philippines). This is the third UNESCO World Heritage Church I have been to, the first one is San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila and the second one is the Santo Tomas Villanueva Church in Miag-Ao, Iloilo. Then we went straight to Vigan, the Heritage Village of Calle Crisologo which is also a UNESCO World Hertitage Site. (More on this later) Baluarte came in next, then a Burnayan Village.

I have been always lured by the sea ever since Magical Marinduque and over the holidays I and my family boarded our van and set off on a journey from Vigan Ilocos Sur (Papa's home town) to Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte which is 75 km far. But after traveling for about 4 hours I also have 4 words to to describe the whole journey: It's all worth it.

I got no words to say really so let the photos speak. This journey was perfect hassle free and breathtaking. So Pagudpud I christen you as the perfect beach for me as of the moment - wide beach stretches, azure waters, white sand...I know I will come back to you soon!

papa and mommy

me and cousin Lhowella

Not to mention I met Candelaria and Herman Zapp right smack behind our hotel in Pagudpud!!!! who would've thought?!  Well first things first, who are Candelaria and Herman Zapp? They are the world famous traveling couple who have been on the road for about 10 years now. They were originally from Argentina and they travelled from there to Alaska in 2007. With barely no funds, they managed to achieve the feat, and eversince they continued to travel all over the world. Candelaria even got pregnant and had babies while on the road! And now, the family of six is still traveling all over the world and as of press time they are here in the Philippines. Apparently they spent their Christmas here.

What's more unique about Cande and Herman is that they are not just travelers, but they are traveling all over the world using their vintage car!

Check out Candelaria and Herman Zapp's website here and they announced that they are indeed in the Philippines! Never thought that I would get to meet them!!!

After staying in Pagudpud, we went to Bangui bay. Located in Bangui Bay are the huge and powerful windmills that generate power for some areas in Ilocos Norte. I was amazed, they are so huuuuuge!!!!!

Heading to Ilocos Norte wouldn't be complete without making a pilgrimage at the magnificent Paoay Church! -- which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Church which means I've completed my personal journey to the four World Heritage Churches in the Philippines!

Traveling with family to one of the scenic and culturally rich destinations in the country over the holidays is one of the best experiences ever. Thankful also to spend not just a weekend, but one whole week in Ilocandia! Indeed I love Ilocandia and the holidays! What can be more perfect than that? More posts soon!!!