OUR AWESOME PLANET

The BEST of ILIGAN! (Part 1 of 2)

Iligan City is known as the "City of Waterfalls". The most famous among them is the majestic Maria Cristina Falls, which is one of the main sources of hydroelectric power for the Mindanao region. 

The once-popular city during the industrial age (thanks to its heavy industries like steel) is now bouncing back by showcasing its natural wonders, awesome fiesta and unique food that can rival the best in Manila.

I was invited by the Iligan Chamber of Commerce to provide an Internet Marketing 101 training (on blogging, social media, Twitter, Facebook and local search) to local businesses. That gave me the chance to explore the best of what Iligan has to offer.

Here are my Top 10 Best Experiences in Iligan...

30 Awesome Food Experiences around the Philippines (by Pinoy Travel Bloggers)!

Food is an integral part of the Filipino culture. To understand why, you need to travel and experience it. We asked the most passionate Pinoy Travel Bloggers this question:  "What is Your Most Awesome Food Experience while Traveling in the Philippines?"

 The answers pleasantly surprised us. We have only tried 16 (✔) out of 30.  Our favorite posts are marked with a ★ symbol because we recommend it as a must-try food experience or we want to taste the food in our future travels. Travel the Philippines First!

LUZON AWESOME FOOD EXPERIENCES:

I'm inspired by the post of Kara Santos on experiencing what Aeta food really is. Hopefully, I can go to the 2nd Aeta Forest Food Festival. For balikbayans out there, Graciel Cecilio created a great guide on how to have an awesome food experience.

Ivan Briñas Cultura's Best Bibingka and Strangest Bibingka posts were very interesting. Every Filipino should try Alagao in Antipolo as blogged by Tita Lili. If you want something more exotic, there's Frog Legs in the Estero by Brenna Bustamante. We aim to try the Pakaskas, featured by Josiah Sicad, one of these days.

1. ★ AETA FOREST FOOD by Kara Santos | CAPAS, TARLAC

"In terms of forest food, we learned that Aetas primarily plant mountain rice, wild bananas, corn, and root crops like ube (a form of taro), kamoteng kahoy (cassava) and kamoteng baging (mountain yams). Wild bananas called amukaw have lots of tiny black seeds, which are strained before the edible part of the banana is made into a refreshing juice. The extract is believed to cure 'pasma' (trembling hands and sweaty palms that occur after hard labor)."

READ MORE: Travel Up  | First Aeta Forest Food Festival

The Misibis Bay Experience: How much and How to get there? (3 of 3)

Misibis Bay Resort is one hour away from the Legazpi airport by land. You can also get there via a fast craft from Embarcadero in Legazpi City.

OAP | The Misibis Bay Experience Series
1. The Misibis Bay Experience: What to do?
2.The Misibis Bay Experience: What to eat?
3.The Misibis Bay Experience: How much and How to get there?

Here are some tips on how to plan your trip to the resort and how much to budget:

The Misibis Bay Experience: What to eat? (2 of 3)

Good food is part of our criteria when deciding where to travel next. Our travels and food adventures have made us realize that just because an establishment is charging high-end prices, the quality of food will also be high.

OAP | The Misibis Bay Experience Series
1. The Misibis Bay Experience: What to do?
2.The Misibis Bay Experience: What to eat?
3.The Misibis Bay Experience: How much and How to get there?

Here is what you can expect with the quality of food in Misibis:

The Misibis Bay Experience: What to do? (1 of 3)

Misibis Bay Resort in Cagraray Island in Albay, Bicol is marketed as "Your Luxury Island Playground". It is a beach escape where you can relive your childhood fun with a lot of sports and adventure activities that both adults and kids can enjoy.

It is located on an exclusive cove in Cagraray Island, which is an hour away by land from the Legazpi Airport. You can stay in pool-side or beach-side villas, enjoy good buffet food, and relax with all the urban comforts of cable TV + Wifi.

OAP | The Misibis Bay Experience Series
1. The Misibis Bay Experience: What to do?
2.The Misibis Bay Experience: What to Eat?
3.The Misibis Bay Experience: How much and How to get there?

Here are the top activities you can do with your family in Misibis (biased towards those with kids below 7 years old):

Top 10 Beaches of the Philippines!

I love beaches! 

The travel bug bit me while I was sitting and watching the 270-degree view of the sea and sky on Kota Beach in Bantayan, Cebu in 2006. The feeling was surreal -- I couldn’t believe that nature could be so awesome that no words could fully describe it. (You’ll know the feeling when you experience it.)

I realized that if there is a place like that one in Cebu, there must be a lot more places like it hidden in the 7,107 islands of the Philippines. This inspired Our Awesome Planet’s advocacy to inspire and touch Filipinos’ hearts and minds, to make them realize that our country is truly a beautiful place.

I’ve been to most of the best beaches in the Philippines, except for one (which is reserved for our 10^th year wedding anniversary). Now, I would like to share with you our beach discoveries (after 4 years of traveling almost every other week!)

These are the Top 10 Beaches in the Philippines:

Cemento's Cobra Reef, Baler! (3 of 3)

Surfing in Cobra Reef in Brgy. Cemento, Baler is the number one motivation for hard-core surfers to troop to the area. From the main Sabang beach, it is 15 minutes away by car or 30 minutes away by walking along the beach through the barangays.

The most ideal time to surf here is when there is no wind (usually in the morning). Surfers like the waves glassy -- smooth in texture and appearance because there's no wind to mess up the look.

I decided to hang out with the surfers along with Aidan. This is our experience, from a non-surfing-observer's point of view...

OAP | Baler, Aurora, Quezon Series:

• The Allure of Baler (1 of 3)
• Top 10 Food in Baler (2 of 3)
• Cemento's Cobra Reef, Baler! (3 of 3) 

Top 10 Food in Baler (2 of 3)

The food in Baler was surprisingly good. :) Here are the 10 that stood out:

1. Baler Suman

 
Baler Suman (P50 for 10)

This is actually the perfect suman for me. It is a bit sweet already so no need to dip it in sugar. It is light, as big as a finger but  a little longer, and wrapped artistically well.

It is made fresh everyday so you can only buy them in the morning. It costs P5 a piece and is sold in bunches of 10. It comes in two versions -- the basic white and the ube-colored one made with rice coming from Dilasag, Aurora.

This is the only suman that the kids love, and they eat it like a banana, one after another. I love it too. We just couldn't get enough of it (hindi nakakasuya).  You can order it from Bahia de Baler, in the Rolling Stores or in the Baler Market every morning.

OAP | Baler, Aurora, Quezon Series:

• The Allure of Baler (1 of 3)
• Top 10 Food in Baler (2 of 3)
• Cemento's Cobra Reef, Baler! (3 of 3)