LAS CASAS FILIPINAS de ACUZAR – Bagac, Bataan, Philippines

Last Sunday, February 23, 2025 when my fraternity brothers and their guests departed for Metro-Manila and to other destinations, Club Morocco immediately turned into a “graveyard”. It was eerily silent with nary a soul walking the corridors. We found out later that other than us only one room was still occupied. We went to dinner that night and we had the entire restaurant for ourselves.

**On the day of our departure for Bataan**

At 10:00 am the following day, Monday February 24th, our “borrowed vehicle” arrived to pick us up to take to our “new home” – Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar. Immediately, upon entering the resort’s compound we felt like being transported to the Spanish Colonial Era in the Philippines. Hotel staff garbed in the costumes used during that period. After our check-in, a Jeepney (a colorful public utility vehicle that serves as the most popular means of transportation, especially, in Metro-Manila) took us to our designated building. It wasn’t the most comfortable ride however short. I surmised the vehicle did not have shock absorbers or they must need replacement and the noxious exhaust dangerously inhaled along the way. But we got to our destination with our lungs and rear ends intact!

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar (Spanish for “Acuzar’s Philippine Houses”) is a beach resort, hotel, convention center and heritage destination in Bagac, Bataan, Philippines. Las Casas Filipinas covers an area of around 400 hectares (990 acres). For its lodging facilities, Las Casas Filipinas has 128 guest rooms and 63 “elite casas” as of January 2021. The main attraction of the Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar is its heritage houses, which were transplanted from outside Bagac, Bataan. The houses are disassembled from their original location and reconstructed inside the premises of the Las Casas Filipinas. (Wikipedia)

The tram similar to that in San Francisco except much smaller

You can walk all over the resort even if you’re not physically fit, however, they have free transportation that goes around the area – tram and the jeepney! Just make sure you wear comfortable shoes if you want to walk! We saw young ladies wearing high heels trying to navigate the uneven cobblestones, finally, some of them had to remove their shoes and carry them!

You can also ride a horse-drawn carriage for a fee or ride in style in a Rolls-Royce replica!

**A Rolls-Royce replica, ride it for a fee**

About our room, Murphy’s law proved it is everywhere! The first night the toilet tank woke us up all night since the flow failed to stop when it reached the full mark. I had to turn off the valve to stop it. That morning, I tried to shower but the water would not shift to the shower head! We had to use the bath tub which fortunately had a retractable shower head but these seniors had to squat to wash our hair! That afternoon, the television stopped working (it was fine the previous day) and I suspected the batteries were dead. By the way, the rooms do not have phones and our room is located quite a distance from the reception/front desk I had to use my local cell phone to call them. But everything’s working now.

We joined the free walking tour where we learned a lot about history of the Philippines and the background of the “transplanted” houses. I learned the “truth” about Lola Basyang Grandmother Basyang) a short story writer. Lola Basyang was a pen name of a male writer who pretended to be a female which according to myth that children listened better to stories coming from a grandmother! The famous characters of Lola Basyang (and I remember them vividly) were the manananggal (a mythical vampire-like creature that is able to separate its upper torso from its lower part); tikbalang ((half-human and half-horse); kapre (a muscular giant who usually sits in trees) and many others.

**Lola Basyang telling stories to children**

**An engagement photo ops on the river. In the background is the resort’s chapel**

**Most of the houses used the original materials or made replicas when that is not possible due to the condition of the house**

**Most of the homes required you to remove your shoes**

It so happened that during our 3-day stay in the resort students from the University of Pangasinan were also there on an Experiential Tourism Program. I noticed that they were predominantly female students who were all energetic and excited to be in the beautiful resort.

I need to mention that our booking included free breakfast or lunch. The spacious dining room has two options for breakfast buffet- Filipino, consisting of fried or plain rice, longganisa (sausage), fried dried fish, adobo, puto (no, this is not a bad word!), pan de sal, etc, the usual foods Pinoys eat for almusal; and Western, French toast, fried eggs, bacon, etc. But the thing I liked best was the barako (local coffee beans) coffee – strong, full-bodied and aromatic! As always, there are people who doesn’t seem to understand that just because you can eat as much as you can in a buffet it doesn’t mean you can bring your plastic bag and containers to fill with food to take with you! Shame, shame, shame! And I noticed several of them were foreigners.

Trini and I did the night boat tour and the small price difference with the day boat tour was well worth it! Not only was the weather more pleasant but the ambiance of the place was totally different at night – shimmering water reflecting the well-placed lightings, buildings and other structures stood out and their beauty enhanced. They called this place “Little Venice” because of the waterways going under the bridges and alongside decorated river walls sans gondola and the singing gondolier.

Today was our last full day. After eating both the Filipino and Western breakfast, I had to make sure I lost some of those calories. So, we walked to the farthest end of the resort which coincidentally is also undergoing construction. The long pier was decorated on both sides with antique-looking lamp posts adorned with intricate sculptures. I rapped my knuckles against these sculptures and noticed they were made of plasters which can easily break!

**The far end to the pier with another chapel undergoing construction**

**This sculpture is already torn since it’s made of cheap material**

**The beautiful beach is practically deserted. Mount Samat in the background**

While the food wasn’t that great and accommodations lacked the comfort and amenities that we’ve experienced in other resorts, the place has a remarkable history and impressive colonial structures. The hospitality that the staff demonstrated is commendable; they were always courteous and cheerful! Overall, we enjoyed our stay and would recommend it to our friends and families!

Tomorrow we leave for Project 4 and the day after that we will head to Tagaytay to attend a wedding.

SIGMA BETA FRATERNITY – Diamond Anniversary Celebration

A much needed respite was beneficial to Trini and me both after all the traveling we did in the last month. After coming back from Cebu, we stayed a total of nine days in an AirBNB condominium in Legazpi Village – close to Greenbelt, Glorietta and Landmark and three days at Ascott Hotel located in Glorietta 4. We didn’t do much except have lunch with friends and relatives, visit salons, shop at Greenhills, and dining out. It was a welcome break from the stressful airport environment.

We were on the verge of boredom when the date of my fraternity’s 75th Anniversary finally arrived! Our friends in the U.S., Dwayne and Lani McDavid who work with the State Department offered us their vehicle (a Toyota Fortuner) along with the driver to take us to Morocco Resort and Country Club outside of Subic, Zambales about 3 hours drive from Makati. Subic Bay is where the U.S. Naval Base was located before the Philippine-U.S. treaty expired forcing the base to close and revert to the Philippine government.

We went to the resort one day early since I screwed up our hotel schedule in Makati. Our driver picked us up in Ascott Hotel on Friday and arrived in the resort around 4:00 pm which allowed us to explore the resort grounds and facility. I noticed immediately that the 20+ year old hotel lacked maintenance and upgrades. At least the air conditioning system is in good working condition.

The following day, Saturday, February 22 my fraternity brothers started to arrive – some in their private vehicles but most arrived in a Victory Liner bus. Like me, some brought their spouses along. Right away, there was organized chaos. The Sigma Beta members signed rosters and picked up their souvenir items and name tags. The lobby became a waiting area since most of the rooms and villas were not ready yet! Brods saying hello to each other slapping backs and hugging glad to see each other again. Introductions were made (I’d be lucky to remember those names) and genuine display of brotherhood could be felt in the air.

**Picking up souvenir shirts and name tags**

Some of the brods went inside the restaurant and ordered cold beer while waiting for their rooms. I didn’t recognize many of them since the last time I saw them was more than 14 years ago – during our fraternity’s 60th Anniversary held in Punta Fuego, Batangas.

**Our brods toasting to our beloved fraternity – Sigma Beta**

After the mass, an election for new Board of Trustees was held and future recruitment discussed due to the status of our fraternity. Sigma Beta stands for Society of Builders since its members are all civil engineers. Our beloved fraternity was founded in 1950 by Brother Napoleon Roque along with 16 charter members and have since survived despite the tumultuous years banning fraternities due to their “hazing” initiation rites. Today, there are still a couple of hundred brothers but infusing new “blood” is crucial if we want to survive.

**Brother Enrico Ballesteros facilitating the meeting**

At around 6:00 pm, the brothers assembled for a group photo wearing our Barong Tagalog (the embroidered long-sleeved formal wear for men).

**A whole young cow slowly being roasted** courtesy of brods Peter and Paul Angeles

The affair was unforgettable – whole cow slowly being roasted while we nibbled at appetizers! San Miguel beers chilling in coolers filled with ice; assorted juices extracted from local fruits in glasswares “sweating” from the warm weather. Tables decorated with different colorful faux flowers. The pool nearby dotted with floating lighted bouquets. There was even a “sorbetero” (ice cream vendor) with his authentic ice cream cart.

To ensure that people danced all night, the event major coordinator Brod Enrico Ballesteros hired DI’s (dance instructors). This is common in the Philippines. A male or female DI goes around the tables encouraging guests to dance with them, and dance we did!

Part of the program was to recognize the newly elected Board of Trustees. There was also a somber moment when the list of our “fallen brothers” slowly scrolled down the screen. The brothers were recognized individually by batch and walked under an arch. Individuals were also awarded plaques for their unwavering support, guidance and dedication to the fraternity. The Beta Hymn was also sang by all the brothers.

**Janine, the co-host of Ed Hitosis**. Janine is also a great singer!

Dancing the “night away” would not have been possible without the awesome REO Brothers with their wide repertoire of Oldies music- The Beatles, Eagles, and many others.

**Trini Pebenito dancing the cha-cha with a DI**

**The spouses who attended with their husbands**

**Group photo with the Sigma Beta black shirt**

Another awesome band took over after the REO Brothers played non-stop for almost two hours! This time they played contemporary music I felt was more for the younger generation but what was important were they were “danceable“.

**Ray Gruenberg showing his smooth moves with a DI**

**We had two wonderful bands that played after the other**

The event organizers really put in a lot of effort to make the evening very memorable – FIREWORKS!

Despite a brief shower, the party continued on. During a break by the band several of the brothers showed off their vocal skills onstage belting out a modern hip hop to popular ballads. Brother Booker Decena even surprised us with his combination of guitar and vocal skills!

**Booker Decena surprised us with his number**

As it was getting late and the “youngsters” were still enjoying the fraternity bash, Trini and I decided that it was past our bedtime. After saying “good night” to some of the guests we went to our room for a much-needed sleep.

The following morning was scheduled for a “yacht cruise“, another generous contribution by our twin fraternity brothers – Peter and Paul Angeles. There were a lot who opted to join this cruise but some stayed behind and continued with what was a more enjoyable activity than the water – imbibing more San Miguel beer.

**The Sigma Beta cruisers on deck the yacht** with the aquamarine Sigma Beta shirt

**Sipping red wine is better than swimming – Gloria, Ding and Ray**

The cruise took three hours and by the time everyone got back it was also lunch time! More beer, more fun, equals camaraderie.

**The cruisers continuing the fun on solid ground**

All things must come to an end! The departure time finally came. Those with their own vehicles left around noon while the ones who took the bus stayed until 2:00 pm. The 75th Anniversary celebration lasted a little more than 24 hours but to most the memories will last a lifetime! Never have I been to any Sigma Beta reunion that was as grand and impressive as this one! But to me all these are secondary, what is more important was that I got to spend time, bond, and re-connect with many of my fraternity brothers. Many of them are decades younger and some older than me but we all share a common ground – our love and dedication to Sigma Beta Fraternity. We have parted ways and hope that our paths cross again. In the meantime, social media is just a click away!

“A BETAN’S LOVE WILL ONLY PERISH WITH HIS LIFE“

CEBU: Queen City of the South

We arrived in Mactan-Cebu International Airport at 1:30 pm after a delay of more than an hour in Manila. Cebu is another beautiful place that we’ve not seen in more than 20 years. The city continues to grow and evolve into a tourist Mecca due to the rich culture, historical places around the islands and the colorful and vibrant festivals all year round.

Dr. Ting Patriarca, my niece, had a driver pick us up at the airport and took us to meet her and my older brother Nap Pebenito and my sister-in-law, Mary at their condo in Mandaue City (a city close to Cebu). We checked in at the Bai Hotel (courtesy of my generous niece). A modern hotel with awesome amenities and spectacular harbor and bay views!

**A street vendor selling water and cold beverages**

The rooms were not ready and we were famished as it was already way past lunch time, so Ting took us to a place where you can watch the cooks grill all sorts of sea food – tuna, marlin, squids, etc. The healthy fare was delicious, especially, the grilled squid which was cooked to perfection – not tough but a little chewy!

After the late lunch, we checked into our hotel. Our room was on the 12th floor with a sweeping view of the city! They have breakfast buffet that came with the room and the entire second floor was occupied for dining. There were so many options to choose from: Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, American, etc. Separate stations wrapped around the kitchen! The place is always crowded and the servers so busy that sometimes they forget to bring the coffee or beverage you ordered. Of course, you can get it yourself but the first thing they ask once they seat you is, “would you like some coffee?”, you say yes and off they go never to be seen again!

They even have a magtataho (taho vendor). Taho is a street food made from soft tofu, brown sugar syrup and tapioca pearls.

**Our hotel room at Bai on the 12th floor**

We rested a little bit and Ting told us they would pick us up again at 5:00 pm for an early dinner. That night we dined at a restaurant famous for their lechon (roast pig)! We chose a dish without the fatty crispy skin (as if that would make it healthier). Atty. Marc Patriarca, Ting’s husband, was there although he had to leave early to catch a flight for Manila. Marc works at the Bureau of Customs in the Port of Cebu City and would go home on weekends for family visits.

**From left to right: Nap, Mary, me Ting and Trini**

The following morning after we filled our bellies with the assorted dishes at the breakfast buffet, Ting picked us up and took us to a place I never thought existed in the Philippines!

TEMPLE OF LEAH – also called Little Taj Mahal as it was built by a very rich tycoon named Teodorico Adarna in memory of his late wife Leah. But unlike the domed Taj, this mausoleum is built in Greco-Roma style architecture.

The road to the Temple of Leah was winding since it was located about 350 feet above sea level. Like other provincial towns and cities you can see political candidates’ faces plastered all over the side of the roads. You know Election Day is just around the corner.

**The Temple of Leah is a “must see” when visiting Cebu**

**My big brother, Nap and me with the city in the background**

By the time, we were finished admiring this stunning creation it was almost time for lunch! Our driver, Toto (a native Cebuano), took us further to a higher elevation to a restaurant nestled on the hilltop called La Parisienne Sky! The terrace had an amazing view of cities of Mandaue and Cebu! Upon arrival we were greeted by a “French” staff complete with beret who greeted us “Bon Jour“! I asked her, “Parle vous Français” (do you speak French?) and she replied “bon jour”! At the table after ordering our drinks and when they were delivered I thanked the server “merci beaucoup” (thank you very much) and she replied, “bon jour”! It cracked me – the only words they know in French is bon jour!

**The weather was so cool and breezy on the terrace**

From La Parisienne, Ting directed the driver to take us to the Cross of Magellan which is located near the entrance of the famous shrine of the Santo Niño.

**The exact spot where Magellan planted the cross in Mactan**

Unfortunately, I was not allowed to go into the church where the shrine is located since I was wearing shorts! I waited for them and people-watched!

Next was where Lapu Lapu killed Ferdinand Magellan in Mactan on April 27, 1521. Around that time the temperature was already much cooler due to the ocean breeze. There were few tourists, however, the place was used by students to practice their dance numbers. Magellan was a Portuguese navigator and was the first to successfully circumnavigate the world!

There was a guy who volunteered to take our photos (with our cell phones of course). He knew how to take great pictures and even did a few tricks with the phones like “drones” (video mode and moving it at certain angles to make it look like a drone took the photos!

**The photographer made it look like Mary and Trini are wielding the swords!**

That evening, we stopped by the Sheraton Hotel situated along the beach. As we made our way to the bar terrace we passed the infinity pools overlooking the ocean where the tourist were spending the last hour of daylight. We were lucky to find an empty comfortable patio set just steps away from the white beach (the sand transported from another location). We had a half hour to spare before the”happy hour” ended so we ordered from a very limited list of “buy one, get one” cocktails and beers. Trini also ordered a couple of appetizers – fried calamari, grilled sausages, pork and chicken which really filled us up to the point we did not eat dinner anymore. It was a very relaxing evening – a not-so-loud music playing in the background, well-behaved guests (still early?), good appetizers, great ambiance!

Today was allotted for the pasalubong day (buying stuff to bring home to friends and families)! We went to a marketplace called Tabuan where stalls are located selling different kinds of dried fish and other bottled and preserved fruits and meats. As soon as we got out of the van the smell of the dried fish overwhelmed us! Ting was right when she told us not to shower before going to the market because the aroma will stick into your clothes and body. How right she was!

**The vendor is sealing the fish we bought in plastic and boxed them for us**

Lunch was at Choobi Choobi just across from our hotel. The food was good but the air conditioning system was not cool enough and I started to sweat while eating!

Tomorrow we will be flying back to Manila for a ten-day rest in the condominium we rented in Greenbelt. We plan on just relaxing, pamper ourselves with massages, facials, and just walk around the enclosed malls. And maybe contact a couple of friends who we promised to see when we get to Metro-Manila.

Our sincere appreciation to our niece Ting and her husband Marc for making our trip a very memorable and enjoyable one. This would not have happened without their generosity. I also had a wonderful time bonding again with my brother Nap and his wife, Mary. Nap is already 83 years old but looks younger than me and still very healthy and fit.

Until we meet again!

BAGUIO ROAD TRIP Part 2

Baguio is a city in the Autonomous Cordillera Region. It is known as the “Summer Capital of the Philippines”, owing to its cool climate since the city is located approximately 5,000 feet above sea level. It’s also known as the “City of Pines” due to the numerous pine trees that surround the city. The last time we were there was more than 20 years ago and I can see a big transformation in the city scape – numerous condominium buildings have “sprouted”; they now have a big SM Mall (the biggest chain mall in the Philippines), colorful homes similar to the South American favelas dot the hillsides.

We arrived in Baguio City at around 7:00 pm. Driving in the Philippines at night is somewhat dangerous unless you’ve been driving here for a long time, but driving the long narrow winding road with increasing altitude after sunset is not for amateurs! I saw motorcycles without their head lights on barreling down the highway at high speeds not caring if the oncoming traffic can even see them! Slow overloaded trucks seem to clog the highway slowing following traffic. Fortunately, our skillful and safety-conscious driver knew how to maneuver these “obstacles”!

Finally, we reached Edy Retardo’s (another cousin of Trini) house in Mirador Hills a few kilometers outside of the city. But getting there was another challenge to our driver since the narrow (really narrow) streets with sharp turns and steep grades (I kid you not) were “treacherous” to navigate! Oncoming vehicles have to stop or back out for others to pass.

**The steep street outside Edy Retardo’s house**

The Retardo’s house is a two-story home with six-plus bedrooms upstairs and an additional rental unit below. The interior is constructed mostly of narra wood which is the country’s national tree. Unfortunately, the stately tree almost became extinct as a result of massive illegal logging! Had the government not intervened, this hardwood would probably be history by now.

After a somewhat restful sleep and a hearty Filipino breakfast, our group – Edy, Naida and husband Adal Singson, Bess and Patchie Antonio, Joan Borja, Trini and me – decided to visit the Lourdes Grotto which was a short (but laborious) trek from Edy’s house. Those with knee problems had to forego the more than 200 steps going up and down. But we did survive this short visit! I even rented an Igorot costume for a photo ops and tried my best to perform a native dance making a fool of myself!

**The favela-like hillside. Favelas are slums or shanties in South America**

After the Our Lady of Lourdes grotto visit, we all jumped in a mini-bus to take us to the city market. The fare with senior discounts only cost us 100 pesos (less than $2). The market is typical like most of those in other parts of the Philippines – crowded, various odors of fresh produce and other foods mingling in the air but to my surprise, the vendors are not as “aggressive” in forcing you to buy their wares as I was used to many years ago.

**And the bargain hunting and haggling begins…**

**Eating the corn they just bought from a sidewalk vendor**

From the marketplace, we decided to walk to the SM Mall about a mile away! It should not been too bad if the road was not a steady incline! Danny and I were ahead of the group and waited until they caught up with us. Trini had been having problems with skin tags and warts and wanted it removed. They found a “skin clinic” that did a wonderful job and Trini is happy. While she was undergoing the laser Joan, Danny and I waited in Starbucks.

After the skin “surgery”, we took two taxis to take us to a hotel nearby that offers all-you-can-eat buffet – pizza, fried chicken, spaghetti, soup and salad – all for about $5 after the senior discount! By this time, we’ve mastered the art of pulling our senior discount cards from our bags!

The following day, I stayed home as I was not feeling well while the rest of the group went out. Trini went to see her alma mater – Baguio General Hospital. They went to buy souvenirs at the Philippine Military Academy (the equivalent of West Point).

They called me around noon and asked if I wanted to go with them to the elite Baguio Country Club. After a couple of hours of additional sleep I felt much better. We agreed that they would pick me up in Starbucks in SM Mall. Another cousin loaned them a Toyota Fortuner (similar to a Toyota Highlander) where all seven of us squeezed in. Imagine how we felt being unloaded in front of the country club while people were staring at the number of passengers coming out of the vehicle! Our good friend in the U.S. Florence Bayquin (a widow of Trini’s cousin) sponsored us to get in the place since it was a membership facility. Florence also footed the bill at the restaurant – THANK YOU, FLOR, FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!

**Danny Morales and Adal Singson in the Igorot costume**

**The ladies shopping at the PMA Souvenir shop**

After buying the famous raisin bread in the club’s bakery, the ladies went inside the boutique to browse and came out with purchased items. This time, the senior discount cards were rejected!

**Sorry we don’t accept SENIOR DISCOUNT CARDS!**

That night, being our last night with the group, we stayed a little bit later to say our farewells. We bought a first class bus ticket (Victory Liner) for 9:15 am so we left at 7:00 am. The ride was very comfortable and only took four hours as it was non-stop. We said our goodbyes and see you laters and off we went!

It was a very memorable three days in Baguio and we felt sad leaving the place and the company we are so fond of.

The following morning Trini and I flew to Cebu….

A ROAD TRIP TO BAGUIO CITY (PHILIPPINES)

We arrived from our trip from Agra/New Delhi, India last January 31st with mixed feelings – tired and exhausted from the travel; frustrated from the stressful airport requirements (too complicated to explain); but contented and happy that we completed our bucket list to see The Seven Modern Wonders of the World!

Trini and I went directly to her cousin’s (Bobot Antonio) in Project 4, Quezon City where we also had our luggage “stored” while we traveled. Patchie and husband Danny Morales arrived from the U.S. the previous day and Patchie was already out for her beauty treatments. The first thing Trini requested from TsinTsin (Bobot’s house caretaker) were several dishes of Filipino foods (the Indian cuisine was a great gastronomical experience but we’ve had enough).

Patchie arranged the road trip even before we left for the Philippines. Initially, we planned on taking the bus but as it turned out, Patchie’s cousin (Cecil Arce who lived in Dagupan, Pangasinan) loaned us her driver and a spacious van. There were six of us – Trini, Patchie, Danny, Bess Ayson (another cousin of Trini), Joan Borja (their niece), and me. All from the U.S.

It’s been more than twenty years since Trini and I traveled this part of the Philippines. I was surprised with the progress of the country’s infrastructure and was impressed with how the rest areas/gasoline stations improved their cleanliness!

**The “boy’s room” with an unusual urinal trough**

Our first stop was to have breakfast in Bobot’s house (yes, he owns another house) in Angeles City, Pampanga. Angeles is where the U.S. Clark Air Force Base (the largest in Asia at that time) was located until its closure in the early 1990′s. The house is located in a gated community and I was impressed with the floor plan as it was so homey and welcoming to visitors! The floors and walls are adorned with marble galore!

Enjoying the typical Filipino breakfast – tortang talong (eggplant omelet), longganisa (local sausage), fried rice, eggs, fish and ararusep (seaweeds) with tomatoes and onions drizzled with fish sauce

**Setting the table for the sumptuous breakfast**

After resting a little bit, we hit the road again to go to Manaoag, Pangasinan where the shrine of Our Lady of Manaoag is. Like the shrine of Our Lady of Piat in Cagayan, a visit to the shrine is a “must” for Catholics passing this way. The surrounding area was lined with stalls selling souvenirs, fruits, local pastries, etc. The one-lane street was jammed with vehicles of all sizes and religious visitors. Our driver dropped us off and instructed us to call him when we’re ready to leave. It was hot and humid and smoke from burning candles wafting in the air. The air was suffocating!

**Noxious smoke from the burning candles**

**Bess, Trini and Joan staying cool under a tree!**

The mandatory buying of fruits (Trini’s favorite) had to be done and the obligatory haggling had to happen or the shopping would not be complete! It was already mid-afternoon and we had one more stop before we make our “climb” to Baguio City so Patchie called the driver to pick us up. Meanwhile, traffic was agonizingly slow like a turtle with three legs. But we finally got out of there!

**The Arce’s home in Dagupan, Pangasinan (about 125 mil**es from Manila)

**A beautiful multi-colored bougainvillea**

The food from Bobot’s place barely digested and here we are again – crabs, assorted meats, fish – the whole “enchilada”! Wow, we were bordering on breaking one of the seven deadly sins – gluttony! I had to pace myself since I noticed my waistline slowly expanding.

I will talk about Baguio City in my next post!

VISITING MY MOTHERLAND

After five years, Trini and I are again visiting the Philippines. The last time we were here was when the COVID-19 pandemic started to turn the world upside down. At that time we had to cut our vacation short to get to the airport and return to the U.S. Like hundreds (maybe thousands) of balikbayan (Filipinos going back to the Philippines for a visit) who re-booked their flights and paid enormous amounts of airlines penalty in order to safely return home. But that’s all in the past now and hoping it will never occur again.

Our direct flight from Los Angeles to Manila was the longest we’ve ever experienced – over 14 hours as a result of the headwinds! We arrived early afternoon on January 15th and was picked up at the airport by my nephew who took us to our hotel – Richmonde Hotel Ortigas in Pasig. The typical afternoon traffic mess added more than an hour to a relatively short-distance drive. The following morning, after we visited our favorite facial salon – The Dermatrium in Makati, we went to the malls (and there are plenty of them in Metro-Manila) to walk around and browse the local merchandise and native products before going back to the hotel via Grab (similar to Uber) for a nap. That night, our niece Ting sent her driver to pick us up to have dinner in their five-story house in Quezon City. Yes, you read it correctly, it’s a huge multi-floor residence with an ELEVATOR! The interior was meticulously decorated by a professional interior decorator.

**Dinner with my sister Dr. Linda Valdepeñas with our hostess, Dr. Ting Patriarca and her brother Albert and his daughter Angel**

The next day we flew to Tuguegarao City, Cagayan to visit my nieces and nephews and Trini’s relatives in Alcala (42 km from Tuguegarao). We only stayed for three days but it was well worth it – seeing relatives, catching up after 5 years and eating fresh vegetables, fish and meat!

**My sister-in-law, nieces and nephews in Tuguegarao City**

It has always been a religious tradition to visit the shrine of the miraculous Our Lady of Piat.

Trini and I flew back to Manila sated with the great gastronomical experience and glad to see our relatives after five years. At the airport, our friend Voltaire Cuello picked us up to take to his newly-built American standard home located along the beach just outside the municipality of Sariaya in Quezon province about 72 miles southeast of Manila. It took us about four hours due to the bottleneck traffic when we passed by towns. Unlike in the United States where the freeways allow you to bypass towns and cities, here you practically come to a crawl when you go through towns due to narrow streets and volume of vehicles, especially, tricycles. The traffic mess gets messier due to the undisciplined drivers who ignore traffic laws and common sense. But as they say, “when in Rome, do as the Romans do“. Fortunately, Voltaire is an excellent albeit lead-foot driver.

**In front of Voltaire and Mellie Cuello’s house**

The Cuello’s 3,000 square-foot home has four bedrooms and four and a half baths with central air conditioning, a luxury in the Philippines due to the exorbitant utility cost. All the countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms are made of kamagong (now a rare and expensive type of hardwood). Behind the huge backyard is a black sand beach which to my dismay seems to be neglected as shown by the widespread detritus! Trash of all kinds are strewn all over – plastic containers, old shoes, drift woods, etc.

This was our first time to visit Voltaire and Mellie Cuello’s place and we had such a wonderful time considering we only stayed there for three days. Trini and I made new friends – Tess, Myrna, and Helen – also from the U.S. Tess and Myrna are retired registered nurses and Helen a retired dietician. The Cuello’s help were both great cooks which added an inch or two around my waist! Our group sat around the dining table after dinner discussing different topics under the sun while imbibing fine red wines from Napa, South Africa, Argentina and Italy. I love folks who drink dry wine and not the sweet wine that I hate. We stayed up until the late hours of 9:00 pm (for seniors like us, that is late!). Trini and I bonded with Tess, Myrna and Helen and by the time we all said our farewells, we felt like we’ve known each other for a long time!

During our short stay we all went to see some of Tess’ “bucket list” like Mount Banahaw where we saw firsthand the hydroponic gardens growing various lettuce varieties. I tried a cup of their coffee which was okay. By the way, every morning Voltaire (our self-appointed barista) served us his own farm-grown Cafe de Voltaire. We also visited Kamay ni Jesus (The Hand of Jesus); however, the shrine was located on a steep hill only Tess, Myrna and Julian (Helen’s driver) dared to go all the way to the top. Julian, was called endearing names like Yong-Yong but Trini would innocently change or rename him Bujungjung or something not even close that we would be laughing. But Julian/Yongyong didn’t mind and would only smile at us! A real trooper!

**The steep steps going to the shrine of the Hands of Jesus**

For lunch, we stopped by Palaisdaan Restaurant – a quaint nipa-hut eatery “floating” on a man-made pond with large kois. We tried their delicious pancit Lucban, grilled eggplant in shrimp paste, grilled fish, sautéed vegetables, and a few other “healthy” dishes. No meats!

**The nipa-hut restaurant surrounded by water**

It so happened that is was the birthday of one of the help, Lina, so Mellie bought seven cupcakes and had Lina blow the seven tiny candles. Of course, we all sang the obligatory “Happy Birthday”!

Walking to the fish market was really an “experience“. You had to dodge the vendors on tricycles, dogs, cats, and other obstacles to get to the end of the pier where the market is located! As it was already mid-morning most of the fish were already sold although I saw a large lapulapu (a fish that belonged to the grouper family) priced at 500 pesos (less than 10USD). There was also a giant eel that looked like a deadly snake lying on an almost empty table. There were fearsome barracudas with their sharp teeth pointing at you.

**Buying *dalandan* a local citrus fruit similar to navel oranges**

Our last night in Casa de Cuello was spent strolling along the beach until the sun disappeared from the sky. Slowly we maneuvered our way in between the trashy sand avoiding hazardous obstacles. Along the way, I would be asking myself why the residents of such a beautiful place are so apathetic to the filthy condition of their beach. I surmised that other than apathy, the community and local leaders should bear the brunt of the blame!

**Part of the mangrove surrounding the island**

Before parting ways with the Cuellos and our new friends, we visited the Cuello Farm in San Pablo, Laguna. In this five hectares, Voltaire planted more than 7,000 coffee trees and the same number of rubber trees. He also planted kalamansi (similar to lime or lemon in taste). The farm is also dotted with mature coconut trees and other fruit trees.

**Voltaire showing Trini his rubber and coffee plants**

It was really a very memorable and relaxing visit in the province where the air is fresh and clean not to mention the culinary experience we shared with our new friends – Tess, Myrna and Helen! MAY OUR PATHS CROSS AGAIN IN THE NEAR FUTURE!

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