Buenas Dias! Adelante, Ciudad de Zamboanga!

Zamboanga City prides itself as the Asia's Latin City as reflected in its language called Chavacano. It is located at the southern portion of the Philippines, close to Basilan and Sulu, where many believe as the headquarters of Muslim rebels. But do not be scared of its proximity to leftists as the city is impregnated with lots of military headquarters. The local people are also accommodating and very, very nice and they detest violent acts.

From the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, you can take Philippine Airlines (PAL) at Terminal 2, Cebu Pacific Air and Airphil Express at Terminal 3 (the new one), or Zest Air at Terminal 1 (the old domestic airport). The airlines have early flights, with the PAL coming in at 4:30 in the morning. The flight takes more or less an hour and twenty minutes to the Zamboanga International Airport.

Tourists are welcomed with a not-so-usual sawtooth-styled facade. This makes the airport one-of-a-kind in the Philippine setting, plus the Spanish-sounding language! Buenas dias! From the airport, you can take a cab or trike to your destination. If you are staying in one of the hotels in the city, then they can fetch you at the airport for free.

Some of the places that you can go to:
1. Fort del Pilar Shrine and Museum. The shrine's most exciting piece could be the relic of a saint, which, according to our driver, is respected by the Catholics and Muslims. A mass is held every afternoon (1730hours). The entrance to the museum is at the opposite side. It is closed on weekends (which is not good because they are missing the opportunity for earning additional income for the city). Entrance fee for adults is 20pesos; 10pesos for students and Senior Citizens. The first door contains an exhibit on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the country like the Baroque Churches and Vigan. Other worthy exhibits include vinta and other aquatic transportation. It has also a viewdeck with cannons on two sides.

2. Pasonanca Park. You can find here a tree-house, Boy Scouts camping area, Climaco Freedom Park
3. The Way of the Cross at Mt Pulong Bato. There are only fourteen stations. Once at the top, there is a cross overlooking the city and neighbouring places across the sea (ie Basilan).
4. Paseo del Mar. This is similar to the Baywalk of Metro Manila. It is best to go here at night.
5. Barter Market. This is where you can buy affordable items from Indonesia and Malaysia like chocolates, green tea, garments, etc.
6. Yakan Village. Yakans are people from Basilan. They specialise in weaving colourful clothing items.

Going around the city is easy because of the abundance of trikes. Fare is very minimal. Fastfood establishments are also available if you are not used to eating in the side of streets. But there are good restaurants in the city like the Mang Paeng's Inasal and Country Chicken near the Pasonanca Park. Check my entry on these awesome restaurants.

For your spiritual needs, there is a big cathedral near Ateneo de Zamboanga University.

You can stay at Lantaka Resort By The Sea, Grand Astoria, Jardin de La Vina Hotel.

Sabroso: A Backpacker’s Guide To Eating In Zamboanga City

I arrived in Zamboanga City with the sun’s radiance greeting me in its most elegant form. The city is not known for food but wandering around and asking your friends who had been to the city would really help a lot.

Country Chicken

This is actually a group of different restaurants in one compound. The central building is La Oliva that specialises in Italian cuisine. The cook is Mr Ric Manzano, a cousin of the actor Edu Manzano.We were treated to an appetiser named Salsa Diablo and another one with shrimp. Salsa Diablo is made up of shredded turkey meat with olive oil. It was served with toasted baguette. It was so yummy that I never thought of halting myself from eating. I was already full when the main dish was served. But it did not stop me either from getting the best out of my taste buds. The crispy pata was so good and made crispy the way it should be. 

There was also the grilled vanggacious (a Vietnamese catfish) that delighted me not only because of its unique name but also its one-of-a-kind taste. I also made a remark that the pinakbet of Zamboanga is the same as that of the Ilocanos – without squash. The wife of the cook told me that they only ran out of stock of squash. 

The closing set – dessert – was composed of apple pie, extra dark chocolate ice cream and the rare peanut butter ice cream. Take note, home-made ice cream. Location? The restaurant is in Pasonanca, near the Pasonanca Park. You can treat yourself here after trekking and finishing the fourteen stations of The Way of the Cross at the Mt Pulong Bato. You can take any tricycle to take you there.

Mang Paeng’s Inasal

This is under the ownership of one of the sisters of renowned Filipino scientist Rafael D Guerrero III. It was only opened in April 2011 but the quality of the food is reflected on the number of customers flocking the restaurant. Since the city has a lot of restaurants of chicken, the owners needed to find something unique to outstage the other competitors. I must say that they made a jewel out of the chicken panggang and its counterpart, chicken inasal. 

Chicken panggang (Image credit: Promding Chamimay; Related article: here) is a Malaysian-styled dish, with the extraordinary combination of sweetness and exciting spiciness. The meat is superb and the sauce makes everything magical. Every bite to the meat is so overwhelming that you would stop everything that hinders you from eating. Be sure not to leave Zamboanga without trying their version of chicken inasal. The clam soup is also very delicious. The restaurant is located at Brgy Sta Maria. 

Others

Owing to the location of the city, people can always get everything in affordable prices – including the wildly popular curacha! 

This is a crab, a different kind. It thrives in sand so its body structure is very different from the usual crab that we know of. I also saw chicken in a black sauce. Their bananas are super sweet. A friend suggested Alavar and Jimmy’s satti. Another friend also mentioned ube loaf in front of the Fort Pilar Shrine. I will check on them the next time I cast my footprints over the land of Zamboanga City. And as the locals say, “Sabroso!” for foods with good taste.

Camiguin's Lanzones Festival

Lanzones, scientifically known as Lansium domesticum, is one of the popular fruits in the Philippines. Owing to its great taste and mouth-watering smoothness, the fruit has become a resident in every Filipino's list of favourite fruits. For someone like me living and kicking the hell out of everyday traffic jams and irritating pollution in the metropolis, the fruit provides comfort and the much-needed relief in every bite.

For Luzonians, lanzones is known to come from the province of Laguna, specifically from the towns at the foot of the verdant and majestic Mount Makiling. When the calendar shifts to September, everyone goes gaga over the lanzones and rambutan of Los Baños and Paete in Laguna. 

Few people know that a sweeter and more succulent variety thrives in the Island of Fire - Camiguin. Thus, the name Lanzones Festival when every corner of the street and imaginable location is amplified with trappings made up of lanzones fruits and leaves. The festival is celebrated on the month of October, along with the equally gorgeous Hermosa Festival of Zamboanga and the world-renowned Masskara Festival of Bacolod City.

Lanzones Festival is not only a grand celebration of street dancing, pageant contest and food festivity. It marks the colourful tradition that embodies being a Camigueño and the bountiful harvest of lanzones, which is one of the economic turners of the province.

For more information, check on the website of Camiguin.

Experience MassKara Festival, Hermosa Festival and Lanzones Festival this October. Airphil Express flies daily to BACOLOD, ZAMBOANGA and CAGAYAN DE ORO from Cebu and Manila. Visit www.airphilexpress.com to book!

Traversing Mt Batulao

Mt Batulao is one of the mountains that you could be proud of. It is not as high as Mt Pulag in the Cordilleras or as biologically-diversified as its neighbouring Mt Makiling, but it gives you the much-sought enjoyment and thrill. The spectacular display of ridges and peaks is a precious sight in two different colours: brown during the summer months and green for most of the year. 

I was hesitant at first to join my friends because they planned for a night trek! My vision is impaired and I usually have difficulties doing things at night. But they assured me that the trails are slightly easy. And so at 1400H, I was inside a fastfood chain in Pasay eating burger and waiting for my friends, unknowingly at the wrong place! So after one hour, I was still on the same seat, just texting. Louie led me to the correct assembly area. Ralph and Conrad were already there. Then, Kuya Bong, Sarah, Julie and Genia arrived. We left the bus terminal for Nasugbu a bit past 1600H. It was extremely cold inside the bus (17 degrees Centigrade, as per the flashing light over the driver’s seat). 

It was already dark when we reached the jump-off point at Evercrest Golf Resort (fare is 106pesos). Sinaing na tulingan was chosen by my mind to satisfy the ramblings in my stomach. At 2030H, we started our trek. It is required, by the way, to register at the guardhouse (absolutely free!). The trail was severely decorated with mud, made more disgusting by animal fecal matters. Aside from the unpleasant nature of the wet soil, it was slippery. We lost our way amidst tall grasses and scary cows and horses. Louie tortured me by posing a trail-run challenge. It was fun but I almost drove myself to one of the shallow ravines. 

We reached the camp a little over 2200H. After pitching the tents, I felt the heat surging inside of me. I decided not to join the socials and take a rest instead.

I climbed the summit to see the sunrise with Julie, Genia and Rap. We stayed there and took pictures of the surroundings for almost two hours while Rap slept. At the summit, there are merchants who sell Mountain Dew softdrink. It was funny because they hide the bottles under the plants at night.

We went back to the campsite for our breakfast. At around 0900H, we commenced the hike up to the summit again and then went back to the jump-off point via the New Trail. Some took the Old Trail and met us in one of the halu-halo huts. 

I chose papaitan as my reward for the successful Mt Batulao traverse. After taking a bath, we took a bus back to Pasay (fare is 110pesos; for Cubao, 132pesos).