Archive for June, 2009

Hotel Dominique, Tagaytay City

Many factors make a place memorable, sowing the seeds for a visit again in the future. Sometimes it’s just the place. Sometimes it’s what happened in that place. Sometimes it’s both, or some other factors. Let’s consider Hotel Dominique, found along Aguinaldo Highway, a nice hotel just a few meters from the rotunda in Tagaytay City. Read the rest of this entry »

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Vacation Tip: Philippine Climate

The Philippines has 7,000 plus beautiful islands. The exact number depends on whether it’s high tide or low tide, a phrase made immortal by a Philippine beauty queen. No two islands are created equal. One island (or, in another sense, province) may have a different climate from the next one. Read the rest of this entry »

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Lechon Filipino: Best Roasted Pork in the World

No celebration in the province, at least in ours, is complete without a whole lechon in the middle of the main table. Fiesta, weddings, baptism, graduation, vacations, etc. It’s the centerpiece of the feast. City friends who are visiting are often amused at the sight of a perfectly roasted whole pig hogging (pun intended) the gastronomic limelight. Lechon is among the recipes closest to the (cholesterol-saturated) hearts of Filipinos, just like adobo. Ask any Pinoy if he/she knows what lechon is, and he/she will most certainly answer “yes” — probably accompanied by a Mona Lisa-esque smile; hard to define, a smile that borders on wickedness and food-lust. Read the rest of this entry »

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Long Weekend Trip to Tagaytay

Another long weekend. The past long weekend, that is, Independence Day. There’s some sense in this holiday policy of the government. Perfect excuse to go out of town; somewhere relaxing but not too far — like Tagaytay City. Read the rest of this entry »

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Celebrating Father’s Day in the Philippines

Father’s Day, the special day reserved once a year in honor of fathers, is celebrated in the Philippines, just like in many parts of the world. When is Father’s Day? Read the rest of this entry »

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Picnic Grove, Tagaytay City

The Picnic Grove. There’s a number of Filipino movies that feature this. It’s a good place in Tagaytay City to have, what else, a picnic. Picture this: a full view of Taal volcano or Taal lake, picnic huts or gazebos hugging the slope of the hill, cold breeze massaging your cheeks, the aroma of home-made fresh pork barbeque cooked by the guests themselves, kids and dads flying kites, and horseback riding at the fringes. Food and beverage readily available everywhere. Can’t picture it? Here, look at this photo. Read the rest of this entry »

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The Cliffhouse (Tagaytay City)

Sometimes it’s difficult to decide which article to write first, in the same way that it’s painfully mind-boggling to decide which restaurant to prioritize in a certain cluster. Take, for instance, the higher-end alternative to the group of restaurants surrounding Leslie’s restaurant and Starbucks in Tagaytay. The cluster is called The Cliffhouse, just a few meters from Leslie’s. Read the rest of this entry »

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Independence Day: Philippine Holiday

June 12, a Friday. Is this the date of official holiday for 2009? Perhaps you’re asking this question and that’s why you’ve landed here. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Let’s first step back and take a short peek in history. Read the rest of this entry »

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