Lubong (Part 2)

"It'll be a while till we come back here."
"This is so good I need to stock up."
"I may never pass this way again, kaya let's bring home some of this!"
"The people at home just have to try this!"
Whether it's chorizo, lechon, danggit from Cebu or marang, durian and suha from Davao; mango and bangus from Pangasinan; bagnet and longganisa from Vigan, sweet surprises from Pampanga etc. bringing home pasalubong is something we Pinoys so love to indulge in. Pasalubong gives us a chance to relive the memories of the place we visited and a chance to indulge in the delicious delights we experienced there.

Here's more wonderful pasalubongs from all over... Enjoy!!

Pampanga's Best - They say that the Kapampangans have a sweet tooth and need to have   "mayumo"  to make their day. And my answer to that is, "hindi naman masyado". hehe.

My favorite tibok-tibok from Susie's

A slice of heaven

Susie's is home not just to tibok-tibok but also mochi, pasta, puto pao, kakanins, dinuguan at marami pang iba

cool, refreshing buko sherbet --- perfect for a sunny (or rainy) day

look, ma, no spoon! for those who can't wait till they get home

near the Bacolor church is a little sweet shop that churns out tasty delights including their best-seller, 
the sinful sans rival 

buttery-nutty goodness...

want to satisfy that sweet tooth? Rosing's near Nepo Mart has sweets in every size and variety

 

Nathaniel's buko pandan sherbet in green containers have made their way to QC but a trip to San Fernando and other Pampanga malls still won't be complete without a peek at their other tasty goodies

if you want a respite from all that sweetness, camachile from the tree is available along the Pampanga highway

 

Liliw, Laguna - It's not just shoes and slippers that you'll find in Liliw. Naah ah, not if the street vendors can help it. It's always a pleasure to guess what they have in store   as you walk up and down the slipper and shoe-filled avenues....

Bonete! Buttery goodness, piping hot and straight from the  oven from the only bakeshop that serves them in Liliw.

Fern or Paco -- perfect for salads

Kesong puti -- perhaps imported from Sta Cruz is the perfect palaman for   hot pandesal

Talangka - i do love talangka but these ones seemed to small and payat for me

honeycomb - i keep wondering but keep forgetting to ask what i can do with it

honey -- the finished product

duhat!!

woven wonders to match your newly-bought tsinelas or shoes

Pagsanjan, Laguna - Sweetened calamansi? Matamis na kundol? This little store that's just a stone's throw away from the bridge after the Pagsanjan church (on the way to Luisiana/Cavinti) has made a career out of preserving fruits and veggies. Grab a bottle, or two or three, and start churning out that crushed ice to make your own halo-halo.

a peek at the different bottles of sweet is already an education

atsara side-by-side with the sweeties

the sweets lady

macapuno!

jackfruit

There's so much more to share -- I'm currently loco over suman na pinipig and garbanzos from Marilao, Bulacan. How about you, found anything new in your latest adventures? Pa-share!

The Blood of Emilio Jacinto

Year after year, we pass by Magdalena in Laguna to say hello to our inaanaks and take in the beauty of the St. Mary Magdalene Church and the town plaza. Always in a hurry, we never had the chance to look for the spot where Emilio Jacinto's blood was shed when he took refuge there after being wounded from a battle with the Spaniards.  

This year, we made sure we paid homage to Brain of the Katipunan's heroism by finally locating the marker where his blood stains are now encased in glass. 

 A bolo, a knife and a sombrero symbolize the life of the young man who left his law studies to join the Katipunan and fight for his country. His image and a plaque also remind visitors of the writer-revolutionary. Too bad the list of donors and officials outnumber the things stated there about  the accomplishments of a great man.

quaint arabella [pizza, pasta and more in liliw, laguna]

loved these fruity spoons that used to decorate the wall near the door

Christmas decor blends in with Arabella's interiors

Arabella's may be small but you'll feel right at home

Poring over the choices in the menu 

Just one of the many pastas available in this quaint little Italian restaurant

baby-back ribs and salad

thin and crispy pizzas

yummy pastas

dessert fave

taob, check my plate :)

rain or shine at Arabella's 

Whenever we're lost in Liliw, there's no way we won't pass by Arabella's -- a quaint little Italian restaurant -- to feast on thin-sliced pizzas and an assortment of you can't go wrong pastas.

Located in a street corner parallel to where the "shoe avenue" is, it's tucked below a vintage styled house. 

We've  seen the changes in the decor, from kitschy cute to the gallery-like look it now sports and we've had to wait in line to get in a few times but the food and ambiance is always worth the wait.

So the next time you feel a bit tired of trying on shoes and slippers in Liliw, treat your tummy to a feast and give your poor feet a rest, too.

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*Don't forget to try the kesong puti pizza,  the ribs, the old-fashioned bread pudding and any pasta (I've not gone wrong yet whether it was pesto, oil or tomato based, with chicken, with shrimps, etc.).

Magdalena, Laguna

The church that starred in many a movies

The beautiful church tower and grotto

A view from the side

Our very first visit to Magdalena coincided with a group of children rehearsing for a church activity

Baketbolan sa gilid ng church

papunta kay Father

Uy, may kasama si Lolo Jose.
 For once, our National Hero shares the limelight with Inang Bayan

The courtyard in between the church, the school and the municipal hall is one big playing area for the kids

Our local Hollywood's  Walk of Fame

the Municipal Hall

   FPJ  (Fernando Poe, Jr)  fans would probably recognize Magdalena Church (St. Mary Magdalene Church) as it has appeared numerous times in  his movies.  Other stars have apparently found it just as visually appealing  --   Sharon Cuneta, Robin Padilla, Rudy Fernandez, among others,  have shot their starrers  here. Town officials have actually put up a walk of fame opposite of the Municipal Hall to honor those who have made Magdalena, the local Hollywood.

If you're a history buff, Magdalena Church will also appeal to you as Emilio Jacinto reportedly took refuge here when he was wounded during the revolution. His blood stains, duly noted with a marker, serve as a testament to the Brains of the Katipunan's presence in the centuries-old church. (Ambeth Ocampo relates it better in his Inquirer column: Looking Back).

We've another reason for returning again and again to this small town as my former office-mate and his family reside here. My inaanak and his siblings have a fun time running and playing inside the spacious Church courtyard along with the other kids. The grass is a perfect ground for picnics, too.

If you're on your way to  or from Liliw or Majayjay, spend a few minutes or hours savoring the feel of the local community, the blend of church and state in one plaza or just plain people watching. 

 If you're on the highway on your way to Pagsanjan,  turn right at where Jollibee and a palengke are, and go straight till you hit Magadalena.

Fyi, if you get a bit hungry, there's a bakery to the left of the church (if you're facing it) and a sa-malamig where you can choose from buko, buko pandan, orange juice and gulaman.