Philippines Guide
For Travelers, Expats and Pinoys
Philippine Cuisine Boiled Spiced Beef
Beef is a versatile ingredient in Philippine gastronomic art and adds a lot of life to native dishes. Take the Philippine cuisine Boiled Spiced Beef, or “Nilagang Baka” for instance.
Tender loin is best for this native recipe but thigh portions of “pige” are also good. For a budget recipe, bony beef portions may also do for this native dish. Any beef part option, however, will need a kilo for this native dish. Also prepare a bundle of Baguio beans or “bitswelas” sliced in half, a small ball of cabbage, 4 medium size potatoes (peeled and sliced into 4 each), 3 small packs of whole black pepper, 3 small balls of onions, a teaspoon of salt, and 5 cups of water. With all these set, we’re ready to cook this Philippine cuisine, Boiled Spiced Beef or “Nilagang Baka.”
Tenderize the beef first. Beef often takes about 2 hours of gentle simmering to soften. Some put in a fork while tenderizing the beef of this native dish for a “quick tenderizing agent.” This experiment may also be good, just make sure the fork is not served in this Philippine cuisine on the dining table later. So put in the beef plus the potatoes, onions, salt, and the 5 cups water in a pot and simmer for 2 hours. Add salt if this native recipe still lacks taste.
Some people add a beef broth or two to enhance the taste of beef of this Philippine cuisine. This may also be done. But if one’s after a natural native recipe (no harmful chemicals) then the broth option may be disregarded. Natural beef is healthy and it would be a shame to spoil this native dish with something synthetic.
Now, when the beef is tender, the potatoes and others would surely follow suit, and the Baguio beans, cabbage, and the rest may now be poured into this native dish. Simmer for 3 minutes. Add salt for a tastier Philippine cuisine, if needed. When everything is soft and tasty enough, put out the fire, and serve hot. This native recipe serves 5 persons.
Bony beef for this Philippine cuisine enhances beef flavor due to the action of prolonged simmering on the bones. The marrow also adds more taste to this native recipe.
Philippine cuisine Boiled Spiced Beef is tasty native recipe. Natural beef is enhanced and made subtle by the simmering action on the bone and marrow to enrich this native dish.
Philippine Adobo (Dry)
The saucy Adobo native recipe is popular, but few have savored the rich, crunchy, barbecue taste of dry pork-chicken Adobo. This native cuisine is really a tasty lunch treat. Crunchy outside yet tender inside. The pork almost melts in the mouth.
Adobo has been the favorite native cuisine of locals and tourists for all time. It comes in different types, like vegetable (of “kangkong” or “talong” or “Pako”), chicken flesh, chicken liver, pork, or pork-chicken mix.
Adobo is Tagalog, so we might as well cook this native recipe the Tagalog way. All pork-chicken Adobo are cooked the same way except when cooked dry. That’s where some cooking techniques depart from the usual.
For a half pound of chicken and another of pork, prepare 10 pieces crashed garlic, one cup water, half cup vinegar, half cup soy sauce, 5 Laurel leaves (optional), and one and a half spoon ground pepper. Put everything in a pot. NEVER stir this native recipe. Cook in low fire.
Check taste and add soy or vinegar accordingly. If concoction is too sour, add in a little brown sugar to taste. Let the boiling stir everything in this native recipe. Liquid content may decrease but that’s okay. We’re supposed to dry up this native cuisine.
When the meat is tender enough bring cooking to a simmer. Prepare 3 pieces crashed garlic. Put half cup oil in a frying pan on high fire. When hot enough, throw in the garlic pieces. When garlic pieces get brownish, put in the pork and chicken pieces one by one.
Add new batch of laurel leaves and ground pepper. Decrease heat to low fire. Stir periodically (it’s all right to stir now) until meat is crunchy.
Place cooked meat on banana leaf-covered plates. The liquid concoction used for tenderizing the meat can serve as a tasty soup to go with the steaming-hot rice. This native dish is best served with green mangos, tomatoes, onions, and celery all chopped up to tiny bits and mixed with a thin spread of native preserved fish or “bagoong.” One can use salt, though, instead of bagoong, in this native recipe.
One interesting note: Adobo seems to exude more appetizing flavors when eaten with hands on banana leaves outdoors. Or try this native dish during lunch by the front porch or terrace on a nice weekend, sunny or rainy. Lots swear that a rainy day adds to the specialty of it all.
How to Enjoy Philippine Dive Sites More
The Philippines, being an archipelago, is a rich snorkeling and diving haven. From north to south and in all three major islands (Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao), dive sites mark the coasts. But there are tips to browse on for more enjoyable dive trips.
It is always advisable to go snorkeling or diving with real divers. This can be arranged in seaside hotels that specialize in diving tours or in searching out beautiful dive sites in their coastal vicinity. One can always check online for diving services in a particular locality. Deep sea scuba dives ought to be arranged with dive tour offices or agencies with expert scuba divers and competent scuba equipments. Special scuba diving outfits often offer short courses or trainings on scuba diving, and the hands-on training itself will prove a worthy diving experience already.
If diving with a group with no prior diving tour arrangement (and there’s no such arrangement available in the area), fishing villages most likely have local divers who are experienced in skin diving. Dive sites near the shore but are deep enough often reveal amazing underwater sights and wildlife. Dive sites around Zambales and Bataan often reveal great sea world even along shallow waters—about chest deep. Often, local divers can show visiting divers reef spots that reward the eyes with fabulous underwater sea life for a minimal price.
Scuba diving with pros using proper scuba equipment often poses no immediate dangers, but skin diving on shallow waters often does. This is probably because shallower waters are treated less seriously by people who go skin diving for fun and leisure. With skin divers doing it for a living, daily, precautions are routinely taken in stride. Thus, skin diving should be done with at least 3 good local divers for a precaution measure.
Dive sites are primarily for viewing only. So don’t break a piece of coral from reefs to take home as souvenirs. Almost all coral dive sites in the country are under rehabilitation due to abuse and harmful fishing practices. So just take a camera along to take pictures of underwater scenes instead of taking home on-sight elements as souvenirs. In many dive sites, coral or even sea shell gathering is illegal. Thus, to make a worth-while and no hassle diving trip, just satiate the eyes with wonders of Philippine dive sites.
Philippine dive sites mark the coastal landscape of the country. And to enjoy them more, there are practical tips for a hassle-free, memorable diving trip.
Almon Bigas, Tagalog Philippine Cuisine
A rich and scrumptious Tagalog Philippine cuisine is “Almon Bigas.” This Tagalog dish traces its origin back in Spanish times. Having the looks and aroma of Chinese cooking and food preparation intricacies of Spanish culinary, this Tagalog cuisine is a savory dish of enriched meatballs in thick, white luscious soup.
For a kilo of ground beef or pork (beef is better) prepare the following ingredients for this Tagalog cuisine:
A clove of chopped garlic, three chopped onions, ten pieces chopped onion leaves, 8 eggs, and one fourth kilo fresh shrimp. As spices for this Tagalog Philippine cuisine we also need three small bundles “kinchay” leaves, two small plastic packs of “miswa” or very thin rice noodles, a small cup of soy sauce, six cups water, half table spoon salt, and 4 pieces “kalamansi” or lemon. Now we’re ready for this Tagalog dish.
To mix and prepare this Tagalog cuisine: Bore a small hole on the shell of the eggs to spill out the egg whites. Put in a container. Then spill out all the egg yolk, put in a container. Next, separate shrimp heads from their bodies. Pull off shell with horn from the shrimps’ heads; throw the shell and put the insides of the head in a pestle or pounder. Take off the shell on the shrimps’ bodies; throw the shells and put the shrimp flesh on a container. Ground head particles in the pestle and squeeze out juice using a strainer. Squeeze thrice with some water. Keep juice in a container and throw remaining head fragments. Then chop shrimp flesh finely.
To cook this Tagalog cuisine: Thoroughly mix ground beef with egg yolk, finely chopped shrimp flesh, chopped onions, onion leaves, and garlic. Pour small cup soy sauce and mix again. While allowing beef mix to cure, sauté new batch of 4 chopped garlic and chopped onions on a one-liter capacity pot. When garlic pieces are light brown, put fire on high and pour 6 cups water. When water is boiling, gradually put in spoonfuls of beef mix patties. When all the beef is in, cook for 5 minutes. Then pour in the egg whites, spreading it evenly. Add salt, “miswa” or thin noodles, and kinchay leaves. Cook for three minutes.
Serve this Tagalog dish hot with a separate sauce mix of soy and four pieces “kalamansi” or lemon squeeze in a small container. Serve this Tagalog cuisine in small bowls for each guest with an accompanying small saucer of the soy-lemon sauce mix. This recipe can serve five person.
This mouth-watering Tagalog cuisine can demand several servings from dinner guests, but despair not. One can always invite them back for another round of this Tagalog dish.
Smart Bro: Broadband That Reaches Out to Everyone
“There’s no Internet connection in my area”, or “There will never be one since I live in the remotest piece of real estate in the Philippines”. Those are the typical complaints of Filipinos who are pessimistic about their situation, as regards to having Internet connection at their residence.
Include the all too common “I can’t afford the rates that this company offers to it’s subscribers or would be subscribers.” and the situation worsens as more and more individuals feel a sense of hopelessness creeping in on them. What to do then you may ask.
Smart Bro has all the answers you need to your Internet problems. Smart Bro is Smart Corporation’s wireless Internet provider. This wonderful innovation offers broadband connection for all Filipinos, no matter where they live in. Phone line connections are not required which means Internet connectivity for everyone. It comes in several subscription packages that are sure to entice Internet users accustomed to slow and unreliable dial up connections.
Residential subscribers can avail of Plan 999, with speeds of up to 384 kbps. That is 7 times faster than dial up! Installation is easy. A Smart Bro antennae is set up at your home, which is then designated to the nearest Smart cell site. Once the antenna is connected by cable to your PC, you’re ready to begin using the Smart Bro service.
Another subscription package is the Smart Bro Computer Station. For the very low cost of P1999/ month for 24 months or P2,600/month for 12 months, the subscriber will get the standard Smart Bro Internet connection along with a free PC. Also included in this package is a 1 year warranty period, broadband tech support, free installation of Smart Bro and PC tech support care of the PC supplier.
Applying for subscription is done through an online application form, Smart Wireless Centers, PLDT business offices, Bilis Kabit Operations establishments, or any authorized Smart Sales Agent. This set up ensures Smart Bro customers have a convenient and easy way of applying for the service.
The good news doesn’t end there. Smart is dedicated to giving it’s customers amazing deals that further adds to an already stacked list of features for Smart Bro and it’s subscribers.
Smart Bro QuickFix 2.0 is software that lets users perform diagnostic tests themselves and fix Internet connection problems without having to go through the hotline for assistance. This useful feature is provided free.
Smart Bro Wifly gives unlimited Wi-Fi access in any Airborne Access hotspot in the Philippines. Plan 999 subscribers can avail of this exclusive service for only P199. The list goes on and on. Smart Bro truly is the broadband for everyone.
Enjoying Philippine Cities More
Philippine cities are all bustling with various beehive activities. They all offer good tourism and gear up as best they can to keep a rush of steady inflow of tourists the whole year round. So what more can we ask of Philippine cities? Nothing much. But what’s really needed to truly enjoy them is our careful preparation.
Philippine cities from photos and promotions look perfect enough for any visitor. But just like any other cities in the world, there are some things we need to understand particularly how things work in the streets. If we understand rules and street culture in a Philippine city, we get about 60 to 80 percent assurance of pleasurable trips in them.
First is never be too obvious with how one looks. Tourists, especially foreigners, and first-timers in a city, ought to dress up casually like any other person on routine city travel. Don’t attract attention wearing shorts and shirts with tourism hypes written all over them in Philippine city streets.
Don’t show off expensive dark sun glasses, mobile phones, jewelry, dollar bills, and the like—and careful with that foreign accent, too. Relax with these things in malls, or luxury hotels and restaurants, but not in city streets—or even “just outside” a secure establishment. We don’t want to figure in any city crime scene, much more as a victim. This scenario will demolish all expectations of enjoying Philippine cities.
If foreign accent cannot be disguised, be sure to travel with a local in any Philippine city. Talk as less as possible but always smile. There are many simple Filipino words and phrases easy to learn. It is advisable to learn them a month or so before stepping in a Philippine city. Words like, “Magkano?” (How much?), “Salamat” (Thanks), “Saan?” (Where?), “Para po!” (Please stop the cab or bus or jeepney, I want to get off here), and “Anong oras na?” (What time is it?).
Always use city sidewalks, pedestrian crossings and overpasses for people. Obey all city traffic rules. They’re often the root of city street corruption. Take public rides only at designated locations. Get off on the same. If in a private car, park only in designated parking spaces or lots. Some Philippine city ordinances are fond of car towing.
A sure way of enjoying a Philippine city is knowing city traveling rules and city street culture that applies. Keep out of city street troubles and it will always be smooth sailing trips in Philippine cities.
Welcome to Naga City, Philippines
Welcome to the land of the chili pepper eating people! The heart of the Bicol Region of the Philippines is Naga City. The place is well known for pili nuts, coconut products, hosts of bright talented people, and chili peppers.
The name Naga City comes from the sturdy and tough narra trees that were abundant in the area way back in the pre-Spanish times. Naga City is on the southern portion of the Philippines’ Luzon Island in the province of Camarines Sur.
It’s about 377 kilometers south of Manila, Philippines. Estimated travel time from Manila to Naga City is about eight hours long by bus with travels scheduled daily. Flights from Manila to Naga City are also scheduled daily. Estimated travel time from Manila to Naga City by plane is 45 minutes.
You can also get to Naga City by train. The Philippine National Railways have daily trips to Naga City leaving at five o’clock in the afternoon. Estimated travel time by train to Naga City is eight to nine hours.
Like the rest of the Philippines, you can enjoy the tropical climate in Naga City. The rainy season is from June to October, the cool dry season is from November to February, while the hot summer season is from March to June.
Naga City comes alive when the sun goes down at dusk. The nightlife in Naga City is second to none in the region. The streets are lined with karaoke bars, pubs, bars, bistros, and cafes. After you’ve come from the mountain treks, beaches, and coral reef dives it is a great way to top it all with a really crazy night in Naga City.
Naga City is also known for its natural spring resorts at the foot of Mount Isarog. If you are into backpacking or mountain climbing the Mount Isarog National Park is the place where you should go for a great nature trek. You can set up camp if you would like to stay overnight. You can also visit the Malabsay, Yabon, and the Nabontolan waterfalls.
Naga City has first-class hotels where guests are treated warmly with the trademark hospitality of the Philippines. You’ll find that the room service, cuisine, and facilities in Naga City’s hotels are quite a treat.
From sun up to sun down Naga City has many reasons to be a place to visit in the Philippines. Just be careful when the locals invite you to try at eating the homegrown chili peppers, be prepared with water if need be.
Transportation in Metro Manila
Metro Manila, like any developed metropolis, has many different kinds of transportations. You can go from one place to another with ease. There are such varieties of transportation from the casual ones to the indigenous ones.
If it is your first time in Metro Manila it will not be difficult to get around. You can ride a cab and tell the driver where you want to go (generally they know all the routes) just make sure you check the meter once in a while ‘coz there are some bad guys who’s always on guard for chances of taking advantage. By the way, the plug down rate in a cab is Php30.00 and Php2.50 per additional km (FYI). And, If you want to escape traffic jam, there are trains connecting one city to another with a relatively low fare rate. matrix of fares are available at the stations. If you’re looking for comfort and security these transportation means are available. Or, if you want to feel like a Very-Impiortant-Person (VIP) there is a long list of rent-a-car service.
As soon as you get used to Manila, must try ride is the jeepney; an innovative, one of a kind means of transportation in the Philippines. They have certain routes and you’ll know their route by their sign board on front of the windshield. The minimum fare is Php7.00 per 7 km. and they usually have this fare matrix displayed inside the vehicle for reference.
For the adventurous people out there, we have what is called “calesa” which is a horse drawn cart that will bring you from one point to the other. You can usually find a calesa in Intramuros and Divisoria and along the busy streets of Manila. The usual minimum fare in a calesa is Php10.00 per person. You can bring three of your friends to come along. This transportation is usually ridden for strolling of tourists and for loading heavy shopping bags from the market place for the locals.
We also have the tri-bike or as affectionately known in the Philippines a “trike”. This is a motorbike with passenger side car. Usually it is used for transportation inside subdivisions or places with buildings with near proximity. Two to three people can be accommodated on the trike and the usual fare is Php7.00 to Php10.00 each. You can access nearby places with this transportation means without walking!
Well they say that walking is good for the health, no doubt about that but in case you get tired of it, the above listed means of transportation is a good guide for you. So now you know, enjoy the ride and explore the city. Ciao and good luck!
Passi City, Philippines: A Place You Shouldn’t Miss
Passi City is located in the heart of Iloilo Province. Passi City’s boundaries are San Enrique on the north; on the south is Dumarao, Capiz; Calinog on the east; and on the west is Lemery. Passi City is a mountainous area and is composed of 51 barangays. It has the largest land area in Iloilo Province and is 50 kilometers away from Iloilo City.
Passi City has a variety of dialects. The Passinhon (local natives) speak Karay-a as their predominant dialect. Businessmen and investors use Cebuano and Tagalog dialects as well. Roman Catholicism is the religion of approximately 95 percent of the population in Passi City.
Throughout the Iloilo Province, Passi City is the District Agri-Industrial Center thus making it locally important. Passi City is rich in agricultural resources. Agriculture has been the long time backbone of Passi City’s economy. The main agricultural products include pineapples, coconuts, sugarcane, corn, rice, and vegetables.
Aside from agriculture, Passi City also has other industries that contribute well to their economy. These include fruit processing, metalworking production, wallboard production, and cut-flower propagation. Passi City also locally produce pineapple jam, wine, and preserves. These locally produced products have gotten their exposure due to various trade fairs and exhibits. Because of these fairs and exhibits, these products have already an established market.
Passi City has an annual festival called “Pintados de Passi Festival”. This festival is one of the very popular and well-established festivals of the region. It is an important event in the life of a Passinhon. The Pintados de Passi Festival attracts local and foreign tourists, which helps the tourism industry of Passi City.
Passi City’s Pintados de Passi Festival reminisces lives of the early settlers. These people have their bodies adorned with tattoos. Thus the name “Pintados” or literally the “Painted Men”.
The Pintados de Passi Festival of Passi City is celebrated with theatre-like street dancing. Participants do aggressive and heavy body movements to the rhythm of the music. They act out folk plays, character types, combat dances, and other ritual actions. Passi City’s rich history and culture play an important role in the preservation of Pintados de Passi Festival.
According to history, in 1766, a Spanish settlement was first established in this area. This marks the Spaniards’ onset colonial rule. In Ansig, Spanish explorers anchored there. Ansig is a place located at Lamunan River’s delta. Passi City’s name is derived from the word “Pasi”. This is a Hiligaynon word that means “unhusked grains of rice”.
Passi City is a great place to visit if ever you have a chance to come to the southern part of the Philippines. It is a place you shouldn’t miss when you visit the province of Iloilo, Philippines.
Philippine Cities: History of Naga City
Naga City has roots from the early native settlers who were able to establish a thriving community along two rivers. We’ll take a look at the founding and early history of Naga City, one of the premiere cities of the Philippines.
Naga City derives its name from the tough and robust narra trees that was abundant in the area before the city’s establishment. The early local Filipino settlers established a trading village here. The place was well known for trade and the community’s advanced weaponry and technology at the time.
In 1573 Juan de Salcedo led the Spanish expedition to what we know now as Naga City. Captain Salcedo and the Spanish troops were quite surprised to find this flourishing village with such technology of the day. The culture of the village was quite different and a bit sophisticated and modern.
About two years later, in 1575, a new city was founded in the said location. Captain Pedro de Chaves of Spain and commander of the Spanish garrison in Naga named the city as Ciudad de Caceres. It is presently located on Naga City’s business center.
The name of the city was in honor of the current governor general who was a native of Caceres City in Spain. It held the name for quite some time and was even mentioned at the 1595 papal bull.
Life went on and the city and the town that the locals established became one community. The name Nueva Caceres was used to identify the now merged community and became a city under Spanish law and became one of the first few Spanish cities in the Philippines.
In 1898 Elias Angeles and Felix Plazo led a successful revolt which resulted in the Spanish forces retreating to Iloilo Province. This little victory wasn’t meant to last long however.
A couple of years later, American forces invaded Camarines Sur in 1900 and entered Naga City. The revolutionary soldiers of the Philippines in the area of Naga City were forced to surrender in 1901 due to sickness among their forces.
In 1941 Naga City was invaded by the Japanese Imperial Army. But the Japanese occupation of Naga City didn’t last long. In 1945 the Japanese forces in Naga City was defeated by the American troops and the local guerilla fighters. Naga City was officially declared as a city in 1948.
Naga City today remains as a great place to visit. Naga City has survived a lot of difficult times and will still remain a bright monument of the early beginnings of the Philippines.
