Where to get your Royal Bibingka

 

 

Above is Royal Bibingka from Marsha’s Delicacies in Vigan, and i have to say… it’s truly the best bibingka I have ever had!  Papa bought some just so we can try it at the town plaza area fronting McDonald’s and after I got to sink my teeth into it, i knew we had to get more!  Luckily on our last day we saw a Marsha’s stall at the Partas Terminal.  So yeah, do yourself a favor and get a whole bunch of these next time you find yourself somewhere in Ilocos… you won’t regret it!

 

Thanks to the Life & Me blog for the photo

 

 

Read more about Marsha’s Delicacies’ Royal Bibingka here.

 

 

Here’s Marsha’s contact information taken from the National Trade Fair 2008 web site:

MARSHA’S DELICACIES
Contact Person : MARSHA CHUA OWNER
Address : NAT’L HIGHWAY, CABALANGGAN Bantay Ilocos Sur
Tel No.: :077 7228119
Fax No.: 077 7228119
Email:marshanavarrochua@yahoo.com

O Vigan

Pasensya na at nasa mood akong mag tagalog. Hehehe. Let’s see how long I will last though…

‘Di ko akalain na makakapunta pala ako ng Vigan. Medyo mahaba-haba rin ang biyahe. Sampung oras kaming nakaupo sa bus, at ako’y laging ‘di mapakali, laging naghahanap ng masarap na posisyon sa upuan at tila di makapagpahinga dahil sa loob mismo nito ay magulo na dahil maya’t maya ay may nag-aalok ng balut, chicharon, mais, mani, and kung anu-ano pa. Napakaraming naibili ni Mama, sa bus pa lang. Hehehe. Isang kagat lang at hindi naman nauubos. Kakagat siya at sasabihin niyang “Uy! Ok! Masarap!” tsaka ay ibabalot muli sa plastic tapos itatago sa bag. Nakakatuwa! Medyo excited lang siya, kasi hilig talaga niyang mag-sample ng mga pagkain mula sa iba’t ibang lugar. Ay oo, mabuti din pala at may air con, dahil napakainit nung panahong yun.

Aaminin ko, ako’y minsan lang kung sumakay ng public transpo. Lumaki akong sanay na may humahatid and sumusundo sa kin kahit saan man ako mapunta, kaya’t ako’y di gaanong nakaranas na sumakay ng bus. Pero nung lumipat na ako dito sa Maynila, medyo madalas na rin ako mag bus. Well, actually kapag pumupunta lang ako ng Cavite. Kasi madalas pag nag out of town eh kasama ko ang mga kaibigan ko at sumasakay ako sa kotse nila.

Gustung gusto kong mag road trip. Ang saya. Ayan, paubos na ang tagalog ko, at paunti-unting nagtataglish. Gusto ko sanang magkaron ng post na purong tagalog ang salita, pero… mahirap! Hay naku! Anyways, there’s something about a trip down an open road that thrills me. I love looking out, to watch the scenery, i also like it when we pass through small towns, i love looking at houses and people too. So i didn’t mind the 10 hours at all. I also made sure I had enough stuff in my ipod to keep me entertained.

Dumating kami sa Vigan, gabi na. Sinundo kami ng pinsan ni Papa at dinala kami sa isang beach resort one town away from Vigan itself. Pagod ako at medyo suplada, wala sa mood! Pero nung nakita ko na ang mga traditional houses, medyo naging mas ok yung mood ko. Iniisip ko lang nung mga panahong yun.. “dapat bumili ako ng film (for my Canon EOS Rebel G), bukas pagka-gising ko!” Then, natulog na ako… may air con yung cottage namin, haaay salamat… 38 degrees din dun!

Looking out to the South China Sea waves. I love the capiz shell windows.

The next day, hinatid kami sa town plaza. Doon, ang daming calesa. Mama and I were already daring each other to go on just a calesa the whole time we make pasyal there. It took me a short time to get used to getting on and off the calesa. It reminded me of the time I took horseback riding lessons during weekends many years ago. Not that we had to mount the horse to get on the calesa, its just that the manner that you would go on the calesa itself is similar to climbing on to the saddle. The seat was surprisingly comfy, and the ride was very smooth! It was a lot slower than a tricycle (i only saw tricycles and calesas as a way to get around there) but it was definitely the better choice. So Mama and i had no problem going around town in that calesa the entire day.

Our horses name is Pamela, and she has an orange flower on top of her head, our kutsero was Mang Richard, and his son JR was his assistant.

Fuji Film stop at Calle Quezon, i made a total of 5 stops there…

Mang Richard is such a nice, pleasant fellow. His son JR is just adorable. The people of Vigan are very friendly and accomodating. I had to have my phone checked, so we stopped by a cellphone shop, and the lady there said “Mam, nakita ko po kayong bumaba ng kalesa kanina sa kabilang kanto”. We were there for a wedding, and the guy who looked at my phone knew about the wedding too. Vigan really is a small town. The streets and the houses are so close together too. I wanted to walk, but it was too hot. Hehe.

We were brought to the Our Lady of Charity Church first to see the Bantay bell tower that was built in 1592, recently restored by the late Fernando Poe, Jr… I was told that he loved shooting there for his Panday movies. When we got there, the gatekeeper handed me the key to the bell tower. I felt special! I got to open the gate that day. Awesome.

Si Mama

After we climbed the small hill to the top of the tower, Papa and decided to get Halo Halo at one house there. I like the structure of the houses, and the huge doors. Masarap ‘din yung halo halo nila! I guess we were served the local version of the halo halo. It had melon slices, kamote, and buko of course. It was slightly different, but it was definitely refreshing!

After refreshments, we were brought to a souvenir shop, and on the way back to the resort we saw Chavit Singson’s Baluarte, we didn’t go in as we were needed at the resort. But just outside the entrance you can already see huge tigers, and some camels!

The next day, we met Mang Richard at the town plaza, and my only request in this whole trip was that we go see Calle Crisologo. I’ve heard so much about it. Plus i wanted to do some shopping for pasalubong.

Ma, making a face. That face means “tara na!”

Me, catching my reflection.

More of Calle Crisologo

After shopping, we all decided to head back to the resort to rest… We were greeted by this:

What a treat…

Picture Post: Vigan

 

Bantay Bell Tower in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur
built in 1592 and recently restored. 

 

As seen at The Pond

Vigan Bound

 

Calle Crisologo, Vigan – Taken from Vigan’s Official Site

In a few days, I will be leaving for the UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization) Heritage City of Vigan, Ilocos Sur with family.  I’ve been told that it is an 8 hour ride getting there, which is fine…I really don’t mind the long ride because I absolutely love road trips! Looking out the window and seeing the lush greens and whatnot would be an absolute treat.  I’ve heard and learned a little bit about Vigan through Living Asia Channel.  I know that it is a colonial city, and influences from other Asian and Spanish cultures are still apparent within its borders.  

I am excited about seeing the ancestral homes, and other historic and architectural marvels.  I also cannot wait to send my tummy on an Ilocano gastronomic adventure too! And oh yes… I can do some shooting practice with my SLR, i hope 3 rolls of film will be enough! Hehe.

There is so much to see and so much to experience in our country.  I have done some travelling within Luzon and Mindanao, and would love to go somewhere interesting and fresh in Visayas.  Soon I can say that I have been to some of LuzViMinda and finally cross that one out on my list!

I hear talks of going to Baguio too, that has yet to be confirmed.  I’ve been there several times, but anything that will get me out of this 37 degree weather is awesome!

 

Learn more:

 

• Vigan Official Site