FEBRUARY: TANAY

Welcome to our thrilling Valentine Day adventure to Tanay.
Our adventure begins at 6AM from our village; San Luis, Antipolo City; Riding my motorcycle "Yamaha Mio" along Marcos Highway - Tanay-Sampaloc Road - Manila East Road passing through the town of Pililla, Rizal connecting to Sumulong Road - Magsayasay Avenue - Quezon Avenue passing through town of Teresa connecting to E. Rodriguez Avenue then back to Antipolo.

This town is considered first class in the Province of Rizal. Portions of the Seirra Madre mountain range is within this beautiful town. It has countless of natural tourist spots that are convenient and affordable treat to those who are seeking adventure or simply relaxation. From gushing waterfalls to running rivers, from lush greenery on rolling hills, plus a wonderful rock formations that created chambers and passages, same way as they have written a rich history of the place. Tanay is indeed a natural beauty; a parading paradise in this country.

OUR FIRST STOP

Foggy morning along Marcos Highway, overlooking a village around Solid Cement Plant in Antipolo City.


SECOND STOP; Garden Cottages Natural Park and Residential Estate

THIRD STOP; Portions of Sierra Madre Mountain range

FOURTH STOP; Breakfast at Pranjetto Hills Resort and Conference Center

If you want to refresh yourself in the liberating calmness and breeze of mother nature, take a break at Pranjetto Hills Resort and Conference Center.

We took some pictures while waiting for our breakfast to be served...We had the "tapa plate" with really strong brewed coffee. Tapa is a dried or cured thin slices of beef. The food is ok, nothing special to it but a typical Filipino dish served in most walk-in breakfast places in our country.

 This is the breakfast menu of Pranjetto Hills. 

These are the activities done during the day but unfortunately they only start an activity at 8AM in the morning, we were there around 7:05AM and left after our breakfast around 7:50AM.


FIFTH STOP; Tanay Adventure Camp
If you need to escape the hassles of the metropolis and want to experience the adventure of a lifetime, you will find an absolute getaway within Tanay Adventure Camp. 

Tanay Adventure Camp is just a few hundred meters away from Pranjetto Hills. We can have activities like wall climbing or rappelling tower, trail biking, the zip line and a lot more...

Zip Line activity

After an unforgettable exciting experience in Tanay Adventure Camp, we still have energy left to visit DARANAK FALLS. But on our way to Daranak Falls, I can't help but to take a photo of this passenger Jeepney, full of people inside and outside...."take a shot" my husband shouted at me.... a sight you can see "ONLY IN THE PHILIPPINES"

 Daranak Falls nestles quietly at the foot of Tanay mountains, preserved with natural vegetation, complimented with beautiful waterfalls, ponds and rivers cascading through elaborate tropical plants and trees. This place is a popular summer getaway for locals, neighboring towns and tourists alike. It is considered one of the most beautiful natural formations in the Philippines, protected by government laws and maintained by Tanay local government.

The lush greenery surrounding the place is relaxing enough that made us want to stay there a bit longer.As we were walking on the bridge leading to the falls right after the entrance, my husband said " we should have brought our swimwear with us", it was a warm day but it would be nice to cool down a bit after our 5 hour ride from home. Far from the falls, you could already hear children’s laughter, sounds of people having a great time and a general vibe that this was a place filled with good times and fun memories for countless of generations past and quite possibly for later generations to come.

Pulling away from the parking lot, I found myself gazing at this unique transportation, not even noticing the parking attendant asking me for ten pesos for the parking fee, apparently he found it also amusing that I was so awestruck with it, he was smiling while he was waiting for me to hand over my payment. Another "something" you can see "ONLY IN THE PHILIPPINES"

We paid PHP20 each for the entrance fee and PHP10 for motorcycle parking fee, that's less than USD 1 but you have to pay extra for picnic table with shed if you need one. The resort is open from 8am to 5pm.

OUR NEXT STOP is Tanay town area but first we need to eat our lunch, it's after 1pm; Where can we eat?
Tanay has a rich culinary heritage derived from the various socio-political influences of its past; from a rich, spicy Hispanic taste to a simpler exotic Asian heritage. Evident in the various meal specialties offered in various native-style restaurants; each carries a distinctive character attached to it.
Restaurants such as the Luntiang Tanay , Basnigan sa Kamalig, Kainan sa Tabing Lawa
Tanayan Restaurant and the Halamanan carries a wide array of food specialties-from grilled to home cooked meals; live water fishes to exotic tapas, cooked the Tanayan way. 
Simpler “turo-turo” restaurants which offers ready-to-cook meals are almost everywhere. They are well known for their “binahog”, a local version of “ala-carte”.
Modern fastfood restaurants such as Chowking and Jollibee are also available.
But we decided to take photographs of the town and head to Manila East Road passing through Pililla, Rizal where our favorite floating restaurant is located.

This is the Church of Tanay; The ecclesiastical administration of Tanay belonged to Pililla up to 1606 when the first church was built. The town moved to San Antonio in 1620 but was transferred to this site in1640. The present church was completed in 1783. 

This is Tanay town plaza. No town is complete without its own town plaza or park, a place where people gather to celebrate fiestas, to jog around in the morning or just simply to sit on a bench on a lazy afternoon where there’s nothing much to do but to sit around and watch the day go away gracefully. It is located right in the middle of the town and across the church. The size  of the park is more than enough to facilitate any town celebration or gathering. It’s so much at the center of everything geographically that I’m certain that at one point in the day almost everyone passes by or through it. The charm of this park is in its simplicity; wire arches greet you at every entrance, it’s clean and obviously well maintained. It has its own stage on one end, the statue of Jose Rizal, our national hero nestles at the center of the park; An open space for activities that I later learned where badminton is usually played, kids also practice riding their skateboards and bikes in the same space.

This is Tanay market place; in front is the transportation service in and out of Tanay town. The photo below is Tanay Municipal Building.

LATE LUNCH AT BULAWAN FLOATING RESTAURANT

Bulawan Floating Restaurant sits in 1.2 hectares of fishpond. There is no restaurant building but, rather, huts of varying sizes erected a few inches above the water and interconnected by wooden foot bridges.

We reached Bulawan at around 2PM. We chose a cozy hut, settled in, called a waiter and ordered lunch. We ordered Chili Crab, a seafood dish that originated from Singapore. This dish is composed of crab (Mud Crab is originally used) cooked in sweet and spicy sauce.

I had my first taste of this dish in the original dampa in Paranaque (a city in the Philippines). I found this to be real good and the two servings of rice can attest to that. Imagine the meaty claws of the alimango topped with sweet and spicy sauce …now that makes me really crave for more. Wouldn’t you want to try some or perhaps cook your own chili crab? I have been cooking for decades but this recipe must be prepared by a really good chef.


Main ingredient of the month: RED CHILI PEPPERS

Let's try this Chili Crab recipe.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs crab, cut in half
• 2 tbsp cooking oil
• 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
• 2 tbsp garlic, minced
• 3 tbsp ginger, minced
• 1 tbsp crushed red pepper or 3 pieces sliced red chili peppers
• 1/2 cup tomato sauce
• 1/4 cup Mother's Choice sweet chili sauce
• 2 tbsp fish sauce
• 1/2 tsp olive oil
• 1/4 cup water

 Procedure:

1. Heat the cooking oil in a wok or pan
2. Saute the garlic, ginger, onion and crushed red pepper
3. Add the crab and cook for 3 to 4 minutes
4. Put-in the tomato sauce, sweet chili sauce, fish sauce,and olive oil then mix with the other ingredients.
5. Pour the water and bring to a boil then simmer for 10 minutes or until the sauce is thick
6. Garnish with green onions or coriander
7. Serve hot. Share and Enjoy!

HOME REMEDY

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can be treated by using this home remedy recipe 

Red Chili Pepper and Alcohol
Alcohol (95%) 750ml
Water 600ml
Dried Chili Pepper 100g

Put the alcohol, water and peppers into a container. Or you can buy an alcoholic beverage (40-60%), such as Vodka, Brandy, Gin, or Whisky, and put the peppers into the bottle.
Keep it in a cool place for seven days.
Then you can use a cotton ball to apply the liquid onto the affected region of your body, 3 times a day for two weeks.

My best friend and I, together with our family were here in August 2010. Photo below is my son, he just caught a "Tilapia" fish.

Bulawan was built to be more than a restaurant. It was meant as a fish pond in the literal sense where guests can throw lines and catch a "tilapia" and "hito" that swim freely in the water. They can choose to bring home their catch for PHP80 per kilo or have the fish cooked, served and enjoy as a Bulawan meal.

Rizal is a picturesque province even the carabao grazing on a field has a story to tell. This was our most memorable Valentine celebration so far...

JANUARY: ANTIPOLO CITY

Tayo na sa Antipolo (Let's go to Antipolo).....We can ride a passenger Jeep or passenger Fx from Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City or from EDSA Crossing beside SM Megamall going to Antipolo City. Click me for directions using Google Earth 3d maps.
This has been my home city since 2007. I live in a mountainous barangay or village of  San Luis. My village is the home of La Salle College, Antipolo and the famous Mystical Cave of Antipolo.

Part of my Village (Phase 3)

Beneath this Cross is the Mystical Cave.
This is a view from my terrace.

Click for more photos of the Mystical Cave, that shows the images of some religious figures through natural rock formations.
ANTIPOLO CITY is located in Rizal Province. This city prides itself as the "Pilgrimage Capital of the Philippines". The Image of "Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage" or the "Virgin of Antipolo" was brought in from Mexico around 1626 and enshrined in Antipolo Cathedral.

Antipolo Cathedral on a Sunday Morning

On the left side front of the Cathedral is a new shopping building; Victory Park and Shop; If you came here by car, you can park and shop here after attending the mass service. Starbucks Coffee and Mc Donald  is on the ground floor as well as Pure Gold grocery store. And a lot more shops and restaurants is in here for you to enjoy.

Victory Park and Shop

On the right side of the Cathedral is the City Plaza and City Hall of Antipolo; Across the street on the side of the City Hall is a shopping street (M.L. Quezon street) as well as fast food chain restaurants like KFC, Jollibee and  Chowking are on this street.

Antipolo City Hall

The Sumulong street, east direction, crossing M.L. Quezon street is the Antipolo Market; where you can buy fresh fruits and vegetables, poultry, fish and meat, the local delicacies of Antipolo like suman, bibingka, sapin-sapin, puto and more.....further ahead is Budget Lane Superpalengke where I usually buy my groceries.

BudgetLane

If you came with friends and wants to treat them in "Eat All You Can" restaurant, head to the Antipolo Circle. Click me for photos and direction to get here.

Antipolo is on higher grounds than that of Metro Manila, which shows a scenic view of the metropolis especially at night. Its locally grown mangoes and cashews are popular among tourist, as well as "suman" and "bibingka" - a local delicacies made out of glutinous rice. Suman and bibingka are available, freshly baked, in the market place every day. I always love to cook bibingka, although, a variety of this traditional Filipino dessert is available in the market every day. I still prefer to prepare my own, following my mother's recipe. Once a week, I go to the market and buy a grated coconut and glutinous rice to prepare this kind of snack. I like preparing this "meryenda" at home, my family loves it. Try making it and enjoy the sweet savory taste of a traditional Filipino dessert.

Main Ingredient of the month: COCONUT FRUIT

RECIPE:
GLUTINOUS RICE DESSERT (BIBINGKA)
Ingredients:
2 cups long grain glutinous rice
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1 whole medium size mature coconut, (I buy it freshly grated in the market place)
Pinch of salt
Sprinkle of Master Foods Mixed Spice (cinnamon, all spice, and nutmeg)
1/2 cup dark brown sugar for the toppings.
PREPARATION:
Prepare the Coconut Milk: Put the freshly grated coconut meat in a big bowl, add 1 cup of water and stir it slowly. Using a cheese cloth, squeeze the coconut meat in another bowl, set aside; this is the thick coconut milk. You will need 2 cups of thin coconut milk to cook the glutinous rice. To get the thin milk, add 2 cups of water again, into the coconut meat and follow the same procedure in getting the thick coconut milk.
Rinse and drain the rice well then put it in a cast iron wok/pan or a non-stick wok/pan. Add the 2 cups of thin coconut milk, stir in the dark brown sugar and a pinch of salt. Cover over high heat. When the mixture is boiling, lower the heat stirring constantly then add the thick milk; Sprinkle Mixed Spice and continue stirring constantly until thickened. Put the cooked rice in a large plate then prepare the toppings.
Toppings: In a non stick pan, caramelized the dark brown sugar.
Spread the toppings evenly on the glutinous rice then cut into pieces. Serve warm or cold.

Bibingka

HOME REMEDY
Coconut oil: Use 1 medium size mature coconut.
To prepare your own coconut oil; using a cast-iron or non-stick pan/wok, boil the thick coconut milk over high heat for 2-3 minutes, without cover. Then lower over medium heat, stirring occasionally until a white semi-solid residue forms a tiny circles, when that residue becomes golden brown or roasted, your coconut oil is ready.

Coconut Oil 

The coconut oil can be use as hair/scalp care, skin care and stress relief, as well as for cleaning your ears.
There's a folklore that if you made your coconut oil on Good Friday, it has a better healing effect; like headache, gas pain, rushes.......use a small drop to massage your temple to heal a headache, to your tummy for gas pain and apply to the skin to cure rushes and dry skin. 

Maximize your visit in Antipolo City and visit Hinulugang Taktak Falls of Antipolo.
This is one of our old scenic spots known universally where tourist and excursionists rejoice in its natural beauty, to remind one of the Niagara Falls.
For outdoor lovers, the Hinulugang taktak National park is available for picnics. A fee of Php 8 serve as entrance fee, entitles one to enter the park, a picnic tables or shades under coconut and mango trees. My last visit here was Sept.2011. Click me on how to get there!

Come and enjoy my city, best known as the Pilgrimage City of the Philippines.

To be continued...........
Next month: Joy ride with my Yamaha Mio from Antipolo City to Tanay, Rizal....