The Beautiful Magalawa Island in Zambales, Philippines

those days in Magalawa when we're just two :)

I have been to this island many years ago. I was a teenager and we have friends that live in a neighboring barangay.  I remember this small island as clean, reserve, and have many sea urchin. I remember we went there in a banca, with a pot of rice, fresh fish that our friends grilled under the shades of the trees. White sandy beach, fronting the mansion of the famous Cardinal in the Philippines on the mainland.

approaching Magalawa Island

photo courtesy by Magalawa Island.

Magalawa Island

I know it is the Magalawa Island, not a commercial resort. Back then, a private small island but we are allowed to come to swim, to play, and to have a picnic. That was like ages ago. Because the name of this island has now been Magalawa Island Armada Resort. Owned and manage by Family Armada in Palauig Zambales.

Every time we are in the Philippines, we visit this island. Me and my husband stayed in Magalawa for three days and three nights once. After that, we just go there to visit, not for an overnight stay.

a very relaxing place

sea grass, sea shells

rafting and snorkling

Zambales is now well known for its surf spots like Pundaquit, Crsytal, and Liwa. The secluded cove of Anwangin is also an attraction. But I always love Magalawa. My only brother got married to a girl from Barangay Luan, that is one of the main reasons why Magalawa Island had a soft spot in my heart. Our family has many fond memories of this place.

my nephews and my niece

my star and my star fish

white sandy beach

My parents were with us last year.

Magalawa Island is a white sand beach, pristine and not many people. There are plenty of star fish around the island, sea urchin, corals and sea grass. Now that Magalawa is a commercial resort, there are tents and cottages available for all guests who likes to stay overnight or longer. They also serve meals, breakfast to dinner. There are shower rooms. When me and my husband stayed there, we enjoyed the ride in a raft, snorkeling, and a totally relaxing day away from the busy city life.

too early for the sand bar :)

the sand bar

me with my family

the boat for the guests

To get there: if you are from Manila, you can take the Victory Liner Bus, Manila to Sta. Cruz, Zambales. You tell the bus driver ahead to stop at Pangolingan. From Pangolingan, there are tricycles that can take you to Armada Compound and there are boats there that will take you to Magalawa Island. If you go in a private vehicle, it is the same. You will park your car at Armada Compound and they will take you to the island. There is a parking fee.

There are many changes now in Magalawa Island. Aside from tents and cottages, they also have sand bar.  Again, I like to share some of our fond memories through photos. Maybe one time, you can also visit this small but beautiful island.

My Top Five Filipino Foods (I Miss Them In Hollandia)

Filipinos love to eat and the Philippine archipelago is considered a melting pot of South East Asia. -Driftwood Journey

After a number of travel blog, I want to write again something about foods. Food and eating. On this blog, I will tell you my top five among Filipino foods. Foods that I wish I have it too here in the Netherlands for a day to day basis.

Siomai. Siomai also called pork dumplings. But a beef version of it in Chowking is I prefer more than pork. Siomai is traditionally cooked through steaming. But now, siomai are being served fried complimented with calamansi/lemon and soy sauce. I love siomai in a dim sum or in noodles. I never have siomai here in The Netherlands and I do not know if there is some Asian restaurants here that served siomai.

Siomai

Taho. Taho is a Filipino snack food, but for me, it served as my very light breakfast during those times that I was an office girl. In the morning, there is a "manong magtataho" in front of our office building and I have a cup of taho entering the office. When I visited my father in The Philippines last year and stayed with him in the hospital for about two weeks, I brought back my old habit: a cup of taho in the morning. Taho is made of fresh, soft, silken tofu with sweetener and flavoring. Taho vendor usually adds sago pearl (similar to tapioca pearl) but I prefer my taho just plain. The usual cup is worth 5 pesos. For satisfaction, I have worth 10 pesos.

The ordinary taho that I love.

Taho at Soya Box

Polboron or polvoron. Polvoron is a deliciously sweet short bread. I have read that polvoron or polvorones are popular holiday delicacies in Spain and Spain is its place of origin. In The Philippines, we enjoyed it the whole year round. The main ingredients of polboron are flour, sugar, milk, and nuts. There are two big bake shops in The Philippines where we can buy special polboron. The last time, I brought back in The Netherlands a box of polboron from our holiday in The Philippines. Next time, I will take home three boxes to sustain me long. If you are a coffee lover like me, try polboron, it is also a perfect match for your coffee.

wrapping polboron (photo credit: instructables.com)

next time I will make it three boxes :)

Laing. Laing or ginataang natong in Bicol dialect, is a spicy coconut based dish. This dish is budget friendly, but I can bargain a steak for laing. My mother is well known among our circle of friends because she cooks a very delicious laing. My mother's ingredients for laing are coconut milk, natong (dried taro leaves), grilled or fried fish, sili or chili. I remember one time, I bought Laing in the can at the Pinoy store in Rotterdam, to try if it can satisfy my craving. But sad, it tastes nothing. It is like they just boiled the taro leaves and then they put it in a can.

I'm telling you, I can bargain steak for laing :)

Bangus. Actually, bangus is milkfish in English and it is the national fish in the Philippines. But bangus is a versatile fish. You can feed me the entire weeks with only bangus and rice and I will surely enjoy it. Hahaha! To name bangus dishes, I can say I love fried bangus, daing na bangus (marinated), paksiw na bangus (cooked in vinegar), sinigang na bangus (cooked with many vegetables and tamarind or guava for sour taste), or just plain grilled bangus. Someone told me that I can buy bangus in a market in Rotterdam for the price that I do not know. And there is someone who told me that I can buy a daing na bangus to any Filipino store here in The Netherlands in 8-10 euro per piece. I have not tried that yet. It is a bit expensive for me.

sinigang na bangus

inihaw na bangus

my Dutch family experienced the Filipino way of eating

at Gerry's Grill with my family

You might be a Filipino reading this blog and knows well the taste, the smell of these foods that I love. Or you might be someone who has been in the Philippines or planning to visit the Philippines, you have an idea now of some of our foods. Don't be surprised to see that we, Filipinos eat three meals a day, that food is the basis of our social life. If in the western countries, it is a common thing to ask you, what do you like for a drink?, in the Philippines, because of the hospitality, we often ask our visitor or even a stranger who passed by while we are eating to come and eat with us. Many people don't understand about this in our culture, but for us it is like a simplest way of sharing our life's blessing.

Four Places, Few Reasons Why I Always Love Manila

Jose Rizal Monument, Luneta 

Our next holiday in the Philippines is now set and well-planned. I am excited to see my country again, especially my family. I was born in Quezon City, the former capital of the Philippines, but as a whole, by heart, I am a proud Manila girl. Wherever life could take me, I always love the sight, the life and the smell of this notorious city.

Manila is the capital of the Philippines and founded by Spanish conquistador, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi on June 24, 1571. The Spanish rule of Manila and the entire archipelago lasted for over three hundred years. The Spaniards left a strong influence in the Philippines. Foods, traditions, and religion. My maiden surname is San Jose, a real Spanish root.

dining at Gumbos, Manila.

Since the time that I moved in the Netherlands because I got married to a Dutchman, every year, we have a holiday in the Philippines. We usually stay in Manila for a few days upon arrival and before flying back to the Netherlands.
In this blog, are four of my favorite places and reasons why I always love Manila. I will share with you four of the places in Manila that you might wish to visit one day, for fun and to experience.

me and my husband at Luneta

Rizal Park or Luneta. Luneta is one of the urban largest parks in Asia. It was built to commemorate the executed Filipino nationalist, Jose Rizal who is also the national hero of our country. It is a very big park with flower gardens and giant fountain. During Christman season, this park is very crowded and the giant fountain is a sight to behold because of its colorful dancing lights at night. For fun, they say that Luneta is also "a meeting place for Inday" and her boyfriend on her day off. Inday refer for Pinays who work as a household helper for a rich family in the Philippines.

riding in kalesa to Intramuros, with our friend from Alaska

Intramuros. Intramuros is a Spanish old town at the heart of Manila. Because of hundred years Spanish colonies in the Philippines, you will still see in Intramuros schools and churches built and designed with solid Spanish influence. When you are in Intramuros, it seems hard to believe that you are in an Asian land.

when in Manila, jeepney ride is a must

Manila Chinatown

                                     

dry fish vendor (I love dry fish)

                                   

picture, picture! They are strangers that befriended us in Chinatown

vegetable vendors

a familiar place. I remember my happy Citibank days, Binondo

Chinatown. From the hotel where we are staying, me and my husband took a jeepney going to Chinatown. Tourists call it Chinatown, for me this place is Binondo. In very narrow cluttered streets, people are going and doing business. I see some people napping, eating, and even taking a bath. I have heard that in Chinatown there are many pickpockets, but I know there are also many pickpockets in Paris. For Filipinos, Chinatown is one of the center of cheap merchandise.

fishing at Baywalk

dinner in Manila

my parents and my Dutch family, Manila

my Dutch family, refueling :)

Manila Bay or Baywalk. Manila Bay is on Roxas Boulevard. This place is only a walking distance from Lotus Garden Hotel where we always stay. Manila Bay is for me a romantic place. I have fond memories here with my husband, walking holding hands, smiling and greeting to some strangers, a decent place to see a very beautiful sunset. There are ice cream carts with tunes, sometimes "kalembang", the sound is so unique and special to my ears, it brings a lot of happy childhood memories.

back in Manila, now as a family

overlooking, Roxas Boulevard

the very beautiful sunset in Manila Bay

One woman posted on the Internet about Manila and I want to quote it: "Manila is not a world class city, but what makes Manila bearable is the people." It is heartwarming to read and to hear such nice comment about my place of origin. Manila is now one of the most densely populated city in the world. Yes, for many people, Manila is dirty, smelly, crowded, populated. Only my heart tells: I keep coming back to you, Manila. I hope my photos will tell you why I always love Manila.