Pagudpud Saud Beach Cove is among my top best beaches that I’ve visited. It’s not because it’s close to my city. The photos alone speak for themselves.

The landscape pics were shot from the Pagudpud Municipal Beach Park.

Bergblick Deutsches Restaurant can’t escape us. Our friends Alain and Marianne were craving to dine out in the resto I introduced to them. They’re obviously hooked!

Food is awesome as ever!

My starter -- Mediterranean fish soup seasoned with saffron.

My pinakbet lasagna with pumpkin sauce. Very original yummy flavors!

Bratwurst with pan-fried potatoes.

Marianne's choice of dessert -- ice cream with chocolate sauce.

I brought my own mangoes just in case. They did have mangoes, anyways, for my crêpe:)

The German wheat beer was on the house. Alain purchased the German red wine to go.

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2012

The Laoag La Paz Sandboarding Competition is the first of its kind in the Philippines. Presented to you by the LEAD Movement, “the innovators of sandboarding in Ilocos”
and Havaianas® in cooperation with the City Government of Laoag for the annual Pamulinawen Festival.

Saturday, February 11, 2012, 1:00 PM.

It’s when wholesome, active FUN meets breezy, exuberant FASHION! Havaianas kits will be given away to the first 50 registrants. FREE REGISTRATION. For inquiries and details check out the Ilocos Sand Boarding page on Facebook or contact LEAD Movement or Red Dot.

© Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2012

I almost forgot I had to meet with the extremely fashionable people of Visionaire Inc. and mega-talented husband and wife team Ace and Kit of Ava’s Cakes for a quick ocular inspection/mini-brainstorming at the Laoag La Paz sand dunes. I was just in house clothes and my most adored old pair of Havaianas limited edition I bought from Red Dot. Flip-flops are my thing, and yet I never flip-flop as a person. It’s either I like you or I don’t and I show it. Anyhoo, Ericke, the Ilocos Sand Boarding poster girl, and the “girl on a bike” in the Inquirer Oct 11, 2011 banner photo now works in marketing. Talking about sandboarding and that Inquirer photo, here’s an abnormal occurrence — we learned that a girl from the town of Batac claims to be in that Inquirer photo?! Don’t ever believe this poseur! I was at the shoot of Ms. Ivon Domingo for Inquirer (you may check out the link of her blog in my La Paz post.)

A lot of people have been acting so weird lately, they credit  themselves for something they were never involved in in the first place. I want to be positive, so please people, just focus on creating original ideas and if you listen to my advice, surely you won’t fail. March to the beat of your own drum, boom, boom, boom!

Also, have you read Karl de Mesa’s Shredding Dunes on  Cebu Pacific’s Smile January 2012 issue?

BTW, here’s the cutest Ajo Rumbaoa and Ericke…

Our Land Cruiser with a group of tourists from Belgium passed us by. They had an off-roading adventure in the adjacent dunes — screaming at the top of their lungs, like the familiar sound in places such as Six Flags Magic Mountain, hahah! I’m stoked myself! I’m currently editing dune bashing videos, but I’m neck deep with work, so it will have to take some time before I finish the vid:(

Got the following photos from LEAD Movement’s Ilocos Sand Boarding page on Facebook. The tourists are from Chicago and New York according to Rommel. Love the looks!

Photos by LEAD Movement’s “Ilocos Sand Boarding page on Facebook” and Blauearth
© Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2012

Beer drinkers will love Tio Padre, the latest chill place at the 365 Mall in San Nicolas. “It’s a bar and at the same time a wine store. We’re the only one in Northern Luzon who offers American craft beers. We also serve wine by the glasses and tapas,” says restaurateur-turned-bar-owner Marlon Valdez. Because I’m not a beer drinker, I had to ask him what sets craft beers apart. “Craft brewing is an art.” And then he proceeds to differentiate it from industrial brewing. Microbreweries or craft brewers are able to produce a limited amount of unique beers with more flavors. There’s a different taste for every beer drinker’s palate that is why Tio Padre carries a variety of craft-brewed beers and ales that will go well with their cheese or cold cut platters or Ilocos longaniza presented as chorizo, etc..

“It’s a place where you can meet and talk, with smooth jazzy or classical tunes in the background,” Marlon adds.

Arrogant Bastard ale, Hop Ottin’ and Golden Monkey are their top three bestselling beers. Women love the Gordon Biersch beers so I bought 2 different kinds for my friend. Ericke raves about the Hefeweizen. Next time, when I have more time, I’ll try the food and maybe have a sweet malty beer myself. I also intend to get a few bottles for the kitchen. Beer-battered prawns, yum!

Got Gordon Biersch Hefeweizen and a Märzen for a friend who was celebrating her birthday.

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2012

Now that the next Community-Based Rural Tourism (CBRT) Conference, slated this March, is fast approaching, I quickly think back and I realize the dumb fact that I failed to deliver my story on time. One year has passed, we’ve got a new Tourism Secretary in the person of Ramon Jimenez Jr, I’m back to my old job as non-staff, I’ve been more productive than ever and I’m actually starting on new major projects, I’ve blogged 243 stories since then and I’ve worked my ass out for the things I believe in. Sometimes, I ask myself, “Is it really worth it?” All I want to think of is I want to share whatever I can to a place I’ve known since birth. There are people who will want to ruin it for you, but the bottomline is, I’m certain, the happiness I get from doing the things I do. The so-called crab mentality of other people is incurable, it should not get in the way of putting your genius into something.

So let me borrow Atty. Ferdinand Topacio’s line — let’s start the ball rolling.

Conference on Planning and Developing Community-Based Rural Tourism 2011 in Subic Bay.

Dr. Mina Gabor’s opening remarks (or was it an introduction of the guest speaker?) at the CBRT 2011 Conference included a mention of the first ecoguiding class in the Philippines (under the International School of Sustainable Tourism), which happened to form the Philippine EcoGuides Association in the Philippines (in November 2010) of which I’m the National Secretary. I won’t be shy to say both Tsunami and I were elated. Ma’am Mina even looked for Phil Bartilet, the PEGA President, who was still in Hidalgo at that moment buying a D90. How could he have passed the opportunity of being asked by the former DOT secretary Dr.Mina Gabor to stand in front of guests, including the DOT Secretary at the time the conference happened, and more than 300 delegates? You can ask BJ Esposo Guerrero if I know how to lie, but anyways, just like the on-going impeachment proceedings of a Chief Justice, there is such a thing as evidence.

Dr. Mina Gabor, Directress of the International School of Sustainable Tourism (ISST) says hi to Erwin "Tsunami" Valenzuela, Philippine Eco-Guides Association (PEGA) VP for Luzon and my fellow graduate of the Ecoguiding program of the IIST.

Former Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Alberto "Bertie" Lim talking to Ms.Corazon Alma de Leon, who was seated right next to the sleepy BJ.

One anecdote on BJ’s  meeting the person seated right next to him. Woman: Hi, I’m Corazon Alma de Leon. BJ: Hi, I’m BJ! Yayay, I laughed so hard!

The irrepressible Bernard Joseph Esposo Guerrero and the down-to-earth former cabinet secretary Corazon Alma de Leon:)

A night out at the Pier One Bar and Grill with Jana Siratranont, who works at the Ilocos Sur Tourism Office. She recognized me from the blog:) Love you Jana!

My group -- BJ, a former co-employee at the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte, PEGA President Phil Bartilet of Bulusan, Sorsogon, and Tsunami Valenzuela of Bulacan -- joins Jana and friend.

And look who was at the conference? Ms. Dyan Castillejo herself. I know her from way back. I got to see her up close and personal. I cooked pinakbet for Sports Unlimited — if you remember the first episode shot in Ilocos Norte, where she biked on the Baset Hanging Bridge in Adams, then we ate pinakbet at a picnic below the bridge? It was my pinakbet with bagnet:)

Again, I was stoked at the mention of Ilocos Norte, as one of her most memorable destinations. I used to be a member of this group — in fact, I was the group treasurer and the husband was the VP, also the force behind the formation of these two other groups — the first one was a mountain biking group that evolved to be the adventure group. Time changes, one gets to realize there’s more to adventure. We had to make use of whatever talents we are blessed with, so in 2004, we formed the Laoag Eco-Adventure Development Movement Inc. aka the LEAD Movement. We tied up with LGU of Adams, through a MOA (memorandum of agreement) to help explore, develop and promote Adams as a new ecotourism destination in Ilocos Norte, after which we developed and innovated the sandboarding sport in Ilocos. Talent plus hardwork always translate to productive work. At LEAD, there’s an in-joke — We, LEAD, You, Follow. For those who have been following the blog from day one, you’ll get what I mean.

Ms. Dyan Castillejo, Sports Unlimited host, one of the speakers in the CBRT 2011 conference.

Part of Dyan's presentation.

Disturbing Mr. Gene of Sports Unlimited:)

Reintroducing myself to Dyan. It was kinda awkward because I had to remind her of that haircut, but that's another story to share:)

With Dyan, Phil and Tsunami.

With the Region 1 delegates.

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Back to Dyan, I know for a fact that she’s easy to work with. In the first 2 or 3 episodes that they shot in Ilocos, since I was one of the only 2 women in the old group, I had the chance to be sort-of-chummy with her. You wouldn’t believe it, but I cut her hair from long to short during the taping of one of the episodes… of course, privately, at her hotel room. She asked who cuts my hair. I told her that I cut my own hair, and then all of a sudden, she decides to let me cut her hair. So if you’ll try to spot the difference from the first photo below and the next two photos, which were shot from behind the scenes of the same episode, you’ll see a big difference. It didn’t affect the continuity of the show, however:)

I’ll always remember Dyan Castillejo. She is the embodiment of a true adventurer. Imagine entrusting your long locks to a mere closet hairstylist? I kept that scissors, The Purpose Driven Life book she gave me and these photographs.

There’s the then teenybopper Ericke beside Dyan:)

On the right is Marc Nelson.

All photos from Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2012

My gourmand, Lynne, loves to feed us with love. Here’s another lovely idea you can try at home. Or if you’re expecting visitors and you’ve ran out of ideas. Easy peasy Mongolian-style rice!

Prepare the following and arrange on separate containers:
• Beef slices
• Chicken slices
• Pork slices
• Squid pieces
• Blue marlin slices
• Shrimps
• Snow peas
• Carrots, julienned
• Chinese cabbage, julienned
• Chayote (sayote), julienned
• Bean sprouts (togue)
• Baguio beans, sliced
• Fresh eggs
• Leeks, sliced
• Garlic, chopped
• Chili pepper, chopped
• Sesame seeds (white)
• Peanuts, chopped
(You can be more creative and add more choices like salmon slices, crabsticks, ham, clams, bamboo shells, lobster meat, button mushrooms, etc..)
Condiments:
• Rice wine
• Hoisin sauce
• Teriyaki sauce
• Oyster Sauce
• Soy sauce
• Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce
• Sesame Oil
• Brown sugar
• Hot sauce

How to Cook: In a hot pan, stir-fry all meats and vegetables first, add rice, mix well until cooked, and then add fresh egg, mix everything together until egg is done.

At home, each one has a preference on how he/she wants the Mongolian-style rice done. Some like it sweet, some like it hot, some like it bland, some want it with egg, and some like it rich and spicy. Lynne cooks every bowl (prepared by the owner) before it is served.

Enjoy yours like the Mongols do! Happy chow time!

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2012

Dragon boat? Hmmm… Who wouldn’t be curious about dragon boat? You will quickly ask what it is. Some friends in Dubai told me that dragon boat originated in China 2000 years ago.  There are a lot of stories about it, but the once common folk lore is that dragon boating came into existence because of the drowning of Qu Yuan, a Chinese poet,  who apparently went into the Miluo River with the intent of committing suicide in order to protest against political corruption.  When the people heard of Qu Yuan’s suicide, they rushed out on to the river in their fishing boats and tried to save Qu Yuan.  They beat their drums and splashed the water with paddles to keep the fish and evil spirits away from Yuan’s body. The folk lore goes on to state that dragon boat races are held annually on the day of Qu Yuan’s death.

It was in 2006 when my sister and I saw a group of youngsters paddling in Manila Bay. I wanted to try it, but was too shy to inquire about it.  I didn’t get to try it until I got to Dubai, in 2007, after a colleague asked me to try the sport. Since I was  intrigued,  I showed up the next day, and for 6 months, I trained with the Noodle House Dragons.

A dragon boat generally acquires 22 persons: a drummer/signal — commander of the boat, who needs to keep the paddlers in rhythm; a steersman, who makes sure the boat stays in a straight line and doesn’t deviate from the course; and 20 paddlers, who are the doers  — they take directions from the drummer and the steersman, and need to be synchronized to be able to work on the boat efficiently.

Taking the train to race site.

With the husband.

When my husband, Phil and I returned to the Philippines, we joined PDRT (Philippine Dragonboat Rowing Team) Fireblades — the no. 1 club team in Manila. We both got really serious about it. The sport became our  passion.

Dragon boat rowing is not  easy. It acquires a number of years in training to really call yourself a ‘paddler’ — what our coach always tells us. Strength, Focus, Stamina and  Teamwork – what is needed to work effectively.

Padang, Indonesia, my first time to be the drummer/ signal.

Some of the medals collected.

I really love this sport! I not only get to shed pounds in weight, I get to travel and compete in different places. In my 2 years, I’ve been to Singapore and Indonesia. Locally, Camarines Sur, Laguna and  Legaspi. This year we’re set to compete in Boracay, Caliraya, La Union, Malaysia, Thailand and, hopefully, in Italy.

Somewhere in Ilocos.

There is one place that Phil and I want to take dragon boat to. Its his hometown, Ilocos Norte. We always wanted to paddle particularly in Paoay Lake National Park. The place is just so serene and breathtaking!

Once we settle up north, we’ll create our own dragon boat team and call it The Amianan Dragons.

Duchess Francine Gamboa-Co Follow @TheMom_Paddles on Twitter

© Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2012

Ready to hop on your bike? Let’s meet at the newly landscaped Aurora Park in Laoag (my hometown), a flourishing city where the calesa is still a means of getting around. Before getting ourselves all covered in sweat, let’s visit the old Spanish Tabacalera, now the Museo Ilocos Norte — a showcase of the Ilocano culture, with dioramas (depicting old local customs and traditions), artifacts from the past and a replica of an old Ilocano abode.

Let’s pedal to the western end of Laoag and marvel at the sand dunes of La Paz. If we’re lucky enough to chance upon sandboarders, we can have a little “sand”wich for another awesome kind of thrill. Or you might want to temporarily swap your hardtails for LEAD Movement’s beach cruisers?

Cruising along Barangay La Paz.

a recent visitor at the La Paz sand dunes.

Next, south, east or north, it’s your call.

To the southeast is old town Paoay, home to the UNESCO World Heritage Paoay Church, also known as St. Augustine Church, a most-photographed church with striking Earthquake-Baroque and Oriental design dating back to 1704. Coffee brews at the Herencia Café right across the church. What about a slice of the original pinakbet pizza?

Let’s go a little north to the 381.5-hectare Paoay Lake National Park, a northerly lake for migratory birds. A place of peace and tranquility, the  protected area is suitable for eco-friendly boating, kayaking and paddle boarding, afterwhich we revisit a part of history at the adjacent Malacañang of the North, the former Ilocos Norte residence of the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos.

If you dare venture into the eastern towns, spread on the rolling terrain of Ilocos Norte, a charming countryside view with numerous points of interest such as a farmer’s daily grind makes the travel more engaging. Community immersion is another possibility.

Unleash your wild side and get your adrenalin all pumped up — hook up with extreme mountain biking groups, like the Batibols Bikers,  and go off the beaten track in Lagui and Bugnay, San Nicolas.

Up north are gorgeous must-sees. Beyond biking, a food trip will surely rejuvenate the bike explorer. Up on the list — freshly baked biscochos at the roadside Pasuquin Bakery!

The imposing Cape Bojeador Lighthouse is a  fine vantage point overlooking the South China Sea. Also in Burgos are excellent bike/hike trails leading to nature areas like Kapurpurawan Rock Formation, Kaangrian Waterfall and Tanap-Avis Watershed Forest Reserve. Spelunking and rock climbing can be arranged with the Burgos tourism office.The neighboring town of Bangui is location to the first windmill farm in Southeast Asia. A coffee shop named KangKang by the windmills serves good coffee and refreshments.

Further in the north is Pagudpud, where a  strip of tropical resorts line the white-sand Saud Beach Cove. Ask around for diving equipment, surfboard, paddle board and skimboard rentals. The north coast gets surfers all stoked with Mairaira Point’s good waves. Closeby, breathtaking Blue Lagoon is a chill-out haven.If you get starved in Pagudpud, there are good eating places. Discover bagnet or kilawen with a German twist at Bergblick Deutsches Restaurant, organic greens at Kapuluan Vista Resort or savor freshly-caught seafood at Manang Yolly’s Mekeni’s Palutuan by the Blue Lagoon. Cruising the Patapat Viaduct offers a remarkable sea and mountain scape.

From Pansian, Pagudpud, a 45-minute uphill cycling to the town of Adams, within the northeastern end of the Cordillera Mountain Range, is a prerequisite for the daring visitor in Ilocos. Stunning high biodiversity primary forests are ideal for hardcore trekking and biking. The rustic town has four DOT-accredited homestays. Natural and cultural attractions include ancient hanging bridges, the pellucid Bulu River, numerous waterfalls, a flourishing wine-making industry, exotic food and a fascinating amalgam of  indigenous cultures.

Cryptic Ilocos Norte demystified! Hope to see you unravel more… happy biking!

Photo credits: LEAD Movement, Ilocos Sand Boarding, Batibol Bikers and BlauEarth

© Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2012

Cockhouse is actually a resto bar, with live band entertainment, which attracts foreign and domestic tourists as well as locals who love the nightlife. The owners used to be fighting cock breeders, which explains the rather intriguing name.

Beer is the bestseller as expected. I’m not a beer drinker, though we go to Cockhouse every once in a while to eat kimlo (misua or vermicelli with fresh egg soup) or sizzling mushrooms or cheese sticks. The menu is pretty varied. Besides pulutan (hors d oeuvre) like crispy bagbagis (intestines), they also have tapsilog (rice with beef tapa and egg), lomi (thick noodle soup with fresh egg), pancit guisado (fried noodles), etc.. We sometimes bump into prominent people enjoying a beer or two. Some politicos too. Laoag is so laid-back, and we know how to enjoy what is there. We don’t crave for posh establishments. If a bar imposes entrance fee, I tell you, it’s dead sooner than you think. Ilocanos are known to be kuripot (tightwad) that is why establishments, like the no cover-no dress code Cockhouse, have longevity. Not to mention, Cockhouse is the only place with good  girl band entertainment. I think even Aegis have performed there before.

LOL it’s the house that cocks built.

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2012

The glutinous rice cake of Chinese origins is well-received in the Philippines. Its assimilation into the Filipino culture is a result of the Chinese diaspora in the country. Tsinoys as well as Pinoys troop to the stores every new year.

Because tikoy is so good, the cakes are  available all throughout the year, be it the traditional white or brown (sugar) tikoy or the newer flavored tikoy, like ube and pandan. Find them at Chinese delicatessen stores around Binondo.

Sliced into strips, then dipped into beaten eggs and then fried, tikoy makes a delicious snack or dessert.

Kung hei fat choi! Cheers to the Year of the Water Dragon!

*The 2012 Dragon Year officially starts on the 23rd of January.

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2012

Claude Tayag and Mary Anne Quioc share an Ilocos empanada.

Discover Ilocano bagnet, empanada, crispy dinardaraan, bagbagis, chicharon, bituka, dinengdeng, poki-poki balls, pipian, sinanglao, papaitan, dinoydoy and other select entries from the Cagayan Valley, the Cordilleras, Central Luzon, and the Visayas and Mindanao regions. By the way, Sam’s Saramsam dinengdeng is also in the book.

Only genuine foodies such as artist/gourmand Claude Tayag and former Cathay Pacific flight attendant turned writer Mary Anne Quioc are able to pull together an outstanding Philippine food guide highly recommended to all the food lovers all across the globe. The book is available online at National Bookstore.

Linamnam, that wonderful pleasing taste, is also evident in Claude’s Claude’9 condiments manufactured by the duo’s Bale Dutung by-reservation only restaurant in Pampanga. They’ve mastered ma-linamnam.

…………………………

The hubby and I wish to thank Claude Tayag and Mary Ann Quioc for the endorsement and the mention of Ilocos sand dune adventure, Rene Guatlo and Sammy Blas for the invitation, and Sam for the book and the thought that went with it.

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2012