The Lakwatsera's Lakbayan Rating

Gulp! I need to do more lakwatsas!

My Lakbayan grade is C-!

Find out more about what Lakbayan is in An Apple a Day.

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!

The Lakwatsera has been upgraded by Eugene! Woohoo!!!

My Lakbayan grade is C+!

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!

Created by Eugene Villar.

Lucban, my Dad's Hometown

It's been about a decade since I've been to Lucban, Quezon. The last time I went there was during the town's fiesta - the Pahiyas, where all the houses and establishments dress up their abode's using colorful kiping to celebrate the bounty from the harvest.

Lucban changed a lot in the past decade. There were a lot more establishments and houses on the road up (that means progress!), so it wasn't green all over anymore - and I only saw one carabao (read up on my carabao story)!

Lucban is more than its longganisa and the broas you can buy at the mall. Head up! Feel the cool air and see the sights!

Kamay ni Hesus

Kiping is made out of rice and is actually edible, just fry it!

Rizal Plaza

What to Buy:

Longganisa

Hats and other native stuff

Pancit Habhab is served on banana leaves and you eat it straight
out like what this child is doing.

Colored candles at Kamay ni Hesus for your intentions.

Where to Eat:

Gran Vereda Hotel & Restaurant - yummy kare-kare, bulalo, fried chicken, ensaladang talong, sizzling tinapa and banana fritters!

Buddy's - merienda sarap! Get some halo-halo or mais con yelo

Front of the town's church - get some pancit habhab while shopping for native products

How to Get There:

I don't know! I just tagged along with my parents haha. But seriously, you can take a bus to Lucena and then hop on the jeepneys that go to Lucban.


For more photos click on the Lakwatsera photo below:

2007 June 8 Lucban

Bicol, My Hometown

It's been quite a while since I've been home to Bicol. I go there at least once a year (since birth!) for summer vacation and our family has a small resort there called "Villa Merced".


If there's one beach I'd go back to again and again - that's at Pasacao, Camangui, Camarines Sur, Bicol. Pasacao is a small fishing village and resorts have sprung up and progressed in the last few years. I've been going back every single year to spend time at our place, Villa Merced which was named after my late Mama Lola (grandmother). I've been to many, many beaches from North to South Philippines, Bali, California and others that I don't recall anymore.

But, I will always go back to Bicol. It's my home and it's where I find peace.


Mind you, our resort have not really changed much since I was a kid. We like to keep it that way. The rustic, provincial look I mean. We have nipa huts and the traditional poso for bathing. We do not allow many people to come in as well and keep our prices a tad bit higher than our neighbors.

I hope to go back soon and do a photo shoot there.

How to Get There

By Bus - take Philtranco or Penafrancia. Check out their numbers here. Then get off at the Naga station and take a FX or jeep to Pasacao. Then get on a padyak to Villa Merced. Believe me, the padyak is the most exciting ride ever.

If you are a bit adventurous you can also get off at the Pamplona intersection and then take a jeep to Pasacao. Your stop would be at the village market, hop on a padyak and tell the driver to bring you to Villa Merced.

By Plane - Philippine Airlines has daily flights to Legaspi. Ask around how you can go to Naga through a van or FX. Get off at the Naga terminal and then take a FX or jeep to Pasacao. Get off at the last stop which is at the market and then get on a padyak. It's an exhilirating ride.

Costs:

Bus - to and fro approx. PhP900
FX to Pasacao - approx. PhP30
Plane - shimmy over to PAL or Cebu Pacific and find out