This is bad, I keep missing TILT posts, and I’m starting to get a bit more random than usual! Anyway, here’s my TILT for this week…sorry if it’s too sucky, I promise to come up with a better post next week!

♥ Maneki Neko

My first Maneki Neko

My favorite Maneki Neko from my collection, given to me by my Japanese boss

Who doesn’t love these cute bringers of luck? I started collecting Maneki Neko dolls last year, sparked by my first Saizen shopping spree. I bought two dolls–one for my desk and a wind chime I hang by my window. Then, my Japanese boss gave me a very cute one when she came back from Japan. A big, ceramic coin bank type Jennie gave me for my birthday and a solar-powered toy are the most recent additions to my collection.

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by battlestone08 on Flickr

March 7, 2010
12:30 a.m.

My boyfriend and I, with some friends, and my parents, were staying in a posh hotel in Makati. Boyfriend and I decided to stroll around in a mall that afternoon, several blocks away from the hotel.

That night, while we were in a cab on our way back to the hotel, we passed by an area where a strange carnival-like event was taking place. It was so strange that there were even horse-drawn carriages with flaming (literally) wheels! Part of it looked like a carabao race. A few blocks away from the event, we started seeing men running away from something; we heard that there were two big carabaos that escaped an enclosure, went berserk, and were running around chasing people in the streets.

The cab driver tried his best to get away from the area. He managed to do so at first, but at one turn, we noticed that the carabaos were tailing us! One of the carabaos was so huge, especially his horns, that he was almost behemoth-like. He had a driver on his back, but couldn’t control the beast. As the cab driver sped up, the two carabaos ran faster; it was funny at first, but when we noticed that they weren’t slowing down, panic was written all over our faces. The cab driver looked pale and he seemed so lost.

Suddenly, my phone started ringing. It was my mom calling, perhaps to ask where we are and why we’re still outside late at night. I was about to answer the phone when I woke up.

It was boyfriend calling me. I was still groggy, “tired,” and palpitating from the dream, but I managed to tell him everything that happened in my dream. A few minutes later, I sat down to write this dream diary entry.

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♥ An Education

When I first heard of this film from a friend, it really intrigued me. Sources point out a Rotten Tomatoes rating of a whopping 95%. Seeing a rating that high, I knew I had to watch it.

Lead actress Carey Mulligan was delightful to watch, and indeed a charming “show stealer.” The 24-year-old British actress (22 when she was casted) starred as Jenny Mellor, a 16-year-old schoolgirl who gets into a relationship with an attractive but much older man named David Goldman (portrayed by Peter Sarsgaard).

It all started in 1961 England, when David gave a seemingly harmless offer to give Jenny a lift upon seeing her soaking wet in the rain with her cello. He calls out to her and introduces himself as a “strange man” she wouldn’t talk to if she has some sense in her, but also “music lover” worried about her cello. Jenny accepts his offer and the two engage in conversation.

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A quick tricycle ride to Bantay, a town next to Vigan, will take you to a beautiful belfry of the same name. Towering over the town, the Bantay Bell Tower is a sight to behold, standing separately over a hilltop next to the equally beautiful St. Augustine Parish Church.

According to the guide who accompanied us inside the bell tower, the original structure as it stands today was built by Augustinian Missionaries in 1591, most likely as a part of the parish church nearby. It was made of bricks, rocks, and a mixture of seashells and sugar cane (the guide called it apog, but I’m not sure if this is correct). There are hardly any renovations done to the structure, except for the repairs of the stairs inside the tower.

Our guide also said that the bell tower stands on the tallest point in the town, and was used as a watch tower during the Spanish colonial period. As such, the tower is aptly named since “bantay” is an Ilocano word for both “mountain” and “guard.”

Climbing up the second level of the belfry is no problem, but going up the third level may take a bit more guts. The wooden stairs are new, but the rickety sound and the tall, open windows may trigger vertigo among the faint-hearted. The views from both levels are breath-taking; the bell tower provides a good view of the houses and town cemetery below, and the mountains in the horizon.

As a quick trivia before he parted with us, our guide mentioned that the bell tower is also popular as a location for the filming of the Panday movies by the late Fernando Poe Jr.

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Oh my, I’ve missed two TILT posts! I was busy preparing souvenirs, writing the travelogue, and sorting photos I’ve taken during the Vigan trip. I’ve also decided that this week’s TILT would be about the things I love about Vigan.

♥ Vigan’s Special Empanada

Nikon FE2 + Konica Centuria Chrome 400

A trip to Vigan will never be complete without trying out the town’s special empanadas (meat pies or meat turnovers), which are among the popular delicacies of the Ilocos region. They are made with rice flour, vegetables, egg, and the equally famous Vigan longganisa, deep fried, and dipped in spicy sukang Iloko (the town’s special vinegar). It’s best eaten for merienda or afternoon snack, and is perfect with ice-cold soda or juice. It is comparable to lumpiang gulay or spring rolls, but the egg and longganisa give it the unique flavor that both locals and tourists love. We even encountered an interesting variation while we were waiting for our orders. Someone ordered an empanada with egg and lots of ground longganisa, what we called “Breakfast of Ilocanos!”

A cluster of eateries where empanadas are cooked and sold is called the Empanadaan, and is found near the Vigan Cathedral. The seats are always full, and you can’t eat just one or two pieces!

Nikon FE2 + DNP Centuria 100

Nikon FE2 + Konica Centuria Chrome 400

♥ Vigan Longganisa

Playa del Oro Lunch

Playa del Oro Breakfast

When we speak of the Ilocos region, one of the things that pop in the mind of Filipinos is the Vigan Longganisa. It’s a delicious pork sausage with a fusion of garlicky and salty flavors, and a pungent aroma distinct to Vigan’s longganisa variety. I’ve actually tried a similar variety in my dad’s hometown in Alaminos, Pangasinan. I’m not surprised they taste identical with each other since Ilocos seems to have a strong influence on my dad’s town (they also speak Ilocano there).

We had longganisa for lunch on our first day, and for breakfast on our second day, just before leaving Playa del Oro Resort. It was awesome; really reminded me of the Alaminos longganisa, but something makes it different, I just couldn’t put my finger on it. And yes, we brought home some longganisa with us too. It’s that good.

♥ Poqui-Poqui Balls

Poqui-Poqui Balls by Kucina Felicitas

For my informal birthday dinner, I meant to treat the gang at Grandpa’s Inn trio of Uno Grille, Kusina Felicitas, and Uno Cafe (they’re actually under one owner and are adjacent each other), but Jennie’s godmother said it’s her treat. So, while Jennie and Richard opted for some pasta dishes, and Jennie’s godmother (and her daughter) wanted clubhouse sandwiches, boyfriend and I wanted to try local fare. Poqui-Poqui Balls caught my attention months before, while I was doing my research for the trip, and I really wanted to try it. It’s said to be a native Ilocano dish made of grilled eggplant sauteed int tomato, onion, and egg, and is usually eaten during breakfast.

So we did try it, and I found that it’s actually a more delicious version of what we do at home (I’m familiar with the dish because my mom cooks it sometimes, but I never knew it was called Poqui-Poqui). The Poqui-Poqui was rolled into balls and encased in breadcrumbs; very creative, if you ask me. It was heavenly–I love how it’s crunchy outside and soft inside. It was served in a spicy sauce, like a tomato-based gravy, if I remember correctly.

♥ Calle Crisologo and the Heritage Village

Calle Crisologo by day

Calle Crisologo by night

Calle Crisologo is perhaps one of the most popular and sought-after tourist attractions of Northern Philippines, for a reason. It has well-preserved Spanish colonial houses, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As I have mentioned in my previous posts, it’s never enough to admire the beauty in pictures. Nothing beats relishing the Heritage Village and taking in so much history with a personal visit to Vigan.

I love everything about Calle Crisologo and the entire Heritage Village. There are souvenir and antique shops, food stalls and restaurants, and the rustic old houses and cobblestoned streets. Every step is a trip back to 16th century Vigan, and there are bits of history in every nook and cranny.

I have more pictures in my previous post, so please take time to check it out!

I actually love everything I saw and experienced during my birthday trip to Vigan. I meant to include more in this list, but I later on figured they would be spoilers for my upcoming features, so I guess this is a partial list! Stay tuned for my next features!

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