An unlikely combination indeed but it was more than these gastronomic delights that made today another not-so-ordinary day. For three weeks in a row, I had been (sort of) a local tour guide in and around Iloilo City. First it was for a former officemate and wife, then for someone who needed sometime to make "muni-muni" (lol) and today for a backpacking couple who had an early Visita Iglesia (lol). The last two are from a PinoyExchange forum thread about Iloilo whom I sort of made my own (around 50% of the posts are mine-lol)
Anyway, we met a place likely most tourist should visit when in Iloilo City, Deco's Pasalubong Shop at La Salette building. After brief introductions, we then proceed to Jaro (to continue their Visita Iglesia) for some photo ops of the landmarks of this heritage district, it's cathedral, belfry and the image of Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria among others.We then took a jeepney all the way to the town Pavia to have another church visit. This town is famous (not only because of it being the hardest hit by Typhoon Frank more than a year ago nor with the never ending word-war between it's mayor, Arcadio Gorriceta, and Tesda Chair Augusto "Buboy" Syjuco) for a rice-based native delicacy called baye-baye. In fact numerous baye-baye stalls line up the highway to/from the airport.
So it would not seem right to pass over this sgnature native delicacy when you're in town - as they say. So we trooped to one of the more famous baye-baye makers, Li-it's. It was also my first time to actually be there (I just acted confident in front of them hiding the fact that I asked a friendly sari sari store owner where the place was - lol). I bought 20 pieces of Li-it's special baye baye; for them to taste this native Ilonggo delicacy and for me to, what else, blog about separately (soon).
Our last stop was Sta. Barbara, though, nothing on the gastronomy side. It was a more on the history and the landmarks of my hometown. Lucky that day that the gigantic flag was waving at us (thanks to the Congressional District Sports Association? meet that ended today), it was a fitiing start of our tour. Then we toured the historic Sta. Barbara church inside-out, the site of the Cry of Sta. Barbara that eventually led to the first flag raising outside Luzon. This historic event will be again commemorated this coming Nov.17.
Our historic tour ended at another landmark, the oldest golf course in the Philippines (and they also say in Southeast Asia) - Iloilo Golf and Country Club. We were only limited near the Club house since it was "play day". We don't want to get hit by the golf balls flying around. There was also some sort of political happening since some big name politicos were there.)
Then we headed to the Iloilo Airport but it was still early for them to check in so we passed time at Coffeebreak (with my ever present order of "green tea frappe without cream please!") mostly talking about their 4 days & 3nights Negros-Guimaras and Iloilo adventures and more (NGI! - lol).
As usual it all ended with everyone tired yet satisfied not only with the gastronomic delights but also of the historic, religious and cultural landmarks Iloilo has to offer (reluctant) tourists. As we all say Iloilo offers 3F's to tourists and locals alike :
Faith - with it's churches among others,
Festivals - with Dinagyang at the helm and of course
Food - need I say more?
And by the way a 4th F is inevitable and that is for Friendship which this three straight weeks of being a "guide" has gained me. So who's next? :)