Fiesta de Arevalo at Camiña Balay nga Bato

The district of La Villa Rica de Arevalo is home to the 3rd oldest image of Sto. Niño in the Philippines and celebrates its patronal fiesta every 3rd week of January. It's during the Ati-atihan and Sinulog Sunday that Villanhons "eat, drink and be merry" - a prelude to Iloilo City's biggest street party - Dinagyang, which happens the following Sunday.

Among the best tourist attractions in Iloilo City can be found in the district of Arevalo - the century-old Camiña Balay nga Bato. Considered a "living museum", the house hosts a curio shop where assorted Panayanon products are on display and for sale, a hablon weaving corner, a vast collection of antiques - furniture, vases and memorabilia of the Avanceña family, among others are on display.

And the house's antiquity also provides a great setting for gastronomy as it is very famous for its native tsokolate served with old world charm. But the fiesta of Arevalo makes house come alive likened to a scene in soem cliassic Filipino movies like "Oro, Plata, Mata" - as described by Mr Eugene Jamerlan, cultural worker and heritage conservationist plus designer and concept planner of the Camiña Balay nga Bato.

If we were late in last year's fiesta, this year, I made it a point to be early. In fact I was an hour early than the RSVP time but no regrets as I had the house "all to myself". I was excited of the fact that the extension of the house will be showcased after months of work (by Archt. Johnny Liwanag and Mr Eugene Jamerlan). Though it wasn't finished yet, but it was ready to take in guests and be part of the fiesta frenzy.

The transition from the old and original part of the house was seamless as the extension seemed to be part of the old house. From the old house's wooden flooring, the extension sport a machuca tile floor that depicts old world and colonial architecture. The whole room was ventilated with large capiz shell windows and grills on one side and a balcony like feel on the other (the windows just open up further giving it a veranda feel).

It was just the perfect setting for a fiesta - old world charm and lots of good food mostly of Ilonggo flavour. The appetizers (and desserts) were set on the original dining room (2nd photo from the top). Fresh greens and all the works for a make-your-own-salad with crab stick,s ham among other. Fresh fruits like pineapples and papaya from Camiña's farm in Giumaras serve as appetizer and dessert with fresh buko juice on the side.

And here's a round up of the gastronomic delights we all enjoyed during the Fiesta de Arevalo at Camiña Balay nga Bato.

Fresh Lumpia

Panara

Pangat

Chicken fingers

Pinaklay nga ubod aka hubad na lumpia

Lechon baboy

Valenciana

Black rice

Pininyahan nga pato

Chicken Galantina

Chily and garlicky chicken adobo

Uncle Tom's fried chicken

Pancit Sotanghon

Adobo Rice

Fresh fruits

Leche Flan and dinulce nga niyog

Bukayo

Champagne

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Takway

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FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

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