Grapes Picking at Denila Farms in Santa Barbara, Iloilo

This basket holds around 2 kilos of grapes worth about PhP 260 but the experience of having to pick the bunch you like, enjoying lots of selfies, taking photos and roaming around a vineyard = PRICELESS!

Under the heat of the Thursday morning sun, I found myself in the shade of the vines and dodging dangling grapes at the Denila Grapes Farms in Brgy. Lanag in Santa Barbara, Iloilo.

The farm is easily accessible from the town center - just around 10 minutes from the plaza via tricycle (around PhP 10).

Located between the Tigum River and the NIA irrigation canal, you will pass through a few houses along the way before you reach the farm.

There's an entrance fee (PhP 30/regular and PhP20/seniors/students) and everyone is free to roam around the farm which not only cultivate grapes but other fruits as well.

It also grows apple guava or guapple (around 3000 trees), dragonfruit, papaya and tambis, among others.

But the grapes are the center of attention for it's not really common to see them in tropical countries like the Philippines.

Denila Grapes Farm started planting the vine fruit back in 1991 and was among the first "backyard vineyards" in this part of the country.

But the 2.7 hectare farm was washed out by Typhoon Frank in 2008 because of the mega flood from the Tigum River.

And took the farm around 5 years to bring back the grape plantation which now has around 300 grape plants.

With the Iloilo Flood Control project in place, flooding is no longer a threat and the farm once again brings back the glory days of its grapes.

But the recent monsoon rains (this July and August) have heavily damaged the grapes thus delaying the 2nd harvest and damaging the fruits/blooms.

That explains why you would see these grapes wrapped in newspapers and/or plastic rather than the Instagrammable grapes dangling down for a perfect selfie.

But that didn't stop pickers from doing the obligatory selfies and photo-ops with the grapes.

Just unwrap them or pose with your basketful of grapes like what Ms. Irene (above) and Ms. Estela of the Santa Barbara Municipal Tourism Office did during their visit.

And if you're quick enough with your camera, you might even catch some unguarded "grapeful" moment like when Manang cut the grapes from the vine but reacted slowly to catch it - distracted from my too many questions, perhaps?

No matter what your reason are in visiting the farm, make the most out of it.

Whether for photo ops, selfie galore or having to taste a locally grown grape - have and enjoy it your way!

But don't forget to pay for your grapes - PhP 130/kilo (as of Sept. 2019) Just look for the table under the tambis tree, the caretakers are more than happy to assist you with your purchase.

So here' my bunch of grapes, which are Brazilian hybrids. The sweetness depends on the the fruits ripeness - sweet when they already are "ripe for picking" but sour when picked below that stage.

Nonetheless, whether sweet nor sour, it is the experience of having to pick these these grapes right off the vine plus the hundreds of selfies and photo ops in between that will surely make this one of the sweetest memories one can have!

HOW TO GET THERE: Denila Grapes Farm, Brgy. Lanag Santa Barbara, Iloilo

Here's a vicinity map of Santa Barbara and the location of Denila Grapes Farm.

For those who will take public transportation, you can alight at Mercury Drug/Total Gas Station/7-Eleven at Bangga Dama and take the purple colored tricycles all the way to the farm.
And if you took the Sta. Barbara Jeepneys, you can alight at Savemore, Cry of Santa Barbara Marker or Plaza, and take the tricycles all the way to the farm.

You can also take New Lucena jeepneys from Ungka Terminal and you can alight at the irrigation canal bridge which is just a short walk from the farm. Check this out on Google maps
Tricycle fare is PhP 10 from plaza area and could be slightly higher if from Bangga Dama.

The farm entrance is a short walk from the irrigation canal bridge
Travel time is 5-10 minutes from the plaza/Bangga Dama.
Entrance Fee is PhP 30 (regular) PhP 20 (childred/students/seniors)

Info credit from this article: Grape farm, atraksyon ngayon sa Iloilo

Ultimate Ilonggo Favorite: KBL Kadyos, Baboy, Langka

K.B.L. or Kadyos, Baboy, Langka is the ultimate favorite dish of most Ilonggos. It is also one of the most missed native dishes as kadyos and the souring ingredient, batwan , are hard to find when outside of the Ilonggo region. Basically, it is boiled/stewed pork dish owing its "deliciousness" to the combination of the soft and tender pork, the tamed sourness of batwan and the malinamnam na sabaw . One of the "secrets" of the malinamnamn na sabaw , is the fact that the pork, whether just the plain meat or pata (hocks) are first grilled or broiled. This gives the broth a rather smoky taste that makes it more appetizing.. Learn how to make the Ilonggo dish KBL (Kadyos, Baboy, at Langka) with the recipe below. Ingredients 1 kilo Pata (pork hocks) or pork cubes, GRILLED and sliced into bite size pieces 1 unripe Jack fruit, cubed 2 cups pigeon pea (kadyos) 6-8 pieces batwan fruit (or tamarind powder) 1 piece pork broth cube (

A new flavour for the Dinagyang 2011 Food Festival

Aside from the dances, drums and colorful costumes, Dinagyang also means food and Iloilo City has a lot to offer during this 3-day event. The festival brings them to the streets with the much awaited Dinagyang Food Festiva l . For four days, major streets in the city are lined with food stalls and kiosks that everywhere one turns it all about food. As this article states, major streets in Iloilo City will have a food festival there will be plenty of places to indulge in during D inagyang 2011 . ILOILO City's world-famous Dinagyang Festival will turn the spotlight on Ilonggo cuisine this year. Tourists are encouraged to try chicken barbecue the Ilonggo way and other tasty local dishes during the festival. There are also the world-famous Ilonggo delicacies and other concoctions to bring home after enjoying the Dinagyang ati-atihan and Kasadyahan competitions. Not only that. The 1s t Iloilo Convention and Visitors Bureau (ICVB) International Food Festival 2011 will attempt t

Valenciana

A close relative of paella, this dish originated in Valencia, Spain and probably brought by the Spaniards when they colonized the country. Always a staple in family gatherings, this yellow rice is a complete meal in itself, with pork, chicken, liver, chorizo, shrimps, bellpeppers, peas and raisins to name its basic ingredients. RECIPE Saute your choice meats and vegetables. Cook malagkit rice with turmeric and broth cubes then mix sauted meat and vegetables when almost done. Garnish with hardboiled eggs and onion leaves.

SIDRO: Iloilo's very own gourmet doughnuts

Just listening to Isidro Panizales Jr. animatedly talking about his life before and after being a “doughnut-preneur”, is like the different flavors of Sidro Doughnuts . Each variant seems to reflect different aspects of his almost three decades of living in America. From his work in corporate America for more than 10 years to that one little spark of deciding leaving work to pursue his delicious passion – life is like a box of doughnuts! IN A DOUGHNUT HOLE Sidro is an offshoot from the name Isidro but as Sid says, it’s a tribute to his father. The first Sidro Doughnuts came out of the kitchen and delivered to one lucky doughnut-phile on Dec. 18 last year. It comes in two sizes – Junior Doughnuts which at 30 grams each are perfect for parties and occasions. But if you can’t enough, there are the Regular Doughnuts which is more than 3x at 100 grams and comes with more toppings and flavours. Choose among nine specially concocted creations - Bugnay Berry, Calamansi, Dulce

An Ilonggo favorite - Valenciana

Found in almost all occasions like fiesta, birthdays, reunions and others, Ilonggos really love valenciana because most if not all have grown accustomed of having it in special gatherings at home. A complete " go, grow and glow " dish because it has the carbohydrates, protein and vitamins and minerals in just one spoonful, Valenciana is really an " occasional dish ". Here's the recipe for Valenciana

FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

Search This Blog