Day Tripping from Manilaby Sandra Scott When we arrived in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, we checked into the Dusit Hotel, one of the luxury hotels in Makati. As one might expect the Thai owned chain has an excellent Thai restaurant where we enjoyed a typical Thai lunch. After lunch we had just enough time to visit the American Cemetery and Memorial where more than 17,000 World War II veterans are interred on a prominent plateau. It is a quiet and serene place with a chapel and huge mosaic maps of the various WW II campaigns of the Pacific. It seemed like an appropriate place to visit because the next day we were scheduled to visit Corregidor.
 In the evening we had a fun dinner at Kaldekaldero where the entire staff from security guards to chefs take turns entertaining the guests – mainly by singing American classics. We tried and enjoyed several typical Filipino dishes including adobo, the national dish of marinated chicken and pork. My favorite was the dessert, Halo Halo, a mixture of shaved ice, milk, sweet beans and fruits topped with ube, sweet yam ice cream. “Halo” means “mix” and the dessert could be the icon of Philippine culture, which is a fascinating mix of Asian, European, and American. In the evening back at the hotel we relaxed in the Lobby Lounge listening to entertainment offered nightly. Surprisingly the Dusit has it’s own mirco brewery.
 The next day we took the boat to Corregidor, the scene of fierce fighting during WW II. The guided trolley tour took us to the ruins of the Mile Long Barracks, which served as the quarters of some 2000 US officials during the war. We entered the Malinta Tunnel, the doors shut, and a 30-minute light and sound show chronicled the significance of the tunnel that served as the center of American operations during WW II. The entire length of the main tunnel was lined to a height of six feet with crates of all sizes and descriptions. Its occupants, numbering over four thousand, included nurses who maintained a bombproof hospital. The conditions were difficult with dust flying around, the flickering blue mercury vapor lights, and the dull boom of exploding bombs when the island was under siege.
 The trolley also stopped at the Pacific War Memorial, the batteries with an array of guns and mortars, the Spanish lighthouse, and a statue of General Douglas MacArthur. We had lunch at the hotel at the top of the hill. Corregidor is now advertised as a place for a wedding, team building, and as a getaway. There are trails and a beach. We even saw monkeys while we were on the trolley tour. We returned to the Dusit for a relaxing evening listening to music in the Lobby Lounge.
 The ultimate day trip from Manila is the Culinary Tour of Quezon Province. After the heavy traffic of the Manila it was literally a breath of fresh air to get out in the countryside. We stopped in the quiet mountain town of Lucban. “We start in April making thousands of kiping. On May 15 we give thanks to San Isidro Labrador for a good harvest by covering our houses completely in fruits, vegetables, and kiping. If we cook the kiping we can eat it, too,” explained Milada Valde as she prepared the colorful kiping.
 The kipings are fashioned into flowers, chandeliers, and other decorative items. Valde explained, “Several centuries ago, during the Acapulco trade, a chef returned and wanted to make tacos but could not get the necessary ingredients so he experimented and invented kiping.” When cooked they served as a colorful chips for dips. While the kipings were drying she demonstrated how generations of her family have been making the town’s other local delicacy, Lucban Longganisa, a spicy sausage.
 In Tayabas, we stopped and checked out an amazing restaurant – Kamayan sa Palaisdaan. Tables are set in private bamboo pavilions above fishponds. Some people bring poles to catch their own fish, which are then cooked for them. We watched food being grilled and enjoyed listening to the roving band. It was too early for our lunch so we continued and made a quick stop at Kamay ni Hesus, the impressive hillside shrine honoring the Healing Jesus. The landscaped hill tells the way of the cross with the Last Supper tableau near the bottom and the crucifixion at the top. Steep stairs lead to the top of the hill.
 Our next stop was Graceland, a beautifully landscaped property located in Tayabas. And, yes, the owner is a fan of Elvis, hence the name. He is also a collector of vintage WW II Jeeps. We had lunch overlooking the pond. We tried some more traditional foods – salted eggs with tomato and green mangos, chicken tamarind soup, rice wrapped in banana leaves, grilled pork belly, and tilapia. I had forgotten that tilapia is also called St. Peter’s Fish.
 After lunch we were instructed in the proper way to drink the local firewater – Lambanog. Lambanog is a wine distilled from coconut palm sap. The lambanog drinking ritual starts by the group agreeing on the measure of lambanog and the host pours the amount in one glass and says “Na’an Po” (Here’s my drink). Going counterclockwise each drinker must finish the same amount for each round. However, when a drinker wishes to pass, the proper way to decline the drink is to say, “I’ll save the drink for you.” The host will then drink it. A glass of water is handy as a chaser. The ritual is one of friendship and harmony.
 Heading back to Manila we stopped in Tayabas to tour a colonial home. The restored home is not only beautiful but had a fascinating hidden cellar where the females hid out during WW II so as not to be captured by the Japanese. Continuing with the tour we visited the workshop of Ugo Bigyan, a famous potter known for his one of a kind creations. His workshop is a beautiful collection of reddish terra cotta buildings clustered around relaxation areas and connected by walkways that lead to his house, workshop, and gallery. Our final stop was at Kusina ni Salud were we had adobo sandwiches. The garden-like property had an aviary. It was a relaxing way to end the tour.
(image 11 – Dusit) We returned to the Dusit Hotel and spent the evening in the Lobby Lounge listening to the music. There is so much to do in the Philippines that it would take a lifetime to take advantage of all there is to do. For more information check www.wowphilippines.com.ph and www.dusit.com. |
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