PLUS FOLLOW PAMPANGA’S SCORCHING SUMMER TRAIL
T R A V E L VOLUME 2
ISSUE 6
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T E A HE G NO LE R CR T H EE FA K CE BA & G S
IN
M A G A Z I N E NLINE.COM W W W.SIDETRIPO
09 APRIL - JUNE 20
OH POI !
A FUN ATTRACTION ON THE BEACH SPECIAL
FROZEN TREATS
MOST EXTRAORDINARY ICE CREAM FLAVORS
THE P500 CHOW-LLENGE
VOLUME 2
ISSUE 6
HUNT FOR INEXPENSIVE EATS IN THE METRO
PhP 45.00
PARADISE UNCOVERED A GUIDE TO PHILIPPINES’ HIDDEN BEACHES & WHITE SAND ISLANDS
CALAGUAS GUMASA BANTAYAN NAGSASA + MORE
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL A SWEET MIX OF OLD & NEW
+ ILLUSTRATED DESTINATION MAP
C
MANILA BAHRAIN
MACAU KUWAIT
www.spiritofmanilaairlines.com
TA I P E I DUBAI
CONTENTS COVER STORY
Paradise Uncovered Ivan Anthony Henares gives a fresh take on travel destinations for summer. Join him as he revisits the beaches and islands in the country not usually found in your vacation list.
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ALSO ON THE COVER Special Feature : Negros Occidental Frozen Treats - Unique Ice Cream Flavors Oh Poi!
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TRAVEL ESSENTIALS 18 Beach Basics
Know what to bring to your most awaited summer vacation
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FOOD TRIP
Merry Mix-Up: Halo-Halo Tales
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The P500 CHOW-llenge
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Clare Amador shares where to find various versions of this interesting Pinoy summer treat
Dianne Monsod tours the Metro for tummy fillers that are easy on the budget
COVER A photo of the twins Chris and James Sanchez playing on the beach of White Island in Camiguin. The island of Camiguin is located off the northern coast of Mindanao. PHOTOGRAPHED BY RON ARGUELLES
ATTENTION ALL SHUTTERBUGS! Explore your creativity with Sidetrip! We invite you to send us a photo that best describes or represents a VINTAGE WEEKEND – the theme of Sidetrip’s next issue. Turn to page 8 for details.
CONTENTS
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TRAVEL TALES
Pampanga In the Sun
Join Anne Elicaño as she explores what Pampanga has to offer beyond its kitchens.
Negros Occidental: A Sweet Mix of Old and New
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Walk with Maica Lagman and Glenn Diaz as they visit notable heritage houses and structures Gaston, Hofileña, Lopez, The Ruins of the sugar capital of the country.
Take Home Treats from Negros Occidental Maricar Cadavicio gives a rundown of pasalubong to take home from sugarland.
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PEOPLE, ARTS & CULTURE Welcome to Ugu’s Playground
This summer, Pryme Queblatin follows the way of the sun to Ugu Bigyan’s Pottery Workshop in Tiaong, Quezon.
Celebrity Traveler: Gaby Dela Merced – Beyond the Fast Lanes
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Weekend Cover Contest Letter of the Issue Subscription
REGULARS
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Sidetrip Staff Contributors Editor’s Note
Christa De La Cruz chats with Gaby dela Merced to find out what she loves to do when she’s not on the race track.
Fiesta Calendar Bus Schedule Directory
SPECIAL SECTION:
PLUS!
Sidetrip provides fun facts and advisories to help you prepare for a memorable and excitingsummer escapade.
EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS
SUMMER TOOL BOX
A-Z Bakasyon Grande Travel Tips Bookmarked
Conquer Zambales 24 101
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Managing Editor Creative Director
EXPLORE YOUR CREATIVITY WITH SIDETRIP!
Associate Editor Editorial Assistant Illustrators Photographers
We invite you to send us a photo that best describes or represents a VINTAGE WEEKEND – the theme of Sidetrip’s next issue. The winning photograph will be on the cover of the magazine and the owner will receive a surprise gift pack from us. Email your photo entries (at least 350dpi) to sidetripmag@gmail.com or picomanila@gmail.com with your contact details (name, age, address and mobile number) and a short description of the photo in 50 words or less. Subject line should read “WEEKEND COVER CONTEST.”
For the full mechanics, please visit www. sidetriponline.com or email us for inquiries.
Contributors
Publishers
SOL RACELIS J.R. FELIPE KRISTY ANN TEXON CHRISTA DE LA CRUZ MARIE MONELLENE JIMENEZ LUCILLE ANTONETTE TUNGOL OCHELLE MAE DALUYO IAN ONG, IVAN ANTHONY HENARES, BIKOY VILLANUEVA, JETHER AYALA, JEROME BALUYUT, AMY LEIGH ROLLERA, ALLAN BARREDO, CHESTER CATILAGO, ALLAN R. ASCANAO, JOEL V. SISON, PAWEL ZUREK IVAN ANTHONY HENARES, DIANNE MONSOD, MARICAR CADAVICIO, CLARE AMADOR, ANNE ELICAÑO, GLENN DIAZ, MAICA LAGMAN, PRYME QUEBLATIN, APRIL YAP, CONSIGLIERE DE LENA, MIGUEL VILLEGAS, ELROI YEE
JOANNA MARIE MONTOYA J.R. FELIPE
Advertising Managers
ROMMEL BOBILES
Advertising Executive
MARK VERGEL ROSOS
Marketing Coordinator
MELODY MAGBANUA
Subscription Officer
MELINDA VALENCIA
Sidetrip is a quarterly travel magazine published by Pico Integrated Marketing Agency, 3328 Matanzas St., Palanan, Makati City, Philippines. Phone (+632) 832 2067. Telefax (+632) 556 7262. Email EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING at sidetripmag@gmail.com or picomanila@gmail.com. Manuscripts and photographs must be accompanied by a self-addressed envelope. While every reasonable care will be taken by the editors, Sidetrip is not responsible for the return of unsolicited submissions. Opinions expressed here are solely those of the writers and not necessarily endorsed by Pico. Reproduction of photos in full or in part is probihited, unless permission is secured from the editor and/or publishers.
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CONTRIBUTORS ANNE ELICAÑO regularly writes for Philippine glossies and won the 2007 International Essay Competition for Young People award from UNESCO and the GOI Peace Foundation of Japan. She was bitten by the travel bug when she joined an international non-profit organization in 2005, a job which took her to various countries in East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Europe.
IVAN ANTHONY HENARES is a young man who is well on his way to exploring the country’s 7,107 islands and more. His candid and well-written travel journals in Ivan About Town (www.ivanhenares. com)—named Best Travel Blog at the 2007 Philippine Blog Awards— give his readers a glimpse of Philippine culture. A staunch heritage advocate, he is a trustee of the Heritage Conservation Society and represents the Philippines in the ICOMOS International Cultural Tourism Committee (ICTC). Henares is currently the Marketing Operations Manager of the North Philippines Visitors Bureau (NPVB).
APRIL YAP has a day job in the media industry but is a closet writer. She leans towards humorous nonfiction when she has the time to write but has to admit there aren’t that many funny things about advertising.
PRYME QUEBLATIN always has a lot of things on her mind. Most of the time, it revolves around finding a way to fund her next travel stint.
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MIGUEL VILLEGAS is a Sagittarius whose centaur hooves mean that he’s got itchy feet. He loves to travel, something he’s been doing since he was a child with his family. He believes no matter how far you may travel, there will always be new horizons to push. He also loves to write, having written for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as being a part-time performance poet, aspiring author and English teacher.
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DIANNE MONSOD doesn’t consider herself a writer. But since she’d like to find good deals and tell people about them, she decided to share her finds with Sidetrip. Having a day job at the country’s largest oil company, she finds writing for a travel magazine an outlet for her desire to experience trips and adventures (even if it’s just in the metro).
GLENN DIAZ is a freelance writer who dabbles with something as mundane as “Grey’s Anatomy” spoilers and things as weird as corporate annual reports and reviews on postmodern stage plays. He has written for several magazines, specializing in travel, cafe lifestyle, and business, among others. He also freelances for PR agencies and once or twice has given workshops on campus journalism to teachers. He earned his secondary education degree from UP Diliman in 2008.
CLARE AMADOR is part of Youth Trip Philippines, a volunteerbased group that promotes responsible travel and sustainable local tourism. http:// www.ytrip.org.ph
MARICAR CADAVICIO Previously a production manager and episode writer for a local cooking show, Maricar continues to prowl the Philippines for good eats and great getaways as she hums to the tune of Discovery Channel’s “Boom De Ah Dah” on her ipod.
MAICA LAGMAN After writing and editing several books, Maica Lagman decided it was time to shift from writing full-time to growing her herbs and whipping up original Filipino salad dishes. Her new project, tossed.multiply.com, keeps her occupied for now. Email her at iwanttossed@gmail.com.
EDITOR’S NOTE F
our years ago, I set foot on the powderfine sand of Boracay for the first time and fell in love with the island immediately. Fast forward to 2009, while most people—myself included—still seem to be enchanted by this piece of paradise and consider it a summer staple working for a travel magazine has led me to discover that with an archipelago like ours, the list of “paradisos” yet to be explored and enjoyed seems endless. We’ll take you to some of these uncommon beach destinations in the article “Paradise Uncovered” and also introduce you to other treasures found in Negros Occidental beyond its sugar plantations—the heritage houses and structures reflective of the strong Spanish influence in the province. This is but the second Summer issue of Sidetrip but we already have so much to be proud of, much to be thankful for and much more to offer to you, our dear readers. Starting with this issue, Sidetrip comes to you in wider and more colorful pages so you can better enjoy our travel features and food finds. You will also get a chance to know more about celebrities and their travel stories, PLUS get an interesting review of the metro’s restaurants and dining places; see a sampler in our P500 Chow-llenge. Aside from coffee shops, restaurants, hotels and terminals, you will see more of Sidetrip in leading bookstores nationwide. Each of these milestones is possible because of your continued support, our dear readers. And for that, we are truly grateful. This summer and hopefully, for countless summers in the future, I encourage you to share in our journeys as we open doors to new adventures and discover a world of never-ending possibilities.
Sol Racelis sidetripmag@gmail.com
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HEY SIDETRIP! LETTER OF THE ISSUE
PINOY PRIDE
I was able to get hold of a copy of your Oct-Dec 2008 issue and I should say that i liked what I saw and read in your magazine. Congratulations for coming up with such kind of a magazine. This is what we lack here in the Philippines...a magazine that would showcase or highlight beautiful places and things you could do in our country. I travel a lot especially in the US and I also make it a point that I get to have a copy of the many brochures and magazines they have at the airports. These serve as a guide for me where to go and what to do in the state I visited. Anyway, at least now we have one mag here that would show tourists (both local and foreign) how beautiful our country is. Anyway, i visited your website but it seems that it is not fully operational yet. I just want to ask how could I get hold of your previous copies so that I could have a guide where to take my friends and guests when they visit me here. —M E L O
CUNANAN
S I D E T R I P S AY S
Hi Melo! Sidetrip applauds Pinoy travelers like you who are proud of our country. We hope that you will continue to promote the Philippines, and Sidetrip as well to your friends and guests. Starting with this 6th issue, you can get copies of Sidetrip in National Bookstore and Fully-Booked branches nationwide. And by the way, you are the winner of our Letter of the Issue. You get a special gift pack from us. Drop by our office anytime from 9am – 5pm.
PHOTO EXPLORER I would like to inquire where I can get copies of your free Sidetrip Travel Magazine. Tried browsing your website but the uploaded pix there are not complete. Hope you can send me copies of your issues. —K A R E N
SARMIENTO
S I D E T R I P S AY S
Hi Karen! Thanks for your email. You may check our corporate website – www.picomanila.com for the complete version of Sidetrip’s Issue #3 and #4. Also, starting with this Summer issue, you will see more of Sidetrip in National Bookstore and Fully-Booked branches. Each copy will be sold for only P45.00. We hope that you will continue to support our magazine. Cheers to more adventures!
ADVENTURE SEEKER I loved your latest issue with the articles on extreme sports. I have always wanted to try other outdoor activities and your magazine provided me with information on some possible ventures like freediving and sharkdiving. The contact details and travel tips were also very helpful. Keep up the good work and more power to Sidetrip. —A I L E E N
CIEGO
S I D E T R I P S AY S
Hi Aileen! We’re glad that you enjoyed our last issue. Thank you and hope that you will have more extreme adventures in the future.
See you!
E-MAIL SIDETRIP We’d like to hear from you! Send your letters to sidetripmag@gmail.com and let us know your thoughts on recent stories and new places to visit. Letters chosen may be edited for clarity and space. The letter of the issue receives a free one-year subscription to Sidetrip Travel Magazine. Reader opinions expressed in letters do not necessarily reflect those of Sidetrip Travel Magazine and/or Pico Integrated Marketing.
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SUBSCRIPTION FORM SUBSCRIBER INFORMATION SUBSCRIBER’S NAME SUBSCRIBER’S ADDRESS
HOME NUMBER
OFFICE NUMBER E-MAIL ADDRESS MOBILE NUMBER RECIPIENT’S NAME (for GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS) PLEASE DELIVER THE MAGAZINE TO THIS ADDRESS
All validated** Sidetrip subscriptions from April 2 to June 30, 2009 are automatically included in the PROMO.
Subscribers will get a chance to win The North Face and Eagle Creek Bags if he/she will subscribe within April 2 June 30, 2009.
PROMO PERIOD April 2 - June 30, 2009
COVERAGE Nationwide
PRODUCTS COVERED Covered are one (1) TNF Fausto Bag for the major prize and four (4) Eagle Creek Travel Pouch for the minor prizes. Purchase amount required is P 180.00 for NCR subscribers and P 180.00 plus 240 for provincial subscribers.
WHO ARE QUALIFIED TO JOIN? All Sidetrip subscribers are qualified to join except, Employees of the promoting agency, advertising agency and drop center including relatives up to the second degree of consanguinity or affinity.
Street, Palanan, Makati City. DEADLINE
subscribe.picomanila@ gmail.com or FAX to (02) 832 2067, or SEND to 3/F MDCC Building, 3328 Matanzas
Account Name: PICO INTEGRATED MARKETING AGENCY
CASH ON DELIVERY (COD) M E T R O M A N I L A O N LY
June 30, 2009, 6 p.m.
RAFFLE
Winners will be determined at 3/F MDCC Building 3328 Matanzas St. Palanan Makati City on July 8, 2009, 6 p.m. A participant can win only once. If a participant wins more than once, he will get the prize of higher value. Winners will be notified through registered mail. Redemption period shall be within 60 days from notification. Redemption Center is at 3/F MDCC Building 3328 Matanzas St. Palanan Makati City. Winners may claim their prizes by presenting a valid I.D. Prizes are not convertible to cash.
HOW TO JOIN? Sign up for a one-year subscription with Sidetrip Travel Magazine (just fill up the subscription form and pay the annual fee at any BDO branch) then email the completed subscription form and the proof of deposit to:
CASH / DATED CHECK Bank Deposit (at any Banco de Oro branches) Savings Account No.: 5310161784
PROMO MECHANICS RAFFLE
PAYMENT OPTIONS
** VALIDATION : Pico must acknowledge receipt of the subscription form and proof of payment through email / fax.
TERMS & CONDITIONS Start of Subscription: For fully paid subscriptions received on the 1st to the 20th of the month, magazine deliveries will start the next month. Otherwise, deliveries will start two months after. Provincial Subscribers: An additional delivery charge amounting to P240 applies to 1-YR subscription. Please FAX this form together with the bank validated deposit slip to PICO INTEGRATED MARKETING AGENCY at TELEFAX (02) 832 2067; alternatively, E-MAIL this form together with the bank validated deposit slip to subcribe.picomanila@gmail.com
For any SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES, please contact: Tel. No.: 994 0564 / 832 2067 / 556 7262 E-mail: subscription.picomanila@gmail.com Head Office: 3/F MDCC Building, 3328 Matanzas St., Palanan, Makati.
To subscribe online, visit picomanila.com
Per DTI Permit # 1666 Series of 2009
THIS FORM IS ALSO DOWNLOADABLE AT
www.picomanila.com
TRAVEL TALES
PARA UNCOVERED
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W W W.SIDETRIPONLINE.COM
ADISE BY
I V A N
A N T H O N Y
H E N A R E S
PHOTOGRAPHED BY ALLAN BARREDO
With 7,107 islands in the Philippines, the list of wonderful beaches is endless. With so many excellent choices in this island paradise, coming out with a definitive list of great beaches to visit in the Philippines is no easy task. Since Boracay, Palawan and Bohol are already popular, here are some beaches that fewer people know of but will give the same “wow” factor!
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TRAVEL TALES
W W W.SIDETRIPONLINE.COM
SIDETRIP SPECIAL
NEGROS
OCCIDENTAL The sugar capital of the country has a lot more to offer than just sweet produce from its vast plantations—remnants of a rich history from the Spanish era are reflected in the old structures and ancestral houses of the fourth largest island in the Philippines. Join Maica Lagman and Glenn Diaz as they step inside these significant relics and acquaint themselves with the interesting stories that existed beyond its walls and archways. HOFILEÑA ANCESTRAL HOUSE page 64 GASTON MANSION page 68 CHAPEL OF THE CARTWHEELS page 68 LOPEZ ANCESTRAL HOUSE page 70 THE RUINS page 74
+
Where to Stay Where to Eat What to Do What to Buy
Negros Occidental Destination Map
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