A few months ago, I had the opportunity to visit this quiet city. It was part of the Leyte Province and the Department of Tourism Eastern Visayas was promoting the different places to check out. It seemed surreal for me since this place had a lot of things to offer.
For one, there was a recently discovered waterfall. Named as TRES AGUAS, this place is a bit difficult to visit. A visitor should hire a certified guide to help them out. Using an off road vehicle is a must as certain parts aren't well paved yet.
After paying an entrance fee, one would descend through a roughly made stair/ path. Be careful though as it might be slippery. Once you get down, you are greeted by 3 different waterfalls. They may not be as big as others but the place is tranquil and perfect for a small picnic gathering between friends and loveones.
Another thing that ORMOC is known for would be their PINEAPPLES. A visit to a farm should be on the top of your list. Remember to ask for permission first as these are privately owned places. Advance coordination must be done.
Luckily, I was able to check out one of the biggest. It was ORMOC FARMS PINEAPPLE. The place was stunning. Endless pineapple fields as far as the eye could see. It was like the sounds of music.
The fruit itself is quite petite compared to others but this is what makes it unique. According to the locals, one could easily eat every part. Plus, it's sweet and is actually cultivated for export.
If there was one place to visit in ORMOC, it should be LAKE DANAO.
Situated on top of a mountain, the LAKE DANAO NATURAL PARK hosts 143 hectares of lake area. Here, one could rent different boats and even floating huts to serve as rest areas and lunch places.
At the entrance itself, you could ask different stalls to cook dishes for you. There are tons of mussels and pako or fern salad that you could devour. You could even cook and grill while having a relaxing stay on the covered hut in the middle of the lake.
One great idea though would be to eat the different dishes KAMAYAN style. Place everything on top of banana leaves and go for it. It's a nice way to bond with your friends and loved ones.
It was a night to remember. Right in the middle
of town, a plaza was transformed into an event’s place to showcase the
extraordinary products of Eastern Visayas. An invitation for tourists both
foreign and local to visit and enjoy the bounty of the land.
Here, a presentation of different food items led
to a gathering of purveyors and local artists in the industry. Giving an
emphasis to BAYBAY CITY and ORMOC CITY, each saw it fit to promote their crafts
and specialties.
Graced by the presence of different government officials
from BAYBAY CITY, ORMOC CITY, and the Department of Tourism, the event was an
off shoot of the recently concluded MADRID FUSHION MANILA . Each one
contributed and collaborated to introduce and promote the different products of
the area.
To start things off, LEYTEas a whole sent on over DRIED PUSIT or SQUID. A perfect starter, these
crunchy small bites are. Some are sweetened while others goes well with vinegar
on the side.
Just beside it, MORON was also served. Somewhat close to
suman, these are sticky rice pudding wrapped in banana leaves. Others would
also enjoy the BINAGOL. Made with taro or gabi, it is mixed with some glutinous
rice and served with a special peanut sauce. Remember to flip it upside down to
get the sauce on top.
According to ESTRELLA PANGILINAN of the Ormoc Festival and
Cultural Foundation, Ormocanon dishes are a fusion of flavors from all over the
country. It is a mix of Hispanic and American influences that produces a rich
and flavorful taste.
Right off the bat, NATIVE PORK LECHON was brought out. The pigs
used are very special to Leyte. They are black, thick skinned, and have long
snouts. Surprisingly, the lechon isn’t as oily as you would experience with
other roasted pigs from the country. Their version can stand on its own in room
temperature without it’s fat coagulating. According to Jet Serafica, the person
behind this amazing dish, you won’t need soap to wash your hands after eating
this healthier lechon version.
When asked, Department of Tourism’s very own
BING LUMBRE mentioned that food from Eastern Visayas has an affinity towards
coconut. Differentiating itself from Bicol, as theirs is not as spicy. Rather,
it is rich, sweet, and savory. A few dishes were presented that could seem
similar but quite unique. HINATUKAN NGA MANOK or Chicken boiled in coconut milk
alongside LAWOT LAWOT or mixed
vegatables and their very own LUMO or stewed carabao meat in coconut milk were
all present in the event.
Another specialty, would be the HUMBA. Pork belly is cooked
in soy sauce, vinegar and brown sugar. One would think that it is similar to
adobo yet, it isn’t. Their version is also mixed with salted black beans, fried
peanuts salt and even uses ORMOC’S very own pineapples. BAY LEAF CATERING gave
it a little twist by using a brand of softdrink just to sweeten it up.
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Speaking of, ORMOC’S PINEAPPLES were also the
star of the show. Known for their incredible sweetness, the core is also so
soft that you could eat it. Since there is an abundance of pineapples, they are
also made into pies that everyone would love and enjoy.
Surprisingly, local establishments have caught up with the
salted egg craze as well. One even delivers these very addicting snacks. Others
from the ORMOC LOCAL PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION presented takes on sweet endings
like cakes, ice creams, and even tarts. Special mention has to go with DINDO’S
ICE CREAM. As a local fruit vendor, he uses the fruits he sells to create a
delicious and healthy ice cream blend.
Aside from the gathering of these amazing dishes, BAYBAY
CITY made sure that they were properly represented as well. Known for having
different root crops, they have these amazing CASSAVA CHIPS right there for the
taking.
EARLIER in the day, BAYBAY CITY prepared a scrumptious feast
to compliment its focus on cassava. Here, we were introduced to CASSAVA or
locally known as KABKAB.
Traditionally, these were flattened out to a big flat sheet.
It is partnered with their very own mix of blackstrap molasses. Usually, you
would see this to be on the light brown transparent side but the sugar that
they create it from makes it quite different and distinctively BAYBAY.
Different restaurants and establishments made
use of the KABKAB and turned it into something more up to date. We could find
it partnered with different dips and sauces. D’KORETOR ASIAN RESTO made it into
tuna, chicken, or vegie taco form. Ciudad partnered it with French Onion Dip.
For a more local flavor, PEDRO’S CAFÉ had it as “BINAYBAYON TACO”, a fun mix of
different vegetables and spices to put on top of the KABKAB. As such, we could
conclude that the KABKAB is very versatile that it could work with anything you
partner it with.
One of the most famous dishes in BAYBAY CITY though would be
their very own grilled chicken. A concoction of different herbs and spices
makes the flavor of this grilled dish. They are very proud of this and as a
visitor you should try it out as well.
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Another surprise would be their version of the HALO HALO. It
is only here that one could see the HALO HALO created with different fruits and
vegetables.
The night ended with different song, dance, and fire
exhibition numbers from the locals. It
was a festive experience.
EASTERN VISAYAS is a place that would definitely be on the
map when it comes to food. For a Manila guy like me, I didn’t expect that the
dishes they serve were quite delicious. It’s something that you rarely see in
the metro. More than just food, wait for my future posts where I feature
different activities in Ormoc and Baybay.
A whirlwind visit it was. Just last week, I had the honor of being invited by the DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM to vist EASTERN VISAYAS. To be exact, I was able to go Leyte and check out the different natural and gastronomic attractions it has to offer. As I arrived pretty early, there were two interesting places one should and could visit when in LEYTE.
The first one would be the MACARTHUR LANDING MEMORIAL PARK. The statues that are seen here commemorates the time that the good general came back to the Philippines to liberate it from Japanese Occupation. It's here that we see and feel the immense historical and cultural importance that particular point in time was to everyone in the country and the world. It was a step closer to stopping and finishing world war 2. Just beside it lies the Rock Garden of Peace. Messages of peace from countries all over the world are engraved on tablets for the public to see.
A short ride later would lead you to another attraction. The SAN JUANICO BRIDGE simply is majestic. It is the longest bridge in the Philippines. As such, it connects Leyte and Samar making it easier for visitors and residents to travel across the body of water. One could actually stop for a quick picture and enjoy the clean and cool breeze. Just be careful as you could feel the bridge shake each time a vehicle passes by.
An interesting and quaint bed and breakfast place to visit would be LORENZO'S WAY. Here, they offer a few rooms to visitors and all day breakfast fare to hungry guests.
Breakfast could start off with some coffee or even with these homemade lemonade concoctions. Visually appealing, it isn't too sweet.
The meal itself is appropriate for the long day ahead. Breakfast platters could be a choice between TOCINO, a sweet cured pork or BEEF TAPA, tender beef strips that were marinated or LONGGANISA, a garlic version of sausages, and BANGUS, milkfish that was dip fried to get a golden brown finish.
I am jeng, a sweet guy with a different kind of heart. I love to eat and travel.Enjoy and comment on. Need to contact me? email at foodinthebagblog@gmail.com
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