Why choose Pangasinan? The Gem of the Favorite Getaway.

BACKGROUND

The third biggest province in the whole Philippine Archipelago derived its name from salt or “asin” in the vernacular. Owing to the rich and fine salt beds which were the prime source of livelihood for the province’s coastal towns, PanagASINan, or “Pangasinan” which means “where salt is made” came to be its name. They are also considered the favorite getaway of the Philippines because of their satisfying tourist spots. 

Pangasinan boasts of stretches of white, sandy beaches, verdant hills, scenic terrains, caves, waterfalls, ancient Hispanic churches, miraculous destinations for devotees, a vast coastline for fishing, water sports, or leisurely walking along the Lingayen beach where one can get a glimpse of the world-famous Philippine sunset.

FOOD CULTURE

Pangasinan is very rich in different delicacies and cuisines. From the native dishes to desserts and rice cakes using glutinous rice. One example of that is the tupig and the famous puto calasiao. Some popular Kapampangan dishes that have won over the Filipino palate across the country include its famous sisig, morcon, menudo, caldereta, estofado, embotido, asado, lengua, lechon, chicharon, afritada, bringhi (paella), tabang talangka (crab meat), the "tocino" or pindang and their native version of the longaniza. But do you know that Pangasinan is also rich in bagoong or shrimp paste so they invented a dish that has a twist of bagoong that is Lechon Bagoong.

LECHON BAGOONG

It was in 2019 when the innovation that is lechon bagoong was unveiled to the public. It was even featured in a segment of Unang Hirit, when they came to visit the town. Lechon bagoong is a fish sauce twist to the grilled whole pig delicacy that all Filipinos are familiar with. I got very curious about this Lechon Bagoong but as of now, I have no chance to eat it so I made a diagram to compare what is the difference between the two. I based on the ingredients that was used.

 

Why Choose La Union? The Gem of the Surfing Capital of the Philippines

 

BACKGROUND

La Union, which translates to “The Union”, was formed in 1850 by merging towns from the neighboring Provinces of Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, and Benguet. Today, La Union asserts its position as the “Heart of Agri-Tourism in Northern Luzon by 2025” because of its major potentials in the fields of Agriculture and Tourism. The province of La Union was formed in 1850 when the Spanish colonial government of Governor-General Antonio Maria Blanco merged the southern towns of Ilocos Sur, the northern towns of Pangasinan, and the western towns of Benguet to the east.

SURFING CAPITAL OF THE PHILIPPINES

San Juan La Union is considered the Surfing Capital of the Northern Philippines. It is one of the perfect getaways for surfing enthusiasts and also the best place to relax and feel-good vibes. San Juan La Union is on the west part of La Union Province and it's also a second class municipality in the province of La Union.  One of the main reasons why people go here is to surf. La Union has waves that can reach 8 to 10ft on a good swell. The best month to go here is from May to March as the good waves last up to 10 months.

FOOD CULTURE

La Union is very known for its richness in agricultural products, As I've witnessed in some documentaries that I've watched, they are particular in their food because it represents their culture. Apart from this, the rich heritage and culture cloak its society, thus, diversifying your tourism experience. What are inseparable are the gastronomic experiences La Union would offer. Since the tourism boom, food hubs and restaurants mushroomed. They offer different varieties of cuisines and desserts, but through my research, there's one thing that captures my curiosity, It is the Halo-Halo de Iloko of La Union.

HALO HALO DE ILOKO

Halo halo de Iloko is one of the famous desserts in La union. Maybe you're all wondering about the difference between halo halo de iloko to the normal halo halo we have.  Halo Halo de Iloko came from the culture of the people in La Union. Rosario, La Union is very rich in Carabao's Milk so they consider this as the main ingredient of their halo halo. Mr. Xavier Mercado owner of the most famous halo halo store in region 1 which is the Halo-Halo de Iloko said that the identity of their Halo-Halo is based on their own place that is rich in agricultural products. The most interesting part here, some of the ingredients of halo halo de iloko came from the different places in La Union.

Why choose Ilocos Sur? The Gem of the Samitoy and Ancient Region.

 

BACKGROUND

Ilocos Sur was founded by the Spanish conquistador, Juan de Salcedo in 1572. It was formed when the north (now Ilocos Norte) split from the south (Ilocos Sur). At that time it included parts of Abra and the upper half of present-day La Unión. The current boundary of the province was permanently defined through Act 2683, which was signed in March 1917. In Ilocos Sur, you’ll be delighted to step into the picturesque Vigan, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It feels like time traveling to the past, as the Spanish-era houses have been well-preserved over the years.  

VIGAN, ILOCOS SUR 

If you want to go from the past and witness the beauty of our country Vigan Ilocos Sur is the perfect destination for you. It is one of the famous tourist spots in Ilocos Sur because it is considered as the ancient country in the Philippines, Vigan is famous for its well-preserved Spanish Colonial town, historical Vigan tourist spots, and delicious food and delicacies. Because of its charm, it has been inscribed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 

FOOD CULTURE

The Ilocanos (people living in Ilocos) are known in the country for serving some of the best dishes in the Philippines. They say if you want to eat authentic foods like bagnet, igado, pinakbet, etc. you should visit Vigan Ilocos Norte & Sur. I never got the chance to visit Ilocos Sur but If I will be given a chance, I will definitely try the signature food in Ilocos Sur which is the Ilocos Empanada. Some of the Tourists said that your Vigan trip will not be complete if you will not able to try the Vigan's Statement food which is Ilocos Empanada. 

ILOCOS EMPANADA

I've tried different varieties of empanada in malls and bazaars, I can say that they're delicious and it has a unique taste for each flavor. It comes in different varieties such as ham and cheese, cheese, hotdog, pork giniling, etc. but I really want to taste the authentic type of empanada in Vigan Ilocos Sur. So I'm planning to make one so I searched for a recipe for that and I want to share it with you. 

Why choose Ilocos Norte? The Gem of the Northern Tourist Destination.

                                    

HISTORY

 Ilocos Norte is a province in the northern Philippines. In the capital Laoag City, grand Paoay Church is a fusion of local and baroque architecture. At the province’s northern tip, the town of Pagudpud is known for its beaches, like Blue Lagoon, plus bell-shaped Timmangtang Rock and towering Kabigan Falls. Ilocos Norte is noted for being the birthplace of former President Ferdinand E. Ilocos Norte is also known as a northern tourist destination, being the location of Fort Ilocandia, an upper-class hotel and beach resort famous among expatriates, and Pagudpud.

ILOCANO FOOD CULTURE

Ilocos may be a wonderland of heritage sites, coastal attractions & exquisite handicrafts but it is always their food that lingers in our travel memories the most. Ilocano cuisine always has something to make any foodie burp — from the hearty & healthy, to the crispy & naughty. And whether original to Ilocos or a version of our favorite food from somewhere else, eating your way around here is surely a delightful travel experience. Ilocos is recognized for its strong culinary traditions across our island-sprawling nation. It is a salt-happy & porcine-dominated regional cuisine, so adored for its flavourful dishes.

In my opinion, out of all these famous dishes, there's a famous dish that is known and can be made not only in Ilocos Norte but also in different parts of the Philippines. Get your tummies ready because you will see one of the famous and delicious cuisines in Ilocandia, and that is Pinakbet or Pakbet Ilocano. 

Pinakbet is the Ilocano’s to-die-for mélange of vegetables stewed & shriveled with shrimp paste. Indeed, Ampalaya or bitter gourd is the star of this dish. But if you put in the rest of the gang like the poqui-poqui, utong & kabatiti, what you get is a savoury orgy of vegetables. Pinakbet is made from mixed vegetables sautéed in fish or shrimp sauce. The word is the contracted form of the Ilokano word pinakebbet, meaning "shrunk" or "shriveled." But before I tell you my insights and opinion about this famous dish, let me first show you what is the anatomy of a pakbet or pinakbet. Pinakbet was our dinner last night so I decided to make an anatomy of it. 

As a Filipino, We really love this kind of cuisine especially our oldies since it's originally full of vegetables which gives different types of nutrients we need in our body. This type of food is perfect for solo, group, couple, or family. This regional variation derives its characteristic taste from bagoong alamang or shrimp paste instead of bagoong isda and usually includes kalabasa for a touch of sweetness. This is also a type of food that our family even my siblings enjoy every lunch or dinner time. As you can see in the photo, my sister really enjoys eating her bunch of pinakbet that best partnered with fried fish or fried meat that can full your tummies. 

This is not the only dish that can make your heart complete, there are a lot of dishes in Ilocos Norte that can make your heart and tummy flutter So what are you waiting for? grab this chance to discover different delicacies and cuisines that Ilocos Norte notable for! This is the reason why you need to choose Ilocos Norte, the gem of the Northern Destination!