PAGUDPUD BEACH: Luzon’s white sand

By: Madellyn Marcelino

Pagudpud is a big place to visit, if you are looking for the moderately excellent charms of the Philippines. It’s thought of the biggest island within the Philippines. The hills and mountains are luxuriant, the valleys productive. It lies forty five miles north of Laoag town, the metropolis, and concerning 350 miles north of Manila -- concerning the equal distance between Los Angeles and therefore the San Francisco Bay area. Creeks, streams and waterfalls splash the landscape and spill into the South China Sea. All around, the ocean and sky are afloat in varied shades of blue.

Pagudpud Beach, two hours north of Laoag town, has powder-white sand like what Cebu has or you called it Boracay, however it's laborious to inform what is bluer: the sky or the ocean. Whereas you're creating up your mind, you may conjointly take into account a stop in Pasuquin, wherever the noted biscocho (Ilocos biscuit) may be a favorite net delicacy for native guests. however do not forget to envision your watch, for whereas you play within the waters of Pagudpud, you will not notice what quantity time you've got spent on these pleasant shores, that square measure at the terribly tip of Luzon Island.

When we went in Ilocos last summer this is the last place we visited. The trip going to Pagudpud is too long. But if you’re already in this place you won’t regret anything because this place has a good view and lot of things you can do here. It is better if you will go here in summer with your family or barkadas.

Pagudpod has four completely different forms of beaches. You’ll be able to choose what beach you'll go to. Initial is Punta Azul Beach Resort. Its style blends with the natural beauty and you'll be captivated by the beautiful crystal blue water, pristine white sands at the foot of abundant mountains, rather like a hidden treasure; a paradise at the northern tip of the Philippines. Second is Hannah’s Beach Resort & Convention Center, is that the newest and most fun vacation destination in Pagudpud. The Blue lagoon, with its fascinating crystal clear waters and white sand beach, cancertainly create your keep an unforgettable and pleasurable one. Third may be a Saud Beach Resort and edifice offers nightlong accommodation wherever every space has sunset read. And last is coraciiform bird Resort was inbuilt ancient vogue with the last word base to launch your kitesurf riding vacation. Kite surf riding, windsurfing and plenty of alternative water activities is skilled here.

This is the place where you can relax and enjoy your vacation after going on a tour in Ilocos, go straight here in Pagudpud and unwind. Forget all the problems you’re encountering and start a better life. Invite your family members or friends to go here and experience a good vacation.

BUGNAY WINE: A Mild Wine With Strong Impact.

By Joel Ortega 

Wine is known for being healthy for our hearts. According to studies, wine contains a procyanidins that protects us against heart disease. And wine promotes longer lifespan, and also it protects us against certain cancers, and also improves our mental health. A glass of wine a day keeps a doctor away.

Wine is my favorite alcoholic drink. Well, I don’t really drink alcoholic beverages not because I don’t like them but because I’m allergic and I’m not really a fan of strong drinks. But when it comes to wine it doesn’t matter if I’m allergic. Because wine is really addictive but even though of course I also have to be aware of my condition and take care of myself, so I drink wine at least 1 or 2 times a week or 4 times a month or sometimes I only drink occasionally. 

Red wine is my favorite, unlike the white wine; the red wine has a bittersweet taste while white wine taste more sweet. And also I know it’s weird but whenever I drink red wine I feel strong and seductive maybe because of the spirit of the wine or because of the color of the red wine because for me the color red makes people look fierce and intimidating. So for years I’m only drinking 1 type of wine and alcoholic beverage. But these all change when my relative from Ilocos visit us. It’s Christmas and its kind of my relatives routine that whenever they come to our house they will bring foods or alcohols. Then last 2012, Christmas, my cousin brings a wine that I never taste before. It’s a Bugnay wine. 

Whenever we visit Ilocos and stop at some restaurants to eat, I always notice at their alcoholic drinks that there is Bugnay wine, but then I just ignore it because I don’t drink when I’m not at home. I heard so many good things about it; they said that taste is really good and unlike the other wines, the bugnay wine is made from a bugnay fruit or a wild cherry and not a grape. Bugnay is a fruit that is native here in the Philippines and also in Australia. It is dark plum-colored and is very sweet when ripe. This is a very small fruit that can be as tiny as a gun pellet.

After years of my curiosity about Bugnay wine, finally, I can already taste it. On the moment I opened and smell the aroma of Bugnay wine I already knew that the Bugnay wine will taste good. Then I pour it on my wine glass and then I smell first to feel the aroma then I take a zip, and that’s when it hits me, Bugnay wine is my new favorite wine. Bugnay wine has this original and pleasant taste and aroma which is likened to a grape wine. And the Bugnay wine is purple like color. I’m really speechless when I first taste it, I’m really stunned. Then I take another zip, another zip and then gulp until I finished the whole bottle. I just can’t get enough of the Bugnay wine, every zip is heaven, and I’m crazy craving for it. Since then whenever my relatives from Ilocos visit us, they now always bring Bugnay wine.

Bugnay wine is really addictive and truly luscious. I highly recommend it for anyone who loves drinking alcoholic drinks or wine and I also highly recommend it to anyone who are mild drinkers because Bugnay wine is not a strong alcoholic drink that even when you already finished 5 glasses you will still not feel dizzy and drunk. Bugnay wine is a wine that anyone must taste it. Go and try Bugnay wine, you won’t be disappointed. Get lost to the luscious taste and aroma of Bugnay wine. 

DINARDARAAN: Ilocano Version of Dinuguan

By: Pauline Saballo

Kuripot. They say Ilocanos are like that. But they're not that type of people. The truth is they are only the practical type of people. They do not spend money lavishly. Instead, they only purchase the things that they need. This trait proves that Ilocanos are just efficient people who put anything into use as long as it's still working or effective. With those, I can say that wasting seems not to be a part of the Ilocano's identity.

This particular trait of Ilocanos has become part of their culture. It was even adapted when it comes to food. For instance, when a pig is slaughtered, some pig parts like the brain, intestines, feet and blood is going to be put on waste. This is probably the scenario in some parts of the Philippines or even in the world. But in Ilocos, every part has its use and every part can be a main ingredient of a particular Ilocano delicacy.

Dinardaraan is one of the delicacies in which the main ingredient is pork blood. Foreign tourists would probably find this unusual. Why would they even taste pork blood? It's disgusting right? Well to those tourists who really find this dish weird,, I must say, "Wait until you taste it."

Filipinos, like me, would surely know what dinardaraan is. It is because dinardaraan is simply dinuguan in FIlipino terms. We are all familiar with this right? It's simply pork blood stew. Some folks even call it "chocolate meat". But what is the difference between the dinadaraan of Ilocos and the usual pork blood stew (dinuguan) that FIlipinos, like me, is familiar with?

Just like any other dishes, Ilocanos managed to make dinardaraan distinct from any other dinuguan variants. DInardaraan is usually dry when you compare it to the common dinuguan. For this dish, Ilocanos prefer thick broth. It is also sometimes oily. The people of Laoag CIty even serve their dinuguan with fried pork intestines on top (see the picture on the left). Dinardaraan, being drier than the common dinuguan, managed to give off a different taste compared to the dinuguan that I'm used to. Before tasting this, I thought that it will just be the same but then it's not. It is different but in a good way.

Through dinardaraan, Ilocanos have proved everyone how practical they are. Not only when it comes to necessities but also in cooking. I personally love how Ilocanos are resourceful in cooking but still managed ot make every dish delicious. Indeed, being efficient in every way is something that Ilocanos are proud of.

LA PAZ SAND DUNES: Surfing in the sun

By Madellyn Marcelino

Do you want something new? That you’ve never experienced yet? Well, La Paz Sand Dunes is one of the best places to visit to. You don’t have to go to the Middle East countries to see a desert because here in Laoag, Ilocos Norte we have the local version of Sahara desert in Africa or the deserts found in the Middle Eastern countries. You can’t miss this enthusiasm journey in Laoag and Paoay, Ilocos Norte – the La Paz Sand Dunes adventure.

This natural surprise has been declared by the National Historical Institute as a National Geological Monument owing to its distinctive characteristics. As such, no concrete structures ought to be designed on that, and no changes on the land ought to be created. Within the entire Philippines, it's solely in Laoag town and Ilocos Norte wherever this rarity is found, and solely within the Philippines within the entire South East Asian region.

I admit my trip in this desert has been one of the most unforgettable experiences because we experienced to ride an awesome ride trailing the high slope sands and sand boarding without a care of the sun burning our skin. It is more fun if you’re with your family or friends or comfortable people that love this kind of adventure.

I am so very happy after we went there because it’s totally fun!! You won’t regret everything like your expenses, time, sun burns, etc. I swear this place is good to visit with your barkadas and family. But make sure you have money because you won’t enjoy your visit here if you won’t experience any ride here.

As the La Paz Sand Dunes begin simply outside Laoag, they're just accessible from the town. The sand dunes are simply quarter-hour away by either motorized tricycle or public jeepney. It’s additionally potential to run to the seat Sand Dunes from Laoag, though it's going to take a walk of quite an hour in order to cross the complete stretch of the beach. But, it's easier if you've got your own car if you go there.

BAGOONG MONAMON: Awful Smell With Yummy Taste.

By Joel Ortega (4)

My last article is about condiments, it’s about Sukang Ilocano, one of the well-known condiments in Ilocos. If Sukang Ilocano is ONE of the FAMOUS condiments in Ilocos, Now I’m about to unveil the MOST FAMOUS condiment in Ilocos, well not just in Ilocos but in the whole Philippines. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Bagoong. 

The bagoong has a salty taste like fish sauce, but the bagoong tastes more salty and sour. And the bagoong has an awful smell; but not like crap-smell it’s just that the smell of bagoong is really strange and unusual, in other word it’s weird. You can’t really describe the smell. But don’t be fooled by this, bagoong is really good and tasty.

But my article is not just about bagoong alamang or isda, my article is about a kind of bagoong isda that is famous in Ilocos, its Bagoong Monamon. Bagoong monamon or bugguong munamon in Ilocano is an ingredient used particularly in Northern Ilocano cuisine. While bagoong monamon really don’t have any difference at the ordinary bagoong isda, the bagoong monamon is made only in Ilocos.

So, I’m an Ilocano and Ilocanos love bagoong, and call me crazy but I love bagoong more than vinegar, but I love combining them, when you combine bagoong and vinegar it will turned into a very tasty condiment. Since I was a kid, my family is already using bagoong monamon, as an ingredient to our food or as a condiment. Bagoong monamon turns the ordinary fried fish into a very special dish when we use it as a condiment. And bagoong monamon it adds more taste to our pakbet and dinengdeng (two of the famous Ilocano vegetable dish.)

But what I really love about bagoong monamon is that you don’t need food when you have bagoong monamon, you just need a rice, pour the bagoong monamon into the rice then voila you can already eat it. It will be tastier and yummier when you have tomato and onion. This is not a good food for those who are in a diet because when you combine bagoong monamon, rice, tomato and onion I will really assure you that you will eat more than one cup of rice. Because it's really taste good and yummy. 

I highly recommend not just the bagoong monamon but all the kinds of bagoong to those who people who are foreign with bagoong, especially to those people who are not Filipinos. Bagoong is truly a signature condiment of Filipinos. And it’s really a must try.

POQUI-POQUI: A Dish for Vegetarians

By Pauline Saballo

As you can see on my past blog posts, I have always talked about food, right? I always feature Ilocano viands that are perfect with rice. And those dishes are always accompanied with meat. That thought made me think. Is there an Ilocano dish that does not include meat? Is there any Ilocano dish that is best suited for vegetarian people?

As I wonder through the beautiful places of Ilocos, I successfully found an answer to that question. I heard that Ilocanos have this native dish called POQUI-POQUI. It sounds really weird, most especially for Filipino locals. (Hahahahaha) It may even look weird for some people. See the picture on the side? Thanks to those thoughts, it made me think whether I am going to eat this food or not.

What I did before trying this food was to research about it, thanks to Google. After researching about this food, I realized that this dish was pretty simple. Poqui-poqui is just an eggplant dish sautéed with onions, tomatoes and eggs. It seems similar to omelet. I even thought that I could even try cooking this at home.

Poqui-poqui is indeed a simple dish. That’s what most people would think.  But don’t mock this dish! It may only have common ingredients or may not have meat, but this dish is truly delicious. When I finally decided to try this dish when I was in Ilocos, it was truly worth it. It was prepared and cooked the Ilocano way which made the dish to be sooooo yummy! I swear I am going to try to cook this dish someday and I hope that it would taste good too. J

Poqui-poqui is truly a pleasure for not only vegetarians, but for everyone. This dish made me realize that a dish can still taste good even when there’s no meat. If you think that this dish does not look good, I hope you would still try it. Why? Because it tastes reaaaaally good. And I have been saying that for a lot of times in this post. Well, that only shows you how delightful this Ilocano dish called Poqui-poqui is (even though it is only simple, meatless and unattractive at first sight).

SUKANG ILOCANO: Quiver No More.

By Joel Ortega (3)

Are you wishing and hoping to find vinegar with a fair taste? Well then worry no more because I present you one of the most well-known products of Ilocos. I present you the Sukang Ilocano. It is known for its very delicious fair taste. 

The sukang Ilocano is not new to me, even when we visit last March in Ilocos, I know already that there will be sukang Ilocano everywhere. Because when I was younger, whenever our relatives from Ilocos visit us here in Manila, they always bring Sukang Ilocos. Before, I’m not a huge fan of vinegar because I find them weird. Their aroma makes me quiver and their taste makes my stomach ache. But after tasting the Sukang Ilocano, my hate for vinegar turns into love. 

The Sukang Ilocano taste really good. The taste is not very sour. It has a fair taste that you can drink it without shaking. And the aroma is really good, because most of vinegars smell really bad. But sukang Ilocano is an exception. All the things that you are finding in vinegar are in Sukang Ilocano.

 I recommend Sukang Ilocano for those who don’t love vinegar but want to taste it. I also recommend SukangIlocano for those who have sensitive taste, because I totally assure you that this vinegar will totally satisfy your sensitive taste buds. And I highly recommend SukangIlocano for those who love vinegar and collect vinegar; this will be a perfect addition to your collection.

The search is over. Your prayer has been answered. The Sukang Ilocano is now in your hands. Go buy and try it. The ugly face that you make when you smell and taste vinegar is now gone. The Sukang Ilocano will bring smile to your faces and satisfaction.