Fourth of July New Offerings at Vikings SM Lanang Premier

Looking for a place to dine on the 4th of July celebration? Vikings Buffet at SM Lanang Premier brings you exciting new dishes for the month of July which will be launched on July 4, 2014.  Experience dining at the largest luxury buffet in the country, visit Vikings at SM Lanang Premier this July.

New Feature Dishes
Starting July 4 and the succeeding weekends of July, Vikings has prepared special dishes to mark the celebration of the 4th of July. Vikings' Executive Chef Anton Diaz and his team presented us the new feature dishes of the month. Let me me give you an idea what to expect from starters up to the dessert.

Starters
In addition to their huge variety of starters, Vikings introduces their yummy Buffalo Wings, Cheese Sticks, Cheesy Macaroni and Shrimp Popcorn. 

Buffalo Wings
Vikings' Buffalo Wings comes with a blue cheese dipping sauce. I'd say they pretty much complement each other. 

Cheese Sticks
Vikings' cheese sticks are huge with mozzarella cheese filling. It is served with marinara sauce.

Cheesy Macaroni
Viking's cheesy macaroni is not only cheesy but creamy as well. 

Shrimp Popcorn
My favorite among all the starters served. It is deep fried shrimps coated with bread crimbs and is served with ranch dressing. Definitely, one of their must-try starters for the month of July.

Soup
Vikings introduces their Pier 39 Clam Chowder as their new offering for this month. I love it. In fact I'm drooling while writing this. I like the creamy consistency of the soup and and mozzarella cheese that added texture to the soup.

Salad
We were served with a chicken barbecue salad. It's made up of different greens plus cherry tomatoes drizzled with a generous amount of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Main Dishes
Vikings will be offering new and exciting main dishes for the month of July. They will be serving Louisiana Crab Creole, Southwestern Fried Chicken, New Orleans Seafood Gumbo, Hickory Chicken Barbecue, Texas Baby Back Ribs, and Root Beer Cajun Steak.

Louisiana Crab Creole
One of my favorites. It is a crab cake topped with a crab claw and marinara sauce. 

Southwestern Fried Chicken
What makes this fried chicken stand out s the pan gravy sauce. The savory sauce and its right consistency is just perfect for the fried chicken.

New Orleans Seafood Gumbo
It's a combination of fresh seafood - fish, crabs and shrimps in a mild curry sauce. It has the right amount of curry powder.

Texas Baby Back Ribs and Hickory Chicken Barbecue
This is something you should try when you visit Vikings this July. It's perfect to be paired with boiled fresh sweet corn.

Root Beer Cajun Steak
It has the right tenderness but unfortunately I am not a fan of Cajun spice. For me the taste of the cumin was over-powering which I really don't like. I love spices but not cumin. To be fair, my other blogger friends loved it!

Desserts
Three new addition to Vikings' dessert were introduced to us. They now have Peach Cobbler, Apple Pie and New York Cheesecake. The latter was my favorite. It's one of the best tasting cheesecake I have tried. 

Vikings Luxury Buffet - SM Lanang Premier

Upper Ground Level, Fountain Court, SM Lanang Premier

J.P. Laurel Avenue, Davao City 

Tel No.: 082-285-3888, 082-285-4888

Website: http://vikings.ph

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VikingsLanang
Operating Hours: Lunch 11:00AM to 2:30PM | Dinner 5:30PM to 10:00PM

Vikings Buffet Rates and Charges
Weekday Lunch
Kids Below 3ft : Free
Kids Between 3ft to 4ft : P188+
Kids Between 4ft to 4ft 6" : P388
Adults: P588+
75 years old & above : 50% Special Discount

Weekday Dinner
Kids Below 3ft : Free
Kids Between 3ft to 4ft : P288+
Kids Between 4ft to 4ft 6" : P588
Adults: P788+
75 years old & above : 50% Special Discount

Weekend & Holiday Lunch & Dinner
Kids Below 3ft : Free
Kids Between 3ft to 4ft : P288+
Kids Between 4ft to 4ft 6" : P588
Adults: P788+
75 years old & above : 50% Special Discount

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Canili-Diayo Dam in Alfonso Castañeda, Nueva Vizcaya

I've seen a lot of interesting places while in the bus during my recent Northern Luzon trip. But, this dam in the town of Alfonso Castañeda, Nueva Vizcaya caught my attention. The serenity and tranquility of the place made me wanna stop and spend some time and savor the clean fresh air. I remember the same feeling when I first saw Lake Apo in Bukidnon. Unfortunately, my itinerary was quite fixed so I had to let it pass and continue my journey to Baler.

When I first saw the place, I did not know its name so when I reach Baler I immediately google the place and found out it's the Canili-Diayo Dam and Reservoir. The Canili River Reservoir which is on the left coming from Manila is part of the town of Alfonso Castaneda while the Diayo River Reservoir is part of the town of Maria Aurora in the province of Aurora. I am seriously in love with the place. I know I will have a good time just seeing the calm water. It's a good place to relax and just enjoy the beauty of nature.

Next time I visit Luzon, I'd really want to spend a day in this place. There's probably more to this remarkable view. I wish I still live in Manila so I could just hop on the bus and go this this place whenever I want to unwind and escape the metro. Sometimes I wonder If I should find a place in Manila or somewhere in Luzon to easily go around. I know that there are online real estate property finders like Lamudi Philippines, or property developers like Robinsons Land who can help me find a perfect place for me as they have a lot of property listing but I have to save some money first for this big move. I hope it will happen soon.

How to go to Canili-Diayo Dam and Reservoir
From Manila or Cabanatuan City, take a bus and van going to Baler. You'll see the dam once you are passing through Canili-Diayo Bypass Road.

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Experience New Zealand at Glorietta with Singapore Airlines

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Have you ever dreamt of going to Middle Earth? Well, I have. And if you have, too, then this weekend is bound to one of the most promising yet!

 

The New Zealand Embassy, in partnership with Singapore Airlines and Glorietta, bring together this year’s ‘Experience New Zealand at Glorietta with Singapore Airlines’ - a fair to be held at the Glorietta Activity Center, Palm Drive from June 20 to 22, 2014. The fair will be giving Filipinos a foretaste of the finest New Zealand has to offer, from a variety of delicious food and fresh produce, to the best travel deals to New Zealand’s picturesque cities.

In line with Ayala Malls’ commitment in providing innovative and rewarding experiences to shoppers, Glorietta shoppers will also be given the chance to experience New Zealand for themselves as Singapore Airlines and the New Zealand Embassy are giving away two ‘Experience New Zealand’ packages to Auckland, one for 6 days and 5 nights, and the other for 5 days and 4 nights, inclusive of round-trip economy class tickets via Singapore Airlines, accommodations and tours.

To avail of a raffle coupon, shoppers must present P2,000.00 single and/or accumulated worth of receipts from any Glorietta 1 to 5, 6750 and The Link merchants, plus one purchase of Singapore Airlines/SilkAir Ticket from Manila, Cebu, Davao or Kalibo to Auckland or Christchurch from May 20, 2014 to June 22, 2014. Tickets can be purchased from www.singaporeair.com, SQ Mobile App, Singapore Airlines/SilkAir Ticket and Reservations Offices, and travel agents. AMORE and VIPinoy card holders, as well as Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer members may also increase their chances of winning by presenting their cards along with the proof of purchase to double their raffle coupons. The promo will run from May 20 to June 22, 2014, with the grand draw on June 24, 2014.

For bookings and more details, visit www.singaporeair.com. You may also contact the Glorietta concierge at 752-7272 for more details on the promo.

 

Get a chance to win a trip to New Zealand!

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Photo of the contract signing shows (from left, standing): Myrna Fernandez, Ayala Land Assistant Vice President; Hernando Banal, New Zealand Trade Commissioner, New Zealand Embassy; Rita Dy, Manager for Marketing Communications and Services, Singapore Airlines; (seated): Rowena Tomeldan, Ayala Land Vice President and Head of Operations and Support Services, Commercial Business Group; H.E. Ambassador Reuben Levermore, Ambassador of New Zealand to the Philippines, New Zealand Embassy; Ranjan Jha, General Manager, Singapore Airlines.

Exploring CARAGA Region Part 1 : Island Hopping in Bucas Grande

I'd say this trip was the most spontaneous trip I've ever had. Most of my trips have detailed itinerary and expenses prior to going to a destination. This was totally different, I did not do any research or care about the itinerary, what I want was just to go with the flow with people I barely know. Yes, I traveled with people I never met yet. They were kinda strangers to me. I never talked to them prior to the trip except one, Jefferson, whom I have been talking online for the past year and Anne who I had a chance to talk with days before the trip to know what to expect. I was hesitant at first because as I said I don't know their personality and the fact that they already knew each other gave me a little worry that I might not be able to get along with them. I was wrong, after I met them at our rendezvous, I immediately felt the warm welcome. I knew right there I will have fun with them.

Stingless Jellyfish | Photo by: Jefferson Balon aka Donde Si Jep

Meeting at Hayanggabon Port

I left Davao at around 2AM on June 12, 2014. I was already at the terminal at around 11:30PM but the last last trip to Tandag City has already departed so I just had to cut trips. Instead of taking the non-air Bachelor bus to Butuan, I decided to wait for the airconditioned Philtranco bus which was supposed to leave at 1AM but for some reasons departed an hour later. I arrived at San Francisco Bus Terminal at around 6AM and waited for a bus or van going to Tandag. After about an hour of waiting, a van going to Tandag has arrived at the terminal. I left San Franz at past 7AM and arrived in Tandag City at around 10AM. Luckily, the bus going to Surigao City was already at the terminal and was scheduled to depart 10:30AM so I took a quick breakfast at the terminal and then hopped on the bus. The bus had so many stops to drop and pick up passengers so the travel time was longer than expected. It also stopped for lunch somewhere in the town of Carrascal so I was a little worried about my arrival in Hayanggabon. It will be the first time I am going to meet my travel buddies and I don't want to give them a bad impression about me by arriving late. When I met them, I was feeling sorry, I had to let them wait for me but there's really nothing I can do. I think they understand the fact that I traveled about 14 hours before arriving at the meeting place.

At Hayanggabon Port after the Bucas Grande Tour
EscapeManila with the Instagang : Anne (@traveladik), Scher (@scherzelle), Aleks (@urbrataleks),
Jefferson (@jepepips), Jay-R (@jayrezzy_gimpao),  Alde (@aldeready) & Van (@artisticavan)

Hello Bucas Grande!

We left Hayanggabon port at around 2:30PM. Anne has already arranged a boatman to pick us up from Hayanggabon Port going to Bucas Grande. After around 45 minutes, we arrived at Cinnamon Island, one of the Islands of Bucas Grande which is a part of the town of Socorro. We met Kuya Dodo, the Operations Manager of Sohoton Cove whom Anne talked to and discussed our plans while in Bucas Grande. We already agreed with the price of the tour package (P690 each) so what we did after was to find a place to stay for the night. We first went to SIFAI Cottage which is managed by Sohoton Integrated  Farmers Association Incorporated. The room was good and the rate was very cheap but there's no beach so we decided to hunt for another place. We went to La Fortuna Beach Resort and we thought we will be staying there but the caretaker has informed us that we need to rent the whole resort for P10,000. It was too big for the eight of us so we asked him to let us rent at least the middle portion (it has 3 portions). He was hesitant, so we called his boss and to our dismay she did not agree with our counter offer. I think it was a bad decision from the caretaker, if I were the owner I would allow guest to rent in portions not unless it is already being rented by someone else. Anyway, we had to scout for another place and luckily we found Canlunes Beach Resort. To be honest, it was a better option as the beach is cleaner compared with the one in La Fortuna. We rented an open-air cottage (P1000) and enjoyed the night with some booze, stories and laughters.

We were supposed to do our island hopping in the afternoon but it was already too late so we decided to do it the next day. Instead, some of us went to the nearest market to buy some food. The market was about 20 minutes by boat from Canlunes. The price of the goods are quite high so it is wise buy food from the mainland to save some money.

First Meal in the Island

We were lucky enough to be accompanied with awesome guide and boatmen.They volunteered to cook the fish that we bought from the market for our dinner. The staff at Canlunes Resort prepared the table for us to enjoy our dinner.

We had some drink after dinner, went to the beach for a night swimming and went to bed at around 1AM. It was a memorable first night with the group.

Day 2 in Bucas Grande

We woke up early, around 5AM as we have to start our island hopping as early as we could. Rene, our guide and the boatmen cooked corned beef and meat loaf for our breakfast. We were really lucky to have them. We had the simplest breakfast but it felt like we have the best one. We ate the food with gusto. 

As much as we want to stay in the resort longer, we had to leave the place and start our island hopping. We left Canlunes Resort around 7:30AM.

Stingless Jellyfish Sanctuary
We first visited the Stingless Jelly Fish Sanctuary. We were all awed by what we have witnessed. The place looked amazing and the moment we saw the stingless jellyfish it felt surreal. Swimming with the stingless jellyfish has always been on my bucket list and finally it has been realized.

Stingless Jellyfish | Photo by Jefferson Balon

Stingless Jellyfish | Photo by Jefferson Balon

Everyone was very excited to jump into the water and interact with the stingless jellyfish. I'd say it's one of the highlights of our Bucas Grande trip.

Photo by Van Navarro

Markaa Island
Second stop of our Island Hopping escapade was at Markaa Island. It was a picture-perfect place so a lot of my travel buddies were busy with their monopods for their selfies. 

Group Photo at Markaa Island | By Jefferson Balon

Parang Pag-ibig Shot with Scher and Alde | Photo by Jeffereson Balon

The rise of the "selfie" pods (L-R: Je, Alde, Anne, Jefferson) 

Sohoton Cove Tour
Another highlight of our Bucas Grande Island Tour is our visit to Sohoton Cove. It was something we really look forward to and it did not disappoint us. We had so much fun exploring the cove. As we entered the only way in and out of Sohoton Cove, we immediately felt the pleasurable vibe of finally seeing it up close. 

Entrance to Sohoton Cove | Photo by Scher Padilla of Scher Goes Places

We first visited the Hagukan Cave where we enjoyed swimming in the cold and refreshing water. 

Group Photo  inside Hagukan Cave | Photo by Jeffereson Balon

The second stop was at Magkukuob Cave where we had to go inside the cave and then climb up to get through the exit and jump. It is also known as the diving cave as you have to jump off a platform to exit. This is not for the faint-hearted. The slippery trail of the cave is much more difficult to traverse than to just jump off the platform. It's about 15-foot high from the sea water.

The diving platform at Magkukuob Cave | Photo by Jeffereson Balon

After visiting the two caves, we went back to the Visitor's center and transferred to the bigger boat that we have chartered. We were supposed to visit other attractions in Bucas Grande but due to a very limited time we had to skip it.

Group Shot at Sohoton Cove Visitor's Center with Kuya Dodo | Photo by Scher Padilla of Scher Goes Places

We went back to Cinnamon Resort and settled our bill then we head back to Hayanggabon Port on our way to the City of Tandag for our Surigao del Sur adventure.

How to go to Bucas Grande:

From Surigao
From Surigao City, take a Hayanggabon-bound van or Tandag-bound bus and alight at Hayanggapon Port. You can take a boat from the port or pre-arrange it with Kuya Jojie at 0946 377 2770. The rate is P3500 for drop-off, pick-up and island hopping tour excluding Sohoton Cove. For the Sohoton Cove Tour, you may contact the Operations Manager, Kuya Rolando "Dodo" Henson at 0939 904 7019.

From Butuan
From Butuan City Bus Terminal, take a van or bus to Surigao City and alight at the junction in the town of Placer, Surigao del Norte. Travel time is a little over two hours and fare is around P200. From the junction take a van going to Hayanggabon Port, travel time is roughly 2 hours and fare is P90. Alternatively, you may take the bus going to Tandag and alight at Hayanggabon Port.

From Davao
From Davao City, you may take a Tandag-bound bus, travel time is around 7-8 hours and fare is approximately P500. Alternatively, you may cut trips and take a Butuan-bound bus, alight at San Franz terminal and transfer a van/bus to Tandag. Travel time from Davao to San Franz is about 5 hours and fare for the A/C bus is P380. Travel time from San Franz to Tanda is about 2-3 hours and van fare is P150.

From Bislig/Hinatuan
There is no direct bus or van from Bislig or Hinatuan to Tandag City. The best option is to take a bus to the town of Barobo and from there take a bus/van going to Tandag.

From Tandag City
From Tandag City, the only option to go to Hayanggabon Port is to take a non-A/C Surigao City bound bus. Travel time is 3-4 hours and the fare is P150. Just inform the driver to drop you off at Hayanggabon Port. The port is a walking distance from the highway.


Read more from CARAGA Series...
Exploring CARAGA Region Part 2 : Discovering the Wonders of Surigao del Sur
Exploring CARAGA Region Part 3 : Itinerary & Expenses
Exploring CARAGA Region Part 4 : Bucas Grande Travel Guide
Travel Mindanao : Bislig and Hinatuan Travel Guide

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Restaurants in Bulacan : Bistro Maloleño in Malolos

About an hour drive from Manila, the City of Malolos in the province of Bulacan is famous for its rich history and cultural heritage. It is home to the famed Barasoain Church, the site of the very First Philippine Congress in September 15, 1898 and also the venue of the Inauguration of the First Philippine Republic in January 23, 1899. Today, Malolos continue to grow as a first class city and is currently the capital city of Bulacan Province.

Aside from its historical and cultural heritage, Malolos is also home to a number of culinary heritage. One of the restaurants that serves Authentic Bulacan Heritage Cuisines is Bistro Maloleño Events Place and Restaurant. During our Bulacan Food & Heritage Tour, we were lucky enough to sample some of the heritage cuisines offered by Bistro Maloleno. It was like we travelled in time and we enjoyed it a lot. 

Nilagang Manok sa Puti na may Asparagus (PHP 235.00) 

Nilagang Manok sa Puti is a traditional chicken soup with a twist as it uses asparagus to add flavor. It's something we don't normally see in a traditional nilaga. It is said to be Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo's favorite dish. 

Pochero ni Plaridel (PHP 350.00)

One of Bistro Maloleno's best seller is their version of pochero called Pochero ni Plaridel. It is quite similar to the traditional pochero that we have in Davao. The only difference is the type of meat that they use and the sauce is relatively thicker than our version of pochero. It is said to be Marcelo H. del Pilar's favorite dish.

Hamon Bulakenya (PHP 380.00)

Another specialty dish of Bistro Maloleno is their Hamon Bulakenya. It's a pork dish with the restaurant's special sauce. It is savory and a little sweet which what I was just looking for to pair with a plain rice.

Seafoods Fiesta (PHP 695.00)

Seafoods Fiesta is Bistro Maloleno's seafood platter which is ideal for sharing with the family or friends. It has squid, shrimp, tempura, crabs, prawns, oysters and mussels. It is topped with a thick flavorful sauce which made the fresh seafood more delectable. It's just perfect for seafood lovers like myself. 

Overall, I'd say it was a unique experience to dine at Bistro Maloleno. I love how they were able to preserve these culinary heritage. It's something beyond the usual dishes that I normally would eat in Davao. Kudos to the management of Bistro Maloleno for not just preserving but also for sharing Bulacan's heritage dishes. It's definitely a must-try when visiting Malolos Bulacan.

Bistro Maloleño Events Place & Restaurant 

Capitol View Park, Malolos City, Bulacan Restaurant 

Hours: Monday to Sunday, 10:00am to 10:00pm 

Contact: (044) 305-0645 / 09428247876 

Email bistromalolenyo@yahoo.com.ph 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/BistroMaloleno

Disclosure: Bistro Maloleño is one of the Partner-Restaurants of #BulacanFoodTour2014. 

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[UPDATED with List of Winners] Davao City's Kadayawan Festival 2014 : Schedule of Activities and Events

Kadayawan is one of the major festivals in the Philippines. It is a yearly event held every third week of August in Davao City. This year, Kadayawan Festival will be on August 11-17, 2014. The highlights of the festival will fall on August 16-17, 2014. Here's a list of Top 10 Things to Do in Davao to give you an idea of what else to do aside from witnessing the Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan.

August 16, 2014 (Saturday) : Indak-Indak Sa Kadalanan

Indak-Indak Sa Kadalanan is a street dance competition featuring the diverse and rich culture of Davao Region. Participants wear colorful costumes representing different tribes in the region. The parade usually starts in Ponciano Street passing through San Pedro and Claveria Sts. 

August 17, 2014 (Sunday) : Pamulak sa Kadayawan
Pamulak sa Kadayawan showcases the bounty of Davao Region. It features different floats decorated with fruits and vegetables which are abundant in the region. This event is also being attended by a lot of local celebrities representing a brand or a TV Network. 

Watch out for more updates on all the lined up schedule of activities and events. Bookmark this page and get updated of the latest schedule of activities. See you in Davao for the Kadayawan Festival 2014. Davao, Life is Here!

Updated Schedule of Activities for Kadayawan Festival 2014

List of Winners of  Kadayawan 2014

Congratulations to all the participants and winners for this year's Kadayawan Festival. Kudos to the organizers and the people behind Kadayawan for a successful event. Until next year! Watch out for more of Davao only here at EscapeManila.com.

HIYAS SA KADAYAWAN:

Susan Batawan of the Ata Tribe - Hiyas sa Kadayawan
Chally Lou Macaran of the Matigsalog Tribe - Hiyas sa Kalamboan
Kessia Carol Tar of the Bagobo-Klata Tribe - Hiyas sa Panaghiusa

INDAK-INDAK SA KADALANAN:

Champion - City of Mati
1st Runner-up - Christian School of Polomolok
2nd Runner-up - Cabantian National High School
3rd Runner-up - Sta. Ana National High School Performing Arts
4th Runner-up - San Luiz National High School

PAMULAK KADAYAWAN:

ALTERNATIVE:
Champion - Bgy. Kapitan Tomas
1st Runner-up - Davao Horse Club
2nd Runner-up - Club VeeDub Davao
3rd Runner-up - Philippine Daily Inquirer
4th Runner-up - Hydie Jereos

TRADITIONAL:
Champion - International Pharmaceutical Inc.
1st Runner-up - Concentrix
2nd Runner-up - Bgy. Sta. Cruz, Talikud Island
3rd Runner-up - University of the Philippines Los Baños Alumni Assoc.
4th Runner-up - Ines Flower Shop

INDIGAY SA TUGTOG WINNER - Banay-Banay Dance Troupe

Wondering Where to Eat in Davao? Davao's Must-Try Restaurants

Looking for a Place to Stay and Places to Visit? Recommended Accommodations in Davao and Things to Do in Davao

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