The Island Explorer

Who would expect a place like this in Dapitan? Gloria de Dapitan in Zamboanga Del Norte was again another surprise. I've seen the breezy bay boulevard nearby, and the historical Rizal Shrine, but I never guessed I would find an entertainment complex right in the heart of this quaint town. There were restaurants and bars in the complex. This disco bar for example looked very much the ones we have in Manila. We came in just to have some beers, and no one was around yet. That was 10PM. When we left at around midnight, the place was already packed. Seems like the folks of Dapitan also know how to party. There was also a bowling alley, that was again full of people. At the center of the complex was a fighting cock arena, which was closed at that time. But the main attraction in this complex was something even more unexpected. Even Davao and Cebu doesn't have this. More on my next post.

As I've mentioned in my previous post, Dakak is an unexpectedly huge and well-maintained resort. There are rooms that can accommodate up to 500 people in the form of beach front villas and cottages. There is a convention center, a indoor gaming hall, a tennis court, an orchid farm, an expansive white sand beach, and even a casino. There's even a chapel that is perfect for weddings. You definitely don't have a reason to leave the resort. 2 nights is enough, but you still won't be able to do everything. We decided to explore the resort on the 2nd day. Dakak is tucked between two towering rocks, that make their landscape distinct. So, we decided to climb the highest one, where a communications tower was located. We asked around how to go up the rock, and we were told to find a sign on the road to the reception that says "Repeater". We found the sign, that marked the beginning of cemented steps that eventually led us all the way up. The climb wasn't as difficu...

Do you recognize this beach? Well, if you watched Eat Bulaga when you were still a child, you would notice this landscape. Yes, this is Dakak Beach, tucked at the tip of Zamboanga del Norte in Mindanao. I never really had the urge to visit this place because it was a beach resort, and being one, I assumed it'll pretty much look the same as any other beach resort. And being one of the oldest resorts in the country, I figured that it's time has already passed. But when we made our way into Oroquieta in Misamis Occidental, I took the opportunity to stay for 3 days in Dakak. Little did I realize I was in for an unexpected treat. We decided to commute from Oroquieta to Dapitan via a public van. We were dropped off at the Rotonda in Dapitan, where I called the resort and asked if we could be picked up from there. Good thing their van was coming back to the resort from the Dapitan airport, so we didn't wait too long. I thought Dakak was just nearby where we were, but it took us al...

The frozen yogurt craze is still taking Manila by storm, with the entrant of its newest international player, Golden Spoon. Popular in Southern California, Golden Spoon has something other frozen yogurt don't have - flavors. While Red Mango may be my Holy Grail of frozen yogurts, it only has the plain and green tea variants. Golden Spoon can have as much as a dozen flavors of frozen yogurts. From Chocolate Caramel, to Pistacio, Cookie Batter, Cookies and Cream, Cheesecake and the intriguing Boysenberry, Golden Spoon's wide variety has indeed captured the interest of its crowd in Shangrila Plaza Mall. It also offers the same favorite toppings, with some more new ones. They also have hot toppings, liquid toppings, that can just make you drool. The frozen yogurt may be low-fat but these toppings like Caramel and Mallow Creme aren't. I was actually surprised to see a Golden Spoon when I entered Shangrila Mall (it's beside the Starbucks at the ground level). Even before you...

Canvas is a new bistro bar that have been the recent trend in food hotspots in the country today. Cebu really is a treasure chest for great restaurants, that serve unique dining experiences. Canvas is the newest restaurant to open in the Terraces of Ayala Center Cebu, and it has shot up my list of best restaurants for the year. Canvas calls itself a bistro bar, so it's a casual restaurant during the daytime, and a bar during night time. I heard that there were a lot of plans for this bar, which could turn it into a happening venue for the social class. The kitchen opens up to the dining area, so you get to see and smell what's being cooked. The kitchen staff looked experienced, and seemed to enjoy what they were doing. I was really looking at how they cook the food from my seat. I observed their technique and plating, which really impressed me. I was surprised to see how affordable the offerings were. It was a well planned menu, not too many and not too few. It was als...

The Gustavian is here in Manila, and has found its home rightfully in Eastwood Mall. The Gustavian is an established restaurant in Cebu. When I first tried Gustavian years back, I immediately fell in love with the place, even though the food was not 5-star for me. So take note, a dining experience sometimes is not just about the food. The ambience can really make everything feel and taste better. Even before Chelsea, the Gustavian was already making waves in the Queen City of the South. The branch here in Manila is small though, and can only accommodate 50 guests, which I think is good. At least, it won't get rowdy. I like their sandwiches, since they are simple and relatively inexpensive. I ordered a Forest Ham panini (P160) which was lacking in flavor. The panini bread was great though. My sister ordered a Spaghetti Pesto (P180) which was better than I expected. We were here for a snack, so we weren't able to order more. I'm happy that the Gustavian is now here in Manila,...

I recently went a spontaneous trip to Resorts World in Newport City in front of NAIA 3. We were supposed to have dinner at the Fort, but I drove myself up McKinley, and eventually found myself heading straight to NAIA3 like I was on auto-pilot. I was missing traveling I guess. I was surprised at the casino hotel. I immediately felt I wasn't in Manila, but more of Macau. Resorts World hasn't been completed yet, but I envision the hotel to make waves once it fully opens. The decor is luxurious, red and gold furnishings with modern elements. I went there to meet the barkada, but I arrived early, so I booked us seats in a restaurant inside the casino area. The casino area is the only facility that is open so far. Of course, I couldn't take a picture of the casino, but it looks like any modern Macau or Vegas casino. It's that good, way better than the PAGCOR one in Paranaque. Though I don't gamble, I took a shot in doing slots. I got a membership card which I used in the...