Dropping by the Philippines 2023


Philippine Mangoes
After a gruelling one year of MBA studies and having finally succeeded in my     thesis defence, I  made my long awaited trip to the Philippines. Happy to renew friendships forged 6 years ago. 

It was a fruitful trip having met up with my work partners, family friends and former bible-study group.  I had forgotten how easy it was to be  pampered in the Philippines where housemaids, nannies and drivers are easily available. Manpower resource is just abundant, making Filipinos a much sought after human capital worldwide. 

Cheese Ensaymada

I had also forgotten how delightful Cheese Ensaymada tasted: pillowy soft, smothered with butter, sugar and grated cheese. My friends indulged me with Pinoy dishes that I missed: sweet desserts like Putu Bumbong, Bibingka Espesyal and Palitaw. Main dishes like Seafood Sinigang,  Pancit Luglog and Lumpia Ubud. 


Like any cosmopolitan city, Manila boasts of a wide repertoire of cuisines. I had a scrumptious Greek, lunch, followed by French dinner. As if not enough, breakfast was an assortment of croissants, chocolate brioche and my unmissable Cheese Ensaymada.. 

Gumamela - Hibiscus








The second leg of my trip took me to Cebu, Queen city of the South. A short flight of under one hour and another 20 minutes drive to Mactan Island.  Cebu has always pulled at my heart-strings because of its warm, sunny, smiling and courteous Cebuano. I'm there to visit a family whom i've known since 1998. It was a very happy reunion and the invitation remains open to come back and go diving in Panglao island. 

I left Cebu with a mission.. still to be accomplished.


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