Boy Abunda

Posted By www.BoyAbunda.net on February 14, 2008

Last week, I went on a side trip to Guimaras. I was in Iloilo (whose Mayor Jerry Treñas is a good friend of mine) to cover the Dinagyang Festival when we decided that we go and visit Guimaras. Legend has it that Guimaras got its name from ill-fated lovers Princess Guima and the slave Aras. Princess Guima was betrothed by her father to a noble man but she and Aras escaped and disappeared in the raging seas. And as legend would have it, Princess Guima’s father regretted his daughter’s disappearance and in anguish would call for Guima and Aras, and his haunting voice would reverberate all over the seas. From Iloilo, we boarded a pump boat to Jordan Wharf, one of the major points of entry in Guimaras. It was a 15-minute boat ride to the “island that fits your taste.”

I fell in love with Guimaras. It was love at first sight. There is something about Guimaras that the moment I set foot on the place, I had this different feeling. It was seduction. Guimaras would be a special place for retirement. Not that I am thinking of retirement, but when I do I would like to own a small piece of land overlooking the sea where I can relax tired bones, heal aching joints and comfort wounded spirits. Guimaras is a place where you can smell the flowers, talk to oneself, sing with the bees and hip-hop with the butterflies. Sometime in the near future, I would like to buy a piece of land in Guimaras where coconut trees, mango, buko, pineapple abound. The soil is fertile and its weather is unique.

While in Guimaras, I did stories for my show Boy & Kris. I had the chance to learn how to make mango jam and mango yema. Guimaras has the sweetest mango in this whole universe. And during summer, you can walk through mango orchards and pick mangoes yourself. I also met Rose Griesser who used to work at Century Park Sheraton and now makes mango yema as a business. She is a very kind lady who shared with me her mango yema recipe. Here is Rose’s Mango Jam and Mango Yema recipe:

Mango Jam

1 kg mango pulp

Preparation:

Cut the mango pulp and put it in the blender. Place the blended pulp in the wok and wait till it is boiling. Add sugar. Bring to boil for 20 to 30 minutes stirring constantly until the mixture is consistent.

Mango Yema

Boil the mango jam and three cans of Alaska condensed milk in a wok. Continue stirring for 20 to 30 minutes. When the mixture is cold, cut it into small pieces to make balls or squares. Roll them in an icing or confectioner’s sugar. Wrap in clear plastic.

One of the famous landmarks of Guimaras is Roca Encantada, the summer house of the Lopez clan. It was built for Doña Presentacion Hofilena Lopez in 1910. It was declared a heritage house by the National Heritage Institute. The house is so beautiful. From its balcony, you can see a picturesque view of the horizon. Roca Encantada is simply enchanting.

In Guimaras everybody smiles. Guimaras is small with a total land area of 604.57 sq. km. It has five municipalities — Buenavista, Jordan, Nueva Valencia, Sibunag and San Lorenzo. Initially a sub-province of Iloilo, Guimaras became a full-fledged province on May 22, 1992. Guimaras is the youngest and smallest of the six provinces of Western Visayas.

Dinagyang in Iloilo is world-renowned. I did stories also for Boy & Kris on the Dinagyang and Iloilo City. Dinagyang is now on its 40th year. I shook hands with Dagoy the festival’s mascot who officially welcomes everyone to the festival and to Iloilo City.

I did feature stories on Ted’s La Paz Batchoy, the Boathouse, Camina Bahay nga Bato and Flows Bar, among others. A trip to Iloilo is not complete without having your batchoy. Bachoy is an Ilonggo concoction of the Chinese noodles and Ted’s La Paz batchoy is the best.

Boathouse is owned by the Lopezes. It is a National Heritage site. Another ancestral house called Camina Bahay nga Bato is now a caregiver and kindergarten school. One of the heirs of the house still stays in the bahay nga bato.

For the fashionista, Erik de los Santos atelier cannot be missed. At his shop, he showed me a versatile black dress which you can wear in eight different ways. Erik is now 10 years into making fashionable dresses for the fashionable set of both Manila and Iloilo. His mother used to own a haberdashery and when she retired, she passed on the business to Erik. Erik studied at the Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. It is the same school where some of Manila’s famous designers studied.

Night life in Iloilo is alive and kicking. If you want to be seen and to see beautiful people from Manila and Iloilo as well, Flows owned by Engle Loring is the place to be. I had a fabulous night out with my sistah, Dolly Ann Carvajal, Ian Reyno and other friends.

For the spiritual in you, a visit to Jaro Church is a must. Jaro Church is the home of Our Lady of Candelaria, the patron saint of candles. I offered five candles and prayed for all that the five candles represented — the first candle for the loved ones, second candle is offered for preachers and workers, third candle for the leaders of the country and the world, fourth candle for the sick and the helpless and the fifth for yourself.

Next year, I will go on a mango picking spree in Guimaras and savor again the most delicious batchoy in Iloilo. Promise!

Source: DIRECTLINE By Boy Abunda
Published Friday, February 15, 2008
The Philippine Star

xian lim dinagyang festival

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