Cebu Pacific Air Announces Six New Domestic Routes

In its press release dated July 30, 2012, Cebu Pacific Air announces its six new domestic routes expected to further boost local tourism and commerce in the country.

Cebu<>Coron (Busuanga)
This is great news for Cebuanos planning to visit Coron. You don't need to fly via Manila or Puerto Princesa anymore, as by October 4, 2012, Cebu Pacific will start serving direct flights between Cebu (Mactan-Cebu International Airport) and Busuanga (Francisco B. Reyes Airport). Flight 5J-690 (Cebu-Busuanga) is scheduled to depart Cebu every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 10:50am and expected to arrive in Busuanga at 12:30pm. Flight 5J-691 (Busuanga-Cebu) is then scheduled to depart Busuanga at 12:50pm and is expected to arrive back in Cebu at 2:30pm. Each flight has an estimated flight time of 1 hour 40 minutes utilizing an ATR 72-500 aircraft.

Cebu Pacific's six new domestic routes

Legazpi<>Tacloban
Do you remember the days when a trip between Bicol and Leyte required a land-sea-land travel? Those days are gone! Starting October 4, 2012, Legazpi City and Tacloban City will only be a 1-hour-5-minutes flight apart using Cebu Pacific's ATR 72-500 aircraft. Flight 5J-317 (Legazpi-Tacloban) is scheduled to depart Legazpi every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 6:25am and is expected to arrive in Tacloban at 7:30am. Flight 5J-318 (Tacloban-Legazpi) will then depart from Tacloban at 7:50am and is expected to arrive back in Legazpi at 8:55am.

Iloilo<>Tacloban
Just two weeks ago, Cebu Pacific announced its direct domestic flights from Iloilo to General Santos and Puerto Princesa. Today, Cebu Pacific introduces its direct domestic flight from Iloilo to Tacloban which will commence service on October 5, 2012. Flight 5J-156 (Iloilo-Tacloban) will depart Iloilo every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6:05pm and will arrive in Tacloban at 7:15pm. The returning Flight 5J-157 (Tacloban-Iloilo) will depart Tacloban at 7:35pm and will arrive back in Iloilo at 8:45pm. Passengers will be transported using an ATR 72-500 aircraft.

Davao<>Dipolog & Davao<>Butuan
On Octover 5, 2012, Cebu Pacific will commence its direct flights from Davao to Dipolog and Butuan, increasing the number of Davao's domestic destinations to nine across the Philippines (four in Mindanao). Direct flights will cut the Davao<>Dipolog and Davao<>Butuan travel times to 1 hour 10 minutes, and 55 minutes, respectively. Flight 5J-697 (Dipolog-Davao) will depart from Dipolog every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 2:15pm and will arrive in Davao at 3:25pm. The returning Flight 5J-698 (Davao-Dipolog) will depart from Davao at 3:45pm and will arrive back in Dipolog at 4:55pm. Flight 5J-795 (Butuan-Davao) is also scheduled every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, departing from Butuan at 6:30am and arriving in Davao at 7:25am. The returning Flight 5J-796 (Davao-Butuan) will depart Davao at 7:45am and will arrive back in Butuan at 8:40am. Both routes will be serviced using an ATR 72-500 aircraft.

Zamboanga<>Cagayan de Oro
Man white water rafting ya kita na CDO! A 12-hour bus ride may be fun, but a 1-hour-10-minute direct flight on board an Airbus A319 is definitely more fun! Starting October 20, 2012, Cebu Pacific will have thrice weekly flights between Asia's Latin City and the City of Golden Friendship. Flight 5J-844 will depart from Zamboanga City at 6:05am and is expected to arrive in Cagayan de Oro at 7:15am. The returning Flight 5J-845 will depart from Cagayan de Oro at 7:45am and will arrive back in Zamboanga City at 8:55am.

For the most updated flight schedules, check Cebu Pacific Air's Flight Schedules.

Image Sources:
http://www.facebook.com/cebupacificair
http://www.cebupacificair.com/Pages/RouteMap.aspx

Recipe: Oven-Cooked Ginanggang

A recent trip to Dipolog City in the province of Zamboanga del Norte introduced me to ginanggang, a snack made of saba banana, and a favorite among Filipinos in Visayas and Mindanao. Back in my hometown in Pasig City, I attempted to replicate the ginanggang we had as merienda along Dipolog's Sunset Boulevard. Ginanggang is traditionally cooked over charcoal, but in my version, I cooked it in an oven.

Ingredients

4 pcs. ripe saba bananas
margarine
brown or white sugar

Directions

1.) Peel the saba bananas and grill in (toaster) oven for 10-15 minutes until golden brown.
2.) Remove the bananas from the oven and thinly brush with margarine.
3.) Sprinkle the bananas with brown or white sugar.
4.) Serve while hot on bamboo skewers or on a plate.

Ram D Reyes

Dapitan City: Saint James Church

DAPITAN CITY, Zamboanga del Norte - During the time of Dr. Jose Rizal's exile in Dapitan, it was in this church where he heard mass every Sunday. The church was built by the Jesuits in 1871 and is located right at the center of Dapitan, next to the plaza.

The most striking feature of the church is its beautifully designed ceiling. The orange and white rectangles form a swirling pattern on the dome creating an optical illusion of depth and motion.

The church was named in honor of  Dapitan's patron, St. James the Greater. During the time of our visit, banners saying "Viva Señor Santiago!" adorn the streets of Dapitan setting the festive mood in the city for the week-long town fiesta, culminating on July 25, the Feast Day of St. James.

How to get there: from Dipolog City At the Dipolog City Bus Terminal, take a non air-conditioned bus bound for Dapitan. Inside Dapitan City, take any tricycle and tell the driver to take you to St. James Church. Alternatively, you can take a Rural Bus from Dipolog bound for Ozamiz, Pagadian or Cagayan de Oro. Tell the conductor to drop you off at Dapitan-Polo Junction. From the junction, take a tricycle and tell the driver to bring you to St. James Church. Total travel time is 30-45 minutes. from Ozamiz City At the Ozamiz City Bus Terminal, take a Dipolog-bound bus, just ask the terminal crew where the queue/line for Dipolog is (there is a separate queue for air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned buses. Air-conditioned buses usually come from Pagadian, Zamboanga City or Cagayan de Oro, and would only drop-off or pick-up passengers at Ozamiz City, so be prepared to wrestle your way into the bus. Air-conditioned buses bound for Dipolog leave every hour. There are non air-conditioned buses that begin their trip from Ozamiz City and they depart from the terminal every 30 minutes (usually only half full). Tell the conductor to drop you off at Dapitan-Polo Junction. From the junction, take a tricycle and tell the driver to bring you to St. James Church. Travel time to Dapitan is 6.5hours, fare is P230.00 (air-conditioned bus).

How to get back: to Dipolog City From Dapitan, there are non air-conditioned buses bound for Dipolog. Alternatively, you can take a tricycle from Dapitan and tell the driver to bring you to Polo Junction. At the junction, you can take Rural buses bound for Dipolog. At the Dipolog City Bus Terminal, take the tricycles passing outside the gate to your destination in Dipolog City. Tricyle fare is Php10.00 per person. to Ozamiz City From Dapitan, take a tricycle and tell the driver to bring you to the Polo Junction. From the junction, take the Ozamiz, Pagadian, Zamboanga City or Cagayan de Oro bound buses (air-conditioned and non air-conditioned) and get off at the Ozamiz City Bus Terminal (fare is P230.00 for air-conditioned buses). Take the tricycles stationed at the terminal to your destination in Ozamiz City (fare is Php10.00 per person or Php50.00 special rate if you don't wish to wait for other passengers). Total travel time is 7hours.

Dapitan City: Dr. Jose Rizal's Landing Site

DAPITAN CITY, Zamboanga del Norte - On the day of our flight back to Manila, we would usually just stay at our hotel in the morning so not to risk missing our flight. Since the neighboring Dapitan is just a short ride away, we decided to make a short trip to the city very well known in Philippine history where our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, spent four years in exile.

LUNGSOD NG DAPITAN, Zamboanga del Norte - Sa araw ng aming lipad pabalik ng Maynila, kadalasan ay nananatili na lamang kami sa aming hotel upang maiwasan na kami'y maiwan ng byahe. Dahil maikling byahe lamang ang papunta sa katabing lungsod ng Dapitan, napili naming sumaglit sa lugar na ito, kilala sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas kung saan ang atin pampansang bayani na si Dr. Jose Rizal ay namalagi nang apat na taon ng buhay-tapon.

It was on July 17, 1892 when Dr. Rizal arrived at the shore of Sta. Cruz, Dapitan. Coincidentally, we visited his exact landing site on July 16, 2012, one day before the 120th year anniversary of his arrival to Dapitan.

Si Dr. Jose Rizal ay dumating sa dalampasigan ng Sta. Cruz, Dapitan noong Hulyo 17,1892. Nagkataon naman na bumisita kami sa eksaktong lugar na kaniyang pinaglunsaran noong Hulyo 16, 2012, isang araw bago sumapit ang ika-120 taong anibersaryo ng kaniyang pagdating sa Dapitan.

At present, a monument stands on the site where Rizal disembarked in Dapitan. Inaugurated in year 2009, the Rizal's Landing Site is one of the many shrines in Dapitan City dedicated to our beloved national hero. If you have the chance to visit Dapitan City, take the time to stop by this site. This experience will transport you back in the time when our forefathers fought for our independence.

Sa kasalukuyan, isang monumento ang nakatayo sa pook kung saan lumunsad si Rizal sa Dapitan. Pinasinayaan noong taong 2009, ang Rizal's Landing Site (Lugar na Pinaglunsaran ni Rizal) ay isa sa maraming dambana sa Lungsod ng Dapitan na inialay sa atin minamahal na pambansang bayani. Kung magkakaroon kayo ng pagkakataon na bumisita sa Lungsod ng Dapitan, maglaan po kayo ng panahon na dumaan sa lugar na ito. Dadalhin kayo ng karanasang ito pabalik sa panahon ng pakikipaglaban ng ating mga ninuno para sa ating kalayaan.

How to get there: from Dipolog City At the Dipolog City Bus Terminal, take a non air-conditioned bus bound for Dapitan. Inside Dapitan City, take any tricycle and tell the driver to take you to Rizal's Landing Site. Alternatively, you can take a Rural Bus from Dipolog bound for Ozamiz, Pagadian or Cagayan de Oro. Tell the conductor to drop you off at Dapitan-Polo Junction. From the junction, take a tricycle and tell the driver to bring you to Rizal's Landing Site. Total travel time is 30-45 minutes. from Ozamiz City At the Ozamiz City Bus Terminal, take a Dipolog-bound bus, just ask the terminal crew where the queue/line for Dipolog is (there is a separate queue for air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned buses. Air-conditioned buses usually come from Pagadian, Zamboanga City or Cagayan de Oro, and would only drop-off or pick-up passengers at Ozamiz City, so be prepared to wrestle your way into the bus. Air-conditioned buses bound for Dipolog leave every hour. There are non air-conditioned buses that begin their trip from Ozamiz City and they depart from the terminal every 30 minutes (usually only half full). Tell the conductor to drop you off at Dapitan-Polo Junction. From the junction, take a tricycle and tell the driver to bring you to Rizal's Landing Site. Travel time to Dapitan is 6.5hours, fare is P230.00 (air-conditioned bus).

How to get back: to Dipolog City From Dapitan, there are non air-conditioned buses bound for Dipolog. Alternatively, you can take a tricycle from Dapitan and tell the driver to bring you to Polo Junction. At the junction, you can take Rural buses bound for Dipolog. Total travel time is 30-45 minutes. At the national highway, take the Ozamiz, Pagadian or Cagayan de Oro bound buses and get off at the Ozamiz City Bus Terminal (fare is Php15.00, travel time is ~30 minutes). Take the tricycles stationed at the terminal to take you to your destination in Ozamiz City. Fare is Php10.00 per person (or Php50.00 special rate, if you don't want to wait for other passengers) to Ozamiz City From Dapitan, take a tricycle and tell the driver to bring you to the Polo Junction. From the junction, take the Ozamiz, Pagadian, Zamboanga City or Cagayan de Oro bound buses (air-conditioned and non air-conditioned) and get off at the Ozamiz City Bus Terminal (fare is P230.00 for air-conditioned buses). Take the tricycles stationed at the terminal to take you to your destination in Ozamiz City (fare is Php10.00 per person or Php50.00 special rate if you don't wish to wait for other passengers). Total travel time is 7hours.

Dipolog City: Karyll's Grille | Beer & Barbecue

DIPOLOG CITY, Zamboanga del Norte - We sampled again the Dipolog City nightlife and went where the locals go for beer and barbecue. There are several bars in Dipolog, but we chose this open air restaurant - Karyll's Grille.

A typical Dipolog evening usually revolve around barbecue, they just can't have enough of it. It was not a surprise that an area along Sunset Boulevard was designated for barbecue stalls. But if you want beer to go with your barbecue, then head to the bars and restaurants. By nine o'clock in the evening, Karyll's Grille was already full, but people (usually on motorbikes) kept on arriving.

Dipolognons enjoying the evening

We started the evening with grilled chicken and puso (rice) for dinner. It appeared to be one of the best seller as almost every table had a plateful of this chick.

chicken barbecue, grilled soriso (longanisa) and puso (rice in coconut leaf pouches)

It did not take long for us to finish our dinner. Let's just say, we did not keep it long, as we were already fancying for ice cold beer. So from canned so soda, we switched to ice cold bottle beer, and there was no better pulutan (finger food) than their bestselling pork barbecue at P3.00 per stick.

Time really flies if you have great company, listening to top hit music and enjoying the best beer in the world. Round after round of beer went, and we did not notice that it was already 12:30am. It felt like the evening has just started as people still kept arriving. We finally called it an evening and left at 1:00am.

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Karyll's Grille
orner General Luna and Martinez Streets
Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte

Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park | Dolphin Island

The province is perhaps one of the very few places in the Philippines where one can swim with and feed the dolphins up close. The Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park (MOAP) and the Dolphin Island are the main reasons why we visited the province.

Ozamiz City: Birhen sa Cotta Shrine

OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental - It was our second and last day in Ozamiz City and we didn't let this day pass without visiting the Birhen sa Cotta Shrine, especially that the feast of Nuestra Señora de la Inmaculada Concepción y del Triunfo de la Cruz de Migpangi (Our Lady of Triumph) will be celebrated the following day.

The shrine is one of the most significant pilgrimage sites in Mindanao, dedicated to the 18th century statuette of the Blessed Virgin Mary carved on the exterior wall of Cotta Fort. The image is believed to be miraculous, standing to guard the entrance of the city from Panguil Bay.

We lighted candles and offered prayers and were moved by the devotion of the people of Ozamiz to their beloved Birhen sa Cotta, as the Catholic faithful venerate and touch the miraculous image of Mary vested in pink and blue.

This visit has become a spiritually uplifting experience that reminded us that because we are all one in faith, we are neither Filipino nor Chinese, rich nor poor, male nor female. (Galatians 3:28 )

Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Ozamiz City

After a hearty lunch at Mooon Cafe, we visited the nearby cathedral. The Immaculate Conception Cathedral is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ozamiz and is one of the five cathedrals within the Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical Province of Ozamiz.

Lunch at Mooon Cafe in Ozamiz City

When travelling, we usually research first on places to eat, prior to the trip. This time, we skipped the research part and just randomly selected a restaurant. From Royal Garden Hotel, we walked our way towards the cathedral and saw this restaurant beside the church - Mooon Cafe.

Royal Garden Hotel in Ozamiz City

We chose Royal Garden Hotel primarily because of its location. It is within downtown Ozamiz and right in the middle of the commercial establishments and tourists spots. It's just a few blocks away from the cathedral and restaurants. Major banks also have branches and ATMs within the area. The hotel is also just few steps away from grocery stores, bakeries and the public market. Transportation is also not a problem since there are tricycles and pedicabs everywhere.

Dipolog City: Barbecue Stalls along Dipolog Sunset Boulevard

DIPOLOG CITY, Zamboanga del Norte - Almost all restaurants in Dipolog City closes at 9:00pm except for some that stay open until midnight during weekends. But what if you wake up in the middle of the night or your insomnia keeps you awake in the wee hours of the night, and suddenly you feel hungry? The barbecue stalls along Dipolog Sunset Boulevard has got you covered.

As soon as the sun sets, people start flocking at the barbecue stalls and by dinner time, the place is practically packed. Filipinos are crazy about barbecue at night, and this more pronounced in Mindanao, such as in Dipolog and other cities like Iligan, Cagayan de Oro and Tagum, where the night market culture is very much integrated into their daily lives.

All the stalls sell almost the same choices: pork, chicken, isaw, chicken feet (adidas), soriso (longanisa), and hotdog. Barbecue is paired with pusô (rice wrapped in woven coconut leaf pouch). Some stores sell fish and lugaw (rice porridge). Barbecue stalls set up tables and monoblock chairs for their customers.

The barbecue stalls are located on the northern end of Dipolog Sunset Boulevard, near the Santa Cruz Marker. They are open from 6:00pm to 5:00am of the following day, and are closed on Mondays.

Dipolog City: Cusina de Binoys | Montaño Spanish Style Sardines

DIPOLOG CITY, Zamboanga del Norte - After a tiring day of touring around Dipolog City, we went back to Antonio's Pension House to freshen up and get ready for dinner.

Cusina de Binoys is located on the roof deck level of Antonio's Pension House. They serve classic Filipino dishes and specializes in set meals for a couple of a group. They also have a live band performing acoustic music every Friday and Saturday night.

Browsing through the menu, one dish in the breakfast section caught our eye. Sar-si-log, Montaño Spanish Style Sardines with rice and sunny side up egg. Fortunately, Cusina de Binoys serves all-day breakfast. Dipolog's bottled Spanish style sardines is definitely the best.

Bottled sardines is a million peso industry in Dipolog City which earned the city its nickname Bottled Sardines Capital of the Philippines.

Cusina de Binoys
Antonio's Pension House
Corner General Luna and Martinez Streets
Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte
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Dipolog City: Dipolog Sunset Boulevard

DIPOLOG CITY, Zamboanga del Norte - Dipolog City faces the vast Sulu Sea to the west, blessing the city with spectacular sunsets.


The city government developed the Sunset Boulevard with promenade and benches to provide a venue for leisure and entertainment. As early as 4:00pm, food vendors start to set-up their stalls anticipating the arrival of visitors.


Sunset Boulevard's promenade is Dipolognon's favorite spot for jogging, walking, biking, skating or simply sitting to watch the sunset.

Dipolog City: Ginanggang for Afternoon Merienda

DIPOLOG CITY, Zamboanga del Norte - If in Manila we have the banana cue (fried saba banana coated with caramelized sugar), in Mindanao they have the ginanggang. The saba bananas are pealed and grilled on stick over charcoal. When browned, the bananas are then brushed with margarine and sprinkled with sugar.

The picture above is taken along Dipolog Sunset Boulevard, near the Santa Cruz Marker. For only Php5.00,  you get two large-size ginanggang on a stick.

Dipolog City: Santa Cruz Marker

DIPOLOG CITY, Zamboanga del Norte - The Santa Cruz Marker is the oldest landmark in Dipolog City. It dates back to May 3, 1905 when it was erected by migrants arriving from Bohol and settled near the mouth of Dipolog River. It marks the spot where the Boholanos safely landed.

The cross is situated at the intersection of Rizal Avenue and Martinez Street. At the opposite end of Rizal Avenue stands the Dipolog Cathedral.

Dipolog City: Welcome Rotunda Fountain

DIPOLOG CITY, Zamboanga del Norte - The Welcome Rotunda Fountain, also called Pagsalabuk Circle Fountain, features a monument depicting the three groups of settlers of Mindanao: the Christians, the Muslims, and the indigenous tribes or Lumad.

The three figures represent the diverse culture of the people of Dipolog City. The raised bowl symbolizes the unity of the Tri-People despite their differences, and celebrates the common aspirations of the Dipolognons for peace and prosperity.

The fountain is located in the middle of the Welcome Rotunda/Pagsalabuk Circle roundabout where three major roads converge in Dipolog City:

*General Luna Street is one of the main streets in downtown Dipolog City that further connects the city westward to other municipalities of Zamboanga del Norte

*Dipolog-Oroquieta National Road connects Dipolog City eastward to other towns in Zamboanga del Norte and to the province of Misamis Occidental

*Dipolog-Polanco-Piñan-Junction Oroquieta Rd connects Dipolog City southward to the other municipalities of Zamboanga del Norte and to the province of Misamis Occidental

Dipolog City: Siomai and Siopao at Classic Dimsum

DIPOLOG CITY, Zamboanga del Norte - We wanted to visit the Provincial Capitol of Zamboanga del Norte, but unfortunately, the building was being renovated. Across the capitol, we were surprised to see a Chinese restaurant, Classic Dimsum.

It was 4:00pm and it was just the right time for an afternoon merienda. We ordered Steamed Siomai (four pieces at Php 30.00) and Bola Siopao (Php22.00). Though there was really nothing extraordinary about them, they were good enough to satisfy your craving for authentic Chinese dimsum.



They also serve noodles, congee, rice toppings, hot pots, and other Chinese classic dishes. According to the staff, their best sellers are their seafood dishes, especially the crab dishes. The restaurant is owned by a Chinese businessman based in Dipolog.

When we were about to finish our dimsum, two "politician-looking" men escorted by four armed soldiers entered the restaurant. They seem to be frequent customers of Classic Dimsum as they already know what to order even without looking at the menu. Their order also included steamed siomai.

This is a joint post between Pinas Muna and Chinoy Edition.


Classic Dimsum
General Luna Street
in front of the Provincial Capitol
Dipolog City
Phone: (065) 212-2176
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/classic.dimsum
Store Hours: 8:30am-8:00pm

Dipolog City: Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral

DIPOLOG CITY, Zamboanga del Norte - The Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral, or Dipolog Cathedral, is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dipolog. Its principal patroness is the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary*, after whom the cathedral was named. It is one of the five cathedrals within the Ecclesiastical Province of Ozamiz.

The church building was constructed in 1894 and has undergone several renovations, the latest of which was in 2009 when the facade of the cathedral was covered with marble. The present altar is a replica of the retablo originally designed by Dr. Jose Rizal. The main attaction of the cathedral is the ceiling made of hardwood.

After taking photos of the church building and a short tour inside the cathedral, we crossed the street to Magsaysay Park. It is your typical town plaza with a children's playground, fishball and ice cream vendors.



The Dipolog Cathedral is part of the Lakbay Jose Rizal @150 travel program, in celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal in 2011.

Dipolog City: Big Joe's | Grilled Baby Back Ribs

DIPOLOG CITY, Zamboanga del Norte - This is probably one of our least prepared trips ever. We arrived  at Dipolog Airport at 12:05pm, that is 25 minutes ahead of schedule. Thanks to Cebu Pacific, by the way. Hungry that we were, as soon as we checked in at Antonio's Pension House, we immediately searched the net for a restaurant.

We were not in the mood for fastfood so we used Fourquare and checked what's nearby. Big Joe's caught or attention as it has 12 Tips posted, most of which recommend the Grilled Baby Back Ribs.

And so we took the recommendation and ordered the famous baby back ribs of Big Joe's. Each serving comes with two slabs of ribs, a cup of rice and some veggies.

The ribs did not disappoint! The meat was so tender and the barbecue sauce was perfect. Their serving size will put most steak houses to shame. At only Php135.00 per order, this Grilled Baby Back Ribs were a great deal!

While eating, we noticed people coming in and out of the restaurant ordering burgers. It looked liked Dipolognons could not have enough of Big Joe's burgers.

On our last day in Dipolog, we went again to Big Joe's to try their burgers. We asked what the best selling burger is, and the staff said "tanan, sir" (English: everything, sir). Well, we were not sure if she was being honest or she just simply had no idea which one was their best seller.

So, we just ordered the burgers that appealed to us based on their names and descriptions: All-in-Burger (Php65.00) & Grilled Half Pounder (Php120.00).


(left) All-in-Burger; (right) Grilled Half Pounder


The All-in-Burger has a fried burger patty, a fried egg, a slice of cheese and a slice of canned pineapple. The pineapple gave this burger a sweet but refreshing taste.

The Grilled Half Pounder has a grilled half-pound beef burger patty, a slice of cheese, lettuce and onions. Because the patty was grilled, this burger is savory juicy. You should order this if you are looking for a burger that is truly filling. This goes well with mustard.

Aside from steaks, sizzling plates and burgers, Big Joe's also serves classic Filipino dishes such as lecho, crispy pata, calderetang kambing, as well as noodles and soups. You may also try their selection of fruit shakes, tea and coffee based beverages.

Big Joe's
General Luna Street
Dipolog City
Phone: (065) 212-4111 / (065) 212-3025
Email: gerald_concha@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.bigjoescafe.dmc.edu.ph/

Dipolog City: Dipolog Airport

DIPOLOG CITY, Zamboanga del Norte - Touchdown Dipolog Airport, our 16th airport destination in the Philippines and 4th in Mindanao. We arrived at 12:10pm, 20 minutes ahead of our scheduled arrival. Since we did not have checked-in baggage, it only took us 10 minutes to deplane and to exit the terminal building.

The domestic airport is pretty basic but efficient. It is also secured with two x-ray machines installed, one before the check-in counters and another one before the departure area. There is no baggage carousel though, so arriving visitors will have to pick-up their baggage in a designated section of the arrival hall.

What we find fascinating about the airport is not the building but the airport's location. The airstrip lies right beside the sea, parallel to the coastline. At the southern end of the airstrip is the mouth of Dipolog River. Seated at the window seat will surely offer an exhilarating experience during landing or take-off.

Cebu Pacific Flight 5J 703 (Manila-Dipolog)

Airlines and Flight Services

Cebu Pacific Manila-Dipolog (Flight 5J 703) Dipolog-Manila (Flight 5J 704) Cebu-Dipolog (Flight 5J 863) Dipolog-Cebu (Flight 5J 864) *Check Flight Schedules

Philippine Airlines Manila-Dipolog (Flight PR 167) Dipolog-Manila (Flight PR 168) *Check Flight Schedules

Transportation to and from Downtown

Tricycles are the common mode of transportation within Dipolog City. Outside the airport terminal building, there are tricycles lined up to transport passengers to downtown. Standard fare is Php30.00 per person. Some drivers will try to overcharge you by asking for a flag down rate or special trip rate equivalent to the passanger capacity of the tricycle. It is very important that you agree on the fare with the driver before boarding the tricycle. If tricycle drivers try to overcharge you, just politely say no and walk away. If you don't have much baggage, you can walk a little further (about 30 meters from the gate) and wait for passing tricycles. From downtown, the standard fare going to the airport is Php20.00-30.00 per person, depending on the point of origin.

Aerial Photography: Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro

Photograph taken on board Cebu Pacific Flight 5J 703 (Manila-Dipolog)
July 13, 2012 11:15am

Aerial Photography: Taal Volcano

Photograph taken on board Cebu Pacific Flight 5J 703 (Manila-Dipolog)
July 13, 2012 11:11am

Countdown to Soccsksargen EXperience Tour 4.0

www.gensantos.com

It was such a great news when we received this message from Mr. Bariles of GenSan News Online Mag that we were chosen to become participants in the upcoming Soccsksargen EXperience Tour 4.0, or SEX Tour 4.0 in short.

"Get ready for the SEx Tour 4.0 for Bloggers, Ramil! I'd like to officially welcome you and Ed aboard!"

We are very excited as this will be our first time to visit the Philippine provinces of South Cotabato, Sarangani and Sultan Kudarat. These three provinces are part of the Soccsksargen Region which most Manileños often avoid because of the negative image that Mindanao has.

AirAsia Philippines: Dragonpay Payment Guide

Sharing this very helpful guide from AirAsia's Philippine website.

AirAsia Philippines accepts online payment from the following banks via Dragonpay:

• Banco de Oro Unibank (BDO)	• Metrobank
• Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)	• United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB)
• Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC)	• Unionbank Retail Internet Banking / Unionbank EON
• Chinabank	• EastWest Bank

Note: BPI, BDO and Metrobank require Dragonpay to be registered to your online banking account first before you can transact with AirAsia via Dragonpay. Below are the links to the instruction pages:

• BPI: Enrolling Dragonpay to BPI Express Online
• BDO: Enrolling Dragonpay to BDO Retail Internet Banking
• Metrobank: Paying Online using Metrobankdirect and Dragonpay (see Step 1)

Below are the steps for completing your payments via Dragonpay:


Source: http://www.airasia.com/my/en/booking/philippines-payment-guide.page

AirAsia Philippines Inc is a Philippines-based low-cost airline which commenced its operations on March 28, 2012. From its hub in Clark International Airport, it currently operates three domestic flights to Kalibo, Puerto Princesa City, and Davao City, and four international flights to Hong Kong, Macau, Kota Kinabalu, and Kuala Lumpur. AirAsia Philippines Inc is a joint venture between Malaysia's AirAsia Bhd (40%) and a group of Filipino investors (60%) namely Antonio Cojuangco Jr., Michael Romero and Marianne Hontiveros.

Pasig City: 439th Araw ng Pasig | Route of the Grand Parade

PASIG CITY, Metro Manila - The Grand Parade happening today, July 2, 2012, is the highlight of this year's celebration of the 439th Araw ng Pasig.

The parade will start at 8:00am in front of the Pasig City Motorpool (beside Sta. Clara de Montefalco Church, Caniogan) in C. Raymunod Avenue.

At Pasig-Rotonda, the parade will turn left into A. Mabini Street and will head to Pasig-Simbahan.

The parade will then turn left into Caruncho Avenue and will end in front of the City Hall.

Traffic Re-Routing

According to the public notice posted by the Traffic and Parking Management Office (TPMO), the section of C. Raymundo between Rotonda and Mercedes Avenue will be closed to traffic. Motorists are advised to take Market Avenue, Legazpi Street, Dr. Sixto Antonio Avenue, and Stella Maris Avenue as alternate routes.

route of the grand parade (in lime green)

Филиппины: моя прекрасная страна

For the month of June 2012 Russia ranked third as top viewers of our Blog. To our Russian friends:

Большое Спасибо!