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New Choco’s Pasalubong Shop and Food To Go in Gaoa, Pagudpud
Choco’s, the pioneer lechon manok stand in Ilocos, has a new house in Gaoa, along the National Highway, just past the road going to Blue Lagoon. It’s a spacious Choco’s Pasalubong Shop with a select...
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Genuine Ilocano Food at Monte Mar Restaurant, Burgos
Between Laoag and Pagudpud, there are not too many really restful pit stops. Monte Mar Restaurant in Burgos offers authentic Ilocano food, a nice and quiet recess and a great view of the ocean. Owner...
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A Kids Only Camp for Earth This Summer
Hi, parents of Ilocos! My organization, the Laoag Eco-Adventure Development Movement (LEAD), has partnered with Project 101, in cooperation with Northwestern University Ecotourism Park and Botanic...
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Behind all the Beauty that is Adams
You can cry in awe at the natural riches of the mountain town of Adams, you can also cry in alarm at the beauty in retrograde. More than a week ago, a hornbill-wielding Adams local made the rounds in...
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Beached Up with Havaianas
I’m usually just at home the day after Good Friday. My Havaianas never run out of stories to tell. Making a splash at the Municipal Beach in Pagudpud were the fruity pop-up shop and beach bar....
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The Camp for Earth Little Rays of Sunshine
At the exuberant first CAMP for EARTH in Ilocos, “little hands and little steps” were the focal point of the summer camp out. More often than not, parents underestimate the child’s thirst for...
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Chef Nic Rodriguez sets up shop in Paoay
If you’ll remember, I hopped on a Partas bus to experience Chef Nic Rodriguez’s cookery in the town of Candon, almost the center of the province of Ilocos Sur (story here). Just this afternoon, I...
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German-Style Crispy Pork Shank at Bergblick
We were in Pagudpud today and we couldn”t leave without eating at Bergblick. Sometimes it’s not just about wonderful food, but the warmth and realness of the people behind a restaurant. Chef Detlev...
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The Trouble With Greed
We flaunt icons like jewels on a crown, celebrate life’s blessings and miracles with pomp. Do we truly care about our splendid coastal sands in Ilocos Norte? I was furnished a copy of the letter of...
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Black Sand Mining in Ilocos Norte: The people speak
I remember vividly. At the school auditorium while in college, I was tasked to represent my department in an extemporaneous speaking contest. The topic was activism taken to the streets. I went to the...
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Petrina’s cassava cake, leche flan and that familiar carrot cake
Brandon drove me to Bacarra to scrutinize Petrina’s. Paul, my dear friend from Adams, has been egging me on to visit the shop. A tiny bite of their insane cassava cake left me hanging for quite a...
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Environment wins in Ilocos Norte
As of late, anti-mining protesters in Ilocos Norte can heave a sigh of relief with the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s junking of a resolution that will favor black sand mining in Ilocos Norte. Citing...
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Discovering the cooking of Lidamero’s (Jamiroze)
I have to confess to you, dear readers, I’ve been a biased blogger all these years. Out of my loyalty to the late Nana Carmen Dawang of Dawang’s Place, a favorite carinderia in Ilocos, I turned a...
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How much is too much?
Palpalokada was the most picturesque place I’ve ever photographed. It captured the imagination of people when I first posted it on Facebook. Three weeks after Ilocos Norte’s best-kept secret came out...
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The Best Places for a Selfie in Ilocos Norte
With the dawning of the digital age, we talk and talk more through pictures. We’ve flooded the social media with our duck faces, crossed eyes, peace signs, hand hearts, jump shots, hahah, amusing...
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Trailing the First Dragon Fruit Picking Festival in the North
The REFMAD Farms of the Dacuycuys will always have a special place in the heart of the author of BlauEarth. She has witnessed how the humble hut, surrounded by varying heights of dragon fruit posts,...
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Normcore
A package was waiting at my desk. The pretty card read – from Kit M. (of Ava’s). I was envisioning a custom cake. Open sesame… a cake without the froufrou! I honestly thought it was a joke. However,...
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Where Sugar Is
When spontaneity hits, Chef Nic Rodriguez’s Rufino’s is our new go to for desserts. We had the Bailey’s and chocolate cakes first. For dessert, we split a Caesar salad, roast beef pita and Sunny Vigan...
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Northwestern University Holds Environmental Forum On Black Sand Mining
Yesterday, with some 300 students, I went to vote at the first ever forum on BLACK SAND MINING at the Northwestern University New Media Hall. Ilocanos protested all forms of mining at the Ilocos Norte...
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Alvin Cariaso, the man behind Lente Iloco
Something wonderful came up. I met this guy on the phone ‘coz I had to inquire about a hexacam, and then a beautiful inspiring story started to unfold. I was up on the computer the whole afternoon,...
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