What's up? It's Ben Francis! Join me as I hunt for awesome places to visit and new random things to do. Catch me take on these adventures while I decorate and flip spaces one project at a time!
Sitting idle by Camalig town’s Sumlang lake is Socorro’s, a Filipino restaurant owned and managed by the Napa Family. Boasting with rich authentic Bicolano flavors and an array of delectable Filipino cuisine, Socorro’s captures the familiar and takes you to a provincial sojourn while dining in an ancestral-themed ambiance by a serene lakeside setting with Mt. Mayon volcano sunbathing in the background.
The late Napa matriarch immortalized in this mural art.
Assorted mix of antique and native Filipino decor are displayed in this built-in niche that act as partition and feature wall.
Locally-made droplights by Natural Carpet Industries Camalig float as you enter the restaurant.
The second floor can house private gatherings and reception of up to 50-60 guests.
Sinigang ala Socorro
This is it, Pansit!!!
Viva Prita!!!!!
Crispy Pork for the win!!!
Local panghimagas Cakes!!!
More Pansit, this time with a twist! Now with Kamote and Malunggay variants.
Boodle fight anyone????
Now that’s a view!!!
Barkadas and families can opt to dine and lounge on any of the available floating cabanas on the lake. Experience the Bicolano lifestyle of eating and laidback lounging on these locally-made and export quality amenities.
Mus, magkaun kita! Dine with nature and discover the beauty and splendor of Bicolano cooking while marveling at the magnificent view of Sumlang lake and Mt. Mayon. Make sure to drop-by and visit Socorro’s whenever you’re in Camalig, Albay.
Located at the ground floor of SM City Legazpi, Gringo opens its first branch in Albay, Bicol. With its rich Latin flavors and Industrial Tex-Mex appeal, Gringo is out to form a local following in one of Luzon island’s southern most cities.
Its staple chicken and ribs are a must try. Douse it down with a cold serving of their signature mojito and margaritas.
Their burritos, tacos and quesadillas are also a few more things that I strongly recommend you order in their menu.
All in all, my Gringo experience will definitely be the first of many trips I’ll make whenever I’m in the area. With a sense of home-cooked charred familiarity and a noteworthy Instagram friendly ambiance, Gringo SM Legazpi is a sure-fire hit here in Albay.
xo Ben Francis
For Reservations:
Contact Ms. Yet of Gringo Legazpi
+63935.823.2477
Ground Floor- SM Legazpi
Imelda C. Roces Avenue corner Terminal Road, Legazpi City, Albay
The Jesus Hernandez Dialysis Center was established as a testimony to the life and experiences of a dialysis patient. It was born out of a shared will to honor Jesus “Suzing” Hernandez’s zeal and zest for life; and the love of those who cared for him. Located at No.10 Princeton Street, City Heights Subdivision, Concepcion Pequeña, the JHDC is close to all major hospitals in Naga City.The center is equipped with the latest technology in dialysis machines and staffed with compassionate renal care professionals. It is capable of serving 18 cases daily and can be expanded as the need and demand arises. The center will also serve as a support community for renal patients and their families, friends, and caregivers.
For this project, we wanted to achieve a homelike atmosphere in a very institutional setting such as a dialysis center. It has been said and proven that being in a calm and familiar environment such as a home improves the overall well-being of any individual or patient. We wanted to bring the patient and his or her family members in a warm and inviting space that positively distracts them during lengthy dialysis sessions. In this space, we merged local tropical elements with quirky graphics. To complete the look, we mixed in various textures of abaca, rattan, canvas and leather. In the end, a cool and casual vibe was created for this hip boutique dialysis center in Naga City, Bicol.
Murals and graphics by local artists Yvette Ducut and Harley Regalado.
Communal dining areas that also serve as meeting and discussion tables among staff and the patient’s family members and companions.
These green ottoman pods provide extra seating in the waiting lounge.
More cozy nooks to create a sense of home amidst the dialysis center.
Lazy Boy lounge chairs keep the patients comfortable during their sessions in the center. Photo from J. Hernandez Dialysis Center FB Page.
“We don't just provide physical remedies and your usual mainstream medicine; we also create a light and happy environment to give you quality of life.”
Here’s a photo of the J. Hernandez staff showing how a smile can definitely help in fostering the healing process. Good job guys! True to the company adage of “Our family caring for yours.”
Here I am with the president of the company Ms. Frennie Hernandez; a true trailblazer with a heart of gold.
If you’re looking for excellent renal care and you happen to be in the area, do consider Jesus Hernandez Dialysis Center in Naga City. Quality service set in a very loving and comforting space await you at JHDC. You don’t have to worry anything since the JHDC family is dedicated in caring for yours.
xo Ben Francis
Interior Design and Styling: Ben Nasayao
Photos: NB Media
JESUS HERNANDEZ DIALYSIS CENTER
No.10 Princeton Street, City Heights Subdivision, Concepcion Pequeña, Naga City, Bicol
Beyond Bulusan and butandings, Sorsogon has Gubat, a municipality twelve miles east of Sorsogon City proper. With its rustic charm and laidback vibes, Gubat enthralls you to stop the hands of time and chill in its relaxing milieu. If you happen to be in the province’s third largest town, what’s there to do? Well, here is a foolproof guide to spending a day in the tranquil town of Gubat.
Start your day with a hearty brunch at La Comida Linda, a family-ran restaurant tucked in the hushed streets of Luna and Bonifacio. Established in 2016, La Comida Linda serves a fusion of well-loved recipes and a diverse lineup of comfort food. Dive into a smorgasbord of a menu which includes the staple Filipino cuisine ranging from Bicol, Dagupan (Dagupeño) and Ilocano. They also serve Italian and Mexican. Of their impressive lineup, bestsellers include Crispy Pata Kare-Kare, All-meat Pizza and Spaghetti Bolognese. As for deserts their Halo-Halo, Pili Caramel and Chocolate Fudge cakes are popular choices. Recently, they are venturing into baking where their croissants, coffee buns and ensaymadas are gaining a strong following. Single origin coffee and an assortment of beverages are also served here.
As you enter this revamped ancestral house, a Modern Filipino Industrial showcase greets you; a pleasant surprise considering the understated feel of the town. A product of passion and a desire to preserve the house’s glee, La Comida Linda is the perfect place to have a lengthy discourse while sampling delightfully made dishes under the shade of the summer sun.
Continue exploring Gubat by getting to know its waves. Just a short ride from La Comida Linda is Lola Sayong Eco-Surf Camp. Be one with nature and breathe in the fresh ocean breeze as palms sway and surfers ride the tides at Lola Sayong. Lounge around the camp and get cozy on its hammocks while reading a book and enjoying some snacks from Granny’s Hearty Grub; Lola Sayong’s kitchenette. They also serve hearty meals which include Sea-sig, Deviled Fish and Blue Craze; crabs in surprisingly crazy sauce.
With a minimal entrance fee that covers the maintenance of the camp, one can spend the rest of the day chilling by the beach or in the camp’s bungalows. Commune with locals and experience the waves with well-trained instructors. Rent surfboards or avail of the surfing lessons which start at P350 per hour.
Up for more adventures? Rent a motorbike or book a motorbike tour from Lola Sayong and explore the rest of Gubat or the nearby towns of Barcelona and Bulusan. If you got more time to spare, they can even arrange an island hopping tour.
End the day by relaxing on the beachfront, savoring the unspoiled beauty and serenity of Gubat. Stay the night and book one of Lola Sayong’s cottages which range from P800 to P1450. Built from bamboo, cottages come with beds, fresh linens and access to electricity. This bi-level hut can accommodate 4 to 8 guests. Its lower level can be used as a sitting area or an additional spot for hanging hammocks. Communal bathrooms are available as well as cooking and dishwashing facilities.
As more and more cities get facelifted into looking like shiny glass metropolitans, it is nice to come back to pristine places like Gubat. Serene and detached from life’s stressors, this place takes hold of the simple things that make one truly happy and contented. With good food and nature’s best, there is comfort in Gubat’s caress.
DISCOVER CAMALIG: 10 things you should know and do in Camalig
A true son of Camalig, I grew up in this rural town sitting idly at the foot of the majestic Mayon Volcano. Dubbed now as the heritage town of Albay, Camalig is slowly gaining popularity for being an up and coming agro-ecotourism hotspot in Bicol. Listed below are things you can do and discover in this little town of mine.
1. Learn about Camalig’s past. Discovered in 1569 and founded as a parish and a town in 1579, Camalig’s rich history dates back from the time Capt. Luis Enriquez de Guzman; a Spanish official, reached the town in search for food supplies. He arrived at an already progressive community where inhabitants stored their farm products in grass roofed huts called Kinamalig, hence the town’s name. Spaniards referred to it as Camarin, which later became the name of the neighboring provinces in Bicol.
2. Take me to Church! Camalig’s iconic St. John the Baptist church is one of the most impressive structures in the province. Made from volcanic rocks and local materials, it was recently declared by the National Museum of the Philippines as one of the Significant Structures of the Philippines under the category of Important Cultural Property last December 2016. The remains of Anacleto Solano, Albay’s first governor are also buried within the church walls.
Photo by Greg Consulta
3. Take a gander at Camalig’s beautiful ancestral homes. Located at the town’s Poblacion, these Spanish colonial houses serve as time capsules of the past.
Photo courtesy of Apo Gonzales
4. Visit its natural wonders. Camalig sits on a sprawling land mass composed of hilled terrains, caves and lakes.
A little like Bohol’s Chocolate hills, Camalig’s Quitinday Green hills captivates you with its rhythmic undulations. Best part of being here is the undivided view of Mayon amidst the green hills formation. Perf during sunrise and sunsets.
Quitinday video courtesy of Senecaz Aguilar
Quituinan Hill is a perfect place for a quick respite. Atop the hill, one can do atv and horseback riding. It also makes a good campsite where one can marvel at the stars. You can also get a glimpse of Albay and its gulf while you are in Quituinan.
Quituinan and Solong caves videos courtesy of GMA News
Camalig also has Solong caves and Japanese tunnels which you can trek with the help of guides from the town’s Tourism office.
You’ve read about this in your Sibika at Kultura books. It’s now time for you to finally see all the stalagmite and stalactite formations in Hoyop-Hoyopan cave.
Hoyop-hoyopan video courtesy of GMA News
Unlike Hoyop-Hoyopan, Calabidongan Cave is more strenuous. Get ready to do some spelunking in order to discover this Cave of Bats. Calabidong is the Bicol translation for bats.
Photo courtesy of In Bicol
Take a breather at Sumlang Lake while you lounge around the ingeniously made furniture pieces aboard the floating bamboo rafts. Catch Mayon Volcano again in its full glory while coasting in Sumlang Lake during sunset.
Photo courtesy of Joel Noora
Sumlang Video courtesy of WeWanderPH
5. Shop for handicrafts and native products at Natural Carpet Industries and other pasaslubong stores lined up along the highway. Abaca bags and slippers are best sellers along with locally made homeware and niceties.
Photo courtesy of Felipe Napa
6. Sample some Baligang. Baligang or Jambolan Plum is a fruit with a distinct purple to black color. An excellent source of Vitamin C, locals chew Baligang as nga-nga whose flesh is sour but turns sweet when ripe.
7. Cultivate the mind. Look for Raffi Banzuela’s books and learn about Camalig and other Bikolano tales. Titles include Camalig: Istorya Historya Memorya, Durungan: Mga Rawit Dawit and Albay Viejo.
Photo courtesy of Raffi Banzuela
8. Go on a hot date. Visit a sili farm and be like Bert Gonzales. Camalig’s pride, Gonzales can eat 350 pieces of sili in three minutes making him Guinness book of World records’ Sili King. If you get a little overwhelmed by the labuyo, you can simply hang with the Sili King and take inspiration from his arts and illustrations.
9. Eat’s special. A trip to Camalig is not complete without sampling its famous delicacy, Pinangat. Made from taro leaves (gabi), coconut milk, meat or fish, ginger and chili, Pinangat puts Camalig in the central map of Albay’s culinary spectacle. Its rich creamy texture and tasty flavor profile is the result of age old technique combined with fresh ingredients and the best gabi leaves that are said to be found only in Camalig. Apart from Pinangat, Camalig’s Inulokan, Pili Nuts and Marcasotes, a classic sweet bread loaf specialty, are definite must-tries.
10. Party with the locals. Camalig celebrates its Pinangat Festival during the month of June, culminating on the 24th which is St. John the Baptist’s feast day. Celebrate the town’s local delicacy and colorful culture through countless events and festivities prepared by the local government.
If you do decide to explore this town of mine, it will take you 12 hours of land travel from Manila or a mere 45-minute plane ride via Legazpi airport to get here. So what are you waiting for? Pack that weekender bag and come visit Camalig! Holler back and I’ll accompany you in this countryside tour!
Header Photo showing Mayon and Quitinday Hills by Discover Camalig FB Page
What’s up internet? I’m back! After quite some time, here I am again typing away in this old keyboard and picking up where I left off. Yes, 2018 is the year I came back to blog! woot woot! Squeezing in this passion of mine on top of all the cheesecakes that are in my plate right now. This time, I promise to document my adventures diligently and keep you guys updated with all the happenings that are coming my way. From all of my travels to every project I’m decorating on the side, you get the first scoop. The future does look bright and I can’t wait to share it to all of you. So keep it locked in here and make sure to catch every single capsule. Catch you later amigos!
xo Ben Francis
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