WHERE NEXT?

I am starting to run out of places to visit. No, no. Let me rephrase that. I am running out of ideas for this blog. I will now ask YOUR help and tell me what places, events, etc. you want to see here at Superpasyal. Post now.

DINNER AT TASTE ASIA, MALL OF ASIA

SNACKS AT ALMON MARINA

THE NEW REMEDIOS CIRCLE

Read fellow blogger and Manila Standard Today columnist Bong Austero's take on the new Remedios circle here.

WHAT'S YOUR PINOY BREAKFAST?

Suman from Pampanga: Php 20.00 (6 pieces)
Mangoes from Batangas: Php 50.00 (per kilo)
Experience: Priceless

What's your favorite Filipino breakfast? Let me know.

Garlic Rice
Fried Dilis
Visayan longganisa (round)
Eggs

Had this breakfast in Bacolod City.

PASALUBONG: BULAD = TUYO

Bulad is Visayan for dried fish. It comes from the word, uhm, "bulad" which means to dry in the sun. In Tagalog, it is called tuyo from the the word "tuyo" which simply means dry. See the difference in context? :-)

HIDALGO STREET

Visited the recently re-developed Hidalgo Street in Manila. Traditionally home to shops selling supplies to photographers, it has become decrepit until it was renovated recently. Now you can visit it again and not worry much about checking your belongings every so often. Be careful, however, on your way there. The surrounding environs is a mess.

SINCERITY, NUEVA STREET

It will surprise any first-time visitor of Binondo to find a low-keu restaurant in the middle of shops along Nueva Street. But make no mistake about it, Sincerity Restaurant turned 50 years old last September 2006! They moved to their present location from Carvajal 20 years ago. For this trip, prepare Php 400 - 600 for 2-3 persons.

A refreshing start would be Black Gulaman (somehow, by default, you'd always end up ordering it) and Ngohiong.

Sincerity is never empty so be prepared to wait for a table. If you are coming from Sta. Cruz and came here by calesa, the cochero may offer to wait until you're done and bring you back to Sta. Cruz. You may want to give him food, by the way.

The one and only... The star of the resto is Sincerity Chicken. What makes it different from the usual butter chicken?

Golden hue. Warm rice.

The side plate. Brocolli and beef.

ESTERO RESTAURANT, ONGPIN

You may have heard of Estero from some telly show. Otherwise, it could have reached you by word of mouth. Food is fresh, surprisingly good, and shockingly cheap. Think Php 1,000 for a company of 6 (with re-orders). Amazing!

Good food. The girls show their appreciation.

There are other restos in this strip aside from Estero.

But Estero, being the first resto, gets the most people.

Estero and a real estero (beside it). Now you know.

BASILICA MINORE DE SAN LORENZO

I will visit again. Promise.

MY MANILA BIRTHDAY

What better way to celebrate my birthday than spend it in Manila, the City of our Affections? I brought some friends from the office to an impromptu walking tour of Binondo (No, no plans whatsoever of taking over Ivan Dy and Carlos Celdran) and had dinner at Estero. Wonderful day!

Wish me luck. Lucsious persimmons for sale.

Along Ongpin. Patience is required when weaving your way in and out of dense vehicular and human traffic.

It's that time of the year. Chestnuts roasting on an open fire.

Pockets of altars can be found in some Binondo streets.

Yosi break at the Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz (formerly Calderon de la Barca). The brass statue of San Lorenzo (Is it a Castrillo?) can be seen here.

When was the last time you went past these streets?

Ang calesa ay pambayang sasakayan... A calesa ride is always a welcome (and surprise) treat. Support our cocheros, please. Ride a calesa today. And try not to overload like so (only 2 passengers per calesa allowed).

The girls posing in front of the ube firetruck of Eng Bee Tin