It seems I forgot to mention that Guimaras mangoes are the best, sweetest-tasting on the planet!! But somehow, I wasn’t able to have a photo of them in bundles. Didn’t even bring ‘em home for fear that it would destroy my “travel light” philosophy.Anyhoo, another destination in Guimaras is the Trappist Monastery. It’s a sprawling, idyllic compound ably run by the Trappist monks. They have a nice church here and a store oozing with pasalubongs.I bought some rosaries which the priest was only too willing to bless.
Visiting the Trappist store, it’s amazing how Guimaras entrepreneurs have made every conceivable product out of the ubiquitous mangoes. Among these are the mango ketchup, mango piaya, mango jam, chutney, pickles etc.
For this trip, we went to Guimaras from Manila via the Iloilo Airport and exited out of Bacolod. That’s because the island we went to was located somewhere between the two.
Our group had lunch at the original Marina restaurant in Iloilo which was another large compound shaded with trees and outdoor pavilions.
I was supposed to go to Iloilo in September yet via a Cebu Pacific promo but now that I already went to Guimaras, looks like am just gonna have a food trip in this city. Can’t wait to try their specialty La Paz batchoy, molo soup and chicken inasal!
My Bacolod stop was slightly a disappointment since I needed to submit my newspaper story but couldn’t find a single internet cafe near the airport nor a WiFi sign. I dropped by the casino but they wouldn’t allow me to use the computer (talk about being a non-VIP!! harhar) A little walk found me at Aboy’s where I asked for the chicken inasal but I had to wait for 30 minutes yet. Craving for food at ten in the morning, I ended up eating inasal at this mediocre place called Leo’s and then shopped for pasalubong at Merci. What can I say, they really have good airconditioned pasalubong stores in the city.
aaaaaw, too bad your short stay at bacolod had been unpleasant. but you’re not changing your mind about bacolod and its food, right?
as much as i hate to admit it aj, i’ve never been to guimaras nor costa aguada. and to think i just lived in bacolod then. i would love to travel all over our country (maybe when i resign, hehe). it really has so much to offer di ba? a lot of us living here in manila just become jaded and disillusioned, thinking that manila IS the philippines.
looking forward to readng more of your adventures!
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Bacolod will always be tops with me when it comes to food, Vina:smile: You’re right, it’s wrong to judge the Philippine just by seeing our decaying, traffic-prone, pollution-laden cities. Even first-time visitors to our airport would be turned off by the sorry sight that greets them upon first entering. To appreciate the Philippines, you really have to turn inwards and comb the islands, where life is simpler and nature is at its most abundant. The pictures speak for themselves.
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Before I travelled abroad, I had already “toured” the Philippines. Some readers/friends are amused why i still am for the philippines good or bad news. Just like your observation, nothing can compare with Philippines in terms of beauty, people’s warmth and food.
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AJ! i really missed Guimaras already!!! Hopefully ill be back there by october. in time for Bacolod’s Masskara Festival. I can still remember i bough several pieces of rosaries for friends and officemates and keychains made of coco shell. Di ba 1 monk lang nakita mo? I heard that there are a lot of them inside the monastery, praying all day. a lot of them “daw” are Thai nationals. they also have a daily mass at 11AM yata. hopefully i can catch a mass there.
miss ko na din ang bacolod. gosh… i missed Calea, i missed the grilled manumbok in Aboy’s! grabe. pramis pag uwi ko food trip ako! ahahahahah
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Amen to that, Cathy. At least you have memories of the Philippines to tide you over your homesickness in the US of A (if you still get the feeling..)
Hi Eric! I think I saw two monks..one was walking and one was manning the cashier’s booth:grin: We were only able to go to the church and their store; I wonder where the main monastery was. Have a nice Bacolod homecoming!!!
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I’ve never been to Guimaras but you just made me really excited over it!
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i guess the monastery is located right inside that trappist compound. the tricycle driver who brought us there even told us that sometimes these monks would plow the vacant lot at the back and plant some trees there.
hopefully i’ll be back in guimaras by october. yehyy!! malapit na yun. ehehe
5 months pa pala. eheh
ciao!
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I’ve been to Guimaras too Ajay. Don’t you think the Trappist monks just stepped out of the Middle Ages? And shucks! I want those mangoes!
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what does trappist mean?
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Hi Ruth. Trappist is a Roman Catholic order of monks which emphasises on prayer, the vow of poverty and manual work. The latter makes them produce goods which will provide an income to their monastery. Beer brewed by the Trappists is considered the finest in the world.:smile:
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In al modesty, I should add that the best Trappist beer can be found here in Belgium
… and by the way, the monks can also make the finest cheese … indeed Trappist Monks know everything there is to know about Heaven. 
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Yes Pascal I’ve read somewhere that the Trappist monks in Belgium and Holland are the best of the lot, as they make the finest beers and cheeses. So it must be good to be a monk eh?:wink: Too bad I don’t think they have it here in the Philippines. I only saw jams, cookies and other produce in the Guimaras monastery..
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cafe bobs along 21st st Lacson I think has wifi… i hope your next trip to Bacolod will be a far pleasant one. btw, you must try Bigby’s resto at Gaisano-Singcang- great Friday’s-like quality with a cheap price tag…
ganda talaga ang guimaras… very idyllic… ***sigh
just my observation, why is it when people go to provincial cities, they really have something nice to say about it like the food, the people or the atmosphere, but when people go to Manila, you hear nothing but complaints?
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Thanks for the tips Dr. Juls.. are u from there? Gotta try Bigby’s..
I am not complaining about Manila much but Manila can sometimes really get to you with its smog, pollution, traffic and mad rush. On the other hand, we rave about some provinces because there’s something to be appreciated about each new place that’s outside your (dis) comfort zone. Just an opinion;)
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cn i ask some question?what is the significance of the crucifix?as i know,during when christ is to crucify,peole did their participation of it by doing cross sing as a sign that they agree that jesus is to be crucified.thank you…….:razz::???:
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I miss Iloilo and beautifu beaches in GUimaras.
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