Buns and Pizza

Watching the parade and walking around Lucban to see the decorated house of the Pahiyas Festival proved to be an exhausting activity that emptied mine and my friends’ bellies. Luckily, we had found a small pizza shop that offers affordable pizza.

This pizza shop is the Buns and Pizza and I only first saw it in Lucban. I believe that that this pizza shop can only be found in Lucban. Nothing is amazing about this pizza shop as compared with giant pizza companies like Shakey’s and Pizza Hut. However, if you are in Lucban and you are craving for a good pizza, then this is the place to go.
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 Buns and Pizza, Lucban

My friends ordered the Beef Galore and the Beef and Onion Special. The pizza bread is ready and they will only prepare the toppings of the pizza before baking in their oven. It would take about 15 minutes waiting time before your pizza be delivered to your table.

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Preparing the pizza.

One thing I noticed about their pizza is its sweetness. It is sweeter than the usual pizza that I eat from Shakey’s and Pizza Hut. I believe that they made the sauce for their pizza in Filipino style. Filipino style sauce is sweeter and less sour compared with other spaghetti or pizza sauce.

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The Pizza is almost done.

All in all, we spent 295 pesos for two pizzas. The Beefy Galore (large size) is 155 pesos and the Beef and Onion Special (large size) is 140 pesos. I guess the price is ok since we were satisfied with their pizza.

We also ate at the famous Buddy’s Restaurant before we leave Lucban. However, I am too busy eating their yummy food that’s why I forgot to take pictures and take note of their foods. Maybe this will be another topic I will write about if I ever visited Lucban again.

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3 Super Yummy Delicacies that You should Never Miss when in Lucban, Quezon

The town of Lucban is famous for its Pahiyas, which is touted as the fiesta to end all fiestas. Who wouldn't be amazed with the houses decorated with kiping and veggies? Aside from the Pahiyas, Lucban is also famous for its super yummy delicacies.

I am fortunate to taste three of these super yummy delicacies of Lucban. So without further ado, here's the food that you should not miss when in your Lucban:

Pasalubong and Lucban’s Sweet Treats

A year after I visited Lucban, I got the chance to buy again my favorite pasalubong, which is the Broas.

Sweets from Lucban. (Photo by Erick)

Broas is a crunchy bread that is so puffy that it melts inside your mouth. It became my favorite Lucban treat because of sweetness. However, Broas get crushed easily. When buying broas, I suggest that you buy the ones stored in big cans. If you opt to buy those in plastic packs then I suggest that you protect it or else you'll eat pulverized broas. That’s what happened to my broas when I got home from my visit to Pahiyas Festival.

A pack of broas costs 35 pesos. I tried to haggle with the vendors but their resistance is stiff, thus I can’t buy broas at a price less than 35 pesos. Too bad that I never employed my own tips on haggling.

Other pasalubong that I bought from Lucban are the Apas, and Torones. During the Pahiyas Festival, stalls selling pasalubong and kakanin were set up on the sidewalks. Visitors have numerous shops to choose from. During the regular days, pasalubongs can be bought on shops located near the Lucban Church.

Pansit Habhab (a.k.a Pansit Lucban)

Not to be outdone by other towns, Lucban also has its own version of pansit, which is called as Pansit Habhab. I do not know where Pansit Habhab got its name. My best guess is that the name came from the way Pansit Habhab is eaten.

Uncooked Pansit Habhab.

Pansit Habhab is eaten without using any spoon or fork. It is eaten directly off the plate, as if you are a goat eating some grass.

When we are looking for a place to buy Pansit Habhab, we found a shop in Lucban’s new market that has a long queue of customers. This shop is Pert and Nellie Pancit Habhab Shop and I believe that they have the best Pansit Habhab in the area because of the many people lining up to buy some from them. Other food stalls beside the Pert and Nellie’s shop are almost devoid of any customers.

The long queue indicates that Pert and Nellie has the best Pansit Habhab.

Pansit Habhab from Pert and Nellie is 6 pesos per pack. This is not too expensive because one pack of Pansit Habhab is already enough for one person. Pert and Nellie will give you a plastic of vinegar to make your Pansit Habhab more delicious according to your taste.

A pack of pansit habhab is heavier than a pack of Luck Me!

Uncooked Pansit Habhab is also available at 40 pesos per pack. You could buy uncooked Pansit Habhab from shops selling pasalubong or at Eker and Ely, which is famous for its Lucban Longganisa.

Lucban Longganisa

This is the only Lucbanon delicacy that I failed to buy during the Pahiyas Festival. Lucban Longganisa is so famous that all stocks from every shops were bought by visitors of the Pahiyas Festival. My friend told me that Lucban Longganisa is quite delicious that Purefoods Company offered Lucban to buy the name and rights to Lucban Longganisa. Lucbanons rejected the offer because it forbids them to make Lucban Longganisa once Purefood bought the rights.

For the uninitiated, longganisa is a kind of sausage that is famous in the Philippines.

Lucban Longganisa just hang outside most shops. (Photo from Lakwatsera Ako)

The best place to buy Lucban Longganisa is at Eker and Ely, which sells the sausage and pasalubong since 1958. Lucban Longganisa from this place is so good that there is still a long line of people buying there sausage the day after the Pahiyas Festival. If you really want to buy Lucban Longganisa from Eker and Ely, I suggest that you buy not during the Pahiyas Festival so that you could avoid the hassle of long lines.

Eker and Ely, home of great Lucban Longganisa.

The shop of Eker and Ely is located in the vicinity of the Lucban Church.

These are just three of the yummy food that I tasted while I was in Lucban. I'm sure that Lucban has more to offer so I will taste of Lucbanons' yummy food when I come back to their wonderful town.
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My Very First Pahiyas Experience

Last Saturday, I visited Lucban to see their famous Pahiyas Festival. This festival is the best of all the festivals that I had visited so far.

Pahiyas Festival celebrates the feast of San Isidro (a.k.a. St. Isidore one of the doctors of the church). It is the time that the people of Lucban showcase their bountiful harvest as their way of saying "thank you" to God.
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Welcome to Pahiyas Festival 2010

What made the Pahiyas Festival famous are the houses that were dressed like lanterns. The houses are covered with colorful kiping, rice grains, vegetables, and even longganisa. The house that has the most creative design will be judged as the best house for the year’s Pahiyas Festival.
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Houses in Lucban are like Christmas lanterns.

 Decorated houses are more amazing during the night.

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 This house is this year's grand champion of the Pahiyas Festival.

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Kiping is the unique element in each of the decorated houses in Pahiyas Festival. Kiping is a blade-thin cracker that was made from the flour of grounded rice. It is unflavored and is in different color. I tried eating one of the kiping flakes but I didn't like because its bland.

Kiping chandelier.

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Gaiety filled the streets of Lucban as people watched the parades of the different floats. Just like the houses, floats are designed with kiping, vegetables, and fruits.

A beautiful float of Pahiyas Festival.

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Mother and daughter team-up.

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Best float of Pahiyas Festival 2010.

Beautiful Lucbanons also paraded much to the elation of the audience (including me). The contestants also were adorned by native products and that include kiping.

Ube Queen.

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The fairest of them all. ;-)

Not to be outdone, carabaos (water buffalo) pulling decorated sleds were also paraded. People were amazed and, at the same time, scared of the big water buffaloes and their large horns.

And this carabao beat them all.

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 Pahiyas festival is the busiest day for Lucban. Many tourists go to this town to see the decorated houses and join in the festivities. People who have relatives or friends in Lucban visit the town to eat the delicacies for free. Fiesta in the Philippines is one happy affair and the Pahiyas Festival is not different.

Expect heavy traffic during the Pahiyas festival. Roads that will be used for the parade are closed and the number of visitors in the town causes the traffic to move very slowly. Visitors usually go down outside of the town and walk towards the poblacion. To enjoy the Pahiyas Festival, it is suggested that you walk around town to see the interesting things that the festival is offering.

Lucban festival made these cars trapped in a hellish traffic.

Stalls, offering pasalubong (food) and other souvenirs, were set-up all around the town. There are shops selling hats, delicacies from Lucban, souvenir t-shirts, keychain, and other souvenir items. Visitors have many items to choose from.

Broas? Apas? Nuts? Any pasalubong you want is available.

Nothing beats the sun like these cool hats.

My latest Lucban visit is really amazing. Even though I was irritated by the long travel to Lucban from Manila, the grandness of the Pahiyas Festival is more than enough for me to feel that my visit is very well worth it.

Here are more pictures of the Pahiyas Festival:

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Climbing Up the Kamay ni Hesus Shrine

Kamay ni Hesus Shrine is one of the latest additions to the many grottos and spiritual places in the Philippines. The shrine was built through the contributions of the many members of the Catholic Church, as coordinated by the Kamay ni Hesus Ministry Foundation. The centerpiece of this shrine is the image of the ressurected Christ located on top of a mountain.
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The large image of Jesus Christ is atop the mountain.

Many people, some coming from places far away from Lucban, visit the shrine for the healing mass of Father Faller and his fellow priests. Masses are scheduled every Monday, Saturday, and Sunday. Healing mass is scheduled every Monday and Saturday. The masses are being celebrated in the shrine's chapel. The chapel's altar also features Jesus Christ as he ascend to heaven.
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Altar of the Kamay ni Hesus chapel.

The area has a wide parking space. There are also stores where one could buy candles, snacks, and other religious items.

Images of the Catholic saints are everywhere. One of the images that I saw is my favorite Marian image: Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
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I greeted San Lorenzo Ruiz before I started my climb to the top.
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Climbing to the top of the Kamay ni Hesus Shrine is not easy. I counted 285 steps on the left stairway. The climb is the best moment to reflect upon your relationship with God. It is also the best moment to meditate on  life of our Lord because there are images based on the Gospel.

The narration of Gospel starts with the Annunciation located at the base of the mountain.
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The Sorrowful Mysteries is also complete. First is "The Agony in the Garden":
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Then "The Scourging at the Pillar":
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The third Sorrowful Mystery is "The Crowning with Thorns":
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The fourth Sorrowful Mystery is the "Carrying of the Cross".
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The fifth and last Sorrowful Mystery is the "Crucifixion and Death of Jesus Christ".
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The scenes for the other Mysteries are also present but I failed to take photos of all of them. Kamay ni Hesus Shrine will be a perfect place for me when I pray the Holy Rosary. Too bad that this shrine is too far away from my house.

The climb was exhausting. I had to rest many times just to catch my breath. The chapel and other structures of the shrine became "small".

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I forgot the exhausting climb when I reached the mountain top because I saw the image of our Lord welcoming me.

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I prayed for a while and thanked our God for all the blessings that He gave me. This image is really huge! It is the largest image of Jesus Christ that I had seen so far.

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Of course, the top of the Kamay ni Hesus Shrine has the best view of Lucban. My eyes feasted on the wonderful view of the land below. I am so happy to see that most of Lucban is still covered in greenery.

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When visiting Lucban, I recommend that you to pass by Kamay ni Hesus Shrine. Climb up the mountain while meditating on your relationship with God. Perhaps God will reveal His plans to you inside this shrine.

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This blog post is a part of the series narrating my adventures at Lucban, Quezon. Read my other blog posts about my visit to Batis Aramin resort and downtown Lucban.

Need more info about Kamay ni Hesus Shrine and the healing masses? Visit the website of Father Faller for info.

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Have you visited Kamay ni Hesus Shrine? Please tell us your experiences by leaving a comment on the comment box below.

A Visitor's Comment on Batis Aramin Hotel and Resort

Batis Aramin Hotel and Resort is located in the outskirts of Lucban in Quezon Province. The developer of this resort balanced nature and man-made developments. Batis Aramin has three resorts, a multi-purpose hall and rooms for rent in the midst of trees and greeneries. Thus, a visitor can experience both the relaxing mood of nature and the comfort brought by the amenities.

The fee for entering the resort for day tour (6 AM to 5 PM) is 80 pesos and 60 pesos for adult and children respectively. For the night tour (5 PM to 6 AM), the fee is 100 pesos for adult and 80 pesos for the kids. This is, of course, exclusive of the fee for rooms.
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The entrance to Batis Aramin Resort.

How to Go to Batis Aramin Resort

The resort is just a tricycle ride away from the center of Lucban. Anyone planning to visit this resort could hire a public tricycle at a cost of 50 Pesos. Tricycle drivers already know the location of the resort and they will drop visitors inside the resort’s premises.

If you are coming from Metro Manila, then you could ride a provincial bus going to Lucban and ride a tricycle in the town. Batis Aramin is not recommended for those who do not wish to have a long travel time since going to Lucban coming from Manila takes about 4 hours. See the Part I of this post for information regarding Lucban and how to get there.

Amenities in Batis Aramin Resort

Batis Aramin is good in terms of amenities. The resort has plenty of rooms, which made it perfect for company outings. There are large rooms with four large beds (each bed can accommodate two persons). Also, there are rooms that are suitable for couples. Each room has a TV and a thermos for those who can’t live without a cup of coffee.

Every visitor is provided with a towel, soap, a Batis Aramin branded shampoo, and a sachet of powdered coffee. Just be cautious with the shampoo though, because it may harm your hair. I ddn't feel comfortable with the shampoo when I used it.
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A room in Batis Aramin Resort.

Batis Aramin Resort has three swimming pools. One is a kiddie pool and the others are pools for adults. What I noticed with their pools is the lack of maintenance. The kiddie pool, for instance, was dirty and I saw that no one used it during my whole stay. The other pools are OK and lifeguards are available to assist their visitors.
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The kiddie pool of Batis Aramin Resort.

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The only pool in Batis Aramin Resort that has slide.

There is a function hall that is suitable for company outings and clan reunions. The resort staff can also serve food and prepare the hall for special occasions.

Foods, Drinks and Activities in Batis Aramin Resort

Bringing your own food is allowed in Batis Aramin Resort. Bringing in your own beer or other beverages is also allowed. Those who don't have their own food and drinks need not worry because the resort has a store that sells beer, other beverages and snacks. It is open even late at night and even delivers cases of beer directly to visitor's rooms. If you do not like their food, then the resort is just a tricycle ride away from Lucban, which has many restaurants and stores.

In the middle of the resort is a small river that flows lazily. The resort has boats that could be used by visitors for boating. The river is dirty and smelly during my visit because it just rained. I think that the resort management find a way to keep the river clean even during the rainy season clean to make the resort more beautiful.
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Muddy river inside Batis Aramin Resort.

The resort also has videoke machines for those who want to sing their lungs out. This resort is also just on the other side of the highway of the Kamay ni Hesus Shrine. Visitors of Batis Aramin can just walk toward the grotto. The full story for Kamay ni Hesus Shrine is on the third installment of this series.

 

Caution for Visitors

 

Many walkways and stairs inside the resort have no handrails. Accidents may happen anytime because some people might fall from these stairs and walkways.
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Here are the other photos inside the resort:

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Muddy river.

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Fountain at the courtyard.

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Batis Aramin is a nice resort. Good swimming pools, nice environment, and nice rooms. People who will reach the resort will enjoy it.

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This blog post is a continuation of the blog post A Piece of Quezon (Part I).

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Do you have any question or comment about Batis Aramin Resort? Please tell us about it by leaving a comment in the comment box below.

The Town of Lucban

I consider the town of Lucban as a big open museum. The place is oozing with history to the point that I saw National Historical Institute markers on the buildings, parks and churches of this town. Aside from its historical significance, the town of Lucban is also famous its tourist spots. One of these spots is the mystical Mount Banahaw.
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Jose Rizal Monument in Lucban.

Lucban's colorful Pahiyas Festival is known throughout the country. The festival showcases the artistry and ingenuity of the people of Quezon. In this festival, the citizens of Lucban decorate their houses with kiping. Kiping was made from rice and was formed and colored according to design that is being made for the house.

I got the chance to visit Lucban due to a company outing. All I can say is that the town of Lucban is beautiful! Their streets are well maintained and almost free of garbage. Those who have asthma can have some respite from the fumes of Metro Manila. History geeks will enjoy touring the town's historical spots. Backpackers can opt to climb the mountains.

Our company outing was held in Batis Aramin, which is just few kilometers from Lucban. I just visited this town for at least an hour to buy my pasalubongs, which allowed me to peek at some of its interesting spots.

 

How to Go to Lucban

 

Going to Lucban, Quezon is not difficult since there are many bus companies that have trips toward the town from Metro Manila. The roads going to the town are well paved. A commuter will have ample time to catch up on their sleep or feast on the greenery of rice fields and mountains on the way to Lucban. Heavy traffic could only be found at the entrance and the exit of the expressway.

There are many ways of reaching Lucban, but what I experienced is the path that passes through the SLEX and Laguna (Calamba, Pagsanjan, and Cavinti). It took me at least four hours of travel time (including the traffic and stop-overs) before reaching Lucban.

Upon reaching the town, one can go to various parts of Lucban by riding the tricycles.

Here some of the places I visited in Lucban:

 

Lucban Church

 

Lucban Church is one of the oldest Catholic churches in Quezon. The first church was built in 1595 and was ruined in 1629. It was rebuilt in the years between 1930 and 1940 but was again ruined by fire in 1733. The current church was completed in 1738. The nearby convent was finished in 1743.
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The walls and ceiling of Lucban Church is just in plain white. Sadly, I do not have time to enter the church and pray. I didn't even got the chance to take the photo of its altar.
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The bell tower is connected to the church. How I wish that I heard the tolling of the bells of Lucban Church. I do hope that no more catastrophe will happen to this church.

 

Batis Aramin Hotel and Resort

 

This resort is located at the outskirts of Lucban. It boasts three swimming pools, a river where visitors can boat, and a large nature park. The full story Batis Aramin Hotel and Resort is on part II of this blog post.

 

Kamay ni Hesus Shrine

 

A new spiritual get-away for the religious. In this place, you will feel God’s love and mercy through the various sculpted scenes of Jesus Christ’s suffering and crucifixion. The grotto has no entrance fee and was built from the donations of Catholics under the leadership of Father Faller. The centerpiece of this shrine is the large icon of the risen Christ atop a mountain. A must see for those who want to restart their relationship with Jesus Christ. My full story on Kamay ni Hesus Shrine is on Part III of this blog post.

 

Lucban Poblacion

 

The poblacion of Lucban is the place where pasalubongs and souvenirs can be bought. There are many shops and bakery in downtown Lucban. Pasalubongs that are for sale are broas, apas, tikoy and many more. I recommend the broas because it is very delicious. The pasalubong are not expensive. A plastic of broas is only 45 Pesos, while the apas is 35 Pesos. Other products are within that price range.

So, those are the places that I visited during my one day visit to the town of Lucban. I know that I missed a lot of interesting places. I mean to visit Lucban in the future because I want to climb Mount Banahaw and see the other spots in Lucban.