Stories Covering " Naga "
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Stories of town explorations.
"I thought I will never eat squid again but my travel infection is manifesting that conquering your fear and eating the food you never attempted to taste (or eat again) is part of the symptoms."

I remember, I was 10 years old when I last ate squid (that's 13 years ago). It was not even a real squid because the squid I used to eat when I was a child was the dried one then sweetened. I used to buy it for 1 peso per pack and I was actually after the "sweet" thing and I was not aware at all that the core of that sweetened food was squid. Personally, just smelling the odor of any squid dish disgusts me. I really don't want the odor and I developed that response since childhood.

Bicol Express Squid
Naga City Food Trip: Bicol Express Squid
Maps by Wikipedia
Location Highlighted in Red
Until I landed in Naga City in Camarines Sur where eating a food that is not common in our province was the craving of my heart, naks!

Asking the locals where can we have a good eat for lunch, they have pointed the way to SM Naga. The bus (where I just hitched) took us to SM Naga. Without too much adieu, the food court was my target. The people I was with (mostly my first time to meet) shared a table with me. At first I know myself that I am not a squid-eater but I gave it a try since Bicol Express is not common in our province.

SM City Naga
SM Naga, where I ate Squid Bicol Express

Of course at first I thought Bicol express was just limited to vegetables and meat with spices. But I was wrong. Anything could be a Bicol Express meal, just add some gata or siling labuyo and there you have it!

Taking the first spoonful of my meal that day, hesitation seemed to be out of my senses. The tip of my tongue was hurt though -- because it was so spicy!

This time I was actually suffering of Gastrointestinal disturbances that eating spicy food is contraindicated but never mind about it. It may take me a long time to go back to Naga again and eat this.

Naga Garden
Naga Garden was the name of the restaurant, ironically, I never saw any garden, lol!

About the taste, of course it was spicy -- that is given! The spice is very prominent that I can not honestly distinguish the taste with the spice.

Some foods that I also ate are Chop Suey and my favorite Halo-Halo.

Bicol Food Trip

Naga Garden SM Naga
I thought I will never eat squid again but my travel infection is manifesting that conquering your fear and eating the food you never attempted to taste (or eat again) is part of the symptoms.

So this is it, I ate squid after 13 years -- I ate squid without me vomitting!
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NAGUSTUAM DIAY NABASAM/NAKITAM? MABALIN MO MET I-LIKE.
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Stories of town explorations.
"I really never thought that Bicol Express is as diverse as culture. It is also like medicine with many brands under one generic name."

The Bicolandia experience is not complete without the culinary tour and for those who are not from Bicol like me, I am very interested with the Bicol Express and of course, I am in the land of siling labuyo and gata. So, why should I miss this? Surprisingly, many versions of Bicol express have emerged thinking that Bicol express is only a one single dish - I didn't know about it.

Sisig Bicol Express served at Tummy Yummy in Legazpi City
SISIG BICOL EXPRESS:

When I first heard about Bicol express during my elementary school days, I thought that it is just a dish, simply a single dish. But now that I have grown up,  I was wrong.

This food was eaten here.
My trip to Bicol has taught me a new elementary lesson for newbies in Bicol - that Bicol Express is a generic name for many versions of the food.

I am sure almost every Pinoy is aware of Sisig. But how about Sisig Bicol Express? Well, Tummy Yummy in Legazpi City has it. The Sisig has turned to be Bicol-owned given the Bicol flavor.

Of course, I expected these stuff - the siling labuyo. Being a person with stomach that rejects spicy food, it was a challenge for me to eat this hot and spicy sisig in a Bicol flavor. It was served with a spread of mayonnaise and the blend, unbelievable! I really feel that I am in a Bicol soil!

Squid Bicol Express served at Naga Garden Restaurant in Naga City. Sorry for the photo label, I mistakenly labeled it with Legazpi City. This was in fact in Naga.
This food was eaten here.
SQUID BICOL EXPRESS:

Next stop is at Naga City in Camarines Sur where I tried a seafood. 

But hey, this isn't your ordinary kind of seafood because it is a squid and mind you, it was cooked with usual Bicol way to become the Squid Bicol express.

As usual, beware of the green things out there because they will make your mouth go crazy. That is the siling labuyo and not a vegetable. The Squid Bicol Express is served at Naga Garden, a food stall at the food court of SM Naga.

This time, aside form the usual vegetable dishes cooked in Bicol express way, this is somewhat unique for me because it was my first time to eat a seafood Bicol express and that was an amazing gastronomic experience.


Truly it was an unforgettable Bicol gastronomical experience. I really never thought that Bicol Express is as diverse as culture. It is also like medicine with many brands under one generic name.

NAGUSTUAM DIAY NABASAM/NAKITAM? MABALIN MO MET I-LIKE.
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Stories of town explorations.
"Sometimes, in the Roman Catholic community, art is somewhat needed to express their deep devotion."

The city of Naga in the province of Camarines Sur in the Philippines is a thriving and bustling city of commerce, trade and industries in Bicol region. Aside from this economic status of Naga, it is also the religious center in the Southern Luzon dating back the Spanish colonial era.


Location Highlighted in Red
Maps Courtesy of Wikipedia
Juan de Salcedo, a conquistador, initiated the founding of a Spanish city they called La Ciudad de Caceres. And of course, if we talk about the Spanish colonization, it means Roman Catholicism.

The penetration of Roman Catholicism was so deep that the bishops of the old Ciudad de Caceres were given a unique power in the Philippine Catholic hierarchy during most of the Spanish era.

That unique capability is to resolve ecclesiastical cases in Naga alone, which in the standard, should be elevated in Rome, the world center for Roman Catholicism.

Based on the brief trackback, that shows how Naga has turned to be the religious center of Southern Luzon. With this, the people are of course deep devotees as well with their faith as an effect of the massive Christianization of the people of Naga by the Spaniards.



If you will try to visit the Basilica Peñafrancia, a plenty of religious artifacts are sold within the basilica premises.

There are a lot of artistically made religious materials to choose from, from wooden to ceramics and from plastic to metal-made. In this part of the city of Naga, one's devotion to their faith can also be expressed through arts.

It is noteworthy that these items were crafted by the creative hands of man.

Aside from these religious materials, the making of these is also a flourishing industry. Plenty of products like these are being sold inside the church vicinity.

It can be considered as an industry with a chain since it starts with the manufacturer/maker then sold to merchants and goes to the stores.

It is bought by devotees then this piece of art becomes a part of their devotion.

An ample number of the rosary can be found within the church premises and displayed in different styles, colors and design to fit to the preference of the devotee.

Entering the right wing of the church are constantly flaming candles as the church constantly contains devotees.
NAGUSTUAM DIAY NABASAM/NAKITAM? MABALIN MO MET I-LIKE.
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