Just before summer comes to an end, I sent an email:
Lea told me about her stay at Subic Homes and I immediately knew that it’ll be awesome for the TTF families to get a well-deserved break there. But like what I said, schedules are difficult to put together within a family, what more among 4 families and 2 very busy professionals?
Well, we don’t give up that easily. So even if an overnight staycation failed on its planning stage, we compensated with a day trip to the nearest weekend destination down South – Tagaytay City.
Call time was at 11am at, where else, our house. We were all late. Oo, kahit ang mga nakatira sa bahay na ito ay late din! Armed with giant bubble makers, balls, chips and popcorn, we were off to our destination at half past noon. We borrowed Mama’s spacious van where all of us will fit. We wanted to enjoy even the road trip.
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| all 3 happy families photo by Alvin Panuncialman |
A McDonald’s drive-thru was imperative, Ira was asking for “real food”. Trusty old chicken fillet, nuggets and fries did the trick. But it was not only Ira, Mia, Miggs and Iggy who binged, us daddies and mommies were also starving!
And so we arrived Pamana restaurant for a much awaited lunch.
Pamana is another genius by the Ongpauco’s who has made a name through Barrio Fiesta. It sits beside the Boutique Hotel, which they also own.
Welcoming you to this 3-floor restaurant is a small shop where rare platters, jars, preserves, and some other goodies are for sale. Walking further left, you’ll see a receiving area and family history on the wall.
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| the jarred items say they were all homemade |
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| gives you that 'grandma's ante-sala' feel |
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| if i was born then, i know i would've had this photo by Ingrid Panuncialman |
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| 'no comment' haha! photo by Alvin Panuncialman |
More history await you as you climb the stairs.
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| there were images of Sampaguita and LVN movie stars - the frames were beautiful |
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| i think everyone in my generation grew up with a horsey like this - mine was color red, white and black |
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| high back chairs that reminded me of my paternal grandmother's dining room |
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| i love these! i want a room in our future rest house to have mirrors of all shapes and sizes |
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| the fireplace at the corner of the 2nd floor, near the veranda |
We were given a good table on the 2nd floor veranda, more than enough to accommodate even our yayas. Our spot overlooked this breathtaking sight.
A small (I’m guessing) garden patch was a few steps beneath the veranda, accessible from where we were. Mia and Ira could not wait to check it out.
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| Mia was trying to pull-off a peace sign photo by Ingrid Panuncialman |
I went down and saw a tomato and sayote. I guess all the others planted there were veggies and herbs I don’t recognize.
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| the tomato waiting to be picked |
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| sayote fresh for the kitchen |
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| looking down at me, maybe even wanting to jump |
Choosing from the very interesting menu wasn’t very easy. Each item was mouth-watering even by just reading how it is deliciously described. All 6 adults agreed on a soup, vegetables, pork, stew and 3 kinds of rice.
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| singigang sa miso salmon - the soup alone was fantastically sour and sweet |
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| binignit - very close to the usual pinakbet, this time with perfectly reduced coconut milk |
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| crispy pata - all chopped up crispiness with more meat than bones |
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| adobo, 3-ways - chicken sauteed in garlic then simmered in vinegar alone, crunchy yet tender flakes and the famous pork stewed in soy sauce with basil leaves photo by Ingrid Panuncialman |
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| aligue rice - name says it all |
The 2 other kinds of rice we had were plain steamed and bagoong rice. The latter had strips of mango, bagoong with chunks of pork and scrambled egg. I just realized I forgot to take a photo, maybe I could not wait to dig in it J.
Cy had mangga’t bagoong. At first we thought it was for Jo, who is 4 months preggers, hindi pala. It seems that it’s daddy who’s salivating for it.
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| green mangoes with Barrio Fiesta bagoong that never fails |
Ang naglilihing daddy asked for salt and was given this.
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| i love the way they presented their condiments, so creative and classy |
When we asked for our bill, we were given this.
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| Mia called it a treasure box photo by Ingrid Panuncialman |
It started to rain while we were enjoying our meal. We were hoping it’ll stop by the time we finish eating so we can bring the kiddos to the zoo or maybe somewhere grassy where they can freely play. But since it continued to pour, we headed for Taal Vista Hotel. Their children’s play room saved the day. Dads and Moms got to relax while the kids went crazy J!
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| Taal Vista's play room located at the 'old' hotel's side |
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| Ira Panuncialman photo by Ingrid Panuncialman |
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| Mia Aliño photo by Ingrid Panuncialman |
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| Migs Vergara photo by Ingrid Panuncialman |
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| Iggy Vergara photo by Ingrid Panuncialman |
We had coffee, happy hour beer and beer chow at the Lobby Lounge. We weren’t very happy L. I will stop at that. Send me a message if you want to know the details. We had sunny spirits despite the downpour, so we can still manage to smile for the cam despite disappointed palates. AND, we chose NOT to complain.
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| Cy, Ingrid, Alvin, Jo with Migs and Iggy, myself with Mia Adel and Ira were all around |
On our way home, all the kids slept soundly. We had to skip A Bag of Beans L but could not go home without buko tarts from Amira’s. We had to let Jo satisfy that craving J.
It was such a stimulating day. Each kid had their own episode. Ira had some sort of a reflux inside the van when we were very near Pamana. Miggs overfed himself then jumped and ran all around the play room at Taal Vista which resulted to, you guessed it right, throwing-up. And just as we thought that that was it, Mia’s nose bled while playing at the same hotel’s lobby. Turns out, she was picking her nose! Eow yuck Mia! J
As parents, we were all delighted that the kids had a blast. My heart was smiling non-stop seeing Mia chasing bubbles, driving a car, climbing a playhouse, and finding a spot to read a book.
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| Mia called on Ira and Migs to sit with her she loves sitting on these steps, wala kasing hagdanan sa bahay namin |
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| Migs, Mia and Ira indulged us for photos |
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| enjoying the bubbles; look at that genuine happiness |
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| she really loves driving, sana lang hanggang pagtanda para ipag-drive si mommy |
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| i love it that she manages to find a spot to read wherever we are |
We know we will do this again. Next time with the Santoses, everybody’s Ninong Dennis and their favorite Tita Crissie.
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| the Aliños |
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| the Vergaras |
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| the Panuncialmans |
Pamana is on Aguinaldo Highway, Tagaytay City; just beside Boutique Hotel, near the Tagaytay Rotonda
Amira’s Buco Tart Haus is on Aguinaldo Highway cor. SVD Road, Tagaytay City
