From Lechon to Earth Hour

March 29, 2014: Katipunan to Makati to Manila to Marikina to Pasig

http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/315204524/2391836

Goals: Buy lechon. Deliver lechon to Makati. Join Earth Hour.

Woke up late today and can't decide if I should go out and bike. I took a look outside and saw the summer sun is already high. I sensed that it's going to be another hot day, and part of me is saying that I should just stay home. But it has been more than a week already since my last decent ride. I was in Ilocos last weekend, and days after that, I had the bike fixed. I just got my trusty foldie back last Friday afternoon. And so, I was really itching to go out.

While still deciding, I called Sherwin and asked if I can drop by their place as I needed to give them the small pasalubong I bought in Ilocos, and the toy car I got for him from the Shell EcoMarathon. He said that they will just be at home, busy packing. He asked if I can pass by a lechon place. I thought that the 30-minute bike ride to their place would just be a quick one, and that going to Sabroso's Katipunan branch, which is approximately a 20-minute ride, would be a good reason to get extra km, and time. So, I said yes. Within a few minutes, I was already on my way to Sabroso.

Along EDSA-Corinthians, I noticed MMDA's bike project. This is like the project they did in EDSA-Ayala wherein people can borrow a bike. Bike usage is from one point to one end only. In this case, it's from the corner of EDSA and Meralco Ave up to White Plains, and from White Plains 'til Santolan.

10:22AM: MMDA's bike rental.

10:23AM: Empty MMDA Public Bike Service.

It was almost 10:45AM when I arrived at Sabroso. The door signage says they’re still closed, but the lights inside the restaurant were on. Perhaps, they just forgot to change the signage because they  open at 10:30AM, as written on their door. So, I pushed the door, went in, and asked if they're already open. The waiter said that the lechon just arrived, and that they are just preparing it. Lucky me! First customer gets the best part!

10:44AM: Being welcomed in Sabroso.

10:47AM: Slicing of the lechon.

I ordered 1 kilo to go, and 1 lechon meal (PHP 130) for dine in. The meal comes with rice, iced tea, soup, and some pineapple. The lechon did not disappoint. Really!

11:20AM: My brunch.

I brought some zip locks for my takeout order. Good thing I brought three. Two for the 1 kilo lechon which was half and placed in plastic containers then wrapped in a paper bag, and the third one is for the sarsa. Then, I put everything in the dry bag together with the pasalubong, and the toy car box. And off I went to Makati!

To be continued.

To Sangley Point

March 15, 2014: Pasig to Sangley Point, Cavite City and back.

http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/308653453/2391836

Goal: Reach Sangley Point

It was decided that we leave at 5AM. It's to make sure that we will be able to make a good lead by the time the sun comes out. It's already March and March means hot and dry weather in Manila. 

Just the day before our ride, I was already reviewing the route that we're going to take. Keeping mental notes of the streets and landmarks as I won't be able to use my Android phone. I don't have unlimited mobile data and keeping my phone up for navigation can easily drain the battery. I've also noted the MetroStar ferry from Cavite City to SM MOA. That could have been an option for our trip back to Manila. However, we found out that the ferry is no longer operational. So, I joked that in case we can't bike anymore, we will just fold our bikes and take the bus.

To track my ride, I used Endomondo through BlackBerry Curve. And for times I wasn't sure where we were, I did the old fashion way that is to ask people for directions. ;)

I woke up at 4AM. By 5, I was already at S&R Shaw Blvd. waiting for Allan Barredo. We took the Makati Ave - Pasong Tamo Extension - Nichols - Terminal 3 - Quirino Ave route to get to Paranaque.   From there, we just followed the main road. Passing the cities/towns of Las Pinas, Bacoor, Kawit, and Noveleta until we reached Cavite. 

7:08AM: St. Joseph Parish Church
House of the Las Piñas Bamboo Organ
Las Piñas, Philippines

7:22AM: Las Piñas Bamboo Organ
Las Piñas, Philippines

8:06AM: Aguinaldo Shrine
Kawit, Cavite, Philippines

Aguinaldo's house is now a museum where personal memorabilia of President Emilio Aguinaldo are displayed. The house is actually well maintained and kept cleaned. And guess what. Touring the house is just FREE! 

8:32 AM: Aguinaldo House - Second Floor Sala
Kawit, Cavite, Philippines

8:43AM: The back of Aguinaldo's house.
Kawit, Cavite, Philippines

If given another opportunity to visit this place, I'll definitely spend more time checking every detail of the house.

From Aguinaldo Shrine, we had breakfast at Hidden Tapsi. This is located near the end of Mascardo St., before Ravelo St. It is just a few hundred meters from the shrine. The restaurant is not along Mascardo. It's behind a house where the only passage is an alley.

I ordered lechon kawali meal (with sunny side up egg), an extra cup of rice, a bottle of 7 Up and 1.5L of Royal Tru Orange.

What puzzled me while in there were the children at the entrance of the alley who were asking for money. The restaurant was in the middle of nowhere! Well, not really. It's just that the place is not even along the highway and the volume of people going there is not that high. Or maybe I'm just assuming. Still, it's really sad to see kids begging in such a remote place. When we left, the kids were still in the alley.

Instead of taking the highway to Cavite City, we decided to take a side trip and checkout Barangay Santa Isabel. There were portions where we biked along a pilapil and a dike. One wrong turn there and I would have ended wet and muddy.

10:17AM: Parked Banca
Barangay Santa Isabel, Kawit, Cavite, Philippines

After Barangay Santa Isabel, we found ourselves back in Magdiwang Highway. It's only less than 10 km to Cavite City but the sun is already high. Forcing us this time to take another break somewhere in the middle of the Manila-Cavite Road.

11:04AM: Common scene along the Manila-Cavite Road where fish are dried and colorful buses pass by.
Noveleta, Cavite, Philippines

We arrived at the main gate of the Naval Base Heracleo Alano (Naval Base Cavite) at 11:25AM. No souvenir picture though since the navy prohibits people from taking photos of the base and that includes the gate.

A short conversation with a navy personnel led us to know where we can have lunch. The two restaurants he suggested are located in the vicinity of the San Roque Parish Church. So off we went to check Cavite City's lechon place, Regal Dining. This is along P. Burgos Ave.

After an hour, we went straight to the other side of Cavite City. Hoping we would be able to check out the port area. Unfortunately, that area is also part of the naval base.

I guess that's our cue. We've already achieved our goal and it was time to paddle our way back.

We had five more stops. The first two were in Kawit. One was for rehydration/rest and the other was when I bought two small packs of crispy tahong. Then the next two were in Las Pinas. Took a photo of a sign maker and his works and just a few blocks away stopped at a 7-11 store to get some water. The final stop with Allan was at Bon Banhmi along Mayapis St., Makati. We had Vietnamese sandwich there, which Allan highly recommends. We parted ways in Kalentong.

A man proudly poses in the middle of his works, signage used by jeepneys. The signages are sold at PHP25 each.
Las Piñas, Philippines

I decided to take Shaw Blvd instead of the steep roads of Addition Hills, San Juan. Shaw Blvd is a long gradual up hill road but more bearable than those in Addition Hills.

After I've crossed EDSA-Crossing, I took a turn to Greenfield District to do a quick break there. Good thing there was a weekend market in which I was able to get myself a cup of buko juice.

It was already the last two kilometers but I felt I can still bike two more kilometers. So, I took the bike to Ortigas Center and Barangay San Antonio before heading home.

It was already 6PM when I reached home. Very much happy with the ride and thankful that the weather was overall normal.

Flickr set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/webzer/sets/72157642423330004/

All Set!

I'm not a hardcore biker. I just like to bike in the metro with my foldie and I'm always amazed on how far I can paddle. That everything seems to be reachable. So, this is my attempt in documenting my ride and the photos I take along the way.