Our native dishes, such as pinakbet and dinengdeng or bulanglang, will never be complete without one ingredient that has been the pride of our province, Pangasinan. Do you know what that is? It is the famous bagoong, technically termed as fish paste. This product can be found on almost all of homes here in Pangasinan. Even those with high economic status also have fish paste in their homes. It seems to be a part of our Filipino culture that we make use of bagoong in making our daily dishes more delicious and yummy. Aside from that, plain bagoong can be used as “sawsawan” or dip for different native Filipino foods such as steamed kamote and kangkong leaves, grilled fishes and the like. With the addition of the popular “suka” (vinegar) and “kalamansi,” your plain bagoong can be a great stuff for making your eating more satisfying and more enjoying.

Bagoong (Fish Paste) Industry is said to be one of Pangasinan’s Undying Wealth. Do you know why?

Aside from being one of the prime ingredients of the aforementioned Filipino dishes, fish paste is also a very good export commodity. Large amounts of fish and shrimp paste exports go to Korea, U.S.A., Canada and Saudi Arabia. It is estimated that out of the 42% total of processed food exported, 3.5% composes the exportation of bagoong produced only in the province of Pangasinan. Being considered as a consumer good and as one of the basic necessities of man for most Filipinos especially those in Pangasinan and in the Ilocos provinces, bagoong nowadays is being marketed in strategic places like Baguio City and Manila, though quality standard may be a bit sacrificed. Since there is a growing demand for the product availability in places where there is high unsatisfied demand, these strategic places may have the opportunity to soon-to-be successful bagoong dealers or even producers.

Bagoong making is a thriving industry of the town of Lingayen, Anda, Bani, Infanta, Bolinao and Binmaley. There are 65 registered operators of bagoong plants with a combined production of approximately 659 metric tons. This industry is concentrated in Lingayen where 32 out of the 65 manufacturers are based. It is considered as one of the small industries in the Province of Pangasinan. In addition to that, there is one thing that is very good in the Province of Pangasinan in the making of bagoong, more specifically the town of Lingayen. It has been attributed to the perfect composition of air and salt mixture in the air and the humidity. Many attempts have been made by several bagoong makers to ferment the fish somewhere else outside Pangasinan but the result is a purified fish not a fermented fish. The theory of some makers is that the salinity of the air in Pangasinan is a factor why fish fermenting is very ideal in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

To sum this up, although Pangasinan is a province, it proves to have wealth that can be considered even greater than what cities can have. Fish Paste (Bagoong) is definitely a treasure Pangasenenses are lucky to have. With proper help from the national government, we can engage in large-scale production and exportation of our own products to giant countries such as the United States of America, Korea and others. Bagoong industry is truly one Pangasinan’s undying wealth.

One of the most awaited dates here in the province of Pangasinan is the celebration of Pistay Dayat. Every 1^st day of May, along side with the celebration of Labor Day in the Philippines, this local festival happens. This is the time of the year when people go to different beaches and resorts in the Philippines to spend some quality time with their family and friends. I for one enjoyed this local feast and I made it happen by spending quality time with my beloved wife enjoying the sceneries just near by.

We went to the newly built Sison Auditorium. They say that it is one of the finest auditoriums in the Philippines today. To see is to believe and so we have decided to see it for our self. It was true! The design is truly of top caliber. It is hard to believe that such place do exist in this very province.

The trip was even made more enjoying for we’ve got the chance to have some picture taking with the candidates of Limgas Na Dayat 2010.This event on the other hand is the highlight of the festivity for it featured the clash of beauties and brains of Pangasinan Province.

Coming from the auditorium, we made our way to the Capitol Grounds and once again, were astonished to the great and inviting looks it possesses. The outside complex is so great that you would want to stay there for a long period of time. But that’s not all of it. Once you enter, you will again be astonished because of the interior design of the capitol building and once you get in its roof top, you will see how fine the Lingayen Beach is. All of these things are just a superficial taste of the greatness of the festivity that happens once a year in this province. Now, we can see why tourists come in here every time this celebration comes. They enjoy the great view of our place and on top of that, we make them feel like they are always welcome to come.

This event happens only once a year and so we need to enjoy it when it comes. We must exploit this opportunity to make the most out of it. Every one of us has their own way of celebrating this event. What matters in the end is that we enjoy and we are happy with the celebration of this festivity.

MANILA, Philippines — For a Manileña like me, the opportunity to visit a laid-back place like Cebu is a rare privilege. Cebu is a perfect mix of urban and rural. Some beaches are less than an hour away from the city, so you don’t have to travel far to experience both. I’ve been to Cebu for four times now, but I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of going there.

Have you been to El Nido in Palawan? Well, I can tell here is the perfect beach life place with a breathtaking experience you are looking for a wonderful vacation. Here you can find the beautiful Lagen resort, where an elegant pool seemed to stretch out to the sea. The different activities were spread out into the different islands.

Kayaking in the small lagoon was very zen-like, where the water was very still compared to the wavy sea outside of the lagoon’s tiny opening. If you wish to get fresh and light life beach vacation I recommend for you to stay for a few more days in this place. Without a doubt, El Nido is paradise on earth.

Visiting Cebu is always worth the trip. We know that there is something exciting and heart-warming waiting for us. It could be a new dish we haven’t tried, a new place we haven’t visited, or new faces we would be glad to make friends with. But if there is anything we actually look forward to, time and again, it is the Cebuano hospitality.

Our Cebuano friends, old and new, always make our stay memorable. Cebu Parklane International Hotel has made its name around these parts by doing exactly that. It endeavors to represent true Cebuano hospitality by ensuring that guests are treated as friends. And we know how friends go out of their way to make us feel good, and eventually make us remember.

For sure, Parklane’s guests will remember the hotel as the go-to for casual and business affairs. The launch of Parklane’s Bridal Suite ensures that the memory will linger on. The one-of-a-kind offering features a suite that has its own Jacuzzi and television set. Indeed, a complete couple’s bathtub with audio-video facilities.

Cebu Parklane general manager Cenelyn Manguilimotan tells us since the hotel holds numerous wedding parties a month, it was with good reason that they offered a Bridal Suite.

Manguilimotan says,So we thought, why not enhance the package by presenting the couple with more than just a place to celebrate their wedded bliss? With the Bridal Suite, couples who are too tired to move elsewhere after the event can retreat to the room and stay in complete comfort and luxury.

Guests of the non-wedding kind have also much to delight in at Parklane. The new Plus Rooms give them extra amenities and perks. Indeed, more than just the standard rooms here.

“It is our commitment to guests, that we would not stop innovating to maintain our edge, she continues. We will introduce new features and projects every year. All the time we are on our toes to make their stay more pleasurable.

Along with its thrust of representing Cebuano hospitality, Cebu Parklane is also promoting Cebuano artistry within its establishment. Just recently, the hotel launched the Cebu & Nature photo contest, participated in by Cebuano arts students.

“The photos had to show Cebu and its cultural heritage. Those pictures will be used in our rooms. It is our way of making things differently, instead of the usual paintings. Through our contest, we wanted to stimulate the community and make them a part of our hotel. They are talents that we want to encourage, she adds.

The contest generated over 100 entries, with the top three contenders ending up in the hotel’s premiere spots. Some of its walls also feature murals that feature Cebu.

The 240-room hotel is popular for its buffets, found at its very own Manuel Restaurant. No self-respecting foodie could afford to skip this spread. The buffet impresses, from breakfast to dinner. Its Cebu lechon at lunchtime is a crowd favorite.

Elsewhere in Parklane, there’s Basil’s where one can dine in a poolside setting; Muze where one can sit back and relax to music and cocktails; and Bean Date at the lobby where coffee lovers can also enjoy the merienda buffet.

Even its location is spot-on. It is right across Ayala Center Cebu, and is near the IT Park and other business establishments.

Manguilimotan is proud that these features come with the Parklane brand of pampering. “It is always your relationship with your clients that counts. We are confident because we take care of our clients and we do our best to exceed their expectations. Whenever they are here, they get to enjoy the promise of the Parklane experience. We are determined to give them more.

And with that, we are given another reason to always look forward to being in Cebu.

Source:Travel and  Tourism (www.philstar.com)