A few months ago, making our way around Kapitolyo in Pasig looking for the inconspicuous Kanto Freestyle Breakfast, we asked a random trike driver if he was familiar with the restaurant. Without batting an eyelash, he pointed us the block at the corner of the intersection. We thought he was taking "Kanto" as kanto. You know, the Filipino term for street corner. Since all cities in the metro have a kanto, asking for it without being clear about it is as tedious as it can get. We ended up eating at a different restaurant.

Traffic free in Kapitolyo

Hanging plants on the gate

Tables are always occupied during the busy hours

But yesterday, as we took a right turn along 1st Street in Kapitolyo, I realized that the trike driver was actually pointing us to the right direction. Kanto is indeed located a few meters away from the intersection of West Capitol Drive and St. Rafael St. I was glad I was with people who know the place by heart. Getting there was a cinch.

Straightforward menu

Getting a table at Kanto however was not. Word has spread around quickly that a new branch can be found in Kapitolyo which is a famous food district in the metro. It didn't come as a surprise to see people flocking at the restaurant even that early. Utterly famished, we had to wait for our turn.

I've been to Kanto's branch in Mandaluyong a few times before when our office was still in Makati. Seeing the new branch in Kapitolyo set inside a residential garage converted into a dine-in restaurant, I couldn't help making some comparisons. The original Kanto Freestyle branch has tables and chairs set up practically along the sidewalk whereas the Kapitolyo branch has them cramped inside a garage space, though it still maintains this neighborhood feel and homey vibe which is palpable in its home in Mandaluyong. There's also a lot of shade in Kapitolyo, thanks to the big tree just outside the gate.

Customers waiting for their turn

The Kanto branch in Kapitolyo doesn't work on pay-as-you-order basis either. The waiters wait for you to be seated then take your order. The bill comes right after you finished your food. Such set-up only becomes an issue if they don't allow placing orders in advance and there's a long queue because your order doesn't get prepared until you have secured a table. They also have a 5% charge on top of the prices.

Photos that chronicle Kanto's humble beginnings

What the Kapitolyo branch has that the old branch doesn't are those framed bywords and motto hanging on the walls. If you ask me however, the place is better off without them.

The quality and taste of food as well as the service remain the same. Here are some of the food we ordered.

French toast with bacon and eggs (90)

Established in 1594 and once home to converted sangleys (people of pure Chinese ancestry), Binondo is the oldest China town in the world. Even before the onset of Spanish colonization in the 16th century, it was already a center of Chinese commerce.

Today, the district still remains a hub of trade for all kinds of businesses, most notably restaurants and food establishments run by Filipino-Chinese merchants. It has also become a favorite go-to place for food trips and even photowalks.

Ready for a full meal

Food stall

Just walk around Binondo and you can see array of shops and restaurants that offer cheap and authentic Chinese food. There are pastries, dumplings and sweat meats like hopia (mooncakes) all sold in affordable prices.

Lotus with egg

Vegetables come aplenty

Fruits and vegetables come aplenty as well. You can also find here exotic items and ingredients such as ginseng, shark fin cartilage, deer horn, dried snake and bird’s nest as long as you know where to look. If not, you can always ask a random store owner, they can point you to the right place. You can probably spot chocolate diamonds for gifts if you look really hard.

Dragon fruit

The peak as seen from my post.

Sagada is love. And just like love, it comes with a few sacrifices. For starters, going to Sagada takes almost 12 hours of road trip. The high roads zigzagging through mountain sides and cliffs certainly don't help especially for acrophobic. But taking risks and being brave are all part of a journey toward having a great experience and adventure.

Here are the things I love about Sagada..

1. Cold weather. The morning fog rolling in the mountain down to the villages is something you don't see every day

2. People clad in winter clothes.

3. The good-warmheartedness of the locals

4. The simplicity of life.

5. The bashfulness of kids.

6. Bomod-ok Falls

I imagined Caleruega to be completely serene and peaceful - a haven of sorts for people looking for quiet. The blogs I read about the place never failed to talk about how subdued and enchanting the whole surrounding is. Although I always take everything with a grain of salt, I was simply sold hook line and sinker with the idea that it could possibly be the best place for soul searching. Besides, I was longing for a place that promises tranquility and Caleruega seemed to be the most feasible option. So I invited a few friends for a day trip in Caleruega and possibly a hot bulalo in Tagaytay on our way back. That weekend, I had a bruised ego to say the least and I was hoping that a place like Caleruega would heal whatever emotional crap I was having.
That's the problem with expectations. They inevitably burst your bubbles. I had this grand assumption that Caleruega, with its supposed lush environment replete with handsome gardens, was a perfect venue for soul searching. Unfortunately for me however, I left the place more disconnected than ever. I couldn't tell exactly why - I just didn't feel any emotional connection with Caleruega.
Even the pictures I took were uninspired. If not for the company of good friends, I would easily consider the experience borderline lame. On the other hand, it would have been a completely different experience altogether if I went there alone.

I was on my way to Central Station, where my friend and I planned to meet, when he asked me what kind of afternoon it was. He was running late, perhaps on the fence what attire would suit best. Looking at the Manila skyline, I responded that it wasn't very gloomy - hot but not scorching (apparently not the best time to wear tyvek suits). The subtext of my response was - it's a beautiful day for a leisurely walk.
We began the walk from SM Manila down to eastern gate of Intramuros where the newly erected Bayleaf Hotel stood haughty, proud and handsome.

"ARE WE THERE YET? AREN'T WE GETTING OFF?" P asked impatiently as the bus gently swerved to the left and made a graceful halt in the middle of a small terminal in Maria Aurora, a town in Aurora province, a few miles north of Manila. A couple of passengers hurriedly got off the bus, carrying their stuff - big boxes and sacks of goods, probably pasalubong for their loved ones who were happily expecting for their arrival.

It's almost five in the afternoon. We had been traveling for ten hours. The aggressive twists and bends on the road from Nueva Vizcaya to Aurora had taken its toll on us. We were already feeling queasy, not to mention tired and hungry.

Almost there...

"Nope, one more town to go before the final homestretch," I told P as if I knew this part of Aurora like the back of my hand. I too was dying to get off the bus. Truth was, I was merely guessing. An educated guess which turned out to be correct because the next town was indeed Baler.

If these films didn't make you feel inspired to hit the road, I'm not sure what would.

1. Into the Wild [2007]
Right after graduating from college, a young man (Emile Hirsch) decides to leave everything behind and heads to Alaska where he lives in isolation.


Source: Google Images


Favorite scene:

2. Motorcycle Diaries [2004]
Based on Che Guevarra's memoir, the film chronicles the adventures of two young men (Gael Garcia Bernal and Rodrigo de la Serna) who embark on an expedition, initially by motorcycle, across South America. Shortly after the film's release, tour operators in the region featured in the movie received tons of inquiries, with some of them even offering Che Guevara-themed trips, where travelers could "follow in the footsteps of the revolutionary icon."



3. On the Road [2012]
Adapted from the novel of the same name by Jack Kerouac, On the Road is more than just a road trip - ultimately, it's a tale about youthful searching, yearning and striving for experience.