eh kasi naman, ano kaya nilunok ko that i decided to blog Mindanao Food Appreciation Tour (MFAT) – SOCCSKSARGEN SUMMER SAFARI in PARTS? EH SA DAMI BA NAMAN GINAWA NAMIN, BAKA NEXT YEAR PA MATAPOS! lolz

kaya dito pa lang, i would like to make my thank you speech to all those who accommodated, welcomed and made our stay fun and inspiring!

first of all, thank you Lord!

second of all, i would like to thank the ganda ever Manansala sisters of General Santos: Avel Manansala of Gensan News Online and Orman Manansala of Ganda Ever So Much! wala to lahat if it weren’t for you guys! you did such an amazing job! sana sa susunod daily na ang MFAT! hehehe

we, CDO Bloggers, were welcomed in Davao by the Avatar Media and by Ranchero Grill – Davao, where I tasted so far the best baby backs since Trapper’s Smokehouse (and yes, that was really a long time ago!). thank you for putting my taste buds to hyper mode again. definitely one of the balik-balikan places in Davao!

photo courtesy of Lyle Santos

i would also like to thank Ice Castle Experience! nice room, nice amenities! can’t wait for it to finally see its final look! keep it up, Sir Rey!

Pacman Sports Bar! finally, very close na kami ni Manny, Jinkee, and Mommy Dionisia!!!!! choz lang! to die for ang garlic chicken!

photo courtesy of Lyle Santos

thank you to Le Jardin Arnevels! your awesome food that has home-cooked feel is as inspiring as the story behind your success! you definitely have come a long way. keep the success up and keep inspiring others with it! by the way, i love the kinilaw!

photo courtesy of Lyle Santos

and how will i forget Miss Donna Congson’s PIYESTA  KTV and RESTOBAR! at night time, PIYESTA rules General Santos City’s nightlife! and if you wonder why, just try their Jello Shots in syringes. yes in syringes! also try their Kura Sticks and their Tuna Buntot (i am not quite sure of the name but as they say, you don’t spell it, you eat it! and it is yummeh!!!)

thank you to Dolores Farm Resort in Momolopok, South Cotabato for starting MFAT and SOCCSKSARGEN SUMMER SAFARI Day 2 right! the Tilapia and Chips is awesome! the place is simply cool with a nice view and the mini zoo is fun.

photo courtesy of Lyle Santos

the visit at Punta Isla Lake Resort in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato is definitely one enriching experience. it fulfilled my dream to see a real T’boli tribe. that and to finally visit Lake Sebu, sans the water lilies though. and to top it all off, the bisayang manok dish is superb. donations, please!

photo courtesy of Lyle Santos

we also visit Sa Balai Bistro in Marbel, South Cotabato, where we refreshed ourselves with Mulberry Tea, Pandan Shake, and genuinely brewed coffee. the ambience, as well, is winner! feel mo Donya ka. hehe

photo courtesy of Lyle Santos

the Red Tent Steakhouse in Gensan is our final destination and a good way to cap everything we did! the presentation of the food is great, and it tastes really good!

photo courtesy of Lyle Santos

also i would like to thank Mayor Jun Acharon of General Santos City for the lechon provided in PIYESTA and also the vehicle we used. more power to you, sir!

haaay grabe the experience that was. fun filled, enticing, enriching, and weight-inducing all rolled into one. pero i will do it over and over again. sa uulitin!  :-D

6969,

atty magman

on our way to Davao.
photos courtesy of Chiq Montes

and also a big thanks to Carl who took us from CDO to Davao safe.

the grueling 8 hour ride from the City of Golden Friendshipness to the City of… er…. Eagles and Durian (?) was not really a boring haul because of the scenery you will see. and i was awake for most of the  trip because it was my first time to travel south of this island.

man i was pretty amazed with what i saw.

but first we had a little stopover in Malaybalay, Bukidnon, for breakfast.

me and Robs in our best morning faces.

ok so i am not really awake that time.

then something happened while on our way to Davao. as we reached BuDa (Bukidnon-Davao boundary) one of the tires of the vehicle popped and went flat so we had no choice but to fix it. but i never did complain because of again, the scenery entertained our eyes so we took pictures as we wait for it to be fixed.

i have never been to that place so i got amazed by how American outskirt-ish it looks like.

CDO Bloggers’ firing squad pose.

not sure what Goma intended to portray but played along anyway.

plants for sale along the highway… this is good to defend us against zombies.

Chiq nomnoming on grilled bananas (ginanggang) as Robs is waiting for his order.

moy moy moy moy moy

hiked for almost an hour to reach this place only to find out that the car is fixed and it’s on its way to fetch us..

it looks pretty cool and cozy!

oh, there it is..

continue with the regular programming.

PART 2: Davao Bloggers meet-up in Ranchero (my auto favorite restaurant in Davao)..

see yah later!

6969,

atty magman

i remember back in 2006 i used to frequent this  small gelato ice cream place in a small French Quarter called Aquitaine, inside the Busch Garden Theme Park in Virginia, where i interned. i sooo love their praline cream and butter pecan. sometimes, mega wish ako kung kelan ako makakatikim uli. anyways here’s a picture of me and my good ol friend Jona (miss you so) enjoying a humongous cone-full of carbs.

but now i do not have to go back there just to have a taste of heavenly sin (charut). for Missy Bon Bon offers you the best gelato in town and some other fresh, natural, and healthy goodies.

me and my fellow CDO Bloggers were invited by the owner of Missy Bon Bon, Sir Henrik Yu, to have breakfast a the said establishment. i did not hesitate to say no, because i am already a big fan long before they put up a bigger and more comfortable place in a more strategic location. i was a constant customer whenever i pass by their kiosk in the 2nd level of Big R. the gelato are simply tempting.

apparently, i am not the only one who thinks they have best gelato in town. just look at this photo of their store opening: people are already lined up. i think this is a first here in CDO (if i am not mistaken)

and now that they have more goodies to offer i did sample a breakfast meal. i ordered a chicken sausage breakfast meal (is it correct?) i truly love it.

photo by Rosanna Lim

rosanna’s ham breakfast

who had tower of pancakes for breakfast?

even the fruit juices are better here.

the spot i love the most about this place is this sunny corner right here.. i just love how bright it can get but it wont hurt you. plus i love the cozy, French-y feel of this place. it feels like i am in some street bistro in some French Town.. like Aquitaine!

i got the chance to talk to Sir Henrik and i am surprised that the food and pastries they serve here are all natural, fresh and healthy. bottom line – you are guilt-free in this place. also, he mentioned about how he supports the local products. for example, they use coffee products that are produced by the monks in Bukidnon (Monk’s Blend -  popularized by designer turned monk Gang Gomez – i remember now).

more goodie pics

love this..

the best: gelato department! lolz

so many flavors to choose from. but my favorite ever is the blueberry cheesecake (top left. i know you can’t see it clearly, paubos na) then i was told the the blueberry cheesecake is their best seller. another favorite of mine is the tiramisu. (no pictures for that – sorry)

over-all my breakfast at Missy Bon Bon was a delight and i would definitely go back there for more of their food and most especially more of their best gelato. hey, already a fan! go and visit Missy Bon Bon Breadshop located at the corner of Rosario Drive, LimKetKai Center, Cagayan de Oro City (atbang sa McDonald’s Ketkai, layu ra sa Bugo). or vist Missy Bon Bon website

CDO Bloggers together with Sir Henrik Yu

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photos courtesy of Chiq Montes, sanasanz, and Missy Bon Bon Facebook Fan Page.

a while ago, I went downtown to buy some fruits, meds, and to get my laundry. i went to the laundry station last because it is near Liceo de Cagayan. usually from there, I go home by taxi. and since I was craving for kwek kwek, I decided to buy some before hailing a cab.

right after eating a bowl of, the sky started to pour down rain.

so i started to get on going fast and look for an available taxi as fast as i could. and there it was, the taxi, right in front of Liceo’s entrance gates. so off i go, on my way home.

time i arrived, i cannot feel a thing in my back pocket. on my mind, i was sensing my wallet is lost but i shrugged it. so i searched my bag, the back of the seat where i was seated, the floor, and my other pockets. but to no avail.

my wallet is LOST! Continue reading »

last October 23, we had a konting salo-salo – a dinner party together with the CDO Bloggers, and some bloggers from Manila and Davao in Loreto’s Bar and Grill.

we thank Loreto’s generosity for hosting our pre-MBS dinner in one of their spacious function rooms, complete with videoke and a billiard table.

pictures of music icons in loreto's

Continue reading »