MATAM-IH...Authentically Kapampangan

When in Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga, a must stop place is Matam-ih authentic Kapampangan restaurant. It is located along Manuel A. Roxas Highway almost opposite Oxford Hotel & Casino.

The restaurant is really "authentic" in the sense that its waiters, entertainers and other employees are aetas from the Mount Pinatubo area.

Its different eating venues are named after specific places in Mount Pinatubo. Aside from the main dining hall, it has a second floor for those who come after office hours and simply drink the night away. It also has airconditioned dining areas at the wings of the main dining hall.

The interiors are very much native much like what one might see in the hinterlands. Native furnitures adorn almost the whole restaurant.

Menu is varied from the usual to the exotic Kapampangan dishes. Price is reasonable. Despite the native interiors, it was a delight to see colored plates which await the diners. A must-have is their tamarind shake. I was amused to note that the waitress used an iPad to take our orders.

Customer recreation and environmental awareness seem to be the concern of the owners of Matam-ih as evidenced by some indigenous game facilities and a composting bin both located at the side entrance of the restaurant.

I thought that Matam-ih is another restaurant which would exploit the indigenous people in the community. It was not just a gastronomic delight eating there. It was also an educational one. The mere thought that the owners gave the cultural minorities a chance to have jobs and be part of the mainstream is reason enough to give it a try.

When in Clark, drop by MATAM-IH Authentic Kapampangan Cuisine!

Brunei: Small but Rich Sultanate

Another place that I visited in Borneo Island is the country of Brunei Darussalam. A member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Brunei is one rich country despite its size.

It solely depends on oil as its main industry. It sits at the south of South China Sea where oil is said to be in abundance.

The country does not boast of any other industry other than oil. The effective leadership of its Sultan has kept the ringgit almost at the same level with the US dollar. The monarchy has shaped Brunei to what it is now.

Despite the modern times, it has kept its natural resources intact. The river village is teeming with activities by its residents. It has become a tourist attraction of sorts.

 

Malls have sprung up these past years. Visitors from neighboring cities in Malaysia have made Brunei a shopping haven for goods coming from Europe. Since it has limited land area, this oil-rich nation has turned to importation of goods as well as services from other countries.

Slowly, infrastructure are being built for business and the economy to flourish. The monarchy sees to it that the services needed by its people are being rendered.

Muslim architecture is very evident especially in worship areas. Mosques are revered places in this strict Islamic society.

Despite the observance of stringent Muslim practices, Brunei is open to visitors who would like to appreciate it. It is home to a hospitable people typical of the Asian culture.

One can go to Brunei via air from your country or through land trip from Malaysia (Miri). Hotels are already in place for visitors. Buses ply routes that go around Bandar Seri Bagawan, the capital city. Taxis are also available for the convenience of discriminating tourists but it is best to go around the city by bus. Besides, it's also a way of knowing the culture of Brunei by mingling with its people.

One thing I noticed, most, if not all, blue-collar workers are not Bruneians. Most of those I met are from Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia.

If one wants a quaint trip abroad, Brunei is one place to visit. Marvel at how rich its culture is. Savor the food that is authentically Bruneian. Be part of a small but rich sultanate that is Brunei Darussalam.

Eenie...MIRI...miney...moe!

Miri...one of my most unexpected travels to Malaysia. I just took advantage of the very cheap roundtrip airfare offered by Air Asia Zest. Good thing I did in March 2014 because the airline has ceased flying to the said city starting June 2014.

I, myself, asked...what will I see in Miri? What will it offer me? I brought along my staff for a much-needed rest and travel to this side of Asean. Miri is considerably small as compared to Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu. Still, less sophisticated than Johor Bahru but I was able to appreciate the countryside of eastern Malaysia (Sarawak in Borneo Island). Though already teeming with hotels and malls, Miri cannot still be considered a priority place to visit in Malaysia.

Development in the said city is fast. Roads, villages, business establishments are being built. Personally, I felt Miri is ready for possible influx of tourists and establishment of more businesses. The hotel where we stayed is like a mini-Sofitel Philippine Plaza. Despite its distance to the shopping and other recreation places in the city, it was full-packed because there was an all-woman conference during that time. Miri is another good haven for shopping just like any other city in Malaysia. I found the prices of clothes, food and other stuff cheaper than neighboring Brunei or Singapore.

One thing that I observed, it does not have an efficient taxi system yet. You always have to haggle with the taxi drivers from one point to another. Besides, you just can't flag down a taxi anywhere in the city. We always had to ask the taxi drivers who brought us to shopping places to fetch us after certain number of hours. One time, we forgot to talk to our taxi driver to fetch us...we had to call the hotel reception to send a taxi to where we were. Good thing, our hotel had a shuttle service to and from city center but at specific times only. After the last trip at 9:00 p.m., we had to fend for ourselves in going back to the hotel.

I felt sad when Air Asia Zest discontinued its service to Miri. It is a city uniquely different from Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu but still has the ambience which is truly Malaysia.

The Catbalogan in My Mind

Catbalogan,,,my birthplace.  The capital of Samar, Catbalogan is one of two cities of the province.  It is part of the second district which has the bigger population.

Though small in land measurement, Catbalogan is teeming with daily activities making a sort of "melting pot" in the area.  The economy is booming and establishments have mushroomed especially when it became a city in 2007.

Since then, resorts such as M Grand Royale, Juvie's Resort and Seaside Resort were constructed to cater to the leisure needs of the people. As for hotels, there are already a lot to choose from. Worth mentioning are First Choice Hotel, Casa Kristina, San Francisco Hotel. GV Hotel, Novo Hotel and Rolet Hotel. Social/entertainment venues, commercial entities and such have sprouted. Also, privately-owned residential enclaves have been and are being developed.

Schools with tertiary level such as St. Mary's College of Catbalogan, Samar College and Samar State University provide education not only among the students of Catbalogan but caters to the other neighboring municipalities.

Catbalogan is lucky to be in the midst of the country's spawning ground of seafood - the Maqueda Bay.  Fresh sea products are bountiful in this God-blessed city.  Seafood businesses abound. Families have prospered thanks to the gifts given by the sea.

San Bartolome is the patron saint of the city. Its parish church bears the name of the saint. Catbaloganons are religious by nature. Feasts and catholic practices are strictly adhered to by its people. The annual fiesta is celebrated every August.

The local government is trying its best to deliver not only the basic necessities to its people. It has proven that it is capable of elevating this once-sleepy town into a bustling city this side of the country. Despite the limitations in space, the local government officials have instilled the importance of discipline, unity, sustainability and working for progress. Catbalogan is a city of its own uniqueness.

Its people, especially the youth, give radiance and energy not only to the city but to the whole province as well.

Despite the natural calamities that have struck the city, its people have proven to be strong and resilient.

What is the Catbalogan in my mind? For me, being a true-blooded Catbaloganon, it is a city that has a full potential of becoming a contributor to our country's growth. It is a city waiting to be harnessed by the national government in order to bring out it full potentials. It is a city waiting to be discovered as a beautiful haven. It is a city that I love because I was born there and it is where we reside.

From Manila, one can go to Catbalogan City by air either via Tacloban City or Calbayog City. Both cities are serviced by PAL Express and Cebu Pacific Air. Additional flights via Air Asia and Tiger Air can be availed via Tacloban City. By land, one can traverse through the Maharlika Highway either from Luzon or Mindanao by the many buses that ply their respective routes. Accommodations are already in place for all kinds of tourists who may want to visit the city.

I entice the readers to visit our small but wonderful city...a city like no other.