I have just been to Taal, Batangas. Visited the Basilica of St. Martin de Tours, the Caysasay Shrine, the Sacred Well of Sta. Lucia, the Villavicencio Houses, Leon Apacible Museum, the Agoncillo Heritage Houses and Museums. You may have already read my blogs about the heirloom houses and the churches. Gorged on Tapang Taal and Panucha. But the prospect of eating home-cooked Tulingan and Adobong Dilaw beckons. And a visit to earlier-missed Villa Tortuga makes this next visit sooner than expected.
Home-Cooked Tulingan and Adobong Dilaw
The last time we visited, we dined in Taal Bistro. We considered lunch in full Filipiniana regalia in Villa Tortuga this time around. But my friend Alice has a cousin in Taal waiting to serve us a breakfast of Tapang Taal, Longganiza and Pancit. It didn’t stop there.
Home-cooked Tulingan (matched with bagoong made of tulingan innards – a first time! yummy) and Adobong Dilaw was scheduled for lunch. How can you resist that? (Thank you, Alice). It was all we could think about as we passed a number of heritage houses along Agoncillo Street. Just off the Villavicencio and Goco Houses , and right along the street leading to Taal Basilica, we had our lunch of Batangas delicacies. We only stopped eating these local dishes when we were served Turon. Hmmm, you can say we stopped eating to eat again and have our desserts – if there ever is such a thing. 🙂
Villa Tortuga
Alice arranged this visit at the Villa Tortuga. Lovely house. And alas, I found a truly good tour guide in Taal, Batangas. Well, I met him in my earlier visit but he guided us only in a couple of heritage houses then. This time around, Rochie guided us around Villa Tortuga and even took our photos! His assistant Adrian is just as competent without saying much. Adrian knew just where to have us pose, arrange the folds of our skirts here and there, pin our baro’t saya wherever, and snap our pictures. Oh, we had a blast.
While I have already written about the heritage houses of Taal, Batangas (check out http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Philippines/Batangas/Taal/blog-652149.html ) as well as the religious sites here, this experience deserves a separate blog. Our photos will tempt you to brand us either as Donya Victorinas, older versions of Maria Clara and Leonor Rivera, or a Sisa looking for her sons. Whatever. Eat your heart out. We had a blast!
Thank you ladies, for a wonderful time. It may not be the best of time to visit and have fun, but we really had a hilarious day trip, didn’t we?
Those planning day trips not too far from Manila, try this. If you like, call Villa Tortuga : 7250819, 7254562 or 0917-8246900 for lunch and Taal tour. It’s actually easy to do, but you need to arrange to visit some heritage houses. Otherwise, you just admire them from outside.
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great costumes… i love your photos, especially your solo shot in sepia ^_^
Hi there,
I have been reading some if your blogs as I am going to the Philippines in December and will travel around to some of the places you’ve been to. I am a native filipina who left when I was five and lived in various places overseas in Asia and now live in Australia.
I would like to ask you a question regarding public transport in Tagaytay. I hope you can help me out and I will be very grateful as you seem to know your stuff!
Monica Moran
It is good to know that you have visited my hometown. On your next visit you may want to drop at my parents store ” Gerry and Lheen Special Tapa and Longanisa ”
http://thebestoftaalbatangas.com/
I will. I should. Will ask for discount! :))
Sure 🙂 tell them that you meet Dex online …
I liked your blog – I wonder if it is also possible to stay overnight at Villa Tortuga? If so, what is their room rate?
Also, how easy (or difficult) is it to go from
1) Manila to Taal town by bus
2) Taal town to Taal volcano?
I have already been to Vigan – is it much different at Taal heritage town?
Yes, you can stay overnight at Villa Tortuga. Do check out their website for rates and reservations.
About going there, we drove 2 hours to get there. The first time we dropped iron Balayan, Batangas first before going to Taal. The 2nd time we drove straight to Taal via SLEX and STAR TOLL.
Thanks for sharing about Taal!
For more on Taal, Batangas check out: http://www.taal.ph
Be sure to check out the fun December Fiesta Week 2012 in Taal!
haHAHA! natawa naman ako sa caption ng last photo…”looking for her ibarra or crispin”.i hope i’ll have a great time tomorrow sa taal.
@melvin Hope you enjoyed Taal!
It’s nice to read a well written blog without many faults hoygans. I subscribe, you have gained a continuous visitor. Best of luck.
Thanks a lot!
I can not speak English very well, but I try to tell you that your blog is great and I loved it. Wear hours browsing the search until I found something like this really worth it. I love it.
Thank you. Glad to know you enjoyed reading my blog!
Hi ma’am! I’ll just ask if the the filipinianas are for rent? I can’t find a store who still has traditional ones, only modern ones. I badly need them for our Christmas party. Thank you!
For rent but you can only wear them while there.