Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Makan Ken Mainum at the Bambanti Festival 2018


Translated as food and drinks, Makan ken Mainum, are Ilocano words every foodie who wants to explore the culinary of Isabela should know. Moreover, it is the banner of the recently concluded Isabela’s Master Kusinero Cooking Contest which was one of the highly-anticipated activities in the Bambanti Festival 2018.

This event is a show off of different culinary ingenuities coupled with the tradition of city and town representatives of Isabela.  Of course, Ilocano cooking in the highest degree of respect is the major factor for this cooking battle.

Sunday, January 28, 2018

Setting the Limelight to Isabela's Bambanti Festival 2018


There is one thing Isabelenos are undeniable about, their ardent love for their Motherland.

Ergo, the annual Bambanti Festival was again live this year, in all its vibrancy and warmth of welcome bearing the theme “ISABELA KONG MAHAL” (Isabela, My Beloved Land).


Organized by the Provincial Government of Isabela, the Bambanti Festival is a tourism, trade, and environment project aiming to develop, promote, and market Isabeleños’ world-class indigenous products, lifestyle, merchandise items, and cuisine as the pride of province.

Bambanti Festival 2018, celebrated from January 22 – 27, focuses on Isabeleños’ warm traits for their beloved land, care and protection for their national resources and environment, love and respect for the culture, history, and heritage of the community, and consistent efforts for a sustainable agriculture and all other industries. 

The theme “ISABELA KONG MAHAL” depicts Isabeleños strong commitment to their beloved land and outstanding virtue of hard work, proudly sharing to its visitors how their family-inherited traits contributed to the fast-growing socio-cultural and economic development of the province through various creative concepts and images.


I bear witness to these eventful festivities, and I can truly attest how the government body imbeds patriotism and the importance of the major source of livelihood -farming, but still staying intact with their cultural roots but open to modernization and development.


 “Bambanti” is an Ilocano word for scarecrow, which the province considers as protection despite the common notion that it rouses fear. Created with colorful straws and grasses wrapped in farmer’s clothing, bambanti has always been the icon and mascot of the festival.


Bambanti Festival Fares

The Provincial Government of Isabela has prepared yet again another impressive array of festival fares that locals and visitors can look forward to.

Onset is the Kultura Ken Sining – activities featuring the province’s rich culture and arts:


Giant Bambanti Showcase, a province-wide Search for the Best Giant Bambanti (Scarecrow) Showcase to be participated in by all LGUs of the province.  Each official entry epitomizes the character of the place and people it represents in terms of culture, history, trade, industry and environment following the prescribed theme:  ISABELA KONG MAHAL.  It will be displayed in front of the exhibit space designated for each LGU participant at the Bambanti Village.


Bambanti Street-Dance and Showdown Competition, showcasing the advocacy for agricultural progress and environment protection and conservation through their dance movements, with Bambanti as the focal reference and unifying element.


Bambanti Musical Street, with Isabela’s choral groups interpreting a common four-voice contest piece—an original composition, depictive of the inherent qualities, virtues and character of Isabeleños and a second pop music piece of each group’s choice to be rendered with full choreography.

Bambanti Festival King and Queen, a cultural pageant to search the LGUs’ festival king and queen who excel not only with their physical beauty but more importantly their knowledge, appreciation and pride of place, culture and history of their hometown and province.
(more)



Furthermore, Bambanti Festival’s highlight falls on the Bambanti Village, which exhibits Isabela’s Agri-Eco Tourism prides:


Indigenous Handicrafts, which is a rich collection of locally-made OTOP-certified products from each municipality and city.

Heritage, which displays patterns, weaves, music, arts, language, traditions and culture of the tribal communities of Gaddang, Ibanag, Ytaois and Ilocano.



Lifestyle Merchandise or the showcase of hand-crafted home accessories for dining, entertaining, bedroom and living room areas including but not limited to furniture, linens, home decors, etc.


Isabela’s Master Kusinero Cooking  Contest, aiming to bare exotic dishes from the traditional Isabela home kitchens that are mostly undiscovered.

The Bambanti Festival is a three-time winner of Aliw Awards, bringing home the title of Best Festival Practices and Performance for 2015 - 2017.




Thursday, January 25, 2018

Welcome good fortune with Resorts World Manila’s Imperial Festival


Mastery Academy of Chinese Metaphysics founder Dato’ Joey Yap holds the Manila leg of his Feng Shui and Metaphysics world tour at the Marriott Hotel Manila on February 7 as part of Resorts World Manila’s Imperial Festival.

Monday, January 22, 2018

Camp #LiveBetter, Changing the Insurance Game


Don't unfollow me if I say that it is easy and rewarding to live longer, healthier and better lives because I just quoted that from Philam Life.  However, three wellness teams have strongly agreed and will surely attest to that, and so did I.

Sunday, January 21, 2018

When #ItsGoodToBeHot with Kenny Rogers Chipotle Fire Chicken

Many foodies would agree when I say that food is so reinforcing.  Our memories of it would not escape the way we see a certain food even as simple as roasted chicken.  Every time, I see a chicken being roasted, it brings me back to the years when my father would grill chicken in the oddest way-"pinaupong manok" or how he would prepare the chickens he himself took care, for Christmas.

Thursday, January 18, 2018

Your Guide to Healthy Snacking with FamilyMart

Ube, Ube Creme or Vanilla Twirl

We can’t help those sudden cravings for a sweet, salty, or cool treat—but maybe we don’t have to. While eating frequently throughout the day used to be frowned upon, studies now show that having small snacks in between meals can actually be good for you.  Your go-to for delicious favorites, FamilyMart, is here to satisfy your taste buds with new options for your morning, mid-day, or nighttime munchies.

10 Best Places to Travel in Tuscany


Italy in itself is a place that people dream of visiting not only for its landscapes and monuments but most especially for its food.

Today, Tuscany is another place in Italy that has certain attributes that make it so famous around the whole world. It is known as the most attractive place in Italy that people must visit at least once. Tuscany is known for its well-cultivated wine and the rich culture it holds inside its wide area. It is the birthplace of some famous artists, scholars, and visionaries that have polished the world.  Hence, you must simply rent a villa in Tuscany and soak in the Tuscan vibes.

Enjoying Florence Without Breaking the Bank


The trip to Florence came to me and my daughters by surprise but it was wonderful nonetheless.  It was part of our Tuscan experience early last year of 2017 and like many tourists, I was blown away by its majestic beauty, and now I have this deep yearning to go back and immerse in it some more.

Perhaps, it was one trip to Italy that one should have even for a day or two and you don't really need to spend that much going around the city and walking is the best way to really see the hidden gems of the city, it's nooks and cranny that teem with arts and culture in tenfolds even.  

Saturday, January 13, 2018

Jin Joo Korean Grill at SM Aura Premier


When I was invited to try out Rack Shack at it's newest branch in SM Aura, I saw this peachy Korean restaurant and I thought it's  a total embodiment of K-Dramas. 

My girls had influenced me into watching K-Dramas and well, I also got caught in this Korean wave and let me just say, binge-watching the series I'm following had been worth it.  

Thursday, January 11, 2018

'Bring Home A Friend' to your province – Teo


The rustic feel of the ancestral house, the fresh breath of air, and the heirloom recipe of our lolas are staples one looks forward to when going home to the province.

"We invite you to welcome your foreign friends to the doorsteps of your hometown. Our different provinces and regions offer a much more different experience of the Philippines only we Filipinos know," Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo invites.

Monday, January 8, 2018

Spicy Honey Garlic Chicken with Kenzo and Kloe


Oftentimes when you're caught in between meal preparations and trying to get all the work done, you're left with ready-to-cook preserved meats.

I'm long done with that, but, I'll be damned if I say I don't consume Vigan longanisa, bacon, and deli.  Even my favorite Italian hams were profused with salt, seasonings, and preservatives manufacturers dare not say.

Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Starting the 2018 Blogging Year Generously


Hello #GoalDiggers!

Have you read the previous post? If not you better get to it, so you'd know all the matters of being a #GoalDigger.

Let me stress, were not gold diggers ha, we please ourselves knowing we have accomplished something in life.  As I did, I counted a lot of heartaches and disappoints last 2017, but also I have acknowledged all the wonderful things the Lord did to me and my family, and they are uncountable as the stars.

So, let me begin to help you establish yourself as one.

I'm giving away Gift Certificates from Networld Hotel Spa and Casino.


+  One GC bearing one night accommodation to an executive room with complimentary breakfast for 2.
+  One GC of Sparomatherapy from SM Kenko Spa at Networld Hotel
Mechanics:

1. There will only be one winner for the 2 GC's.

2. There is no expiration to both, but the winner will be the one to call Networld to book their room and spa service.

3. GC's will be sent to the winner's address.

4. Contests starts today, January 2, 2018 and ends January 8, 2018.

5. The announcement of winners will be on January 9, 2018.

To join and be eligible to win.

All you need to do is post or repost the photo above in Instagram and Facebook.


Then, tag me @joyfelizardo and @gastronomybyjoy in IG or @Gastronomy-all about food in FB


Also, kindly use the hashtag #gastronomybyjoyxgiveaway and #gastronomybyjoy.

Comment below with your name and contact details.

Lastly, don't forget to tag three of your friends in IG or FB and comment in my IG or FB account why you want to be a #Goaldigger.

That's it!



Networld Hotel 

Address: Sen. Gil J. Puyat Ave, Pasay City, Metro Manila
Phone: (02) 536 7777








Monday, January 1, 2018

A Goal Digger in 2018 and for Years to Come!

I'm starting this new year headstrong.

We ended the year with this message from God, at the New Life the Fort service...

Deuteronomy 3: 18-20
18-20 I commanded you at that time, “God, your God, has given you this land to possess. Your men, fit and armed for the fight, are to cross the river in advance of their brothers, the People of Israel. Only your wives, children, and livestock (I know you have much livestock) may go ahead and settle down in the towns I have already given you until God secures living space for your brothers as he has for you and they have taken possession of the country west of the Jordan that God, your God, is giving them. After that, each man may return to the land I’ve given you here.”

Cocoa, Choco Industry Boom to Spur PHL Farm Tourism

from http://www.gastronomybyjoy.com/2016/04/davao-day-two-countryside-adventure-at.html
The Philippines’ fast-growing cacao and chocolate industry will boost a promising farm tourism that caters to international and local visitors looking for a wholesome fun and adventure in the countryside.

On Beauty: Wear Your Most Beautiful You During the Holidays

The holidays are just around the corner and you can’t wait to spend it the way you want it, with
fun, laughter, lots of happenings with friends or family. These events usually happen from early
evening until the wee hours of the morning.

Last-minute Post Holiday Celebration Done Right with Casillero del Diablo

Spicy Mussel and Clam Binakol

Filipinos love to add a dose of fun and festivity during the holidays, so what better way to please your family and friends than dishes that will lift their spirits up? With Casillero del Diablo wines’ choicest array that goes perfectly with a number of Filipino recipes, going for a thematic holiday feast is not a daunting task at all.