Food Trip: Digman's Hyped Halo-Halo

For Juans, no dessert screams summer more than the halo-halo. Literally means mixed, halo-halo is typically a concoction of shaved ice, milk, sweetened beans, banana, jack fruit, purple yam, coconut strips, root crops, sago pearls, colorful gelatin, flan, and topped with ice cream. This colorful layered dessert is one great cold treat. And as the Philippines' favorite summer time food, a cup or bowl of halo-halo is available just about anywhere. 

One place that media outlets rave about as the halo-halo capital of the Philippines is Digman in Bacoor, Cavite. With the summer heat becoming unbearable these days, the Two Juanderers decided to visit Digman to check out if the halo-halo there are actually all that. We had to taste it to believe it.

Is is really the talk of the town?

Don't be confused though as the popularity of the halo-halo in the area spawned a multitude of restaurants offering their own versions of the cold treat. Each claiming to be either the first or the best. So in our visit, we tried out two of the most featured restaurants in Digman. Here's our verdict.

A Guide to the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX)

Updated as of June 30, 2019

Exactly a month ago, the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) was officially opened to the public. Dubbed as the country's first landport, PITX is a 75,000 square meter modern terminal that serves as a transfer point for passengers from Metro Manila going to Cavite, Batangas, and Quezon, and vice-versa. With inputs from inter-modal stations in London, Singapore, and Melbourne, the terminal promises to deliver a first world experience with passenger-friendly facilities, multiple connection options, and a myriad of dining and shopping options. 

The Two Juanderers decided to check out PITX and see how things are for Juans who will be visiting the nearby provinces of Cavite, Batangas, Quezon, and the Bicol region. Update: Daily Lucena, Daet, Naga, Legazpi, and Sorsogon trips are now available in PITX.

The Terminal

The terminal is organized into three levels that integrate in-city and provincial vehicle transfers. The ground level houses the ticketing counters, the departure bays for premium point-to-point, city, and provincial buses, and the departure and arrival bays for jeepneys, taxis, and ride-hailing services. The second level holds the arrival bays for buses. The third level contains the departure and arrival bays for UV Express, the private vehicle facilities such as parking spaces, and will eventually be the connecting level to the Asia World Station of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension project.   

Bus bays within PITX

Making Splash at Kawit's Water Camp Resort

Planning to escape from the daily hustle and bustle of Metro Manila? Wanting to take a break from the normal city routine without venturing too far from home? If yes, then a visit to the Water Camp Resort is one activity that is Two Juanderers-recommended. The resort is an accessible, affordable, and all-season destination that can be squeezed into any Manila-dweller's schedule. 

Water Camp Resort as seen in its Facebook page

Water Camp Resort is located within Josephine Village in the historic town of Kawit, Cavite. For those not familiar with its history, the place was originally a fishpond in the 1960s and was supposed to be converted into a subdivision. But in a twist of fate, a restaurant named Josephine's was opened which soon became popular all over the metro and the nearby provinces. Over the years, the resort was built to complement the natural landscape of the place and the thriving restaurant. Today, Water Camp is a wholesome all-season oasis for many to enjoy and create fun-filled memories. 

In Photos: Inside the Historical Aguinaldo Shrine

After coming down for the weekend and experiencing the thrill of water play areas at Island Cove's Oceania Swim and Splash Park, a good place to end the day and have some history lessons is the Aguinaldo Shrine. 

Located in Kawit, Cavite, approximately 3 kilometers from Island Cove, the shrine was the venue of the historic declaration of the Philippines' independence from Spain. It was the ancestral home of the country's first president, Emilio Aguinaldo. Built in 1845, the house was originally made from wood and thatch. It was renovated and enlarged several times transforming it to the Hispanic and American colonial mansion that is seen at the present. The house was declared a national shrine by the government after Aguinaldo's death in 1964.

The iconic and historical Aguinaldo Shrine

Most Filipinos would have seen the house in the iconic photo that marked the country's independence in 1898. But here are other photos that will make you want to head off to the Aguinaldo Shrine and find out what else is there to know about this historic place.

Museo ni Aguinaldo
The ground level of the mansion houses the Museo ni Aguinaldo. It is a permanent exhibit showcasing the role of Cavite during the Philippine Revolution. It has four galleries presenting Aguinaldo's life, the Revolution and the Declaration of Independence, the First Republic, and the Filipino-American War. 

Making Splash at Island Cove's Oceania Swim and Splash Park for only PHP130

Update: Island Cove has officially closed after 20 years on July 28, 2018

Summer is just around the corner. Definitely the first thing that comes to mind to battle the scorching Philippine sun is to get wet. But if you're based in Manila, the nearest beaches would be at least two to three hours away. 

The best alternative to have fun under the sun is to just drop down a nice slide and splash into a cool swimming pool. One of the nearest and easily accessible water parks from the metro is Oceania Swim and Splash Park in Cavite. 

Oceania Swim and Splash Park

The Park and its Features
Oceania Swim and Splash Park is one of the star attractions of Island Cove Hotel and Leisure Park. It is dubbed as the most exhilarating family water attraction this side of Mega Manila. 

The Island Cove hanging bridge

Map of the leisure resort

It has a 3,000-square-meter two-layered lagoon shaped swimming pool with depths ranging from 3 to 6 feet. It has four giant fiberglass slides of varying colors, heights, and lengths. The park has also set up inflatable slides in the pools. This area is designed for adults, teenagers, and older kids. 

Food Trip: Cavite

History abounds in the province of Cavite. There are many historic sites and landmarks in the province that are associated with the revolution, foremost of which is the Aguinaldo Shrine, the birthplace of Philippine independence. But alongside these historic sites, Cavite is also home to numerous homegrown restaurants and eateries. 

Aguinaldo Shrine

So after a visit to these sites and refreshing your historical memories, don't miss the chance to try these food places out.

Las Tiendas
The big city's food bazaar trend has reached Cavite with Las Tiendas. It is an open air food hub located within Aguinaldo Park. Just like its cousins in the metro, Las Tiendas offers a number of stalls serving a wide variety of food.