Last Tuesday was Erika’s “room” warming party. After being friends for eight years, she is now my flat-mate. And no, we’re not lesbian  lovers. I was getting tired of the usual menu I prepare for get-togethers(grilled cheese sandwich, Charlie Chan copy cat Asian spaghetti, creamy fruit salad etc) I had to make a new one.

- Stewed Tomato Spaghetti
- Spicy Fried Chicken with Buttered Hot Sauce
- Chocolate Turon

A quick and easy dessert was needed, one that would fit into our room warming food budget. The chocolate turon was all I could remember that I saw from Heny Sison two years ago in her old baking/cooking show in IBC 13. What ever happened to that show? My brother and I love that show. Lazy Sundays back then meant drooling in front of the TV with all the sugar induced dessert she was making. Para syang fairy, *fairy dust* — “Ito na po ang ating finished product “ and a piece of either cake, cookies, brownies would appear from under the oven.

I Googled the recipe but stumbled upon this Pinoy version of the recipe from 80′s Breakfast. Credit is hers. It was rather brilliant to think of Pinoy flavored Chocnut and Flattops. However, when I reached the supermarket Flatops was out of stock. Wow, there is a shortage of Flattops in the Philippines? The Balikbayan’s are hoarding them! I used Curlytops instead as a substitute. You can pretty much use any chocolate you want. Do a kitchen test and experiment I think this would go well with Andes Chocolate Mint or any chocolate that has nougat, caramel for additional texture.

I modified the recipe a tiny bit and just added one ingredient that made the difference – cinnamon powder. The turon was instant hit at the party, many were asking for the recipe.

Ingredients:

Saging na Saba (Ripe Plantain)
Spring Roll Wrapper
Brown Sugar
Chocolate of your choice
Pandan leaves
Cinnamon powder

Use spring roll wrapper then cut banana’s lengthwise. Just add alternately the chocolates on one side. Put the sugar on the other side side. Use only one half lengthwise banana because one whole banana is a bit harder to wrap and cook. Plus we don’t want a fat turon, do we? Use only about half teaspoon sugar as chocolate is already sweet.

Then the one ingredient you don’t want to forget – dash turon with cinnamon powder. I love cinnamon so I put at least 1/4 teaspoon in each turon. Cinnamon makes the difference! I tried it before without cinnamon but preferred the version with it.

Wrap like you would wrap your lumpia, seal sides with a bit of water. Tie it with a pandan leave. This will make if fragrant. Deep fry in low heat. Sugar and chocolate have a tendency to get burnt easily so cook it with low heat. Cook both sides until golden brown.

Tadah! You can drizzle it with a bit of melted Belgian chocolate.

My internet connection woes with Globe Broadband is still unresolved. It has been a month since I’ve called your help desk. Each time I call I am given different reasons as to why my connection is intermittent. I am already running out of patience. To make matters worse when your technical support representatives put on me hold, they play a mushy, cheesy , country love song in the background. I have never encountered a study that says country music helps relieve anger of unsatisfied customers. I have nothing against this genre but can’t you guys choose less annoying songs? Country music is like bagoong (shrimp paste), it is an acquired taste. The last thing I want to hear when I’m pissed is a guy who sings like Billy Ray Cyrus.

Still waiting for you to send a technical person to fix my connection,
Des Mendoza

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The Dept. of Public Works and Highways is planning a 8 meter wide concrete highway along the full length of Bulabog Beach, including the next bay, which will return to the main road along Kingfisher Farm road. They plan to build it right on the beach with a sea wall to protect the road, thus completely destroying the existing white sand beach, which has over the last few years become very popular with kite-boarders, and in the so-called off season, with all types of water sports.

Poster: Pikiwiki
Boracay Forums, Trip Advisor

A possible bridge connecting Caticlan and Bulabog Beach? I don’t know about you but the sound a bridge losses the charm of the whole idea of an island. Did they even research about the environmental impact of this? More vehicles, more air pollutants. Boracay is already overdeveloped as it stands. This isn’t exactly a genius plan for “sustainable” tourism noh? There have been concerns about too much traffic in Boracay – instead of building a bridge try limiting the number of people and vehicles that go through the island. I will do my own research when I get there and ask the locals their opinions about the alleged bridge.

DPWH — duh – this is NOT the first time they attempted to build a bridge that would destroy something of significant value. Remember Loboc, Bohol? They started building a highway that would pass and destroy century old Loboc, Church. Many protested thus the project was discontinued. Now it stands as an ugly edifice fronting the church. A sad reminder of an absolute waste of tax payer’s money for projects that were not well researched.

My mom grew up in Banga, Aklan which is next town from the capital – Kalibo. She first heard of Boracay when she was still in school. A classmate would invite them to this fantastic looking island. Most of her classmates and my mom didn’t have the luxury of time to travel to an isolated area. This was in the late 50′s. The roads were very rough if not dangerous and boat rides were rare. I don’t think my grandparents would have given my mom permission because it was really isolated back in the days.

There are numerous stories on how Boracay was discovered. Locals say that an American or European found out about it in the 70′s. The secret of a tucked away island traveled only through word of mouth. According to Wikipedia it was popular with backpackers in the 80′s. Boracay first inhabitants were Aetas — which sadly there have been news of the natives’ displacement due to massive tourism. Which is kind of ironic for a province that celebrates one of the oldest festivals in the Philippines – Ati-atihan, originally a pagan celebration. The religious Sto. Nino concept was only introduced during the Spanish colonial times.

A 13th century (c.1212 AD) event explains the origins of the festival. A small group of Malay datus, fleeing Borneo, were sold some land by the Ati people, the original inhabitants of Panay Island. The new arrivals celebrated the event at a great feast by painting themselves black to look like them.

Source: Wikipedia

I remember my first visit in Boracay in 1992. The island started gaining popularity among local and international tourists. We decided to see the island since it was only 2-3 hours away from Banga. There were no direct flights to Caticlan. You had to go through then undeveloped Kalibo airport. A common provincial airport doesn’t have the facilities of X-ray machines that scan through baggages. Everything had to be opened and checked manually. There lies an unlucky possibility of your unmentionables being checked right smack in the middle of the airport. There were also no vans/services to Caticlan, only Jeepneys that they overload until there was only enough space for the driver to hold his steering wheel. LOL — which is typical practice in many provinces. I don’t remember seeing resorts made from concrete edifices. There was one resort however on top of Diniwid. Most of the resorts were made from native housing materials like nipa. Electricity was also scheduled. Best of all there were no fees being collected in Caticlan port.

Boracay circa 1992 or about 16 years ago. The four girls are my cousins. This was taken in Station 2 near Tirol Estates (I think they changed the name already). Tirol is one of the old, old, old families in Boracay, Aklan. A large portion of lands in Boracay are untitled and owned by the government. Notice the lack of resorts in the background and a pitched tent. An international beach volleyball tournament was being held that time. Most of the tourists were Caucasians. Does anyone remember the name of the bar that stood in the middle of the sea?

Look at this photo taken in Boracay circa1980′s from Nostalgia Manila. My goodness! The shore is almost empty!

When we got off the boat the first thing we saw were half naked women bathing in the sun. Lola Patricia was a little shocked. My cousins – who were mostly little boys and girls that time were giggling, well — like kids. I explained to them that these were common for some Western culture and just ignore it. The memoirs of the beach was the best part of that first visit. The sand — how could I forget the sand, it was like fine sugar crystals. The Boracay sunset against the Claude Monet orange and blue skies was enchanting. How could one not fall in love with such picturesque scenery?

Sadly each time I go there, I see signs of over development. As guests we also have a responsibility. To Boracay visitors, please don’t leave your trash just anywhere. Take it with you or find a trash bin to get disposed of it. Why the hell am I ranting about this basic human common sense? Because even back when I first landed in shores of this beach I had to pick up empty plastic bottles because some idiots leave them on the shore.

Boracay is still a great place to chill and break away from the city. You will not get bored by the vast activities you can opt to do. If you prefer serenity and secluded beaches this one is not for you. I know one beach just like that but I won’t tell you until I get there.

I don’t have a return ticket flight to Manila yet. I think I’m gonna be here till the end of April and take time to revisit my roots.

Hmmm. Ghirardelli 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chips + Andes Creme de Mente Chocolate Chips equals…

…Chocolate Mint Cookies.

This is how you start a brand new day.