One of the factors contributing to the growth of the tourism industry of a town or a city is having its own festival. There are numerous Philippine festivals which are all expected to draw local and foreign tourists on their list.

Batangas, being one of the most visited provinces in Southern Luzon, has quite a number of festivals. So to give you a short list of various festivals in Batangas, I made my own top 10 festivals (which I think are the most celebrated ones) that you, as a Batangueño, should take part in. Scroll down until the no.1 spot!

10. Sinuam Festival, San Jose – Poultry industry is San Jose’s main drive for its economic growth. Being the top producer of eggs in the province and also in the neighboring areas in the region, the people of San Jose derived their festival from a dish made out of their main produce – sinuam (egg soup). Sinuam Festival is celebrated on the 25th of April (San Jose’s foundation day) and just like any other festivals, street dancing highlights the celebration.

9. Sinukmani Festival, Rosario – Sinukmani is one of the famous Filipino meriendas (I even consider this a dessert) made of sticky rice cooked in sugar (I don’t know if they have other ingredients for this). Celebrated on June 9, Sinukmani Festival is participated by local folks, preparing and decorating their own sinukmani, making them visually and gastronomically enticing. This year’s celebration was an attempt to make a world record of the longest line of sinukmani ever made.

8. Tinapayan Festival, Cuenca – I love festivals that showcase local delicacies. Tinapayan Festival puts the spotlight on the hardworking bakers or panaderos of Cuenca, the reason why the town claimed the title “Home of the Bakers”. The festival includes bread-making contests and festive parade to present the finished products of the bakers and celebrated sometime in June.

7. Walistik Festival, Lipa City – I can’t remember the last time I went to see this festival. Walistik originated from the word walis (broom) and the Tagalog slang for incredible (walastik). This festival is being done on the second week of January or as part of the celebration of the city’s fiesta, January 20. How is this celebrated? Often with a street dance competition where walis is used as the main material for the dancers’ costumes.

6. Anihan Festival, Lobo – Lobo is famous for its white sand beaches and the Malabrigo lighthouse. But it was only last year that I learned that this town boasts of abundant produce such as tamarind (Lobo is the proud producer of tamarind wine), rice, custard apple (atis), corn kernels, and buli fabrics to name a few. A street parade and dance competition are the main events of the Anihan Festival (last week of September) – the people’s way of thanking God for a bounty produce.

5. Sublian Festival, Batangas City – This is a meaningful festival as it encompasses the cultural and religious oneness of the people of Batangas City. Sublian is part of the week-long celebration of the city’s founding anniversary, July 23. Subli is a ceremonial dance to worship the Holy Cross.

4. Balsa Festival, Matabungkay, Lian – When I was little our family would always have Matabungkay beach as our summer destination before other beach resorts started sprouting. And then the people of Matabungkay came up with a brilliant idea to attract more tourists – the Balsa Festival. Matabungkay beach is famous for the bamboo beach raft or balsa. As far as I know, the festival doesn’t have an exact date of celebration but it’s always held on the month of May.

3. Lambayok Festival, San Juan – Lambayok stands for the three main products of San Juan – lambanog (coconut wine), lambat (fish net), and palayok (clay pot). We had a very unforgettable experience of this festival last year that’s why it landed 3rd on my list. Celebrated on the second week of December, the Lambayok Festival shows off the creativity and camaraderie of the San Juan folks.

2. Kabakahan Festival, Padre Garcia – Padre Garcia is a town close to my heart (hahaha) and when the team went there to celebrate with the town folks in the Kabakahan Festival last year, we had a first hand experience of the hospitality of the Garcianos. This is one of the most notable festivals in the region and I must say, another world-class event, with a Wild Wild West vibe to it.

1. Parada ng Lechon, Balayan – Why it landed on my list’s no.1 spot? Because it always reminds me of my childhood, when our family would go there to celebrate this festival with my uncle’s in-laws. I remember how cholesterol and future heart problems were ignored back then, haha. But I don’t like being soaked with water during the parade, that was before. Now, let’s bring all the water guns out! I’m looking forward to see these roasted pigs clad in different costumes for this year’s Parada ng Lechon.

So these are the Top 10 most celebrated festivals in Batangas, at least for me. Thumbs up or thumbs down? Let me know!

When you think of spending some time off from work, initially you would think of a comfortable place to go to. When you just want to enjoy your own company and contemplate on how your life has been, you look for a place that’s quiet.

If you know this restaurant called CASA RAP, you would not have a hard time thinking and searching for that destination where you could nestle for an hour or so.

The Birth of Casa Rap

Casa Rap had its soft opening in January of 2001 when it was first introduced as a clearing house for environmentalists. After realizing the need for a revolving source of income to sustain the life of Casa Rap, it was formally launched as a restaurant in January of 2003.

The proprietress, Sis. Emma Alday, is a known advocate of environmental protection. How she cares for the environment is reflected in the interiors of the restaurant. Sis. Emma personally designed the place through the help of her sister.

A Haven for Artists and Environmentalists

You wouldn’t believe how Sis. Emma came up with such ingenious decors all made from scrap materials. An artistic soul lives in her. And the passion for arts combined with her being an environmentalist materialized in the interiors of Casa Rap. “You can beautify your home without spending much,” exclaimed Sis. Emma.

There are too many interesting pieces to marvel at inside the restaurant. If you have the interest for reconstruction and remodelling of old pieces into a new favorable piece, Casa Rap is where you can draw inspiration from.

The Organic Restaurant

Casa Rap had been featured in the country’s leading newspapers, in lifestyle television programs such as Rated K, Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho, and Ang Pinaka, and in various blogs and websites. What made this restaurant popular? Because the food they serve are produced through organic farming.

They grow their own products without the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Another interesting thing in Casa Rap is the concept of being a “slow food cafe”. So if you’re used to dine in fastfood restos, you have to take note that waiting will be part of your dining experience in Casa Rap. Why? Whatever you want to eat, they would only prepare and cook it upon your order. With this you are assured of freshly cooked meals to enjoy.

Casa Rap became known for their special halo-halo. Instead of using ice, they use buko sherbet that’s why if you have tried it, what you thought was ice was so soft and pleasing to the mouth. Casa Rap serves favorite Pinoy dishes such as kaldereta (beef or goat), crispy pata, and lomi. Satisfy your craving any time of the day as they serve breakfast, lunch, snacks. If you want to have dinner here, you have to make early reservations though.

Must-try foods in the menu are crispy shrimp, hilaw na lumpia (oh, this is not the fresh lumpia that we know), salad, and their grilled sandwiches.

Casa Rap is currently undergoing expansion as Sis. Emma decided to have a massage room for customers who would want to enjoy a couple of hours to relax and dine in.

The restaurant is open for reservations if you want business meetings, birthday parties, and other intimate occasions to be held here. Casa Rap is not just your ordinary restaurant. This is a place where you can feel blessed. A place where you can feel one with the world. Casa Rap is another destination that will remind you of your constant responsibility to take care of the environment.

On Our Casa Rap Experience

As I step in to the stunning place of CASA RAP cafe, I began to recall all my beautiful moments with the dearest people in my life. The place is so wonderful and breathtaking because of the natural ornaments which really made me feel secluded from the stress of busy life in the city. Mixed with the sweetness and humbleness of Sister Emma, Casa Rap is the perfect relaxing place to make yourself free from all your worries and anxieties.

The stay at CASA Rap will be more wonderful if you bring yourself a book to read while eating their best-served ‘halo-halo’. Haha, I think this is weird but if you want to try some of their yummy foods, you can! Miss Dyan Hernandez was with me when I went there, and it was indeed awesome to spend the day at Casa Rap with someone you feel secured with, a friend. We both enjoyed a half-day conversation with Sister Emma, blended with the perfectness of the place. C’mon and try it sometime!
– Mane

It’s my kind of place. Sabi ko nga kay Sis. Emma, I felt at home nung nagpunta kami dun. I want to be in a place where I can just be myself, like how I am when I’m at the comfort of my own home. Sa Casa Rap, simple lang ang lahat. No awkward moments like when you dine in a fancy restaurant. Sabi nga ni Sister, fun dining dito, hindi fine dining. But of course, all the meals they serve are of quality naman.

Favorite ko yung malaking aquarium na gawa sa windshield ng malaking truck. Sis. Emma is very creative at nakakabilib kasi gusto ko yung ginagawa n’ya. Kahit patapon na, nagagawa pa rin n’yang maganda at kapaki-pakinabang. Now, I have found a place where I can go when things get rough for me. Because in Casa Rap, you will be reminded that oh, life is wonderful, and you have be thankful for that.
– Dyan

Casa Rap Cafe Image Gallery 

[slidepress gallery='an-afternoon-at-casa-rap-cafe']

One of the most patronized food businesses in this side of the province – Lando and Lorie’s Banay-Banay Eatery sponsored our lunch on the second day of training and workshop for the WOWBatangas Campus Correspondents.

Learn more about the team’s dining experience at Lando and Lorie’s through our Campus Correspondents. This is according to their own, creative interpretation of the experience. Enjoy reading!

Standing outside Banay-Banay Eatery, I thought it was a restaurant with waiters and waitresses roaming around with menus on their hands (like a fancy restaurant or something), but that was not even close to the scene inside. It was like the usual eatery on roadsides plus the wide-variety of food and the friendly ambience. Everyone was friendly and they welcomed us with smiles on their faces.

When I saw the wide-variety of food, I thought, which will we eat? Everything looks really good and I don’t need to prove that because as soon as the clock strikes lunch time, the place starts to burst with customers. Every now and then, the door will close and open; satisfied customers leave and other hungry customers enter. No tables are left unoccupied.

I guess the secret of this Eatery is their “masa” approach to their business. Good foods are available at affordable prices, and there’s no “sosyal” air in the place. And sure enough, I’ll come back again to taste the endless lists of food. – Riyalyn Magno, BSU – ARASOF

Ala eh! Ikaw ga ay gutom na? Ngunit nangangambang kulang ang pera sa bulsa? Sinsay na ikaw dine sa San Jose at paniguradong mabubusog ka sa murang halaga. Sa halip na magtiyaga sa nakakasawang instant noodles o de lata, o magastusan sa mga fast food chains, bakit hindi mo subukang bumisita sa Lando and Lorie’s Banay-Banay Eatery. Isang sakay lamang ng dyip at siguradong mabubusog ka ng sobra.

Anumang hanapin ng likaw ng iyong bituka’y paniguradong dito mo makikita’t matitikman. Sa haba pa lang ng pila na halos lumiko-liko na ay mapapatunayan mo na ang sarap ng mga putahe. Kilala sa malinamnam na bulalo at mga inihaw, dinarayo ang Lando and Lorie’s Banay-Banay Eatery ng mga tao mula pa sa kung saan-saang bahagi ng Batangas at mga kalapit probinsiya.

Bukod sa mga masasarap na putahe na instant mong mabibili, ang Lando and Lorie’s ay maari ring maging lugar para sa mga selebrasyon gaya ng kasal, binyag at mga pagpupulong.

Oh anu pang iyong hinihintay? Aba’y punta na! – John Lerry Villalobos, Lipa City Colleges

She walks with that inviting fragrance that easily eluded the long wait for the lunch time; her taste satisfied my personal desire for a good tasting food. With an anatomy of a beautiful woman, Banay-Banay Eatery has creatively given me the feeling of being in-loved with the mistress of my father’s lips – that is the same taste as that of my mother’s lutong bahay. – Jefferson Litan, De La Salle Lipa

Ala Eh, nakakailang bulos ka ga sa isang kainan?

Totoong hindi kailanman maipagpapalit ang lasa ng Pagkaing Pinoy sa kahit ano mang putahe na maaaring ihayin sa ating hapag kainan. Kakaiba at hahanap-hanapin — may kakaibang lasa na nagpapagana sa ating bawat subo. Saktong ito ang mararamdaman mo sa tuwing malalasahan ang mga piling-piling putaheng Batangueño na patuloy na pinasasarap ng panahon sa Lando and Lorie’s Banay-Banay Eatery. – Louie Florentine Sanchez, BSU Main Campus

A first-time visitor of Lando and Lorie’s Banay-Banay Eatery will surely find his way again once he experienced home at one of Batangas’ best restaurants. Enough of the city’s styro-packed meals and the always fried chicken meals, a dine-in at Banay-Banay Eatery is totally different.

I haven’t tasted much of their menus, but just looking at those set of Filipino cuisines I already got burping in delicious delight. Ginataan, steamed fish, fried pusit, bulalo, sisig and a lot more, these are all temptations. Tourists and other visitors will also love to feast over these favorites. Plus, the place is good enough to make the best of your half an hour trip away from the busy streets of Lipa City. – Jason Lachica, De La Salle Lipa

Come and taste the lip smacking sweetness of different cuisines from Lando and Lorie’s Banay-Banay eatery, the pride of San Jose, Batangas. The aroma of “ihaw-ihaw” of various sea foods caught my attention followed by numerous people in queue waiting to be served.

Dumbfounded, I was slapped by my friend telling me that we were to eat in a different room. The servers led us to a reserved room for us – the WOWBatangas Campus Correspondents. Just as I expected, an air-conditioned place with a videoke machine welcomed us. Food was great, service was impressive and we had fun. Thanks to my new discovered resto – Leah Inciong

Ala eh, pag sinabing kainan, sa Banay-Banay are. Applause, applause.
I was still young when I first heard of the epic, Banay-Banay Eatery. My mom and dad would always boast to their friends how delicious and superb the food is. Maybe it’s in the genes. Or maybe it’s for real. Banay- Banay Eatery is simply excellent!

It was only last November 17 when I got to taste of the food and service they offered. Thanks to WOWBatangas.com’s workshop or else, my tastebuds would have missed half of the tastiest flavors in town. I’m just 19 but I can already envision myself boasting to my friends 10 years from now the greatness of this Eatery, with my daughter/son listening in the background. – Felisse Marianne San Juan

“What a journey it has been and the end is not in sight but the stars are out tonight and they’re bound to guide my way…”

This was the song playing while we, the WOWBATANGAS Campus Correspondents, were feeding up ourselves with the well-prepared foods of Banay-Banay’s Eatery for us.

It’s really a productive journey that enabled me to discover an eatery in San Jose, Batangas such these along with my newfound friends on the 2nd day of the seminar.

How loud burp I can smirk for the delicious foods I taste? You’ll never know. – Bernadeth Manalo

Lando and Lorie’s Banay-Banay Eatery? Ala, ay parang ordinaryong kainan laang eh! Pero ‘wag ka! D’yan ka lang makakakita at makakatikim ng masasarap na luto na talaga namang Pinoy na Pinoy — sa isip, sa salita, at sa gawa.

Pagpasok pa lang, talagang gutom agad ang aalipin sa iyong buong pagkatao. Eh, bakit ga naman hindi? Amoy pa laang eh nakakagutom na. Pagpunta mo sa counter, hala! Makipag-unahan ka na at tiyak, sa haba ng mga nakapila at umaasam na matikman ang kanilang mga specialty, ay lalo kang magugutom.

Sa mga second timers (na gaya ko) ay talaga namang sulit ang pagpunta at pagkain doon. Mapaparami ang kain mo. Sa mga nagda-diet, hala kayo, makakalimutan ninyo na na on diet kayo sa sarap ng kanilang mga putahe. Parang mga international chefs ang nandoon. Tunay na pang-word class. Para pa ngang mga magician — mina-magic ang lahat ng putahe para sumarap pang lalo at mas pumatok sa masa.:) O, ano pa gang iniintay ninyo? Ay, sa Lando and Lorie’s Banay-Banay Eatery na kayo kumain araw-araw. Masarap. Maaliwalas. Sulit.:) – Shela Porto, BSU Main

More reviews to come.

February 1 – It’s the beginning of the love month again and surely, there are a lot of couples who get excited once the Valentine month commence.

Expect that for the next couple of days I would be coming up with Valentine-related articles. Where can you have a romantic Valentine dinner date around Batangas?

Business establishments, particularly restaurants and hotels, have their own Valentine promos. Regardless of these promos, here are some restaurants here in Batangas where you could dine at on Valentine’s Day.

The Ever-Romantic Valentine Dinner

Reserve a table for you and your special someone in a romantic restaurant. You can even ask the restaurant staff if you have a Valentine surprise prepared for your woman/man. Ladies love this kind of dinner date, no matter how she refused your offer to have one.

You could have your Valentine dinner over at Aristeo’s (043-757-5298) and Ala Fiesta Restaurant (043-703-1063) in Lipa City, The Chef’s Plate in Batangas City, Asian Flavours Restaurant (043-981-1555) in Lima Park Hotel in Malvar, Casa Rap in San Jose (you have to make reservations beyond 5pm).

Contact your favored restaurant as early as now so you would know if they have special promos or if they already received maximum number of reservations for V-Day. After securing a table for you and your significant other, move on to the next task – your Valentine gimmick. Is there something new and special that you want to do? Do you already have a gift but don’t know how to give it to him/her?

Like what I’ve said earlier, you can ask for the restaurant or hotel staff to help you out with your gimmick. If the restaurant has a resident singer for that night, you can request the singer/band to perform your partner’s favorite song. Or if you can, sing it yourself.

Whatever’s written above are old ideas, it’s up to you how you can make things new and even more romantic. Guys, don’t forget the flowers. Taken from my favorite book series, Vince’s Life: “No matter what a woman says she wants, she wants flowers.”

ALSO: You can still join our Valentine contest Ang Pag-Ibig Kong Are, the Search for Inspiring Batangueño couples.

June 25, Saturday — My family went to Ibaan to attend my cousin’s wedding. Going home, we took the San Jose route and saw this bakery which my tita said is selling the best mamon in town.

What is mamon? Oh, for foreigners who would get to read this, mamon is a soft round pastry which is very similar to sponge cake. Although mamon in local bakeries are more chewy than that of Goldilocks’ or Red Ribbon’s.

Reaching home, my other tita who was in the other van on that trip, was able to buy two boxes of that famous mamon in Maning’s Bakery. Mamon in Maning’s has that certain crunch outside but really chewy inside. A box contains 48 pieces of mamons, perfect for a huge family’s afternoon snack. A box costs P110.

If you’re looking for mamon that’s not too soft and does not appear like a sweet piece of air-filled pastry, Maning’s mamon will satisfy your craving. Kasi mabubusog ka na agad sa tatlong piraso pa lang. And oh, don’t forget to always have a drink at hand each time you eat mamon.

So if you happen to pass by San Jose town proper, Maning’s Bakery is located near the municipal hall and the parish gymnasium. This one’s a good pasalubong from this town.

She is another proof that Filipinos do really possess world class talent.

A Batangueña born in Abra, San Jose Batangas is now a recording artist, in Pisa, Italy. Justin Salazar, a 20-year-old singer is currently living at Via Alessandro Della Spina 15 Pisa, Italy where her career bloomed.

Earlier Career in the Philippines

As her former schoolmate I can say that yes, she is a very good singer, I know her singing ability and she has the potential to be a star. She finished high school at Fernando Airbase National High School in Lipa City and attended college at De La salle Lipa with a certificate course in Hotel and Restaurant Management.

Before she left for Italy, Justin became a member of different bands here in Batangas. Those bands are FROLIC BAND, GROUNDED BAND, and KARL’S PLANT BAND.

She had been joining various singing competitions here in Batangas, giving her the chance to develop her singing prowess.

Career in Italy

Her singing ability paved the way for her to become known by many when she moved to Italy. She joined singing contests there and won the following recognition: 3rd Runner-Up in Oltrevoce III Edition at Pontedera; 2nd Runner-Up in Tuklas Singing Star Contest 2010 in Firenze; Grand Champion in Concorso Canoro “7 NOTE” 2011 at Movida Cascina.

Those awards lead her to more opportunities. She sang in radio stations like PUNTO RADIO 101.9 and 96.1, in TV stations like CANALE 50 and RAI 3 ITALIA with Sarrano Famossi. Salazar is also a vocalist of 80 BEAT band and RING of FIRE in Italy.

On February 13, 2011 Salazar release her debut album entitled “Just Me by Justin Salazar”. She has just release her second album this July produced by CANALE 50.

Message from Justin:

“I would like to thank my mentor for her patience, my producer and manager Ms. Barbara Ambrossini and Mr. Manuel Salazar, thank you for taking care of me, [for] giving me encouragement and support. To all who have talents especially in singing don’t be ashamed showing your talent. Show it because Filipinos are ones with the greatest talents. THANK YOU!”

Yes, malayo na ang narating ng schoolmate kong ito dati. We are very proud of you Justin. You are a Filipino pride. Hope to see you soon here in our country performing for Filipinos especially for us, your fellow Batangueños.

We are all wishing you more luck and a more successful career.

Visit the San Jose, Batangas page for all information on San Jose.

San Jose is politically subdivided into 33 barangays.

• Aguila
• Anus
• Aya
• Bagong Pook
• Balagtasin I
• Balagtasin II
• Banay-banay I
• Banay-banay II
• Bigain I
• Bigain II
• Bigain South
• Calansayan
• Dagatan
• Don Luis
• Galamay-Amo
• Lalayat
• Lapolapo I
• Lapolapo II
• Lepote
• Lumil
• Natunuan
• Palanca
• Pinagtung-Ulan
• Poblacion Barangay I
• Poblacion Barangay II
• Poblacion Barangay III
• Poblacion Barangay IV
• Sabang
• Salaban
• Santo Cristo
• Mojon-Tampoy
• Taysan
• Tugtug

Last Updated: September 16, 2013

Visit the San Jose, Batangas page for all information on San Jose.

This is the current set of government officials in San Jose, Batangas elected last 2013 elections. Their terms will expire on 2016.

Mayor: HON. ENTIQUIO M. BRIONES

Vice Mayor: HON. VALENTINO R. PATRON

Councilors
RONALD I. APRITADO
GERALD G. ALDAY
RUEL F. ILAO
RHYAN CZAR P. CARANDANG
NICANOR M. DIMACULANGAN JR.
MARIFE E. BATHAN
MERLITA L. MAGNAYE
RIZALDY H. KALALO

Last Updated: September 16, 2013

Visit the San Jose, Batangas page for all information on San Jose.

The municipality of San Jose celebrates Eggstravaganza Festival, the event that highlights the dominant business in town – poultry farming. Also, this is their way of thanking St. Joseph, their patron saint, for the success of their business.

The locals of San Jose celebrate the festival every April as part of the founding anniversary of the town. They celebrate it with street dancing, contests, programs, and fun-filled activities to entertain local folks and tourists.

One famous egg dish is ‘sinuam’, a soup that’s simple and healthy. Sinuam is a salty and gingery egg soup usually prepared for women who had just given birth.

To learn how to cook sinuam, my dad shares the recipe of this quick and easy soup popular in San Jose, Batangas.

Mga sangkap para sa Sinuam
3-4 pirasong itlog
4 na tasang tubig
1 pirasong bawang na pinitpit
1 pirasong luya (hiniwa)
pamintang buo
asin
patis

Paraan ng pagluluto
1. Sa isang kaserola, maglagay ng apat na tasang tubig para sa apat na pirasong itlog.
2. Lagyan ng bawang, luya, pamintang buo, at asin.
3. Pakuluin ang tubig at ilagay ang mga itlog. Mas maigi kung isa-isa lang ang paglalagay ng itlog upang masigurong hindi ito masisira.
5. Patayin ang apoy kapag nailagay na ang lahat ng itlog.
6. Maaaring timplahan ng patis ayon sa panlasa.

Last Updated: September 6, 2013

Husband Eleuterio Bathan
Kids Jurish Grace, Paul Harris
Marife is an SB Member.
She loves playing volleyball.

San Jose, Batangas
Kilala bilang “The Egg Basket of the Philippines,” ang San Jose, Batangas ang pangunahing pinagkukunan ng itlog ng Metro Manila at pati na rin ng ibang panig ng CALABARZON. Mabilis ang pag-unlad ng bayan na ito dahil sa industriyang pang-agrikultura. Kilala rin ang San Jose sa St. Joseph the Patriarch Parish Church na may magandang seminaryo at hardin, at isa na sa mga Pilgrimage Destination ng Batangas.