HISTORIA, CULINARIA, Y CULTURA: A Celebration of Philippine Independence Day Through Food, Fashion & Culture (Taal, Batangas)

 

Historia, Culinaria y Cultura

Last June 8, 2019, the 2-day HISTORIA, CULINARIA, Y CULTURA: A Celebration of Philippine Independence Day Through Food, Fashion & Culture, celebrated 121 years of Philippine Independence via a showcase of heritage food, fashion and culture in the historic heritage town of Taal in Batangas.

Sining sa Taal

The “Sining ng Taal” Art Exhibit, at Tampuhan Café, Galleria Taal and Casa Gahol, featured the artworks of Mr. Oliver Y. Roxas (artist and designer), Mr. Randy Roa (visual artist), Mr. Jose Alain Austria (history professor and self-taught artist), Ms. Robelyn C. Canto (babaylan of the Manobo tribe noted for her hand embroidery), decoupage and collage queen Ms. Arlene F. Barbaza (of Artefact & Ressurection Furniture), Mr. Binggoy De Ocampo (Ressurection and Found Objects gallery owner), Mr. Lawton Ladao (a Bulakeno artist called the "Illustrator of Memories") and Mr. Herminio Tan (a sculptor who transforms bones into wearable art).

Taal Mayor Fulgencio "Pong" Mercado and Theo Arnold cutting the ceremonial
ribbon opening the "Sining sa Taal" art exhibit

The opening and ribbon cutting was graced by Taal Mayor Fulgencio “Pong” I. Mercado, former Ambassador of the Netherlands to the Philippines Theo Arnold,  acclaimed fashion designer Mr. Lito Perez, Mr. Oliver Roxas, Mr. Jay Bato-on, Mr. Rogie Reyes, Mr. Nathan De Leon, Ms. Mildred V. Vitangcol (Chairman of the Board of St. Peter Life Plan, Inc.), Ms. Beth Victoria (Publisher of Bravo Filipino Magazine) and Mr. Zardo Austria (cultural arts and fashion impresario).

Guests at the opening

Guests posing in period attire

The Historia aspect, aiming to educate visitors on interesting and little known facts about Philippine significant segments in Philippine history, particularly on the aspects of art and architecture, featured the following activities:

• Talks by experts on Philippine History Art and Architecture
• “Camino de Taal” are guided tours to historical places and heritage houses in Taal —especially the houses of illustrious Filipino families that have helped achieve Filipino nationhood.
• Film showings featuring momentous period films that showcase the skill and soul of noted Filipino filmmakers.
• “Kasaysayan sa Kanto,” a 2-day Photo Contest (by Kanto Salted Caramel Vodka) where amateur and professional photographers will display their snapshots of Taal’s historical places.

 

Kasaysayan sa Kanto

The Culinaria aspect will featured the following activities:

• Pop Up Lunch highlighting Culinaria Filipina.  Here the Malolos Congress menu (Package Cost: PhP3,500) will be recreated and served in Villa Tortuga, one of Taal’s ancestral houses.  Dining in 19th century splendor, attendees will be required to put on full period costume.
• 2-day Calle Tienda Crafts and Food Fair, held at Taal’s Social Plaza (Calle Mariño-Agoncillo), will feature food stalls serving local and fusion Filipino delicacies and artisanal crafts.
• Food demos, along Calle Jose Diokno, where topnotch Filipino culinary artists will conduct demos on popular Filipino delicacies, traditional cuisine, and long-lost heritage menus.

 

1899 Malolos Congress Menu

Kundiman ng Lahi

Cultura, the distinctive Filipino culture which marries Western and Eastern influences into one fluid and vibrant way of life, became the inspiration of 3 centerpiece events namely:

• The “Mutya at Ginoo ng Kultura,” the first ever search for the male and female ambassadors who embody Filipino cultural ideals and promote heritage tourism by advocating the preservation and conservation of local culture.
• The “Kundiman ng Lahi” is a concert, in cooperation with the Lyric Opera of the Philippines (LyrOpera), of well-loved Filipino music (featuring performers Ana Feleo, Randy Gilongco, Mary Patrice Pacis, Tonton Pascual, Mheco Manlangit, Carlo Miguel Bunyi and pianist Peter Porticos) that highlights the different aspects of the Filipino psyche.
• The grand “Historia en La Moda,” a fitting finale, is a fashion exposition gala that traces the evolution of traditional Filipino attire from Pre-Hispanic times to the genteel days of the Pre-World War II era.  It will feature the masterful creations of Manila’s top fashion designers (Lito Perez, Ditta Sandico, Edgar Madamba, Allesandro Sy, etc.) as they capture the transformations of the Philippine traditional wear.

Historia en la Moda

Restaurant Review: Don Juan Boodle House (Taal, Batangas)

 

Don Juan Boodle House

A break in the Historia, Culinaria, Y Cultura proceedings brought us to the Don Juan Boodle House for lunch. Located near the Taal Public Market, it is said to be the first and the original Taal restaurant serving boodle fight food with various selections – Davao Boodle (Php1499),  Ilocos Boodle (Php1399), Military Boodle (Php1299), Ilonggo Boodle (Php1399), Southern Tagalog Boodle (Php1399), Inihaw Boodle and Taal Specialty Boodle, all good for 4 to 6 persons.  The restaurant was already filled up when we arrived but, luckily, we had a table reserved for the 8 of us. 

Check out “Historia, Culinaria, Y Cultura: A Celebration of Philippine Independence Day Through Food, Fashion & Culture”

 

The DOT media group and the author (right)

However, the most popular boodle-type meals in the restaurant are the Taal Specialty Boodle and the Inihaw Boodle, both for Php1299. We tried the former. Served on the usual banana leaves, it consisted of town’s tapang Taal and longganisang Taal as well as, adobo sa dilaw (chicken cooked in turmeric), ginataang sitaw at kalabasa (string beans and squash with coconut milk), sinaing na tulingan (braised tuna wrapped in banana leaves), pritong tawilis (fried tawilis), inihaw na binakbakan (grilled pork ribs) and fruit in season (watermelon during our visit).  All this was served with sliced tomatoes, onion, salted egg, atsara (pickled grated papaya) and lots of steamed rice.

 

Taal Specialty Boodle

The food was very good and satisfying, the service very friendly and the prices were surprisingly affordable.   For those who don’t have a big appetite may find the boodle specials too much, so Don Juan also serves ala carte grilled dishes such as Tiyan ng Tuna (Php399), Pusit (Php329), Tambakol (Php299), Longganisa  (Php99), Tahong (Php149), Talong (Php89) Liempo (Php249), Tilapia (Php119) Tanigue (Php299), Chicken BBQ (Php119) and Pork BBQ (Php39).

They also serve appetizers such as Bangus Sisig (Php289), Pork Sisig (Php229) and Chili Dynamite (Php169); soups such as Sinigang na Baboy (Php299), Sinigang na Hipon (Php399), Bulalo (Php399) and Sinigang na Salmon Head with Prawns (Php399); desserts such as Leche Flan(Php69), Fried Taal Suman with Tsokolate (Php89),  Taal Suman with Mangga (Php99) and Minatamis na Saging (Php69) and merienda treats such as Batchoy (Php99), Canton Guisado (Php99), Bihon Guisado (Php89), Halo-Halo (Php89) and Mais Con Yelo (Php69). 

They even serve reasonably priced (from Php119 to P179) meals (Bistek Tagalog,  Chicken BBQ,  Liempo,  Chicken Pork Adobo,  Pork Binagoongan,  Pork BBQ,  Inihaw na Tilapia,  Tapang Taal,  Bangus Sisig  and Bagnet), all  with unlimited rice and free soup.

There’s also has a pasalubong corner where diners may buy food items to bring home or as gifts. Don Juan Boodle House has another branch in Lipa City, just minutes away from Case De Segunda.

 

The packed dining area

Don Juan Boodle House: C.W. Diokno St., Taal.  Tel: (043) 740-1828.  Mobile numbers: (0917) 113 0393, and (0917) 528 0551. Open Mondays to Fridays, 8 AM – 9 PM, and Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays, 7 AM – 9 PM.

Don Juan Boodle House:  P. Torres cor. G.A. Solis Sts., 4217 Lipa City.  Tel: (043) 740-1828.  Mobile numbers: (0917) 1130-393 and ‎(0917) 5280-551.