Restaurant Review: Surf Shack (San Juan, La Union)

Surf Shack

Surf Shack, located behind Moonleaf Tea Shop and directly across the National Highway from San Juan Surf Resort, is a low-key yet awesome bar and restaurant with a very laid-back setup. 

It’s a perfect open-air hangout spot for sun, sea and surf worshipers as well as casual diners, with a cool setting of outdoor tables with candles; hip and colorful seats; trees; good acoustic music for relaxation; photos of surfers and surf boards on display along walls lined with horizontal wood planks.  

The diners are protected from the elements by a clear plastic roof above their heads. The band area is located on the far side of the room.

Surf Shack is known in the surf community for its sumptuous but very affordable (most of their meals are priced below PhP300) comfort food served in generous portions. 

Their quite varied, extensive, tasty and thoughtful, day-to-day menu includes different kinds of pasta; pizza; rice meals; sandwiches; quesadillas; salads (PHp188-268); burgers (PhP218) and Mexican burritos (with their own side servings of potato chips and nachos); Indian chapatti (PhP108), chicken curry (PhP128) and papadum (PhP98); soup (clam chowder, PhP208, and pumpkin soup, PhP168); chicken wings and more plus, occasionally, fresh-off-the-boat seafood such as freshly shucked oysters (PhP168), mussels (PhP188) and clams (PhP198).

Golden Tinapa Pesto Pasta

Buffalo Wings Bucket of 8

During our visit, we tried out some of their bestsellers.  The Buffalo Wings Bucket (PhP258), consisting of 8 pieces of New York-style, deep-fried chicken wings dunked in their original and very tasty BBQ sauce, was super. 

Then there’s the local chef’s rendition of Italian brick oven pizza and pasta dishes, putting a unique twist by using local ingredients such as bagnet, tuyo, longanisa and the like.  

The Golden Tinapa Pesto Pasta (PhP278), with fresh basil pesto, olives and capers had, as its piece de resistance, golden tinapa flakes trickled with Parmesan cheese and chopped cashew nuts. The Vongole Blanco Pasta (PhP298), a favorite of mine, had spaghettini swimming in locally sourced Pacific clams sautéed in white wine and cilantro.  

Vongole Blanco Pasta

Baclus (Half Bacnotan and Half Mommy  Lu's Pizza)

The Bacnotan Longanisa Pizza (PhP258), with tomato concasse, a small slice of very savory Bacnotan longanisa and a fresh egg in the center balanced on a thin and crispy crust “board," was surprisingly cheesy and good. 

The highly recommended Mommy Lu’s Gourmet Tuyo Pizza (PhP298) was also something else as salty meets sweet with fresh tomato concasse, mozzarella cheese, caramelized onions, black olives, chopped long pepper and slivers of tuyo flakes. We also tried out the Baclus - half Bacnotan and half Mommy  Lu's Pizza (PhP298).

Mommy Lu's Gourmet Tuyo Pizza

Blonde and Amber Wheat Beer

Surf Shack also had e a great cocktail and drinks list, with original cocktails and even imported beers such as Blue Moon (with a slice of orange) on hand. 

The Bang Da Base (PhP158) we drank, a Surf Shack specialty served in mason jars, is a cocktail drink made with basi (sugar cane wine).  

Their signature beers (Amber wheat and Blonde) were smooth and great.  Water was served, with a slice of lime, on cute recycled mayonnaise jars.

Bang Da Bass

Surf Shack: 293 National Highway, Brgy. Urbiztondo, San Juan, La Union. Tel: (072) 607 4914. Open daily, 10 AM to 10 PM.

The 10th La Union Surfing Break (San Juan, La Union)

10th La Union Surfing Break

Balbo balance board

surfboards on display

The La Union Surfing Break, the biggest annual surfing event by volume in the Philippines, is now on its 10th edition. Among the other well-known surf sites in the country, the beach cove of Urbiztondo, San Juan in La Union is the most accessible for sun and surf worshipers coming from Metro Manila, turning it into one hot summer getaway. 

In the past 9 years, the event was a huge success beyond expectations and, despite the addition of three more hotels this year, experience has, in the past, shown that a large chunk of attendees of the surfing break cannot be accommodated in San Juan-based hotels, necessitating tourists to consider nearby hotels in San Fernando.

Urbiztondo Beach

The La Union Surfing Break, a project of the Department of Tourism and the La Union Information and Tourism Office, is all about surfing.  It was first conceptualized and launched in 2006 and, over the past decade, it has significantly altered the lives of locals in San Juan.  It aims to educate and expose surfing to the general public through proper teaching methods. From five surf instructors, before the first surfing break, the number spiked to 110 instructors as of latest count. Each instructor earns PHP400 per hour per client.  The event’s target markets are students from Metro Manila, Baguio City and other Northern Luzon provinces.

Street dancing competition

This year’s event, held from October 30 to November 1, expects at least 3,000 to 4,000 people a day celebrating and riding the famous waves of San Juan.  The three-day event’s festivities kicked off, in a festive atmosphere, on the morning of October 30 with a street dancing competition, followed on the same day by a surfboard design contest and surf clinics. Sandcastle building contest and a sundown fun run will form the schedule of October 31.

On November 1, organizers will prepare a trick or treat costume contest for both adults and kids, henna tattoo design contest, and face and body painting contest. The closing ceremony and much awaited beach party and fireworks display will be held in the evening, starting at 8 PM. The event will also feature photography contests, surf board design contest, fun  art exhibit, surfing competitions, beach volleyball tournaments, and zumba sessions. Admission to the La Union Surfing Break is free.

Resort Review: Sebay Surf Central Resort (San Juan, La Union)

Date of Stay: October 29-30, 2015

RATING (Scale of 1 to 10)

Location: *******

Rooms: *****

Condition and Cleanliness: ****

Staff Performance: *****

Room Comfort: *****

Food and Beverage: *******

Other Amenities: *******

Value for Money: ****

Sebay Surf Central Resort

The family-run Sebay Surf Central Resort, ideally located in the heart of the surfing capital of Urbiztondo, San Juan, is considered by many as one of the premier surf resorts in Northern Luzon. 

They have plenty of parking space and they accept major credit cards. It's right along the main highway so it is easy to find.  

The resort, owned by Atty. Rodolfo V. Yabes and Mrs. Godofreda Yabes (Sebay is Yabes in reverse), is one of three pioneer resorts in Urbiztondo Beach (the others are Monaliza Surf Resort and Hacienda Peter's Beach Resort).  It has 24 rooms within 3 buildings named after each of the couple's children - Rhoda (the oldest building), Regina and Raissa. 

Regina Building

Sala

Each year, surfers flock to enjoy the 6-7 months of surfing beginning in October and ending in April. Throughout the year, various tournaments and competitions are also held right in front of Sebay. 

The gray sand beach was clean and great, with lots of waves for surfers, but there are a few jellyfish present during certain times of the year, so do be careful. If you want to swim, do it in the morning or brave the afternoon sun. By 3-6 PM, you'll have a lot people learning to surf.

Barkada Room

Sebay Surf Central offers airconditioned, modern or native-style rooms for all types of groups, be it a couples room, a family room or a big group "barkada" room with double deck beds.  

Rooms have cable TV (reception though is poor), wi-fi connection (however, signal is better in the restaurant and lobby) and tiled private bath (their water supply is sometimes a problem plus there’s no hot water and shower curtains). Don't expect high-end looking rooms, but rooms are clean, comfortable and space is just enough. 

The native style Rhoda rooms are good for 2-3 people (Rooms 1-4 are recommended); the native style Regina (with a small sala) and Raissa rooms are good for big families. Room rates range from Php1,400 to Php2,800.  Additional person: PhP500/head.  Check out time is 12 noon (late check out: PhP200/hour) and check in time is 1 PM.  

Urbiztondo Beach

The resort has two food and beverage outlets.  

Mama’s Canteen, which caters to motorists and budget-conscious people, offers 24-hour fast food and cable TV.  It also has a convenient store for grocery items you need to buy. 

The beachside Fat’s Bar ‘n Grille

The seaside Fat’s Bar ‘n Grille offers a wide variety of sumptuous, delicious but affordable food. For breakfast, they offer a simple buffet of scrambled eggs, hot dog, hotcakes, French toast, fried rice, biko (rice cake), Vigan longanisa, etc.).  For lunch and dinner, they offer boodle fight meals consisting of grilled pork, fish and chicken, pinakbet, pansit and steamed rice. Every Friday and Saturday nights, they offer live acoustic band music, making it a nice spot to chill and kill time. However, it makes it difficult for anyone in the nearby cottages to sleep.

Sebay Surf Central has a surf school, owned by Mr. Arnel “Badz” Badang, that offers surfing lessons (Php400/hour - Php200 for the board + Php200 for the instructor) and surfboard/longboard rental (Php200/hour, Php500/half day, Php800/whole day).  

The Game Room, where you can play billiards (free for guests), darts and chess, also rents out volleyball paraphernalia (Php100/hour) and badminton sets. The resort also offers 2-seater kayak rental (Php400/hour); 1-seater kayak rental (Php300/hour); Frisbee rental (Php100/hour); boogie board rental (Php100/hour) and skim board rental (Php100/hour).

The author (left) with media group at Fat's Bar 'n Grille

Sebay Surf Central Resort: Manila North Road, Urbiztondo, San Juan, 2514 La Union. Telefax: (072) 888-4075.  Mobile numbers: (0910) 739-5698 (Smart) and (0917) 640-1118. Email: sebayresort@yahoo.com  and reservations@sebaysurfcentral.com. Website: www.sebaysurfcentral.com.

Highlights of Lakbay Norte 2, First Leg

Our special, full body sticker-wrapped Victory Liner bus

The 5-day, North Philippines Visitors Bureau (NPVB)/Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC)-sponsor Lakbay Norte 2, First Leg, was launched at the Victory Liner Terminal along EDSA (near Kamias St.), Quezon City last January 23, 2011, Sunday. Our special Victory Liner bus, its body sticker-wrapped with the tour's sponsors, left the terminal around 2 AM.  The tour covered the 7 Northern Luzon provinces of La Union (Rosario and Pugo), Benguet (Baguio City and Tuba), Pangasinan (Pozorrubio and Manaoag), Zambales (Subic Freeport Zone), Tarlac (Capas and Tarlac City), Pampanga (Angeles City, Clark Freeport Zone, Bacolor, Guagua, City of San Fernando and Mexico) and Bulacan (Sta. Miguel de Mayumo).

Joining from the print media were Ms. Jacky Lynne Oiga of Manila Bulletin; Dandi Galvez of Philippine Star; Mr. Ivan ManDy of Tulay Weekly; Mr. Gabriel "Gabby" Malvar of Travelife Magazine; Mr. Art Villasanta of Philippine Daily Inquirer; Mr. Raydon Reyes of ExpatTravel and Lifestyle Magazine; Mr. Ramir Cambiado of Travel Plus Magazine and Monica Macalinao and Brian Joseph Casenas of Northbound Magazine.  Travel bloggers include Ms. Esperanza "Nina" Fuentes (www.justwandering.org), Mr. Ivan Henares (www.ivanhenares.com), Mr. Ferdinand "Ferdz" Decena (www.ironwulf.net) and Mr. Karlo de Leon (www.karlodl.com).  

Joining us from Yahoo! Philippines was Isadora "Izah" Morales while doing a segment for Travel Time (hosted by Ms. Cory Quirino) are the Studio 23 team of Ms. Hannah Barrios, Mr. Leo Lava Cruz, Mr. Joshua "Red" Nietes and Mr. Viktor Julius "Bads" Licos.  Our trip was documented by professional photographer Mr. Franklin "Frank" Dizon and videographer Mr. Jayson "John Lloy" Casilang.

Mt. Pinatubo

Joining us was MNTC Senior Marketing Manager Ms. Grace Ayento while Ms. Melissa Grace Dizon (Executive Director), Ms. Jesame Nabong (CVB Operations and Event Manager), Michelle Liza "Mishy" Co (Marketing Manager) and Ms. Rica Paz represented  NPVB.  MNTC Marketing Vice-President Mr. Renie Ticzon visited us at Mexico, Pampanga while NPVB Executive Director Vince W. Araneta saw us off at the Victory Liner Terminal in Quezon City.  Rica has since migrated to the U.S. and now works at Park Hyatt Aviara Resort in Carlsbad.

Highlights of our tour include sipping kape alamid, the most expensive coffee in the world (sourced from civet cat poop) at S.O.U.L. Cafe in Rosario (La Union); having our portrait sketched, meeting Cordillera artists, sipping tapuy (rice wine), bugnay (blackberry wine) and native Arabica coffee and dining on pinikpikan at Tam-awan Village and savoring Mediterranean charm at Hotel Elizabeth in Baguio City; meeting National Artist BenCab and exploring his museum at Tuba (Benguet); flying like Superman, driving an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and wall climbing at Pugad Pugo Adventure Park in Pugo (La Union); observing the making of the Ilocano delicacy patupat in Pozorrubio (Pangasinan); lighting candles at the new Candle Gallery at the Manaoag Shrine in Manaoag (Pangasinan); riding 4x4 all-terrain vehicles and trekking Mt. Pinatubo in Zambales; having our tired bodies pampered at P.D.C. Spa Town in Sta. Juliana (Tarlac); dining on Kapamapangan cuisine and viewing Kapampangan lifestyle and culture at Museo Ning Angeles in Angeles City (Pampanga); dining on Korean and Italian cuisine; jetskiing, banana boating and sea kayaking and R&R at Lighthouse Marina Resort at  Subic Freeport Zone (Zambales); pilgrimage to notable Kapampangan churches in Bacolor and Guagua; attending a cooking demo (and sampling her cooking) by culinary expert and historian Lilian M.L. "Atching" Borromeo in Mexico (Pampanga); bus tour of San Miguel de Mayumo's ancestral houses and retracing the footsteps of Philippine revolutionists at Biak-na-Bato National Park in Bulacan.

These 5 days have been great.  I gain a better appreciation of the beauty, culture, arts, cuisine, architecture and excitement of the North and I've scratch a number of items in my Bucket List (kape alamid, Mt. Pinatubo, jetskiing, spa treatment and ATV ride).  I've also learned how to sleep in buses and developed a fondness for oatmeal bars and Cloud 9 chocolate bars.  I also found out that Jesame (rhymes with besame, Spanish for "kiss me") is short for "Jesus Save Me," that I'm not the oldest in the group (Art Villasanta is four years older than me), photographer Frank Dizon is also a registered architect like me, Mishy Co isn't Japanese (I thought she was Michiko), Grace has a very private Facebook account and that Dandi Galvez doesn't believe in Facebook, Tweeter or any other social networking site (kawawa).   I also saw the power of the internet especially with regards travel blogs, so much so that I've created one of my own (F.Y.I: Fire Your Imagination).  Finally, I've gain a new set of friends which I don't want to shed and a few extra pounds which I'm still trying to shed up to now.  Congratulations to MNTC and NPVB for organizing a successful first leg of Lakbay Norte 2! More power to you all! 

North Philippines Visitors Bureau (NPVB): 291 St. Joseph St., Oranbo Drive, Pasig City, Metro Manila. Tel: (632) 637-6798. Fax: (632) 631-1674.  E-mail: northphilvisitorsbureau@yahoo.com. Website: www.northphilippines.org.

Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC): NLEX Compound, Balintawak, Caloocan City, Metro Manila.  Tel: (632) 479-3000.  E-mail: corpcomm@mntc.com. Website: www.mntc.com.

Restaurant Review: S.O.U.L. Cafe (Rosario, La Union)

S.O.U.L. Cafe

Kape Alamid

S.O.U.L (Soul for Spice of Urban Life) Café, in Rosario, La Union, offers kafe alamid which comes from civets (you guessed it, locally called alamid or musang) who eat the coffee beans for their fleshy fruit pulp. 

Proteolytic enzymes in the civet’s stomach seep into the beans, making shorter peptides and more free amino acids and, when defecated, the beans keep their shape. 

After gathering, they are thoroughly washed, sun dried and lightly roasted. It is called motit coffee in the Cordilleras.

Offered in expresso shots (PhP350) and sourced all the way from Cavite, this goes well with a hearty Filipino breakfast combo consisting of Alaminos logganisa, boneless daing na bangus, garlic fried rice, hot chocolate, tortang talong made with creamy egg pesto and olive oil. 

Breakfast of Alaminos longanisa, garlic fried rice and tortang talong

This brewed concoction truly lived up to its name as one of the most expensive coffee in the world as it proved to be more aromatic and less bitter than the other coffee treats.

The cafe's chic interior

S.O.U.L. Cafe: Camp One, Rosario, La Union.  Tel: (072) 712-0852.  Fax: (072) 712-1190.