Cavite: Ultimate Tagaytay Culinary Tour on February 28! Book now!

Up, up to the highlands! Let's us savor a smorgasbord as we explore the best international kitchens in the coolest city south of Manila! From the best buko pie to the tastiest banh da lon, let us cruise along this city by the ridge, taking in her scenic views, mountain weather and best of all, indulging in her undiscovered culinary delights!

More than the food, let us meet the people behind some of Tagaytay's most delicious dining establishments as we share the stories and behind the recipes. This is indeed a tour to nourish your stomach and spirit!

The tour experience includes a visit to the Ilog Maria Honey Bee Farm, a Vietnamese lunch at Bawai Vietnamese Kitchen, desserts at Chateau Hestia European Garden Restaurant, Yoki's Treasures and the Hydrophonic Farm, and early dinner at Antonio's Dining. Tour fee is P3,800 per person inclusive of meals, transportation, and surprises. We're accepting a maximum of 20 people only. This is brought to you by Ultimate Philippines Tours. E-mail us at info@ivanhenares.com for information and bookings.



Hot Air Balloon Fiesta tour on Valentine's Day! Book now!
Slots on our Valentine's Day tour at the 14th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta are going, going gone! We have five slots left out of thirty! So book now! As part of the tour, you'll have a sumptuous breakfast at C' Italian Dining, a hearty Kapampangan lunch at Abe's Farm and optional spa treatments at Nurture Spa. Click here for more information.

Longaniza Taal

This Batangas longaniza is from a roadside stall along the National Highway in Taal, Batangas. The meat is flavored with adobo marinade and garlic. The meat is not finely-ground and contains chunks of fat. It is slightly salty and would fall into the deredaco garlicky (or mabawang) category. This is commonly sold with tapa in stalls in Taal.

Main article: Longanizas of the Philippines

Longganisa Laoag (San Nicolas)

This Laoag longganisa is from the San Nicolas Public Market. The version is San Nicolas are said to be juicier (and more lethal) than the ones in Laoag itself since they contain more fat. These longganisas are finely-ground, on the salty side and fall in the derecado garlicky (or mabawang) category. Unlike the Vigan longganisa, Laoag has minimal vinegar or contains none at all.

Main article: Longanizas of the Philippines

Longaniza or longganisa of the Philippines

Longaniza or longganisa are chorizos flavored with local spices. Each region in the Philippines produces its own longaniza, each with distinct characteristics. Some towns and cities produce popular varieties.

Few people realize that longanizas are not only found in the Philippines. One can encounter them in Spain where they are originally from and other areas with Spanish influences such as Mexico and the rest of Latin America. Classic Spanish sausages include chorizos, longanizas, sobrasadas, morcillas, butiffaras, salchichas and salchichones.

I've always wondered why native sausages made all over the Philippines are all called longaniza or longganisa when in most countries, sausages are given various names depending on the place of origin, ingredients and varieties. While longaniza is the name for native sausages in the Philippines, in some parts of the Visayas and Mindanao, choriso, soriso or tsoriso are more common terms. So I'm starting this series in the hopes of documenting the different varieties of longaniza.

Most longganisas in the Philippines fall under two categories: hamonado (sweet or matamis) and derecado (garlicky or mabawang, sour and/or salty). Do check this entry regularly since I will be updating it and placing the hyperlinks as I upload new posts.

• Aklan > Kalibo
  
• Albay > Guinobatan
• Baguio > Derecado
  
• Baguio > Hamonado
• Batangas > Taal
• Bulacan > Calumpit
• Cagayan > Tuguegarao
  
• Cebu > Carcar
• Cebu > Carmen
• Generic > Derecado
• Generic > Hamonado
  
• Ilocos Norte > Laoag > Baguio Market
• Ilocos Norte > Laoag > Batac
  
• Ilocos Norte > Laoag > San Nicolas
• Ilocos Sur > Vigan > Derecado
• Ilocos Sur > Vigan > Derecado > Baguio Market
  
• Ilocos Sur > Vigan > Hamonado
  
• Ilocos Sur > Vigan > Hamonado > Baguio Market
  
• Isabela
  
• Leyte > Bato
• Nueva Ecija > Cabanatuan
• Nueva Ecija > Gapan
  
• Quezon > Lucban
• Pampanga > Guagua
  
• Pampanga > San Fernando
  
• Pampanga > San Fernando > Everybody's Cafe
• Pampanga > San Fernando > Pampanga's Best
  
• Pangasinan > Alaminos

Philippine holidays and long-weekend schedule for 2009

Here is the schedule of Philippine holidays and long-weekends for 2009 based on RA 9492 and Proclamation 1699, as well as a recent executive order declaring the two-day Eid al-Adha as national holidays.

• January 1 (Thu) - New Year's Day
• January 2 (Fri) - Non-Working Holiday (four-day weekend from January 1 to 4)
• April 6 (Mon) - Moved Holiday for Araw ng Kagitingan (three-day weekend from April 4 to 6)
• April 9 (Thu) - Holy Thursday / Araw ng Kagitingan
  
• April 10 (Fri) - Good Friday (four-day weekend from April 9 to 12)
• May 1 (Fri) - Labor Day (three-day weekend from May 1 to 3)
• June 12 (Fri) - Independence Day (three-day weekend from June 12 to 14)
• August 21 (Fri) - Ninoy Aquino Day (three-day weekend from August 21 to 23)
• August 31 (Mon) - National Heroes Day (three-day weekend from August 29 to 31)
• September 21 (Mon) - Eid'l Fitr (three-day weekend from September 19 to 21)
• November 1 (Sun) - All Saints Day
• November 2 (Mon) - Non-Working Holiday (three-day weekend from October 31 to November 2)
• November 27 & 28 (Fri & Sat) - Eid al-Adha
  
• November 30 (Mon) - Bonifacio Day (four-day weekend from November 27 to 30)
• December 24 (Thu) - Non-Working Holiday
• December 25 (Fri) - Christmas (four-day weekend from December 24 to 27)
• December 30 (Wed) - Rizal Day
• December 31 (Thu) - Non-Working Holiday
• January 1 - (Fri) New Year's Day (five-day weekend from December 30 to January 3)

Check out Philippine holidays and long-weekend schedule for 2010.