Jess Learn Something!: More Cool Pasalubong from the Philippines

Oh, it's the first post of the new year. I hope that you new year is treating you well so far.  I've been busy being a Jessicle, but there are more posts in the queue as usual. Today it'll be more 'show and tell,' and the next post will probably be a recipe or another tale.

This blog doesn't have a set schedule, but I think that I would like to try and post at least 2 times a week.

I'm thinking of making the 'essay,' type posts shorter; so that I can post more, but who knows. I'm going to experiment and we'll see what I end up making.

So, here are some more photos of cool Pasalubong from the Philippines.

This is a bag from the 'Cream of the Scrap,' line from the store Artwork. A really cool chain of stores that is based out of the Philippines and features local artists/contributors. This bag is made out of the scraps and fabric samples that are leftover; so each one is unique. 

This is the other side of the 'Cream of the scrap,' bag. I like the crazy strawberry suit man.

I don't usually wear hats, but I really liked these type of hats. The designs were really cool as well. My favorite is the one with faces.

The hats are reversible. This is what the design is on the interior.

Canvas/Jute bags, this one features the Salakot.

Kiss kiss!

I love the graphic print and text of this one.

2 types of batik bags

Another view of the batik bags

These are fairly common and I think these two are from the Baguio region.

Cebu's Tay Seng Bakery's special hopia.

Did you see the price of this wonderful snack?

Tay Seng, Sesame cake- Ingredients: Sesame, Flour, Sugar, Glucose, Mongo (mung bean) and vegetable oil.

I was so happy to find this unique treat that is a Cebu specialty. It's also one of the few types of Hopia that I could actually eat. 

Artisan Chocolate Bars from Manila based Theo Philo- Dark Chocolate with Calamansi, Dark Chocolate with Green Mango and Sea Salt and Dark Chocolate with Siling Labuyo (Labuyo Chile). 

While I was in Manila I saw a piece about Ralfe Gourmet and their Tablea/chocolate empire based out of Cebu; so I had to pick up some of their Tablea. This one is the quick cooking version. the tablets are like thin wafers of chocolate.

This is chocolate tablea from Argao, Cebu by the Tablea chain. They have a wide selection of chocolate from all the different regions of the Philippines. 

Chocolate Tablea from Argao, Cebu.

I will have to put a review of the different types of chocolate and I'm sure that'll be soon enough; since I'm a Jessicle right now and could stand to drink a few cups of good and true Philippine Cacao.

All of these things hold different memories of my visit and of course help me to keep my well wishing thoughts for the Philippines and all of my family and friends over there. Recover, rebuild and thrive! I love you all <3


I will possibly come back and elaborate on a few of the items, but for now; I'm going to make some tea and try to thaw myself out!


Love and good health to you all,

Jessica

Jess learn something! : Cool Pasalubong from the Philippines

Happy New Year to those of you who've already crossed over into 2014 and Happy coming New Year to those of you, who still have a few hours to go, like me.

So, in case you don't know what Pasalubong is; here is a link to the wiki article on pasalubong, but generally they are gifts that you bring/give to people who haven't seen in a while or like souvenirs when you come back from your trip, usually for other people, but you can get them for yourself as well.

So, I said I'd try to get at least 2 entries posted before the end of the year; so here is a little show and tell of some things that I got from the Philippines from the last 2 trips. This is not everything, just a smattering, but it's something interesting to share for those of you curious as to what 'cool' souvenirs from the Philippines, can be ;)

There may be future plans to expand on this, but for now, please enjoy this mini show and tell of Pasalubong from the Philippines.

Carved wood items: tiny spoons and caribao (Philippine water buffalo) sitting atop a native fabric purse. I bought these in Intramuros and all of the money goes to a craft cooperative/collective.

Various wooden bracelets, some made from coconut shells. My favorites is the one on the far left of the photo. I got these in Subic, from a vendor on the beach.

Little souvenirs from Bohol. I bought these after visiting the real Tarsiers of Bohol. 

Serving ladles/spoons made from coconut shell and tiny trinkets made of various layered wood. The shell necklaces were given to me free as a welcoming gift at their studio in Cebu.

The 2 beaded bracelets in the back were purchased from the Kultura collection in Cebu and the one in the front was bought at the Cebu airport.

Tablea! Chocolate tablets made from Filipino cacao beans. This roll of tablea was purchased in Tagaytay.

The jar of chocolate was purchased at the Sabel Cafe at the Ben Cab museum in Baguio.

Close up of the 2 kinds of chocolate. You use them to brew an indulgent hot chocolate or can use them to make  Champorado or any other baked good requiring chocolate.

I  bought this jar of  Peter Pinder's Dalandan (a type of Philippine citrus fruit, close to an orange) at the Sabel Cafe at the Ben Cab museum in Baguio.

Peter Pinder is originally from Scotland, but moved to Baguio and started making marmalade with native fruits.

Both of these I bought from the Bagasakan in Villasis, Pangasinan

This is a little cake of  coconut sugar. My Dad tells me that they just eat these like a candy. It has a sweet, but complex taste to it. It may be compared with a cross between a light maple candy and a molassesy brown sugar. It's good. There is a name for this, but I don't want to type it here because it sound too similar to something else ;)

This is one of many different kinds of Bocayo. It's a coconut candy/cluster. This version they scrape the coconut into strings and then cook it down with coconut milk and coconut sugar until it's all caramelized together. This version had sesame seeds on top. This is my favorite kind of Bocayo.

Also purchased from the Bagsakan (fresh fruit and vegetable market) in Villasis, Pangasinan, these are banana chips. They are cut lengthwise and lightly coated with sugar. 

They are very crisp and crunchy. Not too sweet, either. Wonderful for a little merienda or on a road trip.

There is so much to share with you all! I hope that you've enjoyed this installment and I will look forward to posting more about pasalubong in the coming new year.

Wishing you all good health, love and happiness!

Love,
Jessica <3 <3 <3