When in Quezon to visit family or anything else, do look around and enjoy what it has to offer. Don't treat it as just a stopover to Bicol and elsewhere.
(I admit I wasn't a big fan of my home province before because it wasn't modern enough for my ignorant, city-bred ways or "provincial" enough like those bucolic peasant farm paintings... but thankfully, my eyes have been opened to its beauty.)
In Lucena City, Tayabas and Sariaya, check out the old houses that are still around. It's funny that we look for ancestral houses in Vigan and Bacolod, when so many of them are still in Quezon, if you just look around. Most of the well-preserved ones are in Sariaya and some of them are even open to the public! Kudos to the families who own these houses for not tearing down these heritage homes.
 |
| An old house still in use in Lucena. Have got to give it respect for surviving wars and fires and modern city life! |
 |
| Fine detail of a house undergoing renovation called Casa Comunidad de Tayabas. |
 |
| Villa Sariaya, an old mansion that has found new life as a tourist spot that lets visitors wear period clothes and even partake of 5 course meals! |
Taste the unique cuisine it has to offer. While Buddy's has franchises in Manila, true-blue Quezon folk know the best chami is served at the Plaza, Antigua and Granha.
 |
| This was from Plaza and the servings were humungous! |
For best value for money and a truly distinct experience, try lunch at the Palaisdaan, where you can dine in huts built over a fishpond.
 |
| My lola has been to America, Canada and parts of Europe and she is proud to say that they don't have anything like this over there. Plus, I bet you can't feed 7 hungry adults for under P2,000 ($50) there,too! |
 |
| The function room has chandeliers with designs inspired by Lucban's pahiyas |
 |
| Buchi and pilipit (sweets made from squash) while you wait for your lunch to be cooked. |
 |
| Ginataang suso. So savory! |
 |
| The freshest roasted tilapia caught right from the fishpond |
And before you go, take home some of their famous pasalubong: longganisang Lucban, broas, lambanog and tamales which are still made in the traditional way.
 |
| Longganisang Lucban. P75 per dozen |
I love how all along the road, small businesses sell their own Quezon products and wrap them in paper just like in the olden days, which turn out to be very progressive now.
 |
| Tamales at P10 each sold in a small unassuming house by the road. They were quite good and steaming hot! |
4 comments:
Feels great to see a post concerning the beauty of my province; I really appreciate the old houses/structures that Quezon has to offer. If only the tourism officer of Quezon would do some projects regarding these structures we can have the heritage village of the south.
Nice post BTW. :)
-G
http://gazeunderthestars.blogspot.com/
thanks for visiting! i agree that quezon's ancestral houses could give vigan a run for their money. we have a lot to offer! hmmm, maybe we can send an email to quezon's tourism office
may ilan pang ancestral houses na natitira sa bayan namin sa Quezon. kakatuwa naman. dumaan kami sa palaisdaan nung umuwi ako ng sandali last march. umorder ako ng tilapia,suso at marami pang iba. favorite ng nanay ko ung pansit habhab. may nagtitinda rin ng pilipit noon.
i bought uraro and other cookies on our way back to manila
thanks albert for this entry.
Lyneth
Thanks for commenting Lyneth! I hope tourism in Quezon increases while still preserving its charm!
Post a Comment