Do Yourself A Favor, Visit the GK Enchanted Farm

I have a secret to tell. I love the countryside more than the city. And my recent visit to GK Enchanted Farm sealed the deal.

What I thought as just a welcoming break from the hustle and bustle of the city life became an eventful day. I have gotten more than what I bargained for. I got to see for myself the things they have been doing on the farm and I never thought that I would be able to be part of those noble things even just for a day.

As an activist at one point of my student life at the UP-Diliman and now as a professional working in the country’s legislative arm, Mr. Tony Meloto’s pro-Philippines, pro-environment and pro-poor ideals are nothing new to me. What wow-ed me is to see for myself how these ideals are actually being put into practice through a farm that serves as a platform for farm village university, social entrepreneurship and social tourism which end goal is to build sustainable community to end poverty. Whew!

I admit that it has been hard for me to come up with this post. I was scared that I will not be able to give justice to even a quarter of what they have been doing on the farm. But something larger than life ought to be shared.

What I love about the farm is how they encourage farmers and their families to become entrepreneurs wherein they get to directly sell their produce, giving them a fair share of the market. This, later on, will help them create wealth in the countryside. 

The farm inspires families who live there to start their own enterprises that will not only unleash their skills but will also help them make the best out of the resources available in the country (such as the vast agricultural lands) waiting to be tapped.

I was lucky to be able to witness some of the social enterprises in the farm by the Filipinos for the Filipinos, but a bunch of help from foreigner friends is pouring in. Those "friends" know the value of sustainable development in eradicating poverty. That is why most of the enterprises in the farm are being backed by foreigners not only to volunteer, donate, brainstorm, and strategize for the enterprises, but also to bring out the best potentials of the community.


Stuffed Toy (Plush & Play)
 

Meet Anne Kamatis,the tomato (Anne Curtis), Buko Martin, the coconut (Coco Martin), Mais Ganda, the corn (Vice Ganda) and Jessica Saging, the banana (Jessica Sanchez)! These are just some of the Plush and Play stuffed toys created by Fabien and being sewn by some of the ladies in the farm. Given the needed exposure, I have a feeling that at least here in the Philippines, these toys will give Hello Kitty a run for its money in the near future. 

 
Duck eggs (Golden Duck)

Ducks are highly resilient animals. It makes them healthier and cleaner alternatives to chickens. In the farm, they try to use natural way and natural ingredients and some technology to grow their ducks and duck eggs. Sure it is a bit complicated to maintain ducks and their poultry compared to chickens and their poultry but when you are served a more nutritious, not to mention tastier alternative duck dish, it will be all worth it. No pain, no gain, remember? I strongly believe that the duck industry can change the course of the game of the poultry industry in the Philippines. And I hope so, too, that it will happen as soon as possible.


They use turmeric to paint the duck eggs gold.


Pork (Hamon)

We were also sampled of the delicious pork dumplings in the farm. Hamon is one of the newest enterprises in the farm, but I think it has the best business potential because Filipinos are basically pork lovers. Although pork is notorious for being unhealthy, Hamon is trying to erase this notion for they are starting to grow pigs in the farm in an organic way. There was also an on-going crowd-funding campaign called Bet on Hamlet at that time when we visited. It was aimed to raise funds for stalls that will be needed to build the Hamlet enterprise and make it available to a larger city audience.


Pork dumplings, anyone?

Cheese (Gourmet Keso)

Cheese lovers, unite! There is an easy but fun way to make kesong puti. The preparation is easy peasy but the taste is extraordinary. What’s the secret? Well, you are in luck! Gourmet Keso is having a free food tasting at GK Enchanted Farm Café. Go!

The two French interns helping out Ate Maricel of Gourmet Keso.

Taste test of their Gourmet Keso variants. Yum yum.

Food

I dig natural, organic and healthy food. The opportunity to have a taste of the food in the farm got me so excited that I was not able to take pictures of what we ate. But we had a hearty lunch and dinner, mind you. One of the best food trips that I have had so far. I swear I will be going back to the farm just for the food experience alone. But I am lucky that we live in Quezon City and a trip to GK Enchanted Farm Café on Commonwealth Avenue is just at least a 5-minute ride away.


The Bamboo Palace

Care for a serene moment with a breathtaking view? The Bamboo Palace will not fail you. Several functions were already held here. I was not surprised. The palace has its own beauty. The design is unconventional. The fact that it was made out of bamboo added to its charm.


Not your ordinary chair at the Palace.

Pasalubong Shop

What is not to love about shopping? Oh, there is one: the guilt feeling that comes after. After the demos, I went to the shop to refill my stash of Human Nature products at home. My personal favorites are their hand sanitizer, mosquito repellent, feminine wash, and kids’ shampoo. I did not mind spending. Because I know that every centavo that I get to spend in the farm will go back to the community that farms the land, prepares the food and maintains the sustainable practices of the farm. It was a guilt-free spending, indeed.

Infinity Pool

Who would have thought that there is a pool in the farm? And it is not just a pool, it is an infinity pool.   My little family had a blast at the pool. We had a refreshing swim to cap our day off in the farm. And the spectacular view around us was a bonus.


The infinity pool with a spectacular view!

My little one is happy to try the pool. Backdrop is one of their rooms for accommodation.

I consider myself lucky to have these things experienced for a day. It was as if I have been part of 'positive' activism. What they have in the farm are not just mere ideals. They provide solutions and put them into practice. It has become a way of life. It has become a movement and a revolution to see to it that poverty is at bay in the Philippines.
 

Whether you are an entrepreneur, a traveler, a tourist, a parent, a teacher, a student, a kid, a Filipino, or a foreigner, there really is something for you to do in the farm.

Be a part of that GK EF’s vision to build a Farm Village University, to make the farm a Silicon Valley for social entrepreneurship, and a ‘Disneyland’ for social tourism.

Book your trip, tour or immersion for a day or two now and experience the farm life!


For more information:

GK Enchanted Farm

California St., Pandi Angat Road,

Angat, 
Bulacan, Philippines

Website: http://gk1world.com/gk-enchanted-farm


You can also follow them on Facebook (GK Enchanted Farm), Twitter (gkefarm) and Instagram (gkenchantedfarm).

 

Vigan on My Mind

A visit to Vigan will always be a part of my Ilocos trip. There are always tiny corners to explore and so many things to do in this heritage city. Dubbed as Unesco’s World Heritage City, Vigan “represents a fusion of Asian building design and construction with European colonial architecture and planning” (World Heritage Center, UNESCO). 


Calle Crisologo is the touristiest spot in Vigan. People flock there to take touristy photos and shop for souvenirs. While at it, take advantage of the opportunity to have your shots taken. You can also shop ‘til drop with goods made in Ilocos such as blankets, pillow cases, rags, etc.


Vigan is famous for longganisa, bagnet, empanada among many others so do not miss an Ilocano gastronomic experience on the street or in restaurants. The heat in Ilocos like in Manila is too hot to handle during April-May that you might be screaming for ice cream. And Vigan will not fail you. Dirty ice cream peddlers are sprawling like mushrooms everywhere.   


If you are touring with kids, a visit to Baluarte Zoo is highly recommended. The zoo was founded by Gov. Chavit Singson. It showcases tigers, lions, birds, and ponies, crocodiles and horses among others. Let your kids experience the free pony ride, it is enjoyable. The zoo is open for all and is free of charge but it closes at 5 PM so better go there early.


So you are already going home and still cannot think of a good pasalubong? Fret not. The famous Marsha’s Delicacies is at the nearby town Bantay. Try to grab delicacies at Marsha’s, you can never go wrong with food.


Some things you might want to squeeze in on your next Vigan trip:


Book at Hotel Luna.

Dine at Café Leona.

Go to the Hidden Garden and eat halo-halo.

Ride the calesa.

Pottery making!

Visit Padre Jose Burgos Museum.

Visit Quirino’s Syquia mansion.

Visit Bell Tower in the nearby town of Bantay. Take a look of the White and Red Cathedrals.


Oh, Vigan, you never run out of beauty!

Backpacking Burot Beach

I learned about Burot beach from travel blogs while browsing the net to plan for a quick beach trip for our family. Since Batangas was the best bet at that time, I tried to get away from the usual beach destinations in the area.  I opted for a more secluded place and a less crowded option so I chose the road less traveled, thus, the Burot beach.

Although the blogs made it clear that visiting Burot beach is a backpacking experience, I still pushed through since I thought the place would be worth it. But surprise, surprise!

We survived backpacking for uhmmm 3 hours. But everything happened in a flash. After we got in at our destination, we pitched in our tent immediately, cooked our lunch quickly, dipped in the water a bit, changed our clothes as fast as we can and left the place in a jiffy.

Personally, the place did not make up for the hours of travel (4-5 hours), transportation expense (2,000 gas & toll), food (2,000 lunch and dinner), and entrance fee (390; 65 x 6 per head excluding the driver and 2 kids).  Unless, you opt for an overnight stay, you will not enjoy the place. Stay overnight and stargaze. It is romantic that way.

Burot beach in Calatagan, Batangas is owned by SM Group of Companies. It is a private beach but it is open to public for a fee. It is not yet developed so if you plan to go there expect an ultimate backpacking moment.

The road going to the beach from the highway of Calatagan is a bit rough and dusty. Bring a car or better yet a Service Utility Vehicle (SUV). There are no cottages available around so bring your own tent. The bathrooms and toilets are all filthy. The view of the blue green sea is good, though. The water is calm.

A trip to Burot beach is recommended for hardcore backpackers, but if you are not, it would be better to stick to more popular beach resorts in the area.

The experience hit me hard and made me realize that backpacking is really not my thing. Which is good. Hah.

The beach

The clear waters

Rocks

Happy kid under the sun

Tents for set up

     

6 "Must Visits" in Siem Reap

The best way to get out and about in Siem Reap is through tuktuks. Although that statement is arguable as Siem Reap is also enjoyable with two wheels (bikes) or even with just two feet (seriously!). To sum up my short but sweet trip to Angkor's home, which by the way is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, here are my 6 must-see places in Siem Reap, in no particular order.



Angkor Wat complex. Standing in front of this 12^th century architecture will send shivers down your spine in a good way despite of the torturing Cambodian sun. It will be hard to believe that this pleasant place was once a heartless home to many slaves some thousands of years ago. The Mahabharata and Ramayana discussion in your Asian history/lit class will suddenly make sense once you see the intricate carvings on the complex’s walls. It is absolutely amazing! 

This is believed to be library ruins

Ta Phrom. The picturesque one. No wonder why this became the setting of the famous Lara Croft movie.  It is so enchanting! The humongous trees as if have minds of their own. After touring here, you will get to realize that there are things bigger than us and one of these is NATURE, literally and figuratively.

Man vs. Nature at Ta Phrom

  

  The South Gate of Angkor Thom.  Even the way to the gate has already many interesting stories to tell and the various faces of Buddhas say it all. The gate is just the tip of the iceberg for it serves a portal to many temples awaiting to be explored: Bayon Temple, Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King among many others.

South Gate being restored by UNESCO

     

At the South Gate

Pub Street. Shop, eat and be merry at Pub Street. This is the best place to experience Khmer culture through cuisine. With US$ 10, you get to enjoy a sumptuous not to mention ample meals for two already. Don’t miss the Amok, curries, Vietnamese spring rolls, and pizza, etc. 

  Try the street food, too. There are also lots of dainty and quaint shops around the area. Eye candies everywhere. You just have to roam around. Don’t forget to pass by the Old Market for cheap finds. Khmer sales people are nice people so you can haggle to your heart’s desire.  

  After all in a day’s walk at the temples, you can also go to Pub Street for refreshments. Buy drinks at convenient stores where snacks are way cheaper or better yet, grab a chance to get your feet pampered with many fish spas around.

Bikes for rent in one of the restaurants on Pub Street

  

Souvenirs for sale at the Old Market

Street food on Pub Street

    

The Killing Fields. Siem Reap is rich in history and speaking of history, the Killing Fields has much nostalgic memories to offer. The sight of the skulls mass-killed during the time of Pol Pot (1975-1979) will sure leave a melancholic impression on you like what it did to me. 

Artisans Angkor. Siem Reap people are the artsy type. They are serious with their craft. Artisans Angkor is a cozy gallery slash shop that showcases Siem Reap people’s craftsmanship. Have your free tour around the area. At the end of the tour, you will be directed to the souvenir store where you can shop ‘til you drop with itty bitty items. I hope by this time you still have some dollars to spare because in my case, I used the handy dandy VISA already.

*Tonle Sap is also a must-see in Siem Reap but because I was pressed with time when I visited, I was not able to explore the area. But then again, there’s always a next time, right?