Quezon City: US Angus Beef Tapa at Tapsilog Centrale Kamuning

Kamuning, Quezon City is a great place to find interesting small restaurants. There's one which serves US Angus Beef Tapa 24 hours a day! Try to find Tapsilog Centrale, a sidewalk restaurant at 11th Jamboree Street corner Kamuning Road. The US Angus Beef Tapa costs Php138 per serving with fried rice and egg. If you want to splurge, they have Wagyu Beef Tapa as well. For dessert, they have delicious cakes. Try The Dome, Belgian dark chocolate cake with Nutella mousse filling.

Tapsilog Centrale
11th Jamboree St. cor Kamuning Road, QC
Telephone No. (02) 2680621

Philippine Registry of Cultural Property (PRECUP) updated 01/28/2014

Two days ago, I updated the Philippine Registry of Cultural Property (PRECUP) with declarations of the National Museum in 2012 and 2013. Today, I got a copy of declarations of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) during the same period. The NHCP declared five sites in 2012 and four sites in 2013.

The following were declared National Historical Landmarks or Pambansang Palatandaang Makasaysayan: Manila Central Post Office Building and Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila (Res. No. 1, S. 2012); Fort Pikit in Pikit, Cotabato (Res. No. 7, S. 2012); Crash Site of Mt. Pinatubo (the plane carrying President Ramon Magsaysay) in Mt. Manunggal, Cebu (Res. No. 8, S. 2012); Manila Bay and Waterfront (from Del Pan Bridge to the CCP) in Manila (Res. No. 19, S. 2012); Capul Lighthouse in Capul, Northern Samar (Res. No. 12, S. 2013); Saint Joseph Parish Church Complex in Las Pinas City (Res. No. 8, S. 2013); and the Zapote Battlefield and Zapote Bridge in Las Pinas City (Res. No. 11, 2. 2013).

The Resting Place of the Remains of Melchora "Tandang Sora" Aquino in Banlat, Quezon City was declared a National Shrine (Res. No. 4, S. 2012) and the Rizal National Monument in Manila, was re-declared a National Monument (Res. No. 8, S. 2013).

Also check out the declarations of the National Museum in 2012 and 2013.

Ilocos Norte: Sarrat's Santa Monica Church, President Marcos Birthplace and heritage walk

The Santa Monica Church and Casa Parroquial in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte have got to be built in one of the most picturesque settings in the country. The church's claim to fame was that it was host to the grand wedding of Irene Marcos and Gregorio Araneta in 1983. Built in front of the wide and sandy Padsan River, the Sarrat Church is surrounded by numerous trees, creating a cool and breezy environment around the church complex.

Unfortunately, the beautiful facade and altar of Sarrat Church were destroyed in a strong earthquake that hit Ilocos Norte just two months after the wedding. They were never able to reconstruct the beautiful Baroque facade. But now that it's declared an Important Cultural Property, I hope government can restore its old facade.

The adjacent Casa Parroquial or Casa del Palacio Real was said to be built before the church and was later used as the Presidencia Municipal of Sarrat.

Beside the convent is the Sarrat Central School, where President Ferdinand E. Marcos finished his elementary education. The school was previously used as the Casa Real of Ilocos Norte when Sarrat was provincial capital during the Spanish colonial period.

The Edralin House, more popularly known as the Birthplace of President Marcos, can also be found in the town. The house was heavily renovated during the Marcos presidency and today hosts a small museum.

There are plans to create a heritage walk to connect the many heritage properties of the town. The banks of the Padsan River are also becoming popular with visitors as locals have set up nipa huts for picnicking and videoke.

Sarrat is just nine kilometers from neighboring Laoag City. And speaking of Laoag, there are several places in the city to find the best empanadas in Ilocos Norte. Guess where?