Places::Bangued, Abra

        On our 2nd week, we brought the kids to visit my dad in Bangued, Abra.  They also met Tita Paz, my grandma Lola Trining, my brother Mark and his pretty girlfriend, Alyssa.  We were running late that day when left Laoag and even forgot to bring the few kilos of longganisa that Lee prepared early that day which we planned to bring along.  It was a good thing that Lee knew some people who deliver merchandise in Bangued and was able to meet them the following day.

        When we arrived in Bangued, it was already late for lunchtime but we were greeted with a smorgasbord of dishes most of which was requested by me.  There was goat kilawin, goat adobo, charbroiled native catfish, goat sinanglaw, bamboo shoots salad and ar-arusip (seaweed) salad.  My Lola Trining even remembered to get me some of the bibingka (glutinous rice cake) that I enjoyed as a kid when I used to spend my summer vacations there.  I was so engrossed in enjoying the dishes they prepared that I forgot to take pics.  So no pics here of any of the dishes I mentioned earlier :(

        On our 1st night there, my Lola Trining cooked 2 of her dishes that I loved as a kid.  She cooked pork afritada and white pork adobo (no soy sauce, just vinegar).  Dinah was keen to learn how my Lola prepares it for I always tell her whenever she cooks pork afritada in the U.S. that it wasn't quite the same as my Lola's.  My dad also let me sample his version of a famous asian soup which we call "Soup #5" (soup made with a cow's genital organs).

        The following day, my Lola requested that we take her to Chowking which was a famous Chinese fast food chain in the Philippines.  The branch was newly opened in Bangued and my Lola wanted to try it.  So, we had lunch at Chowking that day.

        This was my order.  Beef wonton mami, siomai and siopao.

        After lunch, they took us to Victoria Park which had a bird's eye view of the city of Bangued.

        Before we left Bangued, I was able to play some table tennis with my dad in his front yard.  He was still no match for me :)

        Thank you Tatay, Tita Paz, Lola and Mark for the wonderful experience of visiting you guys.  The kids really had fun even though they weren't able to chase any chickens in the rice fields or bathe in the Sinalang River.  The weather was cold and wet but you kept us warm with your hospitality.