Bared... Cool treats for hot summer

Tagbilaran, Saturday, 6 March 2010

Wake-uppers:

• This summer can be the starting point of your life as the "SMILE" events coordinating team in cooperation with the President Carlos P. Garcia Foundation, Inc. will conduct a free half-day day seminar/workshop on "Correcting Common Errors in English" in Tagbilaran City this summer. Although the date has yet to be announced, you can call +63905-268-6045 or +63915-826-1438 for inquiries.
• March 7 is the 82nd Annual Academy Awards. Regardless of which performers, technicians and films ultimately walk away with the statues at the Oscars, there will be an unconventional, unexpected or unprecedented winner among the bunch. Observers predict that the 82nd Oscar Awards will set historical precedents. Bared is one of the journalists who are given the credential to cover and gain access to the Oscar set-up and red carpet. Thank you, thank you Oscars!
• Just finished watching a couple of hours ago on youtube the debut of the song "Somos el Mundo" (We Are the World). The Spanish version is penned by couple Emilio and Gloria Estefan. There were 60 Latinos who took part in the song with American Idol David Archuleta. Twenty-five years ago, Quincy Jones, Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson created a huge, musical collaboration to help famine victims in Africa. That effort was followed by the circuit of Spanish speaking artists who released the song, "Cantare, Cantaras," an effort that was put together by Julio Iglesias and others. Today, similar efforts have been set forth - for the cause of helping the disaster-stricken people of Haiti. The song "We Are the World" had been redone - with new artists - but set to the same tune. Let us sing together: Somos amor (we are love), somos el mundo (we are the world)…
• Sources close to these pastors have confirmed the "rift" between these two influential pastors in Bohol. The "rift" is getting hotter as the church members are also fighting each other. Other members are using Facebook to spread news and malice against church members. Stop! Many are asking: Where is the Lord your God?

And summer is in the air! And with the intense heat comes new, cool treats!

We need some relief from the scorching summer heat and humidity (you have to think El Niño is a real phenomenon which is now affecting some parts of the country!); if you don't count calories, ice cream is forever in demand. There is a large selection of brands, both local and foreign and homemade ice creams still satisfy our taste buds.

As a child, I remember one of my favorite things about summer was the sound of the ringing bells "Tingaling-aling! Tingaling-aling" of the ice cream cart just blocks away from my home. The old neighborhood kids were looking for the Mamang Sorbetero (actually our Filipino ice cream is called sorbetes, remember Mamang Sorbetero sang by Celeste Legaspi?) who was selling Simon ice cream!

Then, another favorite until now is Frozen Faith Ice Cream Stick Delight (of the Tan family) which is still available in Bohol. Kids are selling Faith ice cream for P5 only. It is the most unique ice cream because the wrapper has Biblical verse of John 3:16.

In 60s, favorite coolers in Bohol were Ice Drop by Morning Glory, Holiday Popsicle and Blim Popsicle.

As the years go by, I've discovered that Talibon town prides as the home of the best homemade ice cream in Bohol.

The invention of ice cream started in the 17th century. In his monograph, Chris Clarke's "The Science of Ice Cream" said that ice cream's history is linked to the development of refrigeration techniques. The idea of ice cream came about with the use of cooling to dissolve salts; the inclusion of cream in ice water during the mid-17th century; the invention of ice cream maker in the mid-19th century and later the mechanical refrigeration in early 20th century - as noted in Caroline Liddell and Robin Weir, Ices: The Definitive Guide published in 1993.

Jacob Fussell, the father of the American ice cream industry began commercializing ice cream production in Baltimore, Maryland in 1851. Since that day, ice cream has become a favorite dessert that can take away the gloom in one's face.

Our ice cream has evolved from a manually manufactured household product to a very automated industrial product.

Have you heard about DuRoyal? In 2009, the makers of DuRoyal, the number one ice cream brand in Taiwan decided to choose Bohol for their campaign shoot. The pristine white beaches, crystal-clear waters, and historical landmarks captivated the makers of DuRoyal.

There are other ice cream flavors you can try this summer (and other summer coolers), but remember, you can stop counting calories before the ice cream melts.

Anyway, as the heats up, it's a great time to treat yourself to something deliciously cool at the following:

• Bohol Bee Farm/The Buzz Café (Dao, Dauis, Bohol/Island City Mall; +6338.5022288/+63917.3041491)has homemade Ice-cream for P80. Available flavors in mango, buko, nangka (jackfruit), avocado (seasonal) and rainbow (combination of different flavors). You can try honeyed halo –halo for P 140.00 with all fresh indigenous organic fruit like langka, mango, paging, (nipa fruit) and topped with homemade ice cream. There is malunggay ice cream in cabcab (cassava) cone. You can try buko fruit platter, too!
• Chowking (located at the Island City Mall; +6338 4123935/501-7802) has summer coolers. You can try Chowking halo-halo fun size for P29, halo regular size for P49, halo fiesta size for P79. You can try mango tapioca and buko pandan for only P29. "Kay sarap pagsaluhan!"
• Garden Café (located beside St. Joseph Cathedral in Tagbilaran City; +6338 4112018/411-3701): Halo-halo with pumpkin pie for P110, mango shake with chicken fillet for P 120, mango pie with ice cream for P 60, iced tea with spaghetti with garlic bread for P 95 and tropical buko salad with french fries for P125.
• Jo's Chicken Inato "Payag" (CPG East Avenue, Tagbilaran City; +6338 4112527)- Mango shake for P35, green mango shake for P40, tsokolate shake P35, mango juice for P30, buko halo for P55, halo-halo for P50, buko juice for P30, buko shake for P35, maiz con yelo for P50 and buko pinipig delight for only P45.
• Shoppers's Mart. The restaurant offers halo-halo, mango shake and buko pandan.

I love Bohol!

(This is a new segment on Bared for this summer. It will feature on people who love Bohol. For contributions, please email leoudtohan@yahoo.com.)

We all know Rovilson Fernandez. He is an award-winning program TV host, endorser, sportsman, writer, magazine editor and producer.

As host of the widely popular travel show "Balikbayan Trails" on Lakbay TV and Ang Pinaka on QTV 11, Rovilson eagerly walked the path least traveled, showcasing the wonders and uniqueness of the Philippines.

It's Rovi's time to face Bared:

Favorite places in Bohol: Kayaking in the rivers, The Bee Farm resort (you took us there). The church (Dauis Church and Café Lawis) for a prepared dinner under the stars and majestic tree.

Friends in Bohol: I only call two people when I'm in town---Everybody's favorite conservationist, Holger Horn and everybody's favorite publicist/writer Leo Udtohan.

Best food to bring home: I have a serious sweet tooth. So the peanut kisses (which remind me of "mini chocolate hills" is great to bring back to share.

Survival tips for tourists: Eat with reckless abandon. Try something you've never done. Get out of your comfort zone for one fleeting moment. Always say "thank you," tip generously and always use sunscreen.

I love Bohol because there's no other place quite like it in the country. Like Palawan and Batanes, it embraces its uniqueness.

If Bohol was a fruit, it would be--- not exactly sure, but it certainly would be rough on the outside but sweet and succulent on the inside once you've peeled away its layers.

If Bohol was a color it would be: Sparkling!

Leo P. Udtohan

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