EXPLORING MALABON’S FAITH, FOOD, FILIPINO HERITAGE & TRICYCLE TOURS
7 min read
What comes to mind when you hear the word Malabon? Quite honestly, aside from the famous Pancit Malabon, to me and I think to most people I know, Malabon is that city sandwiched between Navotas and Caloocan. I forget that Malabon holds a rich history… that it is a city where there is so much to see, learn and taste.
Thanks to the Department of Tourism for tagging me along to explore Malabon in this media familiarization tour and help promote emerging tourist destinations in Metro Manila. The tour was led by the Department of Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo, Malabon Mayor Antolin “Len Len” Oreta and wife Chef Melissa Oreta no less.
Because of the narrow streets, touring Malabon in a four-wheeled vehicle is impractical, almost impossible even. So we mazed through Malabon using tricycles to conveniently reach earmarked destinations. Yes, you read it right! The Malabon Tricycle Tours.
The Malabon Tricycle Tours does not only help promote local tourism but more importantly it serves as a livelihood for the local community.
The tour includes ancestral structures, old churches and Filipino Food places. They offer the following tour packages:
Package A- Heritage Tour P 250 per person
Destinations:
San Bartolome Parish
Sy Juco Mansion
Nepomuceno Ancestral House
Concepcion Market and Plaza
Artes de Paseo Art Gallery
El Casa Katipunero
Ibaviosa Ancestral House
Angel Cacnio Art Gallery
Rivera Ancestral House
Raymundo Ancestral House
Package B- Food Trip Special P 750 per person
Destinations:
San Bartolome Parish
Lugaw Experience
Hazel’s Puto
Jamico’s Restaurant
Dolor’s Kakanin
Concepcion Market and Plaza
Nanay’s Pancit Malabon
Betsy’s Cake Center
Package C- Food and Heritage Tour P 900 per person
Destinations:
San Bartolome Parish
Sy Juco Mansion
Lugaw Experience
Ibaviosa Ancestral House
Hazel’s Puto and Puto Pao
Jamico’s Restaurant
Nepomuceno Ancestral House
Concepcion Market and Plaza
Dolor’s Kakanin
El Casa Katipunero
Nanay’s Pancit Malabon
Angel Cacnio Art Gallery
Rivera House
Raymundo Ancestral House
Betsy’s Cake Center
San Bartolome Parish
At half-past nine in the morning, we started the tour and our first stop was the San Bartolome Church. Built in 1564, the San Bartolome Church’s unique Baroque architecture has been stunningly maintained over the years.
Sy Juco Heritage House, Brgy. Tanong
I boarded Kuya (Brother) Merlin’s tricycle and we proceeded to visiting the ancestral Sy Juco House built in 1869. Over the years, this heritage house once served as a school and then as a tobacco factory before it became a private residence of a Swiss Filipino Family. I was not able to take a lot of photos but was able to take a lot of videos here. I will upload a vlog soon so stay tuned.
Ibaviosa House and Patis Factory, Brgy. Flores
Then, we visited the Ibaviosa House and Patis Factory. Built in the 1940’s, this heritage house endured the Filipino- Japanese War and is still standing up to now. It also served as a set location of one of the films of the comedian Ai Ai Delas Alas entitled “Ang Cute Ng Ina Mo” where Ai Ai played the role of a Filipina patis (fish sauce) manufacturer.
Lugaw Experience, Brgy. Flores
Adjacent to the Ibaviosa Heritage House is Lugaw Experience where we got to taste the famous Malabon lugaw (porridge). The 1984 original recipe was by Narcisa Domondon Pangan and the same recipe has been passed on from generation to generation.
Angel Cacnio’s House and Art Gallery
With our tummies full, we boarded our tricycles and went to the art gallery of Mr. Angel Cacnio who is famous for his paintings and for designing the Philippine 100 and 20 peso bills. The gallery also showcased some of his sons’ paintings and his wife’s art collection.
We were lucky that day because Mr. Angel Cacnio was around to welcome us. In the photo below, he was vividly recalling and sharing to us the beautiful and rich history of Malabon.
He even more than willingly signed a hundred peso bill of one of our companions.
Dra. Gonzales’ Heritage House, General Luna Avenue
The next stop was Dra. Gonzales’ Heritage House for lunch. Upon arrival, we were welcomed by two talented young people gracefully swaying to the music of a folk dance song.
We were served some of the best flavors of Malabon City: Pancit Malabon, Crispy Pata, and Kikiam. Aside from Mommy Dolor’s Kakanin (native cakes) for dessert, we were served Valencia Trianggulo, Malabon’s version of turon (fritters in lumpiya wrapper). Valencia Trianggulo is a Malabon delicacy and instead of the usual turon stuffed with just banana and langka, Valencia Trianggulo is stuffed bananas, langka and pinipig in a lumpiya wrapper formed into a triangle and deep-fried.
Dolor’s Kakanin, Escanilla Street
After lunch, the food trip was not yet over. It just went on and on. LOL. Truly #eatsmorefuninMalabon. From Dra. Gonzales’ Heritage House, we walked for around five minutes to visit Dolor’s Kakanin Shop along Escanilla Street and have some more dessert! We were told that they have been using the same secret recipe since 1930. They showed us how their famous sapin-sapin is made. Sapin-sapin is a Filipino dessert made of glutinous rice and coconut.
One of my blogger friends, Maddie, even got the chance to plate one.
Aside from sapin-sapin, they have other offerings that are just as good.
Immaculate Conception Parish, General Luna Avenue
The last stop was the Immaculate Conception Parish right across Dra. Gonzales’ Heritage House. The ceiling has paintings of biblical characters and events.
The tour took about four hours. Short and sweet (literally with all the kakanin and Valencia Trianggulo that I ate). At about half past one in the afternoon, we left Malabon not just with full tummies but more importantly with better appreciation of our Filipino culture which revolves around our Faith, food and families. We only got to visit a few of the destinations but it was enough to make me excited to come back and visit the ones we missed.
The next time you plan your staycation, get up and book that Malabon Tricycle Tour with your loved ones. You will surely be pleasantly surprised that there is so much to see, learn and taste in a city sandwiched between Navotas and Caloocan.
Signing out for now. Peace!
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