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Traversing thru the four cities of Pagadian, Dipolog, Ozamiz, Dapitan, and Oroquieta in four days was fulfilling and tiring. Carefully executing my itinerary with very minimal deviations was a daunting task. Most of the time, a meal break during my explorations served as the time where I get to re-evaluate where to go next and what to do.  The excitement of exploring made me hungry. One of the perks with these meal breaks was I got to discover food spots in these cities, from cafes with chic interiors to popular dining spots that offer heirloom menus. Foodspotting during my #ByahengPaDODO had me enjoying my fave main entree and acquiring appreciation for lychees! Let me share with you some food spots that I enjoyed while on my birthday trip. Pagadian City: Brew and Bake, FS Fajares Avenue This chic cafe in Pagadian City is must place to check out in the city. The first thing that will catch your attention when you walk in is its colorful and creative artworks on its interior walls. It is a great subject for those who love taking photos.  The chic interiors of Bake and Brew in Pagadian City. Its menu selections include all-day breakfast meals pasta, and a wide selection of cakes and pastries that anyone with a sweet tooth would really enjoy. The chill and creative ambiance make it a great place to take a break to re-think your onward itinerary or to cap off a day of exploring the city. Ozamiz City: Mooon Cafe, JP Rizal Avenue The Mexican-inspired interior of Mooon Cafe was a welcome treat after my three-hour travel from Pagadian. I was tired and hungry and I needed a tummy fill before heading out to explore Ozamiz. And Mooon Cafe did not disappoint.  Enjoying my Fillet Mignon! Steak craving unlocked.
With their wide selection of meals, I opted to try out one of my favorite entree and one of their best-sellers - Fillet Mignon. The tender and tasty beef gave me my fill of my steak craving! The cafe is definitely a must-try when you find yourself in Ozamiz. Ozamiz City: SN Batsoy, Don Bernad Avenue SN Batsoy is a no-frills foodspot in Ozamiz City. The restaurant capitalizes on the Filipino "turo-turo" style where food options are laid out and diners point which viands they want. Meals are served for sharing.  The "turo-turo" counter of SN Batsoy.
With a wider Filipino food selection, this restaurant is a good stop for all kinds of travelers. The restaurant also has a grilling area where you can have your fill of the variety of Filipino barbecue treats. Nothing beats a great Filipino meal! Oroquieta City: Payling's Restaurant, Dr. Jose Rizal Street I can say that Payling's Restaurant in Oroquieta City was my biggest foodspotting discovery during the trip! This quaint and unassuming restaurant in a quaint and laidback city is a food hub that you should not miss out in this part of the country.  I seriously indulged myself with Payling's Crab and Lychee salad. YUMMY!!! Its simple and homey restaurant ambiance is in contrast to its mouth-watering menu listing. My personal favorite is their Lychee Salad that combines the flavors of crab stick meat, veggies, and lychee in one bowl. The delectable flavors is a heavenly treat for the taste buds. It was so good that I was able to finish a serving good for 2-3 people. Dipolog City: Hungry Bites, Gen. Luna Street If you are in Dipolog and you are looking for a quick snack or looking for a restaurant to satisfy your burger cravings, Hungry Bites is the place to head off to. This small restaurant with its American-feel interiors serves a great meal of burgers and fries.
The cozy interiors of Hungry Bites make meal times an interesting activity. You get to a nice meal or snack while enjoying the creativity of its owners or watching the city as it buzzes. I enjoyed watching Dipolog's street scene while munching on my burger and fries. Dipolog City: Dipolog Night Market and Barbecue, Sunset Boulevard Dining out during trips does not necessarily mean spending much. Food is part of culture and trying out food spots that are frequented by locals is one way of getting acquainted with your destination. And the Dipolog Night Market and Barbecue is exactly just that!
This small strip of al fresco dining at the eastern end of Sunset Boulevard is lined with grilling stalls that offer a wide selection of Filipino-kind of barbecue. From chicken barbecue to pork sausages to grilled chicken innards, they have it here for you to indulge in. The best part ofvthe experience is eating with your hands while enjoying the breeze from the sea. Dipolog City: Chapters Book Cafe, Dipolog Sunset Boulevard Book lovers will fall in love with Chapters Book Cafe. Imagine having a meal or enjoying a slice of cake surrounded by books. The colorful and creative touch of its interiors complimented by its stacks of books is definitely an attraction in itself.  Book lovers will love the book collection of Chapters Book Cafe in Dipolog.
It is safe to say that the beef salpicao that I ordered did not disappoint. It was great meal enjoyed inside a warm and delightful restaurant of a quaint laidback city. It was a perfect way to end my four-day exploration. Dapitan City: Kamayan ni Manay, Sunset Boulevard After tracing Rizal's footsteps in Dapitan, I was craving for lechon and seafood. Ordering these viands on a regular day would have taken a bite on my pocket. But thanks to Kamayan ni Manay, I was able to satisfy my cravings at an affordable price.
Kamayan ni Manay is a popular food spot in Dapitan City that offers Filipino favorites. I was lucky that I dropped by on a Sunday because it was buffet day. I had my fill of lechon, crabs, shrimp, and kinilaw. All my food cravings were satisfied with an extra treat of halo-halo to cap it off. POST TRAVEL NOTES My #ByahengPaDODO was one adventure packed with new discoveries and excitement. Amazing beach spots, interesting historical sites, and breathtaking views of nature are complemented by the hospitality of locals and the delicious meals of homegrown cafes and restaurants. These food spots served as my "pause" from the excitement of going around. It also served as my time to re-energize before heading off to the next spot.  Are you ready to touch the sun? Food and adventure will always complement each other. A great adventure becomes better with good food. Homegrown food spots give you another facet of the destination. It gives you an insight on what kind of food tickles the palates of the locals. Getting There: Philippine Airline and Cebu Pacific Air have regular flights to Pagadian, Ozamiz, and Dipolog. From Ozamiz City or Oroquieta City, one can take a bus bound to Dipolog City. Travel time is about three hours from Oroquieta City. From Dipolog City, one can take a bus to Dapitan City. Travel Notes: Here is my #ByahengPaDODO itinerary Day 1 (Pagadian City) 8.00am – Arrival at Pagadian via Cebu Pacific / Drop off bags at hotel. 9.00am – ETD to Pulacan Falls 9.30am – Pulacan Falls 11.00am – Brunch or Early Lunch (Suggested: Brew and Bake) 12.00nn – City Walking Tour (Santo Nino Cathedral Parish Church/Pagadian City Hall/ Plaza Luz / Zamboanga del Sur Capitol Building / Rotonda Park) 3.00pm – Isla Putting Balas / Dao-Dao Island 5.30pm – Walk around Pagadian Boulevard (You can also opt to do this in the morning to catch the sunrise) 7.00pm – Dinner then back at the hotel You can read my full Pagadian travel blog here. Day 2 (Pagadian City / Ozamiz City) 5.30a – Sunrise at Pagadian Boulevard. 7.00a – Breakfast and check out of the hotel. 8.00a – ETD for Ozamiz City 11.00a – ETA at Ozamiz City / Check-in at Hotel / Lunch 12.30p – Visit Immaculate Conception Metropolitan Cathedral 1.00p – Visit Bukagan Hill / Ozamiz Seaside Road 2.30p – Visit Cota Shrine / Cota Beach / Birhen sa Cota / Ozamiz City Hall 4.30p – Explore the streets of Ozamiz City (Heritage Houses) 7.00p – Dinner 8.00p – Back at hotel You can read my full Ozamiz and Oroquieta travel blog here. Day 3 (Oroquieta City/Dipolog City) 8.00a – ETD to Oroquieta City 9.30a – ETA at Oroquieta City 10.00a – Visit Misamis Occidental Capitol Grounds / Oroquieta City Hall and Plaza / Holy Rosary Church / Oroquieta City Hanging Bridge 12.00n – Lunch at Payling’s 1.30pm – ETD to Dipolog City 4.30pm – ETA to at Dipolog City / Check-in at Hotel 5.00pm – Dipolog City Walking Tour (Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral / Dipolog City Hall / Magsaysay Park / Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Capitol / Dipolog City Rotunda 6.00pm – Santa Cruz Marker / Dipolog Sunset Boulevard 7.30pm – Dinner Day 4 (Dapitan City) 8.00am – ETD to Dapitan City 8.30am – ETA to Dapitan City 9.00am – Dapitan City Plaza / St. James the Greater Church / Casa Real / Heritage House / Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto / Ilihan Hill 10.30pm - Punto del Disembarco de Rizal 11.30pm – Rizal Shrine Dapitan City 2.00pm – Late Lunch in Dapitan City 4.00pm – ETA in Dipolog City. Free Time. You can read my full Dipolog and Dapitan travel blog here.
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Marc del Rosario
I believe in education, entrepreneurship, and caring for the environment. 
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