Destinations
Discover the Boracay of CARAGA
When he discovered Cagwait White Beach, dubbed as the “Little Boracay of CARAGA”, John Ryan Mendoza said he automatically expected to feel the powder-like consistency of Boracay’s sands. But he was dismayed. Here, the sand is… coarser. But the initial dismay was overshadowed by the fact that Cagwait offers what Boracay couldn’t: serene isolation.
After our whole day habal-habal adventure to the Tinuy-an Falls and Enchanted River, we all felt that we needed a lazy day at an isolated beach.
“Cagwait White Beach!” exclaimed our friend, a local of Bislig.
It was off-peak season and she said we would be treated to a tranquil stay at the “Little Boracay of CARAGA.”
And so we took the early morning bus from Bislig and got off at the town of Barobo. At the Barobo bus terminal, we took the 85 peso van ride to Cagwait, a fourth class municipality of Surigao del Sur; and which faces Mount Diwata on the west and the coast of the Pacific Ocean in the east. It is approximately 32 kilometers southwest of Tandag, the capital town of the province.
Locals in the area say that a young traveler who escaped the Spaniards in Leyte saw this horseshoe shaped white sand beach. “Mura og wait,” he was said to have mentioned, likening the beach to that of the human mouth; thus the name, Cagwait.
Cagwait White Beach is also the venue for the Kaliguan Festival, held every third week of June to honor St. John the Baptist.
Cagwait White Beach – with its lush backdrop of coconut and vegetation, and its expanse of aquamarine waters – was also referred to as the “Waikiki of the South” by American aviator Charles Augustus Lindbergh after his chance discovery of the area on his visit in Surigao.
When we arrived, my mind automatically expected to feel the powder-like consistency of Boracay’s sands, but I was dismayed. Here, the sand is… coarser. Nevertheless, the view that welcomed us did not disappoint. The white sand shores embraced a portion of the great Pacific Ocean and invited us to its pristine, cool, and clear turquoise waters. My initial dismay was overshadowed by the fact that Cagwait offers what Boracay couldn’t: serene isolation.
I didn’t expect what I discovered next.
We rented non-aircon rooms for 300 pesos a night and the window view was just a spectacular display of the white beach and its gentle blue waves. I just immediately thought of endless days of waking up to the sights and sounds of this view. Spending lazy mornings and afternoons writing and just gazing up to the multitude of stars and seeing their reflections on the bay at night. All the more perfect with my partner.
The whole day was just pure indolence. After feeling hot under the sun with the book I have longed to finish reading, the cool blue waters soothed my sun-kissed skin. The gentle sea breeze was my companion in the long and slow barefoot walks in the stretch of white sand.
I was in a dilemma of writing about this white beach. I was like a little boy unwilling to share my discovered hiding spot. The peace was just too rare to risk for it to be overtly commercialized as what happens to a lot of our island beaches. Yet still for those who truly love beaches, Cagwait offers this true unspoiled experience.
Destinations
Eating out in Cebu in one place via Pusô Village
Checking out #Cebu’s all-in-one dining location, the Pusô Village that may simplify eating out but seems to forget our desire to see diverse #foodie hubs.
In the past, if you wanted to grab some of the food associated with Cebu, you headed to – among others – Larsian, this place not too far from Fuente Osmeña Circle. It wasn’t necessarily popular with the locals who saw (and still see) it as unhygienic, but it’s this easy-to-access BBQ place that’s open 24/7.
Starting 2025, however, a new place was opened to serve as the one-stop culinary and cultural hub of Cebu City: the Pusô Village.
@outragemag Checking out #Cebu's all-in-one dining location, the Pusô Village (#pusovillage) that may simplify eating out but seems to forget our desire to see diverse #foodie ♬ original sound – Outrage Magazine
Una, developed by Cebu2World/Megawide as part of the Carbon Market modernization, this place’s name drew inspiration from the pusô rice cake that’s served when you have meals in Cebu. There are, therefore, design elements that’d remind you of the pusô – e.g. those octahedral shapes on the entrance. Inside, there are attempts to beautify by borrowing elements from Bahay na bato Philippine architectural style; most are fake, though, such as those painted-on verandahs you’d see when you look up.
Ikalawa, there are over 100 food stalls and retail outlets here… though more of the former than the latter. They’ve been “properly” structured, so that the lechon vendors are on one side, seafood sellers on another side, and so on.
Ikatlo, we tried some of the offerings to ascertain how good they are.
The unlimited lechon is popular, providing an opportunity particularly for non-locals to cheaply enjoy this Cebuano treat. Taste-wise, the lechons vary little, some saltier than the others. The “approach” in serving is similar, though. You get an okay portion when first served, and the portion gets smaller the more you return. Noticeably, by the third refill, the vendors become grumpier when serving you, some even ignoring you, or stuffing fatty parts on your plate. Business greed in action.
Though cooked the same way (i.e. buttered), the seafood platters are inconsistent. You could get some shrimps or crabs now and then, though most times, you’d just get mussels.
Then there’s the tuslob-buwa, pig’s brain cooked under maximum heat to then become dip for pusô. We’d say this is acquired taste… but there’s not much to taste. So this is a costly to-try food.
Only open until 10.00PM, Pusô Village offers those in Cebu a venue to try as many of the local goods as possible. For that, alone, this is a must-check. You are sure to find a few stuffs you’d like.
But the city still has a lot of venues offering local culinary and cultural goods, and they deserve to be also checked. And so off we go for more LGBTQIA+ rampa…
Pusô Village is located at M.L Quezon Blvd., Sto. Nino, Cebu City.
Destinations
Going Chinese in Pulilan, Bulacan
Craving for #chinesefood in #Bulacan? We tried the offerings of Lee Foo Panciteria #Pulilan, and we’re on the fence here (yes if no choice, no if you can go elsewhere).
We happened to be in Pulilan in Bulacan, and I had pancit craving. As if on cue, we passed by Lee Foo Panciteria Pulilan, which – after we Google-checked – is supposedly one of the more frequently-visited Chinese restos in these parts of the province, so… of course we checked.
@outragemag Craving for #chinesefood in #Bulacan? We tried the offerings of Lee Foo Panciteria #Pulilan ♬ original sound – Outrage Magazine
Una, this place is really, REALLY easy to find. Located along the Pulilan Regional Road in Barangay Cut-cot in Pulilan, this is right in the middle of the municipality.
Ikalawa, the resto is actually divided into three parts: one side is for those with reservations, another part is for walk-in diners, and another part is for events. If/when the resto isn’t full, only the main part (middle one) is kept open.
No, this isn’t some fancy resto. More like an airconditioned karinderya, complete with wooden tables and plastic chairs. Look-wise, it wasn’t dirty naman when we were there, so that’s a plus.
Ikatlo, the workers were friendly naman… and they moved fast – e.g. while waiting for our orders, we were given must-check peanuts, and since we finished what we got fast, our waitress was more than happy to accommodate us.
Ika-apat, now… how was the food?
The house specialty, the Lee Foo Chicken (₱265 for half, ₱495 for whole), looked like fried chicken with ketchup. Okay… the breading was okay since it didn’t overpower the meat. The chicken, too, was properly cooked, and it wasn’t dry. But it was tasteless overall; so the ketchup taste is what stays with you.
The Pancit Canton Bihon (₱255) had thin pancit noodles, almost as thin as the bihon. It didn’t have lots of sahog; instead, you’d notice the extenders (like kikiam, and so on). I like good pancit, I swear… but this isn’t one of them, sorry.
The weirdly-wrapped Hakaw (₱155) was small, so it was bitin.
And then there’s the Siomai Steam (₱155), which was, in a word, weird. The size was good, similar to those ₱10 siomais. But the way this was prepared was weird for us – e.g. like the meat was overwatered, and having a hard time staying solid, so that it was smudgy, and disintegrated in the mouth even without chewing. I suppose that, at least, it wasn’t disgusting taste-wise.
Lee Foo Panciteria Pulilan is, we believe, popular. Like President in Chinatown, or a branch of David’s in some mall. To each his or her own nga naman. But for us, we’re off to look for other Chinese restos na muna as we head out in search of more lafangan venues.
Lee Foo Panciteria Pulilan is located at 159 Barangay Cut-cot, Pulilan, 3005 Bulacan Province. For more information, contact 0925 800 0168, or email leefoopanciteria@yahoo.com.
Travel
Treacherous beauty: Hiking at South Stack Lighthouse in Wales
#Lighthouse fever in #Holyhead, #anglesey via the #SouthStackLighthouse, as checked during this #LGBT trip to #Wales.
Yes, tech has made many lighthouses redundant. Not that they’re no longer relevant. But navigation-wise, we know we have more advanced solutions. Which, perhaps not surprisingly, led to the reconfiguration of many of them.
In Holyhead, Anglesey in Wales, introducing the South Stack Lighthouse.
@outragemag #Lighthouse fever in #Holyhead, #anglesey via the #SouthStackLighthouse, as checked during this #LGBT trip to #Wales ♬ original sound – Outrage Magazine
Una, you’d need a ride to be there. Some use private cars, as we did; others join tours; and others cycle to the place.
Ikalawa, what’s there?
The lighthouse itself is located on a small, rocky island off Holyhead. From afar, it looks like someone’s grand home; mansion-like. Accessible siya after you descend down 400 steep steps.
What will you see while there?
- the former lighthouse engine room
- the top of the lighthouse
- South Stack is also home to breeding seabirds including guillemots, razorbills and puffins
Here’s an FYI: seasonal lang siya bukas.
This is a must-check for lighthouse lovers, of course. Historic, it was built in 1809 by Trinity House from the design of Daniel Alexander. 91-foot tall, it used to allow safe passage for ships on the Dublin–Holyhead–Liverpool sea route.
Another FYI: It is allegedly haunted, and has been visited by a team from “Most Haunted”.
The area housing the lighthouse is, itself, worth checking. There are trails for hikers or joggers or cyclists; though the same could be enjoyed by those who are there only to look for good shots.
Check when you’re in the area… even if you just pass by. Nice siya, promise.
But off we go for more LGBTQIA+ rampa…
-
Product Showcase4 weeks agoSuperbod Movement goes beyond the stage
-
NewsMakers1 week agoFilipinos prioritize independence as legacy for longer lives
-
NewsMakers3 weeks agoPoor-quality sleep involves different parts of the brain, depending on age
-
NewsMakers3 weeks agoLoneliness strongly linked to poorer mental health and wellbeing, study finds
-
NewsMakers3 weeks agoWeight loss drugs could help with binge eating disorder
-
Product Showcase3 weeks agoNew IKEA PS Collection brings playful functionality into your home
-
Product Showcase3 weeks agoFullerton Health celebrates two years of advancing preventive healthcare in PH
-
Product Showcase4 weeks agoCentury Tuna Superbods 2026 announces ‘Superbod Era’ finalists
