Piñato - Buray's Native Delicacy - and Memories of Childhood

I found this photo of piñato in one of my computer folders while looking for an old PowerPoint file. This reminded me of my grandmother and of my childhood. I still remember how, as a child, I would look forward to those times when my paternal grandmother visited us in San Roque. She lived in Hinabangan, Samar; we, in San Roque, Northern Samar. It took her several hours to travel, but she never arrived empty-handed. She always brought a basket full of sweets from Buray and Catbalogan.

Piñato from Buray, Samar.

I grew up associating her -- my apoy (grandmother) -- with desserts and with happy times. It was also through her that I became familiar with Buray, the place where she always bought piñato. Even now, though I'm no longer that little girl waiting for her grandmother's visit, I still think of Buray as the source of that delicious piñato. The fact that it's a barangay (village) in Paranas, Samar, comes second to the memories it holds for me.

The idea that the piñato makers of Buray have sustained their livelihood through the years is comforting. These days, I don't have to travel to Buray just to buy their famous piñato. They're now available in various outlets in Tacloban City and Ormoc, Leyte.

Maupay kay ginpadayon nira. Waray nira puoha.
(It's wonderful that they kept it going. They didn't let it disappear.)

Whale Skeleton in Silago, Southern Leyte -- the First on Leyte Island

The whale skeleton is the first in Leyte, hence, Silago is one ideal destination for educational trips among students in the provinces of Leyte and Southern Leyte. The locals refer to the whale skeleton as bukog sa dakong isda (bone of a big fish).

The dead whale was seen on the shore of Silago in 1996, and this was preserved by the local officials and the community. It is now available for public viewing at the town's children's playground.

Aside from showcasing the first and the only whale skeleton on Leyte island, Silago is also known as the last seat of the remaining evergreen lowland dipterocarp forest in Leyte. I am placing here a link to my article Sights and Scenery Around Silago, Southern Leyte, Philippines for more photos of Silago.

Pilar, Camotes: A Quiet Escape from Cebu and Camotes

If you're near Cebu or Leyte and would like to get away from work for a few days, Pilar of Camotes Islands in Cebu is the perfect place to visit. It's the other side of Camotes Islands that's not very popular among local and foreign tourists. And because the island is not overcrowded, you may enjoy the beach (or the countryside) all by yourself.


We went to Pilar on Christmas Day. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision: after having breakfast, my husband and I decided to have a two-day trip to Pilar. We stuffed our backpacks with the most basic things, and off we went to Ormoc City, Leyte to catch the 9:00 A.M. boat. We later learned that there were no boats leaving for Pilar that day.

We took a multicab from Ormoc to Merida, and from there we hired a pump boat that brought us to the island.


If it's island nightlife you're after, Pilar isn't the place for you. But if you're open to other simple and memorable experiences, here are few you might enjoy:

1. Go around the place and experience rural life. If you're adventurous, you might even find yourself chasing chickens down the streets of Pilar -- a simple, silly pleasure for anyone used to city life. Seriously, it's comforting to walk freely on the streets of this island town. When you're here, you forget about pollution and traffic -- you just commune with nature.
   
2. The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Pilar is promoting it more for educational trips than as a regular tourism destination. We went around the area on a motorbike, and we were able to see some of the various activities done by its residents.
   
   Left photo: Magtalisay (Terminalia spp.) seedlings grown by the members of CaRFA (Can-ugkay Rainforestation Farmers Association) in their nursery in Brgy. Villahermosa, Pilar, Camotes. CaRFA is registered with the Department of Labor and Employment and is accredited by the LGU as a seedling producer organization.
   
   Right photo: Corn planted on limestone soil. Limestone is said to be not ideal for planting agricultural crops because the soil is not fertile; hence, it will eventually lead to low yield. In Pilar, however, even this area is utilized by the villagers. (Talk about hardworking, resourceful people, and you'll find them here.)
   
   Unfortunately, I was not able to visit Pilar's municipal marine park (I will... next time). The marine park is one of the many highlights of the place. The municipality got the Most Outstanding Marine Protected Area of the Philippines award from the MPA Support Network (MSN) and its partners in 2009.
   
   
3. Meet the locals and hear their stories. We were lucky to have witnessed two Christmas parties during our visit.
   
   
4. Rest, relax, and savor the beauty of the place. This is the reason why I wasn't able to fully explore the island. I was resting and relaxing and savoring the experience of being stress-free even just for a day or two.
   
   

Next time you plan for your company's team building, consider holding it on the island of Pilar, the place that personifies peace and tranquility.

Related Post:

One Hundred School Children From Pilar, Camotes Islands Visit Ormoc City, Leyte, Philippines to Do Their Shop-a-wish Activity