Mango-rrific Guimaras: A ‘Biyahe ni Drew’ itinerary

When it comes to sweet, yellow mangoes, nothing beats Guimaras! Still, there are many other attractions that this young island province has to offer. On last week’s episode of “Biyahe ni Drew,” professional biyahero Drew Arellano set out to find the best of the best in Guimaras.

Here’s his complete itinerary:

How to get there

Fly to Iloilo City. Iloilo is one hour away from Manila by air. While there, stop over for a quick meal. Our team fueled up at Punot Restaurant, which serves seafood dishes like kilawin shots, imbao gratin, and mixed seafood fried rice, as well as the rich, salty-sour corned beef kansi.

Take a bangka to Guimaras. Each trip costs P500, which can be split among up to 15 passengers.

Where to stay

Drew recommends: Jannah-Glycel Beach House
Talisay, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras
Contact: 0929-281-6498

“Wala ka sa hotel,” says Drew. “Para kang nasa bahay.” A simple room for two costs P1,500 a night and includes air-conditioning, a private bathroom with shower, a television and a refrigerator. While the interior design is more homestay than resort, it’s worth staying here for the food.


At Jannah-Glycel, you can have a “paluto” dinner with your choice of cuisine. Our suggestion? Try something new and ask for their French-style dinner. For P350 a person, we were treated to cream whiskey, Guimaras cashews, black olives, a shrimp and pineapple salad, beef dumplings, fish with cream of mushroom, chicken with olives, and a sweet flan made with pumpkin.

Again, all of that was for just P350 per person. Not bad at all, biyaheros!

Raymen Beach Resort
Poblacion, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras
If you’re looking for a resort by the beach, this could be the one for you. Their rooms for two range from P700 to P4,500 a night and include air-conditioning, a private bathroom with shower and hot water, television and mini-refrigerator.

Zemkamps Chalet
San Miguel, Jordan, Guimaras
A room for two costs P1,500 a night. The rooms themselves are simple but warmly decorated (swan-shaped towels and some flowers are placed on your bed), and include air-conditioning, a small television and private bathroom with shower.

Where and what to eat
Mangoes
Did you know that there are around 250,000 mango trees in Guimaras? Try some of Guimaras’ proudest export for P150 per kilo. The mangoes are in season and are sweetest during the summer months of March to May.


The Pitstop Restaurant
San Miguel, Jordan, Guimaras
Budget: P150-350, good for sharing between three to four people

Guimaras is known for its extra-sweet mangoes, but did you know they can be part of your main course, too? At Pitstop, you can try novelty dishes such as spicy mango pasta, bulalo sa mangga, sisig with mango, and mango pizza.

The pasta and sisig taste like regular ones but a bit sweeter; bulalo sa mangga likewise tastes the same except for an added bundle of green mango slices stewed with the beef.

The mango pizza is the most interesting: It tastes like dessert! Because it’s topped with mango slices, cheese and cashews, the dish reminds us more of a tart or pie than a pizza.

What to do

Island-hopping
Island-hopping is affordable in Guimaras at just P500 for the first hour and P150 for each succeeding hour. Two hours are actually all you need since many of the surrounding islands are similar in form.

Bike Tour
There are two biking clubs in Guimaras: the Global Tour Riders and Guimaras Mountain Bike Club. Don’t be intimidated by the tough-sounding names — there are members as young as 14 and as old as 60! Expect to ride with soft-spoken family men and the occasional lolo.

Both groups were created to keep members fit and help tourists get a different experience on the island. The full tour of Guimaras takes seven hours on bike, but you can choose a shorter tour to fit your schedule.

Camp Alfredo Adventure Park
Ravina, Sibunag, Guimaras
“Ang walang kamatayang zip line!” jokes the “Biyahe ni Drew” crew. Wherever we are, outdoor adventures end up on our itinerary. At Camp Alfredo, the main attractions are their forest zip line and hanging forest bridge.

What to see
Smallest Plaza
Jordan, Guimaras
Here, tiny is terrific. Guimaras has the smallest plaza in the Philippines. It’s so small that you can walk across it in less than 10 seconds.

Guisi Lighthouse
Barangay Dolores, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras
Guisi is the second oldest lighthouse in the Philippines. Rusty and falling apart, it sure looks dilapidated. Then again, it’s over 100 years old; maybe that’s part of its charm. Entrance fee for picture-taking is P10. Nearby, you’ll see stone ruins of an old Spanish settlement.

What to buy for pasalubong
Trappist Food Products
Our Lady of the Philippines Trappist Monastery, San Miguel, Jordan, Guimaras
P100 is all you need for pasalubong shopping at the Trappist monastery. From their famous mango bars to perfect-on-toast mango jam and mango barquillos, all products are priced below P100. Not only are these treats delicious, they help support the monks in their day-to-day activities as well!

McNester’s Mango Products
Surprise your loved ones with these offbeat condiments: mango ketchup and mango atsara! Their cook tells us you can use their mango ketchup in pasta sauces the way Filipinos use banana ketchup to make sweet, Pinoy-style spaghetti.

Galleons
For some traditional Guimaras craftsmanship, buy one of their model galleons handcrafted from local materials. At just P100 to P200 for a ship that fits both hands, it’s an ornate yet affordable souvenir to bring home.

Tip: Our researcher for the Guimaras episode, Marvin Soyangco, bought one; to keep the delicate model safe during the flight home, he wrapped it in plastic and took it on the plane as a hand-carry item. —Cristina Tantengco/CM, GMA News