North Luzon Adventures: Budget & Expenses

Our budget is Php5,000/pax. And our expenses are inclusive of food, accommodation, transportation expenses, souvenirs and entrance fees.

DAY 1 EXPENSES:

Bus fare (Florida Bus – Sampaloc to Bantay) @750/pax                   Php2,250-

Bantay Tower Entrance fee (donation)                                                       20

Trike to Calle Crisologo                                                                                30

Trike to Pagburnayan Jar Making                                                                 30

***Trike (special negotiation for the rest of Vigan adventures)                   300

Baluarte picture with parrot donation                                                           20

Vigan Shirt souvenirs – 3 pcs.                                                                   300

Crisologo Museum Entrance fee (donation)                                                 20

Syquia Mansion Entrance fee (20/pax)                                                        60

Padre Burgos Museum Entrance fee (20/pax + tip 20)                                 80

Plaza Salcedo – Vigan Empanada                                                              219

                Empanada – 30 each

                Ukoy – 30 each

                Softdrinks – 13 each

Trike to Bantay Highway                                                                             40

Bus fare from Bantay to Batac (90/pax)                                                    270

Batac Empanda (35 each/ 2 softdrinks @13)                                            131

Bus fare from Batac to Laoag (25/pax)                                                      75

Laoag Museum (50/pax)                                                                           150

Dinner @ Mcdonalds                                                                                280

Trike to Homestay                                                                                       52

***Homestay rental - Laoag                                                                      1,000    

Total expenses – Day 1                                                                   Php5,327-

               

DAY 2 EXPENSES:

Trike to Sarrat Jeep Terminal                                                                     33

Jeep – Laoag to Sta Monica (Sarrat) 15/pax +15                                       60

Jeep – Sarrat to Laoag                                                                               45

Trike to Paoay Terminal (34/pax)                                                              102

***Trike from Paoay Church

    to Malacanang of the North/Paoay Lake/Sand Dunes                           250

Jeep to Laoag (34/pax)                                                                             102

Trike to Homestay                                                                                      33

Trike from Homestay to Saramsam                                                             33

Late Lunch at Saramsam                                                                           780

Water (35 each)                                                                                        105

Trike to Pagudpud Bus Terminal (2 tricycle)                                                50

Bus to Burgos, Pagudpud (40/pax)                                                            120

Trike to/from Burgos Lighthouse (50/way)                                                 100

Bus to Kapurpurawan                                                                                 50

Jeep to Bangui                                                                                             50

Trike to Bangui Windmill                                                                             100

Souvenirs                                                                                                  500

Bus to Pagudpud                                                                                         30

Trike from Highway to Homestay                                                                 70

Homestay Rental - Saud + breakfast 50/pax + 4 SM Light Beer              1,116

Total expenses – Day 2                                                                  Php3,729-

DAY 3 EXPENSES:

Souvenir – Saud Beach                                                                               180

Trike for North Pagudpud Tour                                                                    600

Kabigan Falls

                Environmental Fee – 10/pax

                Tour guide – 100 + 50 tip

                Snacks/Buko Juice + native food – 120                                        300

Dinner                                                                                                             877

Homestay Rental – Blue Lagoon                                                                     750        

Total expenses – Day 3                                                                       Php2,707-

DAY 4 EXPENSES:

Trike from Homestay to Pagudpud Highway                                                    100

Bus from Pagudpud to Burgos/Kapurpurawan – 40/pax                                 120

Trike to/from Kapurpurwan (200 + 20 tip)                                                       220

Snacks                                                                                                               60

Bus from Burgos to Laoag                                                                                 90

Snacks                                                                                                             275

Bus from Laoag to Quezon City (700/pax)                                                    2,100

Total expenses – Day 4                                                                       Php2,965-

BUDGET:  5K/pax                                                                                    Php15,000-

EXPENSES:                    Day 1                           Php5,327-

                                        Day 2                             Php3,729-

                                        Day 3                             Php2,707-

                                        Day 4                             Php2,965-                    Php14,728-

                                                                                                                   ==========

Savings***                                                                                                Php 272

***It’s so great to know that we travelled within our budget. Although, we have not negotiated some of the expenses. (Especially the South Pagudpud Tour, trike for Php600 is still the best option.)

In addition, the expenses presented is from Bus Terminal only. So, transportation from/to home, the dinner before the adventure and the snacks brought by my niece and nephew are not included.

North Luzon Adventures: Ilocos Special Empanada

       Last August 17 to 21, 2012, I’ve been to Ilocos.  I’ve seen a lot of places and I ate a lot of food, including the very popular – Ilocos Empanada.  I taste the Ilocos Empanada from different towns of Ilocos – Vigan, Batac, Laoag, Pagudpud and even the Empanada from Katipunan (QC).  I tried to eat all to know how good the empanada is.  

     Empanada is composed of 2 to 3 kinds of vegetables with egg and Ilocos longanisa (for the special one).  It is wrapped in a rice flour with orange food color and some seasonings.  The empanada is cooked by deep frying. 

     I want to describe the Empanada in a nice thought that I could, but I can’t.  I am wondering what is special in Ilocos Empanada, what is it?  Why is it very famous?  In trying the various empanada, there’s one thing that I am sure, that’s the name itself that I am paying for.  I said that because there is no special taste, no WOW factor! (Or I just expect too much for the taste). VIGAN EMPANADA:  It is just more of flour (light brown in color) and oily with vinegar dippings.  Actually, I don’t like vinegar and it is too oily, if you will eat the Vigan empanada, you have to drink softdrinks along with it to avoid the “Umay” (lose of appetite) factor and for me, single order is good for 2 persons.

BATAC EMPANADA: (the original and most famous): My Tita told me that I should not leave Batac without tasting it because for her, it is really good.  I am confused with the taste of it knowing that my Tita is very meticulous when it comes to tastes of the food.  And I became curious that she actually boasted it to me.  To stop my curiosity, I tasted the Batac Empanada and I can say, it is much better than the Vigan’s.  It is not salty but at the same time, not tasty.  But again, you need to have softdrinks with it but not as the craving for the softdrinks that I felt when I am eating the Vigan’s Empanada.

PAGUDPUD EMPANADA: It has the same color like Batac’s that’s orange in color. It has monggo beans and cabbage with a lot of MSG, an egg and longanisa. It’s good to eat the empanada while it is hot but again, nothing is really special with it.  I am really wondering. What’s there in empanada. I want to know, I want to satisfy my curiosity.

 LAOAG EMPANADA:  For the fourth time, in Florida Bus Station while waiting for our trip going home, my brother bought an empanada again. He actually likes it because of the free catsup. Yes, it taste better but the crust is thinner and it is messy even if it was put in a paper bag.  I ate only the fillings and left the crust in the paper bag. Again, I need softdrinks and I am full already.  

KATIPUNAN EMPANADA:  Actually, this is the last empanada that I have eaten. Popular Ilocos Empanada in Katipunan that my Tita bought after her work.  I like the crust but not the fillings. 

      After tasting the Ilocos Empanada from different suppliers, I can say that the only special ingredients is that one (1) whole egg – Nothing more, nothing less.  And since it is deep fried, it is oily that you will only crave for softdrinks.  And I believe that one serving is good for two.  

     Therefore, don’t expect for more “WOW” factor in Empanada because there’s nothing special on it.  It is just my curiosity to try the famous Ilocano food.  But then, you should try it, there’s may be special that you can find.  Unfortunately, it’s not the case for me.  Though, it is the cheapest way to feed my hungry tummy in a cowboy style (on my Ilocos adventures).

This is written by my neice, Keishel.  I am sharing the same sentiments also.  But as to its cost, I feel that it is expensive based on the ingredients used.  It costs Php30 to Php45 (Blue Lagoon, Pagudpud is the most expensive).  In addition, I personally disliked deep fried food and those wrapped with flour.  So, it may add the factor of not liking it.