Balaw Balaw Restaurant: Angono's Pride

Balaw Balaw Restaurant:  Angono's Pride

        The lake shore did not have its usual appearance.  The level of the water was unusually high.  The ground was muddy as several bancas were sprawled near a tree and near the hall. The sky was cloudy with only a few cranes hovering around. Nowhere could one see the fishing nets that the boatmen utilize in their day-to day work.  A group consisting of two men and three women, unable to hire a boat, decided to proceed to the national highway where Angono's most popular restaurant is located. They were to celebrate the natal day of Teresita and the unanimous choice as venue was Balaw Balaw.

         Balaw Balaw Restaurant and Art Gallery is one of Angono's premier tourist destinations.  Established by the late notable painter Perdigon Vocalan, whose mastery of the brush rivaled that of the town's celebrated artists, Balaw Balaw serves classic native dishes such as Kare Kareng Dagat, Sinigang na Hipon, Baked Tahong, Minaluto or Seafood Special, Kanduli sa Miso and many more. The name Balaw Balaw refers to a fermented cooked rice and small shrimps concocted to add taste to special dishes in the same way that bagoong & alamang enhance the flavor of certain native delicacies.

         Now, when the dishes, which are freshly cooked and served hot, are consumed to the satisfaction of diners, it isn't over yet.  Guests are enjoined, as part and parcel of dining at Balaw Balaw, to view and get to appreciate the works of Perdigon Vocalan. There are paintings, woodcarvings and papier mache that are finely displayed at strategic areas of the gallery. Guests take the spiral staircase to get to the upper floor. Life-size figurines of the 12 Apostles, a replica of a 19th century sailboat carved out of the rare Kamagong and the colorful Higantes never fail to attract visitors.

         Teresita turned a year older.  And she had been saying she had become wiser. Wiser in the ways of the world.  And as she made her way down the spiral, husband Fred was assisting her as they moved past the self portraits of Perdigon Vocalan.  Friends Daisy and Lorna were following them.  They walked towards the counter and bade the lady owner goodbye.  Touching the mascaras near the exit, Teresita was overheard saying:  Babalik tayo dito !!  To which Lorna uttered: Sama uli ako. !!

-  Konted

Balaw Balaw is near the national highway in Angono, Rizal.

Balaw Balaw was established in the early 80's by the late Angono artist Perdigon Vocalan.

Mascaras adorn the ceiling and wooden beams of the restaurant.

More mascaras

Bamboos as part of Balaw Balaw's interior design

Where to wash your hands

Bigger mascaras used during the annual Higante Festival in Angono.

Artistically designed

The use of the mascaras came from the Spanish colonizers.

The paintings of Perdigon Vocalan

Old paintings of Perdigon Vocalan at the ground floor

Nicely framed

Provocative yet artistic

The spiral staircase that leads to the Art Gallery called Ang Nuno Gallery.

It is now lunchtime for Ted, travel guide Lorna Lim, Angono Domsa Federation President Daisy Calderon, Tess and Fred Gaa

Turning a year older

With Fred Gaa (right), who is a younger brother of former Philippine Ambassador to the United States Willy Gaa.

Kare Kareng Dagat

Sinigang na Hipon

Fried Chicken

Baked Tahong

Ensalada

Minaluto

Self portraits or sketches of Angono artist Perdigon Vocalan

Carved from high quality hardwood

Perdigon Vocalan was a painter and sculptor.

The Last Supper

Life size figurines of the 12 Apostles

Antique furniture

Mascaras and other small items are painted here.

Near the wooden staircase

Old aparadores

Mrs. Luzvimin Vocalan (middle) is the widow of Perdigon Vocalan. She personally manages Balaw Balaw.

A commercial photo shoot near the entrance of Balaw Balaw

Unusual high water level of Laguna de Bay

Angono's Lakeshore Park

When the water level of Laguna de Bay reaches the level of the two sirens, it is time to evacuate.