Iloilo in Panay

I had only 200 km in meter when arrive in Iloilo. Drive via Toledo, San Carlos, Kanlaon, Bacolod to Dumangas, Iloilo. Distances not so long, only ferries take time. Also roads good except from Dumangas to Iloilo. No signs of damage round Kanlaon after earthquake

Iloilo was a positive surprise. Clean, organized city, bigger than Dumaguete or Bacolod. No beggars on the street. Iloilo is Bacolods mother city, settlers from there, also language ilongo. IMHO ilongo and visaya very close, like brothers.

Iloilo has Chinese impact, shops, things, temples, arches. A nice la mian restaurant with fish balls only Chinese can make. I also found fish paste in market, like nam phrik kapi in Thailand.

Got some new knowledge of deo stone. It is called tawas is visaya. You can use it over all body,like soap, the man told me. There is also different kind of tawas, powdered, to wash clothes or violet against allergy. Now I know that tawas is chrystals of potassium.

Small island next to Panay where Iloilo lies, is Guimaras. It is famous for carabao manga, big sweet manga; 60 peso small ones, 80 peso big. Taste good but I would fail in blind test against Negros, Cebu manga.

Word of the day: tawas = deo stone

Rainbow runner

Tanon strait full of rainbow runner. In Visayas they call it pansikol. Price is down to 90 peso/kg. Fish camp close to us have big buyers coming from a far, they buy all. I first thought pansikol is maqerel family ´cause colorful stripy like but it is a jack. Makes good as paksiu, or grilled, firm meat.

Fishermen complain big boats with long nets coming now and take too much. Their catch get down from what last week. They have only one line, hook and as bait they use uyap or small shrimp.

Word of the day: pansikol = rainbow runner

Ray Bradbury R.I.P.

His books changed many a peoples mind. He has more books than "Fahrenheit 451". He died at the age of 91 R.I.P.

Also announced today Vladimir Krutov died after injuries in accident. He was one of the legendary red machine who showed Canadians how to play hockey. He was so fast, impossible to stop.

Many days divers report whale sharks in Pescador. Maybe these same as in Malhiao. Now is full moon and bulinaw not coming to play in Malhiao. So whale sharks choose Pescador to catch some sardine. A theory as good as any?

They take four harvest of rice in Bugas. They work with buffalo (carabao), and all moments of labour are manual. Nice to look but I know it breaks Your back. All and sister helping. Child labour? You dont know what You talking of.

Word of the day: bugas - milled rice, humay = cooked rice