For three (mainly) sunny days in February, eight guys from Batch63 visited Roxas City in Capiz. The guys were: Vic Romero, Polding Arnaiz, Bambi Goco, Gary Salcedo, Tony Estonina, Steve Hontiveros, Oni Mayo and Lito Quiogue. Jon Arcenas was the graceful host who pampered the octet no end. Eboy Cosme had his plane ticket for the excursion but he backed out at the last minute due to a family requirement.
The soujourn was a great success. (It helps that Batch63 guys are tolerant of each others eccentricities.) Imagine fresh seafoods morning, noon and night. Jon outdid himself when he provided unlimited servings of crabs, prawns, shrimps, bangus, other fishes, pusit, fresh vegetables and fruits, all kinds of suman and clear sinigang soup for the batch everyday. In complement, Gary and Vic took it upon themselves to obtain bottles of Johnny Walker from the mall. This libation was to be the order of the night for some in the group after each gastronomic dinner feast.
By big city standards, Roxas City proper is a small urban center but which nevertheless is complete with malls, spas, restaurant and retail. Specially in the new town area containing Robinson Mall, seemingly first class modern subdivisions are quickly rising. But the real resource of the city is its marine pond production areas. Because of its geological land surface formation, much of Capiz is fronted by expansive marshlands that is ideal for turning into production ponds.
And Jon Arcenas is in the center of this local production activity. On Day 2, Jon brought the group by car first, then by boat, to "Tinagong Dagat" - a 30,000 hectare marshland expanse within a cove that contains a large portion of the city's production ponds. Years ago, Jon had the foresight to acquire a hundred hectares of the marsh where he now grows bangus, crabs and prawns. Jon's operation is vertically integrated since he has his own hatchery for prawn fries in the city. His hatchery is located along the beach just back of La Patria Resort Hotel (owned by Jon) where the group stayed.
On the third day, Jon brought the group to Olotayon Island which is a 30 minute boat ride from Roxas City mainland. This island with its 1000 population is effectively one of Jon's political bailiwick. Vic, Gary, Tony and Oni went swimming by the coast if only to have bragging rights that they have now swum in the Visayan Seas. Olotayon was one of those barangays ravaged by Typhoon Yolanda. An interesting development for witnessing in this remote island is the generosity of international NGOs. Housing facility donations from international NGOs (IOM, UN for Humanity Canada and Japan Aid were observed in the island.
The trip was not all about feasting, goofing and boating. The group visited scenic Heritage churches as well. Because of this, the trip not only made for fine bonding, fun and macho stories, but it was informative and educational as well. In behalf of the group, we wish Jon and family a heartfelt muchas gracias for everything (sunburn, hangover and elevated cholesterol included). We are not forgetting the huge mother prawns (gift of Jon from the hatchery) and king crabs that the group took home to Manila.
Sa mauulit, amigo!
The soujourn was a great success. (It helps that Batch63 guys are tolerant of each others eccentricities.) Imagine fresh seafoods morning, noon and night. Jon outdid himself when he provided unlimited servings of crabs, prawns, shrimps, bangus, other fishes, pusit, fresh vegetables and fruits, all kinds of suman and clear sinigang soup for the batch everyday. In complement, Gary and Vic took it upon themselves to obtain bottles of Johnny Walker from the mall. This libation was to be the order of the night for some in the group after each gastronomic dinner feast.
By big city standards, Roxas City proper is a small urban center but which nevertheless is complete with malls, spas, restaurant and retail. Specially in the new town area containing Robinson Mall, seemingly first class modern subdivisions are quickly rising. But the real resource of the city is its marine pond production areas. Because of its geological land surface formation, much of Capiz is fronted by expansive marshlands that is ideal for turning into production ponds.
And Jon Arcenas is in the center of this local production activity. On Day 2, Jon brought the group by car first, then by boat, to "Tinagong Dagat" - a 30,000 hectare marshland expanse within a cove that contains a large portion of the city's production ponds. Years ago, Jon had the foresight to acquire a hundred hectares of the marsh where he now grows bangus, crabs and prawns. Jon's operation is vertically integrated since he has his own hatchery for prawn fries in the city. His hatchery is located along the beach just back of La Patria Resort Hotel (owned by Jon) where the group stayed.
On the third day, Jon brought the group to Olotayon Island which is a 30 minute boat ride from Roxas City mainland. This island with its 1000 population is effectively one of Jon's political bailiwick. Vic, Gary, Tony and Oni went swimming by the coast if only to have bragging rights that they have now swum in the Visayan Seas. Olotayon was one of those barangays ravaged by Typhoon Yolanda. An interesting development for witnessing in this remote island is the generosity of international NGOs. Housing facility donations from international NGOs (IOM, UN for Humanity Canada and Japan Aid were observed in the island.
The trip was not all about feasting, goofing and boating. The group visited scenic Heritage churches as well. Because of this, the trip not only made for fine bonding, fun and macho stories, but it was informative and educational as well. In behalf of the group, we wish Jon and family a heartfelt muchas gracias for everything (sunburn, hangover and elevated cholesterol included). We are not forgetting the huge mother prawns (gift of Jon from the hatchery) and king crabs that the group took home to Manila.
Sa mauulit, amigo!
See Slide Shows for Photos
Day 1 (Friday)
Day 2 (Saturday)
Day 3 (Sunday)
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