Jaya Secret Garden grows Blue Ternate Flower (Butterfly Pea Flower)

We woke up to the chirping of the birds and the soothing sounds of nature and everyone was excited for our third destination-- Jaya Secret Garden at Malaybalay.

Jaya Secret Garden is smack right in the city of Malaybalay Bukidnon, but you'll never know that there is a secret backyard farm unless you have the owners to tour you around.

Patotim

Before the tour we first had our sumptuous healthy lunch first at Jaya Secret Garden. They prepared steamed blue ternate rice, fried adobo duck, fried tilapia, tinolang manok, stewed vegetables, fresh fruits like papaya, balimbing, guava and organic fruit juices.

Fried Organic Tilapia

Yes you read that right. Not brown, or red but BLUE RICE..

It was my first time to see and eat blue ternate organic rice. They told us that the blue ternate flower or Butterfly Pea Flower (Clitoria ternatea) is rich with antioxidants. It has anti-aging as well as anti-inflammatory properties, good for your vision and if you are trying to conceive, the ternate rice is said to help women become more fertile. 

Blue Ternate Rice or Butterfly Pea Flower

Being quite adventurous, I tried to chew one of the flowers. It tasted flat but slightly sweet and it left a blue ink-like color on my tongue. I thought if I ate enough of the flower I might just transform into X-Men's Mystique. 

Stewed vegetables

Organic vinegar with chili, onions, ginger

Fresh Crunchy Papaya

Blue Ternate Flower, Balimbing and Guava

They grow Ternate Blue flower in their backyard and it is a sight to behold, I love the blue color with pop of green leaves.

After our lunch, Mr Juna, with the help of his daughter Jaya took us around their backyard farm. Mr. Juna and Jaya talked about the produce they grow and the organic tilapia in their fish pond. They also raise ducks and chickens as well.

Jaya Bayag

Jaya Secret Garden was named after their 11-year -old daughter Jaya, (Jayashree Harsha A. Bayag) a Grade 6 student from Malaybalay. Her dad proudly told us that she had a green thumb for organic gardening. She markets their products to those who want to eat organic delicious and healthy produce.

Mr. Juna Bayag

Mr Juna Bayag is a high school teacher teaching Agriculture in TLE subject.  With the help and trainings from Agriculture Training Institute, he was able to put up his own backyard farm. 

Aside from cabbage, lettuce, papaya, gourd, romaine, blue ternate flower. They also grow choco chili and world's hottest pepper Carolina reaper.

Mr. Juna Bayag helps stop global warming by by recycling organic waste or composting it into his garden.  He advised to buy locally grown and produced foods. He is an advocate of sustainable living by practicing it into his backyard farm, he makes use of recycled tires and plastic pots  in the vegetable garden. 

To know more about the farm,  Jaya Secret Garden is located at Comisio St., Brgy. 1, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon Philippines. For farm tour schedule

Please contact:
Ms. Hazel Fe A. Bayag(Garden Business Manager)
Mobile number: 0917-7933309/0917-795444
Email:  jayasecretgarden33@gmail.com Facebook: Jaya Secret Garden

REDD: The New Foodie Destination at Prism Plaza

A few years ago, before I decided to blog full-time, I used to work at one of the BPOs located at ONE E-Com.  Back then the row of restaurants at the seaside were still  being constructed and the only dining choices we had were the 24 hour convenience stores and a couple of food chains nearby.

The problem is that these fast food restos were often packed with other employees who probably realized that eating siopao, hotdog or noodles wasn’t exactly a good way to live. We were deprived of affordable, delicious food during those times.

Our encounters with real food, and complete meals only existed during paydays and we had to go to the SM Moa or at the stretch of expensive restos at SM Moa By the Bay.

I finally got the chance to revisit the place a few weeks ago when one of our close blogger friends Alex Dizon invited us over for a food review.  He was quite excited to show us this new restaurant  at the Two E-com, (which just a stone's throw away from One E-Com) The name of the place was REDD and it had this cool millennial vibe with its detailed red and white decor, with cute lamps hanging around the ceiling.  REDD is located upstairs Prism Plaza which has a nice view of the bay area, and had the perfect view during those pyromusical events. It has a separate videoke room if you want to chill out with friends for good food and music.

The REDD features Filipino delicious funny sounding names to your usual "pulutan" or "ulam".
Their menu was composed mostly of Filipino dishes, which you can order either in “selfie,” “date,” and “groufie” sizes, depending on your budget, diet or if you are with friends.

Sisig Ala Kanto

We were then served two versions of sisig. Their best selling Sisig ala kanto is an heirloom recipe of one of the owners, Its a street style pork mascara and ears with chicken liver. The best pulutan there is to order with chicharon as toppings. Or if you're watching your diet, you can try out their SEAsig, made of tuna, bangus and dory. Ask for some siling labuyo for that extra kick. 

Seasig

Unlike your ordinary sisig, REDDs version is not topped with egg or mayonnaise so you could enjoy and savor the taste of the individual ingredients. 

Juana Fries

On this particular visit we tried out their Juana Fries- hand cut camote tops fried 3x and topped with cheddar cream cheese, salsa and chili con carne. What makes this particular dish unique is the crispiness of the camote fries and the salsa that tastes out of this world.

Chicken and Pork Adobo

Redd's version of Chicken and Pork Adobo topped with fresh garlic! Best with steamed rice. 

Anybody can cook Chicken and Pork Adobo, but not the way REDD does it. Sandwiched between crunch slices of pork belly bagnet and seasoned chicken leg and thigh inasal mixed in special adobo sauce. The result is a smoky grilled taste with a crunch in every bite! 

Beef Kaldereta 

Beef kaldereta is comprised of potatoes, carrots, chili, pitted olives, bell pepper and of course the key ingredient, the tomato sauce. I love how the potatoes were fried and separated while all the ingredients are cooked first. 

Beef Kaldereta slow cooked braised beef from batangas made special with their kaldereta sauce.

Kansi

Kansi is Ilonggo’s version of the famous Bulalo. The dish is a cross between bulalo and sinigang. This is the first time I have tasted kansi.  If you’re feeling a bit cold, especially now that the rainy season is kicking in you might want to try this soup.

Grilled Tuna Belly

Grilled tuna is my comfort food. I could eat this all day on its own. Redd's version of Grilled Tuna Belly is the best there is because of its sweet and tangy marinade flavor that takes away the "lansa" of the fish, good thing is that the inside meat is cooked just right, soft and juicy. 

Bagoong Rice

The fried rice dish that makes use of bagoong or shrimp paste, topped with stripped green mangoes, best to partner with REDD's mains. Now I try to avoid rice as much as possible but I couldn’t resist the Bagoong Rice and tinapa rice. That perfectly complemented the meals I mentioned above.

Mango Tango 

To cap the meal,  REDD got your favorite signature cocktails like the Mango Tango, Coco Martini, Samalamig, Mojito de Guimaras and many others. You'll be surprised for the alcohol content, but not enough to knock you down. Unless you order for local beers.

With the opening of REDD, those working at the BPO offices in the area can have something to look forward to before or after their shift. It’s a great place to hang out, chill out or even spend some time singing some tunes at the REDD private videoke lounge which can be availed of through reservation at a very friendly price. REDD has prepared very affordable special KTV packages that start at Php199.00 to Php4,999.00 depending on the number of guests. Visitors can likewise request for the Beer Pong station to be set up for a rollicking good time.

REDD is located at Prism Plaza, Two E-Com Building, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City. For more details and for updates on promos, visit the REDD Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/REDDeatdrinkchill and Instagram account: @REDDeatdrinkchill

Alomah's Place: Bukidnon's Best Kept Secret Hideaway

I remember fellow blogger Ruth Floresca’s  precautionary advice before we agreed to join the OA trip--- "Hindi ka dapat maarte, and you should be ready to sleep on a tent--- in the middle of the farm,”

Well all my friends know that “maarte” isn’t in my vocabulary, and as far as sleeping inside a tent, I don’t think it could be worse than the time we went to Mt. Pico De Loro when our tent became our blanket amidst the rain.

After the Cervantes Farm tour, we then proceeded to Alomah's Place in Dahilayan. It was a long, tiring, drizzling 3-hour ride and by the time we arrived it was already late in the afternoon. Alomah's is located at Barangay Dahilayan in Manolo Fortich town Bukidnon.


Despite the long ride I think this was my favorite of the five farms we visited.  It had more of a laid back feel to it, "para ka lang bakasyonista" and the food was tasty and healthy!

Organic Tarragon tea with Stevia leaves and "Unli" Salad

As soon as we arrived, we were ushered to their living room/karaoke room/ and our hosts were quite generous and told us we could have all the Tarrragon tea (with stevia leaves) and salad we want to eat.

After having our afternoon tea and salad, we were introduced to the owners Mr. Benjohn and Grace Mahistrado.  Ms. Grace then showed us to our tent room for our overnight stay. The "tent room" was located upstairs with six set up camping tents.   We were supposed to sleep outside with tents in the farm, but the heavy rain downpour prevented us from doing so.


The 2000 hectare land is managed by the husband and wife couple Alomah's is the combination of Grace's maiden name Alombro and Benjohn's last name, thus the Alomah's. We listened to their success story, starting out as a young married couple who saved up and pursued their dreams of having a farm with varieties of organic produce and make a living out of it. ATI (Agricultural Training Institute of the Philippine Department of Agriculture) helped them make their dreams come true.

They are the ones who supply green lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, bell pepper, romaine, and carrots to one of the Shakeys branches. They told us that people who bought their organic vegetables loved and keep coming back for their produce because of its sweet, crunchy taste, their lettuce are guaranteed no pesticides and 100% organic.

Alomah's place also has an organic tilapia pond. There are free range chickens, goats and horses roaming around the farm.

After the farm tour, Mr Benjohn let us ride his favorite horse Riffle,  he guided us for a little straddle along the short path. I chose to just pose for a pic with my cowboy hat on.

The scenery was priceless as it was spectacular. The farm was really a sight to behold with its colorful organic plant produce in rows.

Mr Benjohn Mahistrado

I love that you have a clear view of the farm from just about anywhere so you'll get to see the lush greens, and see what's happening around the area. We were also lucky to witness the brilliant sunrise from the farm. It was truly a beautiful and captivating sight.

The weather was cold as if you were in Baguio because of the uphill elevation.  I was enjoying it too much that I seriously was contemplating of buying my own farm and live there for the rest of my life.

Alomah's place is open for teambuilding, recollection, retreat and horseback riding. They have cottages you can rent at P2400 a night, or tents for p500.  You can also enjoy unlimited tarragon tea and salad with special vinaigrette during your stay.

Farm Details:
Alomah's Place Dahilayan Manolo Fortich Bukidnon
Dahilayan 8703, Manolo Fortich,
Bukidnon Province, Philippines
+639177153560 / +639088972466 / +639168844374

To visit the different ATI-assisted projects (Organic Farming Learning Sites), you can drop by or ask the ATI Regional Training Center nearest you or inquire through:

982AGRI (982-2474) for Metro Manila calls
1-800-10-982AGRI (1-800-10-9822474) for provincial toll-free calls using PLDT landlines

For Smart and Talk & Text Subscribers, text 391-DA (391-32).
For non-Smart Subscribers, text 0920-946AGRI (0920-9462474).