MEDIUM RARE

It’s sizzling out there, that is, here in Metro Manila, with maximum temperatures hitting 32C, with no promise of clouds promising rain. But in Tagaytay, temperatures are down by around five degrees – welcome to the coolish breeze and the cooling sight of the lake.

The problem with Tagaytay City, as pretty as it can get, is that, partly because it’s not as far away as Baguio up there among the pines, traffic going there on weekends could jar your daydreams. For example, and quoting published data, there were 731,000 overnight tourists in one day, on Sept. 30, 2023.

There’s an alternative, though. If you could end your trip in Silang, the city before you hit Tagaytay, you’d still get enough bang for the buck. The weather is no different, and there are enough stops to make the trip worthwhile. One of them is Acienda along Aguinaldo Highway, a Mexican villa-style mall with shops selling imported and local brands – they do advertise weekend sales – and restaurants and snack bars (not too many of them, as of my last visit).

My balikbayan cousin, Ann, who lived in Los Angeles for nearly half her life, did not waste any time sitting down with pen and paper to remember and record a touristy itinerary for a day trip to Silang for future day-trip adventurers.  As she recalls, her group arrived at 11:30 a.m. and stopped by the church of Our Lady of Candelaria, to which, as she learned, the 104-year-old Tiya Auring donates the robes to be worn by the Blessed Mother on her feast day (fiesta) every year.

After church, the group lunched at Recuerdo’s, practically a landmark of Silang. A couple hours later, they “had to” visit Silang Bakery to buy the city’s “famous and delicious monay – not to be missed!” As she describes the bread, which is available only in the afternoon, “the texture is smooth and the taste is very good – nothing like it anywhere!” Refrigerated or not, the bread is good enough without toasting, no jam or filling of any kind needed. No wonder, Ann said, locals consider the bakery and its products “iconic.”

Cozy places like Silang are the backbone of our tourism industry – what a nostalgic spell they cast.