Aired (July 7, 2024): Join Biyahero Drew as he delves into the unseen wonders and captivating beauty of Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija.
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00:00In every trip, there are places that you just pass by.
00:08But if you're going there on purpose, you'll surely discover a lot of things.
00:15And we'll be able to say,
00:17there's something like that here?
00:22It has a different taste that becomes tastier.
00:26It's different for me, it's a very interesting tree.
00:28It's really delicious.
00:29The taste is really pungent.
00:31We're from South Cotabato, from Mindanao.
00:34And the kids really enjoy it here.
00:42By the way, Team Lino and Team Carlito are the top careerists every year.
00:48They seem to be very experienced.
00:50It's good, it's good.
00:51It suits Bangusa.
00:54There's no secret that can't be revealed.
00:56In the town of Pantabangan in Nueva Ecija.
01:03Aside from fishing, there are other activities that fishermen in Pantabangan do once a year.
01:09They fight for the speed of fishing and fishing.
01:13Every year, every April, they have a festival called Pandawan Festival.
01:19Now, in that festival, they have a career.
01:24It's a career for a good number of years.
01:26But this year, there's a twist.
01:29They have a mukbang career.
01:31After their mukbang career, they will eat.
01:37Or should I say, they have a food eating contest.
01:41We're with Team Lino.
01:43He's with Raymart.
01:46It's Randy.
01:47He's Raymart's brother, sorry.
01:49Lino, Randy, Carlito, and JR.
01:53Okay, let them go first.
01:55They will go to that small island using their boat.
01:59After that, they will eat puto first.
02:03Now, the winner will get 4,000 pesos.
02:07The losing team will go home with 1,000 pesos.
02:12So, who will go home with 4,000?
02:14Who will go home with 1,000?
02:16We'll never know.
02:17Let's find out.
02:18Tata Rudy is the official flag carrier.
02:21He will be the one to start our mukbang career.
02:263, 2, 1, go Tay!
02:34Team Lino and Team Carlito are the top careristas every year.
02:40On the left side, we have fans and audience.
02:44It looks like Team Carlito will go first.
02:48Team Lino is a bit stuck.
02:50They're having a hard time going around because the water is cutting them across.
02:55Is it crosswind?
02:56This is perfect, travelers.
02:58Because they're so tired.
03:00I'm sure they're very hungry.
03:02We'll find out who will go first.
03:05Team Lino or Team Carlito?
03:08And there you have it, folks.
03:10Travelers, Team Carlito will go first.
03:18The battle is not over yet.
03:20Team Lino still has a chance to go first.
03:22In the second round, the mukbang will start.
03:25And first on the table is Team Carlito versus Team JR.
03:29Let's see who will go first.
03:31Team Carlito or Team Lino?
03:37Let's start eating.
03:38Team Carlito looks very hungry.
03:40Here comes Team Lino and Team Randy.
03:45They need to talk while eating puto.
03:49Will they go crazy?
03:51It's JR's turn.
03:53By the way, 4,000 pesos is at stake.
03:55The team that wins will have a good pacing, taking their time.
04:01One plate down.
04:07Here it is.
04:08After a long wait,
04:12it looks like the winner is Team Carlito versus Team JR!
04:23Congratulations, Brother Carlito!
04:25JR!
04:28Here you go.
04:31Congratulations, Brother.
04:33Thank you.
04:36And this is where our 2024 Pamtabangan Mukbang Career ends!
04:45Carlito was lucky enough to join his country's first mukbang career.
04:52Despite the pandemic,
04:56all of our barangay members were invited to join the career.
05:01That's why I joined all of the games related to the career.
05:10I always do papers.
05:14His secret to every victory?
05:16A strong body and support from his inspirations.
05:21I sleep well, eat well, that's all.
05:25My family is also my inspiration.
05:27My fight is for them.
05:29I will use what I earn for my livelihood,
05:33to buy our farm, for my family.
05:39A town in Nueva Ecija,
05:41an underwater town because it's hidden under water.
05:45This is a bit high right now,
05:49but there are a good number of months.
05:51When it rains, it really sinks.
05:55I just want to know, so we have a basis,
05:58that it really sinks.
06:01It really sinks, sir.
06:03We are also interested to know what's there.
06:06There's a historical event here in Pantabangan Lake.
06:10Within 5 decades,
06:12this is the 4th time that Pantabangan has been re-opened.
06:17That's why today, we will accompany Tatoy Silistino,
06:20one of the former residents who came back here.
06:23The old town of Pantabangan is almost 300 years old.
06:27But in the 1970s, it was destroyed.
06:30What's the reason?
06:31What happened here?
06:32Did the former municipality sink?
06:36The town.
06:37The town.
06:38It was divided into 8 barangays of Pantabangan.
06:42Until the construction of the Pantabangan Dam in 1971.
06:47The residents were given a new house,
06:49as well as Tatoy Silistino's family.
06:523 years later,
06:53after the construction,
06:55the operation of the dam in 1977
06:58was the beginning of the sinking of the old town.
07:02The dam was built by our ancestors,
07:05in Nevesihan,
07:07our national ancestors.
07:09We were able to see the dam of the town of Pantabangan
07:12because of the 6 rivers that flow through the dam.
07:17We were able to see that there is a great possibility
07:21that the dam will overflow.
07:25The old town of Pantabangan will be visible
07:27whenever there is a drought.
07:29Because of the hot weather,
07:31the normal level of the Pantabangan Dam is 221 meters.
07:34And because of the high aluminum consumption of the country
07:37during the past few months,
07:38the level of the dam's water has dropped by almost 50 meters.
07:41Because of this,
07:42some establishments of the Pantabangan Dam
07:44have been rebuilt.
07:48This is the gate that leads to the Municipal Hall.
07:53This is the statue of Our Lady of Serizal.
07:57These are the three stages.
08:00This is the inside of the Normas Auditorium
08:03where we hold our parties.
08:06This is where we hold our dances.
08:09This is the Catholic Church of the town of Pantabangan.
08:13The exit of the people here,
08:15which is 1,800 families.
08:17Yes.
08:18What is the exchange?
08:20We were given apartments.
08:23This is the 8th barangay,
08:24so we moved there to Gawinyaan, Tanawan.
08:29We are given rice rations almost every week.
08:34This is where in 2020,
08:35the Sunken Town was declared as a cultural heritage zone.
08:40It was also opened to tourists who wanted to see the sunken town.
08:44This is a symbol of our local government
08:48and our fellow countrymen
08:50for their high pride and importance.
08:53Because this symbolizes
08:55what our countrymen have done for our country.
08:59In spite of the life they left here,
09:01the women have become the fruit of the dam.
09:04What does this dam supply?
09:06The entire province of Nueva Ecija
09:09was also the reason why
09:13Nueva Ecija was called the Rice Granary of the Philippines
09:18because of the irrigation.
09:22Just like the old town of Pantabangan,
09:24there is a place called Lulubug Lilitao in their area.
09:28This place is said to be flooded with mud.
09:33Mud?
09:34Believe it or not,
09:35the mud in the rocks is used as a flavoring agent in one of their dishes.
09:42I can't say it because I haven't heard it yet.
09:45I heard it.
09:47Where, Jim?
09:48Mud?
09:49They don't eat it.
09:50I've never heard of it.
09:52For the fisherman, Tatay Totoy,
09:54the mud in the rocks
09:56is like the taste of fish.
09:58It has sweetness,
09:59it has flavor.
10:00The taste is really different.
10:03The dish he's making here,
10:05Sinigang na Lumot sa Bato,
10:07is what fishermen used to eat whenever they don't catch anything.
10:10However, as time went by,
10:12the number of fish caught in the mud slowly decreased.
10:16I don't eat it anymore
10:18because I don't have anything else to eat.
10:20I only have vegetables and fish.
10:22I only have bamboo, coconut,
10:25and whatever I catch.
10:27I don't eat it anymore.
10:29But for today's video,
10:31we'll go with Tatay Totoy to catch mud
10:33so he can taste the fish he caught.
10:36This river of fish is where they catch mud
10:41and mud in the rocks, specifically.
10:43And that's what they use to make the food taste good.
10:46Is that right, Tatay Totoy?
10:47That's right.
10:48How did it start?
10:50It started when my uncle and I ate together.
10:55Yes.
10:56He scooped the soup.
10:58He scooped the soup?
10:59Yes.
11:00It was delicious.
11:02I was looking for the meat.
11:05Yes.
11:06What did you think it was?
11:07I thought it was fish.
11:08Fish?
11:09The fish was soaked in soup?
11:11Yes.
11:12I told my uncle,
11:13Uncle, it's taking too long.
11:15I'm already full from the soup.
11:16I don't have any meat left.
11:17He finished it.
11:18He's still scooping it.
11:19He's still scooping it?
11:20Yes.
11:21Okay.
11:22Later, he softened it.
11:23He softened it?
11:24Yes.
11:25What did he mean by that?
11:26I looked at it.
11:27Yes.
11:28It's a rock.
11:29How did he soften it?
11:30So that it wouldn't move.
11:33Can we say that if you didn't see the rock inside,
11:38you closed your eyes,
11:40and you didn't plan to eat the fish,
11:43what would it taste like?
11:45It would really taste like fish.
11:46It would really taste like fish?
11:47Yes.
11:52What we're looking for,
11:53is in the rocks in the river where the water doesn't stop flowing.
11:57This is the cleanest thing we can use as a seasoning for our dish.
12:07After sautéing,
12:08we'll add the fish we caught along with the rocks.
12:11They told us not to use the rocks,
12:13but the rocks really don't float?
12:15No, they really don't.
12:16Why?
12:17If we say that what we're cooking is already cooked,
12:20will the rocks be removed?
12:22Or are the rocks just there?
12:24No, we'll just add the fish.
12:27Oh.
12:28Are you thinking about the rocks?
12:30Like they're bones?
12:31No, not yet.
12:33We're not adding the fish yet.
12:35We'll just add the fish.
12:38So how do you know if it's already cooked?
12:40Because the rocks are still hard, right?
12:42The fish will float.
12:45The seasoning that they use here,
12:47is Balangabang leaves.
12:49This is also replaced by tulia and suso,
12:52which can also be found in the river.
12:57Let's try what we cooked.
13:01This is it.
13:02Are you eating the rocks?
13:03No.
13:04Oh, you're not.
13:05No, I'm not.
13:06You're really just eating the rocks?
13:07So you're not even thinking about the rocks?
13:09No, I'm not.
13:11We just added the taste.
13:12The taste.
13:15I can taste the saltiness.
13:17I can taste the bite of the long pepper.
13:21I can taste the mountains, the river,
13:26the people who swim in the river.
13:30I can feel their happiness.
13:35I don't know if that's what makes it delicious,
13:38but it has a different taste that becomes more delicious.
13:44I don't know if it comes from the rocks or the mud.
13:46Coffee, cream.
13:48Mud.
13:49Rocks.
13:51Let's combine it, brother.
13:54Just like mud and rocks.
13:58Let's swim.
14:18Let's swim.
14:44I don't have a signal.
14:49I don't have a signal.
14:50I don't have a signal.
14:51I don't have a signal.
14:52intermittently
15:15Jilangueros,
15:17are the dinosaurs,
15:18mascots and animatronics
15:19that growing in this resort's just attraction.
15:21Here, our main attraction is the dino park.
15:28We already have 17 dinosaurs here in the dino park.
15:33The dinosaurs can reach heights of 5 to 20 feet.
15:38I'm sure the kids and young-at-heart will enjoy it
15:41when they only see it in movies and books.
15:44They will be able to face and tease you personally.
15:51We are from South Cotabato, from Mindanao.
16:07The kids really enjoy it here.
16:10They enjoy the dinosaurs because they really move.
16:14We don't have anything like this.
16:16We are from Manila, specifically Mandaluyong City.
16:20Our family really enjoys it here in the dino park.
16:25It's fun here.
16:26If you go to the dino park, it's a good place for the family.
16:29I really enjoyed it here in the dino park.
16:32It's fun.
16:33You can just walk around.
16:35You can look at the attractions here and take pictures.
16:42Aside from the dinos, there is also a safari
16:44with life-size figures of various animals.
16:51And that's not all.
16:52It's also a great place for the family
16:54because there are cabins where you can sleep
16:56if you get tired from walking.
17:06Did you know that there is a local spinach in Pandabangan?
17:11Check it out, guys.
17:12Maybe you also have this virus.
17:16We won't keep it a secret.
17:18This is the Kulitis leaf.
17:20It usually grows in small pots.
17:25It grows in canyons and mongos.
17:27You can remove the stem.
17:29We usually cook it.
17:38We are now at the Pandabangan Market.
17:41Now, we are looking for a specific and unique type of vegetable,
17:46which is the Kulitis leaf.
17:48Let's go and look for it.
17:52There are a lot of people here and a lot of people are walking.
17:54Good morning.
17:56Hello.
17:57We are from Manila and we are looking for the Kulitis leaf.
18:01Oh, there it is.
18:02Is it there?
18:03Thank you.
18:04Thank you.
18:06There it is.
18:07Hello, Ma'am.
18:08We are looking for the Bayabas leaf.
18:11Oh, Bayabas leaf.
18:12Kulitis leaf.
18:14Here it is, sir.
18:15Oh, here it is.
18:16We don't sell it anymore, sir.
18:18How much is one of these?
18:1920 pesos, sir.
18:2120 pesos.
18:2220 pesos, right?
18:23Yes, sir.
18:27It's the same, right, Ma'am?
18:28Yes, sir.
18:29It's the same.
18:31Thank you.
18:32We found out that we don't have to wait any longer before we taste the cooked Kulitis.
18:38So, let's try it here at Joshua's Eatery.
18:43Maybe they have cooked Kulitis.
18:46Do you have this?
18:49Kulitis that's already cooked.
18:50Yes, we do.
18:52Here it is, sir.
18:53Oh, it looks like there's fish in it.
18:56Yes, sir.
18:57Bangus, sir.
18:58Bangus?
18:59Okay, one order of that.
19:00One order, sir.
19:01Yes, sir.
19:02Or dine-in.
19:03Yes, sir.
19:04How much is one of these?
19:0550 pesos, sir.
19:0650 pesos.
19:07Okay.
19:08Thank you.
19:13Nice.
19:14Let's add some soup.
19:18Hey, it's good.
19:19Salty.
19:22Salty.
19:30It's good.
19:32It's good.
19:35It goes well with bangus.
19:39They say that it's like spinach.
19:45It's simple to cook this.
19:47It's boiled, added salt, tomatoes, and of course, bangus is a bonus.
20:00Here at Pantabahan Lake, fishermen will be happier when they catch big tilapia.
20:06It can weigh up to 3 kilos and can reach up to 14 centimeters or 1.16 feet in length.
20:15Get ready to eat.
20:16Their hands are busy grilling in the pandawan, where tilapia are being grilled one by one.
20:23The OG of tilapia grilled by the people of Pantabahan is the kinunot.
20:29This is Noel's favorite dish from the family of fishermen.
20:33That day, sometimes, the river was flooded and no one was able to catch fish.
20:38Sometimes, one piece of tilapia was enough for our parents to catch.
20:44So, they decided to make a dish for their children.
20:49They grill the tilapia and add water to make the dish.
20:55That's how the kinunot started.
20:59Tilapia is being grilled.
21:02It's called pagkukunot or paghihimay in Tagalog.
21:07What's special about their kinunot is that it's not covered with coconut milk.
21:12Their version is that they mix the tilapia with the boiled bangus.
21:17Let's eat.
21:29It's delicious.
21:30The saltiness and the grilled tilapia.
21:38The saltiness and the saltiness is just right.
21:40It's delicious.
21:41It's delicious.
21:47Will the next dish we'll taste be a winner as well?
21:52Different dishes in Tilapia.
21:54Literal winning dishes of a resort in Pantabangan.
21:58Tilapia, but make it sociale.
22:00For this 2024 Tilapia Cooking Contest, we have the Butterfly Tilapia with Ayoli Sauce that won first place.
22:19It's really delicious.
22:21This is the only restaurant I've been to that has a great taste.
22:25But it's not just that they can fill their stomachs.
22:28Their eyes will also be filled with beautiful sights.
22:32What you can see here in Lake Farm de la Mar is our 5,000 roses.
22:45But you can achieve your dream hotel staycation here in the middle of…
22:51Balayan.
22:53Fresh air and quiet surroundings.
22:58Who wouldn't want to wake up to this view?
23:01Within this 6.5 hectares, you'll experience next level provincial feels.
23:06Literally a modern cubo with your own private pool.
23:09It's awesome.
23:11Our modern cubo is inspired by our hardworking Novo Isehana farmers.
23:16It is a modern cubo because of 90% of materials.
23:20It has a modern touch to make the guests comfortable.
23:36There are places that you just pass by.
23:39But if you're going to try it, you have to try it.
23:42There are places that you just pass by.
23:45But if you're going to try it, you have to try it.
23:49You might be surprised by the surprises.
23:53It might just be hidden by the river.
23:56In the middle of nowhere.
23:58Or even in a vacant lot.
24:01It might just pop up out of nowhere.
24:05So you can take advantage of its hidden beauty.
24:11Novo Isehana.