Aired (September 1, 2024): Join Biyahero Drew as he explores the hidden treasures of Cebu alongside two iconic Cebuanas – Alas Pilipinas star Cherry Ann “Sisi” Rondina and Miss Universe Philippines 2021 Beatrice Luigi Gomez.
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00:00You know what, before I became a science guy, I didn't use all of that just to find my way.
00:09That's just up to you.
00:10It's a good thing that a lot of people like me in Cebu.
00:17I'm a mountain man. I really dig this place.
00:23Cebu is not only the richest province in 2023.
00:28On this trip, we will explore a different part of Cebu,
00:33here in Toledo.
00:40I really dig this place.
00:43This is a perfect, relaxing setting for me.
00:48Where we will have not one, but two Cebuana Pride.
00:53From Sissy, Cherry Bomb, Rondina, Nabatak,
00:56to Humampas.
00:58It's like you're going to form a heart.
01:00Heart?
01:02No, this one.
01:04To one of the most beautiful rivers in the universe,
01:07Beatriz Luigi Gomez.
01:10The view is beautiful, right?
01:11We're still on top of a jeep.
01:14Let's go, biheros.
01:16Let's talk about the treasures of Cebu.
01:18One of the things that we do here in Cebu,
01:20is their trademark, lechon.
01:23I just got back from Mactan Airport.
01:25Of course, our first stop is to taste lechon.
01:34I forgot this in my wallet.
01:40Five.
01:41Ten.
01:43Five.
01:44Ten.
01:48Thirteen pesos?
01:49What can I buy with thirteen pesos?
01:51What's the problem, sir?
01:52Huh?
01:53What's the problem?
01:54Nothing.
01:56Nothing.
01:57Are you going to buy lechon?
01:58But thirteen pesos is just...
02:00It's okay, sir.
02:01Huh?
02:02Come, sir. Come in, sir.
02:03Here in the city of Toledo,
02:04do you know where your thirteen pesos will go?
02:08For thirteen pesos, you have lechon.
02:11Because here in Toledo,
02:12you can find the most affordable lechon in town.
02:16The lechon liog or lechong lieg ng manok.
02:21Why did you think of selling chicken legs?
02:23Because it's a waste to buy a whole chicken leg
02:26and we won't sell it.
02:28So, to make a profit, we'll sell it.
02:33So, you're the one who's seasoning it?
02:35Yes, sir. We're the ones who season it.
02:37So, if you say chicken leg,
02:39it's also thirteen pesos?
02:40It's thirteen pesos.
02:41So, if you say chicken leg,
02:43it's also thirteen pesos?
02:44No, sir. It's just chicken leeg.
02:46Oh, leeg!
02:48That's a judgment, Bejeros.
02:51I really meant pork lechon.
02:54Although, lechon is a style of cooking.
02:57So, lechon na leeg.
02:59Na leeg.
03:07Hey,
03:11this is delicious.
03:13I mean, you don't eat a lot of meat,
03:16but the skin is already delicious.
03:21Aside from lechon liog,
03:23they also have lechon manok and lechon lepo.
03:26It's best to dip it in their homemade sauce.
03:34The sauce definitely complements the marinade.
03:38It's a great idea.
03:40Ha! I'm eating lechon.
03:42Nek! Nek! Mo!
03:48The wealth of the people of Toledo,
03:50lechon liog is not cheap.
03:52But these people I'm with,
03:54they've already won a few Volleyball games.
03:59There's no one like Cebuana,
04:01Cece, Cherry Bomb, Rondina.
04:04In her Volleyball career,
04:05she's already won a few MVP,
04:08or Most Valuable Player.
04:10And recently,
04:11she won the first Best Outside Spiker
04:14at the 2024 All-Filipino Conference.
04:18Of course,
04:19we can't miss the chance
04:21to learn how to beat the Best Outside Spiker herself.
04:26So my height is around 5'11, right?
04:305'11?
04:31Huh?
04:32Around 5'11?
04:35I don't think so.
04:36She doesn't know that.
04:37So, 5'11?
04:39You're 6'1?
04:41No, I'm 6'6.
04:43Exactly.
04:44So anyway,
04:45go ahead and eat.
04:47Then you'll grow tall
04:48to become a Volleyball player.
04:50It's hard to lie here.
04:53When she's not playing,
04:54Cece's favorite thing to do
04:56is to go to the beach.
04:57This is Cece,
04:58who grew up by the sea
04:59in Compostela, Cebu.
05:01Cherry, what's your real name?
05:03Cherry Ann.
05:04Cherry Ann?
05:05How did you become Cece?
05:06Our life was really hard back then.
05:09We didn't have food.
05:11What we did was,
05:12we'd bring rice, vinegar,
05:15and we'd sit on big rocks.
05:18Then you'd see these little things.
05:22Aren't they called Talabah?
05:24No, they're really called Cece.
05:26Those little things,
05:27that's what they're called?
05:28Cece.
05:29Cece.
05:30So, we'd feed her everyday.
05:33And so,
05:34they called me Cece Girl.
05:36That's why back then,
05:37Cece was considered
05:39Cece,
05:40or your little Talabah.
05:42When it comes to,
05:43close to Cece,
05:45this is probably it, I guess.
05:47This is the biggest one.
05:49So usually,
05:50how do you feed this?
05:51This is the Talabah.
05:56Calamansi.
05:58I do it like this.
05:59Then, salt.
06:00Salt.
06:03It's a bit hard,
06:04so we need to use our hands.
06:06Oh, you don't?
06:07I can do it.
06:08I can do it.
06:09You can?
06:10Sorry.
06:11I just can't see.
06:12Use your hands.
06:13Yes.
06:18You're alive now.
06:20It's so good.
06:22Cece and Talabah,
06:23it's like she can't leave her system anymore.
06:26Because this is what she eats
06:27before she fights.
06:28In Manila,
06:29this is also my pregame
06:31at night.
06:32Really?
06:33I promise.
06:34That's it?
06:35Really?
06:36That's what you eat in pregame,
06:37with rice?
06:38Yes.
06:39Is there anything else?
06:41Is there another dish?
06:42Or is that it?
06:43It's more on vinegar.
06:45Vinegar, right?
06:47But now,
06:48Cece has a big name in volleyball.
06:50She was born simple.
06:53Our background in our family,
06:55we don't have anything.
06:56We don't have a house.
06:58We don't have everything.
06:59We don't have a home.
07:00We can also eat panis with rice.
07:03But it's so hard.
07:04That's what motivated me.
07:08When I ate that panis,
07:11I said,
07:12Lord, this won't happen again.
07:15So, one and done?
07:16Yes, one and done.
07:17Did you finish that panis?
07:19Yes, we finished it.
07:20Really?
07:21Yes.
07:22So, what happened was,
07:24I saw my siblings eating,
07:27my father,
07:28I mean, my mother.
07:29And I just said,
07:32it's so hard.
07:34Because of Cece's discipline and determination,
07:37her life and her family changed.
07:40I'm happy that I can share the blessings I have.
07:44And before,
07:46my goal was to give them whatever they deserve.
07:52Of course, to pay back to my parents.
07:54And that's how we were able to build a house.
07:59And I just gave them what they needed.
08:04Now that we're able to eat,
08:06we have the strength to play.
08:08Just straight.
08:11I'll give it a try.
08:13Idol, teach me how to play volleyball.
08:17Just lock it.
08:18No more.
08:19I'll guide you.
08:20So, I'll point the ball at you.
08:22Since our forte is right-hand.
08:25If the ball goes here,
08:29side.
08:31If it's the other way,
08:33side.
08:34As long as the ball is in the middle.
08:37The two should be close.
08:40Not like this.
08:41No, it should be locked.
08:42It should be like this.
08:43Yes.
08:44It also depends on...
08:45Why is it like this?
08:47Look at this.
08:49It's just up to here.
08:52Is it because I'm a commoner?
08:54I think it's because of you.
08:55No, because it's a bit...
09:02I can do it.
09:04Let's see if I can volley this ball, Viejos.
09:07That's it.
09:11And of course,
09:12this is my opportunity to learn
09:14how to spike from one of the best spikers in the country.
09:17Let's have fun with Sissy later, Viejos.
09:21Sometimes, we don't just have celebrity guests,
09:24but also professional athletes.
09:27It's good that Sissy learned a lot from me.
09:31Sissy's dreams are the mountains in Toledo.
09:35Mount Tagaytay is one of them,
09:37which is often visited by tourists.
09:40When you're here,
09:41it's better to walk around.
09:43You can see the view.
09:45You can feel the fresh air.
09:48You can see the sunset,
09:49the sea.
09:50You can go sightseeing.
09:54Why in the top of the mountain?
09:56You can see the farm animals that are raised here.
10:00If trekking is tiring,
10:01don't worry, Viejos.
10:02There are also horses that you can ride.
10:05When you reach the top of Mount Tagaytay,
10:08you can see the 360 panoramic view of the whole of Toledo.
10:19Toledo is also called the Copper City
10:21because of the minerals that are found in its soil.
10:24But aside from the copper,
10:25there are also other minerals.
10:27We will be accompanied by Cebuano pride and beauty,
10:29Bea Gomez,
10:30in exploring the hidden treasures of Toledo City.
10:37Bea needs to travel a long way to get there.
10:41She needs to ride a jeep first.
10:44So, travelers,
10:45we are here in Toledo, Cebu,
10:48where we will try
10:50for the first time,
10:51to try this top load jeep.
10:54For me, it's my first time to try this top load.
10:57This is what we will ride.
10:58We will go to Malumbog Lake and River.
11:01So, I'm very excited this morning.
11:04Here in Toledo,
11:05other people can top load or ride a jeep
11:08whenever the trip is full,
11:10especially in the morning and afternoon.
11:11It is also requested by tourists
11:14just to experience the fun of it.
11:17Just a tip for our travelers,
11:19if you want to top load,
11:21if you want to try this,
11:22just be careful of the trees like that.
11:25The trip from Palengke to Barangay Kasoy
11:27will take about 30 to 45 minutes.
11:29Where is Malumbog Lake?
11:32We have arrived at the top of the hill
11:36where we can see the best view of Malumbog Lake.
11:40The view is beautiful, right?
11:45After getting off the jeep,
11:46there is no more trek that Bea Ros needs to do.
11:53Malumbog Lake was man-made
11:55to supply water to the nearby mines.
12:00In this area,
12:01there are boats passing by every day.
12:04At the other end of the lake,
12:05some residents are going to school and work
12:08from the other side.
12:10And I heard that there are also falls in this area.
12:15As a traveler,
12:16Bea is a good girl.
12:23It is not like the usual falls
12:25that people go to Cebu
12:27because it is shallow
12:28and the source of the water
12:30comes from the mining.
12:32So it is not ideal to swim in the water
12:36that comes from the mining.
12:38Toledo is the gateway
12:40to many places in Cebu.
12:43Why not stop over
12:45in the beautiful tourist spots here
12:47before you explore
12:48the other tourist spots in Cebu.
12:50You have a view of the mountains,
12:52you have falls,
12:54and you have a lake.
13:00In a food in the town of Mandawi,
13:02they are selecting pork intestines.
13:07And to make their store more delicious,
13:09they have a special ingredient.
13:12They put coffee in it.
13:17The intestines are displayed
13:18and are available for the day.
13:20Just choose what you want.
13:22And they will fry it for you right in front of you.
13:26The bestseller here is the tumbong
13:28or pork intestines.
13:31It can be cooked
13:32to make it crispy or juicy.
13:35To make sure that their store is clean,
13:37they wash it 6 times.
13:40Boil it.
13:42Wash it again.
13:43And marinate it for a few hours
13:45to make it tasty.
13:47According to the owner,
13:48Nanay Delfa,
13:49they use a special ingredient.
14:08Don't worry, friends.
14:09They say that coffee doesn't taste good
14:11when the intestines are cooked.
14:14Even the volleyball star,
14:15Cece Rondina,
14:17is her favorite eater here.
14:19Where are you from?
14:20She's from Tumpung,
14:22Argentist.
14:23My dad and I always come here for lunch.
14:25This is what he always orders.
14:27Oh, it's bulaklak.
14:28Yes, bulaklak.
14:29They've been selling for 17 years.
14:31Amazing.
14:37Tungol.
14:39We're hungry.
14:41It's more delicious, guys,
14:42if you eat it with your hands.
14:46They say that the best way
14:47to eat these intestines
14:48is with the heart
14:50or the rice wrapped in coconut leaves.
14:53In the past,
14:54this was the only place.
14:55It was just below.
14:57They renovated it
14:58because people come here
15:01every 12 p.m.
15:04So, they come here every lunchtime.
15:07One of the reasons
15:08why people come here
15:09is because of the food here.
15:13Because of their sauce.
15:14We call it vinegar and fish sauce.
15:17So, it's a different combination.
15:19So, it's soy sauce and vinegar.
15:23So, they have ingredients
15:25in their vinegar
15:26that people come here for.
15:29Because this is what makes
15:31their food delicious.
15:34I'm hungry.
15:36So, guys, this is their sauce.
15:39See?
15:43This is bulaklak.
15:51It's delicious.
15:53It's still good.
15:54Nothing has changed.
15:59So, guys, I asked
16:00how they maintain their food.
16:02But she said
16:03they're used to cooking every day.
16:06But it's really delicious.
16:18We discovered a hidden gem.
16:20It's a vacation spot
16:21in the middle of the mountain.
16:23This tiny cabin
16:24can be found
16:25700 meters above sea level.
16:28But it's not a difficult destination
16:30because it can reach
16:31a lot of cars.
16:33As you can see,
16:35a 360-degree view of mountains.
16:40The sun is going down.
16:43It's a bit far from the city.
16:47I think it took us
16:48two hours to get here.
16:50Although, sometimes,
16:51it's really the journey.
16:53Because left and right,
16:54you're going to be passing through
16:56really nice range of mountains
17:00for me.
17:02I'm a mountain man.
17:03I really dig this place.
17:06This is a perfect,
17:08relaxing setting for me.
17:19Let's visit a market
17:20in the town of Toledo, Pijeros.
17:23There's an O.A. fish.
17:25Bong isda na binuro.
17:27And a colorful sauce
17:28that can be partnered
17:29with any kind of food.
17:31On our way around,
17:32we noticed a row of colorful stores
17:35in this store.
17:37This is the youngest product
17:38of Nanay Marites
17:39who has been selling
17:40in the market of Toledo for 19 years.
17:42This is what fascinates me, ma'am.
17:44These dried fishes.
17:46What is that?
17:47We call it tagnipis.
17:49Taglipis.
17:50Tagnipis.
17:51Tagnipis.
17:52It's thin.
17:54They call it budo here.
17:55It's also dry, Pijeros.
17:57The only difference is
17:58the amount of salt is O.A.
18:00on top of it
18:01because it's not marinated.
18:03It doesn't need to be wrapped
18:05that's why it's sold here
18:07with salt.
18:08It's delicious when it's grilled
18:10then you dip it in vinegar
18:12and the spicy chili.
18:15Spicy.
18:17They also have tinabal
18:18or fermented fish.
18:20We just soak it in salt.
18:22What's the purpose of that?
18:24Do you grill it or deep fry it?
18:26It depends on you.
18:28If you just want to grill it,
18:30you have to wash it well.
18:32But there's nothing inside.
18:34It's already clean.
18:35It's already clean.
18:36But the star of the show
18:38is this colorful sauce.
18:40They call it ginamos.
18:43This is what we usually use
18:46for everyday.
18:48We call it abrigana.
18:51Abrigana.
18:52Abrigana.
18:53Pampagana.
18:54Pampagana.
18:55Is this what you eat every week?
18:59Yes.
19:00You eat that too?
19:01I eat a lot of onions.
19:04To show you how to eat ginamos,
19:06like a local,
19:07we have someone with us.
19:09Pride and treasure of Cebu,
19:11Miss Universe Philippines 2021,
19:14Beatriz Luigi Gomez.
19:16So, ginamos is bulinao.
19:20It's like dilis.
19:22Dilis.
19:23Dilis.
19:24The small fish.
19:25That's what it's called.
19:27In Visayas, it's called bulinao.
19:29Bulinao.
19:30Well, at home,
19:31I make condiments.
19:33I pair it with anything.
19:35Rice,
19:36or deep fried foods.
19:38Okay.
19:39But,
19:40I also make it as a snack.
19:42So, when I make it as a snack,
19:44it's best paired with
19:45saba.
19:46Saba.
19:47Yes.
19:48She's mixing it.
19:49Add a bit of salt,
19:50calamansi,
19:51and chili.
19:53It's like a fish.
19:54Okay.
19:59It's so nostalgic.
20:00The taste.
20:01If you want an extra kick,
20:03there's a type of ginamos
20:04that fights the spiciness.
20:06The Spicy Tugnos.
20:08It's still good.
20:09It smells good.
20:11That's right.
20:14It's juicy.
20:17It has a kick.
20:18Yeah.
20:19The top part has a kick of chili.
20:24The
20:26pinakurat
20:27vinegar.
20:28It's like that.
20:29I still choose bagoong.
20:31It's a winner for me.
20:33I choose this
20:34because
20:36it has a pinakurat taste
20:39and it's spicy.
20:42Let's see if I can volley this ball, Viejos.
20:44Gin, gin, gin.
20:47Of course,
20:48this is my opportunity to learn
20:50how to spike
20:51from one of the best spikers in the country.
20:54Let's have fun with Sissy later, Viejos.
20:59Viejos,
21:00if you're going to volley a ball,
21:01be careful in this place
21:03because there are a lot of people here.
21:05Inside the volley,
21:06you'll find a maze.
21:08Viejos,
21:09what will you do
21:10if you're left alone inside this maze?
21:13If I'm left inside the maze,
21:15of course, I'll be scared.
21:17I'll just stare
21:18because I don't know what's going to happen.
21:20I'll be confused.
21:21I'll be scared, of course.
21:22I'll be nervous and excited.
21:24If I were to ask,
21:25it looks like an opportunity
21:27for a challenge, Viejos.
21:30Let's land here
21:31in a maze in Toledo.
21:33Okay?
21:34So, let's try.
21:35G.
21:46You know,
21:47because I'm a science guy,
21:49we're from AHA,
21:52I checked the weather first.
21:5610.30 in the morning,
21:57so I know where the sun is.
21:59Then, I also checked the weather.
22:01So, because of the weather,
22:03I know the direction of the wind.
22:08Southeastern winds.
22:10Then,
22:11I also checked the weather forecast.
22:14Then,
22:15I also checked what kind of plants these are.
22:17I won't tell you,
22:19but I know what kind of plants these are.
22:22And they grow specifically
22:26towards a certain direction.
22:28So, there are a lot of factors
22:31that I considered
22:32just to know
22:33that I didn't use all of them
22:36just to find the way.
22:41While I was in the middle
22:43of the maze,
22:44I stumbled upon something.
22:46I was holding it in my hand.
22:49Usually, when it's a maze,
22:52you have option A or option B,
22:56or option A, B, or C.
22:58Then, the options are divided.
23:00This is like one-way.
23:02It's like a sense of security
23:05that my life is one direction.
23:09In the middle of the maze,
23:10you can see the image
23:11of Mama Mary and Baby Jesus.
23:12This maze is located
23:13next to a chapel here in Toledo.
23:19We won't be challenged
23:20just by going out of the maze.
23:22The challenge is also accepted,
23:24including passing the ball.
23:26The one who will teach me
23:27is none other than Tubong Cebu
23:29and one of the best volleyball spikers
23:31in the country,
23:32Sissy Rondina.
23:34Before learning how to pass the ball,
23:35I need to learn
23:37how to set.
23:38How to set?
23:40What I was taught before
23:41is to form a heart
23:43here inside.
23:45No.
23:46Here, here.
23:47Sorry.
23:48It looks like a heart.
23:49Like that.
23:50There.
23:52So, of course,
23:54when you do this,
23:55it's a heart.
23:56So,
23:57there.
23:58Okay.
23:59Game face on.
24:00He's a traveler.
24:01There.
24:03Your turn.
24:04There.
24:05You're better than me.
24:07I think I'm ready
24:08to get nervous.
24:09Time to spike that ball.
24:11When you see it from above,
24:12you can hit it.
24:13Go ahead.
24:14Try it.
24:17There.
24:18That's how you hit it.
24:21To prove that it's not a joke,
24:22one more.
24:241, 2, 3, go.
24:27Wow.
24:28You can do it.
24:30Okay.
24:31Last.
24:32Okay.
24:33It needs to be perfect.
24:34Perfect.
24:35Execution.
24:36The ball needs to be high.
24:38You need to be on time.
24:39Hit it from above.
24:41When you see it from above,
24:42you can hit it fast.
24:43Okay.
24:44Ready,
24:45set,
24:46go.
24:56Wow.
25:01Travelers,
25:02or the people of Cebu,
25:04are the reason why the people of Toledo are rich.
25:07They are rich not only because of the precious minerals,
25:10but also because of its natural beauty.
25:13It's different,
25:14but the food is delicious.
25:16And,
25:17congratulations,
25:18these are the hidden gems of Toledo, Cebu.