Blogging Frenzy

April 30 was the start of a fun weekend for Avatar Media because visiting bloggers from Manila, Cagayan deo Oro, and General Santos City arrived to participate in the much-awaited Davao Food Appreciation Tour 2010.

Davao F.A.T. 2010 started with welcome snacks at Mam Bebs Bakeshop. The DFAT participants who arrived in time were treated to  pancit palabok, potato rolls, mango squares, and pork and chicken siopao.

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Our4th day in GenSan was the schedule of the much-anticipated Street Dancing Competition.

Avel and Orman knew that we will be needing the extra calories that afternoon so they brought us to Marasa Grill for lunch.  There, we were introduced to the best of Ms. Kring Macion’s homecooked recipes. I really enjoyed generous portions of the ensaladang talong, tuna sashimi, tuna kinilaw, pinaputok na tilapia,and inihaw na panga.  And even if  already stuffed, I still managed to help myself to a serving of their mango float. That’s how irresistable Marasa Grill’s offerings are!

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Day 3 in General Santos City was another day of fun!

Our day started with a hearty lunch at Mt. Sabrina in Tambler Hills, General Santos City.  The restaurant is owned and managed by no less than Mrs. Sol Mananquil, GenSan’s Queen of Tuna Cuisine.

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For our second day in GenSan, our hosts Orman and Avel chose to show us more of the best-kept secrets of their region.   So while the rest of General Santos City enjoyed the many events lined up for that day, February 25, our group was treated to a quick exploration of Region XII.

We were informed by Avel and Orman that our group was invited to have lunch with their good friend, Francis Sablon of Zion Travel. Francis, we were told, was waiting for us in Tupi. I didn’t ask where exactly in Tupi we were heading, because my visits to GenSan taught me this:  The Manansala siblings like to surprise their guests.  And the surprises are part and parcel of the whole GenSan experience.

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If I haven’t been blogging or plurking much lately, it is because I was in General Santos City  for the city’s Kalilangan Festival.  The festival is a celebration of  General Santos’ 71st Founding Anniversary and this year’s theme is Honoring the Past. Understanding the Present.  Embracing the Future.

I was also there during the Tuna Festival last year and its grandeur was breathtaking.  And knowing first-hand that the Generals celebrate their festivals with much aplomb, I immediately said yes when our small group of Davao Bloggers was invited by Orman Manansala, the Kalilangan Festival Director, to participate in the event.

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