GenSan News Online Mag

To the tune of almost a million pesos, the newly-paved road which serves as the entrance to the General City Bus Terminal has finally opened to the public after inauguration rites with Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio in attendance.

The concrete entrance road to the City Bus Terminal spans at least 200 meters.  Its completion compliments the opening of the expanded terminal building last year during the term of former City Mayor and now Congressman Jun Acharon.

Currently, the terminal building is being utilized by Yellow Bus Lines, Husky Bus and Holiday Bus Line and other public commuter vans.

Present during the inauguration of the road were GenSan Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio, City Administrator Jong Gonzales, Assistant City Administrator Glen Gonzales and other city hall employees together with representatives of the bus and van companies plus other stakeholders.

One of the more famous sweet treats Bariles had as a child growing up in what was then more known as Dadiangas, was Lola Mading’s Pastillas. At that time, it was only 25 centavos a piece.

Lola Mading Deonoso who is actually his godmother, has produced the best pastillas in town  since 1956 and used only the freshest cow’s milk for her obra maestra.   When Bariles left for college in the 80s and worked elsewhere after that, he forgot all about his favorite pastillas.

Imagine to his surprise then, when at one time he dined at the Zheztah Chickens and Burgers, he found out that Lola Mading’s Pastillas are still available and being sold there.  Zheztah is operated by Lola Mading’s beauteous grand daughter, Dimpie Zuzon, from his daughter Girlie.

Lola Mading’s Pastillas, especially when freshly cooked, are as soft and chewy as can be and a mouthful of its mildly sweet flavor is pure heaven.  It’s a good pasalubong for travellers and could make a unique and delicious gift for your loved ones with sweet tooth.

Right now, Lola Mading’s Pastillas are sold at P20 per pack of 10′s and are available at Zheztah Chicken and Burgers.

For bulk orders, please call telephone #s (083) 301-9425.  Tell them you read about it at GenSantos.Com.

General Santos City’s residents’ taste buds have always been known to adapt to new trends and fads in the dining scene easily.  It is then no wonder that more and more restaurants have cropped up the past year offering something for just about everyone.

At the new SunCity Complex, Leeonga Mongolian and Seafoods Grill has been packing them in ever since it opened at the 3rd quarter of 2010.

As its name suggests, Leeonga Mongolian and Seafoods Grill serves Asian food but with emphasis on grilled fare.

For its Mongolian Barbecue (actually a stir-fry dish, not Mongolian, and not a barbecue), one can have a choice of paying for its ALL-YOU-CAN-FILL BOWL for only P130 or EAT-ALL-YOU-CAN MENU at P200.

All the ingredients and condiments – garnishes, meat, sauces, veggies and noodles for its Mongolian Barbecue are situated in a buffet table at the farther end of its spacious dining area, overlooking its busy state-of-the-art kitchen.

"THE MONGOLIAN GRILL TABLE & ITS CHOICES OF INGREDIENTS"

Bariles chose the cheaper  Mongolian Barbecue alternative at P130 and started filling up his small bowl studiously, concentrating on the meats, seafood, fishballs and veggies and spicing it up  with chili and soy sauce, carefully arranging them so as not to fall.  This is how it looked….

"BARILES' MONGOLIAN BARBECUE TOWER, READY TO BE STIR-FRIED."

After a few minutes, the MONGOLIAN BARBECUE came out and served to him piping hot, smelling good and ready for the eating.

Since Bariles was with a group of visiting bloggers from Davao and Tacurong cities, he ordered a few more dishes, as suggested by Leeonga’s attentive manager, Ian Lumasag, which were immediately served one after the other.

First, was the Clam Shell Soup which came smoking hot in a native chinese clay pot….

Then, as part of its appetizers was the CRISPY SHRIMPS which also came hot from the wok and was crackling at every bite…

Next to be served were two mouth-watering slabs of GRILLED TUNA BELLY….

Then came their sinful and appetizing GRILLED LIEMPO….

Their exclusive GRILLED PALIKPIK NG MALASUGUE was next, meat so tasty and juicy especially behind the fins…

This was followed by an emerging aqua-culture product of Soccsksargen, also grilled – PANGASIUS.

And what is a seafood feast without GRILLED PUSIT?

And of course, the ubiquitous GENSAN TUNA KINILAW… fresh, soft and sour from the vinegar that Bariles poured himself…

It was a good thing that Bariles and his blogger friends were famished that time and so they were able to finish everything off before one could say, “Happy New Year!”  For sure, Leoonga Mongolian & Seafoods Grill will now be on the top of their list when on the lookout for dining establishments that GenSan can truly be proud of.

For reservations and inquiries, please contact Leoonga Mongolian & Seafoods Grill at telephone #s (083) 552-8778.  Leeonga Mongolian & Seafoods Grill can be found at the 2nd floor, Center Building, Suncity Complex, National Highway, GenSan.

With 2010 and all its shenanigans behind us now, there is but one thing to do for Bariles- greet all of you, faithful and habitual readers of GenSan News Online Mag for your support for the year just past.

So here is the crudely made greeting card he came up with earlier today from a shot taken of him during last night’s New Year’s Noche Buena feast.

If you are not from this part of the globe, that thing that Bariles is carrying is a half-eaten LECHON or whole roasted pig, usually served in the Philippines during parties of any celebration imaginable.

And so with that greeting above, here’s hoping that you all continue to drop by regularly even as Bariles vows to make GenSan News Online Mag more informative  and to make all generals whether based here or abroad, super proud of their jewel of a city!

Pag di pa kayo na-homesick this year, ewan na lang namin.

Maraming salamat po at Manigong Bagong Taon!