Solo Traveler's Pick: Cagayan de Oro's Seda Hotel at Centrio Ayala

Those who are familiar with my blog would know I love fancy hotels. I am not afraid to eat like the locals, but at night I want the comfort that my means could afford--tasteful interiors, snazzy lobby, working wifi, and comfy bedding. On a working trip to Cagayan de Oro I fell in love with Seda Hotel. It has all the things I expect of hotels, plus it's within the premises of a mall. And the muted color palette is soothing. There are Seda Hotels  as well in Bonifacio Global City, Davao, and Laguna, and they all look pretty much the same, although BGC has a life-sized giraffe statue in its lobby, one I want to snap a selfie with. 

It was love at first sight with my room, here in all its Instagram glory.

Comfy linens is always a plus.

This chair at the lobby also caught my eye.

The staff were quick and efficient. We requested a last-minute photo op at the lobby, and they obliged.

The week we stayed a trouped entertained us with an assortment of folk dances.

Of course, a stay at Cagayan de Oro is not complete without stocking up on Slers longganiza and bacon.

We also made a pit-stop at La Vetta. 

For what we ate, click here.

Seda Hotel-Centrio Ayala
CM Recto cor Corrales Avenue
Cagayan de Oro City
(+63) 88 323 8888

Pasalubong Options 6: Cagayan De Oro and Tuguegarao

For today's edition of noteworthy products from country's different provinces, I'm featuring a city from Mindanao down south and an area in the northern tip of Luzon.

1. Cagayan de Oro City 

Frequent visitors to Cagayan de Otro and the nearby island province of Camiguin are familiar with  Vjandep Pastel, a coffee bun with custard filling. This version incorporates malunggay / moringa in the dough. 

I've been to Cagayan de Oro countless times, but it was only recently that I tried their Baked Siopao. I was expecting it to still retain its character as a steamed bun, but this is what you get when you have the dough baked.  

2. Tuguegarao and Cagayan

The Buco Roll of Tuguegarao's K's Bakeshop's and Delicacies is a winner. The dough was soft and it had real coconut filling. Not too sweet--just right.

I always look forward to devouring a pack of Alcala Milk Candy, made from  carabao's milk.

Speaking of carabao, have you tried carabao chicharon? Don't knock this. It's quite addicting. It comes in a variety of flavors. The Onion and Vinegar variant has the unmistakable tang of vinegar. 

Cagayan de Oro the Second Time Around

This is my second post on Cagayan de Oro. You can read the first one here. We stayed at Mallberry Suites Business Hotel, conveniently located near a mall, and the rooms were not bad at all.

My friend alerted me that the steaks at the hotel's Rosso Steakhouse Restaurant were good. It's always full at night--it appears to be a popular dating venue.

On my first night i tried the Rib Eye Minis, medium rare. It was quite good, although some of the edges were tough. I paired this with a glass of shiraz.

The following night I tried the U.S. Rib Eye, again medium rare. It was tender all throughout, and very savory. Unfortunately they overcooked the meat.

By the way, rosso is red in Italian. The hotel plays the color game with its Cafe Berde, Blue Duck Bar, and The Tangerine Restaurant.

In the eve of my departure, I went to the popular Candy's, located at nearby Rosario Strip for for beer (look at how frosty the bottles looked) and relaxation. Their pizza was quite good too.

I brought some pineapples back at home, and they were delicious. CDO is near Bukidnon, home to the Del Monte Pineapple Plantation.

Next time I want to try more steaks, eat at Cafe Laguna, and see the museum.

No Alone Time in Cagayan de Oro—But that’s OK

As I promised in Facebook, my first travel post is on the southern city of Cagayan de Oro—CDO. My day job involves periods where I stay in key cities of the archipelago. To say that I love my work is an understatement—where else can I get paid to travel?

CDO, the provincial capital city of Misamis Oriental province is strategically located—it sits right at the center in the northern coastline of Mindanao, one of three major island groups of the Philippines, facing the Visayas islands. Locals swear by the peace and order in the city, where tourists rub elbows with the mixed Christian and Muslim population. Last December, the city was battered by typhoon Sendong, triggering flash floods and landslides and leaving around 500 fatalities. An acquaintance told us he lost his house to the deluge. Fortunately for us, the city is in the mend.

I have been to the CDO a few times, but this is the first time I’ll be staying in Lim Ket Kai Center, located at the heart of CDO. We checked-in at Mallberry Suites Hotel, its lobby crawling with people. I thought it must be because of Valentines, but the succeeding nights proved the same. The hotel is walking distance from Rosario Strip, which hosts a string of cafes and dining establishments, one of which I was hoping I could stay in for an hour or two. But alas—alone time would have to wait for another time, and like any well-adapted introvert blessed with company, I had to make do. Thankfully, National Geographic magazine allowed me minutes lost in its pages.

On our second night, I’m glad our host picked the French-Mediterranean restaurant La Vetta (Italian for mountain peak) for our after-dinner get-together. This is my second time in the restaurant, which is located at Rosario Strip LimKetKai Center.

I'll post more in my next entry.