Five Ways to Beat the Philippine Summer Heat Part 2
Summer is in and, quite recently, it feels like it’s here to stay. Forever. While it is the time for weekend getaways to beautiful beaches for some much needed rest and relaxation, it is quite hard to relax when the heat seems to be frying you like a sunny side up egg. Exactly how can we beat this scorching heat?
We’ve given you some ways to stay cool last April. But, since it has been extra hot, here are 5 more extra ways to beat the summer heat:
Halo Halo
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Photo by dbgg1979 via Flickr
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A sweet and equally satisfying way to beat the heat would be of course, ice cream. But Filipinos have this dessert that yes, contains ice cream, but more. Halo-halo or “mix-mix” is a mixture of a lot of sweet things. It contains leche flan, ube (purple yam), red mongo, garbanzos, kidney beans, macapuno, nata de coco, langka (jackfruit), kaong, pinipig, sago, gulaman and sweetened banana topped with ice cream. As you can see, most of this dessert’s ingredients are unique to the Philippines and as colorful as the Filipino’s personality.
[Editor’s note: For that quick, cold fix when burning in the summer heat, head to the nearest Chowking for one of these shaved iced concoctions. If you’re looking for something more authentic, go for Cafe Via Mare’s, Milky Way’s or Nathaniel’s. For something a bit different, try Razon’s.]
Samalamig and gulaman
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Photo by Kamoteus (A New Beginning) via Flickr
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Our second way to beat the heat is by having a refreshing glass of samalamig and gulaman (gelatin). Samalamig and gulaman is an ice cooler that consists of gelatin, crushed ice, vanilla flavor and syrup.
[Editor’s note: While a million food carts sell samalamig everywhere, the best ones are still the ones made at home. The recipe is pretty simple, so whip your chef hat out and start stirring!]
Sorbetes or Dirty Ice Cream
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Photo by JerickParrone via Flickr
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The Philippine’s version of ice cream isn’t exactly dirty as its name says. It is made of coconut milk instead of the usual cow’s milk. You will usually find this on the streets sold by what Filipinos call the sorbetero. Flavors are also uniquely Filipino as dirty ice cream usually comes in mango, tsokolate (chocolate), keso (cheese) and ube (purple yam). This is one version of ice cream certainly worth a try.
Going to the Mall
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Photo by Jun Acullador via Flickr
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Another way to cool down and shake off the heat is by hitting the mall. It is also a fun way to bond with family or friends. You can go window shopping (or shop), watch a movie, or just hang out!
A trip to Baguio City
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Photo by Sir Mildred Pierce via Flickr
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What better way to escape the summer heat than a trip to the Summer Capital of the Philippines! This bustling cosmopolitan boasts hundreds of good restaurants, hotels and other spots to visit so hop on a car or a plane, travel up north and breathe in the cool, crisp mountain air. Baguio will definitely make you forget that you are in a tropical country.
[Editor’s note: Catch one of the night buses (for around P500-700) and sleep off the five-hour drive!]
There are many fun, interesting and delicious ways to beat the summer heat. You just need to be creative or have the eagerness to explore new things, food or places!
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Article by Carol Premacio
