MANILA -- Summer is in full swing and everybody is heading to the beach or the mountains to cool off and have that much needed R&R. But for some, time is a luxury and weekends are the only time to relax and unwind.

For residents of Metro Manila, one of the nearest destinations is Rizal province. It's just a few minutes away from neighboring city Pasig and less than an hour away from the rest of Metro Manila. So, it's an ideal destination for quick weekend trips.

However, Rizal is often overlooked in favor of other nearby provinces like Batangas, Laguna, and Cavite. But this province located east of the National Capital Region has a lot to offer.

Recently, San Miguel Pure Food Culinary Center (SMPFCC) organized a familiarization trip to Rizal to raise awareness about the province and what can it offer to weekend travelers.

For those interested in culture, arts, and food, Rizal is a perfect destination.

ART AND HISTORY

Angono is said to be the “Art Capital of the Philippines,” and is the hometown of two National Artists: Carlos “Botong” Francisco (visual arts) and Lucio San Pedro (music). Various artists live here as well, establishing their own galleries, museums, and schools. Angono's artistry bleeds to different parts of Rizal as well.

Visitors can get a glimpse of the artful life of Botong by visiting his house, which is now a museum.

A muralist, Botong was one of the first Filipino modernists. His house is located along Dona Aurora St., a street dedicated to him, which is lined with bass relief sculptures of his paintings or murals.

EMBED PHOTO 3 : Carlos 'Botong' Francisco's studio in his home is open to the public. Photo by author

The house is now managed by the visual artist's grandson Carlos “Totong” Francisco II, who is also an artist. The family preserved Botong's studio including his easel, stool, and wooden palette.

According to Totong, his grandfather is one of the reasons why a lot of people from Angono was inspired to do art as well.

“Sa Angono pa lang liglig na 'yung kanyang inspirasyon, hindi na kailangan pang lumabas pa kung saan,” Totong said.

Botong's importance is widespread across Rizal. In fact, in Angono's neighboring town Binangonan, is where Botong's historic discovery is located — the Angono Petroglyphs.

A National Cultural Treasure, the Angono Petroglyphs is the oldest known artwork in the Philippines. Botong discovered this in 1965, a wall filled with carvings that include 127 figures of humans and animals. Experts believe that the drawings are between 3,000 to 5,000 years old and were created during the Neolithic Period or New Stone Age.

Managed by the National Museum of the Philippines, visit to the site is free of charge.

On the other hand, for visitors who likes to create their own art, the Crescent Moon Cafe and Studio Pottery is a restaurant and studio that conducts workshops on art and pottery. Established by Lanelle Abueva-Fernando and her late husband Teodoro “Bey” Fernando, the studio is known for its beautiful stoneware ceramics, used by various restaurants, hotels, and households around the Philippines.

“This area is a restaurant and an art space. We make all our stoneware ceramics that you'll be eating from today like the plates and bowls. You can also see them lying around like the walkway. We also host a lot of art workshops here,” explained Majalya Farnando, daughter of Lanelle.

Be sure to check out the food as well, the restaurant offers an eclectic mix of cuisine, from Filipino to other Asian cuisines.

FROM BIBINGKA TO BRICK OVEN PIZZA

Cainta is the municipality closest to Metro Manila and one of its delicacies is Aling Kika's bibingka. People need to line up just to buy a box of this famous bibingka (biko-like rice cake topped with caramelized coconut milk). Aling Kika's Food Products also sells various Filipino delicacies.

But for a real Rizal food destination, Balaw Balaw Restaurant and Art Gallery in Angono is an iconic eatery that offers traditional Rizal cuisine. Its claim to fame is its exotic dishes, which the restaurant doesn't offer anymore because of legal issues. Some animals that they used to serve are now protected by the law but they still have a few exotic dishes like the uok or coconut wood worm.

A must-try here is the minaluto, a platter of balaw balaw (fermented shrimp paste with angkak or red yeast rice) fried rice surrounded by seafood, vegetables, and other meats.

Then, in Pililia, there's this small roadside restaurant that serves a plate of gigantic fresh lumpia. Kawayan Farm Restaurant is famous for its fresh lumpia stuffed with sauteed bamboo shoots. The farm produces its own bamboo shoot supply, preserved in a simple brine solution.

A favorite among bikers and cyclists, the charming restaurant also serves Filipino classics like pancit bihon. Guests can also check out the bamboo farm and has a view deck that overlooks the mountains and Laguna de Bay.

But the most surprising discovery is the Lutong Pugon restaurant in Tanay. Located at a secluded part of the municipality, the restaurant serves brick oven pizza and other Italian eats.

Established by artist Jun Tiongco and his wife Aya, the charming restaurant also has its own small gallery. It's a garden restaurant surrounded by lush greenery and overlooks the hilly side of Tanay.

Must-try are the different pizzas like the gambaretto (topped with shrimps, chicken, and pesto) cooked inside a pugon or stone oven made by Tiongco himself. The handmade oven was intended to be for his pottery work but instead now cooks pizza.

“Yung nagawa ko 'yung pugon gumawa kami ng pizza, eh masarap, ayun dun na nagumpisa. 'Yung mga bisita namin sinabi gumawa na kayo ng restaurant,” Tiongco explained.

Foodies around Rizal and Metro Manila visit Tanay because of this restaurant. The pasta dishes are a must-try, too, like the tomato-based beefy penne pasta. But the restaurant on its own is a relaxing place to dine and eat good food.

“Yung pagiging artist ko nailagay ko dito. Nagumpisa wala naman kaming puhunan dito. Kapag nakabenta ako ng painting pinapagawa ko 'to ng unti-unti. Nung kumikita na 'yung restaurant, nagpagawa na kami sa kabila (expansion),” he said.