Cafeño Manila Cafe - Getting Back in Time at San Juan, Batangas

In the town of San Juan, in Batangas province, there is a small restaurant that would take you back in time. Situated just right around the corner, a few walks from the public market, is this lovely place known as "Cafeño Manila Cafe". Travelers may not notice it right away, but the key to finding it is to really visit this wonderful municipality home to wonderful beaches, the Laiya Resort, creatively-designed potteries, and fresh fish of many kinds.

Let me take you to a short tour and let us see what's inside this café.

The Sewing Machine

This old, rusty, but kind of functioning pedal of a sewing machine is something that will remind you that back in the old days, our clothes are made from our own land. I stepped and began to pedal, I remember a very kind and giving person, my Lola who's now 84 years old. And she has this sewing machine too, all working and running! Would you believe that!

The Local Products

Ever seen "Barako Coffee" in a beer bottle? Here you go.

The products you can see, touch and buy from this shop is truly amazing. If you read their labels, you would confirm that they are made from native produce or raw materials. And the way they are wrapped, packed and presented, something worth taking as pasalubong.

Here's a display of handicrafts, made from Batangas and the neighboring provice of Quezon. Such products will remind you that skilled hands and brilliant minds are living here in the country, not anywhere else. Filipinos they are!

Try the Paborita Biscuit. It is a biscuit simply made from dough if you say, but the taste is one of a kind. Coffee plus paborita will truly give you a perfect merienda experience.

They also have here soap products, preserved fish in jars, and crunchy snacks made of bananas, camote, and the like. Packed in handcrafted materials is also something that will catch your attention.

The Food and Ambience

And the rest is up to you to explore. Here are some more angles that will give you more a glimpse of the past. Food is great. Ambience is awesome. Such experience also reminds me and my wife that our visit here not only delighted us, but also gives us an idea about what to venture into in the coming days.

The Ancestral Home

The café' is also a heritage ancestral house and as I read some documents hanging in their wall, this has been here since the old days. Some good research will get you to discover more about this café and the town of San Juan. The café was established in 2006 and it is owned by the Marasigan family.

Want to get back in time? Explore more this blog site to learn more, see more amazing stories like this.

Project Pilipinas

Thank you for visiting this site. Project Pilipinas is my advocacy of introducing the Philippines and the Filipinos to the world. Were are home to hardworking people, talented workforce, and beautiful places. In this blog site, you will get to know more about our way of life, the places we are most proud of, and the story of our people.

This post is made possible by JN FarmGarden, a farm located in Taysan, Batangas home to bananas, papaya, Brahma and Rhode Island chickens, and luscious fruits and vegetables.

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