Balaw Balaw Restaurant and Art Gallery in Angono, Philippines

The town of Angono is widely considered the Art Capital of the Philippines, as it has produced several national artists and is home to many galleries showcasing the artwork of local artists. One such place is the Balaw Balaw Art Gallery and Restaurant. Mr. Perdigon Vocalan lost both of his parents at the young age of four. He took interest in art at a young age with plenty of influences from the budding art scene of Angono. A self-taught painter, his talent helped finance his studies until high school. He even took a semester of interior design but had to abandon that dream due to lack of funds. Perdigon focused on his craft and became a successful painter and sculptor. In 1982, with the support of his wife, Luzvimin, he built a gallery with an alfresco dining component. The space was initially intended as a hangout spot for friends but eventually became a full-blown restaurant. Balaw Balaw, a local name for a fermented shrimp sauce, came about as homage to the array of exotic dishes that the restaurant has since been known for. The ground floor serves as a restaurant, while the mezzanine and the second floor serve as the gallery. Some of the interesting items on the menu are uok, beetle larvae normally found from coconuts; nilasing na palaka (drunken frog) — deep-fried frog marinated in wine; sinabawang balut — fertilized duck egg soup; bibingkang abnoy — fertilized duck eggs cooked in banana leaves with spices; and crocodile meat. For the less adventurous, the usual Filipino foods are available.