16.146 Set D-2: Sizzling Burger Patties

Cycle 16 – Item 146

Post 5,625

31 (Sat) May 2025

Set D-2: Sizzling Burger Patties

3.5

at Casa Escondida Resort and Dive Center

-Anilao, Mabini, Batangas, Philippines-

with the Family

Triumphant Return to the Philippines: Day 2 of 5

- Day 1 (16.145 Alex’s Fried Chicken)
- Day 2 (16.146 Set D-2: Sizzling Burger Patties)
- Day 3 (16.147 Pork Adobo)
- Day 4 (16.148 Deep-Fried Crispy Cod Fish with Supreme Fish Sauce)
- Day 5 (16.149 Chicken Adobo with Rice)

In the Philippines! First time since we bugged out during the pandemic in 2020, exactly 5 years ago tomorrow (see 11.147 Bulgogi). The schedule is packed, including stops in BGC, Anilao, and Malate.

Quite possibly my favorite pool in the world.

The primary objective of the trip, as far as I’m concerned, is diving. My last dive was 2 years + 2 months ago in the Maldives (see most recently 14.060 Fruit Sundae), the longest stretch that I’ve gone without, not counting 2 years + 7 months during the pandemic. DJ’s dry spell lasted 5 years + 6 months, so he desperately needed a refresher. Now that IZ is old enough, he was keen to join the club. W decided, for no apparent reason, to sit out. 2 of 4 nights in the Philippines will be spent at Casa Escondida.

While living in Manila, Casa Escondida (CE) was my go-to dive resort. Though featured in only 10 posts on GMTD (see most recently 10.133 BBQ Chicken & Ribs), I went countless more times for day trips, where dinner was eaten somewhere else back in Manila, and so the dives weren’t documented on the blog (actually, I could count them if I went through my dive logs). I would’ve gone there exclusively, but the prices were relatively high, so I mixed it up with cheaper places on occasion, but I would never get training for myself or my family from anyone but Dong.

Roof of the dining room, converted to mimic a white sand beach (for white people).

Dong and I go all the way back. A freelancer working out of Pier Uno when I did my first DSD (Discover Scuba Dive) (see generally 5.153 Grilled Fish), he trained me for PADI Open Water Diver (see generally 5.167 Coconut Crab), Advanced Open Water Diver, and Rescue Diver. After opening CE, he trained W and DJ for their PADI Open Water Diver (see generally 8.211 BBQ Pork & Garlic Shrimp). He was on both liveaboard trips to the Maldives. He is the only person that I would trust to train IZ.

The dining situation has changed from buffet to à la carte. It started during the pandemic, when the dramatic drop in guests left too much food go to waste, but kept it as diners preferred the wider range of options. In typical Filipino fashion, the menu is absurdly expansive, with 27 sets, 30 “side orders,” and various American and Filipino breakfast items offered. Very reasonable prices, though food used to be included in the room charge, which doesn’t seem to have gone down.

LUNCH