For most of Tenshi-san’s almost four weeks of vacation, Tenshi-san and I went around the busy streets of Metro Manila. A staycation (stay-at-home vacation) was part of the plan, but it was cut short because of unfortunate events.
One of the highlights of our vacation was the stay at the Mission residence in Lipa City, Batangas. Breakfast there is always a feast. Nhelle and Ponge also took us on a road trip around Lipa City, and here are the best stops:
Gotohan sa Barangay
Located in Antipolo Norte, Gotohan sa Barangay has “more than twenty years of serving quality food” to its name. Their goto was unlike any that I have tried before. It is not the usual rice porridge with meat or innards, but a soupy dish that can be eaten with boiled rice. Nhelle, Tenshi, and I ordered goto laman (Php 50), while Ponge had goto bat and balls (Php50). For those who are more adventurous, rambugis and severasky are recommended.
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church
After our sumptuous lunch at Gotohan, we went to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church and Monastery. The Mt. Carmel Monastery is the site of a mysterious “shower of petals” to a visionary nun after World War II.
Lipa Cathedral
Nhelle and Ponge then took us to Lipa Cathedral which reminded me of my Humanities class field trip when we studied church art and architecture. Lipa Cathedral is where their wedding will be in 2010.
Lomi King
Lipa City is also one of the best places to have lomi. We had a bowl of really good lomi at Lipa City Panciteria which uses flat noodles in their lomi with really thick soup and chunks of kikiam, squid balls, and atay.
Other stops
We stopped by Cafe de Lipa near Robinsons to try their iced kapeng barako. I was not allowed to take a picture inside the shop, and forgot to take a picture of the nice coffee box that I got for L as omiyage. Anyway, I noticed a Cafe de Lipa branch at the Petron station along Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard. We also bought very tasty sisig and pork barbecue at a rotisserie on our way to Cuenca.
To Nhelle, Ponge, and the rest of the members of Mission household, doumo arigatou gozaimasu!
The Coffee Press 
This post is torture! Lomi!! Goto!
I wish Batangas is only minutes away. Best lomi I had so far 🙂
looking at this post is making me Homesick…..
@Bayani: You are from Lipa? You have a nice, lively town.
Thanks for dropping by.
I love Batangas kasi malapit sa Tagaytay…hehehe…
im from lipa city and i grow up withwith the places that you have visited.miss ko na nga an lomi and goto! yum yum! next time try to visit where lomi n goto started gotohan sa labac n tiemngs lomi house sa my palengke u wil taste the differnce!
I will definitely be back in Lipa in June next year, but hopefully I can go earlier so I can try the goto and lomi in the places you mentioned. I need to get some Batangas coffee too.
Thanks for dropping by, Jadee!
miss ko na ang especial lomi sa batangas
Hi, can i have the contact details or address of mission residence? im looking for a place to stay in lipa for a couple of weeks. thanks!
Hi Rosela,
The Mission residence is a private home.
Have you tried to check Hotel La Corona de Lipa? There’s also Malarayat Golf & Country Club. I’ll ask my friend from Lipa if he knows any other place you can stay in.