Baybay Beach & why it’s a must-sea!
Baybay Beach in Roxas City, the capital of Capiz, may not be as popular as the other beaches in the Visayas region but it is a shining glory all its own. In the heat of summer, fine, ebony sand wink at the Sibuyan Sea — and that topography makes it all different, desirable. Why Baybay is a must-sea.
It produces the freshest catch, making the province of Capiz, with an 80-km coastline and a never-ending stretch of rivers and swampland, the seafood capital of the Philippines.
In Capiz waters abound prawns, crabs, blue marlin, oysters, crayfish, catfish, mussels, abalone and the seasonal diwal. In its waters, too, so to speak, are memories.
My Dayrit family and I flew recently to Roxas City to attend the funeral in the Capitol of their aunt, former Capiz vice governor Matilde Salgado Belo, sister of jeweler Milagros Salgado Dayrit, the late matriarch of the Dayrit clan. The beauteous Salgado sisters are a known tandem in the province. Though both Tita Tilde and Tita Mila made their respective names as business women in Manila, Tita Tilde became a “mainstay” in the hearts of people of the province because she was in public service for 16 years. Even after her term as vice governor, she made her presence felt as she continued to help them until the day she died at 95.
When Tita Mila died at 59 in 1997 — 20 days after her husband Ting Dayrit passed — Tita Tilde brought us all to Capiz to celebrate her sister’s life, her memories. Their memories. And Baybay Beach was always one of the focal points of her reminiscences.
After we buried her, in the heat of summer, the Dayrits and the Belos converged on Baybay Beach to remember the beautiful deeds and memories of Tita Tilde. Being on Baybay was like celebrating life coming in full circle.
“It is always good to touch base, to be on the land where a part of you began to grow,” says my best friend of 29 years, Christine Dayrit, introspectively. In the heart of Roxas City, where memories intertwine with the enchanting tales of the past, we celebrated life.
Dayrit sisters Christine, Jaqui Boncan and Michelle Soliven shared their memories of the place. Only brother Mark Dayrit, with his wife Mylene, introduced the genealogy of the Salgados to their son Matthew, while we were in the family mausoleum in Roxas City cemetery. Michelle shared that at one point in her single life, she ventured into prawn business in Roxas City. Jaqui can speak and understand the vernacular.
The trip down memory lane made all us more enthralled to be at Baybay Beach. And on the beach we found Bitoy’s, the open secret of Roxas City. The restaurant, serving mouthwatering offerings, is a resilient establishment with a 56-year legacy. Evolving from humble origins, Bitoy’s is now a breezy haven encompassing a restaurant, café, fruit store, and shake bar serving delectable banana, mango, avocado, apple shakes, and more.
To be at Bitoy’s, owned by Munich Conlu, a nuclear medicine physician, is to immerse into a gastronomic saga. It offers a symphony of flavors with Marc’s barbecue, the freshest shrimp kinilaw, buckets and buckets of fresh oysters, pancit luglog, fried liver in coconut oil, sinigang na lapu-lapu, and decadent desserts like brazo de Mercedes and mango shortcake from Jacques Coffee and Chills, which is Bitoy’s café by the sea.
Every dish that was paired with the most refreshing lemonade, sweetened with honey from Sonya’s Garden — Sonya Garcia, too, of Sonya’s Garden, is a native of Capiz — created an unforgettable culinary experience. Worth noting is the fruit store offers healthy products all the way from Sonya’s Garden in Alfonso, Cavite, like throat spray, soaps and honey.
Baybay, with its expansive seven-km beach, captivates with the beachfront presence of Bitoy’s. Fridays add a musical touch with a singer accompanied by the acoustic melodies of a guitar duo, creating a delightful experience. The beach breeze and vibrant atmosphere make it perfect for a leisurely stroll at any time of day. Proximity to the airport allows for a seamless transition, and upon arrival, a tricycle ride takes you straight to the beach—a haven that immerses you in the calming vibes of Baybay.
Munich did not only curate Bitoy’s culinary marvels but also mastered its multifaceted domain. This haven transcends mere dining—and soon a resplendent bed and breakfast with 14 rooms for discerning guests.
Strolling along the beach, a surreal serenade by an acoustic band enchants as the sun gracefully dips below the horizon, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Munich, on our last day, brought Christine and me to The Edge, a rustic thatched restaurant perched atop a hill for breakfast. We trekked for a few minutes to get to the restaurant with an unfolding view. At The Edge, we were greeted with a picturesque haven with an expansive panorama of mountains, islands and sea. Breathtaking and humbling was the scene before us.
For breakfast at The Edge, orchestrated by chef Nick Dolendo, we gorged on a tableau of vegetable longanisa, banana chips, salsa, flawlessly cooked fried eggs, danggit, oatmeal and bougainvillea juice with pineapple. All these were presented against the symphony of waves crashing against colossal rocks below, creating a feast for the senses, evoking images of far-flung destinations. The wanderlust in us was further tickled.
Roxas City, a testament to hidden beauty, beckons us to appreciate the present while unveiling endless wonders. Bitoy’s, The Edge, among other discoveries have indeed changed the landscape of the city.
Baybay is a must-sea.
For your new beginnings, e-mail me at [email protected]. I’m also on Twitter @bum_tenorio and Instagram @bumtenorio. Have a blessed weekend.
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