I asked the store owner beside the hotel where I stayed in Iligan City for the best pasalubong from the area, she answered lechon. I asked her if there is something that is smaller than a whole pig but she shook her head no. As much as I loved all the three lechon I tasted in a span of 48 hours, I cannot afford a kilo of lechon much less a whole pig.
For more pasalubong from Cagayan de Oro, please proceed here. For more pasalubong from Iligan City, please proceed here.
Here are the pasalubong I bought in Iligan City and Cagayan de Oro City:
Vjandep Pastel Yema Buns with Filling, 12 pieces, P165.00 (US $3.30). It cannot rival the pasalubong from Iloilo in terms of the stars I see when I eat them, but these pastels are not too shabby. There are other flavors of pastel, like pineapple and ube.
Missy BonBon Bakeshop Pastel, 6 pieces, P90.00 (US $1.80). I bought these at the airport. The image is cute, but the pastel is not good. Vjandep Pastel is way better. If I have to quantify it, Vjandep Pastel is 4/5 while Missy BonBon Pastel is 1.5/5.
Carambola Prunes Small, P35.00 (US 0.70). I ate a lot of carambola when I was between 10 to 11 years old because there was a tree beside the window of our house. I liked them green or yellow. I added salt when they were unripe and ate them on their own when ripe. I hesitated buying these because I did not know how they would translate into prunes, but I had 10 minutes to buy pasalubong, and they were the closest to the cashier. ☺ I do not regret buying them. The taste was close to dried plum and thankfully the texture was not weird.
Fiesta Kisses Ube Pastel Stick, 13 pieces, P30.00 (US $0.60). Like the carambola prunes, they were near the cashier, so I grabbed them. They reminded me of the ube candies I ate as a kid, nothing fancy but they made me happy.
Fiesta Kisses Piña Pastel Stick, 13 pieces, P30.00 (US $0.60). I have not tasted it yet as of this writing.