Mother hails from Surigao City, Mindanao and we used to visit it every so often since my childhood years. Back then, there really wasn't much to do but eat, eat and eat.
Seafood is probably among the most abundant resources in Mindanao. I grew up loving seafood because we'd have platefuls of the freshest crabs and huge grilled fish every time we were in Surigao. So, getting accustomed to aquatic flavors has never been a problem for me. In fact, I crave for seafood every now and then because there's just really nothing like the unique, invigorating flavors of seafood! The sea beckons!
Living in the city, my longing for seafood is not easily sated because it's mostly a costly indulgence. Settling for roadside bbq's that sell grilled fish can be a sanitary issue as well.
Among the few seafood restaurants in the city, a recent addition provides a concept quite similar to the Sutukil at the Mactan Shrine but refined with the certainty of food safety and higher standards of techniques employed in preparing and cooking the food. This was emphasized by Mr. Winglip Chang, President of 101 Restaurant City Incorporated, stating that they have food technicians who supervise their commissary and their restaurants.