The Power of Heart and SEOUL!

(As published on Hardware Zone Magazine's November 2015 issue)

What makes Seoul an ideal travel destination is that, it is a modern yet a history-rich city where one can experience its preserved traditional culture and at the same time, its cosmopolitan urbanity.

OOTD: Top and pants from Forever 21, Cardigan from Cotton On, Wedge from Landmark

 On September 2015, I went on a 4-day trip to Seoul, which was already my second. My first was in autumn of 2012 where I visited some UNESCO World Heritage sites in and out Seoul. But in my recent trip, I focused on discovering more of the city.

When deciding on where to go in Seoul, just follow your heart, and choose what you love. In my case, I like Korean dramas so I decided to visit some of the shoot locations of my favorite K-dramas. First stop was the Geongbokgung Palace, one of the sets of The Rooftop Prince. Luckily, I also got to witness the “changing of the guards” ceremony. Next stop was the Mangosix Café (Apgujeong Branch) in Gangnam, the set of A Gentleman’s Dignity. However, it has been renovated and is now known as Koffisix Coffee. I got pretty disappointed and wished I visited the Daechi-dong branch, one of the shoot locations of The Heirs instead. Lastly, I tagged along some Seoul-based Filipino friends to visit the shoot location of The 1^st Shop of Coffee Prince in Hongdae.

Changing of the guards ceremony at the Geongbokgung Palace

The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince in Hongdae

That's Yoon Eun Hye's signature inside the coffee shop

 For couples, a popular destination is the N. Seoul Tower in Namsan Mountain, which can be reached through a bus or a cable car from Myeongdong. This is where couples express their love by putting love locks in the railings of the viewing deck, just like those in the Pont des Arts Bridge in Paris.

N Seoul Tower 

lovelocks

My three favorite neighborhoods in Seoul are Hongdae, Myeongdong, and Gangnam. Hongdae is known as the university area (where Hongik University is). It is where the youth comes for shopping, dining, and clubbing. Foreign and local fashion brands, street foods and mid-end restaurants, plus bars/clubs are found here. Myeongdong is a shopping haven. It is where numerous beauty and fashion brands are; and trust me, they’re priced 3x less there than abroad. Gangnam is where high-end brands and the elites are; and is perfect for celebrity spotting.

street art in Hongdae

Korean BBQ (I love Hongdae street food)

my favorite shopping district: Myeongdong

comfy OOTD: Nike sneakers, denim top from Japan, denim shorts from Forever21 and Coach sling bag

Don’t worry about the expenses because it’s not as expensive as you think. Well that’s for you to experience; so book your flight, pack your bags, and prepare to have fun!

Stepping Up the Beer Game: Pinoy-made Craft Beers can go world-class too!

(As published on Hardware Zone Magazine's November 2015 Issue)

Pinoys are certified beer lovers. From simple hangouts to big parties, beers are always a part of almost every Filipino gathering. Typical beer drinkers consume highly commercialized local beers; but these days, the craft beers produced by local microbrewers are gradually changing the drinking scene.

With the emergence of locally produced craft beers in the local alcoholic beverage industry, the Filipinos are offered with a more diverse selection when it comes to flavors and beer profile.

As defined by the Brewers Association, craft brewers are those that are small, independent, and traditional. Craft beer may be produced in small volumes but it actually steps up the Filipino beer game. These local craft beers can actually go up against imported beers because of their world-class quality.

I recently got to visit the state of the art brewing facility of a new local craft brewer in Imus, Cavite. While other microbrewers do brewing manually and in small workspaces, Great Islands Craft Brewery uses high-tech equipment in a big work area, making it the biggest craft brewery in the Philippines.

 Great Islands takes pride on its Master Brewer, Allan “Baldis” Agala who graduated from the World Brewing Academy – Siebel Institute of Chicago. Another brilliant mind behind GICB is Mags Villafuerte, an importer and distributor of alcoholic beverages and one of the co-founders of The Beer Club of Manila, a beer enthusiast group that aims to educate Filipinos about beer and beer styles. To complete the team is Mario McDermott, a passionate American beer brewer who used to brew beer back in his hometown in Texas before moving to the Philippines as a microbiology scientist in a multinational pharmaceutical company.

Great Islands presents a wide range of beer flavors. Two of its seasonal flavors are the Halo-Halo Ale, inspired by the famous Filipino dessert that is perfect for summer, and the Bicol Express Wild Chili Ale, inspired by the famous spicy dish from the Bicol region. Its all-year round flavors are the 7107 Wheat Ale and its bestseller, the Pearl of the Orient Indio Pale Ale. The latter goes perfectly with Filipino “pulutan” such as Sisig, Crispy Pata, and Adobo.

You can now enjoy these interesting local craft beer flavors in the following establishments: The Bottle Shop, The Perfect Pint, Chihuahua, Buffalo Wings and Things, Big Bad Wolf, and Belle and Dragon.

Classic Savory: A rich tradition of serving timeless dishes, lasting memories

Filipinos from all walks of life love to gather around sumptuous meals with family and friends. This has been the raison d'être why a postwar restaurant serving timeless dishes would live on to become a favorite place for diners, who wish to bond and create special memories over hearty meals and great conversations.

Established by the Ting Brothers in the 1950s post-World War II era as a single establishment serving chicken and lomi in Escolta, Manila, Classic Savory is now one of the country’s most loved restaurant chains with 80 branches nationwide.

   Classic Savory is the perfect place to treat your family and friends to timeless gustatory treasures.

Wanting to introduce the eatery to young foodies, the second generation of Tings, co-founder Antonio Ting’s son Ramon, relaunched the restaurant six decades later, in 2007, and situated more contemporary looking outlets in major malls (SM, Ayala Malls and Robinsons). The third generation of Tings, Ramon’s nephews and nieces, would help run the business as well.

Since then, Classic Savory has become a popular hangout of families and barkadas who wish to satisfy their cravings for reasonably priced, feast-worthy meals.

Classic Savory Marketing Manager Dennis Ting said, “Classic Savory has a long and rife tradition of serving Filipino-Chinese gustatory treasures that have stood the test of time. We shall continue to provide excellent dishes that would serve as perfect backdrops for cooking up tasty memories created among family and friends, and all groups of diners for that matter.”

Not only for dine in or take out, Classic Savory also brings their delectable dishes to your home parties and office events via caterings and deliveries. It has in fact become the preferred takeout food in some offices and catered meals in several home gatherings.

A mix of classic and contemporary dishes

Each of Classic Savory’s time-honored signature dishes, which include the Savory fried chicken, lomi and pancit canton, has truly become a must-try among the restaurants’ new and longtime patrons. 

Tender, juicy and tasty, Savory Chicken is the quintessential centerpiece of many feasts where families and friends create special memories.

Lomi was the main dish that the first-ever Savory would serve way back in the 50s. Its hearty thick soup and tasty noodles aptly made it the standard for delicious lomi, then and now. Another noodle dish that is to die for in the eatery is its delectable pancit canton, which combines saucy noodles with a generous serving of freshly cooked veggies, seafood and meat.

The Savory Chicken, meanwhile, has been a favorite of generations of diners, with its mouth-watering goodness making it the ultimate comfort food. Just like what its tagline says, it’s tender, juicy and tasty! Made even more heavenly with its delicious gravy.

No wonder balikbayans make Savory Chicken a coming-home treat as they miss its unique flavors while abroad. It has also become a perfect centerpiece of several celebrations like birthdays, christenings, and even weddings.  

Aside from these time-honored classics, the restaurant also came up with new dishes that have been equally well-received by its patrons.

Relish appetizing courses like Lechon Macau, Crispy Patatim, Imperial Beef Tenderloin, Beef Ampalaya, Veggie Lumpia Fried, Chopsuey Con Lechon, Beer Battered Crispy Fish Fillet, Steamed Fish in Garlic, Shrimps Relleno and Crab Foo Yong, among other dishes. Not to mention delightful desserts like Almond Fruit Float, Black Iced Jewels, Pandan Fiesta Salad and refreshing drinks like Tropical Cooler and Blended Iced Tea.

Classic Savory seafood dishes

With its superb menu selections and welcoming store ambience, diners will surely find Classic Savory the perfect place to bond and share great dining experiences. Truly a classic that create long-lasting gustatory traditions and memories!

Cute Printed Backpacks

I'm not really a backpack kind of person but one of the backpack brands that I actually like in terms of quality, price, and design is Jansport.

Since it's "Back to School" season, I tried browsing online for a cute backpack, which I can give to my younger sister as a gift. So I found these Original Jansport Superbreak Backpacks from Zalora and I love the prints! Made me think twice if I'll still give them to my sister haha!

my fave!!!

aztec print

peacock :)

And one of my best friends was crowned Ms. Philippines Earth 2015!

I couldn't be any happier for her because I know this is her dream. I've been a witness to her struggles and to how she worked really hard to reach where she is now. I'm a proud bestfriend, and sister (from another mother), I must say.

Once again, Congratulations, Angelia Gabrena Ong, from the City of Manila, for winning the title of Miss Philippines Earth 2015! This is just the start. You have a long journey to go. Go on and prove to the Filipinos and to the rest of the world that you deserve this title. We'll be supporting you all the way. Good luck and God bless, Miss Crystal Queen!

Ladies and gentlemen, please support her campaign, #wewillbecausewecan and let's all pray that she wins the international pageant in November to give the Philippines a back-to-back Miss Earth title for 2014 and 2015.

and we gave her 3 victory parties :)

LG Electronics unveils the country’s largest 105-inch CURVED Super ULTRA HD TV

MANILA, May 14, 2015 – This summer, global technology innovator LG Electronics brings to the Philippines the most massive television to date—the 105-inch CURVED Super ULTRA HD TV.

Unparalleled size comes with unmatched picture quality

Globally revealed at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas early this year, this spectacular new model 105UC9 boasts of a resolution of over 11 million pixels (5120 x 2160)—five times more than on a Full HD TV—and CinemaScope 21:9 aspect ratio. These elements deliver a truly immersive viewing experience with ultra-sharp, lifelike images all over the 105-inch screen and stunning virtual surround sound.

The superior picture quality of the 105UC9 is complemented by LG’s True 5K Engine Pro and IPS 5K Panel. The former eliminates visual errors and can upscale lower-resolution content into near-ULTRA HD quality, while the latter provides consistent contrast, true-to-life colors and a wide viewing angle.

Superiority comes in full circle with impressive audio

Sound quality is certainly not compromised as the 105UC9 sports a built-in 7.2-channel, 150W sound system, ensuring a powerful and rich audio experience. It also incorporated LG’s ULTRA Surround concept developed in partnership with audio manufacturing leader Harman Kardon. The multi-channel system harmonizes with the TV’s 21:9 CinemaScope screen with a sonic performance worthy of an actual movie theatre.

Enhanced by the highly immersive curve and 3D technology

With the same aspect ratio as a Hollywood motion picture, the 105UC9 CinemaScope 21:9 screen recreates the movie experience in the home. The curvature of the display has been carefully calibrated to maximize the immersive ambiance. And by combining Film Patterned Retarder (FPR) 3D technology with extremely high picture resolution, LG’s 5K 3D⁺ feature offers unobtrusive and compelling 3D viewing pleasure. Thanks to the 5K 3D Upscaler, content in SD, HD and Full HD is converted into crystal-clear, near-ULTRA HD resolution.

User experience in the highest level of intuitive

The 105UC9 promises a greatly satisfying user experience via LG Smart⁺ TV, which is centered on the intuitive webOS platform. LG’s webOS makes everything simple and fast, whether it’s switching between content; discovering exciting new shows, apps and services or connecting to media stored on external devices. And with the help of the endearing, animated BeanBird character, webOS also makes the initial setup and connection process quicker and much more enjoyable.

“We are thrilled to bring to the Philippines the newest and most spectacular innovation of LG, the 105-inch CURVED Super ULTRA HD TV,” LG Philippines Home Entertainment Vice President Hoony Bae said. “Last December, we launched the country’s largest 98-inch ULTRA HD TV. This summer, we take it a notch higher and reinforce that it’s all possible when you bring today’s most advanced TV technologies together. The vision behind the 105UC9 was to bring the movie theatre into the living room, providing the optimal home entertainment experience for our consumers.”

To learn more about the one-of-a-kind LG 105-inch CURVED Super ULTRA HD TVs, visit www.lg.com/ph, like LG’s official Facebook page “LG Philippines” or follow @LG Philippines on Twitter and Instagram.  

Styling Stints at Hardware Zone Magazine

After my first styling stint at Hardware Zone Magazine Philippines (HWM Philippines), I have eventually became their resident stylist. Here's the link to my blog post during my first stint with them.

After the Holiday Gift Guide 2013/2014, I also did the styling for their Summer Gift Guide 2014 with Patricia Ejercitado on the Cover, Holiday Gift Guide 2014/2015 with the celebrity couple Gretchen Ho and Robi Domingo on the cover, and the most recent one was the Summer Gift Guide 2015 with Karyn Johnston on the cover, plus  a few pages with Kyle Vergara.

Check out some of my work for HWM:

Summer Gift Guide 2014

Holiday Gift Guide 2014/2015

Summer Gift Guide 2015

And that's it so far! Will keep you posted for more. Just continue buying HWM for your to serve as your gadget guide.

Wanna get a discounted trip to Palawan?

One of the best local destinations I've visited is Puerto Princesa, Palawan...and I would always keep coming back to this paradise.

It was in 2012 when I last visited this place and I could still remember the kind of adventure I had together with my classmates from graduate school.

Let me share to you a couple of photos taken during the trip and find the special discount coupon code at the bottom of the page. :)

Mitra's Ranch

Ugong Rock Adventure (spelunking)

Underground River Tour

zipline

before the boat ride to the Underground River

Island hopping at Honda Bay

Besides these places, we also visited the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center, Plaza Cuartel, Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral, Baker's Hill, Binuatan Weaving Center, and we also watched fireflies at Iwahig. We've tried really good food places such as the Badjao Seafood Restaurant and Kalui Restaurant. To know more about these places, you can visit my previous blog posts: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3.

You too can visit Palawan...and with a discount! Just check out http://letspalawan.com and use this coupon code: CityGirlDiariesC029

Enjoy your trip! :)