Thorned Rose

Healthy, Hassle-Free Holiday Bundles from The Goodwill Market

noreply@blogger.com (Yella Austria) — Wed, 22 Dec 2021 05:09:00 +0000

'Tis the season to show you care by sending healthy goodies from The Goodwill Market to family and friends. The gift baskets have been carefully curated to fit different lifestyles, filled with wholesome products that focus on health and wellbeing.

What’s more, they can be delivered safely and conveniently to your loved ones doorstep via orders on The Goodwill Market website. You don’t have to leave the comfort and safety of your home to send out healthy and high-quality gifts this Christmas.

The Goodwill Market is an online shop owned and operated by Dygen Pharma Distribution Corporation (DPDC), a subsidiary of Dyna Drug Corporation. Its mission is to make premium brands more accessible to Filipino consumers with online orders and fuss-free delivery. “This is a very valuable e-commerce service especially as everyone stays safe inside their homes” says DPDC General Manager May Panganiban. “Our gift packages contain a wide selection of health and wellness products that are sure to add a spark of joy to the holidays.”

Here are some of the gift selections that you can send as corporate giveaways, or as personalized gifts to your loved ones.

1. The Holiday Flavor Pack delivers goodies that are fit for the season’s feasts. It contains a selection of imported pasta sauces for easy meals made special.

2. Work from Home (WFH) is a healthy spread of snacks and ingredients that are perfect for who like to bond over good food while working. Wholesome meals and snacks are more accessible with tasty treats and premium ingredients.

3. The Lunch Box Buddies is the perfect gift for parents who shower this kids with love and care. It’s got everything they need to make bath time fun while taking care of baby’s sensitive skin. It’s also got kiddie vitamins for that extra boost of protection.

Make your Christmas list and check it twice. Find out which gift sets from The Goodwill Market will fit your friends and family members best, or check out the other items that are available at www.goodwill.market and its official social media pages on Facebook and Instagram and have these wholesome gift packs delivered directly to your recipient hassle-free. Book your corporate giveaways, customized orders and special requests through customer@goodwillmarket.ph.

Filipino Bloggers Network holds 10th Annual Thanksgiving Party

noreply@blogger.com (Yella) — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 14:30:00 +0000

It was a decade ago when the Filipino Bloggers Network (FBN), one of the most active Philippine-Based community of bloggers and influencers in the country, held its first-ever Thanksgiving Party in a hotel in Quezon City.

This coming December 12, FBN will hold its 10th Annual Thanksgiving Party virtually to reacquaint with fellow members around the country and reminisce 120 months of challenges and cheers; 3,650 days of networking; countless stories and priceless memories.

Although the gathering will still be online just like last year, FBN members anticipate the annual get-together as an opportunity to make new friends and catch up with old pals they have not seen for a while, not to mention the chance of winning some exciting prizes from the games and raffle draws. Representatives of different PR groups and brands will also grace the event to personally thank members of the online community who have supported them in the past years.

FBN currently has around 2,000 members across the country and abroad and continues to expand as it provides a venue for Filipino bloggers to interact with other members, even those based overseas. Moderating the discussions and posting opportunities from several brands are co-admins Divine Reyes and Richard Mamuyac and Lariza Garcia.

This year’s celebration is supported by the following generous sponsors:

BRANDS

PR PARTNERS

BLOG SPONSORS

SPECIAL THANKS TO THE SUPPORT OF THE FOLLOWING PUBLIC SERVANTS:

Rep. Eric Yap, ACT-CIS partylist
Rep. Joey Salceda, 2nd District of Albay
Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento, 1st District of Samar
Rep. Mike Defensor, Anakalusugan partylist
General Guillermo Eleazar
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte
Deputy Commissioner Randy Escolango, Insurance Commission

With the overflowing support and opportunities that FBN received this year from different companies and even from fellow members this year, the group sees bigger, better, and double opportunities and events in 2022!

Follow Filipino Bloggers Network on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/FilipinoBloggersNetwork

FINALLY! I Got My First COVID Vaccine Shot.

noreply@blogger.com (Yella) — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 23:49:00 +0000

It's been more than a year since the pandemic happened. I can't imagine things going back to normal without us needing to wear face masks or being able to gather with family and friends for special occasions. These days, even eating out IS an occasion. Thankfully, I see light at the end of this seemingly long tunnel. Friends, I have finally gotten my first jab of the COVID-19 vaccine.

It's a life-changing and historical moment for me, and I guess for most of us who's gotten the vaccine which is why I want to document it here on my online platform. I'm not used to blogging anymore that I don't know where to start. Plus, I'm feel like I have a bit of a brain fog after taking the vaccine. As early as now, please forgive me if my thoughts are all over the place. Haha!

Registration

I registered in Manila through www.manilacovid19vaccine.ph last December of 2020. As soon as they announced the website, I registered right away. I'm not sure if I want to take the vaccine. I was hesitant, of course. It's a new vaccine. But what I'm sure of is that if I change my mind and decide to get it anyway, at least I've already registered. I also signed my parents up as early as December. They were really my priority since they both have comorbidities.

Notification

My papa was the first to receive a text from Manila LGU last May for his first dose since he is a senior citizen and with comorbidity. He got Astra Zeneca. Next one was my mama a few weeks after. She got Sinovac. This June, I finally got a text that as part of A5 category (people who work onsite), I can now take my first dose. I am getting Sinovac.

My Vaccination Story

Honestly, I don't trust this China-manufactured vaccine. Can you blame me if I think the pandemic was all their fault? Then I thought, what's done is done and let's all just focus on solutions than going in circles around the problem. The moment mama received her first jab of Sinovac, I've read several articles about it and was pleased to find out that it is generally safe and is proven effective according to different countries who used it. Also, the sooner you get vaccinated, the better.

I work onsite everyday and I'm always worried about my siblings who I live with who might get it from me if I get it outside. When I get home, I have this routine: change clothes, do steam inhalation (suob -- which I do every other day), gargle warm water and salt, rest a bit, and take a shower. I don't go straight to sleep no matter how tired I am.

I was at work when I first received a text on June 13, 2021 notifying me of my first dose schedule on the 14th. Yes, they only text a day before just like they did to my mama and papa. It's like they expect you to cancel all your plans the next day for the vaccine. Initially, I thought the text as for my mom so I sent her the screenshot. Only then did I get to really read it and saw that it was for me. It was my schedule. Finally, I thought. I didn't expect for my category to get a schedule this soon because I thought they're going to wait for all the other categories, especially the seniors and those with comorbidities to get their second doses.

I work on a night shift so I was hesitant of going to the vaccination site without any sleep. I'm really having second thoughts about going. I decided to read the comments on Mayor Isko Moreno's Facebook page and it confirmed what I was already thinking. Everything was a disorganized mess. In some sites, people lined up as early as 11 p.m.! That's as soon as they receive the text. The vaccination sites for the A5 category were these malls: SM Manila, SM San Lazaro, Lucky Chinatown Mall, and Robinson's Place Ermita. The Manila LGU alloted 2,500 vials of vaccine for each site. Most people lined up at 3 a.m. and malls declared a cut-off at around 5 a.m. Grabe! 5 am, nasa work pa 'ko non.

Unfortunately, I've also read about barangay officials letting their family and friends cut lines. People who didn't even register online were let in. The comments section blew up from all the complaints. I decided to just sleep it off and wait for the next available schedule. I don't want to waste my time going there only to find out that I didn't make it to the cut-off.

They texted the following day for a schedule on the 15th but reading the same comments, I decided not to go.

Finally, on a Sunday, I received another text notification for a schedule on the 21st, the next day. I'm hopeful about my chances since Sunday is my day off, I got plenty of rest and sleep. The Manila LGU changed their policy of letting walk-ins in and announced that they would only allow those with a text message of June 21 schedule to be let in the site.

Vaccination Day

I arrived in Robinson's Place Manila and was at the vaccination site at around 12:45 pm. There were no lines at all! Well, I was 3rd in line. Haha. There were several people arguing with the guards and staff because they weren't allowed inside. The text must specifically state that you are scheduled for June 21, 2021. No other dates would do.

Station 1

In station 1, they only asked to check the text message that I got, my company I.D. and if I have my waiver and vaccination ID with Q.R. code with me. I had them printed already, but I found out they can just scan the Q.R. code from your phone and they can hand you a printed waiver to fill out if you don't have one. It only took me 5 minutes and then I moved to the next station. For the next station, a doctor asked me about my medical history. I was worried about my hyperthyroid and she asked me if I got a blood transfusion before. I said I got a plasma transfusion when I got dengue in 2011. I don't have any comorbidity so she cleared me to proceed to the next station.

I thought they were going to check my vitals on the next station since the other doctor only asked questions, but no. One doctor scanned my Q.R. code. I saw a bunch of injections on his table, so I asked, "Wow, Doc. Akala ko B.P lang, may blood work din pala?!" The other doctor in front of me told me, "No, ma'am. Ito na po yung vaccine niyo. Sinovac po tayo." I said what?! Wait. You didn't even check my blood pressure. I even mentioned that I'm having a little bit of anxiety over getting vaccinated. The guy doctor told me to calm down because my blood pressure might shoot up so he handed the lady doctor a sphygmomanometer and she took my B.P. reading. Then she said, "Ma'am, normal na normal po. Tuloy na tuloy na po ang vaccine niyo." Haha. They were very comforting and reiterated what I already know, that vaccines are safe and it will help with herd immunity which I am all for. I saw the needle was big but the lady doctor was fast. All in all the entire process, from checking the requirements until my actual vaccination, only took more or less 15 to 20 minutes.

I was directed to another area to take a seat and observe myself for 15 minutes to see if I feel anything unusual. They gave a talk to all of us waiting about the common side effects of the vaccine such as slight fever, headache and minor rashes. We were asked to immediately report if we have huge bumps or rashes and shortness of breath because that would mean we are allergic to the vaccine and it is life-threatening. I did not feel anything except for pain in the injection site.

Going Home and a Day After

It was a rainy Monday in Manila so there's a huge chance of traffic during rush hour so after a short stroll around the mall, I went home. I was still a little bit worried so I prayed the rosary on the way home. Thankfully, I still wasn't feeling any pain hours after the injection. But I was feeling really drowsy, like I would feel after taking anti-allergy medication. I didn't know what other effects I'm going to feel so I reported to work that I just had the vaccine and I took the night off to rest.

The morning after, I still feel drowsy but I am not experiencing any headache so I'm really thankful. My arm feels normal and there is no more pain in the vaccination site.

I have to go back in July for my second dose. The vaccine will be most beneficial at around 2 weeks after the second dose.

The atmosphere was very light while we were at the observation area after our first dose. Everyone was asking each other about how they're feeling, did they line up days before etc. We were taking pictures of each other's arms. Haha. I guess it's safe to say that we are all relieved of finallly having been vaccinated and that we've taken a step to "freedom".

I now have more peace of mind going home and being out and about. I still have to wear a facemask though but that's okay. Hopefully, soon I, we, can all get together again. I miss travel so much. I miss travel again, even if it's just Baguio. Airplanes? Definitely, but not so soon. It's something that I'm definitely looking forward to.

I'll update you guys on my social media stories (which what I do mostly nowadays) if anything comes up. For now, I urge you to get vaccinated once you get a schedule. Do it not only for yourselves but for your loved ones, too.

Let's Try This Again

noreply@blogger.com (Yella) — Mon, 01 Feb 2021 14:16:00 +0000

It's 2021, folks! Can you believe it? I can. In fact, I can't wait for 2020 to be over. I'm not really sure how I want to start this post but hey, how are you? Kumusta? How did 2020 treat you? If you are reading this, consider yourself blessed that you went through 2020 alive and well.

I planned to post my New Year post around the first week of January but it turned out I'm not ready to write about my musings and learnings from the challenging year that was. So here I am today, writing you on a pleasant day this first day of the second month of 2021.

How was my 2020?

As soon as I heard about the virus during the latter part of December 2019, I thought prevention is always better than cure so I started wearing facemasks as early as January. All year long all I prayed for was for my family to be protected against all calamities and sickness especially the dreaded COVID-19. Alas, it did not happen. We have lost several beloved family members. I know I'm not the only one seeing how many of my Facebook friends are sporting either a black or a lighted candle as a profile picture just like me. It's February and I still don't have it in my heart to change that candle into a selfie.

Just like many, I have dealt with anxiety. It was especially bad during the month of April when I had a bad cough, cold and sore throat (no fever and I did not lose my sense of smell and taste, thank God). I would have trouble breathing and would feel like the world is crashing down on me. I would hold my brother's hand while I calm myself and bring my breathing back to normal.

Come November I thought we were in the clear since it is just a few months before 2020 finally ends but God has other plans. I lost my grandmother on November 21. That hit me so hard because I'm a lola's girl and the eldest grandchild so I got to spend time with her the most. Then we lost my uncle a month after due to a heart attack. His abrupt passing also gave me anxiety. How can it not? One moment you're watching videos on Youtube, take a leak, and then suddenly you have trouble breathing. It only took less than an hour. Just. Like. That. He was gone.

Learnings

I'm sorry my first post for the year isn't as positive as you and I would have liked. I'm hoping for a better 2021 though. The vaccines are here. God is faithful.

One of the most important things I'm grateful for last year is my renewed and hopefully better relationship with God. I've always been prayerful back when I was a kid. I've memorized the rosary mysteries since I was 11. Growing older made me feel like it wasn't enough. I am hesitant to share anything about my beliefs. I don't want to sound holier than thou. And to be honest, I don't want to sound too "manang". LOL. (Sorry, Lord, for my vanity.)

My faith got me through the hardest parts of 2020 especially the fact that we had to celebrate the holidays with so many losses. We actually did not celebrate Christmas at all because we were at my uncle's wake but we were together as a family and that's what's important.

I've been attending Fr. Jerry Orbos' online masses every Sunday and I've taken to heart this quote of his in one or two of his homily: "Avoid regrets because you have loved too little, too late." Show and tell the people you love them before it's too late. People can be gone in a blink of an eye. Again, as Father said, this holiday season, look at the people around you. Some of them may not be there to celebrate with you next year. Deep but true.

Anyway, up until now the Titos and Titas would ask me why I'm still unmarried and why I don't have kids yet, and I would tell them, I can barely take care of myself and how much more a kid of my own? Haha. Well, all the anxiety 2020 gave me did me good because I distracted my mind from worrying by doing things that are good for me. I learned how to cook. I started meditating. I am taking my vitamins regularly now. I exercise more. Ang galing. Kaya ko pala. It took a pandemic to make me realize that I can take care of myself. I quarantined with my brothers during ECQ so it turns out I can take care of other people too. Does that mean I'm ready to have a family of my own? Now that is a different story. LOL.

What's in store for me this 2021?

My goal this 2021 is simply just like last year's-- to survive. With the vaccines rolling in, I am quite optimistic about my chances. I spent the past year mostly keeping myself sane. I was a big ball of nerves and I'm not afraid to admit that. Now, I am facing this new year with less anxiety and more faith.

Wow. I missed doing this. I miss making my blog like a diary. One thing I want to try is to open up more. I'm still thinking about starting my own Youtube channel. To be honest, I'd rather be behind the camera than in front of it. Introvert problems. Haha! But what do you think?

Writing again after so long feels like dipping my toe before swimming. Now that I'm done, I think I'm finally ready to dive into this world again. Who's with me?

Yonipp: Freelancing in the time of Pandemic

noreply@blogger.com (Yella) — Tue, 01 Dec 2020 13:15:00 +0000

What is up everyone? It has been a long, long while. The pandemic has taken a toll on me hence the hiatus. I’ve limited my social media time as well because I find news (plus FAKE news) depressing most of the time. Anyway, what have you been up to? During this pandemic, I have observed many activities people are getting into. You’ll see people baking and cooking which introduced numerous new food trends such as dalgona coffee, sushi bake, and of course, the famous ube cheese pan de sal. Some became fitness junkies and plantitos/titas. I’m pretty sure so many of you have also started your own Tiktok or Youtube channels by now.

While I haven’t given in to the lure of Tiktok yet, I’ve learned to cook so many dishes, tried the ube cheese pandesal and did more work outs in a month than I did the entire year last year. I also went back to doing one of my first love which is writing. Since it has been quite a while, I needed to slowly flex my creative muscles. I figured why not go back to freelance writing and earn at the same time, right? I checked out Essays.Ph, a freelance platform I’ve written for before but found out that they have since ceased operations. I’ve searched for more options and discovered Yonipp.

What is Yonipp?

Yonipp is a freelance platform that caters mainly to writers. Whether you’re a pro or someone like me who’s trying to get back into it, or even a beginner who’s looking for a side hustle and wants to give freelance writing a try – this platform would be great for you to try.

My Yonipp Experience

At first, I wondered how Yonipp would be different from Essays.PH. I hate to compare but the first thing I’ve noticed is the user-friendliness of the site’s interface. After filling out my writer’s profile on my dashboard, I proceeded to search for jobs in the Projects Marketplace.

Project Marketplace Preview from Yonipp.com

I browsed through each of the project’s details and once I found a topic that I’m comfortable writing about, I placed a deal and waited for them to send me a message if my bid was accepted or not. Once accepted, I began writing right away. If I have any questions about the project, I can communicate with the client through the project’s “Huddle Box” or ask a question through the chatbot and get assistance from anyone from the Yonipp team.

I know I’m not the only one who can appreciate how the Yonipp team wrote the guides on the Writers Help Center in a fun and straightforward way. If you’re a freelance writing newbie, this should be a plus point for you.

One of the best things about Yonipp is that you can choose to write about a niche that is comfortable for you. Lifestyle and travel are what I enjoy writing about the most but having studied a science course, I am also comfortable writing about health-related topics. I also try to step out of my comfort zone and write about other topics as well to exercise my creative muscle and if I want to challenge myself.

After the project is completed, I wait for the client’s feedback and for my pledge to be released. Take note that the amount is less Yonipp’s 20% merchant fee). Cash-out methods can be through PayPal or any local banks.

Any Cons?

I noticed that the number of projects can be limited at times so you’ll be competing with so many other writers for some topics. Also, I think the Yonipp team works during Philippine office hours. My creative juices start flowing at night time. I know I need to change that and hopefully learn to write any time of the day. Having said that, it’s difficult for me to communicate with anyone beyond office hours if I have any questions like that one time when my pledge got accepted on a weekend. I had a few questions about the project but as per the chatbot, the staff will be available on Monday.

Is it for you?

There are many platforms out there with clients that can offer regular contracts. However, I highly recommend Yonipp for beginners. The website also offers topics that are challenging and more rewarding for veterans. During this time of the pandemic, it wouldn't hurt to support your day job with a side hustle.

Solo Travel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

noreply@blogger.com (Yella) — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 03:30:00 +0000

Thinking about it, I have never really thought much about traveling alone. It isn't even on my bucket list because just getting out of the comforts of home to travel to unexplored places (for me) even if I'm traveling with family or friends seems daunting enough because I can get really anxious. Again, every time I leave home, it is always out of my comfort zone. Having been to a few new places last year, I decided that I am finally ready to travel on my own. I booked a flight to one of Philippine Airlines' newest routes from Clark to San Jose, Mindoro in October. Heck, I don't even know what I can see in that part of Mindoro! I figured I had plenty of time to research since the trip is still months away.

But alas! The Big Guy has plans for me. My first solo travel actually came sooner rather than later than what I have planned. This March, I was supposed to travel with my aunt in Kuala Lumpur but unfortunately, she was not allowed to get out of the country by the Philippine Immigration officers. I am sharing this because I hope some of you can learn from our experience. My aunt is a public school teacher so she is considered a government employee. I am actually unaware of this during that time but government employees are supposed to secure a travel order signed by their department head if they are going abroad. In her case, a travel order signed by the head of Department of Education - Region 4. She already passed one a few weeks ago but the paperwork needs to go through several other department heads to get to the regional. It can take months! I know she should've gotten one earlier but there is no guarantee of the timeframe of when it'll be signed especially since she is traveling not for work but for leisure. We certainly did not expect it would end up with her having forfeited plane tickets because she was not allowed to travel by our immigration. I think it's kind of unfair considering some corrupt public officials can travel freely and a mere public school teacher can't. But that's another story.

And there I was, planning to refund my tickets because I don't think I can do it alone. If it was a domestic flight then sure, maybe, probably. But this is international where English is not even their native language! My parents, bless their hearts, knew that I needed this experience. They knew I needed to travel alone since I am always the "I can't do it." kind of girl. This year, it was my new year's resolution to say yes to new experiences and said yes is what I did.

I left PAL's ticketing office with my roundtrip tickets still in my hands and my family drove me to the airport. I felt like my head was going to explode. I was so nervous that I got a had a bad stress headache when I got to the hotel. Haha!

Well, that's a long intro! I have no idea how to go about this entire post since I did not really follow my itinerary. I was traveling alone so I took my time in between places. Yes, I was not able to visit everything on my "To See" list but I think there's a beauty in just walking around, taking your time and taking it all in. I am just going to share everything about this trip in installments so it won't be too long. But for now, just read below to see all the highlights of my trip. I will still be writing individual posts about some of the sites in the coming blogs so watch out for that.

The Airport

They have 2 main terminals called KLIA 1 and 2. KLIA1 is used by Malaysia Airlines and other international carriers while KLIA 2 is where all the AirAsia flights depart and land, much like NAIA 2 is for Philippine Airlines. Contrary to what I initially thought, these two are not separate airports just two different terminals connected by a train. My plane from PAL landed in KLIA1. I had to ride the train going to the other terminal to get to the immigration. It's free by the way and you just have to wait for the train to arrive since it is just back and forth between the terminals.

I wish for our country to have airports as nice as this.

Getting Around the City

I found that it's easy to commute in Kuala Lumpur. After a day, I got used to navigating through LRT and MRT routes which is the most convenient way of traveling in the city. Aside from their railway transit, you can also ride the bus, a taxi or get a Grab. As with any other Asian countries, it is recommended to steer away from cabs since fares are not always standard. Even the locals in Kuala Lumpur recommended that I get a Grab instead for convenience and better rates.

Batu Caves

There is a reason why Batu Caves is one of the sites you should see when visiting Malaysia. They painted the steps and now it is more colorful than ever. It IS very Instagram-worthy. Don't forget to bring your own water because the weather can get so hot and bottled water is a bit pricey up top after climbing those flights of stairs. Also, refrain from bringing food. The sound of plastic alone can alert the monkeys and they can get pretty aggressive when they're hungry.

I will do a more detailed post about Batu Caves on my next blog.

Petronas Twin Towers

I have seen many photos of it. It is a nice looking piece of architecture but I really was not expecting much. However, I was definitely awestruck when I finally saw them in person.

Masjid Jamek

Masjid Jamek is Kuala Lumpur's oldest mosques. It was declared as one of Malaysia's Heritage sites. Even if you have a different religion, they encourage tourists to go inside and know more about its history. There are even guides inside letting tourists know more about the building's story.

The Central Market and China Town

Central Market is the place to go for souvenirs. It is an old building but is surprisingly well-kept. Inside there is an area for Malay, Chinese and Indian souvenirs. There is also an area for chocolates and sweets. Everything is affordable. You can even haggle for a lower price. Unfortunately, I am not that great with haggling. But I still took home plenty of goods as a souvenir. I loved my time shopping here. The Central Market is also located near China Town where there's more of other souvenirs and other items.

Around the City

You will enjoy walking around Kuala Lumpur especially if you are a fan of great architecture. I know I was not able to go around the tourist sites I've seen on other people's blog and itinerary but in a way, I am glad that I didn't because I was able to enjoy it more. The city made me fall in love with it more that way. On my second day, all I had on my itinerary was Masjid Jamek and I just walked around the city from there. These sites are near one another so I had no problem navigating. I was lost in a good way that day.

St. John's Cathedral

This is the most famous and the only Catholic Church I was able to google in Kuala Lumpur. I made it a point to visit a church during my stay there because hey, I was all alone and did not have any single problem traveling around the city. I have to say thanks to the Big Guy up there for sending me angels along my trip.

Jalan Alor

How can I leave Malaysia without sampling their food? Plenty of blogs and vlogs informed me that Malaysia is a great place to go on a food trip. They are so right! Even the street food here are delicious. Jalan Alor is Kuala Lumpur's most famous food street. The entire street is closed for tourists. My Grab driver had to park a street away so I had to walk a little to get to the actual street. I was alone but did not feel like it because of all the tourists in the area. I will definitely grab another meal here when I come back.

All in all, it was a great first solo travel experience. I come and go as I please, there are no other people to wait for and there are no dramas as you occasionally would when traveling with family and friends (You know what I mean. Teehee.) This will definitely be the first of many solo traveling that I will do. I highly recommend Malaysia, especially for first time solo travelers. The people are so friendly and helpful. They are also good in English so it's very easy for tourists like me to ask directions and tips. Plus, Kuala Lumpur is just like Manila but cleaner and better transport system. Hay, I wish we could have better airports and LRT's here.

There you have it, folks! I hope you enjoyed this photographic journey of a post through Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I will be posting a more detailed post about some of the sites so I hope you get back here and check them out when I do.

Ciao!

Flick Pick: Erik Matti's BuyBust Review

noreply@blogger.com (Yella) — Sun, 05 Aug 2018 08:48:00 +0000

It's been a while since I have written a review for Flick Pick and this one I really loved! I follow Anne Curtis on Instagram and her bloody selfies got me curious about her then-upcoming film, BuyBust. Erik Matti has always been one of my favorite Filipino directors so I had a feeling that it would be great. I know better than to expect anything high of any film because I don't want to leave the cinema full of regrets but fortunately, Matti's BuyBust did not disappoint. Even better, it exceeded all my expectations.

Watching the trailer got me impressed. I figured it would be a good primer before Cinemalaya. So a week before I watch Cinemalaya, I decided to watch BuyBust in SM Clark. Only after watching it did I found out that it was Cinemalaya's opening film!

Buybust had a strong start introducing its main characters. Anne Curtis' Agent Nina Manigan was recruited by PDEA Team Leader Bernie Lacson (Victor Neri) to be part of his team after a botched operation that left Manigan's previous team slaughtered with only her as the sole survivor. Their team was tasked with capturing a big-time drug lord, Biggie Chen (Arjo Atayde) with the help of an asset (Alex Calleja). Biggie Chen asked them to move from the original rendezvous point to Brgy. Gracia ni Maria where the entire operation fell apart. From capturing a big-time drug lord, their only task now is to get out of Gracia ni Maria--alive.

First, let me commend the production design. The labyrinthine slum of a barangay made for the perfect setting for the entire movie. It took the zombie apocalypse theme to a whole new level. The whole movie noticeably lacks dialogue for all the characters but for a good reason, because the action scenes will keep you on the edge of your seats. To be totally honest, I did not expect a film like this to star Anne Curtis. I love her in all her romcoms and all but an action movie? Yes, finally an action movie. You can see the hard work she's put in in all of her scenes. I loved Matti's direction of how the cameras followed her as she kicks ass from one alley to another. Her action stunts were flawless.

Another performance that pleasantly surprised me is from Brandon Vera. He was like gentle giant fighting foes of all shapes and sizes throughout the film. I found myself rooting for his character, Rico Yatco as he fought to stay alive and smiled during lighter moments when he kisses his "lucky charm" or anting-anting everytime he is almost killed.

I have so many favorite scenes, too! (Spoiler warning!) Like the scene where he and other barangay settlers got electrocuted and he still managed to stay alive and the other one when he beheaded that annoying woman trying to gouge his eyes! But one of my favorite scenes were from Manigan and Biggie Chen. From the moment Arjo's character was revealed until the very end of the movie you'll find how brilliant Arjo Atayde is. He is the film's secret weapon. Not knowing the whole plot at first, I initially thought that Arjo was one of the PDEA officers. I did not know what to expect because in my eyes, he is much too young too be an actual drug lord. But man was I impressed when I finally saw him on the screen. You will know what I'm talking about when you watch it.

The musical score was very witty. From the Lupang Hinirang to that Bisaya song during Anne and Arjo's fight scenes were on-point. The entire cast has their own moments to shine as well on each of their scenes. I also loved that the director utilized a variety of weapons from machine guns, pistols, and knives to bare hands.

The film is based on the on-going drug war in the Philippines but good thing I left that thought behind as I entered the cinema and enjoyed the movie as it is--a film. To be honest, I only noticed the film's political undertones towards the end and in my humble opinion, it was not biased and provided a voice to everyone involved in this drug war which is--everyone. It was not only a fight between the government (PDEA agents) versus the drug syndicate but the innocent lives that became collateral damage. The whole film became a game of survival for the agents as they are caught between the drug gang and furious Gracia ni Maria residents. Everyone is against PDEA's team. Even if I am anti-EJK, towards the very end, I am not even sure which side to choose. Certainly, not the drug dealers, of course. But in the film, you'll find that even young children and women are taught how to fight and even use a gun. How can you not shoot and fight back when you are fighting to stay alive? It is to kill or be killed. I noticed in one scene when Manigan fought off residents who are coming after her, that it moved from Christians to Muslims. That was one of the scenes where the reality really hit hard--that everyone is affected by the drug war. Only in the film, people are so frustrated about getting caught in between that they fought back. They just didn't care anymore. The film may have gotten a mixed reaction from its viewers but Buybust tried its best to get its message across. Some might even say that there are too many poor people killed in the movie. First, the film may have exaggerated it a bit because of the prolonged action scenes. It is after all, for the sake of art. Second, you will see why in the end when the film ended with an aerial shot of Brgy. Gracia ni Maria showing all those who died from the Buybust operation in their small barangay, moving towards a more quiet and peaceful neighborhood just beside it onto the more distant skyscrapers towering the city while the audience hear the sound of a reporter downgrading the number of dead people from the buy-bust operation from clearly a probable hundreds to just 13. THIRTEEN. Won't that make you question your level of privilege? That while we sleep soundly in our homes within a village with 24/7 security, there are people who can't help but stay awake and wait for the sound of guns to quiet down. Life is not equal at may mga tao talagang kinalimutan na ng lipunan.

The film will have you rooting for the PDEA officers at first, but in the end, you'll find that they are screwed over by the more corrupt "powers that be" that ironically, they have to answer to. So no, it does not in any way justify EJK but Buybust will show you the bigger picture.

How was the entire movie in summary? Let me just say this: I stopped myself from going to the comfort room just in case I miss any scenes AND I did not even yawn or look at the time.

Buybust is one of those movies when the film is actually as good as the trailer. I highly recommend watching it while it's out on the theaters because it is not just a film, it is a whole different experience. Erik Matti truly elevated Filipino action films to a whole new level.

Thenice Snorkeling Gear Review

noreply@blogger.com (Yella) — Sat, 14 Jul 2018 10:00:00 +0000

One of the things I love about traveling is island-hopping, especially if the trip involves snorkeling! Unlike you lucky ones who are brave enough to dive down deeper waters, I can't. Or at least I haven't tried it yet. Being too scared to swim without a life jacket on, I would settle for snorkeling near the boat instead. With snorkeling, I still get to enjoy the experience of seeing the beautiful life down under.

If snorkeling is part of your trip, you'd usually need to rent a snorkeling gear consisting of a mask and the breathing tube or snorkel. More often than not, I find the quality of these gears wanting. Some of them don't fit well, some, just by looking at it, can be a health hazard and some are just a few uses from falling apart. So I decided to go ahead and invest in my own snorkel gear. I am no expert and just a mere snorkeling enthusiast so I've done a little research. I found that there are 2 types of snorkel masks you can get. One is the regular one with the mask and a snorkel, and a full-faced snorkel mask which already has the breathing tube inside like these ones below:

I was contemplating on getting the full-faced one but I've read several bad reviews of people complaining of getting dizzy and almost passing out while swimming with it which makes you prone to drowning. Yikes! We don't want that. Also, the full-faced one is only good if you are planning on just snorkeling on the beach surface. It is not advisable to dive deeper with it. Again, that's just what I read. With that information in mind, I searched Lazada for a trusty regular snorkel gear that is within my budget. I tried searching for one in malls nearby here in Pampanga but I just can't find something that meets my requirements: quality + budget. I have no choice but to try my luck online instead. Once again, Lazada did not fail me. I found this Thenice Snorkel gear for Php 999 from B&D Tech Innovation. It could've been lower than that but it took a while for me to make up my mind about whether I'm going to buy it or not and the price increased slightly again by the time I bought it. I read all the reviews and finally placed an order. I was worried it wouldn't arrive in time for our Hundred Islands trip but to my relief, it arrived the day before. It was neatly bubble-wrapped and even included a container for the mask and a net bag for the whole gear. Looking at it, I was satisfied with the quality.

Thenice Snorkel set out of the package

Finally got to try this out on our Hundred Islands trip!

Another beauty shot of this bad boy

It worked great! At first, the water was getting inside the mask but all I had to do is tighten it a little bit more. It is made up of flexible silicon which made it comfortable to wear because it will fit the contours of your face. The silicon mouthpiece also provides comfort while using the snorkel and the mask is made of tempered glass which is "two to five times more durable than traditional glass". Aside from the comfort, this snorkel gear is also PVC-free which makes it safer to use.

The mask was so clear! I really had fun seeing all the corals and the schools of fish going different ways. It really is a different world down there.

The gear when worn

Comfortable wear

The Thenice Snorkeling set gave me a more comfortable and enjoyable snorkeling experience. If you are looking to buy the same snorkel gear, here is the direct link below:

Do you know of any other good snorkel set brands? Do you think a full-faced snorkel gear works well? Let me know in the comments section so we can let others know more about it, too.

Hundred Islands National Park 2018

noreply@blogger.com (Yella) — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 00:30:00 +0000

A month ago, my family and I went to Alaminos, Pangasinan to visit one of Philippines' most famous destination-- the Hundred Islands National Park. I was so excited for this trip for its many firsts. It's the first trip I have ever planned, first trip I have ever planned for the family, and our family's first time to go out of town and ride a boat off to somewhere. It wasn't easy planning though. It turns out it's harder to plan a trip with your family than with friends especially with setting a date.

This will not be a detailed travel guide since we traveled on our own car to get there and we did a few stop-overs along the way. Allowing yourself to stop over whenever and wherever you like is what I love most about traveling on your own vehicle. It was still quite a long trip considering we were already coming from Pampanga. It still took us five hours. (Okay, maybe it IS because of the stop-overs. Teehee.)

We arrived in Alaminos around 11.30 a.m. and checked in at our hotel, Casa del Camba. You can read more about my Casa del Camba accommodation review here. It was quite comfortable for our group of 7 and had plenty more space if we're more than that. Casa del Camba already has a go-to person who will assist us in securing a boat and other necessities for the tour. I thought he was already our boatman but he wasn't. He's just a middleman from the hotel. We rested for a few minutes while preparing for things to bring for the tour while we were waiting for kuya. Good thing the hotel is just around 2-3 minutes from the hotel by car.

We immediately left after he arrived and we did a convoy following him in his tricycle. You see it's easy to do a Hundred Islands tour because they are so organized and there is plenty of parking space if you bring your own car. The rates of the boats are also standardized and you'll have to pay at their Tourism Office.

Here is a list of fees:

I did not encounter the Garbage fee from other blogs on my research but it is required when we went there. You'll also have to pay this fee on the same cashier where you have to pay the other fees and they will give you a typical black garbage bag. Here's tip no. 1: You can return the bag (with trash or not) and refund your Php 200 back. In the midst of preparing for the tour and renting additional equipment such as goggles and snorkeling gear, we forgot that kuya (sorry I forgot his name by now) has our trash bag, therefore, we can't refund the fee. We still have a balance from the gears we rented, so we just subtracted the Php 200 from our balance.

Tip no. 2: Lifevests are for free throughout your travel between the islands, but the moment you use them while roaming around the islands, there is already a fee of Php 50.00 per person. If you are a confident swimmer, you no longer have to rent a lifevest especially if you're not diving or snorkeling and just going to enjoy the beaches of the islands. Snorkeling gear also has an additional fee. Good thing I brought my own and the rest of the family have their own swimming goggles as well.

However, if you are planning to go jump in the pool inside Imelda Cave, then you will need a life vest because it is required before diving.

Tip no. 3: When you rent a boat, you can rent it for one whole day of day tour. It is best for you to research which islands you'd like to visit because some boatmen, like ours, just told us we can go anywhere we like, only offering a few tips on which islands are best to visit. Fortunately, I researched a little bit. Even though we started around 12 p.m., we were able to go to the must-see sites.

I hope you enjoy some of the photos I took. Here they are:

Lucap Wharf--the gateway to the Hundred Islands

Our first stop was Governor's Island. This island is not meant for swimming but it has a viewdeck which can give you a great view of all the other islands.

Long way to the top of the view deck

View from Governor's Island

There's a sari-sari store which sells halo-halo for refreshment after the hike

Next is Marcos Island. Marcos Island is a site famed for the Imelda Cave where you can experience cliff diving. I wasn't able to take a photo though because no one would carry the camera for me since my siblings and I want to do the dive. Again, let me remind you that you cannot dive without a life vest. I recommend cliff diving here. It was an exhilarating experience especially because it's my first time to experience it.

After Marcos Island, we went and "parked" our boat in an area between Old Scout Island and Virgin Island where we swam and snorkel some more. I wasn't able to take a picture of the islands itself because I was busy making friends with the fishes below. I really love snorkeling and seeing lots of corals and schools of fish. Plus, I really got good use of my new snorkeling gear which I will write more about soon.

Then after a few more enjoyable moments of snorkeling and swimming, off we went to our next destination, the Pilgrimage Island. Of all the islands I have seen and visited during our tour, this is my favorite because of the most spectacular view. The view here is even better than on Governor's Island in my opinion. It even showcased a great sunset. Truly a sight to behold!

With the family

These flowers around the island certainly added to the island's charm.

I was in awe after reaching the top and seeing this huge statue of Jesus Christ. By that time, we were the only ones at the top which gave us the chance to take in the view of the other islands, pray and witness the glorious sunset.

Doesn't it look glorious? I love me a good view of a sunset. It's a calming sight indeed.

Lastly, we dropped by Quezon Island. We literally just dropped by to check out the sights because the tour ends at 5 p.m. and we wanted to make the most of our tour.

Finally, tip no. 4: Arrive early. Tour ends at 5 and you can rent a boat for a whole day and you can visit any islands that are open for the tour. Since we started a little after 12 p.m., we weren't able to visit other islands. Don't expect much though. Having been to Coron, Palawan has raised my expectations a bit for beaches. But let me remind you though that each place has its own unique charm and can offer a different experience.

After the island hopping, we went back to the hotel for dinner and a restful sleep. We went back to Lucap Wharf the next day to go souvenir-shopping. You can buy ref magnets for 3 for Php 100, shirts for Php 150, sandos for Php 200 (the quality of fabric is better, they said.) and keychains for 5 for Php 100. There are plenty of other souvenir options to choose from with varying prices.

I still enjoyed our tour. Albeit short, my family and I still got to explore the main islands and got to enjoy swimming and snorkeling. Visiting the Hundred Islands is a great bonding experience for the entire family. I recommend for you to visit this Philippine treasure even just once in your lifetime. Bring your family, too.

Accommodation Review: Casa del Camba in Alaminos, Pangasinan

noreply@blogger.com (Yella) — Wed, 30 May 2018 00:30:00 +0000

As early as elementary, I’ve been reading about the Hundred Islands. It’s been visited by a couple of friends of mine already and I want to go see it even for once in my lifetime. Then came my birthday and I was contemplating on going on my first solo tour but then I decided to finally go on an island-hopping adventure together with my family—because in the end and as cheesy as it may sound, I think birthdays are meant to be celebrated with loved ones. It’s the first time for me to organize such outing. It turns out that it’s a lot more stressful to plan for a trip with your family than with your friends. Out of all the things, I’ve had a hard time planning where to stay the most. We’ve already been to Bolinao but we skipped Alaminos so we just planned on just doing a Hundred Islands tour because Bolinao is still an hour or two worth of travel and we have limited time.

I searched through travel sites, Facebook, and even hunted down every hotel and transient houses near Lucap Wharf in Google maps to see which one would fit our needs and budget. We are a family of 7 so I was looking for a place that would offer a good, comfortable space for a great price and in this summer heat, an airconditioned room is non-negotiable.

I found many listings for rooms and even a whole house but I found them rather unappealing or it was beyond our budget. It also didn’t help that it’s surprisingly hard to find a detailed hotel review online whether it be on blogs or travel sites. Fortunately, I found a hotel near the wharf seems to have everything that I am looking for. So I decided to share a review just in case you are also combing through the web looking for accommodations for your hard-to-please families, friends and/or officemates.

I found Casa del Camba on Facebook. Out of all the hotels and transient houses I texted, they were the quickest to reply and that definitely gave a great first impression. Aside from texting them, I also messaged them through Facebook. They were very gracious in answering my many questions. They even sent me a photo of their menu for their small restaurant. After ironing out a couple of concerns, I made a reservation and deposited 50% of the rate to their account. You can deposit either to their BDO or RCBC Savings account.

There are 4 types of rooms available and their rates are as follows:

Standard Room (for 2 pax) – Php 1,800

Deluxe Room (for 4 pax) – Php 2,500

Family Room (for 6-8 pax) – Php 3,200

Barkada Room (for 8-10 pax) – Php 3,700

Take note that breakfast is not included in these rates. They also offer to arrange the island tours for you. Someone from their staff will coordinate directly with a boatman on your behalf. Hundred Island tour rates are standard for all boats and you’ll have to pay at the Tourism Office. (I’ll do a separate post on the tour next time.)

Casa del Camba is less than 5 minutes away from Lucap Wharf--the gateway to the Hundred Islands. It can easily be seen since it is just on the side of the road on the way to the wharf. We were immediately greeted by their friendly staff upon entering the hotel’s premises.

The check-in time is 1 p.m. while the check-out time is 12 noon of the next day. They also offer senior citizen discount if you have someone 60 y.o. and over with you. Note that the discount is only for the senior citizen. It will be regular rate per head for all others.

It also has a spacious parking on the side.

I chose the barkada room because I have big brothers and we need more space. Our room was everything I expected since they sent me a photo of it during our conversation in Messenger. Each deck is queen sized and would fit 2-3 persons easily. The bunk beds were made of good wood and the ladders going to the top deck are sturdy. Let's say if a person sleeping above you moves around a lot, you won't feel it if you are sleeping at the bottom bunk.

The airconditioning system is working well and kept the entire room cool and comfortable.

There are plenty of spaces for bags, luggage and other travel stuff. You are also allowed to bring food inside your room which can save you a lot of money. There may not be a cabinet for clothes in our room but you can hang your towels and other clothes in the space underneath the table (the one below the window).

I wasn't able to take a photo of our comfort room but here is one I grabbed from their Facebook page. It's pretty simple really. They also have complimentary toiletry kit which include a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, and shampoo.

I asked their permission to grab their photos on Facebook to share with you how the other rooms look like. Here is the standard room.

This is their deluxe room which is good for 4 persons.

Their family room is good for 6-8 persons. Each bunk bed is just twin size which, unlike the barkada room which would fit 2-3 persons per bed, a family room can only fit around 2 people per bed.

Here is their humble restaurant which will welcome you upon entering. It also doubles as a reception area.

If you don't have time to go out to get some food, you can order here. Or better yet, you can text them your order after your island-hopping tour so the food will be ready once you arrive. To give you an idea of what they offer, here is their menu:

Our stay was short but enjoyable and made comfortable by the friendly and accommodating staff of Casa del Camba who are always ready with greetings and smiles. I recommend this hotel especially for families who are looking for a great place to stay that will surely not break the bank. Their rates may vary per season, therefore, are subject to change so it is best to contact them directly for booking inquiries.

Casa del Camba is located in Lucap, Alaminos City, Pangasinan. You may contact them at 0933-675-4162 or through their Facebook page here.

Turning a New Leaf

noreply@blogger.com (Yella) — Sun, 22 Apr 2018 01:00:00 +0000

Hello guys! It's been so long that I don't even know if there are still readers to say hi to. As you can see, I've reverted back to my old blog URL. I just found it hard to maintain a domain name so I'll stick to this for a while. Oh, how I've missed writing here! But I am just the type who would write more when I'm feeling blue so I guess so far, things are all rosy. I've also missed the typical way of how I write before--diary style. I figured I should be doing that more often so let me start now.

I've probably mentioned that I moved here in Pampanga. I can say that the move has been good for me and my mental health. I actually still cringe a little when say "mental" like it's something abnormal. I wasn't officially diagnosed with anything. But a part of me is saying that I should have. I have those what I call "dark days" when everything seems pointless and I feel so hopeless. I don't want to dig deeper into that right now but all I can say is that since moving here, I'm happy to say that the dark days are getting lesser and it has become easier to snap out of it.

So what else is new? Well, I am turning thirty in a few days! The big 3-0. Hmmm.. How do I feel about it? Let me be as real as I can be. I was more terrified of turning 30 when I turned 29 actually. But as it nears, it has become less daunting a thought for me. I am actually excited. Why? Maybe because I am just beginning to really love myself more. I feel like I've finally matured enough to call myself a woman. (Yes, girls. It can take THAT long.) I have been feeling more secure, grounded and confident.

For more than I decade, I was feeling really lost and that life itself was pointless. I look at friends' posts on my Facebook page and it always made me feel inadequate. I questioned myself about why I'm still here when everybody's being somebodies and going everywhere. I am always looking far into the future that I forgot to cherish the moment that I am living in. I was living, but I do not feel alive. Now, I am consciously trying to change that perspective.

Here is something I am more brave enough to talk about. I have also gained a noticeable amount of weight over the last few years which made me feel a little insecure and depressed. Surprisingly, as I near 30, I have become more accepting of my body, and all of my curves and imperfection. I am a little more confident as can be. And I know naman that I can lose all the weight if I want to because I've done that before (through exercise and healthy eating of course). But right now, I am just enjoying life.

If you've only come across this blog of mine, especially if you are younger, I hope you learn from my mistakes. I hope you feel that you are enough. Honey, you are always, always more beautiful, smarter, braver and kinder than you think you are. And please stop comparing your life to someone else's. It's okay if you're just not adventurous enough or sociable enough. It is okay for you to feel as if you're stuck there because there will come a time where all doors will open and every light will turn green and life is a one big YES. You will get there. It's okay for you to want to be alone sometimes. It's also okay to be single and happy because alone isn't equal to lonely. Oh heck, it is even okay to NOT be okay sometimes. Loneliness is a spectrum of emotion that you need to feel to appreciate happiness even more. I know that sometimes things are not just black and white or happiness is not always a choice or maybe you've been struggling to even choose to stay alive. I hope you always choose to live, every single day, every single time. Don't look far into the future and just live in the moment. Love yourself and you will radiate love into the world and life will love you right back.

With this post I say, bring it on big 3-0!

Pampanga Food Find: Muceno Open Food Park Angeles, Pampanga

noreply@blogger.com (Yella Austria) — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 03:30:00 +0000

Social media has seen the rise of different trends in the food industry. Filipinos are slowly becoming more adventurous when it comes to trying out food, hence, a rise in different food concepts to cater to the Filipinos' increasingly demanding palate.

Pampanga, being the culinary capital of the Philippines, proves to be lucrative location when it comes to new food concepts such as food parks. In fact, food parks are popping up in different locations.

But is it just a trend? It's too early to tell but what I can tell you is that Angeles City alone already has three relatively well-known food parks and is expecting more soon.

One of them is Muceno Food Park. It is an open-air food park in Angeles City. The dining area is a bit small but still leaves a plenty of space for food enthusiasts to enjoy their meals and catching-up sessions with their friends and families. They also have a large parking area beside the food park but since it is an open-air area, it can get uncomfortable if it rains.

The Food Stalls

Like other food parks, Muceno carefully selected their concessionaires to ensure that each stall will offer a unique set of menu to their customers. I loved that no two food stalls are alike. Foodies will get to enjoy samplings from over 20 different food stalls which include Clark's Burger, Cone Culture, Benedito's Peri Peri Chicken, Wrap Eat Out, Chie's Sausage, Grandma's Homestyle BBQ & Ribs, Bek's Bibingka, EGI Steakhouse, Wicked Wings, Esting's Belly Lechon, Wagyu King, Yaki-Temaki, Fiorgelato Ice Cream, Milkshake Lab, Tokyo Tempura, Rad Sandwich, Taco Truck, Chef Cozma's Shawarma, Daily Detox and Lemon King.

My family and I got to sample food from some of these food stalls and went home with very happy tummies. Other food concepts are so "out there" that sometimes it doesn't live up to my expectations. Sometimes, all I want is a classic cheeseburger, if you know what I mean? Anyway, here are some of the food stalls I got to try (and I've linked their instagram accounts with their names):

Grandma's Homestyle Ribs & BBQ

If there is one thing you shouldn't miss out on dining here in Muceno, it's Grandma's. They offer mouth-watering ribs that fall off the bone. Whoever Grandma is, she sure knows what she's doing. Their staff is also friendly and accommodating. I can't finish my ribs so I asked them to pack it so I can take it home and they even added some extra helpings of their delicious barbecue sauce when I didn't even ask them to! Now that's good customer service.

Boneless Spare Ribs

BBQ Spare Ribs

Cone Culture

Cone Culture offers easy-to-eat gourmet food served in cones. We tried the fish and chips. It's not the usual fish fillet. They were probably aiming for crunchy but the fish fillets were too thin, nevertheless still tasty. But between the two, I enjoyed the chips more.

Sweet Maven Desserts

Out of all the food stalls, Sweet Maven was the one I am most excited to try, mainly because of those inviting photos on their instagram account. I have only tried the Salted Caramel waffle. The price is a little steep in my opinion because this girl needs more ice cream on her waffle. It is still worth the try though and it makes for a great foodstagram. I still want to try their other dessert selection next time.

Salted Caramel Bubble Waffle

Milkshake Lab

Milkshake Lab's refreshments are a treat for the sweet tooth. Like Sweet Maven, I also want to try other milkshake flavors next time. Their official hashtag is #SimplyExplosive and I couldn't agree more.

S'mores milkshake for your sweet tooth. 🐜

A post shared by Yella ❤🌙 (@loveadriella) on Sep 1, 2017 at 8:10am PDT

I didn't get to try every stall here in Muceno but I really enjoyed the ones I did. Muceno Food Park's management did a great job in handpicking their concessionaires and I am excited to try what the other food stalls have to offer on my next visit.

Muceno Food Park is located at 2009 Richtofen St. corner Hensonville, Malabanias, Angeles City, Pampanga. Operating hours are from 4:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.

Nailaholics Nail Salon and Spa Celebrates the 2nd Year of National Pampering Day

noreply@blogger.com (Yella Austria) — Tue, 10 Oct 2017 16:16:00 +0000

When it comes to pampering on a national scale, Nailaholics Nail Salon and Spa holds the only spot. After introducing the celebration of the National Pampering Day last year, Nailaholics is back at it again this 2017 with an amplified nationwide celebration of relaxation that everyone is looking forward to this October 17.

The National Pampering Day got off to a good start last year where Nailaholics offered free manicure service and a stress-relieving hand massage from 10 AM to 12 NN on all their branches nationwide. This year, everyone will be treated to a free service of their choice: a soothing manicure, calming foot spa or a relaxing foot massage.

“We Filipinos are very hardworking in any given aspect of our lives and a nation of energetic and industrious people best deserves real pampering once in a while. This year, as Nailaholics celebrates the 2nd National Pampering Day, we go deeper and dedicate this to everyone and remind them to take it slow, take it easy, zone out and relax for awhile,” said Arvin Amaro, Marketing Head of Nailaholics Nail Salon and Spa.

“With last year’s success of the National Pampering Day, we are back this year with a bigger and much more enjoyable day of pampering. In partnership with the number one salon brand and most beloved nail lacquer brand in the world, O.P.I., National Pampering Day 2017 will accommodate more guests with the extension of pampering time until 1PM. Also, the best thing about this year’s National Pampering Day is that it will be in support to World Vision, The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), and Save Philippine Seas” added Amaro.

So save the date and get ready to park away any thoughts of work because the only responsibility you have is to loosen up. Wind down and head down to any Nailaholics Nail Salon and Spa branch on October 17, 2017 (Tuesday) from 10 AM to 1 PM and get yourself a free relaxing manicure, foot spa or foot massage.

Let Nailaholics’ skilled nail technicians take care of you for a little while and walk out of this Hamptons-inspired nail salon feeling refreshed and ready to bring it on again. Grab this once a year treat only at the country’s top destination for relaxation and real pampering.

Check out their website, www.nailaholics.com to check their services and find the branch nearest you. Get updates through their Facebook Page Nailaholics Nail Salon and Spa, Twitter @_nailaholics and Instagram @_nailaholics.

Nailaholics is an urban destination that offers its customers an escape from the daily grind through its exceptional interiors and exceptional pampering service. It currently has more than 50 branches nationwide, including in Gateway Mall, Eastwood Citywalk, Cash and Carry Makati, Harbor Point Mall Subic, SM Cebu, SM Bacolod, and SM Lanang.

Pampanga Food Find: Mr. Cupcake Diner

noreply@blogger.com (Yella Austria) — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 09:23:00 +0000

I'm baaaaaack!

I've been on a pretty long hiatus almost to a point that is unacceptable for a blogger. Let's just say I was on a long mental health leave. But I am happy to be here, sharing with you a new section that is hopefully an ongoing series of restaurants and food finds from Pampanga because I am currently Pampanga-based for an indefinite period of time.

Pampanga is famed for being the "Culinary Capital of the Philippines". So it's no surprise that it is filled with many restaurants. Pampanga is home to a great number of homegrown restaurants and most of them don't have branches anywhere else. I am telling you, I can literally create a separate food blog for restaurants just here in Angeles. There are so many to try! I hope to share my food finds and tickle a taste bud or two.

So enough with the introduction and let's take a step back to the 50's with Mr. Cupcake Diner, a retro-themed restaurant located in Guagua, Pampanga. We always pass by Mr. Cupcake Diner in San Fernando every time we travel to Manila and back and I've always been curious about it. The bus diner concept is a unique sight here in the Philippines (or at least, for me) so I found it to be inviting. But we never found time to stop by and visit.

Mr. Cupcake Diner in San Fernando
Photo submitted by Kaizen1975 on tripadvisor.com

We were on the way home from Pradera Verde in Lubao, Pampanga when we passed by Mr. Cupcake's main branch in Guagua. We fell in love with the interiors the moment we stepped inside. It reminded me a lot of Pop's Diner in the series Riverdale. I love that it's situated in the middle of nowhere. Just take a look outside the windows and you will see waves of tall, green grass surrounding the diner. It looks dated but in a good way. I've been told by their manager that they've been there for just two years. It's a good hang out place for families and friends.

See the view outside the windows

I've read a few negative reviews on Facebook about the food and management in their San Fernando branch so I'm happy to say that the staff has been great and hospitable during the time we were there. The Guagua branch also offers a lot of space in terms of movement and seating capacity.

THE FOOD

True to their tagline, you will find a selection of typical American food such as burgers and milkshakes. We ordered just a few but we loved them all. I found the fried chicken's skin a little bit salty but my mom said it was just right. She's a great cook so I guess her opinion is better than mine. It all depends on your taste. The chicken's crunchy on the outside, but juicy and tender on the inside. Yum! The order comes with french fries.

An order of their ramen is also good for sharing. I'm not into ramens but I liked this one. The waiter said it's only a single serving but it was good enough for us three. There's no way one of us can finish this ramen alone. My parents weren't able to finish their burgers because they were already full from the ramen. I just wished for it to be a little hotter because it was getting cool when it was served.

For the burgers, we ordered a Captain America burger for pop and regular cheeseburgers for my mom and me.

Captain America Burger

The burger sauce was nothing special and I wish there were more servings of fries (because you can't get enough fries). We still love the burgers because of the juicy and delicious burger patties which aren't the commercial kind. It is often taken for granted by most restaurants so we also love that the burger buns were made in-house and they were not dry. Also, the Captain America burger had big helpings of bacon. That's definitely a plus.

At first, I thought that Mr. Cupcake only serves cupcakes because duh. Haha. Their cupcakes look delectable at an affordable price (Php 25-35) so I feel bad that we didn't get a chance to try them. Hopefully, next time because this is one of those restaurants we want to visit again.

Mr. Cupcake Diner can improve on a few things but we loved the whole experience. The ambiance takes you back in time and the food prices are reasonable for the amount of servings that you get.

Planning to visit or already been there? Leave me a comment below and let me know how it went or what to try next time.

Mr. Cupcake Diner is located in OG Road, San Antonio, Guagua, Pampanga. They are open from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily.

Note: This is not a sponsored post.

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Hello 2017!

noreply@blogger.com (Yella) — Fri, 20 Jan 2017 03:45:00 +0000

It's 2017 y'all!

I am 20 or so days late from posting a "New Year" post already but if you are expecting for something of a list of resolutions or bucket list or perhaps a tribute to 2016, I am sorry to disappoint you but this is not THAT post. Because new year does not mean new you, or me. I don't know what 2017 holds for me but I am very optimistic about it. I think it will be a year of challenges and new things. I'm excited to enter the world of the unknown and go on all kinds of adventures.

I did not create a list of resolutions (is it too late though?) but I decided that this year I will say YES more--to opportunities, invites and anything life has to offer. I realized being an introvert should not be a disadvantage. It should also not be a reason for saying no. I love a good conversation, in fact, I live for it. It stimulates the mind and its my greatest turn on so my second resolution is to keep in touch and reconnect with old friends. I know I suck as a friend already. I'm not good with communicating and I hate phone calls. So this year, I will t̷r̷y̷ ̷t̷o̷ change that.

So, if you're a friend and you're reading this, please know that when you send me a message, I always reply. Haha. Hey, really. Ask anyone, I am very quick to reply. But that's because I hate having notification numbers on my phone. And let me just say that this time, I will really make an effort to say yes to invites even if it means dragging my ass off of the couch and turning off the T.V.

Coron Palawan Escapade Part 2 || Kayangan Lake, Sunset and CYC Beach, Green Lagoon

noreply@blogger.com (Yella) — Sun, 18 Dec 2016 16:11:00 +0000

I am glad we spent our first day in Coron, Palawan doing a leisurely walk around town, exploring it on our own. We saved money from paying a tour guide for a town tour and we have time in our own hands. Its a small town so you will not get lost easily and if you do, you can always ask a friendly local for directions.

As much as I loved our first day around town, I can't wait for our first round of island tours on our second day. But the morning was less than stellar as our travel agency did not even send a service to fetch us from the inn to the port area. We had to ride a tricycle to the port and we were the last boat to leave the port. Our tricycle driver told us that the travel agency we were with is one of the relatively newer agencies in Coron so maybe that explains why everything was unorganized. He recommended for us to move to another agency which we did the next day. We transferred to JY Travel and Tours and it was smooth sailing until our last day.

Although, let me just say that the good part about being late is that our boat was always the last to leave the destinations. So our group got to enjoy the islands for ourselves so its a positive way of looking at all the inconveniences we had that morning.

That November 17, 2016, we left the port at 10:00 a.m. Our first destination was Kayangan Lake. As I am typing this, I let out a sigh remembering my first impression. Pictures don't do justice on how it looks like in actuality. It was beautiful.

Here are some pictures and stories from our second day. Enjoy!

It is hot outside

While waiting at the port

Just docked at Kayangan Lake

Finally here at our first stop!

I read blogs about Kayangan Lake but nothing prepared us from the hike we had to do. We were expecting a few steps to get to the top. You could say this was like a part 2 of our "exercise" from Mt. Tapyas! We had to walk up to the view deck and walk down to the other side of the island where the Kayangan Lake is situated. We had to do the same going back to the boat. Bakit hindi niyo kami ininform? Sabi ni kuyang bangkero saglit lang eh. (Why weren't we informed of all the hiking we're about to do? The boat man said it's only going to be a short hike.) HAHAHUHU. If you're going to visit Kayangan soon, this is your warning: don't miss leg day!

This view is so worth it.

Don't you just love the color of that water? It's so clear you can see the fishes swimming.

View from the stairs as we were going down

Back to the boat we go. It's on the other side.

By 12:15, we left Kayangan Lake and arrived on Sunset Beach at around 12:40 p.m.

Island food. Yum!

But of course, we Filipinos just have to take photos before eating. Funny story: Filipinos and the foreigners were grouped together in the benches. We finished our rice first so we were pointing fingers on who to ask the other group--the foreigners for their still very full plate of rice. And when someone from our group finally did, they said: Omg, you are really, typical Filipinos. Haha! Guess our reputation for being rice lovers precedes us even abroad.

Our boat sailed a few kilometers away from the beach to go snorkeling. Sorry, no underwater photos from this part of the tour. But it was fun! Snorkeling is always fun.

Just look at how much fun Cams and I were having! Unfortunately, Gibbo just stayed in the boat during all the snorkeling part of the tours because he's terrified of swimming. It's a real phobia. We were always teasing him. The boat has a tiny stairs at its back side if you don't want to go diving directly to the water if you're snorkeling. Gibbs got as far as the last step of the stairs before he almost had a panic attack. We told him to face his fears. "But not this fear," he answered. We laughed. But we knew then that it was serious by the look on his face and we respect that. He just became our official photographer when were were swimming and also because he stayed on the boat, he took the most amount of selfies between the three of us so he still got something out of it. And we were in one of the most beautiful islands in the world! Just being there is worth it.

After Sunset Beach, our next stop was CYC Beach. We don't have many photos from from this part of the tour as well. I found it a little lackluster than other islands I've been to. We still had a good time swimming though. Our boat didn't dock on the actual island because it was low tide that time. Cams and I had to hold on to a tire a.k.a. floatation device for one of the boatmen to bring us to the island. We just goofed and joked around with Kuya. He said he was going back to the boat and said we can swim back ourselves to which we cried, hell NO! Haha. Imagine our surprise when he came back with the kayak. No one dared to use it from our group of tourists not even the foreigners because they said it was for PHP 1,000 an hour! And kuya let us use it for FREE! So a tip guys, make friends with the boatmen. They can be generous and most of them are skilled photographers as well.

Arriving at CYC Beach

Happy Kids

Tanned, happy kids

Seriously, where was I looking?

Ah. Look at the sun.

Off we went to our last stop, the Green Lagoon. We left Sunset Beach at 2:20 and arrived at Green Lagoon at around 2:40 p.m. We stayed here for a little while just to take photos and swim a little. You'll notice that the water alternates from warm to cold which was weird and nice.

Green Lagoon

My phone captured the light rain.

Overall, we loved our first day of tour in Coron. It was everything I expected it to be and more. And most of all, we also met new friends on our first day which was fun. We had lots of laughs. We can't wait for the next day.

Watch out for the third part of my Coron, Palawan escapade series! Hope you enjoyed this one.

NOTE: Here's a sample budget for a 5D/4N Coron Tour for three persons. The final tally is the expense per head. The food, transportation and souvenir budget are of course, estimates. But just to give you an idea, I'm going to post our budget at the end of every Coron Tour-related posts that I am going to publish here at the site just to give you an idea. Cheers!

REELive the Classics with the Magic Temple and More

noreply@blogger.com (Yella) — Mon, 12 Dec 2016 10:03:00 +0000

December 6, 2016--Film enthusiasts and 90's kids flock to Rockwell Power Plant Cinemas to watch the premiere of the digitally restored and remastered Magic Temple directed by Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes. Magic Temple is a primer for ABS-CBN's Film Restoration project in coordination with Power Plant Cinema entitled "REELive the Classics".

The project is part of ABS-CBN Film Restoration Group's campaign to save classic film or dubbed as "Sagip Pelikula". It aims to restore the classics and make it available in different media platforms for the general public to see and enjoy.

This year, Magic Temple celebrates its 20th year anniversary since the film made its debut on December 1996 as part of the films competing in the Metro Manila Film Festival. The event was graced by some of the main cast members including Mr. Jun Urbano (Sifu), Marc Solis (Omar), Junell Hernando (Sambag) and Sydney Sacdalan (Shaolin kid) as well as its staff and crew.

Movie goers enjoyed a better and clearer digitally-restored Magic Temple. It took me straight back to my childhood days and I am just as proud of Jubal (played by Jason Salcedo) when he was chosen to be Sifu's student instead of Rexor. I felt every bit nostalgic hearing each song, the music were all-original and all-Filipino. The film is a proof that Filipinos can do fantasy story-telling just as well as foreign movies.

Magic Temple cast and crew before the film was shown

Director Cathy Garcia-Molina

The cast and crew with ABS-CBN Film Archives and Restoration Group executives and members

With Junell Hernando who played Sambag

With Marc Solis who played Omar

Whether you're an avid movie fan or just want to relive the greatness of these timeless films, you can still REELive the Classics until December 14! Tickets are available for PHP 230 and at a discounted price of PHP 200 if you are a student.

Restored films include these timeless classics: Bagong Buwan, Tanging Yaman, Himala, Insiang, Haplos, Cain at Abel, Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon?, Nagalit ang Buwan sa Haba ng Gabi, Dekada '70, and Mario O'Hara's Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos. See the schedule below:

ABS-CBN Film Archives has already restored 120 films since it started in 2011. Some of these films were screened in international film festivals and locally via red carpet premieres. It is also made accessible to the public through free-to-air and cable television, pay-per-view and video-on-demand, as DVD's and are downloadable through iTunes.

To know more about ABS-CBN Film Restoration and get the latest updates about classic films, you may visit their Facebook page.

Coron Palawan Escapade - Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Yella) — Sun, 11 Dec 2016 17:19:00 +0000

The trip to Coron, Palawan was years in the making. We were supposed to go there back in 2012 but there was a typhoon. Mother nature just wasn't on our side. So March this year, we booked tickets through Cebu Pacific's Piso Fare for a grand total of PHP 2,604.00 for the three of us! We agreed that rain or shine, we are going to Coron. Come October, we were already counting days as our work stress heightens. Haha! November can't come soon enough.

So if you'll allow me, let me write and talk about the trip in a conversational manner--not using a formal, magazine-ish type. I'll be alternating photos and stories because I just LOVE telling stories (you all know me). I'll also be giving some tips for when you plan to visit Coron as well.

The photos on this post will be from our first and last day in Coron when we just went on a tour around the city.

Here we are at the airport. It was only after this photo that we noticed that blue was the color of the day.

Cams doing her thing.

Hello there, Coron, Palawan!

We stayed at Jim's Castle Inn. We had to go uphill and downhill to reach the place that by our fourth day, I think our muscles already got used to it already. We're also no longer catching our breaths as well.

Here it is. Our home for 5 days. We stayed in Coron from November 16-20, 2016. Service was okay for the price. For PHP 2,000 for 4 nights, we weren't exactly expecting a butler or anything. Breakfast is also not included for that rate but they do serve them. You have to place an order the night before with their receptionist so they have time to prepare it for you in the morning. The most important thing was that it was airconditioned. It was also hot in Coron when we visited. We're not complaining though. Full-on sunshine is way better than rain which we don't want for our island-hopping. For inquiries, you may visit Jim's Castle Inn's Facebook page here.

We got a room for three. 1 Queen-sized bed for Camille and me and another twin-sized bed for Gilbert (who we fondly call--and shall refer to as Gibbo for the rest of this post). Jim's only has 2 floors. Unfortunately, the wifi signal is already too low in our room. We either have to go down to the lobby to access the internet or stay at the stairs. It is a little inconvenient but good thing I bought my Smartbro LTE Pocket Wifi which has been very reliable during the trip. But even if I didn't, we can still live without the internet--for you know, just five days.

The comfort room is pretty regular but there's no shower curtain between the toilet bowl and the shower area so the floor can get pretty wet. We appreciate the water heater which worked well during our stay.

We didn't join any city tour because from our research, the town was small and we figured we can do a tour ourselves and it will definitely lessen our expenses. Plus, we can go around and stay in places for however long as we want to because we don't have other people to think about.

Commuting around town is very easy. Tricycles are the primary mode of transportation. The fare is Php 10.00-12.00 per head. We arrived at 7:30 am, walked around town and ate lunch. Then we went back to the inn, checked-in and slept again. Around 2 or 3 p.m., we rode a tricycle to Lualhati Park. It is also a dock for boats to ride for the island-hopping tours.

Here is a panoramic view of the park. Nice view eh?

Of course, I had to take a (semi)selfie. Teehee.

From the park, we met a tricycle driver and rented his services to take us to Mount Tapyas and Maquinit Hot Springs after. Please excuse the noise in some of the photos. I only used my phone to take photos. By the way, there is no entrance fee for the hike.

This is a lame excuse but since moving to Manila because of work, I have no time and safe place to run which is why we practically crawled going up Mount Tapyas and its 700+ steps. I appreciate that the government allotted budget for concrete steps going up the mountain which made the climb easier.

We stopped at every chance we get to sit, breathe and drink. Just look at our faces! Oh yeah, bring water for hydration when you climb. There are also vendors who sell snacks and drinks below Mount Tapyas.

Going down. Next stop, Maquinit Hot Springs.

We initially wanted to go to Maquinit at daytime so we'll have a natural lighting for better photos but our driver warned us that the water is hotter during the day. Thank God we heed his warning! I know it's a hot spring but I did not expect it to be THAT hot. It's not even lukewarm, it may be the same as the normal body temperature. Imagine if we went during the day or at noon. I don't think we'll enjoy it that much.

It took a while for my body to adjust to the hot water but it does help soothe tired muscles from the Mt. Tapyas climb. No wonder the locals highly suggest to do the hot spring right after.

Also another nice-to-know information, Maquinit Hot Springs is approximately 30-40 minutes away from the city. The roads going there are not yet concrete so expect a bumpy ride. If it's raining, expect it to be a bit muddy, too.

Please take note that Maquinit Hot Springs do not have shower rooms. They only have cubicles for you to pee and change clothes. You can't even rinse your body because the water in the comfort/changing rooms is also salt water. I suggest you bring your own towels to dry yourself after soaking in the hot springs.

Finally, here are some shots I took during our walk around town during our last day in Coron. Our flight for Manila is in the afternoon so we walked around town to eat lunch and buy souvenirs. I just want to give you a glimpse of this beautiful town. It is quiet and has a really chill vibe even at night. People here go to sleep early and it can get quiet at around 8 p.m.

There are bars where you can enjoy the rest of the night too if you want. I'm just saying the place is so chill, I noticed that there are no police patrolling the area unlike in some other "normal" towns or cities. They still have a police station of course. Our tricycle driver from Mount Tapyas and Maquinit Hot Springs told us that people there are scared to commit crimes because the prison is too far. It's in an island near Puerto Princesa called Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm which is hours away from Coron by boat. It is so far that they're afraid their families won't get to visit them often. Some prisoners don't get visitors at all.

Coron Church

The police station

There are banks in Coron but it's often offline. It's better if you bring cash because rarely are there restaurants and shops that can take payments via credit or debit cards. Even souvenir shops don't have them so remember to save money if you're planning to buy souvenirs and pasalubongs for your loved ones and bosses (kasi alam mo na yan, bes).

We did not have a chance to do a food trip around Coron. They say Carl's Barbecue is good but we'll never know because it was always full. We always go back to Lolo Nonoy's. The food is so good. I don't recommend Big Mama's Hot Pot and Grill though. We had an unpleasant experience that one time we ate there. We think the food was prepared in an unsanitary condition because our bulalo had an insect when it was served. We were too tired from the island hopping to complain so we just asked them to replace it. The servers were also talking so loud that we didn't get to enjoy our meal in peace. But that's just us. I know, I know. I always like giving people a benefit of a doubt. But still, Lolo Nonoy's food tasted way better if you ask us.

Love Lolo Nonoy's homey vibe.

I hope you enjoyed part 1 of my Coron Palawan escapade. Watch out for my next posts with more information about our island-hopping. I'll also share a breakdown of our budget then. Please visit my blog again when I do upload it because I know you'll enjoy the photos.

Coron is worth the wait and the best parts are yet to come.

Update: Check out part 2 of my Coron, Palawan Escapade here.

Coron, Palawan Trip Primer

noreply@blogger.com (Yella) — Sun, 11 Dec 2016 02:00:00 +0000

Hey guys! I know I owe you a post or two (or maybe three) about my trip to Coron, Palawan together with my best friends and I am sorry but I haven't gotten around doing it because I've been busy with work and all, and writing a well-organized travel blog can take a chunk of your time. But I promise you that I will find a time to tell you about our amazing trip.

Meanwhile, here's a video I made from all of the clips I've taken during our trip. I am so sorry for the quality though. This is my first time to try doing a video and I decided to try it this time because sometimes pictures just can't capture the real beauty of a place and taking a video is the closest thing of taking you there, if you know what I mean. This is my first video about anything actually. It is far from perfect but you know what, I enjoyed watching it and I decided I'm going to do more of this on my future posts, travel related or not. I only used my Samsung S7 Edge phone. I am such a videography newbie that I shot most of the videos in an upright angle and not landscape. I know, I know. Lesson learned. I'll do better next time, I promise.

Now I also want to tell you about how I'm happy about the phone's performance. It got splashed on with sea water loads of times during the trip and it is still doing A-okay! It has become our official camera during the trip aside from my best friend, Camille's Xiaomi Yi Camera. We love the quality and the fast shutter speed. We even got great jump shots which you have to watch out for in my actual Coron blog.

But for now, I hope you enjoy this video!

Flick Pick: Apocalypse Child

noreply@blogger.com (Yella) — Sat, 05 Nov 2016 20:44:00 +0000

WARNING: There may be a few spoilers ahead.

I found out about Apocalypse Child movie through Facebook shares from art-related/connected people or pages but I don't remember from whom or which specifically because I follow too many of them. I did not read any reviews nor even watch the trailer and you know what? I'm thankful that I didn't. Spoiler-free. It took a while for me to write about my thoughts about the film because in all honesty, I don't think I'm a reliable reviewer. I have yet to establish myself as a movie reviewer since I've only written about a few movies because yes, watching IS the easier part. I salute film critiques who get to watch and observe at the same time because whenever I get critical about a movie, it just messes with the whole experience and I don't get to enjoy the film. In the end, I've settled for writing just the first impressions and not go all in depth about it.

Apocalypse Child's story revolves around Ford (Sid Lucero), a surfing instructor in the idyllic town of Baler, Aurora who's famous around town for his ways with women and the story of how he was born. He is known around town as Francis Ford Coppola's son who came to Baler to film Apocalypse Now. At least that's what his mother, Chona (Ana Abad Santos) happily (over)shares with everyone--even with people she just met. Annicka Dolonius plays Fiona, the balik-bayan who only came home to be on her dying grandmother's bedside, RK Bagatsing as Ford's best friend who replaced his late father as the town congressman, Gwen Zamora as Rich's fiancee Serena and Archie Alemania as Ford and Rich's other childhood friend Jordan.

The film had such a talented cast. There were several extras but you'll only ever hear the story and voices of the six main characters.

Ford is living the typical, carefree surfer's life. He's a Peter Pan--essentially a boy in a man's body who lives day by day without any real plans or dreams for the future and partly, he owes that to his equally carefree mother, Chona who had him at such a young age and treats him like a younger brother or a friend. Ana Abad Santos just shined in her role as Chona. I particularly loved the scene where she brought some joint and got high with the "kids".

The other casts were not to be outshined and that's one of the most beautiful things about the film. Simply put, walang tapon sa cast. Each actors' performances are great in their own right.

I loved Annicka since my all-time favorite, Ang Nawawala. It's only the second movie I've ever seen of her and my darlings, she did not disappoint. Annicka has really matured as an actress. Initially, I was hesitant if she can pull it off since it has been years since Ang Nawawala but halfway through the movie she convinced me that she IS Fiona. Fiona and Ford's story is a typical summer fling which starts with a blazing fire and ends in... well you know how it ends. The scene where she snaps and confronts Ford about their break up was especially brilliant for me because the scene could easily be so dramatic especially with Fiona crying in Serena's arms right after but the director showed much restraint and just let the characters be.

Rich is the most level headed of all characters. Yes, even more than Chona. He's so open-minded, he even let his gorgeous fiancee do surfing lessons with Ford the lover boy. Rich also puzzles me the most. He is just so mysterious and chill. How can you not be psychologically disturbed after being abused as a child? But in the end, that's when I found out his flaws and how and which parts of him were broken--literally and figuratively.

Gwen as Serena injected a different kind of sensuality to the story. She's the mature kind of sexy who thinks before she leaps while Fiona is the young and wild kind of sexy.

All the characters are broken for different reasons. You'd think with everyone's backstory there'll be a lot of drama within the film but there isn't. There's not much crying here. It's almost like they would rather get high and bask under the warm sunlight and surf than face their issues. You'll also find the locals such as Ford and Jordan telling Fiona and Serena stories about the town. It will remind you of how people tell stories on Facebook and you'll wonder about the truth and you'll wonder about the things they are not telling because sometimes, the stories we tell are not the truth in its entirety but we tell them anyway as a consolation for the things we are not. That's what made the characters believable. I must also note the music within the film courtesy of Armi Millare of Up Dharma Down giving you the melancholic, beach feels.

I have never been to Baler but the director, Mario Cornejo did a great job of showcasing what the province has to offer. If you are a child of the sea and a surfing fanatic, those alone will make you want to see this movie.

To be honest, coming in without any idea of what the film is all about, I also came out not knowing how I feel about the entire film. I think mainly, it made me think about my own unresolved issues in life because Apocalypse Child is a film that is a lot like life, you may not always understand it no matter how mature you think you are, but you live it anyway. The movie will let you feel a tiny bit of pain--the kind where you don't know where, how and why it started, but you feel it--it's there.

If there are indies about to be shown with a mainstream movie with much promotion, please watch the indie films first because sometimes it only screens for a day or two. You still have time to watch this gem of a movie. For the list of cinemas and more information about the movie, check out Apocalypse Child's Facebook account here.

Stewie Griffin is Gold

noreply@blogger.com (Yella) — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 09:14:00 +0000

Work week's almost over! Well, for most of us who works in a typical, Filipino office hours. If you're having a tough day (or week), here's one of Stewie's golden moments for you. It sure got me laughing out loud. Enjoy!

Remembering the Artist: Manuel Conde at 100

noreply@blogger.com (Yella) — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 16:38:00 +0000

The Cultural Center of the Philippines Arthouse Cinema, in cooperation with the Society of Filipino Archivists for Film (SOFIA), the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the UP Los Baños Foundation Inc. recently concluded Manuel Conde @ 100 at the CCP Tanghalang Manuel Conde last October 8, 2016. The three-Saturday event was held to commemorate National Artist for Film, Manuel Conde’s birth centennial who was born on October 9, 1915. For the event, three of his most celebrated films were screened: Genghis Khan (Sept. 24), Krus na Kawayan (Oct. 1) and Venganza (Oct. 8).

Manuel Conde opened the gateway to the world stage for Philippine cinema with his film Genghis Khan becoming the first Filipino film to be acclaimed at an international film festival in Venice, Italy in 1952. Conde is regarded as the first independent film maker doing independent films on a very limited budget when he is not making commercial films for LVN Pictures, one of the biggest film production outfits during that time. Film critiques describe Conde’s films as “ahead of their time”.

A short lecture was given by Film Scholar and “The Cinema of Manuel Conde” author Dr. Nicanor Tiongson on how Conde’s film, Venganza drew inspiration from Jose Rizal’s El Filibusterismo and also spoke about the cultural symbolisms within the film. Dr. Tiongson praised the flourish of regional cinema in today's generation.

Eldest child of Manuel Conde, multi-faceted actor and director, Jun Urbano who is best known for his portrayal as Mr. Shooli in the 90’s political satire Mongolian Barbecue was also present and shared a few anecdotes about his father.

“We never expected for him to be a National Artist. He just made films for money. Pero malikot ang isip ng daddy. Ang klase ng mga pelikulang gusto niyang gawin ay hindi kumikita.” the always humorous Urbano Jr. shared with the crowd.

The event concluded with the awarding of Manuel Conde Centennial Commemorative stamp by PhilPost Assistant Postmaster General Luis Carlos to the Urbano Family.

Dr. Nicanor Tiongson

Mr. Jun Urbano

NCCA Chairman and Subcommission on the Arts Head Felipe M. de Leon Jr.

(L-R): NCCA Chairman de Leon, PhilPost Assistant Postmaster General Luis Carlos, Manuela Urbano, Jun Urbano

SOFIA's Mr. Teddy Co also presented Mr. Urbano DVD versions of the films screened during the event.

According to Mr. Co, out of all the National Artists for Cinema, Conde has the least number of films archived. Unfortunately, film archiving came late to our country. Almost all prints of his movies were already lost. Those are part of Philippine cinema's history and culture we can never get back. SOFIA's advocacy is to preserve our country's cinematic heritage. To know more about SOFIA, check out their Facebook page and site here.

Have Fun at the Fontana Hot Spring Resort

noreply@blogger.com (Yella) — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 03:30:00 +0000

This is a late post obvs because I'm me. But I think it will always be relevant for people who are looking for new places to have fun with family and friends so I am sharing our new favorite place to go when a family member celebrates their birthday. We found out about Fontana Hot Spring when I celebrated my birthday. Our family is big on swimming. No, not just lounging beside the beach and taking selfies--we actually love swimming. We tried looking for a resort near our home in Angeles, Pampanga. But I don't like Subic beaches and Bataan is a bit far. And knowing our family, we are not morning people so our day usually starts at around 9 or 10 a.m.

We are a big family so we always try to look for a place that's affordable, clean and fun. My birthday falls on a holiday so everywhere is full. Fontana was our last option because we were expecting it to be expensive. We found out that Fontana has 2 resorts, first is the Fontana Leisure Park with the slides, lazy river, wave pool and other kinds of pools children and kids-at-heart will surely enjoy. And then there's the Hot Spring if you just want to relax. We've taken note of the big difference between their rates. The Leisure Park's fee is PHP 450 per head while its just PHP 200 for the Hot Spring. Aside from the Hot Spring, you also get to enjoy the use of Fontana's Olympic pool.

There are few things to remember once you get there. You are allowed spaghetti straps but you're not allowed to wear shirts and shorts with zippers. You are not allowed to bring food inside but there's a picnic area beside the hot spring resort where you and your loved ones can enjoy your prepared meals. I think its better this way since food is quite expensive inside the resort when you order.

Another thing, they won't charge you for the cottages (as there is none), well, there are a few picnic tables and gazebos inside but they are first come, first serve basis. You can leave your things on tables provided around the resort but its still safe to have someone watch over them while you're gone. I say with PHP 200, don't expect much. But it's a lot nicer than the other inland resorts we've been to that day. Most of all, it is not crowded considering its a holiday. I really appreciate being able to float around the pool without worrying about banging my head against someone. If you are interested to know more, check out Fontana's site here.

I've taken photos to give you a glimpse of how it looks like inside. I hope you enjoy this photo blog.

Fontana Hot Spring Resort entrance

I bet this man-made falls is beautiful but unfortunately we came on a Sunday when the falls is scheduled for cleaning.

I love the cold water pool. Just a piece of advice though, just dip your feet first followed by your legs and the rest of your body. It is cold but it can be so fun once your body adjusts to this temperature. This pool is perfect for summer when you won't feel the heat of the sun when you're swimming here.

The two mini-pools (jacuzzi?) beside this larger cold pool actually have much colder water! It was so cold I had to get out.

It was indeed a hot spring. It took a while before I can fully immerse my whole body in the pool. You can literally feel the increase in temperature. But like the cold pool, once your body adjusts to the temperature you'll find that it is relaxing.

Here I am with Pop, Mom and my brother, Keith

The sunken bar pool does not really have a "bar" but this is where the staff and lifeguards hang out. If you want to order from Fontana's restaurant, you may just approach the staff and they will just place the order for you.

Just to give you a heads up, their hot spring resort closes by 6 p.m. The good news is, you can hang around and swim some more in their olympic pool until 10 p.m.

Here's a look at the Olympic pool. When we were here, we found that most of the swimmers were Korean nationals.

Having fun don't have to be expensive. Have you been to Fontana resort? Are you planning to? Let me know on the comments below. Have fun!

CCP Arthouse Cinema Presents Manuel Conde@100

noreply@blogger.com (Yella) — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 16:17:00 +0000

Have you ever been to CCP's Dream Theater? The theater is named in honor of national artist for cinema, Manuel Conde. Manuel Urbano in real life, is an actor, writer, producer and director. He became a leading figure in Philippine cinema thanks to his fresh take in storytelling. He was one of the earliest Filipino filmmaker who straddled both worlds of mainstream and independent film cinema. His film Ghengis Khan became the first Filipino film distributed worldwide.

Manuel Conde @ 100

The Cultural Center of the Philippines Arthouse Cinema, in cooperation with Society of Filipino Archivists for Film (SOFIA), the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the UP Los Baños Foundation Inc, present MANUEL CONDE@100 at the CCP Tanghalang Manuel Conde on Sept. 24, Oct. 1 and 8, 2016.

This special event is held to celebrate the birth centennial of the National Artist for Film, Manuel Conde who was born on October 9, 1915.

THREE FILMS

To commemorate his birth centennial and his contribution to the Philippine cinema, three of his films will be shown:

Genghis Khan (1950, MC Productions) on Sept. 24, 3:00 p.m.: Starring Manuel Conde and Elvira Reyes, this is the saga of how the young but wily Temujin rose to become the overlord of the Mongol empire. The version shown will have the original Tagalog soundtrack, unhampered by James Agee's poetic narration in the re-edited international edition which was restored in 2012. SOFIA (Society of Filipino Archivists for Film) board member Teddy Co will discuss for the first time some confounding and overlooked facets about the film.

Doesn't he look familiar? Did you know that Manuel Conde is the father of Jun Urbano, more famously known as Mr. Shooli of the 90's hit show Mongolian Barbecue? What's more is that Jun Urbano himself will grace the showing of Genghis Khan on September 24 at 3pm.

Krus na Kawayan (1956, MC Productions/USIS) on Oct. 1 on 3 p.m.: Starring Manuel Conde, Aida Carino and filmed entirely in Vietnam, with Filipino actors in Vietnamese roles, the film tackles the refugee crisis at the onset of the Vietnam war. The United States Information Service (USIS) funded the film as propaganda material to portray the evils of Communism during the Cold War era. Jun Urbano, who was a young boy in the film, will be present to talk about his experiences working with his father.

Venganza (1958, LVN Pictures) on Oct. 8 on 2 p.m: Starring Mario Montenegro, Carmencita Abad, Perla Bautista and Carlos Padilla, Jr., this action-thriller that is one of Conde's underrated films. Film scholar Nicanor G. Tiongson, author of The Cinema of Manuel Conde, will give a talk after the film, emphasizing Conde's delicacy and care in depicting the indigenous Igorot people shown in the film. A rare bonus clip of an interview with Conde before he died will also be shown. The screening will be preceded by cocktails and the launch of the Manuel Conde Centennial stamp by the Philippine Postal Authority and NCCA.

Manuel Conde's renowned films will be shown in CCP Dream theater, free of charge. Please be advised that due to limited seating capacity, screening of the films are on a first come, first served basis.

For more information, please call CCP Media Arts at tel. no. 832-1125 local 1704 and 1705. Know more about SOFIA and their advocacy to restore classic movies through their site and Facebook page.

From Print to Reel: Precious Pelikula 2016

noreply@blogger.com (Yella) — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 17:47:00 +0000

I remember the first love story books I have ever read were Precious Hearts Romances because my aunt is a teacher. Growing up, with "teacher titas", I found out that they read a whole lot of pocket books. I've read stories from other pocket books as well but I find that Precious Hearts Romances have far better writers (and editors!) seeing how the publication grew over the years, I know I am right. And now, they are a step further by turning stories from print to reel with Precious Pelikula.

In April 2016, Precious Pages Corp., the publisher of Precious Hearts Romances, called on amateur filmmakers nationwide to participate in this momentous project. A total of 40 applicants, from students to film enthusiasts, sent in their portfolio in the hopes of being able to enter the competition. Ten applicants were shortlisted. They chose from a selection of PHR titles on which they formulated a film concept as out-of-the-box as they could while still maintaining the romantic personality that Precious Hearts Romances has embodied.

SPECIAL SCREENING

Each applicant was given a grant to produce their respective films. A special screening was done last September 3, 2016, 2pm, at SM Manila Cinema 4 where viewers took part in a live voting for their film of choice. The event was graced by Mr. Segundo Matias himself, President of Precious Pages Corp., together with five of the six authors: Sofia, Rose Tan, Kensi, Angel Bautista and Heide Collete. The directors' respective production and artistic teams were also present.

Precious Pages Corp. President, Mr. Segundo Matias

THE VISION

“Sa dami ng kuwento na ginawa namin sa loob ng 25 years, naisip namin na maiba naman at ma-interpret ang mga ito ng mga director at gawing pelikula. Gusto naming ma-extend [ang imahinasyon] hindi lamang sa pagbabasa kundi pati sa video. Gusto rin naming magbigay ng chance sa mga bagong filmmakers,” shares Mr. Matias.

The top three films will be announced and awarded at the Manila International Book Fair on September 18, 2016. Winners will also receive the following cash prizes:

1st place - P100,000.00
2nd place - P50,000.00
3rd place - P25,000.00
People’s Choice – P10,000

Truly, love can transcend any medium, whether paper or reel and these filmmakers are determined to tug at your heartstrings with adaptations of the stories that made readers cry, laugh and fall in love. If you are a certified Precious Hearts Romances fan, it will be quite a treat to see your favorite stories come to life.

For more information, check out the Precious Pelikula Facebook page.