I visited Siargao twice this 2026, and instead of trying to keep up with the dozens of new spots and activities that come and go, I decided to take it slow and explore organically. This year, I’ve been testing the digital nomad life in the famous teardrop-shaped island to see if I can live there once or twice a year, for weeks to months at a time. My recent trips led me to these new things to see and do in Siargao:

1. Spend your afternoon in Anahao.

What looks like a tropical resort on the outside is actually a beachfront restaurant, bar, and events place in one. Anahao is built by the same team behind Nami Villas, Sirena Spa, and the Siargao Community Kitchen. It’s is located in Barangay Malinao, Purok 1, General Luna—far enough from Tourism Road’s party zone if you want peace and quiet, but close enough for you to motorbike back if you want to be in the thick of things.

It has day club vibes, but there’s no entrance fee. Just choose your spot—poolside daybeds, indoor seating inspired by Filipino ancestral homes, colorful outdoor seating, and the beachfront area—and order from Anahao Restaurant. They’re in soft opening, so their menu of modern Asian dishes is evolving. Current must-tries include chicken lemongrass skewers, malunggay chicken rice, ginger scallion noodles with crispy pork belly or tofu, and crispy pork salad. For dessert, the calamansi pudding coconut crunch was worth my long motorbike ride from Libertad. See if you can catch their social events, from soul music sessions to birdwatching.

2. Go on a yoga and fitness retreat at Anantha.

All the way in Libertad, a 15-minute motorbike ride from General Luna, is this newly-opened Bali-style accommodation that I’m trying hard not to gatekeep. Anantha Wellness Sanctuary offers private boutique rooms and backpacker dorms, but not like the wild party hostels.

I thought I was done with my hostel sharing era, but Anantha’s spacious concrete bunk rooms with soft beds and extra pillows, zen clientele, and amenities were too hard to resist. I paid the introductory price of ₱1,000 per night (what a steal!), and it came with free access to their new gym and yoga and pilates classes at the open-air studio. Non-guests must pay the walk-in rate of ₱500 per class or gym day pass.

There’s an in-house café with decent WiFi for digital nomads, plus a tropical pool surrounded by a lush garden. They also organize morning runs and other fitness activities. Book your room here and use my Agoda discount code: REPLIKATE.

3. Chill down with good food at Mr. Turtle.

If you’re looking for a beachfront restaurant along Tourism Road, head to Mr. Turtle at Goodcoast, Siargao’s first-ever beach promenade that was unveiled in 2025. The resto officially opened in mid-2026 and is one of the first establishments in this developing lifestyle and commercial hub.

Come nighttime, they host events such as reggae and Latin nights, but what I prefer is their chill daytime vibes, where you can just relax in one of the poolside daybeds or choose a cozy dining spot where you can order drinks (from alcoholic to caffeinated) and Filipino and global cuisines. My Mr. Turtle favorites include the shredded lumpia and fried fish with a spicy sauce made of coconut milk and fermented shrimp (bagoong).

4. Save room for dessert at Sali-Salo.

Inspired by Filipino street culture and the traditional concept of salo-salo (gathering together to share a meal), Sali-Salo serves Filipino shaved ice desserts, such as halo-halo, mango graham, and main con yelo in a coconut husk. If you’re craving churros, they’ll serve them freshly made with dip. Choose from the white sugar, sugar cinnamon, salted muscovado, and cocoa sugar flavors. Find them at the entrance of Goodcoast, with low tables and stools meant for casual gathering with friends.

5. Practice your watercolor skills at Yolked with Siargao Sisterhood.

“Brunch and Paint Fridays” is a weekly activity organized by Caroline Strömstedt, a Swedish content creator who recently put up Siargao Sisterhood, a safe Facebook group for female travelers. I finally met her at Yolked, a café that opened in Libertad in 2025. I met fellow solo female backpackers and digital nomads while having a relaxing brunch and watercoloring session.

Even if you miss Siargao Sisterhood’s events, you can always drop by Yolked for your own watercoloring session while sampling their brunch menu. According to the owner, AJ, they added watercolor sets to the café to get people’s creative juices flowing during rainy or no-swell days. You may display your artworks on Yolked’s walls. And if you’re into techno, keep an eye out for their techno parties.

6. Shop mindfully at Abra Collective.

Tucked in Dapa-General Luna Road is this soulful gallery-shop. A creative and cultural initiative, Abra Collective showcases handcrafted pieces from local crafters, designers, and artisans. They also organize workshops and events that highlight local tradition and creativity.

When I dropped by, I saw amazing wood carvings from Daloy Crafters, accessories by the Talaandig and Tboli artisans, and curated shirts and kimonos. Each item in this store is rich in culture and history. They’re in soft opening, so I can’t wait to see how their shop evolves.

7. Eat your recovery meal at Ayo Ayo.

If you’ve driven by Tourism Road on a bustling day, then you’ve mostly likely seen this Instagrammable, staircase-inspired spot that’s painted green. It’s the dining area of Ayo Ayo Wellness Café, Siargao’s first holistic health café. Their high-protein dishes and no-refined-sugar drinks remind me of the recovery meals and meal prep recipes of my athlete and pageant friends. If you’re all about macro-counted, clean ingredients, drop by this café for your post-surf or post-workout recovery meal. They have vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options.

8. Go Y2K thrift shopping.

I can’t forget what one backpacker told me in Siargao: “Instead of buying a cheap knockoff shirt, you’re better off buying something original from a thrift store.” Instead of contributing to textile waste with cheap knockoffs, there’s a treasure trove of pre-loved branded items waiting at the vintage and thrift shops.

 

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I came across Y2K Vintage, which officially opened in June this year, joining the growing number of thrift shops in Siargao. Originally from Cebu, they carry a lot of surfer and skater brands from the early aughts, such as Billabong, Rip Curl, Hurley, Converse, and Stussy. Find them at Poblacion 5.

9. Rally at Smash Sports.

The racket sport hype hit Siargao last year when the first padel court opened in General Luna, followed by a number of pickleball courts in different municipalities. The newest pickleball court to open on the island is Smash Sports, a sprawling court that’s open daily. They also offer open play and beginner clinics.

 

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They’re right across from Malinao’s Malipaya Villas, their sister company and my favorite beachfront glamping spot in Siargao. Every checked-in Malipaya guest gets ₱100 off the court fee. Keep an eye out for Stay and Play, a Malipaya + Smash Sports promo where you get a discount for your two-night stay in Malipaya, plus free six hours of court time.

10. Get your coffee and smoothie bowl fix at The Clean Bean.

They recently took over the former in-house café of Nyla Boutique Resort, one of my favorite accommodations in General Luna’s Backroad. They revamped this cozy café and renamed it The Clean Bean. Whether you’re checking into Nyla or just dropping by, you’ll love their freshly-made coffee, smoothie bowls, sandwiches, and rice meals. They have vegetarian options as well. And if you’re staying long in Siargao, join one of their beach cleanup drives.

Discount Codes:
Klook: REPLIKATEKLOOK
Agoda: REPLIKATE
Get Your Guide: REPLIKATE5

My 2025 Siargao List for Spot.ph:

The post 10 New Things To See and Do In Siargao (2026) appeared first on Kate Was Here.

Filling that need is Mr. Turtle, a new beachfront restaurant in Goodcoast, Siargao’s first-ever beach promenade that was unveiled in 2025. Mr. Turtle officially opened mid-2026, and is one of the first bustling establishments in this developing lifestyle and commercial hub.

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With its sunset-hued and bohemian-tropical interiors, this spot gives pool club vibes in the daytime, and night club vibes after sunset. There’s no shortage of Instagrammable hangout zones in Mr. Turtle, from the bar and dining area to the beach beds next to the mini pool facing the beach. The space next to the indoor photo booth transforms into a dance floor and band stage come nighttime. They hold weekly events such as reggae and Latin nights, finding their place in General Luna’s nightlife culture.

I was invited to try “The New Catch,” their new menu of Filipino and global cuisines, covering brunch to dinner options. I sampled the following for brunch:

Carpaccio, ₱360
Part of the starters menu, this sliced white fish is cured and served with scallion oil infused with fish bones, more scallions, and caramelized citrus. You scoop it up with homemade crispy chips before devouring.

Shredded Lumpia, ₱350
A modern take on the Filipino lumpia, these pork and shrimp spring rolls—in ball form—are coated with shredded rice paper and deep-fried into crisp perfection. Dip each crunchy ball in sweet chili lime sauce.


Mushroom Omelette, ₱389
Part of their brunch classics, this French-style omelette is filled with shiitake mushrooms and shiitake jus, making it the perfect first bite of your morning. The omelette is just the way I like it—soft and creamy.

Fried Whole Fish, ₱549
Their fresh catch of the day is deep-fried and served on a bed of spicy sauce made of coconut milk and fermented shrimp (bagoong). It’s topped with cilantro and leek salad. The unique combo of bagoong and coconut milk made this my favorite dish of the bunch.

There are plenty of options in their new menu of appetizers, salads, rice bowls, main dishes, pasta, and flat breads. Vegans and vegetarians, there’s something for you. There’s also a coffee bar and alcohol bar. In this cozy pool club, it’s never too early for a cocktail.

I’m definitely coming back for the fried whole fish with that divine coconut-bagoong sauce. Try in when you’re in Siargao.

Mr. Turtle is located at Goodcoast, Tourism Road, Catangnan, General Luna, Surigao del Norte, Philippines.
 
Discount codes:
Klook: REPLIKATEKLOOK
Agoda: REPLIKATE
Get Your Guide: REPLIKATE5

The post Mr. Turtle is Siargao’s New Beachfront Food Spot appeared first on Kate Was Here.

The Hong Kong-style egg tart often tops tourists’ itinerary and souvenir lists. It’s a pastry with a flaky outer crust filled with a smooth, lightly sweet egg custard. It’s popularly served in dim sum restaurants, cha chaan tengs (diners), and Chinese bakeries.

Instead of scrambling to look for a random egg tart shop in your hotel’s neighborhood the morning of your flight, you can relax and just head straight to the airport. After checking in your luggage and getting through the main departure security area, look for Hong Kong International Airport’s popular egg tart shop, King Bakery. It’s near Gate 28 on the Departures Level (L6) of Terminal 1. Only checked-in passengers with their boarding passes are allowed in this restricted area.

King Bakery bakes certified Hong Kong Q-Mark traditional egg tarts fresh hourly, which you can see while waiting your turn. There’s always a line, but it moves relatively fast.

The classic egg tarts are HKD16 apiece, while the other variants are: Portuguese-style croissant tart, HKD17, mochi cheese tart, HKD19, and triple cheese tart, HKD19. You may also be distracted by other baked goods in tin cans and bottled iced coffee.

And because egg tarts are best consumed hot and fresh straight from the oven, go ahead and buy an extra one for yourself to devour en route back to your boarding gate.

Make sure you know how far your boarding gate is located, as HKIA has a whopping 530 boarding gates.

King Bakery is located at Terminal 1, Departure Area (L6) of Hong Kong International Airport.
 
Discount codes:
Klook: REPLIKATEKLOOK
Agoda: REPLIKATE
Get Your Guide: REPLIKATE5

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Toca Loca (the Spanish word for playful) is a lifestyle brand that sells trendy toys, with several branches around Hong Kong. In mid-2025, first Toca Loca Supermarket opened in Central Market. When this supermarket-style bag and toy shop gained immediate popularity, they expanded to two other locations—The Peak and Causeway Bay. I recently dropped by the original Toca Loca Supermarket in Central to see what the fuss is all about.

As the target market of quirky accessories and novelty bags (I love Kate Spade and Betsey Johnson), I zeroed in on the bags displayed in colorful shelves sectioned like an actual supermarket. Customers may use the grocery carts and baskets while perusing.

@replikate Not a supermarket, but a supermarket! #tocaloca #KateWasHere ♬ оригинальный звук – ниоткуда

Sections include breads and sweets, veggies and fruits, canned goods, seasoning, beverages, and snacks. A sling bag that looks like a milk carton? Yes, please! A purse shaped like a ketchup bottle? Even better!

The frozen seafood section—complete with ice (plastic ice cubes, that is)—displays bags designed as crustaceans and fish. There’s even a clearance section, where select “produce” of the day are discounted. I found veggie bags with marked-down prices.

As for the price tags, they’re rather pricier than buying plushies and pleather souvenir bags from bazaars and other retail shops. For example, a Soju-style bag sells in Toca Loca for HKD115 or ₱900. A bag shaped like a fish is HKD150 or ₱1170. An avocado bag costs HKD160 or ₱1,250. There’s a bundle deal if you get two or more.

I couldn’t help but compare this shop with the Jelly Cat phenomenon, where the above-average price tag doesn’t just cover the plushie. You’re actually paying for the store’s quirky experience.

Stop by Toca Loca Supermarket when you visit Central Market. You’ll find several other souvenir kiosks, retail shops, and restaurants to make your visit worthwhile.

Toca Loca Supermarket’s original shop is located at 126, 1/F, Central Market, Central, Hong Kong. For more info and a full list of branches, visit tocaloca.co.

Discount codes:
Klook: REPLIKATEKLOOK
Agoda: REPLIKATE
Get Your Guide: REPLIKATE5

The post This HK “Supermarket” Sells Quirky Bags, Not Food appeared first on Kate Was Here.

The film version of The Notebook came out in 2004. Almost two decades later, The Notebook debuted as a musical in the Chicago Shakespeare Theater in 2022, followed by a Broadway run in 2024 and a North American run in 2025-2026, proving that among all of Sparks’ romantic-tragic books-turned-films, this one is the most iconic.

To mark The Notebook, The Musical’s first international premiere, it opened on September 3, 2026, in Manila, Philippines, produced by Theatre Group Asia (TGA), featuring the music and lyrics of Ingrid Michaelson and the Tony-nominated book by Bekah Brunstetter. Filipino-American theater director Nicholas Polonio helms the Manila production.

I was invited to the Gala Night and watched their press preview, one night before the official opening on September 3rd. Spoilers ahead.

The Notebook Movie vs. Musical

There are major differences between the movie and musical version.

The musical’s storyline has three sets of Allies and Noahs—young Allie and Noah, played by Sheena Belarmino and Benedix Ramos, middle Allie and Noah, played by Morissette and Laurence Mossman, and older Allie and Noah, played by Celeste Legaspi and Rody Vera. In the movie, the main Allie and Noah characters were played by Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling, while older Allie and Noah were played by Gena Rowlands and James Garner.

While the movie has a linear timeline and story, the musical version is more abstract, going back and forth between the past and present, sometimes intermingling when the past and present Allies and Noahs perform together.

While the 2004 movie’s main setting is 1940s American South during World War II, the musical’s beginning to middle part is set in the 1960s, with Noah serving in the Vietnam War.

The rest of the plot remains the same: A teenager from a rich family meets a working class boy over the summer. They fall in love, but her parents don’t approve. As he gets drafted in the war, they promise to write to each other, but her mom meddles by hiding all his letters. She tries to forget him, grows up, and gets engaged to an eligible lawyer that her parents love. She finds out her first love built her dream house. She finds him and they rekindle their passionate feelings for each other. She’s torn between him and the lawyer. Who will she choose?

For fans of the 2004 movie, the biggest difference they’ll notice is that in the stage version, older Allie’s Alzheimer’s disease, as well as Noah’s devotion to his dementia-ridden wife, are shown from the start of Act 1. In the movie version, the dementia isn’t revealed until the end of the movie, where we realize that the old man reading the romantic story to the old woman in the senior home is actually her husband, that they are Allie and Noah, and that the notebook is Allie’s journal. It was one of the most painfully romantic plot twists in Hollywood movie history.

Choose Your Bias

Belarmino and Ramos as the young Allie-Noah were a delight, as I’ve watched them grow and keep getting better at their craft. They brought the right mix of naivety, playfulness, brashness, and passion of teenagers experiencing their first big love.

Though the stage version omits some of the film’s popular scenes, such as the one with the Ferris wheel and the one in a boat surrounded by hundreds of geese, they created a stage version of the kissing-in-the-rain scene. It looked like a tricky scene to traverse—with all that water to create the rain effect—but both Morissette and Mossman pulled it off, giving us that iconic poster moment.

I do have one gripe about the script: I feel like it didn’t give enough time for some of middle Noah and Allie’s scenes to cook—especially the reading of the letters that led to her final decision.

For those who can’t help but still think of Ryan Gosling when talking about The Notebook, don’t worry! There was no lack of ab-bearing heartthrob scenes with Ramos and Mossman as Noah, as well as with Lon, Allie’s lawyer fiancé and Noah’s temporary foil, played by Markki Stroem. Just like the film, you’ll realize that there’s actually nothing wrong with Lon. He’s neither villain nor red flag; he just wasn’t the one for Allie.

As an elder, MTV-generation millennial who came into the show thinking she would fall for the middle Allie-Noah pairing, I found myself favoring older Allie and Noah, played with depth by Vera and Legaspi.

In interviews (read mine at Spot.ph!), Legaspi shared that her own mother succumbed to Alzheimer’s disease. You can feel that in her character motivation of older Allie. She encapsulated the emotional ups and downs of the disease, from childlike wonder to erratic confusion. And while we had to wait until the final act to hear her sing her solo number, “I Know,” it was that moment that brought many of us to tears. (For your bawling needs, they sell boxes of The Notebook tissue at the official merch shop.)

Unlike the movie where they were secondary characters, in this stage version the older couple held the heart and soul of Allie and Noah. As Legaspi told me in my interview for Spot.ph (Watch it here!), you hardly see a romcom where there’s a great role for an older woman. I believe she found it in The Notebook, The Musical.

There are no wrong or right answers to the question of which pair of Allie-Noah you’ll like best in this musical. As someone who’s grieved longer than she’s loved, I’m with older Allie-Noah.

Seeing The Story In New Light

The major changes in the stage version are actually what makes the Allie-Noah love story more poignant for the current audience. Thanks to Brunstetter’s script and Polonio’s direction, we see more nuances in older Noah and Allie’s story and thought processes.

Allie’s dementia, which was only touched upon in the movie, is given more representation onstage. The audience is given ample time to empathize and learn about the struggles of Alzheimer’s rather than seeing it as just a plot twist.

While the Allies-Noahs drew us into the tragic-romantic plot of the story, the supporting cast (Carla Guevara-Laforteza as Allie’s Mom, Floyd Tena as Allie’s Dad, Omar Uddin as Johnny, Markki Stroem as Allie’s fiancé Lon, Kathleen Francisco as Nurse Joanna, Felicity Kyle Napuli as Sarah, Shaun Ocrisma as Fin, and Jillian Ita-as as Georgie) also added flavor to the story. Uddin was such a hoot, while Guevara Laforteza had a mic-drop moment that deserved the applause.

As for the indie-folk and pop musical score of Michaelson, each song shines and are interjected smoothly into the script, making them just as important in the storytelling as the spoken dialogue.

With a cast of powerful singers and actors, you can add a new roster of songs to your playlist of Broadway favorites. There’s Noah’s “Leave The Light On.” And of course, there’s Allie’s “My Days,” which showcases Morissette’s vocal prowess. While the number gave a standout performance and momentary reveal of the band, it felt more like a nod to Morissette as a concert star rather than Allie as a character. But it did make a crowd-pleasing moment.

All the Wonderful Shades of Blue

On top of the house framework that moved in and out of the stage, there was something so painterly about how the set came together with the wardrobe’s color palette. From the dominating shades of blue to the floral touches, they all added to the cohesive vibe of the show. I do hope they’ve ironed out the technical hiccups we had at the gala.

As a grief support and mental health advocate, the scene that made me cry the most was the ending. Instead of the straightforward, standard way of depicting death like the movie did, they went for something more poetic and symbolic. Without giving away too many details, the way they utilized one of the biggest props of the play for the ending, and the way all the characters took part in it, was the chef’s kiss. This Nicholas Sparks classic is definitely worth revisiting in its musical form.

The Notebook: The Musical runs until September 20, 2026 at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit Makati. Tickets range from ₱900 to ₱5,500 plus tax and are available at Ticketworld. The show runs for approximately 2.5 hours with one intermission.

Cast: Sheena Belarmino as Young Allie, Benedix Ramos as Young Noah, Morissette as Middle Allie, Laurence Mossman as Middle Noah, Celeste Legaspi as Older Allie, Rody Vera as Older Noah, Carla Guevara-Laforteza as Allie’s Mom, Floyd Tena as Allie’s Dad, Omar Uddin as Johnny, Markki Stroem as Allie’s fiancé Lon, Kathleen Francisco as Nurse Joanna, Felicity Kyle Napuli as Sarah, Shaun Ocrisma as Fin, and Jillian Ita-as as Georgie.

Cover Cast: Justine Narciso (covering Young Allie and Sarah), Albert Silos (covering Young Noah and Fin), Katrine Sunga (covering Middle Allie, Nurse Joanna/Concierge, and Georgie), Edward Benosa (covering Middle Noah, Lon/Nurse Tyler, and Johnny), Gimbey Dela Cruz (covering Older Allie and Mother/Nurse Lori) and Jamie Wilson (covering Older Noah and Father/Son).

Photos by Jyllan Bitalac and Sherie Bolo, courtesy of Theatre Group Asia

The post Review: “The Notebook, The Musical” Breathes New Life Into Nicholas Sparks’ Novel appeared first on Kate Was Here.

Whether you see them as minor characters, sidekicks, or secondary villains, many obscure Disney characters have gained their own fanbase or cult following. As a crazy dog-cat lady, I’ve developed a newfound affection for Lucifer.

No, not the demon, though I’m certain he was humorously named after the rebellious fallen angel. I’m referring to the mischievous, obnoxious cat of Cinderella’s evil stepmother. Lucifer the cat first appeared in the original 1950 Cinderella animation produced by Walt Disney. As a naive, wide-eyed child watching Cinderella for the first time in the ’80s, I hated Lucifer’s antics and sabotaging ways. But now that I’ve cared for my fair share of rescue dogs and cats of different personalities, I love Lucifer’s squishy, smug face!

When I recently visited Hong Kong Disneyland, I noticed that while there was an abundance of Disney princesses and classic character merch, there were only a handful of options for obscure characters such as Lucifer.

And so I bought these Lucifer keychain plushies to proudly display as bag charms. I know I’m not the only one. This plump, sneering cat villain has had fans for decades, thanks to his realistic feline mannerisms, which, according to animator Ward Kimball, are based on his own plump, six-toed pet cat named Feetsy.

It’s not just my dear Lucifer the cat who has a fanbase. If you love 1995’s A Goofy Movie like I do, it turns out Powerline (the fictional popstar idol who sang “Stand Out” and “I2I”) spawned a huge fandom of now-adults who are nostalgic for that movie and era. And if I may feed you some ’90s trivia: The real singer who sang Powerline’s track is Tevin Campbell.

As for Disney princesses, I have not related to any princess as much as I have with Merida, the stubborn, independent, and curly-haired Scottish royal daughter who fought for her own hand. Brave may not be as wildly popular with the kids as Frozen or Tangled, but to me, Merida is my spirit animal.

Other lesser-known Disney characters with a cult following include Jack Skellington from 1993’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, Della Duck from the Donald Duck universe, and Shego, the green-flamed villain in Kim Possible circa the 2000s.

Now tell me, who’s your favorite obscure Disney character?

The post Who’s Your Favorite Obscure Disney Character? appeared first on Kate Was Here.

Around the world, each Disneyland theme park offers seasonal shows and events. In Hong Kong, summer is about to end, so it’s your last chance to catch their Pixar Summer Fest—their first ever—which started on June 12th and wraps up on August 31, 2026.

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On top of their regular shows and activities, Hong Kong Disneyland’s Pixar Summer Fest offers plenty of Pixar-themed experiences for kids and kids-at-heart like myself.  (Throwback: See my tour of the Pixar Animations Studios in CA here.)

1. Pixar Water Play Street Party
It can get quite humid in the summer, so cool down with this splash-themed parade on Main Street, U.S.A. Watch as the street turns into a water party zone with parade floats and performing characters. Warning: You may get drenched! It runs at 1pm daily.

2. Friendtastic Parade
Sing along and dance with your favorite Pixar pals and their Disney friends. This 30-minute spectacle features over 100 performers, including more than 30 beloved Disney Friends and 11 dazzling floats. It starts between Tomorrowland and Fantasyland, loops around the Castle Hub, and heads down Main Street U.S.A. It runs at 5:15pm daily.

3. Pixar Pals Spectacular
This eight-minute seasonal show features a shimmering fountain dance and projections of Pixar stories across the Castle of Magical Dreams and Main Street USA. It happens right before the regular Momentous Nighttime Spectacular, a 20-minute magic and lights show. Pixar Pals Spectacular starts at 8:15pm, followed by the Momentous Nighttime Spectacular at 8:30.

4. Pixar Character Encounters
Catch the spontaneous appearances of your favorite Pixar characters in Tomorrowland Station, Opera House, Toy Story Land, and Adventureland. I had a fun moment with Woody of Toy Story in Toy Story Land.

5. Pixar Character Moments
See if you can spot Mei from Turning Red along the upper parade route, while Miguel from Coco and my favorite Merida from Brave make an appearance in Adventureland.

Pinoys, here’s a bonus: Keep your eyes peeled for Filipino theater actors and performers in HK Disneyland. However, please take note of the Disney rule where Disneyland character performers cannot be tagged on social media to protect the magic. According to my theater friends who have worked in Disneyland, tagging their personal social media accounts breaks the illusion that the characters are real, so it’s best if the actors behind the theme park characters are left unidentified.

But if you do recognize our kababayan performers, give them an extra cheer as they take a bow. I was a proud friend on the sidelines.

6. Pixar-Themed Dining and Entertainment
May I tempt you with the Mike Wazowski Ice Cream Bar, Alien Ice Cream Bar, and Sully-inspired Mint Chocolate Soft Serve? Find these Pixar treats at the Pixar Dine & Play Party at Main Street Corner Cafe hosted by Coca-Cola, Jessie’s Snack Roundup, and Karibuni Grill.

Klook.com

 

7. Park-Exclusive Souvenirs
There’s no shame in wanting to splurge on merch the moment you enter Disneyland. Heal your inner child by looking for HKDL-exclusive Pixar items and popular assortments—blind boxes included! I got the Pixar ball plushie shoulder bag for myself and for my nephew, a Lilypad drawing pad (from Toy Story 5) that also functions as a keychain. For stamp collectors, I suggest you get the Pixar-themed Magic Passport. Stamp the pages in designated stamp stations around the park.

With Pixar-Disney merch in tow and after watching back-to-back nighttime shows, my healed inner child left HK Disneyland happy.

After this, I’m pretty sure they’re launching HKDL’s Halloween, Fall, and Christmas specials.

Hong Kong Disneyland’s Pixar Summer Fest runs until August 31, 2026. Get your tickets with discount meal vouchers here.
Photos by Kate Alvarez. Additional photos courtesy of Hong Kong Tourism Board and HK Disneyland.
Throwback: See my tour of the Pixar Animations Studios in CA here.

Discount codes:
Klook: REPLIKATEKLOOK
Agoda: REPLIKATE
Get Your Guide: REPLIKATE5

The post Last Chance to Catch The Pixar Summer Fest in HK Disneyland appeared first on Kate Was Here.

I’m a lefty when it comes to writing, using the chopsticks, and eating with a spoon and fork set (spoon on the left, fork right). Lefties also wear their watch on the right hand, as I do. For everything else, I’ve begrudgingly adjusted to the right-handed ways.

It was in grade school when I noticed that something felt “off” in the world. As a kaliwete (the Filipino term for left-handed), my left hand had a perennial smudge, thanks to writing from left to right with a pencil on a notebook, chalk on a blackboard, and marker on a white board. In the classroom, I hated twisting my body to write on a right hander’s desk. They always ran out of left-handed desks! Tools hardly felt ergonomic for me. I chalked it up to just being clumsy.

When I played casual baseball (no gloves) with my cousins in San Francisco. I did it the left-handed way—throwing the ball with my left hand and batting on the left side of the home plate. My budding passion for baseball was put to an end when my grade school PE teacher in the Philippines told me I was doing it wrong. I was forced to throw with my right hand and wear a glove on my left, causing me to perform poorly in PE.

When learning to play the guitar in high school, I was told yet again that I was doing it wrong, so I had to adjust to how my right-handed tutor-friends played.

As for the basic handshake, I still get slightly disoriented whenever someone’s right hand tries to meet mine. I simply twist my left arm and force my left hand to shake with the right-handed greeter. It looks awkward, but this is my little leftist rebellion against the norm!

In 2024 I visited Lefty’s, The Left Hand Store in San Francisco, for the first time. Seeing and trying out the left-handed version of everyday household items—such as lefty scissors, lefty can opener, and a crooked left-hander’s pen—gave me an existential crisis.

Lefty’s, The Left Hand Store, Is Giving Me An Existential Crisis

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As the Lefty’s staff handed me left-handed tools to tinker with, I felt both confused and validated. Using left-handed tools felt like I was returning to my home planet after acclimating to an alien planet most of my life. How strange to reboot to the natural ways.

Meeting my people in Lefty’s also made me realize that this offset feeling I’ve had for decades is valid. I was simply operating against what is natural and ergonomic—my left-handedness. Imagine if lefties like myself grew up with the “right” left-handed tools. We would’ve struggled less in the arts, sports, and daily mundane tasks.

As much as I wanted to buy everything from the Lefty’s store, I settled for the basics first.

1. Left-handed scissors have the left blade on top, reversed from right-handed scissors. This allows lefties to see what they’re cutting, working with the natural action of the left hand. My whole life I thought I was just a clumsy girl who wasn’t good with scissors. Heck, just two years ago I had a scissor accident that landed me in the ER for stitches. You mean to tell me I had just been using the wrong scissors my whole life? It took me a while to adjust to left-handed scissors, but now I refuse to use anything else.

2. A left-handed mug may seem like a joke because a mug is a mug is a mug, right? But if you look closely, a left-handed mug, when held with your left hand, has the main print facing the left-handed user. The same goes with a left-handed measuring cup, where the measurements are printed on the face towards the left-handed user. Compare that with the dominant right-handed mugs. Now I’m more conscious of left-handed mugs.

3. Left-handed notebooks are like Japanese books that are read back to front. It opens from the back page to front page, with the spiral wire on the right side, so lefties can write without pressing their wrists onto the wire. The “normal” spiral notebook was so uncomfortable for me in school. Another rumination: Would I have been more comfortable in countries like Japan where they traditionally write from right to left? No more smudges! But of course, I know people will debate about writing on the back page of the lefty spiral notebook, which just brings back the same issue.

4. A left-handed ruler reads from right to left, which is more ergonomic for me. I always felt “off” with normal rulers that measure from left to right. Can you imagine gifting this to a left-handed carpenter, engineer, or designer who has been conditioned to live in a right-hander’s world, not knowing there’s a more comfortable lefty version?

5. A left-handed pen has a crooked neck and off-center tip, allowing left-handers to see what they are writing. The fingers are farther away from the tip, so they don’t hide or smudge the writing. This makes so much sense as I’ve grown accustomed to not seeing the entire phrase or sentence I’ve written until I’ve lifted the pen away from the paper.

6. A left-handed pencil looks just like a regular pencil except that the printed text or design is made to be read left to right while the lefty is holding it with the left hand. It’s just like the left-handed mug! I was confused in the beginning, but when I compared it with regular pencils, it was a eureka moment. What a small but considerate change for the lefty! It made me look at all the other pens and pencils I’ve acquired and realized that most are right-winged. This one from Lefty’s comes with a left-handed pencil grip.

7. A left-handed sharpener is made to be held on the right hand, while you sharpen/rotate the pencil with your left hand counter-clockwise, which is much more natural for lefties.

You’ll find a number of left-handed specialty shops when traveling, like Lefty’s in the US, Anything Left-Handed in the UK, and Hidari in Japan. In the Philippines, bookstores like Office Warehouse, Stationery Central PH, National Bookstore carry the brand Maped, which supplies left-handed scissors and left-handed cutters.

After all these decades, I’m finally using the correct tools that match my lefty nature. Fellow lefties, do you use left-handed tools?

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One of my top highlights was the Fancy Dress Competition, where 18 teams paraded and raced in playful costumes and colorful attire. Hilarity ensued as most teams went for the quirky, playful route—choosing to race as Minions, rice dumplings, mahjong tiles, pharaohs, Super Mario characters, and even Baywatch babes.

The Southeast Asian paddlers—Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia—went the traditional route with their attires. The Philippines, represented by Alliance of Masters, paid tribute to Filipino culture with Barong Tagalog tops for the men and baro’t saya for the women.

Unfortunately, the action-packed races went by so speedily that I wasn’t able to match every costume with the teams they represented, and neither were my fellow journalists covering that weekend. But I did get to label most of them. Check out some of my favorites, and then scroll and tell me which one’s yours.

Hong Kong Maxim’s team won first place in the Fancy Dress Competition race, while the Hong Kong Yanbu Dragon Boat Sports Association and the MTR Dragon Boat team placed second and third, respectively.

This year marked the 50th anniversary of the Sun Life Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races, the highlight of the Sun Life Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Festival, an annual summer event that draws athletes and tourists from around the world to Hong Kong. It was organized by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and co-organized by the Hong Kong China Dragon Boat Association (HKCDBA).

See my full coverage of the event here. Watch the reel here.

Photos courtesy of Hong Kong Tourism Board. Additional photos by Kate Alvarez.

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When 9 Works Theatrical announced their 2026 musical offering in the Proscenium Theater in Rockwell, I realized they’re on a roll when it comes to pop jukebox musicals. After last year’s The Bodyguard: The Musical, following suit with On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan is another nod to the nostalgic era of ’80s-90s pop music. The big difference is that while most jukebox musicals come with a fictional story, this one is based on real life.

The musical, which debuted in Chicago and then on Broadway in 2015, is about the inspiring story of the 26-time Grammy Award-winning husband-and-wife duo, Emilio and Gloria Estefan, and their band, the Miami Sound Machine. It chronicles how their families fled Cuba for the American dream, how they grew up on the streets of Little Havana in Miami, how they fell in love, and how their music reached the top of the charts in the US and around the world. It also tackles the 1990 near-death bus accident of Gloria, and her struggles to get back on her feet after the life-threatening cervical fracture of her spine.

The book is written by Alexander Dinelaris Jr., while the musical score is built around Gloria and her band’s Cuban-fusion pop music. There is one original song, “If I Never Got to Tell You,” written by Gloria Estefan and composed by her daughter Emily. 9 Works Theatrical’s version is directed by Robbie Guevara, with Raul Montesa as assistant director, Daniel Bartolome as musical director, and Nunoy van den Burgh as choreographer.

I was invited to Wednesday night’s press preview. I brought my senior mom, who is in the same age group as Gloria. I grew up in a ballroom dancing family, so it only takes a few beats to get us grooving.

Mio Infante’s scenography, with the help of Gabo Tolentino’s lighting design and Justin Santiago’s video and projection design, maximized the use of the proscenium theater’s large space. It had just enough neon lights and flashy backdrops to give this musical the glitz and glamour it deserves.

The material is a mix of concert performances and flashbacks. While the script is telenovela-like with predictable plots and sometimes cheesy lines, it works for the Filipino audience that loves a good melodrama.

Gloria, embodied naturally by Kayla Rivera, starts as a 17-year-old budding singer and songwriter with a clear case of eldest daughter syndrome—first-born girls who shoulder excessive family responsibilities and emotional labor. Her growth from teenager to full-blown star comes across through her movements and costume changes. I’d love to watch again to see the take of Molly Langley, who alternates as Gloria.

Gloria’s father, Jose Fajardo, played by John Joven Uy, used to be a Cuban soldier and subsequently served in the U.S. Army. In the present view of the story, he is slowly succumbing to multiple sclerosis and can hardly speak. In the flashback scenes, he is played by Vien King, who gives the meat of the character.

Gloria Fajardo, played by Ayen Munji-Laurel, is Gloria’s strict and hardened mother who didn’t get to live her own dreams. This role marks Ayen’s theater comeback, and she shines in a glamorous, flashback musical number.

Grandmother/abuela Consuelo Garcia, played comically by veteran singer-actress Pinky Marquez, is the lovable consentidora, helping Gloria fight for her dreams and relationship with Emilio. But she wasn’t the only one who provided the comic relief in the musical. Keep an eye out for the triple-threat chorus members and some of their hilarious antics, such as the mariachi band scene.

American-Cuban singer/actor Jason Canela plays the dashing, visionary band leader, Emilio Estefan. His Cuban accent is obviously the most authentic, making his character shine as the love interest and immigrant fighting the cultural resistance in America. The only downside is that when you hear him converse with other cast members trying to work a similar accent, it highlights the disparity.

It’s interesting to see how they injected Gloria’s hits into the story beats of this biographical story—with some timings working better than others. I loved the build-up to Gloria’s career takeoff and the way they unveiled the rousing “Conga” and “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You.” When they started an actual conga line with audience participation, it was a breaking-the-fourth-wall moment where the audience could finally let loose.

Tip for those who want to join the conga line onstage: Purchase a ticket to the front and aisle seats so that the cast can easily pull you out from the crowd.

As for those who couldn’t partake of the conga line, it took a lot of willpower for us not to stand up and dance along like we’re in a club in Miami—or for a more Pinoy reference, like we’re ballroom dancing in ’90s Manila.

The orchestra, led by Daniel Bartolome, deserved their own standing ovation. They would switch from being hidden to theatrically revealed as part of the club and concert scenes, making us bop our heads to the music. They didn’t just provide the soul of the musical; they brought to life the Cuban roots of Gloria and Emilio’s music, down to every percussion beat.

With cassette tape players, cordless clunky telephones, and all the big ’80s wigs, the audience is taken back to decades past. The story reminds us of the challenges of getting your music out there long before the era of TikTok and social media influencing. It also showed us how Latin-American artists back then struggled to break into the American music industry, as seen with how Emilio was constantly pressured to change his sound and abandon his roots.

It’s too bad these struggles were only touched upon without really delving deeper, especially since this iconic crossover paved the way for other Latin-American artists. But what the story depth lacked, they made up for in flashy, danceable tracks that feed nostalgia.

 

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The final scene—a recreation of Gloria’s comeback in the 1991 American Music Awards—is a fitting tribute to the Queen of Latin Pop.

Overall, On Your Feet is an easy-to-digest, feel-good musical, especially for fans of Latin-American pop music and Gloria Estefan’s discography. It does succeed in getting people on their feet.

On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan runs from July 10 to August 2, 2026 at the Proscenium Theater in Rockwell, Makati. Tickets range from ₱3,605 to ₱6,695, and are available at Ticketworld and Power Plant Mall Cinema. The musical runs for approx. 2.5 hours with a 15-minute intermission.

Cast: Kayla Rivera and Molly Langley alternating as Gloria Estefan; Jason Canela as Emilio Estefan; Ayen Laurel as Gloria’s mother, Gloria Fajardo; Pinky Marquez as Gloria’s grandmother, Consuelo Garcia; John Joven Uy as Gloria’s father, Jose Fajardo; Vien King as Young Jose Fajardo; Jani Magadia as Gloria’s sister, Rebecca Fajardo; Anyah de Guzman as Rebecca Fajardo alternate and as Robin; Reese Iso and Althea Ruedas alternating as Little Gloria; Elian Santos and Manolo Villalva alternating as Young Emilio; Lorenz Martinez as Chris; Meliza Reyes Uy as Sonia; Neo Rivera as Phil; Antonio Valdez as Kiki; Altair Alonzo as Marquito; Roxy Aldiosa as Belen; Ellrica Laguardia as Lori; Matthew Barbers as Big Paquito; Carmelle Ros as Amilia; Winchester Lopez as Soldier and Dance Captain; Cheska Quimno as Lucia; Richardson Yadao as Kenny; Macel Dofitas-Yadao as Andrea; Gerhard Krysstopher and Lord Kristoffer Logmao alternating as Marcello; Jacqui Jacinto and Gianna Hervas alternating as Rachel; and Roni Paderes as DJ.

*Cast photos by Charles Villaruz courtesy of 9 Works Theatrical

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