Category: Philippines
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Flavors of the Philippines: Mindanao’s Regional Dishes in Metro Manila
Mindanao offers a diverse and colorful culinary heritage—from satti and sinuglaw to tuna and pastil—each dish telling the story of the island’s rich culture. In this final installment of the three-part food crawl, discover where you can enjoy these Mindanaoan flavors without leaving Metro Manila. Kick off your Mindanaoan food journey here.
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Lipa City, Batangas: A Barako Coffee-Fueled Day Trip Through Culture, Lomi, And A Big Red Barn
Lipa City is often seen as just a stopover on the way to more popular destinations in Southern Calabarzon. On a weekend, we give it the attention it rarely gets, visiting its heritage structures, trying its barako coffee and lomi, and exploring its quieter pockets of nature like the scenic Old Grove Farmstead.
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Marikina After the Storm: A Walk Through a City That Prepared for Floods
Walk through Marikina on a rainy day and discover how this riverside city has learned to live with water. From resilient infrastructure and historical stops to food spots worth the detour, we learn how Marikina rebuilt itself, and what other cities can learn from its example.
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The Last Ascent: Conquering Mount Kamuning Before It’s Gone
In this tongue-in-cheek expedition log, we attempt an unassisted summit of Mount Kamuning—Metro Manila’s most unforgiving footbridge. With aching legs, commuter lore, and a Sweet Ecstasy burger at the end, this piece reimagines a daily ordeal as a mountaineering feat before it’s flattened in the name of progress.
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Flavors of the Philippines: Visayas’ Regional Dishes in Metro Manila
Visayas boasts a vibrant culinary landscape—from La Paz batchoy and chicken inasal to lechon and humba—with each dish representing the islands’ rich heritage. In the second installment of this three-part food crawl, explore where you can savor these beloved Visayan specialties right here in Metro Manila. Begin your Visayan food journey here.
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Parqal Is a Chill, Upscale Escape—But Will It Catch On?
Parqal in Aseana City offers a relaxed, upscale alternative to MOA’s chaos, with open-air spaces, stylish dining, and fewer crowds. But with limited foot traffic and selective tenants, can it really take off? Here’s our Sunday visit to this emerging lifestyle destination, and why it might (or might not) work.
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2025 Halftime Break: The World Always Has A Space For Authentic Human Voices—Especially Now
I started blogging in 2002, and I’m still writing in 2025. This post reflects on how the blog has grown with me, why I chose to keep going, and why authentic storytelling still matters, especially in a world flooded with noise and AI. Whether for yourself or others, writing still makes space for human connection.
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Flavors of the Philippines: Luzon’s Regional Dishes in Metro Manila
Luzon’s diverse regional cuisine—from Ilocos empanada and pancit Malabon to Batangas bulalo and Bicol Express—can all be found in Metro Manila. In the first installment of this three-part food crawl series, discover where to sample these iconic dishes without leaving the capital. Start your culinary journey through Luzon here.
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Revitalized Manila: A 70s-Style Photowalk From Pasig River Esplanade to Intramuros and Back
Manila’s Pasig River Esplanade and Intramuros are leading the city’s cultural and urban revival. On a photowalk one damp afternoon, model Mary Grace and I explore revitalized spaces, from riverside promenades to heritage cafes, showing how Manila is weaving its past into its future, one restored walkway at a time.
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Calamba, Laguna: Walking in the Footsteps of Young Jose Rizal
Calamba, Laguna, the hometown of Jose Rizal, is an easy day trip from Metro Manila. On a weekday morning, I visit his ancestral house, the church where he was baptized, the iconic Calambanga pot, and the calming Calamba Baywalk—all while experiencing the city’s everyday life.
The Tourist Gaze 