Back in the day when I was a college sophomore (and that was a long time ago), my friends would…read moresimply text me a single word when they want to hang out for drinks. "Sarahs?" It was basically the only place you could grab a beer that's just one Ikot jeep ride from wherever you are in UP-Diliman. You could count the types of people who'd go there - the tibaks, the artists, the old-timers, and the class-cutting cretins. You'd hear people debating about Zizek and Zeus Salazar in the same space as those talking about the last PBA game. Now, I think Sarah's has broadened its demographic, being a cult favorite of all types of UP students and even those who aren't students (anymore). PROS: Cats! They're a permanent fixture of the place; You could feel and smell the pa-intellectual ambiance; they accept outside food CONS: Cats. They're a permanent fixture of the place; Beer is average-priced, not cheaper; No ice; Not a place for a neat freak; You're doomed if it rains; cement tables and mono block seats aren't the most comfortable things TL;DR: Go for the company and conversation, not for the beer.

the best porkchop, chicken wings and chicharong bulaklak. Try din mga silog! The best forever!read more

Videoke singing ranks high in my list of past-times. My family and friends also love to sing, which…read moreis why we're frequent visitors to Centerstage, particularly this branch. My friends have celebrated many a birthdays here, with a group of five, fifteen, twenty, and even a hundred! Indeed, that they have many different-sized rooms to cater to your needs is one of Centerstage's biggest draws. Another is its affordable packages. For around Php 2,500 to Php 3,500, you can already get drinks, food, and three hours of videoke in your own KTV room for five to 15 pax. Not bad! You may also avail of hourly rates for the KTV rooms if you prefer to choose your own drinks and food from their extensive menu. Hosting a party? Their Sala can fit up to 100 pax. Package starts at Php 35,000, inclusive of food, drinks, and videoke time. For the serious/aspiring videoke stars, Centerstage's playlist is extensive and updated! Their microphones are regularly cleaned and have sanitary covers that are changed per visitors. Rooms are also clean, though some may have lingering smells of food ordered by previous visitors. Some rooms are cold, some not too much. Their waiters are accommodating, though, so I'm sure you can work with them re: temperature adjustment. An important word of advice: Centerstage can get packed, especially during Friday and weekend nights, so best to reserve via telephone before you come. We made the mistake of forgetting to do this the last time we visited, and we ended up fifth on the waiting list. We had to wait for over an hour--went out to dinner first--before we finally got a room. By then, we were already a bit sleepy. But we still ended up staying over three hours! Our voices were hoarse and our throats itchy when we got home, but we had a blast!

Aside from the banyo, this is where all my pop star dreams come true. From Mariah to Taylor to…read moreBackstreet Boys to OF COURSE, SPICE GIRLS, I become who I want to be here; every song I sing becomes an instant hit - whether i know how to sing or not (it's the former *ahem* hahaha) or whether or not people like it (it's just proper KTV etiquette to "wooooo!!!" even the suckiest singers hahahah) The rooms in Centerstage are so conducive to this "I'm a star" vibe that you can't help but really feeeeeel the song when it's your turn - with matching standing up, interpretative arms (or exact music video dance moves) and dramatic facial expressions. The song choices are excellent too. Expect to find the greatest and the latest with just a click of the button. All the Spice Girls I want - and you want - are heeeeere!! All together now - Stop right now, thank you very much...

Cafe Lupe is a garden-themed bed & breakfast overlooking Metro Manila…read more THE FOOD We had their Paella (Regular - P600 / Big - P1,200). It is big enough to feed a lot of people! I also appreciate that they made the effort to use the shorter, rounder rice for this. Their Baby Back Ribs (P325) was outstanding! It is steamed for 5 hours, so it's tender, yet juicy. It was meaty, sweet, spicy and fruity. Try it with the sauce! Everybody kept coming back for this until all the baby back ribs were wiped out. Their Beef Kansi with Batuan (P385) is unique. Not many restaurants in Metro Manila offer kansi. It is like a bulalo and sinigang combined, with batuan used as the souring agent. I liked it. IMPRESSIONS Cafe Lupe a simple and down-to-earth place, that can probably comfortably seat around 30 people inside. There's a bar so I think it turns into a drinking spot at night. Recommended dishes: Baby Back Ribs, and Beef Kansi with Batuan. Also try their house blend iced tea, it has a hint of mango.

If skyline lights and good music turn your mood on, then Café Lupe is the bar for you. Located in…read morethe mountains of Antipolo, Café Lupe a good view of the lights coming from houses and buildings in the Marikina, Pasig and Rizal area as well as the soft moon glow and bright starlight. There is no obstruction either to the cool breeze or to the light of the moon, thanks to an open balcony without opaque windows to fence you in. You can take in all this visual treat while a band plays upbeat music - music which makes you want to sing along or dance along if you are up to it. The people who frequent it are diverse. You can find couples both young and not-so-young. There are groups of friends celebrating an occasion or just chilling out on a regular night. Some people go there solo to just enjoy a drink or two. There are even families who come there not to party but to have dinner. It should be noted that mood and music are not all there is for the food that is served has merits on its own right. Café Lupe serves mainly Mexican and Filipino dishes. They have tacos, gambas, fajitas, quesadillas, guacamole, burritos, tawilis, longganisa, batchoy, crispy pata, sinigang, kare-kare, and adobo. Their drinks are well-mixed and they offer a wide variety of choices. They have margaritas, sangria, beer, and other cocktails. But, if you want something more wholesome, they also have juices, milkshakes and coffee. So whatever your mood or whatever tune your life situation may be playing, come to Café Lupe, a place that will match your rhythm.

From ballet lessons, watching plays, and hanging out during breaks, to graduating high school,…read moreAssumpta Theatre will always have a special place in my heart. We have performed numerous times on stage before. I made a quick Google search and found this on Yelp. Oh, my childhood, how it flew by. I hope the next coming students find a way to love our home and find that it is their home, too.

This theater is an official satellite venue of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, which is why…read moreit's called the "CCP of the East." It was built and inaugurated in the early 2000s and has since put on many shows and performances both by the local school community and the neighboring communities. I personally have fond memories of playing an Annie orphan, a King & I princess, a stone-faced Singkil fan-dancer, and doing countless chorale shows and ballet recitals in the past, heehee! It's a beautiful theater and visiting theater companies, musical artists, and touring shows have performed here, wonderfully bringing cultural education and exposure over to the folks at the East side of Manila. No need to go all the way downtown! The massive Assumpta is a fully functional performance venue with modern light & sound equipment, a large stage with stage wings and a docking area at the back; there's an orchestra pit, air-conditioned dressing rooms with their own bathrooms, a nice big lobby, and guest comfort rooms. The theater seats over 2,000 guests! It's pretty novel to have this kind of venue on this side of town, so a lot of schools and organizations from around the area have taken it up on its facilities for graduations, their own productions, and other events. You can just call the school to inquire about renting because they're very open for that.

My husband and I discovered the Music Hall when were looking for a place to chill somewhere in…read moreMetrowalk. With two floors and a mezzanine, this place is surprisingly spacious. Since we had dinner already at home we only ordered a plate of nachos and two bottles of beer (total bill was only Php350. They don't charge an entrance fee). We were disappointed with the nachos because it was served late and cold. We should have ordered the sizzling tofu instead. Anyway, it's a good thing the band playing that evening, Jek Manuel and The Stronghold, was good. We really enjoyed the group's performance. I like the place because it's separated from the crowded and smokey part of the Metrowalk. I don't like their chairs though, very uncomfortable. We will definitely go back there because food (mostly hotplate or grilled) is not expensive, band performances great, place cool, and location is fantastic.

With a very up-to-date sound system, scenic location, and the guest performances of many of the…read morecountry's well-known Original Pinoy Music (OPM) artists, The Music Hall has a simple name but a well-known concept in that is takes a bar with live music and an ambiance of cocktails, buckets of beer, and delicious samples of "pulutan" and other light meals served with alcohol to make it a bar-bistro. Seeing its walls lined with pictures of famous artists who performed there, one would instantly realize how many stars have graced the stage of The Music Hall. During my visit, I witnessed a concert where Philippine music legends Boy Mondragon and Richard Merk performed songs that made them famous. (Yes, not my generation, but it was a fun, entertaining, impressive show nonetheless.) All that while enjoying a smooth Daiquiri with Calamares, Drunken Shrimp, and Sizzling Tofu. With the cool air-conditioning and the live bands and groups like the FBC "Rebirth" and the L & S Femme stoking up the crowd's enthusiasm and letting them sing along to the hits of yesterday and today, I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. I'm sure you will too. Just check their schedule which is packed with events featuring artists from then and now.

For some reason, my balikbayan aunts and cousins love coming to this place. I guess it's because…read morethey offer one of the best cures for stress: loads and loads of laughter. If you haven't been to a comedy bar, what usually happens is the host/s pick somebody from the audience to sing but before he gets to sing, these comedians will put him on the spot and engage him in silly banter, so only volunteer only if you're game to be the laughingstock, only for that particular moment. If you're the type who would rather blend in, then you can let out your biggest, meanest laugh and not feel guilty (okay, maybe a little guilty) because everyone else is laughing with you. Don't worry, it's all in the spirit of fun. These hosts aren't just funny though. This place is also the training ground of some of the best singers in the country. People don't really come to 22nd Street to eat, but in case you want to know, yes, they serve good food as well. This place is an interesting alternative to your usual laid back drinking sessions with friends. Good food and unabashed laughter, sounds like a the perfect combination for an epic night out.

Laughter is the best medicine as the cliché goes, they said that it relaxes your body, and relieves…read moreyou of stress, but laughter for me keeps me alive and happy. When I go to 22nd street, obtaining laughter is not a problem; you'll laugh your heart out before you knew it. This well-known comedy bar is full of talented and professional comedians that wouldn't fail to tickle your funny bone. Jokes are mild to censor, but it's way too funny to care. They give time for customers to sing using the videoke or you could request the comedians to sing for you. You just have to be a good sport because the comedians involve the audience and cracks jokes about them too, so if you're sensitive then this is not the place for you. Nevertheless, I am always happy and satisfied at the services and entertainment done by their multi-talented employees and staff. Kudos to 22nd Street!

Not a great vibe here. It kind of felt like we were walking into a front for organized crime. The…read moretwo guys up front were not friendly Filipinos, as all my fellow Filipinos typically are, but rather, they seemed less than pleased that we came in at all. My recommendation is to head inland to a livelier and more inviting karaoke bar.

Love karaoke? Music Platinum Family KTV won't disappoint. Located a fee minutes away from Alabang…read moreTown Center, Music Platinum Family KTV is sure to being out the singer in you. The place is normally packed on a weekend so best to call and make a reservation if you can. They have KTV rooms for small or large groups so you'll have the option to choose which one you'd like according to your budget but of course depending on availability. They also serve popular finger-food such as fries and chips and other "pulutan" favorites such as sisig, crispy pata, calamares and so much more. They KTV machines are top-notch with updated sobg books. Whether you want to croon songs in the bygone era or rock on to modern songs, you most likely find the catalogue to be updated. Parking is available subject to availability. Local beers, wine, cocktails and other beverages are also aplenty. The next time you need a place for you and your squad to sing without being judged, head over to Platinum Music Family KTV. You won't be disappointed

Plainly a Karaoke Lounge this place is an ace with facilities well maintained, restrooms are clean…read moreand rooms spacious for groups. As a Restobar, one should stick to the appetisers for sharing as the main entrees will not be the best value. Overall, the experience is A-Okay with your friends singing their lungs out being the really entertainment of any KTV lounge. We booked the J.Lo lounge, which had a rectangular layout that gave everyone a nice angle of the projected screen. Seats were clean and comfortable, power outlets available in both ends of the room and the remote of the Karaoke console very responsive even when pointed in different directions and locations in the room. PARKING Limited slots, which may be a problem. SERVICE Waiters were dressed in a full Halloween gear, which made our evening extra-special, generally they served our room well without too much follow-ups. Crispy Pata (590 PHP) Admittedly I consumed probably half of this deep-fried beast, but I still was left wanting more, not because it was so good, but because it was so lacking in volume, mostly bones and skin on this order. I would discourage groups from ordering this as sharing is a hassle and for the price it's rather steep for the quantity and quality. Pizzas (Starting 400 PHP) I'm not too sure what my friends ordered, but generally the dough is bread-like and crisp, but it had an under-baked feel, the toppings are fairly average. I'd skip their pizzas if possible, nothing exciting. Chicken Buffalo Bites My favourite among that was served, simple and not overly tangy. Recommended for sharing. Nachos Multi-coloured chips topped with cheese and criss-cross mayo sauce, plain and simple, nothing much to be excited about. VERDICT Drink and be merry, while singing to their large library of tunes with friends in one of the many rooms available.

Had the best Halloween event with #yelpelite here :) they had the usual setup of…read morefood+drink+karaoke. The sisig and chicken fingers were good with the beer. The staff were definitely game with the Halloween theme as most of them were in vampire, plants vs zombies, and other scary costumes. Making customer experience better You definitely should bring a big group over to sing your hearts out