The best puto in town and probably the whole country!!! Soooo good, melts in your mouth. I eat it…read morelike peanuts.

Bought a couple of stuff here. The suman pinipig with buko is excellent. Highly recommended…read more However, I've tasted better puto pao, puto and pichi pichi. Staff is pleasant.

The Sidcor Market I grew up with can be found in EDSA corner Main Avenue--the current location of…read moreHypermarket Cubao. As far as I can recall, it was 8 years ago when it was launched again in Centris. I often visit every Sunday morning for my favorite Empanada, Pad Thai, and Buco Sherbet. This is home to a variety of food selection from regional cuisines to international flavors. Sidcor is also a great source of fresh produce, organic vegetables, and fruits. The price is at par with local neighborhood palengke and definetely cheaper than supermarket. Sidcor is open from 6:00am to 1:00pm but fresh market's stocks runs out easily. Be sure to arrive earlier. There are a lot of parking spaces available at Sidcor as well. Commuters can take the Quezon Avenue MRT station. It's a walk away from the train stop.

Spent a Sunday morning here is fun. Here you have 2 prices,…read morelocal and expat. Unlike in salcedo sat market, here you can find avocado for 150/kg, while it's 250-300php in salcedo! You can also find quite good collection of plants to decorate your home. Super hot though!!! But will come back!

Who hasn't heard about Maginhawa? Seriously?…read more PROS: It has the perfect balance of the residential- and commercial-area feel that a middle-class millennial like me is looking for while gearing up and growing up into an adult; If you haven't heard, Maginhawa houses lots of restaurants that are NOT franchises or chain ones, but small- and medium-enterprises by young professionals. It's a "for the yuppies, by the yuppies" kind of place that has all kinds of eateries, in every form of quirk and theme. There's a food fest by October too. Aw yeah; It's perfectly accessible to and from a lot of places. CONS: It's not as urban as Makita with its high rise condos and corporate offices a few steps away, nor is it some gated subdivision with tight security. As the tarpaulins state, "Mag-ingat sa basag kotse." TL;DR: Maginhawa is home. I've always been thinking that if I could relocate anywhere in Metro Manila, I'd still be perfectly happy here in Teachers Village.

Living very near the Tomas Morato strip has been amazing. This foodie haven means a wide array of…read morefood choices to satisfy every craving. So when I found out that the company that I will be working for is located along Maginhawa, I was extremely excited. I have never really tried roaming around the strip so this was my chance to do so. My office mates and I vowed to try at least one new restaurant a week, but failed to do so. Not only did we keep going back to our favourites, eating out too often was hard on the wallet. Thankfully, most of the restaurants offer student-budget prices. My favourites would have to be Katsu Café, Gerry's Jeepney, Pino, Rodic's , Jeck's Ku-Bo, and Crepeman. I have yet to try so many restaurants on my list, and the list just keeps on getting longer because it seems like there is a new restaurant opening every week.

When I want to buy local souvenirs, I usually go to Kultura Filipino or to Filipiniana. Both are…read morelocated in Makati, close to my place. And both offer all the traditional symbols of the Philippines - barong tagalogs, pinneaple fiber clothes and table runners, t-shirts, Mother Pearl picture frames, pearl and coral jewelry and so on. I particularly prefer Kultura Filipino, because I have the feeling it's better served. Actually I think the store is bigger. Anyway, I prefer it. But when I don't want to cross Glorietta to get to the SM building, I go to Filipiniana, inside The Landmark. I highly recommend it for those times you have to buy a gift for a foreigner friend or buy some souvenirs to your family when you go back home on vacations.

If you're a foreigner or balikbayan looking for authentic and inexpensive Filipino souvenirs and…read moregoods, you have to stop by the Filipiniana section of Landmark. The large section is dedication just for Filipino crafts, products and food and I love how you have so many options to choose from. I'm not a foreigner or a balikbayan and I'm not looking for souvenirs but I do love going around this section and buying things. I love being a Filipino and I'm certainly proud of our skills, talents, culture and food. In this part of the department store, you'll find any kind of souvenir you want. It's basically a one-stop-shop. You can find gorgeous handmade and local artisan crafted furniture, home accessories, jewelry, clothes, traditional costumes and even yummy Filipino food snacks like peanut brittle and the famous dried mangoes! I always bring my foreign friends and family members from the States to this store and they always buy so many things and come out of the store happy and satisfied.

I wanted to visit the oldest Chinatown in the world so we made a stop here on our trip. I figured…read moresince we were on vacation we needed to visit something historical. We took a rideshare from our hotel. We crossed the Jones Bridge then drove under the Binondo Chinatown Arch. We got dropped off on Ongpin Street and walked to the Binondo Church then stopped by Eng Bee Tin for Hopia. It was crowded but a fun experience. I'm glad we got to check out the neighborhood.

The World's oldest Chinatown! (MANILA Philippines)…read more We booked a van to drop us off at Lucky Chinatown Mall and came here on New Year's Day. From there we rode a tuk-tuk cart (a 3-wheeled gas passenger novelty taxi tricycle). That thing fit 8 of us inside plus the driver and his toddler so ten total). It dropped us off at Ongpin Street. I would've thought that the place would be empty because of the holiday but surprisingly many businesses and vendors were open. We came back a couple of days after and the streets had a more vibrant and bustling atmosphere. Ongpin Street in Manila is lined with restaurants and many shops including jewelry stores. There were many shops to pop into. You can find the Ongpin Northbridge Arch, and the Chinatown Welcome Arch and the Arch of Good Will at the end of Ongpin Street (cross-street Ronquillo Street). It ends on Juan Luna Street. Review #3287

10A Alabama is really difficult to find, at least at the time before I knew of Waze. It's a nice…read morequaint little home that frequently becomes a venue for art fairs. I'm a pretty artsy person, or rather, I love to appreciate artists by purchasing their work. The first time I went to the Art Fair that took place here, I got myself comic books, stickers, and a few postcards. Yup, I'm willing to splurge on things like that! I'm looking forward to future 10a Alabama events. You should too!

This unassuming little building, located in a bewildering maze of streets, has housed countless art…read morefairs. Trust me when I say it's a haven for artists and art lovers alike. There's a ton of cool, unique things like posters, notebooks, prints, and even handmade bracelets you can take home to add life to your room or give to a loved one who's sure to appreciate such a pretty and thoughtful gift. And for the creative types, you can stock up on your fancy brush tools here as well. Due to the distance, I've only been here once, but it was worth the trip and my friends and I agreed we should go back for another event!

These aren't necessarily on the walls along Katipunan avenue, but a set of street art found in the…read morevicinity of UP Diliman's Shopping Center. So it's still technically "UP Campus Graffiti." PROS: A work by my favorite artist collective ever, Gerilya? YES, PLEASE! These people mostly hail from UP FA but you could see their work even outside campus. I saw them first on this old overpass on Philcoa. Sadly, the bridge was already demolished, along with their Andres Bonifacio street mural. My all-time favorite would be their print, Balasang Boombox. Check them out on Tumblr; The other set in front of Shopping Center has been a canvas for different graffiti pieces. It first had "You either win or you learn," which was then painted over with "You either win or you die," and then finally with "You either win in the revolution or die in submission." As of today, there is a different set of street art painted on those yero walls - colorful sea creatures and beautiful maidens. I hope I could find out who the artist/s is/are soon. CONS: Some naysayers say that graffiti is vandalism - it damages private/public property. I, however, have a different point of view. Street art is different from vandalism. When people destroy properties - like burning portions of walls or breaking glasses or painting messages of hate - then that's vandalism. Graffiti such as these, on the other hand, have aesthetics attached to them. Art evokes feelings and reactions, and if paintings on the street do, then they are art. Yes, even if they're just gang signs and names. Ever heard of Banksy? He writes his name on walls too, but it is art. Like auction-selling art. This is the type of art that is accessible and non-elitist, and I wish Manila would have more street art, especially those that are socially relevant and thought-provoking. TL;DR: I simply love how UP is home to wonderful street art.

Ang sabi ng ilan, mababang anyo ng visual arts ang Graffitti; vandalism nga ito kung ituring ng…read moreiba. Madalas tayong makakita nito sa kalsada at iba't-ibang bahagi ng syudad. Sa loob ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, makikita sa pader ng UP Shopping Center, College of Fine Arts at Philcoa Overpass ang serye ng Graffitti ng Katipunan at ni Andres Bonifacio, gawa ng grupong Gerilya. Hindi lang basta Graffitti dahil mural na rin ito kung ituring, may layunin ang mga imaheng ito na muling ipaalala sa mga Pilipino ang kasarinlang nakamit ng bayan dahil sa mga Pilipinong lumaban at namatay sa digmaan. Abangan at lang dumadaan daan sa UP para makita ang susunod na tema ng gagawing graffitti ng Gerilya. Makikita rin ang iba pa nilang gawa sa underpass ng Quezon Avenue, The Collective sa Makati at sa mga kalye tuwing may mga protesta.

The first time I went to Industriya, I was blown away by the interiors. Some restaurants have…read more"instagramable" spots, but the whole of Industriya IS Instagramable. A former shoe factory in a more suburban part of Marikina, Industriya recycled everything they could recycle to make one of the most beautiful and memorable restaurants in Metro Manila. And then I tasted the food. Bland, uninspiring, an afterthought. Hay, sayang. I guess that's that. So why have I rated Industriya 5 stars? This is solely based on my SECOND visit to this place. I was part of a special Marikina tour organized by the local government, and we wrapped up the tour in Industriya. I was hoping they'd serve something nicer than what I had before because I really wanted this restaurant to work. Here's the thing: The first menu of Industriya was too long and had items that didn't match the vibe of the place. The way Industriya is built, either you go local (As Marikina has a unique cuisine) or you go full continental (a throwback to the international clientele of Marikina back in the day). The menu I saw the first time I went there was a hodgepodge of items that didn't make sense and didn't represent anything. So we ended up ordering some local dish and some sushi. Not only did the pairing not work, the dishes themselves were lackluster. However, for whatever reason, Industriya decided to embrace their local cuisine and rolled out a series of dishes for the tour participants. They stated that this was part of their revamped menu which would be rolled out really soon. Basically, we got staples of Marikina cuisine, with some slight but significant reworkings. We had Lumpiang Ubod on Lettuce Leaves instead of wrap, a pate-type spread made from Everlasting (a meatloaf unique to Marikina), Pinakbet topped with Bagnet (!!!), Mechado with generous portions of beef, and an honest to goodness Laoya (Marikina's take on Nilaga, with peanuts and bananas -- it works, trust me). Needless to say, the dishes were excellent. I was very, VERY happy with everything I ate. But more than that, if this is an indication of the food that will be served in Industriya from this point onwards, then this place just became the most important restaurant in Marikina. Before, Industriya was just a beautiful restaurant will so-so food. Now, it's a showcase of Marikina's storied past and present.

A hidden gem tucked in the middle of Calumpang in Marikina, Quezon City is this beautiful, modern…read morerestaurant/event place that used to be a shoe factory. They have used old shoe machines and factory instruments as decorations and it surely lures you in with interest with each decor wondering the story behind each work of art. The uniqueness of this living breathing museum symbolizes Marikina then... to now. The original flooring, window framing, chairs embedded with shoe materials, it's amazing. And, the design is done so tastefully, industrial and modern! Love the natural light coming through the big windows. The whole entire place was just Instagram worthy Let's talk about food! They give out complimentary popcorn which is a plus, gives the guests something to munch on while waiting (very rare for Filipino restaurants to do this). Nachos could be better but it was as good as it gets, considering we're in Philippines. The pizza was good too, it was served hot and crispy. Loved the Pinakbet with bagnet on the side! I like how they separated the bagnet on the side to remain crispy. Though I don't eat a lot of Lengua, thought it was good- so tender and very tasty. The Pork Sinigang in Bayabas was a little dense for me since I'm more used to the sampaloc based soup. The kids ordered the chicken fingers with chips and salad and they both finished it! Must be good. One of the things I don't like about restaurants, in general, is telling the guests they ran out of something after ordering. We ordered (3) items on the dessert menu that were unavailable. So we settled for a couple of locally produced ice creams which were not bad at all. Overall the experience was great, and we enjoyed the place and the food! Our server was great. I recommend this place if you're in Marikina. #herGOODEATSstorey #herTRAVELstorey

Must visit if you're in the area on a Saturday morning. This market is held every Saturday morning…read moreat Jaime Velasquez Park in Makati. The market offers a wide variety ranging from Fresh produce, fruits , local Filipino snacks, seafood & a ton of food vendors. I loved the pumelo & went back to buy more. It gets busy so get there early. There's so much to choose from and wanted to try a little if everything. It's a great spot for a snack or lunch. Many vendors offer free samples. There are tables to sit but you can find a seat in the park to enjoy your food. I had a great time here. They also sell beautiful fresh flowers.

Just being here with all the plethora of food choices. In a setting right out of a movie, what more…read morecan you ask for. Considering you're in Makati a bougie neighborhood pricing is actually reasonable. They have everything, so I'm just going to tell you what we have. Puto bong bong made infront of you and Illocos empanadas fried fresh are the standouts. Just come here and take in life.

Forget fucking rollercoasters. THIS IS WHERE THE REAL THRILL RIDE IS…read more I used to be scared of heights. Really, really, really fucking scared. Now, I can ride rollercoasters and do ziplines no problem, but back when I was scared of heights I thought I would wet myself even just looking out of a really high floor of a building. When I was in second year high school, we went to this Mathematics Training thing at this chinese school along Marcos Highway every week. One of the training days, we got out early during the afternoon and we decided to have lunch in SM Marikina since we figured we could probably get back in time. We took the overpass that passed through both sides of Marcos Highway where you could walk aaaalll the way to SM Marikina. WORST. DECISION. EVER. It might have had something to do with the fact that my friends were scaring me into it, but really, I was just fucking terrified. The side-fences were only up to my hips, so a literal push could send me plumetting to my death. The floors were made of this steel that looked like they just cobbled it together from spare party. Even worse - my friend pointed out that one of the beams looked like it was being held up by a piece of alambre. (Of course it wasn't, but my paranoia was setting in.) I said "HOLY SHIT WE'RE GONNA DIE" upon hearing that. Naturally, I freaked out a lot of kids in the process. Even now that I'm not scared of heights, passing through this overpass still freaks me out a lot. I mean, fuck rollercoasters and ziplines. THIS is real terror. Like no other.