Bell's Boss

Looking at this cat that's confidently sitting on top of a table in front of Taco Bell in Cubao, you'd think he's the boss of the branch.

Maybe he is.

FMM: Loving it

No, this isn't a McDonald's post.

One realisation made last week was the fact that there aren't enough Minnie Riperton songs in my Friday Magic Madness repertoire.

Last week's entry was actually the first!

Time to rectify that. Let me put out more of Minnie's songs, starting with her iconic, classic, fantastic, boombastic and intergalactic hit:

"Loving you" set the standard in so many ways. This is where "whistle tone" gained prominence. And if you ask anyone about this son, that unforgettable whistle tone is what people will tell you first.

I'll never tire of listening to this song.

It's something you'll fall in love with each time.

Web support

Thanks to Zoom, there's one thing that I'm able to do now that wasn't as easy pre-Zoom.

That's attending Mark's speaking engagements.

Yesterday, he was a speaker on a forum on Mindanao. He spoke about how Science and Technology can help transform processes and make them more efficient.

It's always fun to see him at his element and support his engagements. 

We've got the web to thank for that.

Meals with Mark: So Beyond!

While we usually go to our "regulars" on days when we meet up for lunch, merienda or dinner, Mark and I also keep our eyes peeled for new places we can try.

That's what we did yesterday.

I've been eyeing this place called "Bread, Broth and Beyond." Initially, the draw for me was the name, which is obviously a play on "Bed, Bath and Beyond." 

Their menu consists mainly of soups and bread, but they also have the complete complement of pasta, flatbread pizzas and mains.

We tried a pasta and a pizza, and they're both really good! Their Tamarind Iced Tea was also legit.

It won't be beyond us to eat here again one of these days.

Do-ing Bananas

A decade back, people couldn't get enough of Banana Rpublic.

"People" including myself and my sisters.

But as more and more brands came to MNL, particularly European brands, Banana Republic slowly faded into the background and was eclipsed by younger and more hip labels.

Looks like Banana Republic wants a piece of the "younger and more hop" market nowadays.

They're having a collaboration with Peter Do! Yup, the young, enigmatic designer known for his modern take on fashion . 

I'm interested to see how this collaboration will look like. The last time my excitement for Banana Republic was this high was when they had a collaboration with Roland Mouret

And I'm even more interested to know if they'll carry it in the Banana Republic store in Greenbelt 5.

Off-Er

So, they brought back that "Er" promo at McDonald's.

If your name has an "Er" like "LestEr," you can get a quarter pounder for P25.

Just for kicks, I went to the neighbourhood McDonald's to see if there was a queue or a crazy crowd.

Well, there wasn't.

So, I ended up having a P25 Quarter Pounder with Cheese.

But I don't eat burgers. 

Errr...

Always Hopeful

Yesterday was the Feast Day of St. Padre Pio.

His immortal words: "Pray, Hope and Don't Worry," has been a guide and a source of strength. St. Padre Pio was there when I needed him most, and for that, I'm truly grateful.

Happy Feast Day, St. Padre Pio!

That's a stretch

On a cool and rainy day like this, we all want to be this cat.

It's the perfect weather to just stretch out and take a nap.

Not on the street, though. But you get the idea.

FMM: Girl on Fire

No, this isn’t a post about Alicia Keys. That’s too recent a song to be a Friday Magic Madness song.

This is about another kind of “fire.’

“Light my Fire” is one of the most popular songs from The Doors. But I was today-year’s-old when I discovered that there’s another version of that classic ditty!

There’s a Minnie Riperton and Jose Felciano version!

Recorded and released I. 1979, their approach to the song is very different. It’s more sultry and seductive, which fits well with Minnie’s vocals.

This version is Fire!

Headstrong

I’ve seen this several times along 8th Avenue.

This house might look ordinary, but there’s a detail that’s a head above the rest. 

Literally.

Makes me wonder what the story is behind this.

Delicious in degrees

Two things that remind of of Taiwan: Boba Tea & Scallion Pancakes.

Now, these two things are just within arms reach!

I've been seeing Nineteen Degrees in SM Megamall for more than a year now, but never got around to trying their stuff. Today, I did! And I'm super glad to have finally tried them.

This combo of Orange Tea and Floss Scallion Pancakes brought me back to Taiwan.

This is awesome to an unimaginable degree.

O.A.

"Staycation" seems like a pretty easy word to spell, right?

Apparently not.

Makes we wonder whoever thought that there's an "o" in "staycation." 

And to think that this post is supposed to be for teachers. I'm sure they'll be up in arms once they notice the typo. (I know I am!)

Proofreader please!

Going UP

Any visit to UP wouldn't be complete without this:

A combo of fish balls, squid balls, kikiam and Nestea.

It's the UPside of this quick, weekend stopover at my alma mater.

Buon Compleanno

Today is Mark’s Birthday! Woot!

We had our celebration in advance yesterday. We were trying to decide whether we’d go for a “usual” or if we should try something new.

Being fans of pizza and pasta, we decided to try something new and eat at La Ragazza.

This is a good, affordable place with a good selection of pizza and pasta. We decided to go light and had their truffle pasta, chicken Caesar salad, and spinach and bechamel pizza. Double yummers!

Sooo felice di aver trascorso il tuo compleanno con te.

The Favorite

No, this isn’t a post about the 2019 film that gave Olivia Colman her first Oscar.

This is about another favorite.

When I was living in HKG, one of my Chinese colleagues asked me what my favorite Filipino food was. After hearing the query, my mind went blank. Mainly because I didn’t have any.

Growing up, a lot of the food we were served were more Spanish than Filipino. Which could be the reason why I didn’t have a particular Filipino dish that could be considered a fave.

Eventually, it came to me. The answer to my colleagues’ question was: Ginataang Halo-Halo.

They would usually cook this at home for merienda. We were usually part of the cooking process - taking the “malagkit” and forming them into balls. And oftentimes, i’d be making cubes instead of balls.

Until now, I can never resist a good bowl of Ginataang Halo-Halo. Whether it’s from a restaurant or home cooked, i’ll never miss eating a bowl (or two).

But of course, nothing compares to homemade and home-cooked Ginataan. Just like this one:

Yup, I finished 2 bowls of this. 

FMM: Breathing. Again.

In the same breath, today’s Friday Magic Madness is also about breathing.

While it seems like it was just yesterday when Toni Braxton released “Breathe Again,” the fact is that it’s been 30 years since this classic love song dropped.

Just like the title, this song is worth listening to. Again. And again.

Breathing OXGN

Among the local fast fashion brands, OXGN is one of the most consistent in coming up with youthful, fun and distinct designs. 

Whether it’s a print, a color or a silhouette, they have a knack of making their clothes interesting.

That’s why whenever I pass by one of their stores, or catch an on-line sale on their website, this happens.

Yup, you gotta have OXGN.

Go, Tiger!

Mark and I had lunch in Glorietta today, and look what I spotted

Flying Tiger - Our super fave Danish brand - in will finally be in Manila!

Now, we won’t have to go to Tokyo our Seoul to get our Flying Tiger fix.

As another famous tiger once said: This is Grrrreta!

This I gotta :C

Claire Waight-/Keller has a special collection with Uniqlo!

Read about the Uniqlo:C collection on-line and saw some of the pieces from the collaboration. True to both Claire’s and Uniqlo’s DNA, the collection is very British in its tailoring, yet Japanese in its minimalist aesthetic.

Uniqlo really has a knack for collaborating with fashion forward yet low-key designers. From 3.1 Phillip Lim, Alexander Wang, Jil Sander, Helmut Lang, Suno - and many more - they’re the epitome of quiet chic.

I’ll go a see this collaboration soon!

Simply no place like...

Manila. For Plains & Prints.

When Joann told me that the next collaboration of the brand would be with Mark Nicdao, the prospect was intriguing. When she added that it would be a collection inspired by Manila, it was clear that it would be a winner.

Was able to check out their preview sale at Glorietta this weekend. There was a piece that was on top of my list, but it was already sold out. So, it was down the list and ended up getting the 2nd and 3rd item on my list.

First, this pair of printed palazzos. The print is a collage from different parts of the Metropolitan Theater. What's nice about it is that it looks fashionably abstract, and only when you look closely will you see it.

Second, this beautifully delicate organza blouse with gathered sleeves and a bow around the neck. This is super chic!

When paired together, it's just a knock-out!

Simply no place like Plains & Prints to buy pieces from a unique collaboration.

SSC = Super Swag Canteen

Just as it's been 4 years since my last face-to-face class in SSC, it's been 4 years since my last visit to the school canteen.

And my gosh, our canteen definitely had a glow up!

Sent Mark a photo of the canteen and he says it looks like a Starbucks. And he's right.

Looks like I'll be hanging out at the canteen more often on Saturdays.

Color Story: Neutrality

This story started with this pair of neutral coloured pants from Zara.

It was a duo-tone pair, with the majority it being camel and some details in khaki. The waist band was particularly interesting because of the asymmetric detail.

Then, this pair of dove gray sandals from Pull & Bear caught my eye. In my mind, it would be a great pair for the pants.

To complete the look, the top had to be as carefree and neutral as the rest of the ensemble. Enter this loose, cropped white polo from Surplus Shop.

I can't be neutral about this. Neutral ensembles can be so chic!

FMM: Oh, what a feeling!

Called it!

Tiday’s Friday Magic Madness song is yesterday’s post:

“Dancing on the Ceiling” is one of Lionel Richie’s biggest hits in the 80s. The song is as fun as the music video, and the cameo if Rodney Dangerfield made it even more fun to watch.

Makes me feel like dancing.

And yes, today is Mama Mary’s Nativity Feast day!

Happy Birthday Mama Mary!

Dancing on the Ceiling

No, this isn't a Lionel Richie post.

But tomorrow might be.

Today's post is about the new Gareway Mall and one of the features that's unique to the mall.

It's called the Quantum Skyview. It's basically a huge TV screen covering a huge chunk of ceiling.

I've passed by a few times, and the content varies. These days, they feature the FIBA games, particularly those being played in Araneta Coliseum. There was another time when they were playing music and music videos.

So, there really was dancing on the ceiling. 

Printed Matters: Mimicking Marimekko

That’s the vibe this print gave me the first time I saw it.

The floral pattern and colour palette was giving me Marimekko vibes.

But this beautiful floral print is actually from SheIn. It’s from a top and skirt set that caught my eye on-line. Eventually bought it, and it was as pretty IRL.

The top had an interesting cut-out detail at the back, plus ribbons on the side. The skirt was elastic, which is always a plus.

Well done, SheIn!

It's beginning to look a lot like...

True to Filipino tradition, Christmas starts in September.

Here's proof:

Ali Mall is already installing their Christmas decor.

The most wonderful time of the year has begun.

Winner!

Here's another favourite childhood memory.

As a kid, our family would sometimes eat at Goldilocks in Cubao. This was located at the old Rustan's Department Store.

Their set-up back then was like a school canteen. Instead of individual tables and chairs, they had long, continuous benches and tables. 

One sign that would alway catch my attention was a big poster with the message: "Share-a-Seat, Win a Friend." 

For a time, I thought it was some sort of promo. That's why I'd always ask my parents to let us share our seat with someone else because we'd get some sort of physical prize. It was only after they explained the concept to me did I get what it meant.

This childhood episode came back to me a few weeks ago, particularly because of this sign at the 168 Food Court in Divisoria.

After 3 decades, I'm still secretly wishing that I'll win something.

You've got a Friend-ster

This is another one of those "After 4 years..." posts.

It was in 2019 when the Superfriendsters got together, and that was also the last time we "sort of saw" Clarisse.

"Sort of" because we were supposed to meet at The Podium, but it turned out that there was some confusion as to where and what time we'll meet, and she left by the time we got there. So, she just ended up joining us virtually via video call.

This year, Clarisse was back in MNL, and we made sure that we'd really meet. Like, physically. 

And we were able to!

It's been almost 2 decades since we became friends-ters. And the friends-ters-ship is still stronger than ever.

Quik Break

This is another one of those "after 4 years..." posts.

After 4 years, I was finally able to go to Quik Snack!

Pre-2020, I'd go here after my classes and have late lunch. They have one of the best Kuchay Pie and Fresh Lumpia bar none.

The restaurant interiors still look the same. It still have that cozy, homey vibe.

And of course, the food is still as good as ever.

It was a quick visit and eat, but it was well worth it.

FMM: Never too late, once again

We're capping off the "Never too Leyte" and "Never too Late" series.

Or are we?

Today's Friday Magic Madness song is a 1989 hit from Kylie Minogue. It's another apt FMM song for today, especially since the title is exactly what we've been saying the past 2 weeks:

"Never Too Late," is one of Kylie's danceable ditties. It's fun and catchy more than 30 years ago, it's still fun and catchy until now.

It's never too late to feature this song.