Meals with Mark: Go Cro!

When they closed the St. Marc's cafe in Megamall, we were bummed. Where do we get our yummy choco cros now?

That's why when we saw that there was a St. Marc's cafe outside our hotel in Makuhari, we already knew where we'd have breakfast.

It's so good to be able to share a choco cro with Mark again.

Luck is Standard

I'm so thrilled that we decided to stay in Makuhari on our last day in Tokyo.

Aside from the fact that there's the Mitsui Park Outlet just outside our hotel - literally, it was outside our hotel - there's also the Aeon Mall which was just 1 train stop away.

That mall is one of my faves because of these 2 shops:

Luck Rack is always a great place to hunt for off-season Japanese brands, while Standard Products can really give Muji a run for its money.

I'm super happy with my haul from these 2 stores.

FMM: The Others

Back in 1993, there was a song that enjoyed a lot of airplay, and it also enjoyed a lot of on-air play. I'd see the official music video on shows like MTV, and being danced on TV shows by popular dance gorups.

It's a song from a duo called "The Other Two." The English husband and wife team, originally from New Order, tried it out as a duo and came up with this hit song.

"Selfish," has that new wave vibe that also has a bit of a slow dance feel. It's that combination that makes this song such an ear worm.

Let me be selfish and play this song on repeat.

Always the best time

Back in the early 2000s, the tagline of Wendy's in the Philippines was: "It's the best time for Wendy's."

While they're not and have not used that tagline in decades, it still remains to be my favourite one.

With that, this is the best time to post about Wendy's in Tokyo.

Hands down, the fries in Wendy's Japan is top tier. That's why it's also one of the "must-visits" when I'm there.

It's the best!

Breakfast with a view

At The New Otani Hotel in Akasaka-Mitsuke, you have 2 venue options for the breakfast buffet. You can choose between a garden view and a city view.

Mark and I were deciding where to go, and we eventually decided to just go with the city view restaurant at the 40th floor.

Boy, was it a good choice! We were treated to this view while having breakfast:

Mount Fuji!

This view made our breakfast even more special!

Meals with Mark: Happy habits

From the early 2000s until now, one of the "must-visits" when we're in Japan has to be Saizeriya.

This "Italian-by-way-of-Japan" fast food place is like a second home for us. You might even call it a habit. The comfort food  the drink bar, the vibe - it all adds up to make every visit a satisfying one.

In our many, many times of eating here, this is the first time we're ordering their French onion soup.

Gosh! It's so, SO good! Why didn't we discover this earlier?

This is now going to be part of our regular orders from here on in.

Year end. Bookend.

Mark and I started our travel year in Japan.

Last January, we went to Makuhari in Tokyo,  and had a grand time there.

Now, we're back for our last international trip for the year.

Makuhari never disappoints. And Makuhari will always be one of our go-tos in Japan.

LFLTAT: Color of the Year

So, Pantone announced the 2026 colour of the year - Cloud Dancer.

It's basically a variation of white.

This reminded me of a LFLTAT from my previous Japan trip.

The culottes are from GU, while the top is from Uniqlo. They're both in various permutations of white, and they blend together seamlessly and perfectly.

It's a look that'll bring you to Cloud Nine!

Smells like Pinoy Spirit

Since we're on the subject of Pinoy Pride and proudly Pinoy products, here's a recent discover that can be filed under that subject.

It's a locally made perfume!

The packaging alone is a great reason to buy it. The box is elegant, aesthetic and posh. The perfume itself is equally good - long-lasting, good projection, and it really reminds me of Tom Ford's Oud Wood.

Take notes, local brands. This is how it's done.

FMM: Another one bites the Dusty

Dusty Springfield has one of the most fascinating voices in music. She had a mezzo-soprano voice that could pull off both classic and modern sounding songs.

Her career started in the 60s, but my first exposure to her music was through this 1987 collaboration with the Pet Shop Boys.

"What have I done to deserve this," was an often played song back in the 80s. Not only was it all over the airwaves, it was also all over parties and get togethers. Whenever it was played, my ears were always waiting for her to come in with those iconic lines: "Since you've been away, I've been hanging around, I've been wondering why I'm feeling down..."

These lines made the song for me.

That was the magic of Dusty Springfield.

Ballet meets Balot

This post is so, SO overdue.

Actually, the fact is that I thought I posted about this already. 

Apparently not.

Saw this really nice pair of ballet flats at a Trade Fair in Megamall, and just had to order a pair.

Yup, order. They make these shoes to order, which is a great way to really promote craftsmanship and quality.

This beautiful denim ballet flats has a whimsical "Balot" print. Very Pinoy yet very chic.

Now, that's Pinoy creativity at its finest.

That's so False!

Here's yet another example of how quality seems to have flown out the window.

They used false copy as stand-in for this video. And they didn't replace or remove it.

Gosh! Back when my advertising career began, this would've been a huge no-no. But these days, people with just shrug it off and say: "that video won't last long anyway."

Proofreader - and higher standards - please.

Dolled up denim

There are a lot of ways you can elevate denim. 

You can do it by pairing a denim item - like jeans - with a more luxe item like a silk blouse or a merino sweater. 

You can do it though accessories - like a sparkly shoe, a statement belt, or a tweed jacket.

Or you can make a dress with a lot of fashionable details that elevate it. Just like this dress:

Overall, the dress has a baby doll vibe. But it's done in a very modern way. From the cuts and seams on the bodice, to the sleeve that puffs up at the lower part, to the big neck tie that further enhances the "doll" look.

This is more than just "Denim done right," It's "Denim done wonderfully chic!"

Color Story: Children of the Cornflower

Saw a cornflower blue knit top at Memo, and it was on sale!

Of course, I had to buy it.

Next task was to find items to pair it with. That's when I remembered that there were a few light denim items in the stash that looks like cornflower.

Et voila!

The pants are from The SM store, and the vest is from the Plains & Prints x Marc Nicdao collaboration.

Feeling Rich

Pete Rich, that is.

His latest collaboration with Plains & Prints already dropped, and it's a lot of fun.

The polo shirt has a very soft fabric, an interesting zipper detail, and a cute embroidered detail of a taho vendor. This taho vendor detail is also echoed in the tote bag, which I also got.

Plains & Prints has another winner here.

Fun with fusion

With no bias whatsoever, Toni's latest creation - the Bibingka Cheesecake - has to be one of the best cheesecakes I've tried.

Ever!

Amazing how a little bit of fusion - adding a Pinoy twist to a Basque Cheesecake - can make a world of difference.

I'm going to make a bee line at Toni's next bazaar just for this.

FMM: The first Noel

Nope, this isn't a Christmas Carol post.

But considering that it's almost Christmas, that's not too far fetched.

The "Noel" I'm referring to is Noel Harrison.

While his name might not be familiar for many, the song that he sang surely is.

"The Windmills of your Mind" is a 1968 song that was used in the original "Thomas Crowne Affair" film. Even as a kid, I've been fascinated by this song. 

Aside from the melody and the heartfelt rendition of Noel Harrison, the lyrics are so beautifully written. It's poetic, it's storytelling, and it's the reason why the music of back then is sorely missed.

Bruce Clues

Look! Monday Bruce finally has an officemate!

These blind boxes are dangerously addictive.

SM is So Marvelous

When it comes to Christmas displays, SM is top tier.

They pull out all the stops and don't hold back in terms of ideas and execution.

Their display at SM North EDSA - The Block is a testament to that.

The castle is even functional. You can go inside and watch a shot video.

Marvelous. Just marvelous!

Hog Wild

Apparently, Cat Cafes are old news in Tokyo.

Walk through Takeshita Dori, and you'll see an array of animal cafes that are far from the usual.

And one of the bigger hits in the area? A pig cafe!

Judging by the lines, it's popular among locals and tourists alike.

While novel, methinks a concept like this won't work in Manila.

People might steal the pigs and turn them into cochinillo.

Pretty little Jinbei-by

Immediately thought of Baby Sabers after seeing a Jinbei at Donki.

Eventually bought it as pasalubong.

And seeing this confirmed my hunch that it was the right decision.

So much cuteness in one photo!

New View

Despite the fact that I've visited Harajuku quite a number of times already, this is my first time to visit the building at the corner with this view.

This is at the 6th floor of a building that has a vertical garden outside. The 5th and 6th floors have food courts, and t his is where we had lunch. Was intrigued by the place called "Falafel Guys" and eventually bought my food there.

The food was good. The view was even better.

Dots perfect

When Joanne - the Plains & Prints Ali Mall manager - told me about the Plains & Prints x Vania Romoff x Mark Bumgarner collab, my excitement went through the roof.

After all, Vania and Mark are accomplished designers who both embrace the "simple but elegant" aesthetic, so putting their heads together for one collab has all the makings of a home run.

When the collection dropped, my excitement dropped notches lower. Overall, a lot of the pieces looked more like party wear rather than every day wear. Even the 2 dresses - the pieces that I had very high hopes for - were just okay.

But there were 3 pieces that stood out and immediately went to my "must buy" list. And yes, I was able to buy them.

First is this skirt and sleeveless top made in a polka dot fabric that's SO Vania Romoff. 

Among the pieces, these 2 are the ones that look like they came straight out of Vania's core line. The simplicity of the cut, the full skirt, the minimalist aesthetic - they all came together beautifully. And if you think that's the end of it, check out the back of the top:

Now THAT is a chic detail.

The nice thing about the skirt is that it can also be paired with the other pieces from the collection. So, along with these 2 pieces, ended up buying their black & white polka dot top with puffed sleeves and an empire waist.

And as you can see, the top pairs perfectly with the skirt.

Now, that's simple, elegant and versatile fashion!

FMM: From Rokh to Rock

You should've seen this coming.

After 4 consecutive Rokh posts, our Friday Magic Madness song has to be about "Rock." 

What better "rock" song is there than Michael Jackson's 1979 hit, "Rock with you."

After listening to this song again after a while, the reality still rings true. 

Michael Jackson is a legend! (And yes, he rocks.)

Rokh star: Trench revolution

One of the interesting outfits from the Rokh x GU collaboration is their reimagined trench coat.

Instead of it being a one-piece coat, Rok Hwang made 2 pieces - a cropped trench jacket and a paper bag skirt. When worn together, the checkered pattern creates the illusion that you're wearing a one-piece coat. But in reality, it's 2 pieces.

Because we really don't have much use for a trench jacket here, it was the skirt that made its way home. It's a brown, checked skirt that has a gathered waist and trench coat inspired buttons running down the front of the skirt.

Since the skirt is already a statement piece, the pair can be something simple and quiet. And that's where this mocha coloured shirt from Muji came in.

It's a new and chic way to look at a trench coat.

Rokh star: Nifty Knits

There's a lot of twofer pieces in this season's Rokh x GU collaboration.

Actually, the combo that was featured last Monday wasn't the 1st twofer piece that I bought the moment I arrived in Tokyo. It was this:

This is a knit combo. It's a knit, spaghetti strapped dress, paired with a collared, long-sleeve top.

Whether you wear the pieces together, or apart and alone, it's definitely nifty.

Rokh star: Over-stated

The item from the Rokh x GU colla that Ate Bullet liked the most was the skirt over pants ensemble. It was the one she was most excited about, and it was the first one she wore.

So, when she saw that there was another skirt over pant piece in the 2025 collection, that's what she wanted the most.

They didn't have it in GU Ginza, and that made me think that it might be sold out in all the branches. Thankfully, it was still available in the Shibuya branch.

This season's version is in a navy blue fabric, and the skirt was an A-line skirt with a ribbon detail on the waist.There was a Penshoppe tank top lying around the stash, and it became the perfect pair for the pants.

I'm sure that Ate is going to be overjoyed at this.

Rokh star: Grayer layer

Tokyo mission - accomplished!

One of things that was on my "must" list was to find and buy a few pieces from the GU x Rokh collaboration. Thus the visit to the GU Ginza store a few hours after my arrival.

This gray layered dress was one of the things that was on my list.

It's a twofer. The inner piece is a shirt dress with long sleeves that have a slit detail by the elbow. On top of it is a dress that has a gathered empire, mixing chiffon with a polyblend fabric.

This can be worn together, or as 2 separate pieces.

So, it's not just the colour that's versatile. So is the style!

Rokh rocks!

Camo(te)uflage

This scene was ultra cute that it deserved a photo!

Yup, there's a cat that's camouflaged on that pile of camote.

Cat cuteness, activated!

Yo Jo!

One thing that Jo and I realised is that this is the 4th country where we've met up.

First was in BKK when we were in our 20s.

Then, when she moved to SG, I'd visit her and stay at her flat.

Then, we met up in HKG during the time I was living there.

And last week, we met up in TYO!

So, where to next, Jo?

FMM: Robin Good

Suddenly had the urge to listen to this Jackson 5 classic from the 70s.

"Rockin' Robin," is a song that was played a lot in our house in Morato. It was also played a lot on TV. They also played it in parties.

Heck, they played it everywhere.

That's what happens when a song is this good.

That's smooth!

I've been seeing this online a lot, so heck, might as well try it while I'm in Tokyo.

The 7-11 Smoothie!

All I can say is: the hype is real.

Had this 3x in a day. 

It's that smoothie good!

Wear it's at!

The only line in this trailer, delivered by THE Meryl Streep, captures my sentiment about this upcoming film.

It took them too long to make "The Devil Wears Prada 2." Twenty years to be exact.

Hope it's worth the wait.

Fanta-bulous!

Another thing that was on top of the agenda in Tokyo was this:

Gotta get my Fanta Grape fix.

This never fails. 

Activated!

Spotted in the streets of Shibuya!

It's a Cebu Pacific activation!

As a Pinoy and an Advertising practitioner, it's great to see our brands being shown and represented abroad.

Let's fly, every Juan!

How convenient

Yes, you can't go to Japan without having a convenience store breakfast.

Went to the Family Mart near Roppongi Station. This is the branch where Mark and I usually go, so it's but right that this is where I'm going.

Their Tamago Sando never fails.

First on the a-GU-enda

Barely a few hours after arriving in Tokyo, here I am!

Yes, GU as the first stop is always a good idea.

FMM: Spinning around

No, this isn't a Kylie Minogue post.

But it's common knowledge that I'm a huge Kylie fan, and her song, "Spinning Around" is one of my all-time faves.

This is about another kind of spin - The Spinners!

This Detroit-based group from the 70s spawned a lot of memorable hits. I'm familiar with those songs, thanks to the cassette tape at home.

And since it's their first time in the FMM spotlight, let's start with my all-time fave:

"I'll be there" is their 1972 hit and has that very laid back and boppy tune.

So let's take it for a spin today. After all, it's Friday!

Feeling Yang

Because Tong Yang as a birthday celebration place is always a good idea.

With all the food and drinks, "Happy Burp-day" would be more appropriate.

Always special

It's not a Friday, but this 1984 hit from Iwi Laurel is such an appropriate song for today:

We visited Lolo, Lola and Tita Lon at Loyola today. 

It was our belated All Soul's Day visit. We usually go there earlier or later, so we avoid the November 1 crowd. Since it was raining last week, we ended up going today.

It's been decades, but they're still sorely missed, and will always be part of our special memory.

Kiddulting

You know you're an 80s kid when this toy makes you excited.

This propeller is a very simple toy, but it's so much fun to play with. It was part of my trick-or-treat loot, and there were some left and the creative team ended up playing with it non-stop.

Amazing how a simple toy can bring back the kid in you.

When a song comes to life

There are those rare instances when an iconic song lyric actually presents itself to you IRL.

Such was the case today.

Spotted this on our walk back to the office from lunch.

Yes, someone left a cake out in the rain.

I don't think that I can take it, 'cause it took so long to bake it. And I'll never have that recipe again.

Glenn's money piece

There's not much talk about the recently launched Glenn Martens x H&M collaboration. Here in MNL, at least.

Makes me wonder if they'll carry it in stores here.

Looking through the collection, you can see Glenn's street wear DNA in all of the pieces. The jeans and trousers are spectacular, which isn't surprising giving his stint at Diesel.

Also not surprising is the fact that the piece I'm most excited about in this collection is a pair of jeans.

The design and details are so over-the-top yet still wearable on this one.

Now the question still remains, will they carry this here?

Gotta go to an H&M store to find out.

Rokh with you - again

It felt like this story just happened yesterday.

Mark and I were in Tokyo, and we were meeting Jen in Shibuya. We went to the big GU store there, and they had a big display of the 1st GU x Rokh collab. The catch was that it was a preview display, so as much as I wanted to buy pieces, I couldn't. They were launching it a few days after we left. Boo!

Good thing, Kris went to Tokyo a few weeks after, and thanks to her, was able to snag the pieces that I was eyeing.

Now, the collab is back for the 3rd time!

And I'm going to Tokyo soon!

Wait for me, Rokh, will be there to get your fashionable pieces again.

FMM: Having a (Whig)field day

Someone played this song at the creative department, and it triggered a shocking realization.

This song is already 30 years old.

Yes, "Close to you" by Whigfield now qualifies as an old, Friday Magic Madness worthy song.

Fie this under "another indicator that I'm old."

Hallowheeen!

It's trick or treat day at the office. And it looks like I've overpacked treat bags.

Packed 55 bags, an it turns out that there are only 20 kids doing the traiditon.

That just means one thing:

The adults are in for a treat!

(Har)vest bet

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Clover Chips.

The taste and crunch of their classic cheese flavour is so familiar and comforting. It was one of my go-to comfort food during my expat days in HKG.

Apart from flavours, there hasn't been anything super new about Clover Chips. 

Or is there?

Yup, there is! Clove rChops has this Cassava chips variant called "Harvest." And it has a sweet and sour flavour, too!

Tried it, and it's good! It has the same Clover texture, but there's a certain difference with the crunch. And while sweet and sour isn't a common flavour for snack food, this one works.

This is going to be part of my snack rotation, stat.

From spreads to jams

Another month, another party organised by the creative team.

Since it's October, we wanted to do something related to Oktoberfest, but not too obvious.

Thus, Oktober Jam.

It's probably the longest party we've had so far. It extended until after midnight ,which is testament to how much everyone enjoyed it.

This jam was a success!

Start spreading...

Not the news.

Just spreads.

Making spreads was my activity this weekend. Armed with stuff from the kitchen, was able to put together these 2 spreads.

The first one was the classic tuna spread, while the other is an herbed chicken spread.

Despite the fact that it's been a long while since my last spread making activity, these turned out to be good!

LFLTAT: Resort to this

Here's another yield from the SM Megamall sale.

And because it's a sale, you can be sure that it's a look for less than a thousand.

The dress is from Coco Cabana, which is The SM Store's resort wear line. Actually, they have a lot of nice clothes - both is style and in prints. Mom has a couple of Coco Cabana clothes in her closet.

But this particular dress is for Ate Bullet. It's a linen dress in an olive green hue, and the halter neckline is what makes it very interesting. The slides aren't from SM but from The Landmark. It's a brand called Shooz, and this jute slide fits the resort vibe of the dress perfectly.

All you need is a beach and this outfit is good to go.

LFLTAT x Color Story: Caramel Cool

There was a dress in The SM Store that caught my eye the moment it was brought out a few months ago. It was a caramel coloured shirt dress with an interesting pleated overskirt that ties in front. It was so classic and chic, and would add a touch of sass to any closet.

Strangely, though, I never got around to buying it. The dress magically disappeared from their shelves.

Now, I know why.

At the recent SM Megamall sale, the dress was back, and it was 70% off!

And after checking out Solemates, which is one of SM's house brands, saw a pair of caramel coloured flats what would look great with the dress.

Thus, today's cool outfit was born.

What' cooler is that this outfit added up to only P698!

You gotta love SM!