SANTA CRUZ, Laguna—The exhibition hall of Sa Pantalan 2025 at the back of Ted’s Kitchen was bustling and festive on the morning of Oct. 25, with Philippine folk songs playing in the background. At the forum at the end of the hall, a member of the audience has just asked guest speaker Socorro “Corito” Llamas...
Category: Lifestyle
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Planning a family trip? Let Melai show you how
BUSAN, South Korea — To inspire Filipino families to explore Korea’s coastal charm, what can be better than an autumn familiarization tour led by the popular Filipino TV personality Melai Cantiveros-Francisco? Melai and her family enjoyed the tour, titled “Family Fun in Korea” and hosted by the Korea Tourism Organization, on Oct. 15-19. It’s part of...
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Oodles of noodles, and more to love
I’m a noodle and siopao person. Ask my husband who has to put up with my delivery orders whenever I fail at my kitchen duties. A good thing Rolly Fernandez is a beef and mami person, too. Otherwise, he’d starve, or fast, for a day. Pianist Najib Ismail, a certified foodie (just take a look...
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Making memories: Sticky rice and unfettered bonds
Among my vivid childhood memories is making bilo-bilo. I remember the sensation of rolling between my palms a dollop of cold malagkit (sticky rice) to about an inch round until smooth, putting the ball on a plate, and repeating the process, putting the balls one beside the others on the quickly filled plate, until there...
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Experience Sorsogon one delicious bite at a time
Sorsogon at the southernmost tip of the Bicol Peninsula usually draws local and foreign tourists to its coastal fringes. Among the top seaside destinations are Donsol and its whale sharks, Paguriran Island in Sorsogon City, Subic beaches in Matnog, and the surfing hubs in Gubat. But there’s an alternative experience that visitors shouldn’t miss: a...
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Authentic French breads and pastries enliven the City of Pines
BAGUIO CITY—It’s common to see the end of the queue as you enter the parking lot—long before you get to the front doors—of L’Atelier du Grain in this mountain city. “We usually sell more than 3,000 kinds of breads and pastries per day in the weekends,” says co-owner Merna Brazil. At the helm of the...
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I’m only happy when it rains
My wife and I woke up one Wednesday morning and I hit the snooze button on the alarm clock. It was raining and the air was cool. In the additional five minutes of sleep, otherwise known as negotiating with myself if I should get up or not, there was a quandary in my head: With...
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Young Bicolanos now a growing force in the festival honoring Our Lady of Peñafrancia
NAGA CITY—For most Filipinos, September signals the start of the Christmas countdown. But for the people of Bicol, it means the beginning of a season of deep devotion and the celebration of the Peñafrancia festival here. The festival, one of the country’s most revered and renowned religious celebrations, is marked by the feast of the...
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Where I ate all my veggies
Barangay Poblacion in Makati City has acquired a reputation as great for exploring a variety of food and drinks. I wasn’t about to be left behind when members of one of my Viber groups decided to try out Corner Tree Café at 5782 Felipe Street in Poblacion for its vegetarian fare. My Grab sedan dropped...
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Ibalong Festival celebrates epic origin of Bicolano ‘oragon’
LEGAZPI CITY — Bicolanos are known to be “oragon” (slang for brave, feisty, resilient, and steadfast in beliefs). It’s a description gleaned from the epic of Ibalong and its warrior-heroes. Legazpi is celebrating the Ibalong Festival not only to highlight the traits enshrined in Bicol folklore but also to provide a fun challenge for those...