When in Manila, traffic, deadlines and/or heartbreaks could make us want to grab and light up a stick. We find comfort from the thing which ironically kills us – the cigarette! Here in Manila, it’s also known as YOSI - from the first and last syllables of the Tagalog term – sigarilyo.   If you’re not a smoker and you despise the very thought of cigarettes or second hand smoke, then goon on ya! You are less [...]

  When in Manila, or even outside the country, there are so many things you can get or experiences that you can take on first hand! Imagine a mall-wide sale screaming 70% off on all items, a lavish dinner from your favorite restaurant or all those amazing online deals.   We all screamed – I want!!! But once I opened my wallet, all I saw was single coin… which I didn’t want to use (because they [...]

When in Manila, we know the boy who cried wolf (thanks to Aesop’s fables), we know the boy who lived (Harry Potter) and we know Boy Abunda. But do you guys know the boy who sang the Cornetto Commercial theme song entitled Hey Day Dreamer? I know it has been playing in your head – You and me.. Sitting on a tree.. K-I-S-S-I-N-G..  He is no longer a boy actually; he is a young man [...]

When in Manila, the opening crawl which says, A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away.. will once again be seen, but this time in 3D! The force is with us, and the Star Wars Episode 1 (The Phantom Menace) in 3D is opening in theaters today, February 9th.     Even before Harry Potter was born and Edward Cullen fell inloved with Bella, the Jedi and their lightsabers have been in the hearts of [...]

When in Manila, Valentine’s Day does not just spell flowers, chocolates and dinner dates; it also means men playing the role of Prince Charming who battles traffic and buys roses bouquet. And it means 3-hour preparation for the ladies to get ready for a date. Everyone has hearts floating above their heads. Love is in the air!   We are counting down the days before the Valentine’s Day. But deadlines, meetings, and appointments prevent us from [...]

  When in Manila, don’t ever miss to eat  the famous Filipino dishes - Adobo, Kinilaw and Kilawin. And what makes these dishes more flavorful with every bite is the wonder ingredient, vinegar (suka’ in Tagalog). And when you think of vinegar, there is only one brand that comes to mind - Datu Puti!   If you grew up in Manila, you cannot miss those Datu Puti commercials with its talents and models doing the signature “muhkasim” [...]

  When in Manila, it’s time to pack your bags, book a flight and explore places around the country. It’s perfect time to support DOT’s campaign that #ItsMoreFuninthePhilippines. But before you do, it’s high time to grab the Wanderlust Travel Journal to smartly plan your trips with style.     The Wanderlust Travel Journal is the first travel journal that features local destinations and Philippine festivals such as Sinulog (Cebu), Aurora day celebration (Aurora), Pintados [...]

    When in Manila, party hard in Republiq, Resorts World and update your status message – share what you are drinking or take a pic of who you are partying with –  through PDLT MyDSL.     PLDT MyDSL’s Holiday Gift for its subscribers is a wifi-enabled Metro Manila. From December 1, 2011 to January 15, 2011, PLDT Landline and MyDSL subscribers can enjoy FREE and unlimited WiFi access in over 2,000 hot spots [...]

  When in Manila, grab a copy of the book, Unscripted by Sarah Meier and Vicky Herrera. It is a book based on the conversations (and not just interviews), that happened during the former radio show called The Dollhouse.      Before Sarah and Vicky became radio show hosts, and book authors, they already made names in their respective fields – Sarah as the favorite MTV VJ and fashion model; and Vicky was once a features editor [...]

  When in Manila, PLDT is one of the biggest telecommunication providers – and yes, PLDT is the internet provider that allows me to publish this post. PLDT has been connecting families, coworkers, lovers and phone pals all over the world for so many years. Now, PLDT MyDSL will connect netizens through a WiFi-enabled Metro Manila.     During the presscon held last December 8th, in Cerchio Restaurant and Lounge, Tomas Morato, PLDT announced that from [...]

  When in Manila, Christmas starts as early as December 1st. Christmas spells carols, blinking lights, Santa Claus, and everyone’s favorite – Kris Kringle! The true fun of unwrapping gifts is not from the gifts we get under the Christmas Tree, but from the gifts we receive every week from an unknown person we call “mommy” or “daddy” or our Secret Santa. After a day’s search for the perfect “something green”, or “something soft and [...]