June 2019 – Jellybeans in the City

Get this season’s trend highlights and fashion inspiration from Zilingo

Need a wardrobe upgrade? Zilingo has your back.

This season, leading online fashion platform Zilingo, released their latest trends selection, boasting different cuts and highlighting textures, vintage hues and an arresting foray of silhouettes.

The brand marries chic styles and street looks in this curated collection, featuring Utilitarian pieces in Khaki, Cream and Beige. Fashion fans will also be thrilled with the platorm’s take on deconstructed lace and 80s denim pieces in White, Black and Brown matched with modern Athleisure looks and snake textured sheets that accentuate style and attitude.
Zilingo will provide customers with coveted pieces suitable for all occasions. “We are ecstatic about this season’s trends that combine style and comfort, and the best part is that these fashion essentials are available at the click of a button,” says Ryza Dipatuan-Razo, Marketing Director, Zilingo Philippines.

Recognizing the continuous growth and potential of the online retail market, and the need to constantly provide its customers with new and exciting options, Zilingo aims to showcase a unique shopping experience to its customers and enable brands to expand their reach to fashion enthusiasts across the region.

“We would like our customers to have easy access to fashion, and as our way of saying thank you for all the support we’ve received, Zilingo is having a site-wide Zilingo Payday sale from now till 30 June that is sure to delight customers with up to 90% off on selected items,” Ryza added.

Fashionistas across the country can purchase the collection anytime and anywhere via Zilingo’s website and app, and have them delivered to their doorstep at no extra charge, with multiple payment methods including cash-on-delivery.

Zilingo is a commerce platform that is making the fashion and beauty supply chain more efficient through technology. With over 33,000 merchants on the platform Zilingo connects businesses across the entire supply chain and empowers them with everything they need to run a business – from design, product development, fabric procurement, manufacturing, cataloguing, marketing, inventory management, distribution, billing, customer service, working capital & trend forecasting. With over two million product listings on Zilingo.com, users can effortlessly shop from a selection of indie labels, local designers, international and celebrity brands – all in one place. Founded by Ankiti Bose and Dhruv Kapoor in 2015, the company has offices in 8 cities globally with over 600 staff covering 20 different nationalities.

Zilingo is available for download for free on the App Store and Google Play across Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand.

For more information, please visit www.zilingo.com.

Press release and images provided by Zilingo.

Food and nature-tripping at Burrow Cafe, Taytay

Nestled into east of Manila is a hidden haven for food and nature lovers. Called Burrow Cafe, it is located in the Antipolo Beehouse, a nature reserve set in a quiet residential subdivision away from the city’s hustle and bustle.

My daughter #ExhibitA and I decided to treat my mom out to Sunday brunch at Burrow Cafe. This mother-daughter-granddaughter outing is something we’ve been wanting to do for a long time but never found the time for until now.

So last Sunday, off we went up Ortigas Avenue Extension towards Antipolo and into Beverly Hills Subdivision where the Beehouse is situated. Upon arriving at the Beehouse gate, we went down 76 steps (good thing I didn’t wear heels!) to a lush green courtyard with another flight of stairs leading to what seemed like an underground bunker.

When we entered the cafe’s premises, however, we were treated to an abundance of light and greenery, thanks to the cafe’s large panel windows which let in a lot of natural light and give diners a relaxing view of the surrounding forest. Artfully laid out wood furniture, potted and hanging plants as well as other bric-a-bracs further accent the cafe’s nature theme while hammocks hanging from the ceiling provide some splashes of color and whimsy to the interiors. Outside, there is a balcony that overlooks a nearby mountain stream.

There, my mom, #ExhibitA and I chatted about life and gossiped about mutual acquaintances (hahaha!) while enjoying our brunch made with ingredients sourced from the Antipolo Market or grown within the cafe’s grounds.

Our meal included:

Beef Short Ribs with Corn and Green Bean Risotto (Php550).

Fish and Chips (Php420).

Key Lime Pie (Php190).

Burrow Home Brew Iced Tea (Php120) and Avocado Fruit Shake (Php180).

Though quite tasty, food items are limited and a bit pricey. Given the cafe’s lovely and restful ambiance and warm, friendly service, however, I’d say dining here is well worth the expense and effort.

After all, nothing but the best for my mom and my baby girl.

Burrow Cafe is located at the Antipolo Beehouse, 113 Beverly Hills Drive, Beverly Hills Subdivision, Dolores, Taytay, open Wednesdays to Thursdays from 8am to 4pm and Fridays to Sundays 7am to 4pm. Although walk-ins are welcome, table reservation is highly recommended through email (burrowcafe@gmail.com) or mobile (+63 917 6229795). For more details, visit the Antipolo Beehouse website.

Notes:

Beverly Hills Subdivision charges Php20 for cara entering the area so keep some change handy.
The resto is not wheelchair-friendly.
You might also want to check out the cafe’s retail area which sells reusable straws, homemade self-care products, zero-waste household ware and paper products.

Horrific journey into madness at Asylum Manila

Opened in 1939, the Asylum was a premier psychiatric medical institution for the criminally insane. The worst and most violent of psychiatric patients were brought here for treatment and seclusion.

Dr. Vanicutt, a renowned psychiatrist from Pennysylvania, heads the asylum. When his wife died from a mysterious accident, the doctor sank into madness: tormenting and conducting grotesque experiments on the patients.

During the Japanese occupation, the Asylum was mistaken for an abandoned building and a garrison of soldiers was stationed there. They ended up going insane and slaughtering each other.

From then on, the Asylum has been abandoned. The poor souls who wandered there were never heard from again.

Now in 2019, the doors are open again, welcoming new patients while the many unthinkable events that took place in the Asylum are still waiting to be uncovered.

That’s the premise of Asylum Manila, the newest horror attraction in the metro. It is a massive walk-through of dark attractions with sinister live actors, jump scares straight out of horror movies and Hollywood-caliber special effects.

You and your gang (who will, hopefully, stand with you no matter what terrors you encounter inside) will enter the Asylum as its newest patients. Two creepy nurses will check your vitals (making sure that you have no pre-existing medical conditions that will make you unable to complete your journey), then they will reveal the Asylum’s sordid history before ushering you into the house of horrors.

Inside, you will be chased up, down and around by crazed orderlies, chainsaw murderers, cannibalistic undertakers and mutilated patients. You will even encounter characters straight from horror movies such as Annabelle and the Nun from The Conjuring series and Pennywise the Clown from It.

By the end of your 45-minute journey through winding pathways, moving floors and walls, flashing lights and creepy music, you will have experienced thrills and chills that will leave your adrenaline pumpin’ and your knees shakin’.

My friends from #SaanSaPH and I got a sneak peek of Asylum Manila’s attractions the day before it opened to the public and and let me say that the experience was one of the most fun, albeit scary, times we’ve all had together.

Tickets go on sale starting June 20, priced at Php699 Mondays to Thursdays, and at Php799 Fridays to Sundays. VIP tickets priced at Php1,200 are also available giving holders priority in queue. To buy online, visit AsylumManila.com.

Asylum Manila is located at 1148 E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue, New Manila, Quezon City (in front of Christ the King Mission), open from 4pm to 12 midnight. For inquiries or reservations, call +63 945 3007408, +63 945 3007404, +63 947 4612808 or +63 947 4612807.

Some reminders:

The attractions are not recommended for children under 12 years old or for persons with known and pre-existing medical conditions such as pregnancy, breathing/heart/psychological/joint/muscle conditions or any conditions made worse by physical exertion.
Wear comfortable clothes (no heels) and don’t bring backpacks or bags
No taking of photos or filming inside the attractions except in the assigned areas.

Thanks to Zarrah of TheBandWagonChic.com for extending the invitations!

Padi’s Point and San Miguel Beer Partner for Happy Hour Barkada Treat 2019

For the second straight year, the country’s widest bar chain, Padi’s Point Restaurant and Bar and the largest beer producer of the country—San Miguel Brewery Inc., have partnered for one amazing treat for all “barkadas.”

Happy Hour Barkada Treat have made San Miguel Beer products available at 3 bottles for only P150 in all Padi’s Point branches during their respective Happy Hour schedules this April 1 to May 31, 2019. But as an added treat, all customers who availed this offer during the promo period were given raffle coupons wherein their names plus two of their friends were indicated and will have a chance to win in the grand raffle held on June 7, 2019 at Padi’s Point-Metro East wherein 3 Game Consuls were given away.

In the previous year’s raffle, 3 Pocket Drones were won by MicroSourcing employee Karl Devoe Guidaya and his friends/team mates Rommel Longatang and Rodel Carulasan.

Guidaya, Longatang and Carulasan are occasional visitors of different Padi’s Point branches particularly in the South Manila/Cavite area where they work and live such as Padi’s Point- Bacoor, The Pad-MOA and where their winning entry came from—Padi’s Point-Las Piñas.

“We work from 6am to 3pm, so coming in after work or during Happy Hour is perfect for us. Mas mura ang Cocktails, Beers ang dami pang ibang promo na sakto sa budget”, confirms Guidaya.

Being on the techie-side and working in a BPO, specifically a gaming account, all 3 guaranteed that they will be using the drones during travels, barkada adventures and even on team- building activities.

Definitely all three will be visiting Padi’s Point branches even more as there is no better place to gimmick, party and win.

Header photo shows Happy Hour Barkada Treat 2018 winners Rodel Cadulasan, Karl Devoe Guidaya and Romel Longatang receiving their prizes from Padi’s Point assistant marketing manager Julie Ann Gatchalian.

In Metro Manila, Padi’s Point branches are located at:

Robinsons Metro East, Marcos Highway, Dela Paz, Pasig City (see review here see review here)
Ground Floor Century Imperial Suites, Tomas Morato Corner Timog Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City (see review here)
Alpha D Compound, Sumulong Highway, Santa Cruz, Lower Antipolo, Rizal (see review here)
Sumulong Memorial Circle, Dalig, Upper Antipolo, Rizal (see review here)
Second Floor, SKY Garden, SM City North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City
Ground Floor, Coliseum Center, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City
Third Floor, Femar Arcade Philcoa, 34 Masaya Street, Diliman, Quezon City
375 Quirino Highway corner Tandang Sora Avenue, Sangandaan, Quezon City
Robinsons Nova Market, Quirono Highway, Novaliches, Quezon City
Exterior Second Floor, Star Mall EDSA-Shaw Boulevard, Highway Hills, Mandaluyong
Gil Puyat Avenue, Libertad, Pasay City
Second Floor, Empire Center EDSA Mall, Epifanio delos Santos Avenue, Libertad, Pasay
463 Remedios Street, Malate, Manila
A.H. Lacson Avenue across SM San Lazaro, Santa Cruz, Manila
Second Floor, The Grandz Commercial Center, MacArthur Highway, South Caloocan, Caloocan City
The Grills, Yellow Building Filinvest, South Station, Filinvest City, Muntinlupa
Alabang-Zapote Road, Pamplona, Las Pinas

Lovin’ the night life at Padi’s Point, Metro East

The sun went down and it’s the end of another work week.

Why not celebrate the start of the weekend by letting your hair down, letting loose and letting the good times roll with your friends at your nearest Padi’s Point?

That’s what my friends from #WeLoveToEatPH and I did last night at the Padi’s Point branch at Robinsons Metro East.

This resto is ideally situated for the residents of Metro Manila’s eastern areas who don’t want to make the trek to Padi’s Point branches further up in Antipolo.

Here, you and your buds can enjoy Padi’s Point’s signature bar chows and drinks along with some live music that you and the gang can groove to.

Check out the goodies that fueled our Friday night party:

Kulot (Php89). Cheesy crisp strings great for mindless eating, hehehe!

Cheese Sticks (Php155). Yummy cheese wraps great for snackin’.

Chicken Lollipops (Php290). Bite-sized crispy fried chicken pieces.

Crunchy Calamares (Php250). Crispy battered squid rings.

Kropek (Php135). Crunchy and savory shrimp crackers.

Shot Decker (Php199). Prettily presented shots of Zombie, GotchaAftershock, Mindoro Sling, Blue Moon and Emperor Tower cocktails.

Rainbow Cocktail Tower (Php199). Refreshing multi-colored and multi-flavored cocktails served in a 3-liter tower.

Baileys (Php80/shot). My favorite drink of all time!

With these yummy munchies and this awesome group of foodies, a great rockin’ time was guaranteed!

This Padi’s Point branch is located at Robinsons Metro East, Marcos Highway, Dela Paz, Pasig City, open Mondays to Thursdays from 4pm to 4am, and Fridays to Saturdays from 4pm to 5am. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 919 5856068 or +63 9195438490.

Other branches are located at:

Alpha D Compound, Sumulong Highway, Santa Cruz, Lower Antipolo, Rizal
Sumulong Memorial Circle, Dalig, Upper Antipolo, Rizal
Second Floor, SKY Garden, SM City North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City
Ground Floor, Coliseum Center, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City
Third Floor, Femar Arcade Philcoa, 34 Masaya Street, Diliman, Quezon City
375 Quirino Highway corner Tandang Sora Avenue, Sangandaan, Quezon City
Robinsons Nova Market, Quirono Highway, Novaliches, Quezon City
Exterior Second Floor, Star Mall EDSA-Shaw Boulevard, Highway Hills, Mandaluyong
Gil Puyat Avenue, Libertad, Pasay City
Second Floor, Empire Center EDSA Mall, Epifanio delos Santos Avenue, Libertad, Pasay
463 Remedios Street, Malate, Manila
A.H. Lacson Avenue across SM San Lazaro, Santa Cruz, Manila
Second Floor, The Grandz Commercial Center, MacArthur Highway, South Caloocan, Caloocan City
The Grills, Yellow Building Filinvest, South Station, Filinvest City, Muntinlupa
Alabang-Zapote Road, Pamplona, Las Pinas

Disclosure: Together with other foodies from #WeLoveToEatPH, I was invited to join a foodie meetup held at this restaurant. Food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Friday night hang out at Padi’s Point, Tomas Morato

For decades now, Padi’s Point has remained the after-hours drinking and gimik place for the barkada. Padi’s Point’s branch here in the foodie-friendly Tomas Morato area provides local residents and office workers a place to hang loose and relax with their buddies while enjoying their favorite drinks and pulutan.

This particular Friday night, my friends from #WeLoveToEatPH and I all trooped to Padi’s Point Tomas Morato for some early evening food and drinks.

By early evening, this Padi’s Point is ready for people who want to eat, drink and have a good time. Its extensive menu Filipino dishes and bar chow, as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will have something for everyone in the gang. And if some in your group would like to get down on the dance floor, who’s to judge?

Our group’s Friday evening chow included:

Padi’s Original Sisig (Php280). The house special sisig that seem to find it’s way to every inuman session.

Mexican Pizza (Php360). Who would have thought you can top a pizza with sausage, onion rings, bell peppers and nacho chips?

Barkada Supreme (Php730). Finger-foods to go with the barkada’s drinks: onion rings, cheese sticks, french fries, chicken nuggets and mushroom poppers.

Barrio Feast (Php705). Everyone’s favorite fried and grilled dishes: fried chicken, fried tilapia, inihaw na liempo and pusit, accompanied by tokwa’t baboy and ensalada.

Garlic Mushrooms (Php170). Plump and succulent champignon mushroom halves that go well with your favorite drink.

What a great start to the weekend! Thanks to EJ of ILoveToEatPH for extending the invite!

In the mood for a longer hang out sesh with the gang? Take advantage of the Padi’s Point’s Summer Tower treat! Get a cocktail tower, that’s 3 liters of your choice of cocktails to fuel laughter and some good-natured ribbing from the gang.

This Padi’s Point branch is located at Ground Floor Century Imperial Suites, Tomas Morato Corner Timog Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City, open daily from 4pm to 6am. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 2 9207864 or +63 2 9278001.

Other branches are located at:

Alpha D Compound, Sumulong Highway, Santa Cruz, Lower Antipolo, Rizal
Sumulong Memorial Circle, Dalig, Upper Antipolo, Rizal
Second Floor, SKY Garden, SM City North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City
Ground Floor, Coliseum Center, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City
Third Floor, Femar Arcade Philcoa, 34 Masaya Street, Diliman, Quezon City
375 Quirino Highway corner Tandang Sora Avenue, Sangandaan, Quezon City
Robinsons Nova Market, Quirono Highway, Novaliches, Quezon City
Exterior Second Floor, Star Mall EDSA-Shaw Boulevard, Highway Hills, Mandaluyong
Gil Puyat Avenue, Libertad, Pasay City
Second Floor, Empire Center EDSA Mall, Epifanio delos Santos Avenue, Libertad, Pasay
463 Remedios Street, Malate, Manila
A.H. Lacson Avenue across SM San Lazaro, Santa Cruz, Manila
Second Floor, The Grandz Commercial Center, MacArthur Highway, South Caloocan, Caloocan City
The Grills, Yellow Building Filinvest, South Station, Filinvest City, Muntinlupa
Alabang-Zapote Road, Pamplona, Las Pinas

Heritage of flavors at Pamana, Tomas Morato

Pamana in Tagalog means “heritage.” It is a legacy passed down from generation to generation taking with it the hopes and dreams of forebears for their descendants. For many Filipinos, this heritage takes the form of family traditions and stories that provide them with roots and backgrounds.

For third-generation restaurateur Happy Ilagan Ongoauco – Tiu, her heritage rich with heirloom and secret recipes of Filipino dishes is a point of pride. It signifies a hundred years of delicious and authentic Filipino food arising from her family’s passion for cooking and love for family.

She brings this heritage to life with her restaurant Pamana, a Filipino restaurant located in foodie-friendly Tomas Morato area in Quezon City.

On my first day back to work from my overseas vacation, I headed to Pamana’s homey restaurant together with three coworkers for a spot of good ole’ Filipino comfort food for lunch.

Our repast of Pinoy fare included:

My Adobo Rice (Php220). Nearly two decades ago when I started working in the Tomas Morato area, I enjoyed some yummy rice toppings at World Topps then located along Timog Avenue. Well, guess what! World Topps was Happy’s first restaurant and this dish is what made it famous. This rice meal of adobo pork bits, scrambled eggs and freshly cut tomatoes on top of steaming hot rice doused in adobo sauce is already good for three so we just supplemented it with a cup of garlic rice.

Pampanga’s Sizzling Sisig at Aligue (Php320). It seems that any Filipino reataurant meal won’t be complete without sisig. This version had the indulgent addition of aligue (crab fat). Treated during this meal as a viand, it went well with the Adobo Rice.

Crispy Adobong Pusit Calamares (Php325). My coworkers discovered this menu item while I was on vacay. And what a discovery indeed! It combines the sour-savory flavors of adobong pusit and the crispy and chewy texture of calamares. Similar to the sisig, this tasted so good paired with the adobo rice.

This was a lovely lunch that welcomed my tummy and my heart back home, and got me ready for the rest of the workday.

This Pamana branch is located along Mother Ignacia Avenue, Barangay South Triangle, Quezon City, open daily from 10am to 10pm. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 2 3743798.

Another branch is located at 1315 Aguinaldo-Highway, Silang Crossing East, Tagaytay City, open daily from 10am to 10pm. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 46 4132461 or +63 922 8592703.