{"status":"ok","elements":"
Partnered Post I have a confession to make: One of the reasons why I took an extra long hiatus from writing is the fact that I started to write to please people. Truthfully, right before the pandemic a lot of the dinners became so formulaic. My articles reflected it: Discuss dinner. Discuss wine. Discuss pairing. Avoid witty statements. Focus on making the tasting notes so accurate, it makes the hardest wine snob weep. But that\u2019s not who I am\u2026 and one of the few beauties that the pandemic brought was the time (and excuse) to refresh, rediscover my tone, and…<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>
Partnered post It\u2019s alcohol events season again\u2026 and what better way to (momentarily) come out of my writing hiatus than by sharing a classic cocktail (or five, with a twist) with like-minded GV people? I mean if the title wasn\u2019t a giveaway already\u2026 The night \u2013 and booze \u2013 in question was clearly a lot of fun. I must credit Melissa Ferrer, Director of Communications of Marco Polo Ortigas Manila, for the term Passenger Princess and the yummy Negronis. Yes, Negronis. Plural. With an \u201cs\u201d. Let me backtrack. Negroni Adventures of a Passenger Princess was last modified: September 22nd, 2023…<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>
In the interest of keeping it real, I would like to make this confession: I have been feeling discouraged after experiencing what I\u2019d like to call \u201ca few minor work setbacks.\u201d Just as I was starting to wallow in the pit of frustration, however… I received the best message ever: A request from our partners from Liwanag ng Masilaw to do a fundraiser benefitting families financially hit by cancer. I was so grateful because it allowed me to take stock of why I\u2019m still doing \u201cthe wine thing.\u201d It involves the promise I made to my father to help people…<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>
partnered post I am celebrating almost 6 years of moving to the South. I never thought I\u2019d fall in love with the chill, laid-back, \u201cshorts and birks\u201d lifestyle\u2026 so much so that I hardly leave my neck of the woods. This, despite well-meaning people telling me: \u201cYou\u2019ll miss the restaurants here.\u201d While I admit to still finding challenges navigating culinary parts of our \u201chood\u201d (I cannot for the life of me figure out the BFs and how to get there\u2026 but I will), I love discovering new places to eat and drink. One of these new spots is Fiddle Leaf…<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>
partnered post Some of the best Christmas memories are made with your barkada, good food, and a drink (or 12\u2026 #truestory). As a five-year southie who\u2019s too lazy to venture northward (and get out of our uniform shorts and birks), the news that Brotzeit opened a branch in Alabang West Parade is nothing short of a great Christmas present. After all, it\u2019s one of my favorite watering holes where I can enjoy a proper pint and sinfully delicious food. Even better news: They\u2019ve got an amazing fare available for the holidays. A Brotzeit Beer-kada Christmas! was last modified: December 14th,…<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>
One of my favorite Christmases involved a 2019 trip to Japan… After all, there is something to be said about Japan having some of the best sights, people, transportation, shopping, food, and drinks on earth. It was the experience that cemented my love for sake, Japanese beer, and pairing them with scrumptious food from a nearby neighborhood izakaya. With travel restrictions caused by the pandemic, we had to make do with what we could find locally for a couple of Christmases. Much as we love Japanese mom and pop groceries in different parts of the metro, however\u2026 There is nothing…<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>
As an adult, Christmas season means a flurry of activity \u2013 parties left right and center (especially since Metro Manila establishments are really opening up after years of pandemic misery), prepping for said parties, and tons of shopping. Personally, it makes me long for Christmas from a child\u2019s perspective: Forcing myself to stay up waiting for Santa (chimney optional), lots of our mamita\u2019s heart-attack\/diabetes\/sugar-rush inducing food, Alvin and The Chipmunks on vinyl, and of course\u2026 TOYS. Loads of them. As a bona fide #titaofmanila \u2013 complete with the seasonal exhaustion and capacity to make my own holiday feast (with wine,…<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>
It has been an open secret since 2020 that I have been getting help for my mental health struggles\u2026 And while doing so, I have learned a few things. First, we as a country have made strides in acknowledging mental health struggles and getting help. Yes, there are still communities where even communicating mental health awareness is still severely lacking\u2026 But in those that have accepted it, getting help has started to lose the \u201che needs to go to the asylum\/you should avoid her, she\u2019s crazy and she\u2019s going to physically hurt you\/they\u2019re just being dramatic\u201d stigma. AMA About Living…<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>